DAYTONA BEACH — With the government predicting Fuel could hit $3.40 a gallon by spring, a lot of people are paying closer attention to driving habits and car maintenance.In a new survey, 43 percent of motorists said they have taken better care of their vehicles in the past year because of rising gas prices. The poll also found that 52 percent have cut back on driving.But which car-maintenance tasks should get highest priority?Some of the most effective measures are either free or relatively cheap, automotive experts say.Here are some ideas from Rich White, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association’s marketing director:· Check tire pressure as often as weekly. “When tires aren’t inflated properly, it’s like driving with the parking brake on and can cost you a mile or two per gallon,” he said.· Check the gas cap. One vehicle in every six has a cap that’s either loose, damaged or missing. That lets 147 million gallons of gas vaporize every year.· Clean out your trunk or truck bed. An extra 100 pounds will cost you 1 percent to 2 percent in added gas.After that, concentrate on what’s under the hood, area mechanics recommended.The air filter also should be changed when it gets noticeably dirty, said Jayson Rickard, commercial parts manager at Advance Auto Discount Parts in Port Orange. Inspect the filter every time oil is changed. Replacing a clogged filter can improve gas mileage by up to 10 percent, according to the aftermarket trade group.Spark plugs used to last 30,000 miles, but some can now go 100,000, said Mark Culp, owner of Speedway Auto Repair in Daytona Beach. “They need to be replaced when they reach their limits.”Or take fuel injectors. Once every year or two, injectors should be cleaned, Culp said. “If the injectors are clogged, you’ll get lousy gas mileage.”The oxygen sensor should be replaced every 50,000 miles, said Dan Lange of Dan’s Auto Service in Daytona Beach. Nearly every auto parts store carries a shelf full of Fuel and oil additives that promise to increase gas mileage. However, AAA’s Auto Club South in Tampa says few, if any, increase mileage by any significant amount. Those that do may violate emission restrictions.”We recommend that drivers stay away from these products altogether,” said auto club spokesman Randy Bly.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested more than 100 devices and additives and reports that nearly all of them are useless.One technological boost that deserves consideration, Bly said, is the use of nearly pure nitrogen to inflate tires, a practice that started in the racing industry and now is going mainstream. Nitrogen maintains stable tire pressure for longer periods than regular air, which is 78 percent nitrogen and about 20 percent oxygen, Bly said.”It’s a good idea but the issue there is cost,” Bly said. “Some drivers may not want to spend $5 or $10 per tire to use nitrogen.”Bly said he doesn’t expect the new year to bring any relief at the gas pumps. He cited the latest forecast by the U.S. Energy Information Agency that predicts average prices in the $3.40 range by midspring. News source: News Journal online
Are you getting the best service at your auto shop?
Do they make it easy to book an appointment?Are they courteous on the phone?Do they set up or offer alternative transportation? Do they ask the appropriate questions in order to fully understand what the problem is?When you are providing answers, does the Service Advisor listen and write it down?Does the Service Advisor try to diagnose the issue before a technician looks at the problem? The answer should “NOT” be yes.A diagnose charge should be provided before you sign the Work Order.The Service Advisor contacts you before any charges exceed what you were told.A full cost estimate is provided before any repairs are done.Ideally you should be given parts pricing options. Eg. The price for an OEM part compared to going with an aftermarket brand.Service Advisor underpromises never overpromises. Cost of repair is exactly what you were told.Most important is that the vehicle is actually repaired properly the first time. This is a good way to find out if your shop is offering you their best. Keep in mind this is an ideal situation. Personally I look for the people that offer me the best attitude. News source: MY News
Low brake Pedal
Troubleshooting Brake Problems – Brake Pedal Too LowYour brakes are probably the most important part of your car. Without an intake system, you’ll just sit there. But at least you won’t hit a tree while you’re just sitting there! Seriously, brakes aren’t something to play around with. If your car is having a braking problem, whether it’s weak brakes, a mushy pedal, grinding sounds – whatever your brake problem is, you need to troubleshoot and repair it as soon as possible. We’ll help you diagnose your braking problem so you know what repairs to make.Brake Pedal Goes Too Far Down to Stop. If you step on the brake pedal and it feels like it’s going too far down before you start to slow, you might have the following problems:Low Brake Fluid Level: Check your brake fluid.If it’s low, top it off to the mark on the side of the reservoir. Contaminated Brake Fluid: Even though your brakes operate in a closed system, contaminants can still work there way into the works. Air can enter the system through the smallest hole, and you can end up with water in the system from condensation and other means. There’s not really any way to check for this, but bleeding your brakes will remove the bad stuff and replace it with new fluid. Worn Brake Pads: Your brakes should never wear low enough to cause your brake pedal to feel low, they’ll scream at you before then. But if they do get very low, you might have this problem. Replace your brake pads as soon as possible. Of course, this can be avoided with regular brake inspection. Bad Brake Power Boost Unit Finally, if your brake booster goes bad you’ll have low brake pedal issues. Most brake boosters are vacuum controlled, so a special vacuum measurement device that connects to the brake booster is needed to check it. If it’s bad, you’ll have to replace the boost unit. News source: About Auto Repair
Restore Your Car’s Leather Interior
