autoMedia Auto News Blog : Maintenance

Late Labor Day Reduces Holiday Travel

Brandy Schaffels — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:28:00 GMT

While Memorial Day and Labor Day traditionally bookend the beginning and end of the summer travel season, this year's Labor Day weekend is expected to see 13% fewer travelers than last year. This is expected mainly because of its late date, which occurs after school has already started for many children across the country. "With Labor day falling a week later this year when many children will have returned to school, the decline may more to do with the calendar than with the economy," said AAA President & CEO, Robert L. Darbelnet.

According to statistics released this week from AAA, only 39.1 million Americans are expected to take a trip of 50 miles or more away from home, a decrease of 13.3 percent from the 45.1 million travelers who hit the highways last year, even though average national gas prices this season are a full dollar less expensive than they were last year.

Last Labor Day weekend, the nationwide average price of self-serve, regular gasoline had dropped to $3.68 per gallon after peaking at an all-time record of $4.11 per gallon on July 17, AAA says. (Remember, that's the nationwide average: In Los Angeles, gas prices reached above $5 per gallon.) This, combined with the earliness of the holiday (last year, Labor Day fell on September 1), and the emergence of end of summer travel discounts, caused large numbers of travelers to make a last-minute decision to take a holiday trip and made it the most traveled holiday weekend of the decade. According to the Energy Information Administration, the current national retail average for regular self-serve is $2.63 per gallon.

"AAA expects this Labor Day holiday weekend to be the third busiest of the decade, even though the number of travelers will be down from one year ago," said Darbelnet. "Our forecast shows Labor Day travel will be up over this summer's 4th of July holiday and that's a positive sign." According to the AAA release, average spending will be $968 and average distance traveled will be 645 miles.

If you're preparing to take a road trip, be sure to plan ahead for possible emergencies: Make sure your vehicle emergency kit is stocked with bottled water, a flashlight and batteries, flares, duct tape, energy bars, a blanket, phone number for roadside assistance, jumper cables, and can of Fix-a-Flat.

Before you depart, perform your regular preventive maintenance: make sure your tires (including the spare) are all properly inflated, top off important fluids (coolant, oil, brakes, transmission, and windshield), check your belts and hoses, and ensure your headlights, taillights, and turn indicators are all working properly.

Enjoy your road trip!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Life, Cars, and Dad

Editor — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:58:00 GMT

People are often curious about girls and women who love, race, and/or write about cars. I owe my passion for cars (and my career) to my dad. My dad was 23 when I was born; his second child and, all told, his only daughter. He’s called me Baby my whole life.

Southern California in the early Sixties was innocent and spacious, and a great place to be during a hot rod heyday. My dad was a machinist, a mechanic, an engineer, a flat track motorcycle racer, and a born-and-bred automotive aficionado and engine builder. He, like most young men, learned about cars from his dad—and I learned about cars from mine. He gave me an appreciation of cars—not just the shiny new ones, but how to take care of them, to make them last and run well. He taught me racecar driver skills, and the importance of maintenance for safety’s sake.

As a teenager, he had ’37, ’38, ’39, and 1940 Fords. He put a cam for a hydroplane boat on one and later bought a ’42 Cadillac, which he converted to a hot rod. When he met my mom, he drove a ’53 Lincoln Capri, two-toned yellow and black—not bad for a 21-year old. Buying cars and hot rodding them was what he did, and did often. He found a ’53 Studebaker in the wrecking yard. It had a baby V8, but lousy Bendix brakes, so he sold it to a guy who turned it into an Ascot racer. Next he bought a ’51 Chevy Bel Air hardtop coupe with a Cadillac V8 and a turbo 400 trans then a ’58 Olds that ate gas like crazy on our weekend trips to Muscle Beach. He added a Corvette manifold and twice pipes to a blue ’53 Bel Air coupe, but it made too much noise and my mom was always getting ticketed. We always had fun in and around cars, and there wasn’t anything he modified that my mom didn’t drive as well.

All of our “family” cars had some element of performance and/or cool factor to them, even the first brand new car my parents bought—a 1961 Plymouth Valiant. He worked hard to make sure my mom could stay home with us, and every penny mattered. For $3.00 more a month, they could have bought the station wagon version, but decided they couldn’t afford it. My dad taught me the value of money. The Valiant was a good car, although a little nose-heavy with its large, slant six. After that, we got a ’64 Plymouth Barracuda fastback, with a small V8 and a four-speed manual. I say “we” because this was the time I really fell in love with cars and my dad’s skill behind the wheel. I was always asking him to go faster.

