You may have heard the tragic news this week that a Gurnee woman and her son were killed in Wisconsin on Aug. 15 while her car was stopped on I-94. They were trying to change a flat tire.

Clara J. Jennings, 60, and Patrick Jennings, 23, were struck by a southbound car on the highway near Paris, Wis. Two people in the car that struck the Jenningses were hurt, too.

Clara Jennings was alone when her 1998 Honda got a flat tire while heading home from a business meeting in Milwaukee. She pulled onto the shoulder of the highway and called her son to help, and he drove to Wisconsin with his girlfriend to change the tire. When he arrived, he parked about 200 feet behind his mom’s car. Police said both cars and the Jennings were fully on the shoulder of the road.

But, unexpectedly, a 1997 Toyota Corolla veered onto the shoulder and slammed into their vehicles and the Jenningses, killing them instantly. Such a horrifying accident is made even worse because it was a preventable incident. It’s also a reminder of how dangerous everyday driving and related activities can be.

If you’re ever in a similar situation and decide to change your flat tire, please ONLY do it if you’re in a safe place. Put your hazards on and drive slowly until you can get off the highway and into a flat, paved parking lot or flat, paved driveway. Don’t try to change your tire along the interstate. Yes, driving with a flat may ruin your wheel or rim, but your safety is worth the few hundred dollars a new wheel will cost. Compare that with the price of paying for a flat tire with your life.

Source: Daily Herald

If you are the past or present owner of a 1995-2004 Buick, Chevy, GMC, Oldsmobile, or Pontiac with a V6 engine, you may be eligible to receive up to $400 from General Motors.

GM may be issuing the checks in a class-action settlement that alleges Dex-Cool, a long-life coolant, caused engine and cooling system problems and that certain parts were defective, including the lower intake manifold gaskets.

In the past decade, we’ve replaced hundreds of intake manifold gaskets on the makes and models specified in the lawsuit, and we’ve seen our clients spend from $500 to $1,500 to remedy the problems described in the lawsuit. We’re thrilled to see that they may finally receive a refund for at least a portion of their repair expenses.

If you believe you are entitled to a settlement, you must file a claim by October 27, 2008. Complete instructions are available by clicking here.

Repairs involving intake manifold gasket failures, engine coolant sealing issues, and sludge (a rust-like material) are also covered by this proposed settlement. These repairs would likely involve parts like the intake manifold and/or manifold gaskets, throttle body gaskets, radiator cap, heater core, water pump and other parts of the cooling system.

General Motors’ officially denies all allegations of wrongdoing and denies liability for all claims. But the carmaker agreed to settlement and will reimburse motorists for certain repair costs they paid during the first seven years or 150,000 miles of vehicle ownership or lease, whichever is earlier.

The California Superior Court for Alameda County is in charge of this case and still has to approve the terms of the settlement. The Fairness Hearing for the court to do just that is set for August 29. Valid claims will be paid if the proposed settlement is approved.

I want to see if I’m eligible for a portion of this settlement.

I want to see if I’ve had any of these repairs performed.

The North American unit of BMW is voluntarily recalling 200,000 cars and SUVs because air bags on the passenger’s side of the vehicles might not deploy in an accident.

The recall, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), includes 2004 and 2005 5-Series sedans, 2004 to 2006 X3 SUVs and some 2006 3-Series sedans. Find out if your vehicle is on the list by clicking here.

According to the recall notice, passenger-side air bags might be deactivated by a sensor in the vehicle because of wear caused by passengers entering and exiting the vehicles. To fix the problem, BMW dealers will repair a sensor system, and the company will extend the warranty for air bags on the recalled vehicles to 10 years with no mileage limit.

BMW dealerships should begin contacting owners to resolve the matter this month. They will inspect vehicles for cracks in the air bag detection mat, and replace the component at no charge.

Owners who don’t want to wait for their dealership to contact them can call (800) 525-7417 to make service arrangements.

As the world’s largest luxury auto maker, BMW sold 336,000 cars and trucks in the United States last year under the BMW and Mini brands.

Sources: NHTSA and U.S. News & World Report

Having properly functioning brakes on your car is not optional—think about how hazardous even a short trip to the store would be without being able to stop as quickly as anticipated. You don’t want to be responsible for rear-ending that vehicle in front of you, so make sure you are paying proper attention to the wear that accumulates with normal, everyday braking.

A regular brake inspection is essential to proper vehicle care and can save you money in the long run.

First, make sure you get a brake inspection at least once a year. The inspection should include an evaluation of the brake pads and shoes, braking hardware, hydraulic fluid, rotor/drum wear, calipers and master cylinder.

Second, if your anti-lock braking system (ABS) light or your brake system warning light comes on, have the system inspected as soon as possible. An ABS light indicates a malfunction with the antilock brakes, and the ABS system will be disabled as long as the light is on. (Important Note: You will still have normal braking, just not the ABS.)

The brake system warning light comes on when the brake fluid dips below a minimum level in the master cylinder. This often happens under hard braking or around sharp turns when the brake pads are near the end of their lives.

In extreme cases, this light signals a serious safety problem. If you notice moderate to severe sponginess in the brake pedal or if the brake pedal goes straight to the floor, don’t attempt to drive the vehicle. It is not safe to drive. Have it towed to your auto repair provider because, most likely, there’s a major malfunction in the brakes.

In between visits to the shop, become attuned to your vehicle’s performance. Many problems related to brakes can be prevented by paying attention to telltale signs of trouble, including:

• Your car pulls to one side when you press down on the brakes, instead of stopping in a straight line.
• Your car jerks to a stop when you press down on the brakes.

• Your brake pedal is either mushy, difficult to press down, or you must pump the brakes to get them to work right.

• Your brakes grind uninterrupted and you hear a loud noise when you press down on the brake pedal.
• You notice a burning smell during or after driving that seems to come from one or more of your wheels.

• You see fluid leaks around any wheel or in the engine compartment near the master cylinder.

Don’t wait until your brakes are in any of the aforementioned conditions before you seek help—your life and the lives of others on the road are depending on the safety and peace of mind that regular brake inspections can provide.

Source: Automotix.net