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Stranded Roadside Motorists – 7 Traps to Avoid

February 28, 2015 by

30 million times each year, AAA receives trouble calls from stranded motorists that need roadside assistance.  The specific reasons that generate the calls are wide and varied, but aside from physical vehicle accidents, seven (7) categories of car trouble account for the majority of the calls.  Is there a common thread that is key to minimizing or avoiding most of the car problems on the list: Timely Maintenance.  David Bennett, manager of automotive programs at the national office of AAA says that “The best thing anyone can do for a vehicle is regular maintenance”.

1. Flat Tires
Bald or badly worn tires are plain dangerous because they can’t reliably bring your vehicle to a safe stop.  Inspect your tires regularly.  You can try the old coin test on your tires, but the wear bars or indicators built into the tire tread are the safest bet for an accurate reading.

Proper inflation is the second most important tire safety concern.  Get the correct pressure for your specific car from the placard visible on the door jamb when the driver’s door is open. You can boost your gas mileage by 3% or more and make the car safer as well by timely tire checks. Check the tire pressure when they’re cold for best accuracy.

2. Engine Trouble
Many things can cause engine troble. But usually they start with issues like a broken hose that’s leaking coolant…which in turn causes the engine to overheat.  So, proactively inspect belts and hoses, looking for cracks and peeling on the belts, or softening on the hoses.  Fluid levels is another vital sign of the engine to check regularly…i.e. oil, transmission fluid, coolant or antifreeze.


3. Battery Trouble
3 to 5 years is a general rule for expected battery life. But if you live and drive in extreme heat or cold…it could be less.  Best precaution for avoiding getting stranded by a dead battery is to make sure to have your battery checked during any safety inspection or other visit to a dealer or mechanic’s shop.  Warning signs include dim headlights or interior lights and power windows that move unusually slow.

4. Lockouts
The obvious, but simple solution: Get extra sets of keys and store them outside the car in your home and office.

5. Brake Trouble
Nothing is more critical to your safety than your brakes. Brake pads and rotors need to be checked at least twice a year.  Brake fluid does need to be changed every two to three years…RTFM…or check recommended time frame in your owner’s manual. Trouble signs: pulling to one side when you hit the brakes, squeaking or grinding noises and a brake pedal that feels too soft.

6. Running Out of Gas
If you like to live on the edge, you’re bound to go over a cliff every once in a while.  But when it comes to taking chances on making it to the next gas station when you’re driving at night or in a strange place…it’s not worth the risk to yourself and your passengers.

 

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Free (almost) Car Repair Secrets

January 31, 2015 by

Saving significant dollars, yes even hundreds or thousands of dollars in repair bills by having automakers take financial responsibility for them is not only feasible, but it happens every day.  You can cash in on unadvertised automaker programs that provide free or discounted service work…much like a secret warranty that’s seldom publicly announced.  Carmakers usually call these programs  customer-satisfaction campaigns or service actions, but bottom line…they can save you real money.


For example:

  1. Honda Civics (2006 to 2009) – may qualify for a free engine block, or even a whole new engine, if their car has been leaking coolant from a crack in the block.
  2. Chrysler minivans (2008 to 2010) – front wheel bearings on models from  are subject to premature wear, so dealers will replace them for free during a vehicle’s first five years or 90,000 miles.

Technical Service Bulletins, or TSBs, are recommended procedures for repairing vehicles. Not to be confused with recalls, a TSB is issued by a vehicle manufacturer when there are several occurrences of an unanticipated problem. TSBs can range from vehicle-specific to covering entire product lines and break down the specified repair into a step-by-step process.  [Wikipedia]

These little known “warranty extensions” usually evolve  when automakers discover that some component or system in a given model fails or breaks at a faster than normal rate.  Evidence on new problems orginate from many sources…including complaints from dealer customer-service departments, an unusually high number of warranty claims for a specific problem…and/or spare-parts inventories experience a sudden rapid decline.

“Warranty extensions” usually only last for a specified time and mileage. Sometimes they’re created in the name of good customer service…sometimes as part of the settlement process resulting from a class-action lawsuit brought by consumers.

