Mechanics Veto Extending Oil Changes

The nation's top mechanics are rejecting the recommendation by some in the auto field that cars can go 5,000 miles or more before oil is changed. National Institute for Auto-motive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified Master Automobile technicians weighed in on this and other issues in a survey conducted by Valvoline. The survey covered the controversial recommendation and trend toward longer intervals between oil changes, as well as the costs to car owners of delayed maintenance. "Certified Master Automobile Technicians are the best of the best," said ASE President Ron Weiner. "They are on the front lines of taking care of today's vehicles and they have definite thoughts on how motorists can participate in making their cars and trucks run better and last longer." Oil Change Frequency Mechanics view oil as the lifeblood of the car engine, with 84 percent saying not getting a regular oil change can cause the most problems for a vehicle, when compared to other maintenance issues. Sixty percent said the oil should be changed at 3,000 miles-the longtime, recommended standard. According to the survey, Valvoline remains the number one choice of ASE Master Automobile Technicians for use in their own cars and trucks, and is the brand of motor oil most recommended by them to customers, friends and relatives. "Changing oil with quality motor oil, like Valvoline, at regular intervals is the best way to prevent damage to your car's engine and keep more money in your pocket," said Valvoline Marketing Director Bryan Emrich. He added that regular oil changes protect the engine and reduce sludge, which can impact engine perfor-mance and cause costly repairs. Delayed Car Maintenance While car owners know, intellectually and intuitively, that regular maintenance is important to keeping their four-wheeled investment in safe condition and working order, the reality is that more and more Americans are not listening to conventional and proven wisdom. The vast majority of mechanics-87 percent-said they believe American car owners are putting off routine maintenance, mostly for cost reasons. Ironically, they overwhelmingly said-at 97 percent-that delayed care will cost an owner much more in the long run, as problems left unattended can multiply and lead to other issues.

Read More

What Can I Do To Get An Accurate Car Value?

The need to find out an appropriate car value is common and very necessary to make wise financial decisions. Buyers want to know what to list their car’s price at. Sellers want to get an idea about how much a car is worth so they can limit their search and so that they can make sure that the price of a car is legitimate and that they aren’t getting cheated when they decide to purchase a car. Other examples would include insurance claims where it is important to get the value of a car back from the insurance company and to make decisions on how to proceed with damage repair. All in an effort to make sure that the repairs aren’t going to be more than the car is actually worth or anywhere close really. So how do you get an accurate estimate of car value? Well there are a number of ways many of which are located or take place on the internet. Your best bet is to have a buddy that knows cars and does this all the time. This would save you all the time that it takes to do the research on the cars and the market especially when you consider that the market is different depending on your area of the country and/or world. But what it you don’t have a friend that can just tell you a car value right off the bat? Then you have to do the research yourself. Well, how do you do the research? Well mostly on the internet. You can be glad about this too because it has never been easier to look up all the cars for sale in your area and see what a comparable car’s value is to what you have and want to sell or what you want and are looking to buy. There are sites online that also have great calculators that allow you to input your car and its features in and spits out the value of the car that you have described. You will have to look around a little but you can be assured that there are many of them out there. You can even compare the car value that you get from one site to the value that you get from another to get a confidence in the appraisal.

Read More

Protect Your Wheels From An Insidious Fiend!

A few years back, a friend of mine brought over his newly purchased and “gently used” 325i to my home. I was nearly as excited for him as he was for himself as this was the car that he had always wanted. A recent promotion and raise at work meant he could ditch his LeSabre for something a bit more classier and a bit more expensive. As he rolled into my driveway I gave the car a good “once over” before my eyes rested on his front left wheel. While the rest of his car looked showroom new, his front wheels were absolutely filthy. So, what was the culprit that messed up my friend’s wheels? Please read on to find out all the sordid details! Brake dust. Yes, something as simple as dust from the 325i’s brakes messed up my friend John’s wheels. I handed him a sponge and a towel with some lukewarm water and he immediately began to touch up the alloy wheels and tires. Unfortunately, this was only a temporary fix as a few days later his wheels were messed up again. By that time, however, he had already ordered a set of brake dust shields to take care of the problem. Honestly, I never knew such a product existed until he told me about it. When John’s brake dust shields arrived, I helped him install them and was impressed how easy they went on his car. Brake dust shields are fitted right into the wheel, kind of like an internal hubcap. Each shield is a one piece unit that fits into place without any sort of special tool needed. John’s shields were sized just right for his wheels [order by wheel size to make sure] and his car no longer looks dirty. Best of all, his remaining warranty is not voided with this highly functional aftermarket part. Another thing I learned about brake dust is that besides looking bad, brake dust can eat away at alloy rims. You can’t use harsh chemicals on your rims to remove the dust nor should you use a high powered spray. Instead, brake shields [or brake dust covers as some people call them] take away the problem altogether leaving your wheels looking great at all times. Brake dust shields are vented too to allow your brakes to cool down. Brake dust shields are available through select auto parts stores including the Auto Parts Warehouse’s always open online store.

