Everything you can think of has its own day, week, or even month. For instance, did you know there was a National Pet Dental Health Month? Or how about a National Impotency Month? Heck, September is even Shameless Promotion Month. I wonder who thought of that one.

But one thing to celebrate during April is National Car Care Month. With spring around the corner, it’s the perfect time to treat your car to a good and thorough cleaning and a professional checkup. After all, it worked hard to get you through the wind and snow of the winter months. The least you can do is to take care of it. Here are some things to consider when getting your car checked for the warmer months:

• Inspect the belts and hoses for any breaks, cracks, or wear spots.
• Change the air filter.
• Check the spark plugs and battery to make sure they’re in proper working order.
• Flush and fill the cooling system.
• Check the air conditioning system. It’s better to do this in April instead of waiting until you really need it.
• Check all caps, including the radiator and gas caps, to ensure they are still snug.
• Rotate the tires and replace any heavily worn tires.
• Check the fluids and wiper blades.
• Change the oil.
• Clean the inside.

Preparing your certified Ford for the spring is as simple as that. And the best part is that it might only take an hour or two out of your day. But the benefits you get in return are priceless.

Just when you thought it was safe to drive your classic vehicle on the streets of California, think again. Cars made before 1976 were once exempt from the strictest emissions standards in the nation. But a California senator , Dean Florez, is proposing legislation that makes this loophole a thing of the past.

Luckily, this only affects the cars registered in the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. But we all know what happens when we allow the government to take an inch. They take a mile . . . and another mile . . . and another mile.

And so it begins. The hybrid craze and environmental people are slowly beginning to take over. How is anybody going to afford bringing a classic 1929 Model A up to today’s codes? How is a 1974 Ford Mustang going to pass today’s strict California smog test? Unless you want to put thousands of dollars into a car, it’s not going to happen.

I think this potential legislation is sad for two reasons. For one, how many actual vehicles built before 1976 are still rolling around the streets of the Golden State on a regular basis? If anything, owners might take them out for a joyride to show them off on a nice spring day. The second reason is this:  Will we never see one of the beautiful classic cars on the road in California ever again? I mean, these were vehicles that created the car culture of different eras. And now, nobody will ever see them unless they’re in a California museum of unwanted vehicles.

When you consider soaring housing costs, skyrocketing business taxes and everything else, it’s no wonder people are flocking out of California like birds flying away for the winter.

Luckily, you can still drive your certified Ford around the streets of San Francisco and beyond.

The next time you drive your certified Ford through Texas, look for the “environmental police” who watch your vehicle. This article talks about websites where you can report litterers and cars with sub-standard emissions. When you log on to these websites, prompts ask for the following :

License plate number
Make of vehicle
Time of day
Date
Location
What was tossed out the window
Who tossed the litter
Whether it was accidental or deliberate 

When officials at the Texas Department of Transportation receives the information, they compare it to the vehicle registration database in the state. If you report somebody, though, they can only check if it’s a Texas license plate. If there’s an exact match, they send the offender a litterbag with the words, “Don’t Mess with Texas” scrawled along the side. They also include a letter that reminds the  recipient to help keep the state beautiful by keeping litter off the roads.

You can also help the state by reporting vehicles that belch out dirty smoke for more than ten consecutive seconds. There’s a number to call that allows you to leave the necessary information within 30 days of witnessing the event.

Unfortunately, you won’t find those websites or phone numbers in this blog post. To me, this just seems like a slippery slope that is one step away from having the average citizen get people in trouble even if they didn’t do anything. And because this system is already in place, how long will it be before the police are able to issue these “offenders” tickets for their actions? I’m all about keeping the environment safe and pollution-free, but aren’t there more important things going on in this nation than a straw wrapper’s accidentally flying out the window?

If you live in Texas, you can click on the above link and get the information if you see a true offender.

If you’re like me, you probably roll your eyes every time you see a dog sitting in a driver’s lap and looking out the window. It looks like it’s just an accident waiting to happen.