Exactly how obscure are these “Warranty Extensions”?  When an carmaker creates a service campaign, it usually notifies all known owners via letter.  Second and third owners of the vehicle in question may not find out.  Other times however, car owners only find out only if a dealer tells them or they learn about it on their own.

All warranty extensions found by ConsumerReports were detailed in the technical service bulletins sent by automakers to their dealers’ service departments. TSBs usually describe a common problem the automaker has learned about and provide detailed instructions on how the service technician should fix it. However, a small number of TSBs also contain information about special warranties related to the problem or other remedies the carmaker is offering to owners.

If your car develops a distinct problem that’s not a result of wear and tear or collision damage, it’s often worth checking whether there’s a TSB related to it (get more details below). Even if no warranty extension is offered, a TSB tells you that the problem is well known to the automaker, which could give you more leverage in negotiating a discount on the repair.

Where to Learn More about TSBs

Info about TSBs can be hard to find. Here are five (5) possible sources:

  1. You can search for free summaries of them at SaferCar.gov, the government’s auto-safety website. Enter your car’s make/model/year in the “Owners” section, and click on the “Service Bulletins” tab. But be warned, the summaries are often vague. You can order the full TSB text (free up to 100 pages) by mail, though that may take four to six weeks.
  2. However, a dealer or repair shop may share them if you ask.
  3. You can also purchase current TSBs for your car from AllDataDIY.com ($26.95/year) or…
  4. Mitchell 1 DIY at eAutoRepair.net ($25.99/year).
  5. ConsumerReports – check technical service bulletins (TSBs) for common problems on the new and used car model pages, under the Reliability tab.

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Connected Car Data – Your Security & Privacy in Peril

December 31, 2014 by

What is a connected car anyway?  Here’s one simple definition from Wikipedia:

A connected car is a car that is equipped with internet access, and usually also with a wireless local area network. This allows the car to share internet access to other devices both inside as outside the vehicle. Often, the car is also outfitted with special technologies that tap into the internet access or wireless LAN and provide additional benefits to the driver. Examples include: automatic notification of crashes, notification of speeding and safety alerts.

Here is another definition that’s a bit more encompassing:

Connected Car (definition ) – the presence of devices in an automobile that connect the devices to other devices within the car/vehicles and or devices, networks and services outside the car.

According to Forbes, there are several obstacles facing the connected car market, but one receiving huge attention lately is the privacy issue.


Significant amounts of information is easily obtained today through several vehicle systems…ranging from the vehicle’s location or a driver’s use of a vehicle (i.e. including speed, braking force etc.).  Automakers are realizing that in order to maintain consumer trust, the protection of such data and ensuring that it remains private is of paramount importance.

Hence,  The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), the Association of Global Automakers (AGA) and their member automakers, have created a new set of “privacy principles” focused on the Data generated in motor vehicles by “connected car” systems.  Although the privacy principles don’t exactly have the same impact as legislation…at least they come from a member list that’s grandiose in stature.  Participating automakers include American Honda, Aston Martin Lagonda, BMW, Chrysler, Ferrari, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

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Quarterly Vehicle Safety Checklist – 4 Keys

October 29, 2014 by

Most American residents experience some kind of change in seasons each year…even in California and Florida.  Seasons can be a helpful cue for reminding drivers to run through a quick safety checklist…to help avoid accidents and unnecessarily large future repair bills.  Use the old James Taylor song to help remind yourself (it works!…Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall) that using this handy checklist can make you and your vehicle better, safer “friends”.  Car care tips can be tedious and boring, but this four point list will help keep your vehicle looking and running in tip-top shape.

