Q: My wife and I will be in the market for a new car next year. One big debate we are having is all-wheel drive vs. front-wheel drive, specifically as it relates to safety in the Chicago winters. I keep hearing that as a result of traction control there is really no safety difference between all wheel drive and front wheel drive. Is this true? Are there any other considerations to think about? -- S.S., Evanston

A: S.S., while front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles with traction control greatly enhance foul-weather traction, they are not as good as all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles. If you’re looking for the best drive system for slippery pavement, it would be AWD. That doesn’t mean that FWD vehicles with traction control won’t get you through the snow, but I would recommend you choose a snowy day to go out and test drive a few FWD and AWD vehicles to see which one is best for you. Most FWD vehicles with traction control are quite capable of relieving that usual stressful feeling when driving on slippery pavement, but some are better than others. Also, some AWD vehicles are better than others when it comes to foul-weather driving. Happy shopping.

Q: I believe that there’s transmission fluid leaking from my 2006 Chrysler 300. The fluid is red in color and is on my garage floor near the middle of my stall and back a bit, like from behind the engine. A friend of mine has a repair shop and he cleaned the pan area, but can’t tell exactly where the fluid is coming from. Do you know of any problems that could be causing the leak? -- A.D., Palos Hills

A: A.D., there are two areas of concern. One is the transmission dipstick tube seal and the other are the electric connector seals. Take your 300 to you local dealer and they should be able to remedy your leaky transmission.

Q: I’m having trouble with the turn signals on my 2001 Dodge Intrepid. The right turn signal works fine, but the left turn signal flashes with a much faster frequency. Could it be a bad flasher? I don’t even know where the flasher is located. Please help. -- M.E., Chicago

A: M.E., it’s probably not a turn signal flasher, but a burned out bulb. One of the best ways to see which turn signal bulb is not working is to turn on the hazard flashers and compare the lamps from side to side. When you find the bulb that’s not working, try switching a known good bulb from the other side of the vehicle to see if it now works. If the bulb doesn’t illuminate after changing it, then there’s a problem with the bulb’s socket or wiring. By the way, your Intrepid’s turn signal flasher is under the dash and it’s combined with the hazard flasher into a signal unit known as the combination flasher

Q: The horn stopped working on my 2000 Ford Escort. The fuse is good, but someone told me the relay might be bad. Do you know where the horn relay is on my car? -- J.W., email A: J.W., the horn relay on your Escort is located under the dash to the left of the steering wheel. To help identify the horn relay, it has two green/yellow wires, a green/orange and an orange/blue wire connected to it.

AutoAdviser: Ira Siegel is an Automotive Instructor and ASE Certified Master Auto Technician. If you have auto-related questions for Ira Siegel you can call and leave your questions at the Auto Adviser Hotline at 708-633-6839 or e-mail a question to Autoadvisr@aol.com.