Reset a Check Engine Light at Your Own Risk
May 13, 2022 - It's important to know what the dashboard light is actually telling you. In some vehicles, there are separate warning lights labeled Service Engine or Maintenance Due, versus a more traditional Check Engine light.
You can find out what's ailing your engine through the vehicle's OBD-II port. If your main reason for buying an inexpensive scanner is to reset the check-engine light, know this: clearing the code and turning the light off doesn't mean your issue has gone away.
Some check-engine light warnings are temporary—like loose fuel-filler cap or a rare engine misfire. It's possible that the warning light won't come back on after you clear the code. If the light does come on again soon, you have an issue that needs to be addressed. Failure to do so could cost you a lot more later.
Google Updates Android Auto to Better Fit All the Different Sized Touchscreens in Cars Today
May 12, 2022 - Google says the new split-screen display will be standard for all Android Auto users, allowing them to access key features like navigation, media player, and messages - all from one screen. Previously, the split-screen display was only available to owners of certain vehicles.
“We used to have a different screen mode that was available in a very limited amount of cars,” said Rod Lopez, lead product manager at Android Auto. “Now this is available no matter what type of display you have, what size, what form factor, and it’s a really, really exciting update.”
Android Auto will also adapt to any type of touchscreen, no matter what size. Automakers are starting to get creative with the size of their infotainment display, installing everything from large portrait-style screens to long vertical ones shaped like surfboards.
Most Electric Cars Are Cheaper to Own From Day One – Report
May 12, 2022 - Electric cars aren’t just cheaper over the long term but have cheaper total monthly cost from day one for most buyers in the United States, according to a new report from Energy Innovation.
This analysis expands on the total cost of ownership calculation – rather than looking at the entire average 12-year period of car ownership, it looks at monthly costs over the length of a six-year financing term. Since 85% of cars in the United States are financed at purchase, this is a more realistic way to view costs than by looking at the sticker price.
Energy Innovation’s analysis looks at EV vs. gas vehicle costs in every state and includes financing costs, fuel, maintenance, insurance, EV incentives, and even dumb EV fees that some states have implemented.
Saint Paul and Minneapolis Launch Historic Electric Vehicle Carshare Fleet and Charging Station Network
May 13, 2022 - Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, alongside Senator Tina Smith, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and partners announced the launch of Evie Carshare, a renewably-powered fleet of shared electric vehicles (EVs) and the EV Spot Network of charging stations across Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
“Carshares continue to be an important way for people to have affordable access to transportation. Installing 70 new renewably-powered electric vehicle charging stations across the Twin Cities is an important investment in clean energy and an exciting way to expand sustainable transportation options,” said Senator Smith.
This innovative model for expanding access to clean transportation was made possible by cutting edge investments from the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy and the collaborative efforts between the City of Saint Paul, City of Minneapolis, HOURCAR, Xcel Energy, American Lung Association, and other local and national partners.
J3 Management Group Succeeds as Fleet Tag & Title Family Affair
By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor
While vehicle registrations can be difficult enough to manage for one vehicle, the task becomes even more daunting when you’re a company handling thousands of vehicles.
From car rental companies to fleet management companies, vehicle registration is an integral part of managing company-owned cars. These companies usually rely on tag & title businesses to ensure their vehicles are properly registered and kept up to date.
But while this field is dominated by larger businesses, there are a few smaller players that have managed to make a name for themselves in recent years.
One of the most notable of these businesses is J3 Management Group, a sister-run tag and title company specializing in serving fleet vehicles.
Founded by sisters Lora Dunton and Karla Jackson, J3 Management Group has experienced major success in the two short years since its inception, due in large part no doubt to the dynamic effort of these sisters and their families.
