Safety Features in a Car

By Luke Hirst
Co-Author: Darren Hirst

When stepping into a car you want to know that there are safety features put in place to help save lives in the even of a accident and you can identify these when getting into a car.You may want to look for these safety features if you're ever buying or renting a car as they can save you life if used properly.

Seat belts are now fitted in every car as it's the law that one is worn. A seat belt is there to protect you from hitting the windshield, wheel or dashboard in the event of a strong collision which without you may not survive. Make sure that when looking for safety features in a car you check they're in working order by pulling on it gently but quickly and it should lock into place. Some seat belts in more modern cars are now also adjustable to suit the driver or passenger and make them more safe and comfy; however a normal seat belt will do the job just as good!

Airbags are another safety feature of a car you may want to look for. The airbags work hand in hand with your seat belt to protect you against hitting the dashboard or side door at force. But without your seat belt on, the airbags won't work and you need to get in a habit of always putting your seat belt on to make sure you maximise the safety features of a car and use them to their full potential. To make sure there are no problems with the airbags check for a light on the dashboard of the car to indicate any errors.

You will find that most cars are fitted with head restraints at the top of the seat that can be altered depending on the height of the drivers and passengers. You may want to check this safety feature in a car and make sure it's set to the right height as it can reduce possible neck injury during an accident. When on your driving lessons in the UK, you will have to learn how to alter the cars head restrains as it's a show me tell me question on your practical driving test.

A safety aspect that may shock you is the weight of a car. Research shows that the heavier the car the less damage it sustains in a crash. Lighter cars have less protection and buckle under pressure a lot easier.
Traction control is also another safety feature in a car. If your car has traction control it's likely that it will be a 4 wheel drive. Having this safety feature improves vehicles stability by controlling the amount of power output which prevents the wheels from skidding off.

It's important to look for specific safety features you may want when looking to buy a car and it's important to be able to identify what safety features are in a car you may be a passenger, these tips are handy for anyone riding or driving a car. Some of these features you may learn on your driving lessons whereas others you won't.

 

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Good Ways to Clean Your Alloy Wheels

By Zora Ahmed

We all do it, when looking at a "flash" car the first thing we are drawn to is the wheels. That's why it is so important to make sure your wheels are pristine clean. You don't want them to be covered in scuffs and brake dust. After all, we all love the feeling on a summer day driving around in our shiny, clean car. Now we know our priorities when cleaning the car are to focus on getting the wheels shiny, it's time to find out how to go about doing so.

The first thing to take into consideration about your wheels is that the more times you clean them the better. It is so much easier cleaning dirt that is new to the surface rather than dirt and brake dust that has been there a while and bedded in. Acid and road salts also have a negative effect on alloy wheels so it is important that you keep up with the cleaning of them. The best time to clean your wheels is the same time you clean your car, which most people seem to just forget or ignore.

When you come round to cleaning your car (and wheels!) you must try not to use the same sponge for the bodywork as the wheels. If you do use the same sponge, it will just result in damage and scratches to the paintwork. For best effects, it is strongly advised you actually take the wheel off to carry out a thorough clean on them and to reach the back of the wheel. This can be a real pain every time you clean the car, so probably twice a year is the least you should clean the wheel in this way.

The steps of a thorough clean:

1. Give the wheel a good wash with preferably a jet wash. This high speed and power allows surface dirt to be washed off.

2. Then go over the wheels with a sponge. Brake dust and surface dirt will be taken off at this point leaving the harsher and dirtier areas more visible.

3. Now is the part where you will need a small toothbrush or something rough enough and small enough to get between the wheels and scrub away. Scrub away like Cinderella, it's the only way to get the dirt that is bedded in off.

4. Once you feel the wheel is as clean as it can be all you need now is to give it a good dry. Leaving wheels wet often leaves smear marks on them and spoils the effect.

5. You can now apply a layer of wax if you wish, as this acts as a form of protection to this wheel surface. If you go to your local car part manufacturer you will find plenty of wheel protectors.

You should now have yourself a shiny car along with pristine wheels. Heads will be turning when your driving down town! I hope you found this article informative and useful, however you may be in the situation where you want a professional to do the job for you. A specialist can do a great job for you alongside many more things you may not have the tools to do.

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Ways a Locksmith Can Help You With Your Car

By Viktoria Carella

If you are having problems getting into your car, you are probably wondering if a locksmith can help you or not. The good news is, a locksmith can help you, they are not just there to help you with your standard lock and key for your home or business. You want to make sure that you are looking for a great locksmith that can help you with your locksmith needs for your car. There are many ways that they can help you with your situation, and get you back into your car and on the road in no time.