  • Wiper Blades – Inspect & Replace them regularly.  Everything can wear out and break.  Wiper blade rubber usually becomes dry and brittle during the Summer…especially if they’ve already been through only one rainy season.  You can’t keep your eyes on the road of you can’t see through your windwhield.
  • Tires – Pressure & Tread Depth – Tires can easily lose one (1) pound of air pressure each month…even if your car just sits in the driveway.  Under-inflated tires translates into lower gas mileage and poor handling, and can suffer unnoticeable damage that compromises car performance and safety.  A monthly check on tires is highly warranted.  Don’t just check it randomly or yearly…it’s important to do it monthly.   A tread depth check is easily done by looking inside the grooves on the tire.  At every six to 10 inches, a raised wear bar will appear, and if the tread is worn to the same height as the bar, it’s time to replace the tire.  It’s important to several spots on each tire…because wear is often even.  Time for new tires?  RTFM (read the friendly [owner’s] manual)  to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation for size and type of tires.
  • Brakes –  Nothing is more critical to vehicle safety than properly functioning brakes.  Disc brakes on newer vehicles are constantly assaulted by dirt, moisture and road salt.  Pay attention to how your brakes respond. Does your vehicle stop evenly …or kind of pull to one side?  Any noises?  Some noises can be harmless and not uncommon.  But loud or constant noises when you apply the brakes should be checked out professionally.
  • Battery – Verify its Strength…don’t assume all is well with the car battery just because your vehicle starts.  That next turn of the key may be your unexpected tipping point.  If you’re comfortable checking your own battery…great!  Usually it’s best have an auto care & repair professional do it for you.

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5 Mistakes That Trash Your Car

September 28, 2014 by

Maybe you were lucky as a child, having parents who taught you that taking care of things will make them last longer…especially mechanical things, like your bike. If so, hopefully that carried over more expensive things later in life, like your car.  While being a bit lax on taking care of your car may seem superficial, in the long run…ongoing neglect and cavalier maintenance habits will undoubtedly cut your vehicle’s life by years.  If you’d like to squeeze more faithful years of service out of your car, don’t fall for these five (5) mistakes that will trash your vehicle’s lifespan.

5 Gotchas That Trash Your Car

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/people/31216636@N00

1) Neglecting Maintenance Schedules – This is rule #1…from oil & filters…to tires, transmission & brakes. Cheap? No. Compared to replacing an engine or transmission? Yes! Remember, RTFM…Read the Friendly Manual (Owner’s). It spells out the schedules.

2) Check Engine Lights –  Dashboard Warning Lights…aka… Idiot Lights are there for a reason. Ignoring them seems idiotic (kinda redundant, just like the act). If the light’s meaning is not immediately apparent, RTFM! A little reading now can save you tons of money later

3) Convulsive Driving – We’ve all been in the car with one…brake hard, jam the gas…slam brakes, floor it! It’s not like your vehicle will blow up immediately in response. But over time, major systems like the transmission, brakes…not to mention the engine will begin to have issues faster than it should. Cars with abusive drivers (sounds like a support group) will develop breaks, leaks and all sorts of mechanical problems…prematurely.

4) Shifting While Moving – No, that’s not a moving violation…nor a misdemeanor. But when changing forward/backward directions, fully brake and come to a complete stop before continuing in the opposite direction.  Tremendous torque and strain is placed on the transmission when that’s not the case.

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Wrong-Way Drivers: 3 Keys to Survival

August 28, 2014 by

It happens day and night, by drivers from a wide variety of situations.  Yes,  drunk drivers comprise the majority of wrong-way driving accidents (60% have blood alcohol content [BAC] above legal limits), but the reality is there are a variety of causes in addition to alcohol related issues. Your best defense is to take 60 seconds right now to consider the possibility it may happen to you…and visualize implementing a few simple suggestions (following shortly)…and maneuvering through the incident to survival.


And surviving a wrong-way accident is no small feat.  A National Transportation Safety Board’s  (NTSB) special report on wrong-way drivers stated that they cause a significantly higher injury and death rate, despite only accounting for only 3% of all crashes.  360 deaths occur every year as a result of wrong-way accidents.

While the NTSB has offered recommendations for marking freeway on and off ramps more clearly…and erecting barriers that create less confusion for drivers…the brutal truth is that wrong-way drivers are hard to prevent.

If you find yourself in the frightening freeway scenario of seeing headlights heading in the wrong direction…toward you…burn these few simple suggestions into your brain now….to help protect yourself and loved ones.