We had names for our cars, like our “root beer” car—a ’58 Pontiac Star Chief, with its cream-colored hardtop and metallic root beer brown body, and our ’46 Chevy “cherry truck,” that was really deep green but totally cherry. Our ’61 Pontiac Ventura wide track station wagon, white with red interior, was one of my favorites, because we went everywhere—up and down the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington, camping and traveling. My dad worked 18-hour days, but he always reserved Sundays just for us. After church, he took us for long drives, somewhere around Southern California, from the beaches to Beverly Hills, to the desert to Skid Row. My dad didn’t always drive fast. On these days, he would drive slowly (when no one was behind us), so he could point out Southern California history, and how other people lived—those more fortunate and less. I learned appreciation and understanding from my dad from these family drives.

I also learned trust from my dad, and confidence in myself. At 15, with just my learner’s permit, he had me drive our ‘69 Ford Country Squire LTD (with a 429 V8) from the bottom of Azusa Canyon, through the high, winding mountain roads, through to where it ended back into the town. The caveat was that my entire family was in the car, including my grandparents. But I passed the test and we all lived to tell. When I’d finally gotten my license and could take the car by myself, I knew I had to pay attention to what I was doing, and to it. Not because it ran poorly, but to prevent it from doing so. My dad had installed aftermarket gauges in the car. When I got home from even a dairy run, I had to be able to tell him exactly what the oil pressure was. But he didn’t always ask. My dad taught me to be prepared, to listen to my car, and to tell the truth.

When I got my own first car, I didn’t pay much attention to the Country Squire any longer, but my dad still did. He had a rule about this car: 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first. But one day when doing some weekend maintenance under the hood and giving it a wax, a large family in an old, almost broken down pickup drove by. The man stopped and asked my dad if he was selling the wagon. He really wasn’t because, although he’d already gotten my mom a new car, he still had to make sure every hose, belt, plug, pad and wire was just right before selling it. But at that moment he decided to go ahead and let it go, because he could see that this man really needed a nice car for his family. And he gave him a great deal. I learned generosity from my dad.

Cars brought us together, they brought us joy and they taught us to take care of what we have, and each other, and to be gracious to others who don't have as much. These are the things I've learned from my dad—things about cars, and life.

- Deborah Neal, Editorial Director, autoMedia.com

Don't Tread on Me: National Tire Safety Week

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:16:00 GMT

Yes, it is true, there is a week dedicated to more marketing-driven holidays than there are weeks in the year, but Tire Safety Week serves as a great reminder of the importance of tire safety. Where the rubber meets the road is just four contact patches about the size of the palm of your hand. Those contact patches are essential to keep your two-ton vehicle, along with the family and friends onboard, safe. When you think about it, modern tires are rather remarkable.

But, tires can’t inspect themselves, nor can they add air. (Read: "Top 5 Misconceptions About Tires.")

A project sponsored by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) found that about half of surveyed passenger vehicles had at least one under inflated tire. More alarming is that nearly one in five vehicles had at least one significantly under inflated tire that can compromise safety and waste gas.

Among the RMA tire pressure survey findings:

Only nine percent of vehicles had four properly inflated tires.
50 percent of vehicles had at least one under inflated tire.
19 percent of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 8 pounds per square inch (psi.)
26 percent of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 6 psi.
38 percent of vehicles had at least one tire under inflated by 4 psi.

Although all new vehicles are now equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems, these systems issue a low pressure warning only after tire pressure drops 25 percent below the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure. In many cases, an 8 psi loss of pressure would not trigger a warning light and would cause a loss of fuel economy and could lead to a vehicle safety issue.

"Checking tires for proper inflation and tread condition is one of the most critical - and easiest - maintenance procedures for a consumer," said Joey Viselli, Goodyear brand director. "It doesn't take much time or sophisticated equipment. Drivers can check their tires by themselves, or any of our retail outlets would be happy to provide the service."

Goodyear recommends that motorists should check tire inflation at least monthly or before a long trip. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner's manual, not the maximum limit stamped on a tire sidewall.

In most states, the minimum legal tread depth is 2/32 of an inch. If you place a penny with the top of the head facing down into your tires' shallowest groove and you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln's head, it's time to replace your tires. Realistically, much performance is lost at this point, and some experts recommend using a quarter-based measurement of 4/32 of an inch instead, especially for managing heavy rain or snow.

