Tips and guides
Car and golf cart tips from Eric
Straight answers to the questions Eric hears most around The Villages.
All tips
Check engine light explained: what to do in The Villages
Steady or flashing? What your check engine light means, what usually causes it, and what a professional scan tells you that a free code read can't.
Read the tip
Why won't my car start? Battery, starter or alternator
Silence, rapid clicking, or it started and died? How to tell a dead battery from a bad starter or alternator before you call a tow in The Villages.
Read the tip
Classic car care in The Villages, FL
Florida humidity is hard on classic cars. What goes wrong with seals, carburetors, ethanol fuel and hidden rust, and the simple habits that prevent it.
Read the tip
Golf cart brakes: seven warning signs
A spongy pedal, grinding, pulling to one side: seven signs your golf cart brakes need attention, and why carts in The Villages wear brakes out faster.
Read the tip
How retirees in The Villages can avoid getting overcharged on car repairs
Get a written estimate, ask to see the part, check FDACS registration and read recent reviews. Plain advice for avoiding overpriced car repairs in Florida.
Read the tip
Mobile mechanic or repair shop? What Villages residents should know
An honest comparison: which repairs a mobile mechanic does better in your driveway, which jobs still need a shop, and how to check out any mechanic.
Read the tip
The Villages snowbird checklist: prep your car and golf cart before you head north
Before you leave The Villages for the season: oil, fuel, tires and battery steps for your car, plus charging and storage tips that save your golf cart.
Read the tipCan my golf cart cross US-441? The Villages rules explained
Golf cart rules in The Villages in plain terms: the 30 mph road rule, tunnels and bridges, LSVs versus carts, and when your lights must be on.
Read the tip
Why won't my golf cart start after sitting? A battery guide
Corroded terminals, heat and low water kill golf cart batteries fast in Florida. What to check first, and the simple habits that make batteries last.
Read the tip