Some leather car seats wear like iron, others seem more like paper mache over foam. Regardless, most will show their age over time. Proper maintenance of your leather interior will make it last a long time. Leather needs to be kept moisturized or it will dry and crack. Unfortunately, the guy who had the car before you didn’t know this, and your leather interior is showing some serious wear. Thankfully, there is hope. A simple leather replenishing and repair can make them look close to new again.We believe in giving restoration a chance in all cases except when there is no integrity of the leather to build upon. Luckily, there are some great products on the market today that enables you to restore your old leather fairly easily. When restoring or maintaining our car’s leather, we have had good luck with Gliptone Liquid Leather Scuff Master, a specialty product line available through distributors on the web. Other products that we have heard work quite well are Lexol Leather Care and Leather World. What ever product you decide to use, contact the distributor regarding the color matching of your leather. If you are restoring to the original color, send a small swatch of leather (under the seat there is always a spare piece) to the supplier for color matching. Alternatively, your vehicles manufacturer’s color code or color name can help your supplier give you a pretty good match. News source: Classiccars
Xmas From Crew Chief
I know most of you thought you were going to get through Christmas without the Ol Crew Chief putting in his 2 cents about Christmas. I was raised Catholic and went to a catholic school for 12 years( I am now a Lutheran) so I had Religion crammed into my brain. When I first went into the service I made a 180 and ignored it until Viet Nam and then I made a quick turnaround, as did many, when my kids were growing up I once again went to church regularly. Now I find myself missing church too often. We always say we should go but it is hard to get motivated on Sunday to easy to sit and read the paper “we will go next Sunday”. I do believe Christmas has a definite place in our society. With the current WAR, health care, housing loans fiasco. And high gas prices it tends to give us hope of a better tomorrow. It brings families together and they seem to get along better than usual. I love opening presents, I like the thrill of the surprise, I do like nice presents but even the small ones are a thrill. So here is hoping you get the same thrill this Xmas eve or whenever you open your presents.
Corvette Last Muscle Car
DETROIT – When General Motors Corp. pulls the cover off a new supercharged version of the Corvette at the Detroit auto show next month, it will unveil a performance car designed to rival or better even the fastest, most expensive exotic cars from Europe.But the Corvette’s chief engineer says the 2009 Corvette ZR1 may be the last in a long tradition of Detroit performance cars, endangered by stronger federal fuel economy regulations and limits on carbon dioxide emissions.”High-performance vehicles such as this may actually be legislated out of existence,” Tadge Juechter said at a recent showing of the ZR1, which is designed to have around 620 horsepower.President Bush on Wednesday signed into law legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it “a major step” toward energy independence and easing global warming.The legislation requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency by 40 percent to an industry average 35 miles per gallon by 2020.But Juechter said to sell one of the Chevrolet supercars, GM would need to offset that with cars that get 45 mpg.”It could really be an endangered species,” he said.Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst with the consulting firm Global Insight, said predicting the death of the muscle car might be premature.The Corvette, he said, is fuel efficient when compared with its competitors. Although fuel economy figures weren’t released for the ZR1, the current 505-horsepower Corvette ZO6 gets an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway, according to GM.The ZR1, he said, gets around the same mileage as a Chevrolet pickup truck, and GM won’t be getting out of the pickup business because of gas mileage standards.”I think it’s a little over-dramatization,” Bragman said. “GM wants to sell big, high-performance, fun cars. And typically that’s what Americans want to buy.”Performance cars of the future may be powered by smaller engines or electric motors, he said, but they won’t die.The ZR1 will have a top speed of more than 200 mph, driven by an all-new supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. It has 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and a suspension tuned to provide extraordinary cornering grip, GM said.The car has a carbon-fiber hood, fenders and roof for weight savings, and its huge carbon-ceramic brake rotors give it great stopping power, the company said.The ZR1 will cost around $100,000 and probably will go on sale next summer. News source: Forbes
Cars At Wal Mart
Walk into a Wal-Mart in the not-too-distant future and among the thousands of products for sale will be an electric car. It will not be a remote control car, a golf cart or a little scooter to help granny cruise the aisles. The battery-powered automobile will look every bit like a MINI Cooper. This is because it will be a MINI Cooper, just with a powerful electric motor under the hood and a stack of lithium batteries where the gas tank used to be. Read Full ArticleAt a cost of $35,000, the all-electric smart car will be more than twice the price of the recently Americanized Fuel version. News source: Editorial Autos
Overfilling The Gas Tank