I’m a pet lover, too. I love taking my pets to places with me. When my wife and I took a weekend trip to San Francisco last summer, we took our cat, Mrs. Meow-Gi, with us. But unlike many drivers on the road, we did it the safe way, with restraints and common sense. If you like to take your pets with you in your certified Ford, too, here are some tips to consider to safeguard yourself, your pet and the other drivers you encounter.

• Bring food and water for your pet. By using travel containers, youcan set them on the back seat or on the floorboard so your pet can have access to them any time. Some pets find food comforting.  So when they get nervous in the car, food can be a great distraction for them.

• Bring a few of your pet’s favorite toys.  When pets are not sleeping, toys keep them out of drivers’ laps.

• Plan stops along the way so your pet can get out and stretch. This is more applicable for dogs, but cats want to get out of the car at times, too. Be sure to have a leash and collar ready so your pet doesn’t get away.

• Never leave your pet alone in the car on hot days. Even a couple of minutes in a hot car can cause your pet to overheat or become dehydrated. If you don’t think you can avoid this, leave your pet at home.

It might take some extra work, but pets can add fun to your trip. Be sure to take care of them and make the trip enjoyable for them as well.

If you were an infant in the 1950s, your parents probably didn’t have a car seat for you when they took you along for a ride.  In fact, some cars from that era didn’t even have safety belts. But you simply can’t get away with that nowadays. That’s why we have infant car seats.

But they need to be installed properly before they ensure safety. Here are some car seat safety tips you can use in your certified Ford for maximum protection.

• Newborns should only ride in car seats that face the rear. Babies under 20 pounds are more fragile, and the stopping and starting can cause their necks to jar if facing forward.

• If your particular car seat has a base that stays in the car while the seat actually detaches, make sure you hear the click every time you put it back in the car. Without the click, it’s not securely installed.

• Make sure the harness is fastened properly. Also, make sure it’s not too tight or too loose. Either situation could cause serious injury.

• Toddlers should be in front-facing car seats.

• Always have the rear-facing car seat in the back. It might be more convenient to have it in the front passenger space, but that’s not the safest place for it.

These are just a few tips to help you protect your most precious cargo–your child. Don’t skimp on the car seat and don’t cut corners. It could literally be a life-or-death situation.

You wanted more tips for saving gas, you got ‘em. Here are three more easy ways to save fuel when driving your certified Ford.

• Don’t act like you’re in NASCAR. If you’ve noticed fingernails embedded in your seats or on the inside door handles, you might be scaring people who ride with you.  You’ve probably even caused a few other drivers to go home and change their shorts. It might be fun, but erratic driving just uses too much gasoline. Hard turns and quick braking wreak havoc on your mileage. Be gentle to your car and it’ll treat you right.

• Make sure your car is running properly. Some mechanical problems can cause your car to be less efficient. Dragging brakes, for instance, is horrible for your gas mileage. Slippage between gears can also cause you to have poorer gas mileage than necessary. Also, keep an eye on the fluid levels, cracking in the engine and other mechanical problems that could negatively affect your vehicle’s efficiency.

• You can’t tune a fish, but you can tune a car. Make sure to keep your car tuned up according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. A bad wheel alignment or a suspension system that isn’t working properly can cause your gas mileage to drop. If you notice something “off” when driving, get it checked out to help your gas mileage and to ensure your own safety.

Have we drilled it into your head enough? With oil prices exceeding $100 a barrel, you really don’t want to buy more gas than you need. There are probably dozens of ways for you to save fuel, some of them more feasible than others. Here are a few of the more reasonable ways you can save gas when driving around town in your certified Ford.

• Combine your trips as much as possible. Studies show that starting your engine a few times while it’s still warm is more fuel-efficient than starting it once or twice when the engine is cold. As a bonus, you’ll also save wear and tear on your vehicle by making one trip with several stops rather than several trips with only one stop.

• Fill ‘er up at night. Gas tends to expand in hot weather. When that happens, you might be getting less than you’re bargaining for. By waiting until the weather cools down at night, you can save those few precious cents. Also, make sure your gas cap is tight before pulling away. Loose gas caps promote evaporation, which can negatively affect your gas mileage.

