Aftermarket ultra bright lights work, don't void warranty

Dear Jean: We replace a lot of headlight bulbs on a variety of vehicles. We use the Silver Star brand of ultra bright lights. These bulbs do make a big difference and will not void the warranty and/or cause any wiring issues. As for adjusting the light height, you need to use a headlight board or wall with the vehicle on a level surface and follow the manufacturer's height adjustment. I think the brighter bulb replacement will make your daughter happy.

Dear Frank: The alternator light is illuminating because there is a feedback from the alternator, which is most likely a weak diode. The alternator can charge normally for many years to come or could fail at any time. You can have the technician perform a full load test and check the ripple lines of the alternator with a professional charging system tester -- not just a small hand held tester.

Dear Mike: Removal of the transmission pan is straightforward. Sometimes a pan bolt is blocked by the rear transmission mount or cross member. Some of the GM truck transmission pans have a drain plug that can be hard to remove because the 15mm bolt head is very weak and shallow. An option is to have the fluid changed at a shop with a fluid exchange machine that hooks up to the transmission cooler lines. Removing the transmission pan, or just a drain, will get out about 6 quarts vs. a complete fluid change, which averages 13 quarts, the total fluid in the transmission. As for the filter change, most of the transmission filters today are a plastic screen type and the transmission pan gasket is reusable.

Dear Donna: The Chevy Volt extended range vehicle (gas and electric) is very normal to drive in many ways. If there were any concern it would be the price tag. Our test car's base price was $39,995, before any discounts and tax credits. After an overnight charge, the range indicated 32 miles of electric driving. I kept an eye on the mileage remaining on the battery power while traveling at speeds of 65 mph. Naturally, the driving range kept getting lower, but on my 17-mile trip the gas engine kept the battery powered up. I would recommend you ask the dealer if you could take the Volt overnight to really get the full experience of charging and testing it.

Dear Marvin: Over the Christmas holiday I had the new 650i. The car was amazing. Our tester had a base price of $90,500. The 4.4-liter V-8 twin turbo coupled to the 8-speed super fast and firm-shifting transmission makes you a driver -- not just someone riding in this car. The BMW looks like it's speeding while parked. On the road we got over the estimated 24 miles per gallon. Unlike BMWs of the past with a confusing iDrive, the latest version is a joy to operate.