In addition, rotate tires regularly. Regular rotation helps extend the life of your tires, saving time and money in the long run. If no period is specified in your vehicle owners manual, tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, according to Michelin. If you have a full-size spare, it should be included in the rotation process.

Likewise, keep the vehicle properly aligned and have the tires balanced after mounting to help ensure that your vehicle handles correctly and will help increase the life and performance of your tires.

Learn more about tires with “6 Simple Tire Tips” and “Tire Buying Basics.”

Tips for Safe Memorial Day Travel

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:45:00 GMT

Are you planning a road trip for Memorial Day? According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), as many as 32.4 million motorists will be traveling 50 miles or farther from home this weekend, traditionally the opening of the summer travel season. Because gas prices were so high last summer, many drivers chose to stay home, but at nearly two dollars less per gallon this year, we can definitely expect the roads to be more crowded. In fact, Auto Club predicts the average trip taken by Americans this Memorial Day holiday weekend to be farther than 600 miles!

"Last year, soaring gas prices and a deteriorating economy resulted in far fewer trips being taken than had been forecasted," said Robert L. Darbelnet, AAA President & CEO. "The good news is sharply lower gasoline prices and plentiful travel bargains have Americans feeling better about taking a road trip this summer which should help tourism-based economic activity throughout the nation."

Regular vehicle maintenance should be a part of your routine, but before you load up your family for your personal pilgrimage, make sure you don't wind up in your own particular version of the Griswold's "Vacation" film nightmare by performing some pre-road trip preparation.

Simple Preventive Maintenance

Before you even hit the road, check your tires while cold to ensure they are properly inflated to the correct pressure: Underinflated tires reduce your fuel economy and hinder the vehicle's cornering, acceleration, and braking performance. Underinflated tires are also prone to overheat on long journeys, and the last thing you want is a blowout in the middle of the desert. You can find your manufacturer's recommended tire pressure on a sticker inside the driver's door or in the owner's manual. Auto Club estimates it will come to the rescue of more than a million motorists with flat tires this summer, so be sure you check your tread wear and keep your tires properly rotated.

Top off all fluids: radiator, windshield washer, and oil. If you're approaching the suggested interval, go ahead and perform an oil-change before you go. These fluids are the lifeblood of your vehicle, so make sure they're full and fresh.
Perform a quick visual check to ensure rubber parts like wiper blades, and belts and hoses are soft and functional. You might enjoy a sauna at your destination, but nobody wants to see steam coming out from under the hood of their car. And long roadtrips can lead to buggy windshields, so you'll need to ensure you can clear those crushed critters off the glass.
Create an emergency kit for the trunk that contains spare tire, flares, plenty of bottled water, and a first aid kit. Breaking down can ruin a vacation, but sitting curbside for hours while waiting for a towtruck in the hot sun can cause heatstroke and dehydration.
Check your battery. Summer heat contributes to battery failure and accelerates corrosion on the battery terminals, so visually inspect the battery to make sure the connections between the cables and terminals are tight and there is no sign of corrosion. This simple maintenance can prevent you from being among the 1.3 million drivers AAA anticipates will require a jump start or battery replacement this summer.

"No one wants to have their day disrupted by a broken-down vehicle--especially when they are on vacation," says AAA Automotive Vice President Marshall L. Doney. "Many of the problems that end up with the vehicle on the back of a tow truck could have been prevented with regular maintenance."

Will you be traveling with little ones?

While you're packing up the car, double check your child's safety seat to ensure it is installed properly. And if you haven't checked lately, now is a good time to ensure it is still the correct model for your child's height and weight.
Pack plenty of travel games and hand them out one at a time, or involve the whole family in games you can play along the way. Mobil Oil shares a fun collection of classic travel games at its site to help ensure back seat harmony among your travelers.
Make sure you bring plenty of fun and healthy snacks such as crackers, fruit and cheese. Be prepared to take a little longer too: a journey that takes six hours without kids can now span eight or nine. Take a 10-minute rest every hour your child is awake to stretch legs and take potty breaks.

Practical Safety Reminders
Long trips can be tedious, and we're all tempted to try to squeeze as many miles as possible into a day, but driving while drowsy can be as dangerous as driving while drunk. The National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America poll reveals 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year. According to drowsydriving.org many people cannot tell if or when they are about to fall asleep. The site recommends that drivers stop and rest if they exhibit the following symptoms:

Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids,
Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts,
Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs,
Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes,
Trouble keeping your head up, or
Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip.

