Q: As I walk around town, I find these 1/8-inch-wide pieces of metal on the roadside and in parking lots. I have asked a few mechanics if they knew where they are coming from, but no answers yet. Thought I would give you a try.
— B.H., Coopersburg, Pa.
A: We could not resist the challenge. It helped that you enclosed a sample in your letter, so we did some snooping. It seems that this time of year yields lots of these 1/8-inch-by-10-inch springy sticks. That is because they are bristles from street sweeper brushes.
Q: Is there a time (in years) or mileage when flexible brake hoses should be replaced?
— J.S., Glen Ellyn, Ill.
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A: No, but all brake lines, including the steel lines, should be inspected during every brake job.
Q: Your recent article about a “windshield magnet” really angered me. I have had many windshields cracked from trucks without mudguards that have open beds with debris falling out or stones piled over the top. Trucks, trailers and 4x4s drive with impunity and totally disregard the hazards they leave behind, because the police do not enforce the laws. The laws address covering your load and securing debris, but they are never enforced. Why? Because the little guy like me cannot catch them after something hits my window and they keep going. Please do not blame the window; blame the place where the debris comes from — the careless trucks and SUVs.
— C.E., Chicago
A: We simply said that some windshields seem to be magnets. Maybe it is the rake of the glass, maybe it is the shape of the vehicle’s frontal area. We never implied that windshields could pluck stones from the ground. Yeah, we agree that the laws should be enforced. Go get ’em, tiger.
Q: I think all vehicles need to be equipped with sensors to turn on headlights when the light is dim. Also, wipers should be wired so they will not operate unless the headlights are on. (In many states, this is the law, but it is ignored.) Another solution would be that headlights go on when the ignition is turned on, like motorcycles. I would appreciate your comments.
— P.G., Whitehall, Pa.
A: Automatic headlights have been around for years as an option, but we agree that it would be nice if carmakers offered them gratis. We already have daytime running lights on many makes and models, but they are not required by law … yet. As to the wipers, a better solution would be to have the headlights illuminate when the wipers are turned on rather than preventing the wipers from working without the lights. We live in Virginia where headlights must be activated when the wipers are running. We find this rather inconvenient, though, when we select intermittent wiping.
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