Getting Into Your Car Or Trunk:

One of the first things to think about are the locks on the doors. A locksmith can get into these locks even if they aren't the traditional kind. They are all trained on how to deal with the electronic locks as well as the conventional ones. So, if you have lost the key to your door or your ignition, they can help you get a new one and can get you into your car as well. They can even help you do things like be able to get your trunk popped if it is stuck.

Transponder Key Programming:

A locksmith will also be able to help you fix your transponder key programming. In doing this, they can also help you cut keys for these too. It is all going to depend on the type of car that you have and if this is necessary. Make sure that you are looking to them too if you have a chipped key or even one that has broken or is broken in the ignition. A locksmith is great at helping with all of these problems and helping you fix them in order to fix the problem so that you can be on your way.

New Ignition:

If you need a new ignition for your car, a locksmith can also help you with that. They are able to take the old one out and replace it quickly so that you can get back on the road with a new one. Truth be told, you will find that just about any task that needs to be done and involves keys is something that they are going to be able to handle for you. These are trained professionals that are here to make sure that you get just what you need and get you driving back on the road.
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What Makes A Good Driving School?

By Dominic Munroe

Driving schools have become a mainstay of life as laws regarding both driving and classroom experience have become more stringent in recent decades. Designed to protect young drivers from accidents and the most common mistakes made on the road, these laws have prompted many parents to consider intensive driving courses when giving their son or daughter their best shot at meeting state requirements, passing their road test, and staying safe on the country's busy highways and local roads. There are some key things to look for, as well as some things to keep in mind, when looking for these professional driving schools, however, and parents might want to start making a checklist of these items before they enroll their child in any particular driving school.

Ensure the Right Combination of Theory and Practical
Drivers are required to have a certain number of driving experience hours logged onto a special form before they can apply to take their practical driving test and become eligible for a drivers license. At the same time, students are required to learn in-depth information about driving which spans from how to handle inclement weather to the best ways to remain safe in aggressive driving environments. For this reason, it is important to look for a driving school which clearly states how much time they will dedicate to both teaching their students about the road as well as going out with them on the highways and letting them test these skills hands-on.

It is also important to understand just how many driving hours, or theory hours, a student will log when they participate in an intensive driving course. Some of these institutions might actually do all of the work themselves, ensuring that a student has all of the necessary driving time and classroom time needed after completion. Others will do a percentage of this work and hand off the rest of the driving experience and education to the parent or guardian. Before committing to driving lessons, understand the relationship of experience between the school and the parent.

Check Into the Instructor's Experience in the Driver Education Field
There is simply no substitute for experience when it comes to choosing a driving instructor. Any school worth its time and fees will employ only the most seasoned veterans of the road, and they will ensure that these professionals are effective at communicating their skills to novice and young drivers. That is a key part of any school, and choosing one without a proven track record of success and experience in education is a serious folly that can result in the student failing their road test or not meeting state requirements.

It is also important to look into the training and certification obtained by any instructor. There are often thorough requirements mandated by state departments of transportation for these professionals, and they should be willing to freely discuss their state qualifications as well as their experience in actually teaching new drivers how to handle their newfound privilege of operating a motor vehicle. If there is no such proof that an instructor is certified and experienced, it is time to look elsewhere when preparing a new driver for the road.
Research and Tough Questions are the Key to Selecting the Right School

Just like finding the best school or college, the best driving school should be chosen through the use of extensive research, lots of question-and-answer sessions, and careful attention to detail. Make sure that any institution is state certified or licensed, make sure that the instructor has a wealth of experiencing teaching young drivers about the road, and understand which requirements for young drivers will be met or exceeded at the conclusion of the course.

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What to Do If You Need a Windshield Repair

By Andrea Avery

Did you know that in most states, it is illegal to drive around with chips and cracks in your car's windshield? Being a vehicle owner can be tough. It may seem as if every time you turn around, you are in need of some sort of repair for your car. Unfortunately, that is one of the sad realities for car owners; vehicles are necessary in order to be able to get around time without any delays or inconveniences.

Driving on the freeway on in places where the roads are not completely repaired can cause you to end up cracks in your windshield and windows. Not only are these cracks and chips unattractive, they can actually become a much bigger and more expensive problem. The first time you happen to notice a crack or scratch on your car's windshield, you need to contact a windshield repair company right away.

Cracks in glass are often static. This means that they are unstable and depending on how the glass is sitting, the cracks can grow and crawl all across your line of view. Sometimes they cause smaller cracks and other times they cause much larger cracks to occur. Either way, they are very dangerous for you and your passenger. If you were to drive around with cracked and chipped glass, you are taking on the risk of that glass breaking or exploding and causing injury to all who are in the car.