It might sound obvious, but be sure to buckle up. 'Click it or Ticket' enforcement mobilization is running nationwide through May 31, and you wouldn't want a seatbelt citation to spoil your fun or an injury to ruin your life. A report at NHTSA estimates seat belts saved more than 15,000 lives in 2007 and an additional 5,000 could have been saved if everyone involved in a crash was buckled in. "Worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent," according to NHTSA, "and by 60 percent in pickups, SUVs and minivans."

Regardless of whether you're planning on being one of the many travelers touring the highways this Memorial Day holiday, or simply preparing for daily driving, we at autoMedia hope these tips will help you arrive at your destination safe and sound. Happy travels!

By Brandy Schaffels
Contributing Editor

(Photos by the author and Automobile Association of America)

Survey: Americans Are Putting More Elbow Grease into Their Cars

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:28:00 GMT

American motorists are putting significant elbow grease into maintaining their cars, according to a new "Elbow Grease Economics" survey conducted by Harris Interactive and 3M. Based on responses from 1,835 car owners, tightening budgets are driving the trend toward DIY car care. And it is no wonder, with 55 percent stating they will hold on to their current car longer, and more than one-third (34 percent) of car owners feel they have to take better care of their car now because they can't afford a new one. The scariest finding: three percent say they are afraid they might have to live in their car if their home is foreclosed.

Nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of car owners used to think they could just go buy a new car if necessary, but now they say they know they can't afford it. This is even higher -- 25 percent -- among Baby Boomers ages 45 to 54, reflecting their concerns over pending retirement and tight household budgets.

Good news for the auto industry is that there appears to be a pent-up demand for new cars, as more than two-fifths (42 percent) are considering trading or selling their current car for another model but haven't done so yet.

Key reasons include:

21 percent of car owners trust their current car, even though it's older.
19 percent aren't confident in the economy or do not want to take out another loan.
10 percent aren't sure what will happen with the Big Three U.S. automakers.
5 percent cannot get an auto loan.

Vehicle maintenance is more of a priority than ever before for car owners, particularly as the average age of American vehicles reaches nine years old. Some six percent of these respondents have just started doing their car maintenance themselves after having it done professionally in the past. This increases to nine percent for car owners ages 18 to 25. Nearly 30 percent (29 percent) of car owners are doing small maintenance tasks themselves like oil changes and light bulb replacements. This is even higher for owners ages 18 to 34 with 43 percent of men and 37 percent of women tackling these tasks. More than one-quarter (26 percent) of car owners are taking better care of the appearance to keep their cars looking new.

Some 15 percent of car owners -- including 30 percent of men and 21 percent of women ages 18 to 34 -- are doing tune-ups themselves or using performance additives to keep their engines in good condition. Interestingly, one-quarter (25 percent) of female drivers are paying more attention to their car's maintenance than two years ago. Nearly one-third (29 percent) of women are doing their car maintenance themselves or with a friend or family member. Some seven percent of these women have just taken over the maintenance after having it professionally done previously.

Consumers are battling the economy and its effects on the household budget in myriad, creative ways. Certainly money can be saved on vehicle maintenance, though it is important to understand the value of proper car care. Keeping your car in top running condition ensures its reliability, helps retain resale value, and reduces the risk for costly, avoidable repairs.

Learn about how to care for your car in our complete guides to owning, cleaning, maintaining, and repairing your car.

Odometer Fraud On the Rise

admin — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:43:00 GMT

Desperate times often invite unscrupulous opportunists. With car sales shifting to pre-owned models, more than ever shoppers need to be vigilant to ensure cars match their representation. It is common knowledge to look for evidence of repair when inspecting a car, but new research shows that odometer fraud is an increasingly prevalent scam. Harder to detect than bondo, odometer rollbacks have increased 57 percent nationwide over the last four years, according to CarFax. (See our “Top 10 Tips for Used Car Buying.”)

More than 450,000 cases of odometer rollbacks are reported annually, costing consumers more than $1 billion, according to CarFax and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This fraud is not limited to mechanical odometers. In fact, digital odometers can be easier to manipulate than their analog counterparts and evidence of tampering is harder to detect.

To avoid buying a rolled back car:

Examine the wear on the pedals, steering wheel, floor mats, and seats to make sure they are consistent with the mileage reading.
Have a trusted mechanic check the car's computer and inspect the vehicle thoroughly prior to purchase.
Consider a Carfax Vehicle History Report from the seller.