Read More

You Can Install A Performance Exhaust System

If you are considering replacing your vehicle’s exhaust system, a performance exhaust system can be an ideal choice, offering to you many benefits over a stock exhaust system. Let’s examine the benefits of installing a performance exhaust system versus a stock exhaust system. 1. More Power – One of the obvious benefits of a performance exhaust system is more power for your car. Using catalyst back [cat-back] technology, additional horsepower is freed up, with horsepower increases of 5%, 10%, and even 15% possible. Exactly how does a cat-back system work? By keeping all the key emissions components in place, a cat-back system brings in large width exhaust pipes and low restriction performance mufflers for your car resulting in a lowering of exhaust back pressure. One nice side benefit is the deeper, throatier pitch created by the exhaust system. Since your vehicle’s engine is in essence an air pump, a cat-back system helps the engine to pump and flow air with less disruption. 2. Better Fuel Economy - You will achieve better fuel economy as a performance exhaust system allows your engine to run more effectively, thus consuming less fuel. 3. Long Lasting – Some performance exhaust systems are designed to outlast the life of your car. Depending on the system you acquire, you may be able to install a performance exhaust system that comes with a one million mile guarantee. How so? Because, the part is made of a certain grade of stainless steel, the same grade used to produce aircraft! You will pay more for the parts, but it can easily be the final exhaust system your vehicle will ever need. 4. Better Resale Value – Better parts on your vehicle will mean that its value will hold up. Sport versions of many models command a premium price over standard models. With a Haynes or Chilton repair manual at your side, you can replace your exhaust system yourself and save plenty of money on parts and labor. By installing a performance exhaust system yourself, you likely will pay only slightly more for the system over a dealer installed stock system, thereby maximizing the gains you will realize in electing to go with the performance exhaust system over the stock exhaust system.

Read More

Pioneer Car Audio Mp3 What To Look For When Purchasing

When choosing a pioneer car audio MP3 it’s important to address a few key questions. How much do you want to spend? What features are most important to you? An MP3 is a way to encode audio that compresses data so it can store a lot more of it while keeping a high standard of quality. Pioneer has a long-standing reputation for quality and also for being one of the easiest car audio systems to install and use. They make a range of car audio that can play MP3’s, including the lower end DEH-P3700MP for a little over $100 to the AVICD1 navigation system for about $1,600. If you are looking for a basic system to play CD’s and MP3’s, a simpler system will be fine. But, if you want more features like navigation or a DVD player you will pay a lot more for a higher end system. One of the most important things to look for is how you are going to navigate through all of your MP3 files, especially while driving. If you have a large library of music, you will need to find an MP3 player that makes browsing through the discs as easy as possible. Many discs can hold up to about 250 songs, and it’s crucial that you can find exactly what you’re looking for as quickly as possible. One of the most reasonably priced MP3 player’s Pioneer makes is the DEH-P5500M, which costs around $270 and allows you to organize files by artist, track, folder name, file name, and album. It also has satellite radio and CD changer controls. It’s also imperative that you check that the discs you use on your computer for music are compatible with the ones for the MP3 player, otherwise you might end up with a library of music that won’t play in your car. ID tags to identify songs must be a certain version compatible with the car’s system, or you’ll end up with a lot of unusable music. If you figure out what you’re looking for, you can make an educated decision about which system will best suit your budget and your listening needs.