If you don't have the time to go to a windshield repair facility on your own, there are mobile windshield repair companies that will come to you. You can easily schedule an appointment with the mobile company to come to your home and fix your windshield on the weekends or come to your job and fix it during your lunch break.

If you think that windshield repairs are expensive, guess again, they are not. The best part is most auto insurance companies will cover the cost of any repairs, depending on the coverage of your particular policy. If you want you can always shop around for the best provider that has the lowest prices.

The bottom line is you don't want to be caught by law enforcement with a cracked windshield. You also don't want to be seen by your friends, riding around in a car with a broken windshield. Not only is the citation costly, you may never be able to live down the embarrassment that you feel every time see you in your car before you have gotten it fixed. Spare yourself the trouble and get that window fixed as soon as possible. You don't want that small blemish to become a bigger blemish that can cause injury to you and your friends.

Think about your safety and the safety of your passengers and do what is right. Go to your nearest windshield repair facility and see what deals and discounts are available to save you money on your repair.

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Brake Repair: Types Of Rotors

By Anna Woodward

Rotors are often resurfaced or replaced during a brake repair. The role of the rotor in the braking system is critical and if this part is not working correctly, there is a chance that a vehicle is not going to come to a stop right away when a person puts his or her foot on the pedal. A vehicle service department will know a lot about both drilled and slotted rotors and be able to perform the necessary repairs or replacements.

Drilled Rotors:
It may seem obvious given the name but drilled rotors have holes drilled into them. At first thought, this may seem like a bad idea for a part that is responsible for getting a vehicle to come to a complete stop. Don't the holes create less surface area for the pads to connect? As with other parts of the vehicle, there are reasons that there are holes drilled into the rotors.

Heat is a concern when it comes to the friction between the pads and the rotors. If these components get too hot, it can lead to problems that cause a vehicle to lose its power to stop right away. In addition to heat, older models can also contain trapped gas. Just like heat, gas diminishes a vehicle's stopping power and could cause problems that require a brake repair. Water is also a concern when it comes to braking power. If the rotors get wet, they can end up slippery. When the pads attempt to touch the rotors and create friction, the surface could be too slippery for immediate contact.

Slotted Rotors:
Instead of holes on the rotors, others have slots. They are carved into the surface of the rotor and serve the same purpose as the drilled rotors. The point is to remove heat, gas and water away from the rotors to ensure maximum performance. They tend to be stronger than the slotted rotors because they are not weakened by the holes. It is not unusual to see slotted rotors on high-performance vehicles. While a vehicle may not need a brake repair as often as someone with the drilled rotors, there is a good chance that the pads will need to be replaced more often.

Other Rotors:
Motorcycles, trucks and racing vehicles also need a brake repair every once in a while. These vehicles tend to have different rotors as they have different types of braking systems. The basics are the same but a motorcycle is much smaller and only has two wheels. Trucks are heavier and need to have rotors that will be able to stop the truck regardless of its weight.

No matter what type of vehicle you drive, don't put off a brake repair. Replacing the rotors on any vehicle is more costly that just taking care of the pads and having them replaced when necessary.

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Important Facts to Know Before Buying a Used Car

By David G Jobs

However, knowing and exploring these things are not a big deal as with little bit of research you can end up getting a right deal. Selling car as is in the form of used ones requires some amount of research which could be done over the internet. There are many people who are seen over different used car sites saying sell my car. So before you consider their deal, make sure you go through the facts given below:

Check the model: The moment you make your mind to buy any used car, the first thing you need to think is about the model. You should understand all your needs and requirements along with checking with your budget and driving habits. Check different car models; and also go through their technical specifications along with their cost. You could easily find out a number of used car listing over the internet using proper keywords over your favorite search engine.

Check the payment options: Apart from checking all the details, you need to check another important element which is nothing but the payment mode. There are number of good finance companies which will render you reasonable interest rates along with proper EMI facility etc.

Location of the car: At times, you may find difficult to find out a place where you can get to see some reliable and trustworthy kind of used cars. However, with little bit of research you can certainly end up finding dealers who have both the options- new and old. These dealers inspect the car along with rendering maintenance with proper warranty and regular servicing. Hence buying used cars from such place is always a better deal to opt. The used car listings found over the internet can really be a helpful thing. Besides, you can also find the used car owners who are willing to sell their cars. Opting directly the owners would certainly give you a cheaper deal as compared to the dealers.

Test Drive: A test drive for both the old and new car is a must. Make sure you test it for at least for 4 to 5 km and buy them only when you are satisfied with your test drive.

Also, there are couple of fees are added by the dealers for things like cleaning and shipping which pushes up the cost. So when you opt any used car, you get away from all such additional cost in your budget. Also, when you buy any used car, the taxes over such vehicles will always be less.