Learn more about odometer fraud, and see our tricks for buying a good used car.

Cold Weather Car Care

Editor — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:02:00 GMT

Late October is the perfect time of year to check your vehicle’s cooling system for antifreeze/coolant viability and levels. If you live in cold country and take your car to the dealer or other mechanic for service, make sure they check it for you and use the right antifreeze/coolant for your area’s temperature extremes. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer who’s never done this before, here is some antifreeze advice to help keep your car running—and you out of the cold:

Cold, winter weather makes hoses and other pliable materials stiffer and more susceptible to cracking. Be sure to check your car’s hoses and belts while you’re checking your radiator/cooling system. Why do you need to check your cooling system in winter, you might wonder? Antifreeze/coolant—while seeming like a dichotomy—keeps your radiator fluid from freezing up when it’s super cold and from overheating when it’s seriously hot. When either happens, you’re stuck; and, either way, no one wants to be stranded by the side of the road when it’s freezing or frying outside. That said, radiators should be flushed every year or two to maintain optimum system performance—and to prevent a breakdown in bad weather.

Wayne Scraba, our Car Care editor from Canada, knows all about cars and surviving the cold weather. Prepare your car for winter and check out his article, Winter Car Care & Antifreeze, for more details on the various types of antifreeze/coolant, what you need to know about the different types and how to mix them (or not), and which type is best for your particular make and model of vehicle. Click here to jump to story.

Tune up, Clean Up During 'Green Checkup' Month

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:01:00 GMT

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has launched a Green Checkup campaign, empowering local dealers to help customers save gas, reduce emissions, and improve fuel economy through vehicle maintenance.

NADA's 10-Point Green Checkup

Motor oil. Top off and change oil as necessary with manufacturer-recommended grade, "energy conserving" motor oils. Doing so can improve fuel economy by up to 2 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Replacing conventional oils with synthetics may offer even greater fuel economy benefits.

Air filters. Make sure you change your air filter at the end of its recommended lifespan. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a vehicle's gas mileage by up to 10 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Engine performance. Enhance fuel economy performance by having engines tuned and spark plugs replaced according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule. A single misfiring spark plug can cut fuel economy by up to 4 percent, according to the EPA.

Brakes. Improperly maintained brakes can result in unwanted drag. This unnecessary resistance can have the same effect as driving with a foot on the brake pedal: a dramatic drop in fuel economy.

Warning lights for "Service Engine Soon" or "Check Engine." Ignoring these indicators may result in poor fuel economy performance and require expensive repairs. For example, a warning light may indicate a faulty oxygen sensor is sending more fuel to the engine than necessary, which can result in a 40 percent fuel economy decline. A warning light could also indicate a faulty thermostat, which can prevent a cold engine from reaching its normal operating temperature resulting in the unnecessary injection of fuel.

Tire wear. Replacing worn tires with a manufacturer-recommended size and style can save hundreds of dollars a year. To improve fuel economy performance, consider low rolling-resistance replacement tires.

Tire inflation pressure. Keeping tires inflated to at least the manufacturer-recommended pressure can improve fuel economy by up to 3 percent, according to the EPA. Under-inflated tires require more energy to roll, meaning more fill-ups.

Unnecessary items that add weight to the vehicle. Unnecessary weight lowers fuel economy; remove heavy items from your trunk and back seat.

Evaporative emission controls. Poorly operating evaporative emission controls can fail to capture gasoline vapors and recycle them to the fuel tank. Faulty controls waste gas and degrade air quality.

Transmission. Properly operating modern transmissions and drive components are critical to vehicle fuel economy performance. Routinely check proper fluid levels and system operation.

The publicized goals are admirable, but do filter your local dealers’ recommendations through an understanding that dealer profits are down and the service center can drive their revenue.

More tips and advice are presented on the EcoDriving Web site, cleverly hosted by Governator Schwarzenegger.

For more car maintenance advice, browse our Car Care archives.

Politics and Tire Inflation - Are You Pro-Inflation?

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:23:00 GMT

There has been much banter from the presidential candidates about the role tire inflation plays in fuel economy, and more than a few humorous barbs. No matter which side of the political aisle your views fall, we hope on this issue that you are pro-inflation.

Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires, according to the Evironmental Protection Agency. Based on EPA calculations, the cost translates to upwards of 12 cents per gallon. There are other less-obvious costs due to low tire pressure, such as reduced road-holding performance, compromised safety, and tire longevity due to wear.

