March 4th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Unless you are actually a mechanic yourself, it may require a leap of faith to deal with a repair shop. However, paying attention to your mechanic’s actions can give you clues to their honesty. Here are some things to look out for.
If your mechanic says you need to flush your engine right away, or it will go bad, he might be padding your bill. Some shops will recommend procedures that aren’t necessary. Also, they may want you to schedule tasks that are premature. Pay attention to your owner’s manual for maintenance schedules.
Also, you don’t want to go to a shop that makes every repair recommendation sound like an emergency. This is a scare tactic for consumers who aren’t mechanically inclined.
If your mechanic tells you the new fuel injectors didn’t fix it, so you will need a new fuel pump, you are dealing with a parts replacer. This is a mechanic who is rebuilding your vehicle because he is unable to diagnose the problem. This is one reason an auto warranty is essential.
It can be hard for motorists to know which mechanics are trying to “take them for a rideâ€, however, there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself. First of all, make sure you have an auto warranty so you aren’t paying unnecessary repair costs. Secondly, follow these tips to see if your mechanic is acting honestly.
March 3rd, 2010 by Hal Moses
For motorists who like to take things into their own hands, the Internet is the place to look for valuable information. Consumers are seeking research online to aid them in buying a new automobile, finding out about car service, and finding a road service program.
A new study shows that 74 percent of people who do research on service and parts say they are utilizing the Internet more now than two years ago. In addition, 90 percent of motorists researching service information about automobiles say that the Internet influenced their purchase.
Customers who are well informed can do a good job of describing issues for potential repair when they visit their mechanic for maintenance. However, it can be a problem when car owners try to do significant repairs by themselves because many times they make misdiagnoses on their car. This can end up harming their car more.
For example, if a motorist replaces the alternator because the car is having trouble starting, when in fact the battery should have been changed, it could cost hundreds of dollars to rectify the situation.
It is good for consumers to use the Web to research about cars because it can aid their mechanic. However, motorists who think they can fix anything could end up stranded somewhere. At any rate, it is always good to have road service and a good auto warranty.
March 3rd, 2010 by Hal Moses
An accelerating driver trend from SUVs and pickup trucks to small fuel-efficient cars will help reduce rollovers, but experts on safety are worried that a smaller fleet presents serious health risks, despite anti-collision systems, air bags, and other safety advances.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which measures the performance of cars in crash tests, shifting to small cars is going to make problems worse. They claim that people are better off in a vehicle that is bigger, not smaller.
U.S. carmakers have been distressed and are therefore retooling plants in Latin America, Europe, and around the world to get more compact cars to Americans in upcoming years and try to meet federal standards on fuel economy that are tougher.
At least 40,000 motorists are killed on roads in America annually in traffic accidents. Approximately three-quarters of these people are from passenger vehicles and two-thirds of them from cars.
Consumers are concerned with saving auto costs, such as car prices, auto warranty prices, and gas costs, yet safety needs to be their #1 concern.
March 2nd, 2010 by Hal Moses
Way back when the Jetsons captured the imaginations of millions on TV, people have had dreams of using flying cars for their daily transportation. However, there hasn’t ever been anything in real life that could even come close to flying cars-until now. In Massachusetts, Terrafugia built the Transition, which took off during the official launch of the company’s $194,000 “roadable aircraft.â€
Basically, that means that this vehicle is a small aircraft that has the capability to travel on public roadways at “highway speedsâ€, and it gets approximately 30 mpg on regular unleaded gas. The range on this vehicle in the air is 460 miles. However, it has a useful load of only 430 pounds, which means that passengers can’t be too overweight, and they can’t pack too heavy.
If you’re interested in this vehicle, you will need a pilot’s license and $194,000. And at that price you might want a good auto warranty. While this is an exciting idea, dropping off Judy, Elroy and Jane before going to work in your flying car is still a ways off.
February 27th, 2010 by Hal Moses
If you’re purchasing a pre-owned car you need to find out as much history as possible about it. The car may have problems that are not apparent from a visual inspection or a test drive.
A car history report is a good way to find out what you’re getting. This is a report prepared by a third party that is a compilation of information from DMVs, RMVs, and other sources. A car history report will give you an overview of what the car has been through.
When getting a car history report look out for the following things. This is not to say that you shouldn’t buy the car based on these issues, but certainly ask questions.
If a car has had a lot of owners, chances are it hasn’t been cared for lovingly. These cars have probably endured more abuse.
Some areas of our country are easier on cars than others. For example, extreme winter conditions are tough on vehicles, as are flood areas and extreme heat.
Make sure the name and description of the car match up with the actual car. Read the description carefully to avoid vehicle fraud.