People going for Usedcars may prefer to have a car with less mileage while others would choose condition over mileage. So depending upon your number of features, you can end up getting a used car as per your whims and fancies

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Things to Consider When Buying a Car

By Luke Hirst
Co-Author: Darren Hirst

When buying a car there are a number of things you have to consider, whether you're a first time buyer or not. It's important to consider factors that you will have to pay for after buying the car and not just the initial price of the car. Things to consider when buying are:

• Fuel
• Insurance
• Tax
• Maintenance
• Repairs

The first thing to consider is how much it will cost you to run. Some decide to buy cars without thinking about the amount of miles per gallon of fuel they get from it. Travelling long distances to work with a car that uses a lot of fuel can spiral out of control with fuel costs and it could end up costing you more than you can afford. Check how efficient the car is on fuel, usually CDTi and eco-flex models are a lot better on fuel and therefore maybe a better option for you.

Insurance is a big one, most don't consider insurance when buying a car as they think that it's a set price no matter which car you ensure. A car with a bigger engine will usually cost more to ensure, things such as turbo models and other sports extras insurance companies aren't too keen on especially for younger, inexperienced drivers. Try and build up your no claims bonus with a slower car, then jump up to a faster one and always get an insurance quote before you buy. When on your driving lessons you're insured through your instructor insurance.

The third thing on our list of things to consider is road tax. It's calculated through how much CO2 emissions your car releases, the worse your car is on this the more your road tax costs. Some extremely economical cars don't even have any road tax to pay on them; however other cars, usually sports models cost hundreds of pounds to tax. Ask the buyer how much it costs to tax the car and how long it has left before it's up for renewal, if it's soon to run out try to use it as a bargaining tool to get a little knocked off the price.

Maintenance of a car is normally low, however some cars have extras on them that may cost a bit more when maintaining. For example a sports car may have tyres that cost more to replace than a normal model and when you're paying more for the car, parts and maintenance it may be something you're not prepared to do. Check the conditions of the tyres on the car to make sure they have the legal amount of tread and how soon you think you will need to replace them. You can be shown how to do this on your driving lessons to prepare for your show me tell me questions.

The final thing to consider is the repairs of a car, which is again fairly low as long as you maintain it well. It's the same situation as when maintaining your car; more upgraded models cost more to repair as the parts cost more which is usually the priciest thing.

Just remember when buying a car there are certain things you should consider, whether you're a first time buyer or not, the type of car you buy will affect how much you spend on the above.

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Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

By Darren Hirst

Petrol, or diesel? This is the question to be asked when you're looking to buy a car. There are advantages and disadvantages to both which is why you need to decide the purpose you're buying your car for.
Disadvantages to buying a petrol car:

• The first been that a petrol car isn't as good with fuel as a diesel. A petrol will do less miles per gallon on fuel as it burns quicker in the engine. Most cars used on your driving lessons are diesel as it's more cost effective for the instructors.
• In addition to this petrol engines don't last as long as a diesel. Where a petrol engine will do 150,000 miles, a diesel will keep going to about 300,000 which is double. This isn't to say that diesels are more reliable, you may have a lot more problems with a diesel car even through you will get more miles from the engine.

Advantages to buying a petrol car:

• Although petrol cars may have their disadvantages, they're very popular for a number of different reasons. Firstly the engine is cheaper to make that a diesel and therefore they cost less to buy. This is quite a contributing factor to why some buy petrol cars as they're substantially cheaper.
• In addition to the cost price of a petrol car, the fuel is cheaper per litre. As mentioned earlier a diesel will do better on fuel even thought it costs more per litre as it works out that it does more miles on the same cost price of fuel. But if you're not looking to travel far then a petrol car may be perfect for you as you have to do more than 20,000 miles a year for it to be worth paying more for the car.

If you're buying a car that it's going to be placed under excessive use a petrol car may be the way to go as the actual car is cheaper to buy and the different in fuel consumption may be cancelled out by the additional cost of the diesel car. Most instructors prefer to use diesel cars on their driving lessons as they use their car a lot.
Disadvantages to a diesel car:

• Diesel cars cost more to buy than petrol hence why a lot of drivers are deterred from buying them, even more so if they don't plan to travel a lot of miles.
• It has been said that diesel engines don't perform as well as petrol engines in terms of responsiveness and speed, however some experts say this is just hearsay. Although diesel cars can perform just as well as petrol cars it takes additional extras for them to match where the petrol engines starts out. When learning how to drive you don't want a car too quick which is an advantage to using them on your driving lessons.

