ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Changes in maintenance schedules due to advanced vehicle and fluid technology have changed vehicle service needs. Most motorists manage oil-change services appropriately but miss other critical maintenance items, according to a survey of AAA's nationwide network of Approved Auto Repair shops.

Eighty-eight percent of repair shops find that motorists frequently skip brake fluid service. Other commonly missed items noted by repair providers include proper battery checks (82 percent), transmission fluid maintenance (81 percent), tire maintenance (78 percent) and engine coolant (77 percent).

Winter driving can be perilous, so give the gift of safety this holiday season. Whether you wrap it and put it under the tree or hand it over before holiday travel begins, a road emergency kit will show your loved ones you’re concerned about their well-being on the road.

“Last winter, many motorists were unprepared for the severe weather conditions that affected most of the country, so an emergency kit may be the perfect present for the drivers on your list,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “When unforeseen events occur, being prepared before leaving home will help keep your loved ones out of harm’s way.”

ORLANDO, Fla., (December 9, 2014) – AAA’s Automotive Engineering experts are confident new advanced driver assistance technologies like blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning systems have great potential to keep drivers safer, as long as motorists are aware of system limitations.  As part of AAA’s auto technology series, these two systems were recently evaluated. While the systems performed effectively in multiple situations, this evaluation uncovered scenarios where the systems failed to perform as expected. This included delayed warnings by the blind-spot monitoring technologies and lane-departure warning systems failing to track the lane under certain road conditions.

(PHOENIX, Arizona) December 9, 2014—Tri-City Transmission of Tempe, Arizona, was named a 2014 “Motor Age Top Shop” by Motor Age Magazine. They are the only auto repair shop in Arizona, and one of only 10 shops in the US, to win this annual contest. 

“We are honored to be recognized as one of the best automotive shops in the US,” says Dave Riccio, owner of Tri-City Transmission.

The shop was chosen because of their commitment to innovation and service as well as being an exemplary model of an automotive business not only surviving, but thriving in a very competitive industry.

During your holiday travels this year, be sure to carry duct tape in your car for any unexpected problems. It's the sure fix!

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Lauren Fix, The Car Coach appears live via Wifi on Headline News...from the driver's seat of a Chrysler 300! Watch the latest in automotive technology on display as she discusses Wifi in cars, forward collision warning, and the development of "Ghost Car" - a 360 degree virtual windscreen complete with transparent pillars and a navigation system. Take a look at the future of automotive tech!

While last year’s brutal winter may seem like a distant memory, severe weather is on its way. The Car Care Council reminds drivers to ready their vehicles for the rough conditions ahead.

“Vehicle service is always more convenient when you do it on your own schedule. An investment of an hour or so to have your vehicle checked will help make sure it can weather the storm when arctic temperatures strike again,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

Designed by Steve Lang and Nick Lariviere, the Long-Term Quality Index aims to give the average car buyer better insight on long-term reliability when it comes time to purchase a car. By using real-world used automobile data, the buyer is provided with a way to compare different years, makes, and models based on reliability data taken from vehicles that have been traded in. The Long-Term Quality Index focuses on powertrain issues, and the distribution of automobiles by mileage.

You're able to get a better understanding of your potential automobile lifespan by taking a look at these mileage distribution chart. In these mileage charts, the blue curve with the darker background represents the average distribution of cars (across all makes and models in our database). Many models have a similar distribution of automobile, which represents a normal distribution of automobile (most cars are in the middle range of mileage, between 120,000 and 180,000 miles).

Phoenix, AZ (November 9, 2014) –– The holiday season is rapidly approaching and one Valley organization is already working to give back to the community. NARPRO (Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals) is teaming up with Packages from Home to ensure active military troops have a happy holiday season. Many active duty military personnel will not be home with family during the holidays, but Packages from Home works to provide troops serving overseas basic necessities and special treats to remind how appreciated and respected they are by their Nation at home.

Throughout all of November and December, all NARPRO shops will be supporting the troops by teaming up with Packages from Home. To participate, the community is encouraged to bring a comfort or care item to any NARPRO shop, which will then be collected and packaged off to troops in active duty. Along with these items, a coupon is available online at www.narpro.com and good for 10% off of labor for any auto repair service.

Worn tires can send a car into dangerous skids and spins on wet and icy winter roads. Checking tire pressure and tread depth monthly can help motorists keep tires in optimal condition, according to AAA.

“The two most important tire safety checks – a pressure reading and tread depth measurement – are very simple to do,” according to Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of Automotive Engineering. “If motorists spend about two minutes on each tire, they will keep their tires at peak performance.”

Monthly tire checks take two steps: