What Is Your Car Trying To Tell You
What Is Your Car Trying To Tell You. Over all my years of driving the one thing that still causes me the most concern is when I hear a new noise. This drives me particularly crazy every spring. After months of having the windows rolled up it's very disconcerting when you first roll down the window to get a whiff of that fresh springtime air and you start hearing all those noises you car makes, and perhaps has been making all winter long.
Then you start to think "what's that noise?", "how long has it been doing that?"
You drive your car everyday. You know how it should handle. If you notice something amiss, and more than once, get it checked out. You may save yourself a lot of inconvenience and money in the long run. You and your mechanic need to be a team when it comes to the maintenance of your car. You however need to be the eyes and ears of the team.
Every so often pay attention when you're pulling your car out of a parking space. Is there any fresh fluid? It's hard to tell sometimes due to the stains left from other cars. How about your driveway?
Are you seeing new stains? If you are, what color is the fluid? Oil will be quite obvious, appearing black or dark brown. Antifreeze is fairly easy to recognize too with it's yellow green color. Also, antifreeze has an unmistakable odor. A reddish fluid could be transmission or power steering fluid.
How is your car handling? It is pulling to one side when you stop? It may be time for a front end alignment. Keep a check on your tire pressure. Under inflated tires can cause lower gas mileage. Get your tires rotated on a regular basis to help prevent wear.
Are you breaks squealing? Get to the mechanic as soon as possible, don't let this problem go on. If you do continue to drive you may find yourself replacing worn rotors along with break pads. Rotors can be very expensive.
Is you car acting sluggish? It is not accelerating like it used to? It may be time for a tune up. Are you noticing a hesitation? May be the gas filter.
Make sure you have your oil changed every 3,000 miles. This is a very good rule for any car, new or old. When I bought my new Toyota truck twenty years ago the first thing my mechanic said was that if I kept the oil changed I'd "get at least 200,000 miles out of the engine".
Well, fifteen years later I had 189,000 and the engine was still going strong. Unfortunately the frame was rusting, which was her ultimate demise.
Cars manufactured today are much better than they were 20 years ago and if you listen to what you car is trying to tell you, you should be able to have many worry free years with your car too.
About the Author
This article courtesy of What Is Your Car Trying To Tell You.
Written by: Ryan Larson
Weather and Car Cover Fundamentals
Weather and Car Cover Fundamentals. Selecting a car cover for your truck, van, SUV, or passenger car is a matter of finding one that fits your car and going with that one, right? Well, there is a lot more to it than simply purchasing a car cover. Size does matter, but so do quality, durability, and price. Let's examine some of the fundamentals in selecting a car cover for vehicle.
Car covers or weather covers as some prefer to call them have been successfully covering vehicles for several generations now thanks to the ingenious and persistent work of designers who properly measure each new model to make sure that every cover is custom fitted.
One of the first companies to get started in the business was Covercraft , founded in 1965 in Southern California. Covercraft, like so many American success stories, was a two man operation that outfitted car covers for street rods, import makes including Porsche, and for the aftermarket supply network.
The company boasts of having produced 55,000 styles of car covers for just about every make and model of vehicle on the road. There are other brands on the market; however Covercraft is dominant and favored by automobile wholesalers such as the Auto Parts Warehouse.
When selecting your car cover, you will learn that a manufacturer can make several different car covers for one model. Basic covers offer limited protection from such hazards as bird excrement and flying debris while premium car covers offer extensive protection from the following:
* Harmful and penetrating solar rays.
* Moisture, including rain, snow, sleet, hail, and ice.
* Flying debris and/or small impacts to the vehicle's body: dings, scratches.
* Pollution, dirt, and dust.
* Bird excrement, tree sap, etc.
The top of the line car covers typically come with mirror pockets to give your vehicle the best fit. Most car covers are generally made of 1, 2, 3, or 4 layers of durable polypropylene [a thermoplastic polymer that is highly resistant to acid and chemical solvents]; more layers mean better protection for your vehicle from the above mentioned hazards.
So, aren't weather covers for people who park their vehicles outside, hence the name? No, garaged vehicles are also subject to pollution and dirt; if you are interested in keeping your car looking showroom new than a car cover makes perfect sense.
