Our Expert Automotive Service & Collision Repair Blog

A number of years ago, I bought a new Lexus RX.  The Salesperson kept telling me what a reliable vehicle it was, and I told him I agreed because Lexus is highly rated. As soon as I handed over the check, the F&I person told us about all the things that could break, and therefore I needed the extended warranty.

We see a lot of TV and radio ads for automobile extended warranty products. Car Shield, American Auto Shield, Endurance, and Route 66 are some of them. A question that comes up is, “Are they worth it?” and the answer is, “It depends on a number of factors.”

"The future of the auto industry is electric. There's no turning back,"  President Biden said this week, making a case for investing in U.S. production of electric vehicles and the batteries that power them.

Many of us have had a tire light come on in our vehicles during the cold winter months. When the air contracts, it causes a drop in the pressure or pounds per square inch (PSI) of your tire, as much as 2 PSI for every -10°F. You may be tempted to fill the tire up on your own (just to get that pesky light off), but you should instead have your tires check out by your local shop to ensure rotations and inflation is done properly. 

This might be repetitive but we just want to make sure everyone is well informed about the Colorado Traction Law.

It's important to be aware of where traction laws are active as you're traveling, as this can vary from road to road. Each year the state's traction law goes into effect on a 126-mile stretch of I-70 from September 1 to May 31st. The nine-month mandatory traction law extends from Dotsero to Morrison, requiring all vehicles to carry proper winter traction throughout the season, regardless of weather. All other roads and highways are subject to traction laws during severe wintry weather.

In Colorado, it remains that the minimum tread requirement for dry roads is 4/32" (1/8"). Interestingly 1/8" doesn't even meet the classic "penny test" (which detects when your tread is less than 2/32").

Colorado is a top 10 state for a lot of things: seventh in life expectancy, eighth in health, number one for least obese, ninth in outdoor lifestyle, and according to The National Coalition for Safer Roads, seventh in running red lights. Data from the Foundation for Traffic Safety for the period 2008-2017 shows Colorado tied for fifth with Florida for fatalities per 1 million people resulting from red light running. 

Article adapted from The National Safety Commission’s Article titled How Receiver Hitches Affect Rear End Collision Injuries

As you have no doubt noticed in Colorado, more people are towing boats, trailers, and campers as we continue to weather the pandemic and its dramatic effects on our lives. But did you know that the receiver hitch can actually make you less safe in the event you are involved in a rear-end collision?

It is likely the role your car plays in your life has changed significantly since the start of the pandemic. If you had asked me in January, I would have said your car is likely used most to get you to and from work. Now, with an entirely different culture and reality, the car has taken on a new place in society. We are using our cars to safely celebrate the things in life we miss, like milestones and travel. 

Right now, airline travel isn’t attractive. But, NOT vacationing isn’t attractive either! Last year, I wrote about traveling within Colorado and adjoining states. Who knew car travel would be
even more relevant this year! At least we have the good fortune to live in a part of the country so full of the wonders of nature. When Brenda and I moved to Colorado in 1971, we bought a Renault 16 hatchback (picture below) and drove it all over the state, stopping and camping wherever we wanted. A loose air cleaner bolt allowed the sand to get into the engine while driving through a sandstorm in Arizona. We got through the sand storm only to find our engine blowing a smokescreen. After spending an interesting night in Tuba City, Arizona, we continued to the Grand Canyon, and about a case of oil got us back to Denver. It took me about a week of late nights to rebuild the engine. The moral here is to be sure your vehicle is thoroughly inspected before leaving.