Why is it that we want to squeeze every tiny drop of precious fuel into the gas tank before we call it quits. I saw a guy the other day who was literally bending his knees to peer into the dark gas filler hole between lightning fast squeezes of the pump trigger. I guess it was worth it, he probably got an extra 1/20 gallon in the tank. That’ll buy him an extra mile or so before he has to perform his bizarre gas dance all over again.Sure, risking soaked clothing for the sake of an extra 25 cents in the tank seems ludicrous when you think about it. Besides the obvious loss of cool points, there are some real issues that can arise from repeatedly overfilling your fuel tank. The parts of your fuel system that are supposed to be soaking in gas 24-7 are designed and formulated to do their job for years. But the parts that aren’t supposed to soak in it – things like your fuel filler tube or the rubber seal where the filler meets the chassis – can suffer from continual saturation. If you’re a green thinker, think about all of the gas that evaporates into the atmosphere thanks to spills and overflows. It’s a real thing. There are also components of your emissions control system that will be damaged if the come in contact with Fuel. You don’t have to take it from me. The Tappet Brothers over in Boston speak the truth, along with about 40 minutes of relationship advice, when it comes to car stuff. Everyone wants to see what they have to say. I’m still waiting for Click and Clack to get back to me about how to get the phone number of the girl who works near the windshield washer fluid at the New Baltimore rest area News source: About Auto Repair
Winter Tips
Prepare Your Vehicle First, make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter driving. AAA offers the following tips for motorists departing on winter road trips: Have the battery and charging system tested. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather. Have the brakes checked to ensure they work properly and apply smoothly, which helps prevent the wheels from locking on slick surfaces. Make sure the tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can be dangerous, and may suffer damage. Remember, the air pressure in your tires will decrease 1-2 psi for every 10 degree drop in outside temperature. Use the tire size recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer for best snow traction. Overly wide tires tend to float on top of the snow, reducing grip. Make sure the engine coolant provides anti-freeze protection down to the lowest temperatures you are likely to encounter; -30 degrees F/-34 degrees C is a good guideline. Visibility is critical in adverse weather conditions, so replace worn windshield wipers that streak, and be sure the washer reservoir is filled with a winter solvent that will not freeze. Keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to minimize condensation buildup that can lead to gas line freeze-up. If the fuel in your area does not already contain alcohol, use a gas line “dryer” additive periodically to absorb moisture. Carry a winter driving kit for use in the event of an emergency. The kit should include a small bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter), a small snow shovel, a snow brush, traction mats, a flashlight with new batteries, window washer solvent, an ice scraper, a cloth or roll of paper towels, jumper cables, a blanket, warning devices (flares or triangles), drinking water and extra clothes. Program your radio for AM 530 or 1610 stations, as you may see signs referencing those frequencies for important traffic advisories. Carry a cellular phone and car charger. Program the phone with important numbers including a reliable roadside service provider that will be able to assist you during inclement weather if you have signed up in advance, such as AAA emergency road service (800-AAA-HELP or your local AAA club number). You can visit a local, reliable auto repair facility for assistance in preparing your vehicle for winter driving. If you are not familiar with facilities in your area or unsure of how to identify a reliable and professional facility, AAA can assist with a listing of AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities that have met and maintained high professional standards. A free listing of AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities is available by visit the automotive page of AAA.com. Plan Your Trip If your plans include travel out of the local area, plan ahead by getting up-to-date, accurate maps and routing information in advance. Make sure your maps include seasonal road closures and provide routing information on main roads over secondary routes since heavily traveled roads are more likely to be cleared or treated first during storms. You can get the latest AAA maps and a TripTik routing from your local AAA office. Alternatively, you can create and print your own routing using the TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com. Drive With Caution When taking to the road during winter weather, remember to drive with caution to help maintain your safety as well as that of passengers, fellow motorists and roadside workers. AAA recommends the following tips for winter driving: Before starting out in snowy weather, take time to remove the snow from the entire car so it doesn’t blow onto your windshield or the windshields of other drivers. Make sure your mirrors and lights are clean as well. Drive with your low-beam headlights illuminated. When the roads are icy, slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination. Even better, delay your trip, stop early for the day, or take an extended break from driving. Using an online service such as the TripTik Travel Planner at AAA.com can help you find restaurants and lodgings along your route. Allow sufficient room for maintenance vehicles and plows, stay at least 15 car lengths (200 feet) back and, if you need to pass, go to the other vehicle’s left. Watch for icy surfaces on bridges, even when the rest of the road seems to be in good condition. If you get stuck in snow, straighten the wheel and accelerate slowly. Add sand or cat litter under the drive wheels to help avoid spinning the tires. If your tires lose traction, continue to look and steer in the direction you want to go. If the drive wheels start to spin or slide while going up a hill, ease off the accelerator slightly and then gently resume speed. Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra seconds to react. When changing lanes, avoid cutting in front of trucks, which need more time and distance than passenger vehicles to stop. Don’t use cruise control in precipitation and freezing temperatures. Remember that four-wheel drive helps you to get going quicker, but it won’t help you stop any faster. Apply constant, firm pressure to the pedal with anti-lock brakes.