Prices can range from approximately $45 to just over $200 for a top of the line model. You can save money by purchasing from an online wholesaler who will obtain the car cover directly from the manufacturer, bypassing the middleman. Most car covers come with a warranty and should give your car years of protection for a small amount of money.
About the Author
Copyright 2005 Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for Auto Parts Warehouse, an online wholesaler of high quality automobile parts and accessories.
Written by: Matthew C. Keegan
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Tireless Servant Protects Your Car While You Sleep
Tireless Servant Protects Your Car While You Sleep. So here I am at the dealer about to purchase a brand new vehicle. My old car was a good one, but after being having it's frame and axle bent in a car accident, that by the way wasn't my fault, but that's another story my old car was just never the same. It was about time I moved on, and got myself a brand new vehicle.
So I'm going through the usual list of standard options, and things I just got to have in this new car, when a guy car browsing next to me says, "Nice vehicle. Going to keep it on the street, or in your garage?". I said "Well, in my development, we have assigned parking spots, so I will keep it as close to my unit as I'm able".
He replied back "You better consider a custom car cover then, you want to protect your investment." A car cover, I thought to myself, I wouldn't have even considered that. I thanked the gentlemen, and continued with signing the papers for the new car.
I asked the dealer what he thought about car covers, and he said "They are a great investment if you don't have a indoor place to park your car. They help protect your vehicle from the elements, not to mention, other people." Seems I hit on a topic he knew about because he kept on talking.
"You're going to need a custom car cover for this vehicle, being it's a SUV, and there are plenty of places you can find that make them" he replied. He then went on to explain that not only will it help to retain a higher value of the car, but it will have less wear and tear, and it would help to avoid the usual nicks and scratches you get.
Most of the time you speak to people in casual conversation, you either forget what they were saying, or you just brush it off as nonsense, but I have to say, this time I sure am glad that complete stranger mentioned this to me. Protect what you have, get a better return on your investment, and keep your car looking newer, longer, with a custom car cover.
About the Author
R. Palkra has spent over 40 years in the automotive industry, and knows the "in's and outs' of the system. Now retired, his mission is to spread his knowledge, and help educate others, so they are armed with the information they need. You can find out more, voice your opinion, and share your experience at Tireless Servant Protects Your Car While You Sleep
Written by: R. Palkra
Tips To Get Your Car Through A Cold Winter
Tips To Get Your Car Through A Cold Winter. Everyone wants to save money on car repairs, right? Make it a point to schedule into your calendar a winter booster check for your car. Keep these tips in mind for your winter travel, and you’ll have a safer winter travel season all around!
A gas tank which is kept filled helps keep moisture from forming. Make it a habit to go ahead and fill up when your tank is half empty.
Change your oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles or so if your driving is mostly stop-and-go or consists of frequent short trips. Personally, I'd change my oil every 2000 miles, regardless. It will save you loads of trouble in the long run. Go ahead. Schedule it into the planner.
Wiper blades are one of those things we usually never think about until we need them, and they're not working! Have you ever tried driving in sleet and snow with impaired visibility, thanks to dud wipers? Talk about nerve-wracking!
Go ahead and replace old wiper blades. If your climate is harsh, purchase rubber-clad (winter) blades to fight ice build-up. Stock up on windshield washer solvent. You'll be surprised how much you use. And, of course, carry an ice-scraper. I keep one in the car, and one in the house – just in case my doors freeze and I can’t open them immediately.
Make sure your heater and defroster are in good working condition.
Worn tires don't help any time of year, least of all in winter weather. Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. It's a good idea to check tire pressures once a month. Let the tires "cool down" before checking the pressure. Don't forget to rotate your tires, too!
Make sure you have a spare and that the jack is in good condition.
Be prepared for emergencies, even if you live in a warmer climate. A winter emergency list should include gloves, boots, blankets, flares, a small shovel, sand or kitty litter, tire chains, a flash light, and a cell phone. Put a few "high-energy" snacks in your glove box. You can buy survival aids in the camping section of your sporting goods store.
It may take you less than an hour to get your car checked for winter and prepare for any emergency. That's time well spent and it can save you a giant headache this winter season!
Indeed, it could even save your life and the lives of those you love.
About the Author
This article courtesy of Tips To Get Your Car Through A Cold Winter.
Written by: Steve Wilcott
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