Check your tire pressure at least once a month when the tires are cold (not recently used). The recommended pressure is listed in your owner’s manual and on a sticker typically located in the driver’s door jamb—not on the side wall. The tire itself only lists the maximum pressure, not the right pressure for your application.

Tires will naturally lose air over time, and seasonal temperature changes will affect the pressure. It is expected the slight, periodic adjustments will be necessary. If a tire is down several psi since it was last checked, be sure to inspect it thoroughly for wear and possible puncture. Your local tire shop can do a simple bubble test by submerging a portion of the tire to determine if there is a leak and repair, or replace, as needed.

So, which candidate is correct on this issue? Arguably, both. Under-inflated tires are costing our nation avoidable fuel consumption. In fact, the Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that as much as 1.2 billion gallons of fuel is wasted in the United States each year due to under-inflated tires. And, having a tire pressure gauge in your glove box is an excellent idea. (We’ll leave it to you to parse out the other details.)

Ultimately, any national energy policy that will have immediate short-term impact and lead to increased independence will require a multi-pronged strategy. We can all do our parts, while saving money and keeping our passengers safe, by simply checking our own tire pressure periodically.

For more information, read Gas Saving Tips for Saving Money at the Pump and How to Hypermile Safely, Effectively.

Don’t Neglect Car Care in Tough Times

admin — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:50:00 GMT

With a faltering economy and elevated gasoline prices, many households are struggling to make ends meet. Cutting corners may seem like the key to preserving one’s lifestyle, but it is important not to neglect your car. Skimping on routine service may lead to long-term reliability issues that ultimately could cost much more. And a well-tuned car runs at peak efficiency, minimizing fuel consumption.

Maintenance is more than a financial concern, it also impacts safety. More than 5 percent of all vehicle accidents result from unperformed vehicle maintenance, according to the Car Care Council. These accidents result in 2,600 deaths, 100,000 disabling injuries, and a financial cost of over $2 billion every year.

Below are tips on common maintenance items, with links to articles that can provide more in-depth advice and how-to instruction.

Air filter – Much has been written about the benefits of a clean air filter for fuel efficiency, though in reality it would take considerable filth to make a measurable impact. For most drivers, replacing the filter at regular manufacturer-recommended service intervals is a sound routine. Unless you are spending much time on dirt-covered roads or off-roading, obsessing over the air filter isn’t worth it. A couple bucks can be saved replacing it yourself, rather than at a service center. Just make sure they don’t charge you for work not performed.

Brakes – Have your brakes inspected routinely during service visits and replace the brake pads as recommended with top-quality units. Skimping on brake service will lead to early rotor replacement and hence greater costs. If your brake hydraulic system has never been flushed, have it serviced to remove moisture and impurities from the reservoir, lines, calipers and/or wheel cylinders. Also, have the emergency brake assembly tested periodically. Repair or adjust the e-brake as necessary.

Oil – With oil-and-filter jobs readily available for cut-rate prices, it's easy to rationalize stretching out the time between oil changes, or even doing it yourself. (Though with the price of oil and inconvenience for recycling the fluid, it is hardly worth it for most people.) Read your owner’s manual to see what the recommended interval is based on your driving, rather than depend on your service station’s reminder sticker. You will likely find 5,000 or 7,500 is appropriate, though there are a few vehicles with a longer 10,000 mile interval with synthetic oil. Check your oil once a month, or preferably every two weeks, to ensure it is at the appropriate level. With this routine, you may find a potential problem early, minimizing damage and subsequent repair costs.

Tune-Ups - Regular tune-ups that include maintenance of the ignition system and emissions system are important. Engine misfires in today's engines are usually caused by of one of two items: plugged fuel injectors or bad spark plug wires. Misfires take a toll on performance and mileage, no matter how slight. It's a good idea to replace spark plug wires every 50,000-60,000 miles, depending on how severe your driving conditions are.

Radiator - Flush and refill the cooling system according to the service manual's recommendations. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically.

Tires – Tire wear is a gradual process, taking many thousands of miles. It is tempting to let tires go just a little longer before replacing, especially as tire prices have been creeping up. Remember, however, that your two-ton automobile holds the road with just four, palm-sized contact patches. Make sure they are in good shape. Check your tire inflation monthly, including the spare. To make the entire set wear at the same rate, rotate them. Check the owner's manual for recommendations, though a typical schedule may call for rotation every 5,000 miles with a pattern that's sometimes called "cross-rotation."