Advantages to a diesel car:

• A diesel doesn't need a spark to ignite the engine which eliminates possible faults with electrical components on the car.
• Usually diesel models emit less C02 emissions making them cheaper to tax that a petrol model. Another reason why they're a favourite of the driving professionals.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both diesel and petrol cars which leaves you with a difficult decision. Decide which is best for you by taking into account how much use the car will get and how long your considering keeping the car.

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Benefits You Are Going to Derive From Your Service Manual

By Eric Szmanda

When you own a car, it is important to have its service manual in order to get the right guidance to perform periodic checks on its various components. Since this manual is specific to each and every model of cars, it is imperative to buy the right manual. Most often, the best way to buy these manuals is to go online and purchase the downloadable version. Once you save it in your computer, you are at the liberty to use it at any time. In case you save it in a laptop, it is going to be still easier for you.

Since the service manual you download is in the PDF file format, you need to have Acrobat Reader installed in your computer in order to read it. However, you have the possibility to print it in case you need a hard copy of the same. This way, you could own a printed copy of the manual for your car at a low price. Having one of the two versions of your manual will come in handy when you are going to do your car's preventive maintenance.

Whatever the make and model of your car could be, periodic adjustments to various components will be of utmost importance. Unless you clean your brake drums and adjust your hand brakes, your brakes will not be in peak functionality. Also, many of the moving parts that are not automatically lubricated need to be manually lubricated to get your car to perform the way you want. In order to do all these in the right way, you need to refer the service manual of your car.

In case minor repairs need to be done to your car, it is not difficult for you to attend to them yourself with the help of its service manual. The manual will guide you on how to dismantle the defective component, how to purchase the new one and how to install it. As such, when you have the manual with you there is no need to worry about minor repairs either.

Now you will realize the importance of buying the service manual of your car. Therefore, have it at hand all the time in order to avoid trouble and to have your car in peak condition. Anytime you encounter any problem, you could refer to it and solve the problem or seek help giving the right descriptions on the trouble you encounter.

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Intelligent Car Keys - The Best Gadget for the Safety of Your Car

By Stacey Kumar

Among the various advancements in the automobile sector, the intelligent car keys have come up as an effective tool for the safety of your car. Apart from safeguarding your vehicle, these keys are also helpful in advancing your driving experience by adding more comfort and style.

Today we are living in the progressive time of science and technology, where everything is an outcome of the regular advancements in technology. These technological advancements are not confined to any particular sector rather they have paved their way towards every segment of life. In the vast automobile sector also, this has led to the invention of many new advanced systems like computer diagnostic system, GPS system, automotive sensors, satellite radio and many other innovations. Among these the intelligent car keys have arrived as an effective tool for offering excellent safety to your car and with other advanced features, which are meant to improvise your driving experience with style and comfort.

Also recognized with several names like Smart Keys, Keyless Car Remotes, Replacement Keys and more, these intelligent car keys have been developed using the latest technological innovations. The functioning process of these keys is based on the communication between a small microchip and the radio transmitter fixed behind the steering wheel of the car. When you press a button on the remote, the microchip inside emits a lower radio wave signal to the transmitter, so as to establish connectivity between them. The sent frequency of these radio waves varies from country to country and the type of car you drive. Finally, when the code sent through the radio waves is detected and recognized by the transmitter, it follows the requested instruction given by the remote and the best part is the code is very unique and impossible to copy.

Therefore, using the remote of another car would be unsuccessful in performing any function hence it proves to be an amazing tool that even helps in reducing the number of car thefts.

Talking about its features, these remotes perform a plethora functions from a distance of about 5 m to 20 meters. Some of them include switching on/off the ignition, opening the fuel pump cap, unlocking and locking of the doors and closing/opening of any specific window, door, roof or trunk of your car with just a click of a button. But most importantly, these intelligent car keys are equipped with an alarm system that helps in safeguarding your vehicle from any sort of theft or damage. In every car various sensors are connected with this alarm system. When anybody touches your car or tries to get into it, then these sensors send a signal to the smart key and starts producing a beeping sound to alert you about this attempt. This alerts you and helps in preventing any theft or damage to your car.

So, if your car is not equipped with these intelligent car keys, then you can get them installed for your car as well. For this you can search various online stores that offer a wide variety of these keys for various models of cars. Depending on your car's models and your requirements, you can purchase them from any online store. But if you are still find a problem in searching for the right sort of intelligent car keys, then searching on fobkeyless.com will help you in finding it from their offered range. So start your search and opt for the best intelligent car key that suits your requirement and budget.

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Vehicle Storage Tips

By Andrea Avery

Some people opt for vehicle storage when they plan to go out of the country for an extended period of time. There are some businesses that specialize in taking care of automobiles as well. These establishments have parking areas where the car owner can store his or her car for an extended period of time. There are firms that actually maintain the stored automobile in order to keep it in good running condition while it is with them. Some owners, however, might prefer to leave their car in their garage while they are away, especially if they plan to be away for just a few days or a little over a week.