Amenities Enliven Auto Dealerships
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Walk into a new AutoNation dealership here and you’ll find more than just a pot of coffee on a hot plate, rigid chairs and some stale doughnuts.Customers at the gleaming new $40 million Lexus of Palm Beach can browse for cars or wait for an oil change while noshing on biscotti at an Italian-themed cafe, surfing the Web at a computer station with free Internet access, taking a load off in a massage chair and ogling a 500-gallon aquarium.Open for about two months, Lexus of Palm Beach is biggest in the family of dealerships owned by AutoNation Inc., the nation’s largest auto retailer. The Fort Lauderdale-based company is betting that customers looking for an upscale car like a Lexus will be drawn to luxuries usually found in expensive hotels or restaurants, such as marble floors, flat panel TVs in waiting areas, and valet parking.It’s also a clear attempt to lure customers amid a sales environment made difficult by the troubled housing market and tighter credit conditions.”The goal is to create a destination for luxury buyers,” AutoNation President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Maroone said at a “grand opening” Tuesday. “There’s a lot of stress in the economy. Fortunately, a number of the luxury buyers, I won’t say are immune from that, but are not as impacted the way our entry-level buyers would be.”The 180,000 square-foot facility – built on the site of a former mall that’s just down the street from an older Lexus dealership – holds 700 vehicles, including 25 in the showroom. The repair shop has 67 service bays and is air conditioned, and the technicians’ lounge has a flat screen TV – perks than benefit the workers behind the scenes.”That makes a big difference in the ability to draw talent,” said Cliff Brush, the dealership’s general manager.Sales have increased due to the new facility, Brush said. In November, the new store sold 335 vehicles, up from the 199 vehicles sold at the older dealership in November 2006, Brush said.Lexus, Toyota Motor Corp.’s luxury division, rewards dealers that make such large investments to help them offset some costs. By the end of 2008, about $1 billion will have been spent in remodeling or building luxury Lexus dealerships over a three-year period in the U.S., said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager for Lexus.While the dealership is unique for South Florida, it’s not alone nationally in offering perks. Herb Chambers Lexus in the Boston area has wireless Internet and a children’s playroom, while Fletcher Jones Mercedes Benz in Newport Beach, Calif., provides an airport shuttle and free car wash, even for customers who aren’t having a vehicle serviced.AutoNation is building seven different luxury dealerships, though none are as large as the West Palm Beach location, Maroone said.Edward Yruma, a JP Morgan analyst, said many auto manufacturers have been seeking facility upgrades. He said AutoNation has not incurred much risk with such an expensive dealership, partly because the luxury car segment has not been as significantly affected as others, and also because the West Palm Beach area is wealthier than most.”The premier brands are looking for premier facilities,” Yruma said. “All of the auto retailers have showpiece stores where they have sunk a lot of capital into them.”Chris Denove, a vice president for J.D. Power and Associates, called the move a gamble because it’s not guaranteed that AutoNation will get enough business to justify the added expense of the amenities, possibly forcing it to pass some costs to customers.He noted that some people will drive longer distances to check out the dealership, while others may not care about the added amenities, preferring to get their loaner and leave rather than sit in a massage chair while their car is being fixed.”It’s easy to sit back and think that Lexus buyers will pay,” Denove said. “We find every day in our research that luxury buyers are the most aggressive, price-sensitive buyers on the market.”Also, while the amenities add to the experience, any car buyer can attest that the experience can be ruined if they don’t like their salesperson, regardless of the brand or retailer.”Based on our research, although the facility can impact customer satisfaction, the interpersonal dealings between the customer and the staff trump everything,” Denove said.Maroone agreed, saying the goal of salespeople is to make customers feel at home.”It’s all interconnected,” Maroone said. “Certainly it’s based on personal relationships. The facility facilitates that kind of attitude and culture.”Despite some risk, Denove said AutoNation has a good chance to make the dealership work.”AutoNation has a good track record and Lexus is a great brand to do it with because it has very loyal customers,” Denove said. “If I were a betting man, I would gamble that it would pay off at the end, but it’s a close call.” News source: AP. Google