Lights and wipers – Have someone help you once a month with a visual check of all lights, including turn signal and brake lamps. These are important safety devices. Wipers are critical for foul-weather visibility. Before replacing, try cleaning the blade with a glass cleaner and paper towel; it may give you a few months more use.

We have just hit the highlights here, though these principles and inspections can lead to years of reliable, cost-effective motoring. Learn more about car care from our exhaustive article archive.

Time for Summer Car Care

admin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:06:00 GMT

As summer dawns, the season change is a good reminder to tend to your car’s maintenance needs before depending on it for lengthy road trip. Summer heat takes its toll on cars, being harsher on batteries than winter, stressing the cooling system, wearing the tires, and drying out rubber trim and hoses.

Keeping up with the recommended maintenance schedule is a great defense against problems that could become expensive or downright inconvenient, but it is worthwhile conducting your own inspection, as well. Champions of maintenance, The Car Care Council offers these basic tips…

Battery – Have the electrical system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate. If your car’s battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it often, especially in hot weather and add distilled water if necessary. Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt can become a conductor, which drains battery power. If corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator and inhibits the current flow.

Cooling system - The coolant and distilled water mixture for a vehicle’s radiator should be 50:50. Of course, never open a hot radiator cap when checking the coolant level in the reservoir. As a rule of thumb, the coolant should be changed annually on most vehicles. This will keep the cooling system fresh and clean inside, which helps prevent corrosion and assures that the coolant has the proper boiling point and protection. A pressure test, thermostat test, a cooling fan test and a visual inspection for leaks and corrosion should also be done annually. Hoses and drive belts should be checked for cracks, bulges or frayed edges. The radiator should be kept clean by periodically using a garden hose and a soft brush to carefully remove bugs, dirt, and debris.

Tires - To maximize tire life and safety, check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly, and have the tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Summer heat will cause the pressure within a tire to rise, therefore, it’s important to check the pressure when tires are cold. Literally the same air in the tires during spring may have increased the pressure as the temperature has risen. The owner’s manual includes the recommended air pressure for your vehicle’s tires. This information is often included in the driver’s door jam. Do not go by what is written on the sidewall; that is the maximum, not the recommended, pressure.

Interior / exterior – Show your car some love with a thorough detailing. Vacuum the interior, clean any stains, shampoo the floor mats and carpet, and treat the leather upholstery, if so-equipped. The exterior should be pampered with a polish and waxing to restore and protect the finish. Products are available to care for the plastics, as well.

Take good care of your car, and it will repay the favor with good looks and reliability.

Learn more about how to care for your car from articles in our Car Care section.

Mazda Extends RX-8 Warranty, Improves Handling

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:30:00 GMT

Mazda is treating its RX-8 four-door sports car to a midlife freshening for 2009, updating its appearance and extending the powertrain warranty.

The exterior is features restyle front fascia, headlamps, rear bumper, and exhaust outlets. A new five-spoke wheel features a symbolic design reminiscent of the rotary engine.

Inside, the center instrument panel design is update, and the tachometer has a variable red zone to indicate engine operating temperature. The cabin is further transformed with a new steering wheel and redesigned front and rear seats.

On the performance front, a new R3 sport package delivers enhanced handling reminiscent of the R1 and R2 packages offered on the third-generation RX-7. Key to the performance gains is a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers and front suspension crossmembers filled with urethane foam. (Filling the crossmembers makes for a smoother ride, reduced NVH, and greater suspension control.)

The R3 package declares its potent ability with a unique front bumper, fog lamps, side sills, rear bumper, and 19-inch wheels. It also includes a 300-watt Bose audio system with surround sound and noise compensation technology, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, front Recaro sport seats with leather side bolsters, leather-wrapped parking brake handle, and Mazda keyless entry and start system.

All 2009 RX-8s have eight years/100,000 miles warranty protection on the Renesis rotary engine, with the balance of the powertrain warranty remains at five years/60,000 miles. Additionally, Mazda will apply this extended eight year/100,000 mile warranty retroactively to all existing 2004-2008 model year RX-8s. This coverage helps offset concerns for an engine with a less-than-sterling reliability reputation. The basic bumper-to-bumper warranty remains at three years/36,000 miles.

Research the 2008 Mazda RX-8 in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries.

