Articles filed under Autos

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Patriotic Jeeps are treasures that arose from tragedyJul 7, 2014 12:00 AM
Nick Priola loves Jeeps. The off-road enthusiast has owned more than 20. Each one has been a blast, the Lake Bluff resident says, but there’s just one that “will always have a special place” in his heart: his 1976 CJ-5.
No harm in changing fluids earlyJul 6, 2014 12:00 AM
Q. My dealer recomends I change my transmission fluid and coolant. I checked the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual, which states these items don’t need attention with 34,000 miles. The dealer says the owner’s manual is written for several models and that the engineers recommend these items be done now. Is he correct?
Zeigler Chevrolet manager says mentor’s words sparked careerJul 5, 2014 12:00 AM
The automobile business has always been good to Frank Psyhogios of Zeigler Chevrolet Schaumburg. It has given him much success and many of his life’s accomplishments.
Blue Bird recalls school busesJul 4, 2014 12:00 AM
Blue Bird is recalling more than 2,500 All American school buses and some transit buses to fix a problem that could make steering more difficult.
Subaru recalls 660K vehicles for brake line rustJul 3, 2014 12:00 AM
Subaru is recalling more than 660,000 cars and SUVs because the brake lines can rust and leak fluid, and that can mean it will take longer to stop the vehicles. For about half the vehicles, it’s the second recall for the same problem. Affected are 2005 through 2009 Legacy and Outback, the 2008 through 2014 Impreza and the 2009 through 2013 Forester.
Pontiac Gran Parisienne shows its Canadian rootsJun 30, 2014 12:00 AM
Right out of the gate, Tom Mianulli of Rolling Meadows was a full-size car kind of guy. As a child, his parents toted him around in a colossal 1967 Buick LeSabre. So his eyes were drawn to this Canadian-built, 1968 Pontiac Gran Parisienne when he saw it at an auction.
Websites can take some hassle out of car-buyingJun 29, 2014 12:00 AM
Want to take some of the stress and mystery out of the car-buying process? Get on the Internet. Auto Web sites — once filled mostly with reviews and advice — are getting more sophisticated, connecting potential buyers with dealers and offering instant price guarantees.
GM crash victim payment plan won’t have limitJun 28, 2014 12:00 AM
The GM compensation likely will be limited to victims of crashes of older small cars, of which GM recalled 2.6 million earlier this year because the switches can cause engines to stall, shutting off power steering and brakes. That can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and also disables the air bags. The cars include the Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion, both of which are no longer made.
Feds probe Nissan cars for unwanted accelerationJun 28, 2014 12:00 AM
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Saturday on its website that four drivers have complained that a trim panel near the gas pedal can trap the edge of a driver’s shoe. This can stop the driver from releasing the gas pedal quickly and delay braking.
GM issues 3 more recalls covering 474,000 vehiclesJun 27, 2014 12:00 AM
The recalls, part of a top-to-bottom safety review, bring the company’s total for the year to 48, covering more than 20 million cars and trucks. That beats GM’s old full-year record of 10.75 million in 2004.
Car club calendar Jun 25, 2014 12:00 AM
The Chicago suburbs are home to many car lovers and clubs devoted to models ranging from the Alfa Romeo to Volkswagen. The Daily Herald has compiled a list of monthly meetings for area car clubs, as well as several local motorcycling groups.
Honda, Mazda, Nissan issue recalls over airbagsJun 23, 2014 12:00 AM
Honda, Mazda and Nissan are recalling millions of vehicles globally for defective airbags manufactured by supplier Takata Corp. that could possibly explode. No accidents have been reported related to Monday’s recalls. Honda Motor Co. recalled 2.03 million vehicles for the airbag problem, including 1.02 million in North America and nearly 669,000 in Japan.
The star of this cruise night was storytellingJun 22, 2014 12:00 AM
This week we revisited some of the stories and autos previously featured in this Classic Recollections column — and learned about some new ones — at the first of three summer cruise nights being sponsored by the Daily Herald and Randhurst Village in Mount Prospect.
On rare occasion, old transmission fluid can helpJun 22, 2014 12:00 AM
Q. I recall reading somewhere that if the transmission fluid hasn’t been changed for a very long time, replacing it may not be a good idea because the new fluid is thinner and dirt free, compared to the old fluid. The implication was, one might be better off leaving things as they are.
Simon to help promote electric vehicles in IllinoisJun 21, 2014 12:00 AM
Community colleges throughout Illinois are planning a three-day road trip to help promote electric vehicle charging stations. Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will help kick off the event on Monday, June 23, at John A. Logan College in Carterville.
Harley-Davidson introduces electric motorcycleJun 19, 2014 12:00 AM
Harley-Davidson will unveil its first electric motorcycle next week, and President Matt Levatich said he expects the company known for its big touring bikes and iconic brand to become a leader in developing technology and standards for electric vehicles.
Auto enthusiasts share stories at Daily Herald eventJun 19, 2014 12:00 AM
Auto enthusiasts got a chance to share stories at a Daily Herald subscriber event held in advance of Randhurst's first Cruise Night, which featured some 100 cars parked near the intersection of Rand and Elmhurst roads. “I love classic cars. I love muscle cars. But the thing that gets me out of bed every morning is that every car has a story,” said the Daily Herald's Matthew Avery, who writes the “Classic Recollections” auto column.
Lawmakers press GM on car safetyJun 18, 2014 12:00 AM
Lawmakers at the hearing were skeptical of many of the conclusions in Valukas’s report, which was paid for by GM and released June 5. The report found that a lone engineer, Ray DeGiorgio, was able to approve the use of a switch that didn’t meet company specifications. Years later, he ordered a change to that switch without anyone else at GM being aware.
Lawmakers press GM on report’s findingsJun 18, 2014 12:00 AM
House members questioned whether the culture at General Motors could truly change, and whether the dismissal of 15 employees was enough, as they grilled CEO Mary Barra about the actions she’s taken since GM admitted that it failed to act on a deadly safety issue for more than a decade. A House subcommittee heard testimony Wednesday from Barra and attorney Anton Valukas.
GM recalling 3.4 million more cars for ignition switch problemsJun 16, 2014 12:00 AM