Auto Warranty

A driver’s worst nightmare is to turn the key and have their car not start.  Sometimes your engine will turn over but for some reason the car just won’t start.  Do you know what to do if this happens to you? Of course you could call a mechanic.  However, without an auto warranty you might face costly repairs. There are three things that you should check on your own first.  A car relies on air, fire and fuel.  If a car doesn’t get one or two of these vital ingredients, it won’t start.

The first thing that you should check is to make sure the car has gasoline.  If there is an adequate amount, the engine might have been flooded.  You can floor the gas pedal for around ten seconds, but be careful not to pump it while you are turning the ignition.  If the engine is still not starting, tap the carburetor close to the gas line.  This can free the line if the needle valve is stuck.

It is also important to check for broken or loose spark plug wires.  Make sure to do this with the engine off.  The wires that go from the distributor cap to the spark plugs should be secured down on the ends.

Now that you have checked for fuel and fire, we move on to an air check.  If you own a car with a carburetor, take off the top of the air filter and look at the choke plate.  If it appears stuck, open or close it.  Then jiggle the plate in order for it to move freely.

Checking the three main ingredients, air, fire and fuel are a great place to start if your car won’t turn over.  However, you may need a mechanic if you can’t find anything wrong.  You never know when your car might breakdown, which makes it is a necessity to have an auto warranty to protect you from costly repairs.

If you’re considering buying a new vehicle this year you need to consider the worth of the car in a few years, when you’re ready to trade it in for another car.  Consider these four factors that determine the resale value of a vehicle.

Supply and demand is a big factor.  Vehicles that have a high volume of production, such as Chevrolet and Ford pickup trucks don’t hold a high resale value because they are so numerous.

Next, brand image is key.  For instance, Toyota, Porsche, and Honda have great images, which is the reason they end up on the high end of the table every year.  Regardless of whether the vehicle deserves it or not, brand name is a huge factor in the resale price of a car.

If there is a high incentive for spending on a new car, the residual value will be lower on a recent model.  Just remember, there is a reason for high incentives.

Also investigate the number of units of a certain model that were sold to rental and commercial fleets.  If there was a great number sold, the resale value will be less.

Look at these factors when buying a new car.  A vehicle is only a good deal if it is worth something when it comes time to trade it in.  In addition, purchase an auto warranty to protect your wallet against unnecessary expenses.

The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP with 402 hp now has a price tag, and it will give performance sedans that are already established a run for their money.  The GXP will be listed at $37,610, which is at least $1,000 cheaper than the Dodge Charger SRT8 and you still get an impressive auto warranty.  Consumers can expect to see this car in showrooms this February.

The GXP has a 402 hp, 6.2-liter V-8 engine with 402 pounds of torque, which is the most powerful Pontiac of all time.  This vehicle has a six-speed automatic transmission that comes standard, however you can also get a six-speed manual for an extra $695.

For those of you who might think the 361-hp G8 GT already had enough power under the hood, don’t forget added horsepower isn’t the only impressive change to the GXP.  This car has a track-tuned suspension and steering, a unique interior, Brembro brakes and new car warranties.

Some people have suggested that the GXP is a BMW M5 killer, however, this car is such a great bargain that you could purchase one for you and your friend and still end up shelling out less than you would for a M5.

Here’s a question for car shoppers:  What has the low sticker price of a pre-owned vehicle with the auto warranty and reliability of a new vehicle?  The answer is a certified pre-owned vehicle.

CPO is a term that the auto industry uses to describe used vehicles with low-mileage that are late models.  These vehicles have passed a rigorous inspection and therefore have a factory auto warranty to back them up.  CPOs are typically in much better shape than a regular used vehicle and come with a regular maintenance schedule that a consumer can verify through Carfax.

Most certified pre-owned programs are offered with an auto warranty, inspection, as well as a return option if you end up not liking the vehicle.  However, what consumers end up receiving for the extra money they spend on a CPO car varies a lot.  For example, Lexus gives a 100,000 total vehicle; 3 year limited warranty on its COO vehicles.  However, Chrysler offers an inspection along with a return policy, yet only offers a 3,000-mile, 3 month limited auto warranty.

Customers need to ensure that they receive an extension of the auto warranty offered by the factory, which will give them the same service of a new car owner.

Smart, which is a Daimler-Benz subsidiary, has been able to sell around 17,000 ForTwos since they launched the small two-seater in America in January.  However, there are approximately 30,000 potential buyers who have been put on waiting lists.

Even so, the carmaker doesn’t intend on increasing their output in order to put supply in line with the demand, according to Dave Schembri, who is the Smart USA president.  Schembri claims that car graveyards are littered with car companies that reacted with too much too soon.

Just a year ago Smart didn’t even have a car or dealership in the U.S.  Smart is willing to grow in volume, but only after it makes sure everything is in place.  The profit margins are pretty thin on small cars, so they want to always be one car short.

Smart’s success has been a surprise for everyone.  But in a time when the economy is poor, people are happy to buy a two-seater with a good auto warranty.

More motorists are deciding to switch to hybrid cars for better fuel-efficiency, however, just like any car; hybrids need common maintenance and occasional repairs.  A regular mechanic can do work that is routine, yet you will need hybrid-certified mechanics for jobs that are more extensive.

