Q. Do new tires lose a little air every month? I bought a new Honda Insight in May and every three months, a light comes on due to low tire pressure. It has happened twice so far. All four tires were low by five pounds and had to be inflated by the dealer. When I asked about this the service manager said this is normal. Is it?

A. All tires will lose air over time. In cooler weather tires can lose one or two pounds of pressure per month. In warmer weather it can be higher. This is why it is important to check your car’s tire pressure at least once per month, using a quality tire gauge. Maintaining the correct pressure will maximize both fuel economy and tire life.

Q. The oil light came on in my car while driving; shortly after that, the car shut off. It is a 1989 Honda Prelude. What do you think is wrong?

A. When the oil light or any other red light comes on, you need to stop driving immediately. The oil light indicates there is/was dangerously low oil pressure. Driving with the oil light on could have seized and destroyed the engine. At this point, take the car to a mechanic and have it checked out. Although considering its age, it may have been near the end of its useful life. 

Q. I have a 10 year-old Saab. What is the life expectancy of the airbag system? I want to give the car to my daughter this spring and am wondering if the airbags wear out?

A. Most car manufacturers consider the airbag system to last the life of the car. If the airbag light is on, this would indicate one of the systems that support the airbag has failed and needs to be repaired.

Q. I was recently at a dinner party and heard someone refer to the Smart Car as a rolling coffin. Are these cars as unsafe as this person was making them out to be?

A. The Smart Car is a safe car that utilizes advanced seat belts, air bags and traction and stability control. The design of the car utilizes a safety cage to protest the occupants. In fact, the Smart Car did receive a “good” rating for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as well as a four-star rating from NHTSA. Now all of this doesn’t change the law of physics when it comes to vehicle crashes and doesn’t remove the responsibility of the driver to drive safely. 

Q. Now that the cold weather is here, I get a shock every time I get out of my car. Is there something I can do?

A. Static electricity is the imbalance of positive and negative changes. During the summer when the weather is more humid, these charges tend to roll off of us more quickly. With winter, comes cold, dry air and the imbalance of charges tends to build until you touch your car and the charge goes to ground. Using a fabric spray, such a Static Guard, once or twice a month will usually help eliminate static shocks.

Q. I have a delivery van (former bread truck), and it is always cold inside. I remember years ago I had a friend with a Volkswagen with a gasoline heater that worked very well. Is there a modern equivalent for trucks?

A. The only item that I’m familiar with is the Blueheat unit by Webasto—I’m sure there are others. These units heat the air or the coolant depending on the model, using vehicle fuel. They work almost like a little household furnace. My only experience is with one installed in a Dodge Sprinter. This was a great system, provided plenty of heat, used a minimal amount of fuel and had a timer that could be programmed so the interior was warm when you needed the truck. Best of all, there was no excessive idling, wasting fuel and adding to air pollution worries.