  1. Buckle Up – Always rule #1…before you even back out of the driveway.  Seat belts simply increase greatly your chance for surviving any type of crash.  AAA tells us that seat belts saved more than 12,000 lives last year.
  2. Slow Down – …IMMEDIATELY!  It can only add precious moments to your decision making.
  3. Scan Ahead –  Keeping an eye on the horizon…or at least far ahead of your own headlights…increases your chances of seeing the wrong-way driver in advance.
  4. Swerve To The Right – Wrong-way drivers often gravitate to their far right because they think it’s the slow lane, rather than the fast lane.  Swerving to your right is always recommended in a head-on collision situation because it will deflect much of the force of the impact.  Hitting a stationary object or rolling into a ditch instead of a moving vehicle (especially if you’ve slowed down) is much safer than a head on collision…so even if swerving seems equally dangerous, do it anyway.

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Pushing the Empty Envelope: How Low Can You Go?

July 31, 2014 by

Ever run out of gas? How low do you let your gas gauge go before you pull into a service station?  It’s all about personality style, comfort level, convenience and the time pressures of a busy lifestyle.

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Some people like to push the envelope…test the limits…and otherwise, live life on the edge. Others are more conservative…fearing the hassles, embarrassment and other consequences of being late…so the one-quarter tank notch on the gas gauge becomes their self imposed “empty” level.

So the real question is…are there any hard & fast rules to be aware of when it comes to playing the “low fuel” game?  Here a few common questions and answers if you’re one of those that likes to flirt with disaster.

How Far Can You Really Go on “E”?

Bottom line: It depends on your vehicle & it’s manufacturer. There’s a technical expression in Silicon Valley: RTFM! But since we’re discussing cars…it can be translated: Read The Owners Manual.

Can You Damage Your Car by Running Out of Gas?
One reason why most American manufacturers build a buffer into the “empty indicator” is because that’s what most Americans want…and have come to expect.

Another reason: Fuel pumps can burn up or otherwise become damaged when you run out of gasoline.  In the absence of gasoline, a fuel pump can draw in air. Too much air and it can be damaged…kind of like an engine running without oil.  Also, debris often accumulates on the bottom of a fuel tank over time. When the gasoline level gets low, that debris is more likely to be drawn into the pump and/or plug the fuel filters, both of which can damage the pump. A partially plugged filter will cause the pump to have to work harder, therefore decreasing the life of the pump.

Hybrid vehicles are another special consideration for playing it safe.  Severe damage to the hybrid system can occur by running out of gas. Just don’t do it!

Bottom Line…How Long Can You Go…Really?
ROUGH RULE OF THUMB…30-40 miles is how far you can go.  But if you’re a gamer and want something more specific…check out this website: TankOnEmpty.com.  Created by a computer programmer…probably a gamer too…who solicits the data and real world experiences of drivers who like to push the “E” envelope.

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Your Tire IQ? National Tire Safety Week

May 31, 2014 by

Are you an “above average driver”?  Most people say YES!  How about your proficiency with a simple car maintenance task like checking your tire pressure?  It should be a quick, simple procedure for optimizing your vehicle’s overall safety…increasing fuel economy and helping your tires last longer.  This recent national survey discovered that only about 17 percent of U.S. drivers have the “tire smarts” for checking tire pressure effectively.

The reality is…there are some very real differences between men & women… as well as between younger vs. older drivers.  Men are more likely to have a higher “tire IQ,” according to the survey.  20 percent of men vs 14 percent of women are considered  to be adequately proficient at checking tire pressure monthly and checking tires when they are cold (before driving).  But kinda like stopping to ask for directions…women are better than men at knowing where to find the correct tire pressure for their vehicle.  No, not the local service station attendant…but right on the driver side doorjamb or door…and in the owner’s manual.
But the generation gap is even greater than the gender gap.  Twenty-seven percent of drivers aged 60 and over are proficient at “properly checking tire pressure”…while only 8 percent of drivers 18 to 39 know the basic skill .

