Hi Matt, The tube coming off your front axle is a vent tube. The axle needs to be vented, the reason they hook a tube to it is that 4X4 vehicles may find there axle under water or in deep mud and they put this tube on there to keep water from getting into the vent or mud from plugging it up. The Tube does not go to any connections it is usally open and mounted on the fire wall somewhere to keep the open end high enough as to not get water in it. This will not cause a smog failure.  [less]

Yes it is necessary. Over time carbon can build up in your engine and cause pinging also as the throttle body gets dirty, it restricts air flow into the engine at idle which can cause stalling or poor idle quality.   [less]

If your car requires premium fuel then you should use it. Regular fuel when used in a vehicle that requires Premium can have a tendency to detonate also known as pinging. Detonation is bad for the engine. Newer vehicles have knock sensors on them to reduce detonation by retarding the timing which can decrease your horsepower and gas mileage. So the bottom line is by running regular fuel in a car designed to run premium could cost you power and gas mileage.  [less]

Ken, When you trade your vehicle into a dealership you usally get less than what it is worth because they have to assume all the liabilty and then resale it for a profit. I would suggest you go to Kelly Blue Book at www.kbb.com and that will tell you the value of your vehicle. You will find that you can get considerably more by sellilng it to a private party. I think a Honda Civic is a good choice but no matter which vehicle you choose I would suggest bringing it in for a Pre-Buy Inspection to insure there is no visible major problems with the vehicle.  [less]

Tune ups are part of your Major Service. Some manufactures recommend it at 30,000 miles some later some sooner. Check your owners manual if you are not able to find it give us a call at 916-315-0555 with your vehicle info and we can tell you when yours is due.  [less]

There are several reason you should not drive around with your check engine light on. The check engine light can come on for many different reasons, some will make the vehicle run poorly and others will not. If it is a minor problem and is left unattended, then it can turn into a major expense. For example, if the gas cap is not sealing properly, the check engine light will turn on. The owner of the vehicle is told that they need to replace the gas cap, but since it is such a minor problem they don’t repair it right away and continue to drive around with the check engine light on. If a more serious problem should occur, such as failure of the oxygen sensor, which would normally cause the check engine light to come on, he or she would not know it. Driving around with a faulty oxygen sensor can cause the catalytic converter to fail, an even more serious problem. What was originally a simple $8 repair has now become a major expense. A check engine light usually comes on because of a failure in the emissions control system. This causes a rise in the amount of pollution expelled by the vehicle. So while it may not run poorly, the vehicle may be causing undue harm to the environment. For these and other reasons, if the check engine light comes on, it is important to have the vehicle examined by a knowledgeable professional as soon as possible.  [less]

Many manufactures recommend every 7500 miles, but that is under the best driving circumstances. For the best protection, you should change the oil every 3000 miles. If you drive very little, then you should change the oil every six months to a year.  [less]