Read More

Save Gas With A Hybrid: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

Starting at $22,150, the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid is a great choice for any car buyer who seeks a safe, attractive, environmentally-friendly vehicle at an affordable price. Honda retooled the Civic hybrid to make it even better than before. Standard features include an 8-valve 4-cylinder gasoline engine, anti-lock brakes, front and side cushion airbags, a sleek, multi-tier panel and a top-notch audio system. Like all hybrids, the 2006 Civic combines a gas engine, powerful battery and electric motor to achieve maximum mileage and reduced emissions. The 2006 Honda Civic hybrid can cruise using only its electric motor in particular driving conditions. This makes it a “full hybrid” vehicle. As far as gas mileage goes, the Civic hybrid gets 49 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. This is a slight improvement from the gas mileage of the 2005 model. The 2006 Civic hybrid's electric motor produces 20 horsepower. The battery pack used for storing energy is 158 volts, increased from the previous year. The 2006 Civic hybrid offers seating for five and is considered a compact sedan. Sleeker and more attractive than the 2005 Civic hybrid, the 2006 model is great for anyone seeking a sportier hybrid car. As far as power goes, the combined gas engine and electric motor of the 2006 Civic hybrid produce 115 horsepower, an increase of 23 percent from the 2005 model. If you think the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid might be the right car for you, the next step is finding a reputable dealership. You can search for dealerships in your area using the Yellow Pages or the Internet. It's a good idea to visit more than one dealership before deciding which one should have your business. Make sure your salesperson is knowledgeable and friendly without being overly aggressive. And always take a test drive to make sure the vehicle you think you want to purchase feels right to you.

Read More

Women 'More Concerned About Fuel Increases'

The results of a poll held in Australia have found that women drivers are more concerned about the costs of fuel than men. Women, whose greater consideration for safe driving in many cases results in much lower car insurance premiums, also appear to be more considerate when it comes to the costs of petrol, according to the survey from NEWS.com.au and Coredata. Some 86 per cent of women motorists said they were worried about the ever rising price of petrol, compared with a slightly lower 80 per cent of men. Furthermore, 66 per cent of women surveyed said they were trying to economise on their overall petrol usage, while only 59 per cent of their male counterparts, who will generally pay higher car insurance premiums, said the same. Almost half of women drivers revealed that they were looking to purchase a small car. Those shopping for female car insurance could benefit from such a move, as small cars generally have smaller car insurance premiums. Contrastingly, under a third of men said they were considering buying a small car. Petrol price worries are not unique to Australian women drivers - both male and female British drivers may have felt the strain on the pocket of rising fuel costs over the last few years. And like in Australia, many men and women drivers in Britain may also be considering purchasing smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles to cut costs. Buying a new car often provides a good opportunity to review car insurance policies and some providers specifically offer motor insurance for women, given their statistically better safety profiles. A survey earlier this year from the car manufacturers ‘Chrysler Group’ found that men and women drivers felt differently about the standards of each other's driving, despite the fact they agreed on aspects of driving itself, such as evading objects and bad weather.

Read More

Where To Find Top Accessories For Hummers

Most people find HUMMERs really eye catching, but your vehicle will be even more attention-grabbing if you opt for additional accessories. Finding top-of-the-line goodies for your HUMMER is easy, with many companies are now selling accessories for all HUMMER models on the Internet. In searching for top HUMMER accessories on the Internet, you can find a wide range to choose from. Many websites offer special deals on brand-names accessories and even sell parts for H1s, H2s and H3. These sites will tell you which accessories are suitable for your model HUMMER – accessories like tire covers, upper and lower nerf bars, mudguards, stainless steel side molding, floor and cargo liners, tail-light bars, break dust covers, storage boxes, console vaults, styling kits, and more. In addition to selling custom accessories, some websites also offer information on their facilities in order to assure customers that their service is of the same high quality as their accessories. You can discover what inventory a seller has on hand, their, location, and contact numbers in case you might want to make your purchase right away – that way, you can just call them up, purchase your accessory and have it delivered. Some websites even offer a 24-hour costumer service, so you can get information and make a purchase any time of the day. On the official HUMMER website at http://www.hummer.com, not only will you find your nearest HUMMER dealer, they also provide descriptions of a wide range of authentic HUMMER accessories, ensuring that you're getting an authentic product. When making purchases over the Internet it's important to make sure that you're not buying counterfeit or unlicensed HUMMER accessories because they're often of inferior quality and could end up causing accidents, or even costing your life. So start searching on the Internet now and enjoy fast, hassle-free shopping for top HUMMER in the comfort of your home.

