July 7th, 2009 admin
Common Automotive Questions Asked By Owners
Even though cars have been around for over a century, most drivers are still mystified by what happens under the hood. In their defense, keeping up with the latest technologies is difficult. Automakers are in a perpetual race to design better parts and systems to improve comfort, safety, and reliability. Still, motorists have questions that deserve answers. Below, I’ll address three of the most common automotive questions drivers continue to ask.
#1 – “Do I Need To Let The Engine Warm Up?”
Unless you’re driving an older vehicle that uses a carburetor instead of a fuel injection system, no. It was common long ago to allow your engine to warm up for five to ten minutes before driving. A large part of the reason was due to the choke, which allowed fuel to feed into the carburetor. Today’s vehicles use fuel injectors to balance the air-fuel mixture used by your engine. No warm-up required.
#2 – “Why Are My Brakes Squealing?”
There are a couple of factors that can cause your brakes to squeal. First, the noise might be caused by a vibration occurring between the pads, which normally squeeze against the rotor. This type of vibration is usually due to a poor fit on the calipers. The squealing might also be caused by the surface of the brake pads rubbing against the metal of the rotor. This happens when the surface of the pads harden due to the heat created by friction.
Unless your car is equipped with high-performance brakes (which squeal naturally), have the pads replaced if you hear persistent squealing. If you wait too long, the rotor might become damaged, which is more expensive to service.
#3 – “Will My Battery Lose Its Charge?”
Over time, yes. However, a healthy car battery should last for years. Your vehicle has a charging system that allows the battery to keep its charge while providing the current needed to power the engine. When you turn your key in the ignition, your battery discharges a large current in order to power the starter motor. After it does so, its job is effectively finished. The alternator makes sure that your battery has enough “juice” or amperage for the next time you turn the key.
Having said that, it is possible for your battery to lose its charge. For example, leaving a door ajar overnight will cause a drain.
One of the reasons we take our cars to a mechanic is because they have grown in complexity over the years. Not only are problems more difficult to identify, but fixing them can be labor intensive without the proper tools. However, many of the smaller maintenance and repair items that mechanics handle (for example, replacing a battery or a set of brake pads) can be performed at home. While your vehicle may be a complex piece of machinery, it is only as mysterious as you allow it to be.
Muscle Cars
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April 30th, 2009 admin
Common Mistakes Car Buyers Make
Automakers, desperate to sell their inventories, have begun offering attractive incentives to lure prospective buyers. But, finding an automotive bargain can still prove elusive. Car dealerships can easily confound buyers and secretly hide pockets of profit. For the unwary, a trip to the auto dealer may begin as a bargain-hunting expedition, but end up as an expensive lesson in car shopping.
In this article, I’ll give you three important tips that you should use when shopping for your next vehicle. These tips will help you save money, save time, and negotiate objectively to get the best deal.
#1 – Set Your Emotions Aside
You visit the dealership lot and your eyes settle longingly on the gorgeous red automobile gracing the nearby pavement. You must have it, no matter the price. Slow down and take a breath. Buying a vehicle is a substantial investment. Unless you’re paying cash, you’ll be making monthly payments for several years. Will you feel the same way about the car three or four years down the road? Or, are you merely suffering from love at first sight?
#2 – Keep The Numbers Separate
If you’re hoping to trade-in your clunker to have the value applied to your new automobile, be careful. When it comes to numbers and amortization schedules, the dealer’s salesperson is king. Too often, prospective buyers will blend the negotiations. Predictably, the salesperson will offer what seems to be an incredibly generous amount on the trade-in. The buyer, reeling from his good fortune, practically falls into the seat of his new vehicle. Unknown to him or her, the dealer’s profit is built into the monthly payments.
Negotiate the transactions separately. Begin with cementing the price of your new automobile. Then, work on the value of your trade-in. That way, you’ll know whether you’re truly getting a good deal (on both transactions) or if you’re being taken around the block.
#3 – Shorten The Financing Terms
One of the strategies that auto dealerships are using in order to entice people into buying new vehicles is offering a 7-year loan. At first, it sounds great; a longer loan means lower monthly payments. The truth is, longer financing terms translate into a higher cost for you and more profit for the dealer. In other words, they’re not offering it to be nice.
If possible, say no to the extra long loan. Instead, opt for shorter terms that allow you to pay off the loan more quickly. You’ll pay less interest and when the time comes to sell your car, you won’t find yourself owing more than it’s worth.
Even though the car-buying landscape has shifted in favor of the buyer, you should still be wary of making a purchase decision too quickly. Remember, set your emotions aside, keep your trade-in negotiation separate, and avoid the extra long financing. By the time you leave the dealership lot, you’ll be confident that you weren’t taken for a ride.
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April 16th, 2009 admin
How To Detail Your Car’s Interior
It’s easy to become so immersed into your daily life that cleaning the inside of your vehicle is demoted lower and lower on your “to do” list. Eventually, the dirt, debris, and grime (not to mention a few fast food wrappers) accumulate to the point that your friends refuse to get in. Fortunately, detailing your car’s interior is simple with a little preparation.
This article will give you an easy-to-follow blueprint for making the inside of your vehicle look practically new. Whether you’re cleaning it for personal satisfaction or because you’re planning to sell it, the following 3 steps will put a new shine on the interior.
Step 1: Remove The Junk
You might be surprised by the items which are stuck into the nooks and crannies of your vehicle. This is especially true if you have young children. Besides your own shopping receipts, wrappers, and errant paperwork, you’ll discover toys and trinkets buried under your car seats.
Take everything out. Depending on the disarray, you may even want to wear gloves. After all, if you find food that has been driven into the carpet, you’ll want to protect your hands. Plus, while you’re digging around in the dark crevices, you may have to deal with paper cuts and other annoyances.
Step 2: Get Out The Vacuum
Once you’ve removed the junk from your car’s interior, it’s time to let your vacuum do its job. Put one of the brush attachments on the nozzle so you can break loose some of the debris. Just like washing the exterior, start high and work down. Begin on the surface of the dash before moving down to the gauges. And don’t forget the panels of the doors before vacuuming the seats. Finally, remove the floor mats before turning your vacuum onto the carpet.
When you’ve finished vacuuming, use a damp cloth to wipe the dash, console, steering wheel, and doors. Chances are, the vacuum will have kicked up a bit of dust.
Step 3: Clean The Surfaces
Applying a little polish and wax can give the surfaces a new look and feel. You can use an off-the-shelf polish like Pledge. Or, visit your local auto supply shop to pick up a polish and wax combo (anything sold by Mother is a good choice).
You’ll notice that despite having vacuumed the surfaces, dust still remains in the corners. You can dislodge it by spraying a soft toothbrush or thin paintbrush with polish. Lastly, use Windex on your vehicle’s windows. Your auto supply store will have a number of window cleaning products, but Windex is inexpensive and effective.
Detailing your car’s interior isn’t hard or complicated. It’s merely a matter of setting aside the time and going about the process methodically. Follow the 3 steps above to help the inside of your vehicle regain its vibrancy and attractiveness.
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