It's common practice for a repair shop to provide a detailed estimate of needed repairs before work begins on your car or truck. If you're getting work done without one, you could be making a big mistake. Estimates aren't just for a consumer's protection, they protect the shop from misunderstandings, arguments and even law suits. Getting the details on paper ensures everybody knows what to expect when work commences, and when it's time to pay up. A proper estimate will detail both parts and labor charges in a way you can read and make sense of. Keep in mind, however, that an estimate isn't the final word on your car repair. Often a mechanic will discover other problems as work progresses, or will find that a different part was actually at fault. There's no way around this until somebody invents an automotive crystal ball, so getting upset at your mechanic over additional charges is usually out of line. The bottom line, don't say yes unless it's in writing, no matter what side of the repair counter you stand on.

When times get tough, Americans get tougher. That may sound like a propaganda slogan, but in many cases it rings true. People in this country take their cars and trucks very seriously. Even those you would hardly label "gearheads" will step up to the plate if they think their driving status is at stake, and lately they've been doing just that. It's easy for me to tell you, but check out the results of a recent study by Honeywell. They found that more than half of the car owners in the US are getting greasy more often! Here are the results:

• 51% of American vehicle owners are rolling up their sleeves and handling more car care on their own.

• 89% of these newfound DIYers report that they didn't really perform these tasks before -- they hired a professional.
• 51% admit to doing the bare minimum for their vehicles; and 21% have avoided service altogether.
• 14% report addressing more high ticket repairs that could extend their vehicle's life.

That's some serious fixin'! If you can't yet count yourself amongst the 51% that are getting busy, now's the time to step up. Make it happen, and save some serious money in process.

_{Honeywell is the parent company of Autolite, FRAM, Prestone and Bendix -- all makers of auto repair and maintenance parts and products.}

This letter was a good reminder that your car is always communicating with you in its own way.

Hi Matthew, I think I need to have the frame of my car straightened. My tires are going bald on one side and it's gotten to the point that I think I should pay to have the frame repaired rather than keep buying tires. Any advice is appreciated! -- Janice

Janice, a bent or twisted frame can cause your tires to wear unevenly, but there are far more common causes than that. If your car was in a serious accident, you might check the frame, but most likely the problem is in your suspension. Even a pothole can cause part of your suspension to bend or knock itself out of adjustment, making your car a tire-eating machine. Have your alignment checked first, then you can go from there to get to the source of your premature tire wear.

Patrick Sullivan writes to remind us how important it can be to carry a fire extinguisher. Even the smallest emergency model is enough to put out most common automotive fires. Patrick has used his extinguisher on more than one occasion, hear his stories:

A tow truck on a hot summer day in Chicago backfired at a red light while towing a disabled vehicle. A small fire began under the hood in the carburetor and the driver was using everything nearby to put it out. I had a small extinguisher and gave it to him and it immediately put out the fire and saved his truck. Another time an old car at a stop sign, same problem. I volunteered my small fire extinguisher and 'poof' his old car was still alive.
For only a few dollars, a small extinguisher in the glove box could save a lot of money.

See? I speak truths!