Tips for Storing:

Almost all automobiles and any other means of transportation that uses moving parts to function need to be regularly used or maintained. If the car is left too long, then corrosion may be imminent as well as the formation of sludge in the engine and other parts that use lubricants and oils to function. When vehicle storage is looming, there are several things that the owner needs to keep in mind before leaving the automobile. Consider disconnecting the battery cables in order to prevent possible problems with the circuitry when you return. Some batteries discharge after they have not been used for a long period of time. It is dangerous to leave the cables on the battery because these can corrode and produce some substance that may be unsafe. Leaving the automobile for just a few days (three to four) will not affect the battery that much.

Another vehicle storage tip is to have the car cleaned thoroughly before leaving. The cleaning will take away any potential mud or dirt that can be the starting point of rust and corrosion. Usually, mud contains some moisture that can corrode even the better paint jobs or anywhere else that it may be stuck in. Wheel wells are prone to rust because they are the first place where mud and water can actually be stuck in. It is a good idea to have the automobile cleaned well before going on a trip in order to prevent this. Longer periods of inactivity for the car can also result to the acids in the lubricants to corrode the engine. A week or two is acceptable but months on end may require the oil to be changed before actually storing the automobile. It is not advisable to take out the lubricant and then not replace it with new oil because this can cause the engine to corrode. The presence of new unused oil can help to prevent this. This action is advisable if vehicle storage may be several months to several years. If the oil change was not done before leaving, the owner should ask someone to at least start the vehicle every few days if he or she foresees not coming back for several months.

Covering the automobile before vehicle storage is also a good idea because the covering prevents the accumulation of dust. Just make sure that it is not wet or moist inside before covering it.

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Cars With Best Gas Mileage

By Dick Clay 

With the current state of our economy and the constant rising of gasoline prices, many individuals and businesses alike have decided to trade in or sell their current vehicles that consume a ridiculous amount of gas each day for more fuel efficient car models that will help them to save hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars annually on transportation costs.

Even with recent economic improvements, many car owners all over the country are still struggling to make ends meet when it comes to filling up at the tank. And with unemployment rates still being high in the U.S., it can be very difficult to look for a new or used vehicle with a good gas mileage rate even if you were able to sell your older car for a reasonable price and saved the money that you received from your sale to go on your new car purchase.

While it may be difficult, it is definitely not impossible to find a vehicle that will not break your budget when it comes to the purchase price or the price for regular fill-ups. These cars have great safety features and lots of flexibility on the interior, and still boast a low price tag. Here are the top five recommendations when it comes to the top vehicles for great gas mileage and lower sticker prices. These cars are also some of the top rated motor vehicles when it comes to safety features as well so you can be rest assured that you will be buying a safe car that is inexpensive to use.

The Toyota Prius

This may be the most expensive out of the five cars mentioned here, but when you compare the Toyota Prius to other cars that are cheap on gas, it is still considered to be an inexpensive choice. The Prius will cost you around $22,000 dollars however you may be able to find a used model or trade in at your local dealership for much less. No one can match the Prius as far as mpg goes for a car of its size, like I said it gets 51 mpg hwy and approx 30 mpg city. For those who are style conscious, this may be the best choice for you its sleek, eco-friendly and boasts low emissions.

The Hyundai Accent GS

This entry-level car manufactured by Hyundai can provide you with the outstanding performance that you would expect from this high quality brand by running on 35 miles per gallon on the highway and an impressive 33 mpg in the city. The price for the Hyundai Accent GS has gone up in recent years; you can no longer get the 3-door model. However with the great gas mileage that you can get out of this car, a starting price of around $13,000 is very affordable considering how much you will save in the long run.

The Chevrolet Aveo

The Aveo is less expensive than the Prius and Hyundai Accent, priced at around $12,500. This popular car by Chevrolet gets 35 mpg on the highway, which calculates to a full tank of gas allowing you to drive at least an impressive 420 miles on the highway before stopping to refuel.

The Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris is another popular low mileage vehicle that has surfaced over the past few years. It is an exceptional buy at a reasonable price with some lease offers for the car being set at around $79 per month with approved credit. A new Yaris will run you around $12,000. The vehicle gets 36 mpg on the highway and up to 29 mpg in the city and is also a low emissions vehicle.