 

Here are 5 handy tips for jacking up your tire IQ:

  • Safety Risk – Under-inflated tires pose a safety risk, waste fuel and cause premature tire wear.   11 cents a gallon…at today’s gas prices is what the U.S. Department of Energy states that properly inflated tires can save consumers.
  • Pressure – Regular monthly tire pressure checks is key.  Just use your own tire gauge…then inflate to your vehicle’s manufacturer recommended pressure.
  • Alignment – Misalignment of wheels can cause uneven and rapid tread wear.
  • Rotation – Rotate tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to help you achieve more uniform wear.
  • Tread – Advanced & unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions.

National Tire Safety Week (June 1-7 for 2014) and the tire industry’s “Be Tire Smart – Play Your Part” program is a Rubber Manufacturers Association and tire manufacturer members consumer education effort…aimed at helping drivers understand the simple steps they can take to ensure that their tires are in good working condition.  Download their free handy brochure for more safety tips.

 

Read More – CarJunky

 

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The New vs Used Car Buying Dilemma

April 15, 2014 by

If you’re a commuter in the San Francisco Bay Area, the strategy of placing a used, but well taken care of Honda, Toyota or Nissan into service for the daily grind is probably familiar.  But what happens when the old grey mare finally gives out after several hundred thousand miles…can you repeat that same strategy over again?  With the increased competition jacking up used car prices and driving scarcity…it may be a bit harder the next go around.

towing gilroy morgan hill caSince the 2008 recession, commuters and car owners in general have been hanging onto their vehicles a bit longer than normal…waiting for circumstances to improve before  even considering upgrading their old beater car for a new or newer one. The new reality is that since vehicles are generally are more reliable than ever has merely increased the challenge of finding used cars with low-mileage…since many owners just drive them till they drop.

The short supply of used cars is only exacerbated by the fact that automakers have actually been leasing fewer vehicles in recent years due to credit issues in the financial markets. So the former dealership inflow of pre-owned vehicles from expired leases has all but dried up.

In fact,  the average age of “light vehicles” on the road today reached an all-time high of 11.4 years in 2013, according to Polk, a research firm that tracks the auto industry. (Light vehicles are defined as passengers cars, minivans, SUVs and light-duty pickups.) A decade ago, the average age of a vehicle on the road was 9.8 years.

What does all of this mean for car buyers?

If you want to find an old used car that’s been pretty well wrung out, then you’ll have no problem,” said Jeff Bartlett, deputy editor, Autos at Consumer Reports. “But it’s a little harder to find that three- or four-year-old, great-condition car.

One alternative is to consider looking at some new vehicles while shopping for used ones.  Since the economy has squeezed automakers too…they’ve been offering increasingly better deals on new models, some of which are very competitive with their late-model used car counterparts.

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Fast Track to Better Teen Driving?

March 15, 2014 by

Everyone probably remembers the excitement of getting their first car as a teenager.   If that was in the vicinity of 25-35 years ago, it may well seem like the world was a safer place back then…especially if you’re recalling mischief that was gotten away with…that could have easily gone awry.

When considering teenagers and cars, today’s reality is that drivers aged 15 to 17 are eight (8) times as likely to be involved in a car accident than those just a little bit older, ages 18 to 24, if they’re carrying passengers, according a study from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.  The cold hard fact is: traffic accidents are the number one cause of death among teens.

A San Jose, CA couple that was worried about how to teach their sixteen-year-old son good driving habits couldn’t find an answer especially inspiring.  Both husband and wife have masters degrees in computer science…so it was only natural that they invented a device allowing parents to check up on their kids’ driving progress…electronically.


Featured in USA Today  for their start-up company named Truvolo…Jaideep and Sandhya Jain invented its small flagship device that plugs directly into a car’s on-board computer.  The device then sends stats about the car’s health as well as the driving habits of the operator back to a smartphone.  Stats like G-forces produced by abrupt acceleration, deceleration and swerving…as well as information that’s usually reserved for mechanics, allowing users to catch dangerous problems well in advance of a breakdown.  The device can also issue text alerts when a driver has arrived at their destination.

“It wasn’t about wanting to spy on him, but about making him a better driver…I looked at the statistics, and the first year of anyone’s driving life has the most incidents, simply because you think you know everything but, of course, you don’t.”

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