• Hike it or bike it. This probably goes without saying, but short trips in a car can eat up more gas than it’s actually worth. If you have a bike and your legs aren’t broken, try getting some exercise the next time you take a trip to McDonald’s or Taco Bell. Your gas tank (and your heart) will thank you for it.

If you remember, we started a series of posts on Thursday of last week talking about five things your car will be able to do in 2020 and beyond (maybe even a year or two before). The first two capabilities were predicting the future and communicating with the road. For the third installment, today’s feature is:

Your Car Will Know When It Needs Repairs

With Wi-Fi networks taking over everything in our society and infrastructure, why wouldn’t they be able to affect the way cars run, too? Analysts predict that in the next ten years or so, cars will be able to communicate wirelessly with service stations along the road. With this interaction, the possibilities are practically limitless. The service station’s network can send your car a signal to tell it that it’s time for another oil change. Or it can even check your car’s safety sensors to see if there are any potential problems that could occur farther up the road.

But that’s not the most exciting part. When hybrids and electric cars take over the road, there’s a possibility that satellites could recharge your vehicles from space. By gathering solar energy and them transmitting that power to vehicle receivers through a wireless communication signal, satellites could recharge your vehicle while you sleep!

While these changes are taking effect, though, invest in a certified Ford to get you through these Dark Ages of car technology. You’ll get the quality vehicle you need at a price you want, and it’ll probably last you until the days when your car will be more intuitive than you.

Yesterday we talked about how your car will be able to predict the future in 2020. Today is Part Two.

Communication with the Road
The second thing your 2020 car will be able to do that it can’t do now is communicate with the road. That’s right . . . the road.  Sounds crazy, right? Listen to this. The road will also be able to communicate with your vehicle.

Automakers and local governments are already working on this technology by installing Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) systems into the major roadways of major towns. With these wireless signals, vehicles can talk to each other and the road’s infrastructure. It’s not known yet if the blue vehicles can buy the pink vehicles a drink. Maybe that’s in store for 2040.
The wireless communication networks will have the capability to monitor where cars are going. Some companies are even working on technology that can pinpoint any GPS-enabled vehicle within a few centimeters. This will inevitably involve putting more satellites into space to track the vehicles more accurately.

Here’re two more good things about the new technology. Emergency vehicles will be able to remotely change red lights to green and vice versa to avoid entering intersections with unsuspecting drivers. The new system will also alert drivers of horrible weather conditions and provide alternate routes.

On the other hand, does anybody else think “Big Brother” when they read stories like this? I know the government couldn’t care less about what I’m doing, but it just seems too intrusive to me. These new technologies may also tend to make drivers less aware of their surroundings.

Until these new technologies are available, make a wise investment in a certified Ford.  As they are newer models, you can experience the latest gadgets and technology that automakers have to offer in today’s market.

You’ve seen the commercials for the cars that can park themselves with the push of a button. You’ve probably even seen the vehicles that can change lanes by themselves. But it looks like that’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as what vehicles will be able to do in the next decade.  A CNN.com article discusses five things a typical car will be able to do before long. And it might surprise you that none of those five things includes flying.

Predicting the Future
No, there probably won’t be crystal balls on the dashboards of modern vehicles in the year 2020, but cars will be more intuitive than they are now. Some analysts believe it will be standard for vehicles to look for possible dangers ahead so they can react instantaneously and avoid accidents. For instance, you car might be able to predict when pedestrians are crossing the streets even as they are merely approaching the intersections.

This isn’t witchcraft, either. But it does involve a high level of sophistication in the area of artificial intelligence. Vehicles will have hundreds of sensors, both short-range and long-range.

Also, vehicles of the future will work with video monitors at intersections. These monitors will be able to feed information into your vehicle’s computer system through a wireless network as far as 30 miles away. The car can then warn you about potential dangers coming up or even take action itself to avoid these dangers. Several major metropolitan cities already have this technology at many intersections, but it will be much more widespread by the time these vehicles hit the market.

You won’t find these features on your certified Ford for at least another decade. But there’s no reason you shouldn’t get one of these quality used Ford vehicles today. With a little TLC, it’ll last you until these new models come out and probably for several years afterwards.

Come back tomorrow for Part Two!