Recalls & Car-Care Tips
Car News for Boca Raton Drivers
Car industry news and recall notices.
What That Tractor-Trailer 'Power Divider' Switch Means for Your Car's Traction
You've probably seen a big rig's 'power divider' switch mentioned in trucking forums. It's basically an inter-axle differential lock that forces both rear drive axles to turn together for better grip in snow, mud, or loose gravel. Think of…
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Why Your Mercedes May Stumble on a Cold Start - and What to Do About It
If you own a Mercedes-Benz with the M276 engine — common in many E-Class, ML, and GL models from the 2010s — you might notice a rough idle or stumble when the engine is cold. It’s a complaint we hear from time to time at our shop, and the…
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Porsche’s Engine Legacy: From Air-Cooled Flat-Six to V10 Supercars
When most people think of Porsche, they picture the unmistakable sound of a flat-six engine. That’s the heart of the iconic 911 and the thrilling Cayman GT4 RS. But Porsche’s engineering story goes far beyond that single configuration.…
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Why Your Pickup or Van Might Fail a New Safety Test - and What It Means for Your Car
If you drive a heavy-duty pickup like a Ford Super Duty or Ram HD, you might assume it meets the same safety standards as a passenger car. Until now, federal rules didn’t require it. That’s changing, thanks to the Insurance Institute for…
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Mercedes 35 PS: The Car That Changed Everything (and Why It Still Matters for Your Ride)
Before your Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Audi had all those computers, sensors, and hybrid batteries, there was a car that set the blueprint for everything that followed. That car is the Mercedes 35 PS, introduced in 1901. It wasn’t just another…
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The Glidden Tours: How a Road Trip Proved the Car Was Here to Stay
Today, we hardly think twice about hopping in a car for a cross-country drive. But in the early 1900s, the automobile was a noisy, unreliable novelty—and most Americans trusted a horse over a horseless carriage. That skepticism started to…
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Salvage Titles and Maintenance for European and Japanese Vehicles
A 2013 Mercedes C63 AMG with nearly 100,000 miles recently hit the market for $20,999, complete with modifications, a factory limited-slip differential, and—importantly—a salvage title from a theft recovery over a decade ago. For owners of…
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Why That Stubborn Screw Might Not Be Your Fault (And How to Fix It)
If you’ve ever tried to remove a screw on your Honda, Toyota, or Lexus and felt it strip under pressure, don’t blame yourself. The culprit might be your screwdriver. Many Japanese cars use JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screws, which…
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What Every Turbo Owner Should Know: Lessons from the Oldsmobile Jetfire’s Short Life
Long before Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Audi mastered turbocharging, Oldsmobile tried it in 1962 with the Jetfire. It was a bold move—a turbocharged aluminum V8 in a family car—but it taught engineers some hard lessons that still matter today,…
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Ford Expands Powertrain Options for Concept Vehicles
Ford has scaled back its electric vehicle ambitions, writing off billions in the process, but its appetite for building outrageous technical demonstrators remains strong. The next ones, however, may not run on batteries alone. The program…
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What a Forgotten Ford Concept Car Means for Your European or Japanese Car’s Future
You might have heard about Ford’s old Mustang I concept—a tiny, mid-engine two-seater from the early 1960s that never made it to production. It’s a fun piece of history, but here’s what it really tells us: car companies have always…
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A 2001 Mercedes E320 Wagon’s Limp-Mode Mystery: One Mechanic’s Diagnostic Journey
When a 2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic wagon threw up the dreaded “ELEC. STABIL. PROG. ESP VISIT WORKSHOP” message and entered limp mode, one owner’s troubleshooting became a lesson in automotive detective work. After initially replacing…
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