Toyota Sells 1 Million Prius Hybrids Worldwide

Editor — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:34:00 GMT

Sales of the consummate gasoline/electric Toyota Prius hybrid reached a milestone mark of more than one million worldwide, Toyota announced today. Since the Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, then in Europe and North America in 2000, total cumulative sales through April 2008 hit 1,028,000 units, with—believe it or not—most units being sold in North America.

Toyota says it believes that, compared to emissions of straight gasoline-powered vehicles, this many Prius hybrids on our earth’s roadways have done their eco-friendly part, resulting in a 4.5 million ton reduction in CO2 emissions—that nasty stuff environmentalists and other people who like to breathe believe to be a big cause of global warming.

In their quest to build and sell even more fuel efficient vehicles, Toyota also offers other hybrids, such as the Camry and Highlander, and various Lexus models, like the GS 450h and LS 600h sedans and RX 400h luxury crossover SUV. They’re not alone in their efforts, though, as more and more manufacturers are aiming to do the same with their own brand of gasoline/electric hybrid technology, from compact cars to midsize sedans and SUVs.

Volkswagen offers free maintenance on 2009 models

admin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:44:00 GMT

The entire 2009 Volkswagen model line will be covered by a no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program that covers scheduled maintenance described in each vehicle’s maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

The maintenance intervals covered under this program and detailed in each vehicle’s maintenance booklet are 10K, 20K, and 30K miles for most 2009 model year Volkswagens. These long service intervals are aided by the use of synthetic oil. Co-developed with Chrysler, the Routan minivan requires services at 6K, 12K, 18K, 24K, 30K, and 36K miles.

The Carefree Maintenance Program will launch with the introduction of the Tiguan, Volkswagen’s all-new crossover vehicle.

Research Volkswagen in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries.

How to drive safe in a snowy winter

admin — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:04:00 GMT

As snow storms grabbed headlines this weekend, many drivers found their vehicle lacked the traction necessary to safely transport them to work, school, or the grocery store. While winter's days are counting down, it is clear from the number of roadside mishaps that not everyone was properly prepared. (Check out this Weather Channel video.) Being safe is a combination of the right tires, the right driving techniques, and simply common sense.

You may find that the tires that came on your car are perfectly adequate on most days. Do you truly know what the tires are and what conditions they were engineered for?

Many drivers think that an M+S (mud and snow) rating stamped on their tires' sidewalls assures decent traction in sloppy conditions. Granted, more-aggressive tread patterns such as those on all-terrain or even mud-terrain truck tires can offer better bad-weather traction compared to some pavement-friendly skins, but tire manufacturers actually engineer tires for specific low-grip conditions. (Learn more about winter tires.)

A main difference among winter tires, all-season-tires, and summer tires is the pliability and durability of their rubber at different temperatures. Tire engineers call it "glass transition temperature": Get them cold enough and every tire will have the grip of a Formica kitchen counter. For a race tire, it might be 40 degrees Fahrenheit. For a true winter tire it could be 60 below zero. Summer tire tread starts becoming Formica-like somewhere just below freezing. Most all-season tires are still pliable below zero, but some "ultra-high-performance all-season" tires start losing grip well before that. (Learn more about the right tires for winter.)

For the most severe conditions, tire chains can approximately double your vehicle's starting and stopping traction on snow and ice. For this reason, many states that have mountainous roads require chains to be installed during low-traction conditions. (Warning: chains are illegal in some states because of the damage they can inflict on bare pavement.)

Many people buy tire chains as part of ski-trip preparation, hoping that they'll never actually have to install them. Many ski bums have made a cottage industry out of roadside chain installation for motorists who don't want to step out of their SUVs. Fees can range from reasonable to outrageous, depending on time of day and weather conditions. These fees are avoidable, if you know how to install tire chains yourself.

When tackling winter roads, having the right rubber is a great start, though you need to exercise caution and respect the threat slippery surfaces present. Traction is not the same everywhere. It changes dramatically both as you drive down the road and, often, laterally within the same lane. A heavily traveled highway may be almost clear, but the off-ramp could be glare ice. Snowy city streets offer a surprising amount of grip, but the area just before a stop sign may be polished as if a Zamboni machine were there before you. (For more advice, read pro driver tips for handling rough weather.)

The articles linked from within this post can provide the advice to make both you and your car better prepared for slippery conditions. Given the number of people we've seen slide off the road in the past few weeks, many motorists would benefit from a few simple tips. Be sure to share, and drive safe.