Motor Mind by Mitch Kudler (NAPS)—DearMitch: Recently I started to test gas mileage on my 1998 Dodge Ram.I found that I am only getting about 15 miles per gallon—which explains why I seem to spendall of my time at the service station gassing up. Is the mileage supposedto be this low? —Kevin C. Answer: You wantto be cool in yourbig truck, have a powerful V- 2. 8 engine, AND get great mileage? Fifteen mpg is as good asit gets. Count yourself lucky; a compara- ble truck from other manufactur- Master mechanic Mitch Kudler of iMotors has over 16 years of automotive repair experience. ers gets 13 to 14 mpg. Dear Mitch: Should I disable my air bag? My wife is only 100 pounds andoften sits in the front seat of ourcar. —Ian M. Answer: This is one of the roadside assistance cover, and is there a charge each time you use it? toughest questions I get. Disabling —Libby B. Answer: Generally the factory air bags are a very personal choice and involves weighing which risks warranty doesn’t cover mainte- somecases, like a low-speed collision, your wife may fair better if the air bag is disconnected. In major accidents, though, theair bag could prevent serious injury. Dealer add-ons are usually not covered unless they are designed nance (items such as brakes, clutches, fluid andfilter changes). you are more comfortable with. In and madebythe vehicle’s manu- facturer. If your off-road adven- tures take a wrong turn, suspension damage would not be covered According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), air bags have by the warranty (but it might be under your insurance policy).If has a good brochure on their Web site (www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags) to help you consider the pros and cons. The samesite can also provide you with a list of dealers and mechanics that install on/off switchesfor air bags. Dear Mitch: I just purchased a new vehicle and my salesman wasn’t able to answerall of my written by one of the major play- saved over 2,600 lives. The NHTSA your roadside assistance is under- ers in the field, like AAA, then there should be no charge for standard breakdown help or short-distance towing. questions. Does my bumper-to- Mitch Kudler, an operations manager at iMotors, has over 16 years of automotive repair experience and is a Certified Master Technician. Questions about car bumper warranty cover maintenance? Doesthe factory warranty cover dealer add-ons? Would suspension damage be covered by my factory warranty? What does buying or repair can be e-mailed to Mitch@iMotors.com. For more information about buying a used vehicle, call toll-free 1-888- IMOTORS (1-888-466-8677) or visit www.imotors.com. = Note to Editors: This is the fourth in a series about Mitch Kudler, expert on automotive repair.
