Q. I drove to Iowa in my 1995 Honda Civic four-cylinder with a five-speed manual transmission and 83,000 miles on the odometer. It provided 50 mpg. I drove at 65 mph and was always passed, but who cares? I bought the car last December for $2,000 and everything works, although it has no power accessories. --D.P., Bolingbrook

A. The 1995 Civic was offered with a 92-horsepower four-cylinder rated at 56 mpg on highways (and 47 in the city) with a five-speed manual under the old EPA fuel-economy rating system. So it's possible you got 50 mpg, at least while cruising, although many would find it disconcerting to be continually passed, especially by large trucks. Older small economy cars have been in demand since gasoline hit $4 a gallon. But finding a reliable, safe one from the 1970s-1990s such as Civics, Chevy Chevettes and Ford Escorts can be difficult. Many owners neglected maintenance and drove these cars into the ground because they eventually were considered "throwaways."

Q. Will I damage a regular automatic transmission, not one with a manual-shift feature, if I manually shift it? --L.B., Geneva

A. Not likely, but why would you want to do that? An automatic with no manual shift mode is designed to be left in "drive" for optimum performance and fuel economy. Even one with a manual-shift feature is best left in "drive" mode most of the time. The exception is some high-performance models, which often have paddle shifters near the steering wheel to upshift and downshift and are liked by drivers who want to manually shift -- but also want the option of a fully automatic mode.

Q. My 1991 Cadillac has a defective parking light module that can't be replaced due to the car's age. Any suggestions about getting one? Also, I'm due for a driving exam and read that a car is required to have parking lights. Will a defective light put a restriction on my driving license? --P.B., Chicago

A. I doubt such a defective item would cause a problem with your license. But why worry? You can find the part. If Cadillac dealers can't get it, try what once were called "auto graveyards." Many now are sophisticated operations that use computers to find hard-to-locate parts. Your Cadillac isn't all THAT old, so you shouldn't have too much trouble. Also, you can get old parts with the monthly Hemmings Motor News publication (hemmings.com). It's filled with ads for a variety of old cars and parts. Hemmings helps locate parts through its Parts & Information Location Service and is sold in car magazine sections at stores. Larry Claypool, of Frankfort's 'Vair Shop old car facility, recommends using online services such as UsedAutoParts.com. Specify the part you want and it will e-mail back with your required information. These days, one can even build a popular classic such as a 1957 Chevrolet with aftermarket parts!

Q. Do some automakers provide cars with, of all things, a black dipstick to check the level of, say, power steering fluid? --B.B., Chicago

A. Black plastic dipsticks sometimes are used to check levels of such things as power steering fluid, but they don't make it especially difficult to get a correct fluid reading, says Elmwood Park's Caira Automotive. The ones I've seen are short and you just hold them at the correct angle to get an accurate reading. The same technique holds true for longer, usually metal, dipsticks used to check engine oil levels.

Car question? Send it to Dan Jedlicka, Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans, Chicago 60654, or e-mail djedlicka@suntimes.com. Include name and hometown.