To avoid dead battery, start your vehicle every two weeks

QYour column is mostly traffic-related, but

I suggest writing also about the pitfalls of letting your car sit for extended periods of time. How do you shelter in place because of COVID-19 and keep your car battery from dying? I’m sure you have contacts that could shed light on that.

— Pat Tehan

AEnter Jeff-the-CarMan. His advice: “Start the car every two weeks and let it idle (no revving!) for at least one minute. If you’re in the garage, either back it out, or at least open the garage door. Carbon monoxide is no joke.

“If the car is outside, wash it (at least rinse it off) and dry it once a month. Run the air conditioner for at least one minute once a month. Check your tires once a month, as well. Air does seep out.”

QWhile the roadways remain relatively clear because of COVID-19 and the stay-athome orders, our streets and sidewalks have seen a major increase in people walking their dogs. I have been walking the same routes for 36 years with my own dogs and have never seen so much dog poop in the road, on sidewalks, on trails, on people’s lawns. It’s easy to see that much of this poop has been stepped in and smeared.

Walking shouldn’t have to be like negotiating through a minefield. People need to be responsible and clean up after their animals. This world is not a personal toilet for their dogs. I’ve been wanting to rant about traffic calming in the area where I live, but this issue is right now and on my shoe.

— Jacqueline Hegstrom,

San Jose

AYuck. Dog walkers, carry a plastic bag, pick up after your fourlegged pals and make sure to toss the bag in a garbage can. Don’t leave the bag on the sidewalk or grass — you wouldn’t want someone to leave a dog poop-filled bag on your sidewalk or yard.

QI live by at least three Arco stations.

The closest one is just ¼-mile away at Middlefield Road at Shoreline Boulevard. The lowest price there is still $2.99, even though the price for a barrel of crude oil is down to $23.

— Thomas Gazdayka,

Mountain View

ALook for a huge drop in prices in April. It could be 50 cents or more a gallon.

QI have a Real ID driver’s license up for renewal in November. Will I be able to renew it online?

— David Cohen

AYou sure will. Once you have a Real ID driver’s license or identification card, you may be eligible to renew it by mail or online. Your renewal notice will indicate if an office visit is required.

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