Are smoked tail lights illegal? I have been thinking about getting smoked lights for my Chrysler Fifth Avenue because they look really cool, but I'm worried about attracting unwanted attention on the road and getting ticketed because of the darkened lights. What's the law about this?

There are differing laws and similarly differing opinion when it comes to smoking or blacking out tail lights. In general, you need to ensure that the red beams on the tail lights will be visible from afar (the exact distance will depend on the laws in your state) and that your vehicle will remain visible when you drive at night. In many states, blackening out the tail lights in any form is illegal, and there is good reason for this—it reduces visibility and increases the likelihood of accident. Others counter this by installing bright reflectors to compensate for the visibility loss caused by the darkened lens. The best thing to do would be to look into the specific rules and regulations in the state where you live.

I need to replace the rearview mirror in my vehicle for the first time, and I'm seeing a wide range of mirror options in the market. What features are useful to consider in a rearview mirror?

The various rearview mirrors being offered in the market today come with a variety of features, most of which are geared towards increasing the driver's visibility and driving safety. When looking to buy a new mirror, you can look into three of the modern mirror features today. One is the auto-dimming feature that allows a mirror to adjust such that it dims a little when it encounters glare to keep you from being blinded. Another feature is the anti-glare feature. The purpose is similar to the first one, but it does this in a different way. While the auto-dimming feature works because of a sensor, the anti-glare feature works because the mirror element is shaped like a wedge. The third is the bi-directional feature, which allows the mirror to tilt a little (via a switch) to keep the headlights of the cars behind from blinding the driver. Consider any of these features when getting a replacement to the rearview mirror in your vehicle.

I had a head gasket that failed prematurely in my Chrysler Fifth Avenue. According to my mechanic, the gasket was most likely improperly installed. I was the one who installed the gasket together with a buddy who's a car junky. What's the proper way to install this gasket? Any tips?

The first thing to remember when installing a head gasket is to ensure that the surface to which the gasket will be mounted is properly cleaned. Otherwise, any small particles on the surface could cause irregularity and damage. Depending on the type of gasket you get, you may or may not use sealant to secure the gasket. Be sure you check whether your new gasket will need a sealant or not. When tightening, see to it that you use a torque wrench and torque to the correct specification. The amount of torque applied will be specified in your car manual—follow this carefully to avoid over- or under-torquing.

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