The Nissan Versa Sedan

The Nissan Versa is an excellent car that can provide you with 34 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg in the city. The 1.6 model of the Nissan Versa Sedan costs around $9,999 with various upgrades available.
With the need for more fuel efficient vehicles continuing to rise, car manufacturers are now working harder than ever to provider motorists with an inexpensive option to their vehicle choice as well as when they fill up at the tank. This is a brand new era for many motor vehicle companies which open up new marketing opportunities as well since fuel efficient cars are also a better option for the environment.

Of course carpooling or choosing other forms of transportation such as riding a bike or public transit can also help you save money on rising gas prices, this option is not always available to everyone to who needs to get from home to work or other important locations. That is why more vehicles that offer better gas mileage rates need to be manufactured and sold at a more reasonable price so that we can all have a safer, cleaner and more affordable alternative when it comes to our everyday transportation needs.

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Essential Tips For Car Care

By Gagan Avi Modi

Buying a car is everyone dream. It is also essential to maintain car appropriately so as to ensure long life of the car. Regular usage causes wear and tear of the car. Car that is not maintained properly will show a reduction in the mileage. It is, therefore, essential that one needs to service the car and undertake regular maintenance for sustained performance. Here, are few essential tips that will help the car owners in maintaining the car.

If the car is used regularly, then it is vital that the car owner checks the oil filter and oil levels after every 3000 miles. Clogged oil filter will reduce the performance of the car. Reduced oil levels affect the engine performance. One can check the engine oil level by showing the car to a local mechanic. Car owners can also check the oil level at home by using a dip-stick. One must check the engine oil level and the color of the engine oil. Dark colored oil suggests a need for replacement.

One must also check the brake systems to ensure safety levels. Major accidents and road mishaps happen due to failure in brake systems. One must check the wiring systems and must replace any loose wires. Faulty braking system is one of the major reasons of road mishaps.

There are different kinds of fluids that are used in the car. One must check the coolant level, brake oil and other fluids at regular intervals. These fluids must be replenished regularly. One must always use the fluids recommended by the car manufacturer for best results. Inadequate fluid levels impact the car's performance. They also reduce the life of the automobile.

Battery is one of the most vital parts of any automobile. One must always ensure that the battery is in an up to date condition. One must beware of any signs of corrosion or loose wirings. Corroded battery will reduce the performance of the battery. Loose wirings will impact the voltage generation capabilities of the battery.

Last but not the least; one must check that there is an appropriate level of air pressure in the tires. Tires should be properly aligned to avoid road mishaps. One should make it a habit to check the air pressure in the tires, every time he or she is at the fuel station for refueling. One must always use the tires recommended by the car manufacturer to avoid any mishaps. When in doubt, it is best to check with a local mechanic.

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The Cheapest Way to Maintain Your Car's Suspension System

By Eric L. Yang 

The suspension system in a car is often considered to be one of the most critical systems in the car. This makes a lot of sense, as the suspension is predominantly involved in making sure that the car is stable and comfortable when driving. This means that if you have a car of any kind, it would be a good idea to try to make sure that the car's suspension is always in good shape. There are times when the system may develop problems that are hard to know of, especially if you spend most of your driving life on urban roads and do not drive fast.

The only way to make sure that such problems never exist is by making sure that you service your suspension according to the schedule set forth by the manufacturer. When you read your car's user manual, you will find that the manufacturer will always provide suggested intervals of service or replacement of such parts. If you cannot get hold of such information, you can simply contact the manufacturer and ask them to provide the information that you need. Most of them can be reached through email or by phone call, so this is something that should not present much of a problem to you.

In many cases, you will find that it costs a lot to do major suspension changes to your car. Fortunately, there are many ways round this. You could decide to buy the spare parts you need online instead of from a brick and mortar store. There are many online stores that usually stock such items, and most of them are usually very cheap for various reasons. The only thing you would need to do is make sure that you buy products that are of high quality. This can be done by always making sure that you only buy from high quality stores.

In addition to that, you can also replace the parts on your own. For instance, if you own a Dodge, you can go online and buy a Dodge service manual. You can then use this to figure out what kind of tools and spare parts you need, and then go about the process of repairing the suspension on your own. This way, you are going to save on the cost of labor, and you can also ensure that you do a thorough job. This is just one of the ways of making sure that your car's suspension is always in good condition.

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Using Service Manuals To Make It Easier To Fix Electrical Issues In Modern Cars

By Eric L. Yang 

These days, cars normally come with a huge array of electronic driver aids. For instance, most cars these days have equipment such as satellite navigation, electronic seats and in car entertainment facilities that make it very easy to connect devices such as iPods. These things all make it much easier to use the car from the perspectives of both the driver and the passengers. However, this is also a recipe for disaster, especially when it comes to the issue of maintenance. The fact that cars have many different electronic components in them means that there is much more that can go wrong. Of course, many car manufacturers place a premium on build quality, and therefore try to make sure that such systems are as fool proof as possible. However, there are many instances when such electronics can malfunction.

