Q: Loved seeing your “glove box” item in my East Bay Times today. Glove box is what my mom called it. Dad said “jockey box." What can you tell us about jockey box history? I’m 78 so my parents are long gone, but I like to say jockey box when my grown grandkids are in the car, just to hear their reaction and so I can tell family stories.

J.T., Richmond, California

A: I had to dig out my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hat and hunt down this one. I found the "Way With Words" podcast that said: “A bartender wonders about the origin of the term jockey box. In his world, a jockey box is a metal container for ice. However, in some parts of the western U.S., a jockey box is the glove compartment of a car, and much earlier, the term referred to boxes attached to the side of chuck wagons for holding feed or water.” My first thought was that it was a place to keep an extra pair of underwear. Was your dad a bartender?

Q: Hold the key fob against your temple and you will find the range to operate is greatly increased. Try it. It works!

C.L., Granby, Massachusetts

A: I often turn to snopes.com to see if an urban legend is bunk. In this case, it’s true. Snopes says “Famous 'car guy' Jeremy Clarkson announced to the 'Top Gear' audience that he had learned something that morning that he found so astonishing he had to test it. It's an oft-repeated claim, spread more like urban legend than actual fact. You can extend the range from which to lock or unlock your car simply by holding your key fob to your head.” Sure, but will it improve your IQ?

Q: I want to add to your advice to K.R. about her battery problem. There is a gadget that she can have installed and she can turn off the battery anytime she knows she’s not driving the car for a while. I have used it for a couple of years and it works great.

H.S., Lincolnwood, Illinois

A: The gadget you refer to is a master switch. Known as a kill switch, they are common on race cars, but I wouldn’t use it for my daily driver. If the battery voltage is lost for an extended time, various components like radios presets, maps and some control modules may need to be reset. Some things will reset themselves while driving, others will require your help.

Q: When modern cars are several years old is there anything related to the air conditioner refrigerant that needs to be done? I see that in auto parts stores they sell a canister of refrigerant for the do-it-yourselfer. Thank you for your weekly articles, I love reading them.

D.S., Euclid, Ohio

A: When you say “modern” cars, that’s hard to answer. Millions of cars worldwide now use R-1234yf refrigerant. An 8-ounce can costs about $50 retail. Not really a DIY item and there is no scheduled maintenance for adding refrigerant.

Q: I used to faithfully apply grease to car battery terminals to prevent corrosion until advised by an electrician and Pikes Peak Hill Climb racer to use Karo (corn syrup) instead. It totally seals terminals so there is no corrosion. Cleanup is simple, just wash your hands. Removal is also easy -- just pour hot water over terminals until the Karo is gone.

T.H., Colorado Springs, Colorado

A: Sweet! (As in high fructose corn sweetener.)

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