Car history reports, such as those from CARFAX are comprehensive and can save you from purchasing a lemon. Also, to protect yourself, purchase an auto warranty to avoid unnecessary expenses down the road.
February 27th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Cars need fuel pumps because the gas tank is on the opposite side of the car than the engine. The purpose of the fuel pump is to bring the fuel to the engine.
Fuel pumps come in two varieties. Vehicles that have electronic fuel injection systems use electrical fuel pumps. Carbureted vehicles have mechanical fuel pumps.
The carburetor delivers fuel through a vacuum. Here, the vacuum that brings the mixture of air and fuel to the engine also draws the gas along lines to the engine. But, extra help is needed, so engines that are carbureted have a fuel pump that is mechanical. This pump is located next to the engine of the vehicle.
Electronic fuel injection is a system of delivery in which gas is squirted into the chambers of the engine. The fuel pump is next to, or inside of the gas tank.
Cars with electronic fuel injection typically don’t have the fuel pump fail. However, when it does, the car will start to sputter and eventually die. In addition, it won’t start back up. Just in case this happens, make sure you have a road service program to assist you. You never want to be stranded on the side of the road. Also, an auto warranty will ensure that you don’t have unnecessary repair expenses down the road.
February 26th, 2010 by Hal Moses
You know that the trend for green cars has come of age when Hummer and Lamborghini get in on the picture.
The manufacturers of supercars for $400,000 and high-end SUV’s have realized that they need to keep us with small, efficient car models. People desire lightweight, economical vehicles as opposed to heavy gas-guzzlers.
Lamborghini has an updated version of its Gallardo at $222,000. Its new design is more “green†because it emits less CO2. This is the greenhouse gas that is responsible for the change in the climate.
However, cutting 20 kg off of a 202 mph vehicle is not exactly radical. This is why leading manufacturers, such as Toyota are making a big impact in the car industry. It is hard to truly make a supercar or SUV green, although it is impressive that Hummer and Lamborghini are making a large attempt.
Green or not, whatever car you buy; make sure that you have an auto warranty to protect your investment. You don’t want to find yourself paying unnecessary expenses for auto repairs.
February 26th, 2010 by Hal Moses
One of the family activities that are the most fun is going on road trips. Over the spring and summer, American families will go on over 320 trips. Although enjoyable, frustration can accompany families on the road. Take note of the following do’s and don’ts in order to ensure that your family has a great trip.
The most important thing that you can do is to get your family vehicle a tune-up. Your vehicle needs to be in top-notch condition. Nothing is worse than having your car breakdown, leaving you stranded. This is why an auto warranty is a necessity.
You should plan ahead so that your family knows what is happening during the trip. This will alleviate stressful situations and help things to go smoothly. In addition, you might want to purchase software to plan your trip and invest in a GPS. This advanced technology will act as your guide to your desired destination.
Of course, you never know when you will run into speed bumps throughout your trip. For example, road construction and traffic are inevitable. However, your trip doesn’t have to be ruined by these inconveniences. In addition, you can rest assured if you have used car warranties.
February 25th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Due to the poor economy, electric and hybrid cars are in great need these days. However, these cars also will come at a cost. They will strain scarce resources for water, according to a new study.
Every mile that is driven using electricity consumes approximately three times the water than a car using petrol. Sciencedaily reported this.
Michael Webber and Carey King calculated the usage of water, consumption, as well as withdrawal during refining of petroleum and generation of power in the United States.
This does not mean that the impacts on sources of water make the shift undesirable. Instead, the increase in the usage of water resources should be a consideration when people are planning for an automotive economy that is plugged-in.
Every technological advance has potential downfalls. Vehicles that lack petroleum are good in many ways for out environment, and our wallets. Also good for your wallet, is an auto warranty that protects you in case new technology fails. Also, it brings drivers peace of mind.
February 25th, 2010 by Hal Moses
As the economy declines, more motorists are trying to save money by abandoning their car insurance.
According to the Insurance Research Council, the uninsured rate and the unemployment rate are directly correlated. When unemployment increases 1%, uninsured drivers increase a half-percent. As of November, unemployment was up 2% since last year.
In a recent study, the council claims there have been several hundred thousand drivers that have let their insurance lapse, or dropped it in the last year.
What this means is that your odds of getting hit by a driver that is uninsured have gone up drastically, and usually people who are uninsured don’t have very many assets if you plan to sue for damages.
For people who have the funds, coverage for being hit by underinsured or uninsured drivers has become a necessary protection even though it raises your premium 7% to 9%. And, you don’t want to let your insurance lapse because you will be charged a 25% to 50% surcharge for a new policy. Also, drivers should protect themselves with a roadside assistance program and an auto warranty.