The problem with such a scenario is that with so many different components in one car, it can become very difficult for one to isolate the problem. For instance, water going into a fuse box in the engine could cause the GPS system to malfunction. If a mechanic is not keen enough, they could spend a lot of time trying to do things such as debugging the GPS software. This often costs quite a lot, and could take time since the measures that they take may not necessarily get rid of the problem. If you are in charge of running a garage and you get such problems, you will find that making sure that you isolate and fix the problems as fast as possible will enable you to get more customers.

Fortunately, such complexities can easily be surmounted. If you have the manual that provides information about the electronic components in a car, you will find that it is very easy for you to isolate problems that arise. This means that when you are in charge of running a garage, it is always a good idea to keep a database of such factory service manuals so that you can always refer to them when customers bring cars with strange electrical problems. You can easily download a factory service manual from the internet very easily. The easiest way of doing this is by finding a site that charges for such downloads. Since you would be paying for the service, you will find that such sites often keep very well organized databases, so it will be much easier to find what you are looking for.

 

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8 Tools That Every Car Owner Needs

By Luke Hirst 
Co-Author: Darren Hirst

Every car owner needs tools to carry out things such as maintenance, repairs and cleaning of their car. Every car owner should always have certain tools on them to ensure they're ready for anything that happens.

1. A jack and jack stands are always handy tools that every car owner should have. These are essential for when changing tyres at home or at road side as well as carrying out other repairs or changes to the car where you may have to raise it.


2. A spare tyre is always a good thing for a car owner to have, especially when travelling far as you never know when you might get a punctured tyre. Make sure that it's safe and legal with 1.6mm of tread depth across 75% of the tyre and has no cuts or bulges in the tyre wall. On your driving lessons you will notice that your instructor always carries a road worthy spare tyre with them in case of an emergency.


3. A pump always comes in handy as a car owner. There is normally one at your local petrol station however you may be better investing in one as it will last you a lifetime and save you having to pay to use it. You also have the advantage of always having one with you and not having to run to the garage to pump your tyres up.


4. If you're going to change a tyre you will need something to take the bolts off with won't you? A tyre iron will do this and it's a practical tool that every car owner should have in the boot of their car.


5. Another practical tool is a socket set which will help you when trying to get into those hard to reach places under your bonnet. A socket set is another must have tool for a car owner and it's advised that you always carry it around with you.


6. De-icer spray and a window scraper will be much appreciated by you on those icy mornings. With these tools you will no longer have to sit in your car on a morning and waste 10 minutes de-icing the window before you go to work.


7. To help when maintaining and repairing your car every car owner needs a good pair of vice grips. These are useful when it comes to holding things in place, like an extra pair of hands and they fit many car parts!


8. Finally every car owner should have a funnel as they prove very useful when topping up your engine fluids. On your driving lessons you might be shown by your instructor where all the engine fluids go to prepare you for your show me tell me questions, if you aren't but you would like them to run through it just ask them!

If you don't already have the 8 tools above for your car then go out and buy them as you will find them very useful throughout your driving life to carry out various tasks. Some of these tools are carried around in the car you take your driving lessons in.

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The Best Way To Take Care Of Your Car Without Spending Much

By Eric L. Yang 

There are many reasons why it is a good idea to always make sure that your car is well taken care of. The most obvious of these is the fact that when you do, you can be assured that the car will have a very good resale value, and it will serve you for much longer. When someone is buying a used car, signs of being well taken care of are always apparent, and this often makes it much easier for the individual in question to be willing to pay much more for the car.

In addition to that, it is also important to remember that when you take care of your car properly, it often turns out to be more economical to run. There are many people who try to save on the cost of running the car by reducing the number of times they service it. However, this often leads to the reverse. When you do not service your car often, it usually leads to components of the car wearing down much faster, and this means that you are going to spend much more in things such as fuel and oil. In addition to being very expensive, this is something that can also lead to more damage to the environment as well.

One of the ways of making sure that your car runs properly is by servicing it regularly. Each car manufacturer normally has a service interval for the different components of the car. For instance, it could be advisable to change the brakes and the oil after different intervals. These are things that you may not need to see a mechanic for, especially if you are good with your hands. Simple things such as changing the oil and the brakes can easily be done on your own, and if you are not familiar with how to go about it you can decide to make use of a repair manual.

Once you get the specific manual for the kind of car that you have, you can then use it to do minor service for the car. This therefore means that you will need to spend much less on the cost of service for the car, and you are also likely to find it to be a hobby that you will enjoy. At the end of the day, making sure that you take care of your car properly is something that is going to be more than worth it.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_L._Yang