Auto Correct

2/25/2021

Auto Correct: ICE

Mississippi was paralized by ice recently. Winter Storm System Leaves Mississippians in the Cold, Dark

We discussed tips that we learned this go around and how to prepare for the next time.

Here are the recalls for the week: Ford 2021 Bronco Sport - rear suspension; Audi 2020-21 Q7 - airbag control module; Ford 2020-21 F-150 light-duty pickups and Super Duty heavy-duty pickups - Recalled for Windshields, Payload Info Labels; A long list of Ford 2004-2014 models with defective Takata airbag inflators. We’ll have a list of them all on our show’s information page.

In the first group, roughly 1,100 vehicles with collision repairs may now have an obsolete Takata inflator. This includes:

2004-11 Ford Ranger

2005-14 Ford Mustang

2006 Ford GT

2007-10 Ford Edge

2008-12 Ford Fusion

2010-12 Lincoln MKZ

2007-10 Lincoln MKX

2009-11 Mercury Milan

In the second group are 45 missing single-stage inflators. Ford said it’s possible these obsolete Takata service parts were installed for repairs after collision damage or theft.

2004-06 Ford Ranger

The affected Rangers had the Takata permanent repair performed before the service parts were purged. At NHTSA’s request, Ford is issuing a safety recall for all 153,107 of these pickup trucks. Both driver-side and passenger-side frontal airbag inflator modules are part of the recall. Customer notifications for each recall will begin the week of March 8.

You can find out if your car has a past recall by going to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website:https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and inputting your VIN number. Or find their SaferCar app.

In the news: For the first time, the Cherokee Nation is asking Jeep to change the name of its Cherokee and Grand Cherokee vehicles. The Cherokee Nation has commented on the record several times since Jeep started using the name in North America in 2013 after a 12-year hiatus, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, told Car and Driver. Jeep has been building cars that wear the Cherokee Nation's name for more than 45 years.

According to Houston Police -A woman and a girl died and two other people were hospitalized Monday in Houston TX because of carbon monoxide poisoning. It looked as if they left a car running in the garage to help warm the house, which had no power, police said.

Good to Know

Check tire pressure weekly. Driving on underinflated tires can cause them to wear down prematurely and lose traction on icy or slippery surfaces. Your tires lose a pound of pressure with every 10-degree drop in temperature.
Keep your fuel tank half full. During winter weather, it's a good idea to keep at least half a tank of fuel in the vehicle in the event of an emergency or if you get stuck in the snow and need to wait for rescue. For longer road trips, plan stops for gas in advance.
Add a protective layer. A coat of polymer wax can create a barrier against road salt, grime, snow, sleet and more. Couple that with high-pressure car washes after winter storms to rinse away buildup in hard-to-reach areas such as wheels, wheel wells and underbody.
Protect your windshield wipers. If you park outdoors, leave the wipers in the raised position to prevent them from freezing to the windshield. Never use your wiper blades to remove ice, snow or frost from the windshield; use an ice scraper instead.

Prepare

Navigate through whatever Old Man Winter throws at you by making yourself a car kit with some essentials.
Clothing. Make sure you have extra warm clothing in your car: hats, gloves, scarves, hand and foot warmers, thick socks and a blanket.
Stay connected. Add a flashlight with extra batteries to your kit. You might also consider flares or a whistle, and an extra phone charger.
Stay healthy. Grab some bottled water and other snacks. Make sure you have any medications you might need, along with a first-aid kit.
Other necessities. Jumper cables are a good addition to your kit. A small camping shovel and extra ice scraper can also be lifesavers in snowy conditions.

Tips for Driving in the Snow

Stay home. Only go out if necessary. Even if you can drive well in bad weather, it’s better to avoid taking unnecessary risks by venturing out.
Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface, such as on ice and snow.
Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.
Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.
Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

Tips for Long-Distance Winter Trips

Be Prepared: Have your vehicle checked by a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility before hitting the road.
Check the Weather: Check the weather along your route and when possible, delay your trip if bad weather is expected.
Stay Connected: Before hitting the road, notify others and let them know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.

If you get stuck in the snow:

Stay with your vehicle: Your vehicle provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Do not try to walk in a severe storm. It is easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
Don’t over exert yourself: When digging out your vehicle, listen to your body and stop if you become tired.
Be Visible: Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna of your vehicle or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress. At night, keep the dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it easier for rescuers to find you.
Clear the Exhaust Pipe: Make sure the exhaust pipe is not clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust pipe can cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment of the vehicle while the engine is running.
Stay Warm: Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. This could include floor mats, newspapers or paper maps. Pre-pack blankets and heavy clothing to use in case of an emergency.
Conserve Fuel: If possible, only run the engine and heater long enough to remove the chill. This will help to conserve fuel.

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