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Hit the brakes. Hear anything? You shouldn’t. Braking noise indicates a problem. Screeching, grinding or pulsating noises can indicate worn brake pads or damaged components. Noise doesn’t always occur when braking, either; a persistent squealing while driving down the road is a warning from your worn brake pads. Visit your service mechanic immediately to keep your brakes safe and responsive.

What’s that in the gas station window? A hot dog? A special on Cokes? You can’t help yourself. It’s a long ride ahead, so you grab a few and hit the road. Enjoy them, but make sure wrappers and bottles are disposed of properly. Environmental concerns aside, trash can migrate under your feet and interfere with pedals and brakes. The back seat is usually enough to guard against this, but just to be safe, stow trash in a plastic bag. There are enough surprises on the road—make sure there are none in your car!

If you are worried about your fuel economy, then take a moment to read this article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on June 24, 2011. There are ways to be more fuel efficient and you might not even know it. Do you have any suggestions or ideas on how you have saved on gas and kept your fuel economy at premium levels?

If you're ever involved in a collision, the choice of a collision repair shop is critical to assuring your warranty remains intact. Many insurance companies will suggest repair shops that agree with the insurers method of repair, not the manufacturers recommended procedures. Aftermarket replacement parts, which are in many cases substandard and suggested for use by insurance companies, may void the warranty on your vehicle. There is one sure way to maintain your vehicle warranty in case of an accident: by insisting qualified and trained Toyota collision experts restore your vehicle to pre-accident condition. Our collision repair centers, Ardmore Auto Body and Paul Bros. Auto Body, have been repairing Toyota's since 1969 and provide a lifetime warranty on workmanship. We work for you, not the insurance company. Please feel free to contact us for a FREE estimate the next time your vehicle is in need of collision repair. www.ArdmoreAutoBody.com www.PaulBrosAutoBody.com

When your car squeaks, groans or squeals, it's asking for help. Ignoring those noises can cost big bucks later, so it's best to check them now and fix any problems while they're still small. Here are three common car noises, the problems they signal and what it could cost to fix them: THE SQUEAK: If you hear a high-pitched squeak when you hit the brakes, your brake pads may need replacing. Pads clamp onto discs called rotors to stop the car. Repeated clamping wears down the soft metallic compound they're made of. That can expose t he rotor to the metal brake pad frame. Normally, pads last anywhere from 9,000 to 40,000 miles, but when they wear down, you'll have to buy new ones and repair the rotors by having a mechanic "machine" or shave off metal to create a better braking surface. That all costs around $200 per axle depending on the car. If you ignore a squeak for too long, you'll hear grinding. "If you don't get it fixed, it could damage the rotors to the point where you'd have to replace those rather than just machine them, said Michael Calkins, who oversees certification of car repair garages for AAA. New rotors and pads can cost more than $400 per axle depending on the car. If the squeaking stops after you brake a few times, it's probably just rust on the rotors, a common problem that isn't serious. A squeak also can happen if the rotors move the pads around. For $50 or less, a mechanic can install clips or silicone to hold the pads in place. THE SQUEAL: A high-pitched squeal when you start the car, or a squeak every few seconds while it's running, may mean a belt is loose or needs to be replaced. Belts turn water pumps, air conditioning compressors and alternators that recharge the battery. A loose belt can be tightened by a mechanic for $20 to $50. Replacing a worn-out belt or the pulleys that hold it in place costs around $200. Ignoring the noise will hurt your wallet. A worn belt can break and damage the engine. Belts should be checked twice a year and replaced at around 60,000 miles, mechanics say. THE GROAN: A low-pitched groan can mean problems with your bearings, which cut friction between fixed and moving parts throughout your car. The problematic bearing could be in the wheels, water pump or alternator.  On a front-wheel-drive car, it can also signal that something is wrong with the joints that turn the wheels. Catch them early and the problems are a couple hundred dollars. But if an alternator bearing fails, that can lead to a chain of damaging events, including a disabled water pump, which would stop pumping coolant into your engine. The resulting damage could cost you thousands of dollars to fix. It's a good idea to have a mechanic listen to your car at least every six months. "It'll complain to you audibly when it needs certain things," said Calkins.

When you go for that tune-up, your dealer mechanic will probably recommend that you buy synthetic motor oil. It’s significantly more expensive than regular oil, so you might think he’s trying to run up your bill. But he’s actually trying to save you money.  Synthetic oil comes from a laboratory, not the ground, so it’s free of the impurities that make the natural stuff break down under tough driving conditions.  It lasts longer, it contains additives that keep your engine running at peak performance, and it’s simply the best lubricant out there.  That’s why manufacturers build their cars around it. Today’s engines are precision-engineered, with little tolerance for the sludge and mineral build-up that natural oil brings. So listen to your mechanic. Spend a little extra now and you won’t have to see him again for a long time.

As long as people have been driving, they’ve debated the merits of leather vs. cloth interiors. Besides budget, the choice comes down to how you’ll use the car. Of course you can’t beat the look, feel, and smell of leather; but it does add to the price, and you might not want the maintenance required to keep it looking brand-new. A leather interior is sure to dazzle passengers, however, and it’s a major plus to resale value. Cloth, on the other hand, is known for comfort. Unlike leather, it doesn’t stick, burn, or get too cold. Though every new cloth interior is resistant to stains and odors, cleaning can be tough. As with almost everything else, the leather/cloth debate is a matter of taste and your pocketbook. Be honest about both, and enjoy the ride.

Ethanol is a grain alcohol that’s been used in blended gasoline for decades. This renewable resource, produced by American workers, helps reduce carbon emissions and break our country’s dependence on foreign oil. So why haven’t you heard much about ethanol until now? Because in the past few years, car manufacturers have developed engines that accept higher percentages of ethanol than ever before. In the future, we can look forward to cheaper and greener cars that rely totally on ethanol. For now, every major automaker approves the use of ethanol “flex” fuels, which are available everywhere. So do you part for the environment, even as you gas up.