According to a Toyota service director in Tampa, hybrid work at the dealership has been small.  There are some vehicles with issues, but for the most part repairs are the result of accidents.  The most costly repair on hybrids is for battery replacement.  In a vehicle that isn’t covered by an auto warranty, you will pay approximately $3,000 just on the part.

The best thing to do is to find a technician to repair your car before you really need it.  This way you won’t have to make last minute decisions.  Also, make sure that the technician is certified in hybrid repair.

Finally, most new car warranties for hybrids cover 100,000 miles or 8-10 years.  Make sure you know if your auto warranty requires that you get service from a specific repair shop.

Most people don’t realize that there is certain etiquette involved when buying parts at the parts counter.  Following this etiquette will allow you to get the parts that you want without unnecessary hassle and keep you from driving the staff crazy.

When you go to a parts counter at a dealership you need to have your VIN handy, which is basically the magic key to all of the car codes.  At places such as Advance Auto or NAPA, you just need to know the make, model, year, and engine of your car.

Make sure to know what the part’s name is that you need.  If this is something you don’t know, be able to describe what it looks like or what it is going to attach to.  Don’t make up a name for the part you want; this is where 90% of wrong parts come from.  If worse comes to worse, take the staff out to your car and point to the part you’re looking for.

When ordering an expensive part you want to ask about return policies and auto warranty terms.  And get the answer in writing.  This can be as simple as having him write the information on the receipt.  This will save a lot of hassle if something breaks down the line.

Finally, don’t go to the parts counter to diagnose your vehicle.  Counter-staff gets very annoyed when you try to return a part because it wasn’t even the problem in the first place.

Following these simple etiquette tips will allow you to get the parts that you need with little hassle.  And make sure you have used car warranties, because you never know when your vehicle will need to be repaired.

Here is some information that parents hate to hear: the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested booster seats for safety and found that 13 models out of the 41 that were tested rated so poorly in the area of seat belt fit that they aren’t recommended by the IIHS.  Parents try to do everything possible to keep their kids safe, such as maintaining their cars with the addition of an auto warranty and buying safety seats, so this news is unfortunate.

According to Adrian Lund, the IIHS president, the 13 seats not recommended don’t provide kids with the full benefit of an improved lap belt fit.  She claims that these boosters may make children more comfortable, but they don’t allow seat belts to be positioned in such a way that provides optimal protection.

The IIHS puts out a reminder to parents that booster seats aren’t intended to provide extra crash protection; instead they allow for a better fit and make the seat belt more effective.  Seat belts were designed with adults in mind and until a child is 4 feet 9 inches tall, they won’t fit correctly.  An efficient booster seat reroutes the seat belt across the bony parts of a child’s body and away from the abdomen, which is a vulnerable injury area.  However, the IIHS did say children are better off riding in any booster seat, rather than unbuckled.

Here are the tested seats that aren’t recommended:

• Cosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) Summit
• Graco CarGo Zephyr
• Compass B505
• Compass B510
• Evenflo Generations
• Dorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) Prospect
• Cosco/Dorel Traveler
• Cosco Highback Booster
• Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega
• Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch
• Safety 1st/Dorel Intera
• Safety Angel Ride Ryte backless
• Evenflo Big Kid Confidence

Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested additional small cars from the 2009 model year and discovered that 11 out of the 21 cars that were tested claimed a Good rating in side crash tests, which is the top rating.  That’s a significant increase from the three out of 19 small cars back in 2006 that got that rating.

However, it is notable that out of the seven cars tested in this round, none of them received the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic did.  Among the cars with the highest rating were the Ford Focus, Suzuki SX4, the Toyota Matrix, and the Pontiac Vibe.  The poorest scoring car was by far the Chrysler PT Cruiser, which scored Poor in rear and side tests.

IIHS made it a point to say that although small cars have made large improvements, large cars are still a safer choice.

IIHS senior vice president Joe Nolan said, “There’s no escaping the laws of physics.  People in larger, heavier cars fare better in crashes with other vehicles and in single-vehicle crashes than people in smaller ones.”

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with vehicle safety, and tests show that small cars are improving greatly in crash tests.  Motorists can also protect themselves by purchasing an auto warranty and keeping up with car maintenance.

Unfortunately, drivers can be faced with an unpleasant surprise in the morning when they discover they have a weak battery. Some people may be lucky enough to be covered by auto road service, however others may not. A car won’t start when the starter is not receiving the power that it needs.  However, help is here.  Continental now has The Intelligent Battery Sensor, which gives a warning if age is making the battery run down.  It does this by determining the charge status of your car’s battery.

One third of vehicle breakdowns are due to batteries that are empty.  One reason for this is because today’s car batteries must do more than in past years.  Just look at all of the responsibilities that car electronics have taken on. They ensure that passengers are safer, simplify orientation in traffic, and make passengers more comfortable. This means that batteries also have higher requirements.  This is why Continental’s Electronic Battery Sensor is so beneficial.

Although the new battery sensor is small, it is a great advancement in technology.  It will allow motorists to have an indication of when to change their batteries.  This will definitely cut down on drivers being stranded.  However, technology is never full proof, so it is a good idea to protect yourself with an auto warranty.