Ask Joe Mechanic: An Introduction

This is planned to be a weekly feature of the Auto Locator. We are looking to become more of a service to our readers than just the place to look for your next vehicle. We also want to help you take care of the vehicles you already have. 

Over the coming months, I will be providing tips for many auto related issues such as tires, brakes, preparing for a trip or the changing of the seasons. We will also cover items such as do-it-yourself maintenance, thoughts on when to replace that aging car, purchasing that first car for your son or daughter, winter driving tips, and much more. 

This will also be an open forum, so if you have a question about your vehicle, or something more general that you would like to read about, we invite you to write in with your questions or ideas. We want this column to be a useful aid and guide for your automotive experience.

We will also try to keep you informed of things like new technology, recalls, new laws affecting drivers, leasing vs. buying, gas price trends, alternative fuel vehicles, etc. These are all important things to consider nowadays when we are such a mobile community and depend so heavily on our personal vehicles everyday.

We at the Auto Locator are excited because during the coming months, we look forward to bringing you more new features such as “Get Away To …” which is going to be designed to give ideas for family-oriented day trips which may or may not be auto related. We also are planning a feature which will be a historic retrospective of little known items in automotive history that took place in our local area; be it vehicles that were produced or tested locally, past or present local racing venues, stories about local personalities, auto museums, and other items of local interest.

We are looking forward to making the Auto Locator your choice for everything auto related and we want to better serve you, our customers.

Most recent safety recalls:

300,000 2011-2012

Chevrolet Cruze

w/1.4L turbo engine

for power brake assist failure

2,929 2011-2014

Jaguar XK Convertible

for power window problem

2013 Jaguar Model XF

for stalling problem

342,000 2004-2011

Toyota Tacoma Access Cab Pickup

for front seat belt malfunction

If you think your vehicle may be included in any of the above, please contact your local dealer.