Read More

The Hidden Costs Of Car Leases

Be honest- are you one of those people who just loves new cars? I knew it. That’s OK, we are in the same boat. I love new cars just as much as you do. But I like not overpaying just as much if not more than you do. That’s why, when it comes to car leases, I make sure and really get to know my options and whether I should be leasing or buying my vehicles. As I’ve learned (the hard way) a few times, there are all sorts of hidden costs involved in leasing a new car. And they aren’t what you think they are. Lets look at a few of them. 1) The monthly lease payment. Did you know that there are unscrupulous car dealers out there who will blindly rip you off if you let them. That’s right. And your monthly payment might have been arbitrarily made up by one of these dealers on the spot just by looking at you and deciding how much money they should charge you. Make sure and question everything on the lease form and ask in depth questions as to why you should be paying what you are. The fine print can be your friend, use it against the car dealer to negotiate a better deal somewhere else. 2) Keep an eye on your mileage. This is a biggie. A lot of people get wooed by the idea of a lease and it’s low payments. However, these same people are living the high life until the day comes when they have to finally return their vehicle. This is the day of reckoning because they get charge for overage miles. It’s not a pretty site and it can seriously damage your bank account. If you lease your car, make sure your mileage doesn’t exceed it’s limit. 3) The lack of equity. When you buy a car, you own it (or the bank owns the note on it). You don’t build equity with a car lease. Your car is basically being rented. Compare the equity costs and gains before deciding on a least. There are a ton of other hidden costs involved in car leases that make points #1-3 look small by comparison. Learn all about them.

Read More

Replacing Ford Headlights

How horrible would it be one day to wake up and realize you don’t have any headlights? I think it would be pretty bad, it would not be safe to even drive your car if your headlights are broken or don’t work. Your lights are one of the parts that will last you a long while. But since they are on the exterior they are exposed to elements that can be damaging. They can loose their original luster. You can give your Ford vehicle a new fresh look by changing the grille, mirror, taillights, Ford hood and spoiler. It is really simple and easy to replace Ford parts, especially the lights. The reason for that is Fords popularity. A good place to look for the parts is Ford Parts Online; they are one of the most trusted auto parts dealers on the internet. So check them out if you need to replace any parts on your Ford vehicle. But let’s go back to your Ford lights. It’s quite easy to change them yourself, just follow my directions and you’ll be on the road again. First remove the exposed plastic or metal trim around the housing to get the headlight ring and screws. Using the right tools remove the four ring screws. Be careful, because it is pretty easy to strip them. Put some penetrating oil on each one for a few minutes. Also be sure not to turn the headlight-aiming screws. Once you remove the retaining ring the headlight will be free. Just unplug the wiring connector that is in the back of the headlamp. Then plug back the connector into the back of new headlight then place it in the mounting base. The headlight will position itself due to lugs in the back, but if it doesn’t then that means you have it upside down. Turn on the new headlight to see if it is working. If it doesn’t come on it probably means there is a problem with the wiring. You next step would be to replace the retaining ring. But again, be careful about the screws. The last thing would be to replace the trim elements that you had to remove.

Read More

So You Want To Buy A New Car

Replacing a vehicle can be a long, tedious process. With so many possibilities available to you, it can often seem overwhelming to pick one that will stay with you for years and years. For every dealership you visit, you’ll receive many offers. Some will be a better deal than others. During the whole search you should always remember that price isn’t the only thing to consider. You want to know the entire history of the vehicle you’re thinking about buying. It’s a good idea to make sure you do plenty of research. Your first step should be to narrow down your search to the top 5 cars you would like to drive. Once you have done that task, gather as much information as you can regarding each vehicle. Learn about the warranties for every car. Learn what is covered in the warranties. Take in to consideration the price of the car once you drive it away. It’s a good idea to obtain your information from the manufacturers instead of the dealers. If you listen to the dealerships for information, you’ll probably end up dealing with misinformation. You won’t know until it’s too late. Some dealers are just interested in their bottom line, and might bend the truth in order to make a sale. Next you should narrow your choices to the top 2 cars on your list, by using all the information you have obtained. Now that you have 2 cars to choose from, you can go deeper in your search. Log onto the internet and google your car. Look for reviews and stories about the cars you are considering. Look for anything that might alter your decision. After you compare all of this, THEN you should take cost into consideration.. If the price looks good on your first choice, you should end your car search right there and consider it a successful mission. Now all you have to do is go and buy your ideal car, and take it on a cruise to familiarize yourself with it.

Read More

Tips On Selecting Your Custom Car Cover

If you take extended trips away from home, one of your concerns is the care and protection of your car while away. Unless it is garaged, it is subject to damaging rays from the sun, bug splatter, bird droppings, falling branches, nicks, scrapes, and more. Upon returning from your trip the damage is evident and not easily reversed. You can prevent problems in the first place by installing a custom fit car cover to protect your investment. Not all car covers are created equal, so here are some things you should consider before making your purchase. Car covers are basically all the same, right? Absolutely not! There are car covers which are anything from what is essentially a loose fitting tarp to those like the BMW car cover which are custom designed for the particular make and model of the car. A loose fitting car cover can actually cause more problems than it can help as unwelcome moisture, debris, and harmful UV rays will still be able to get in. When shopping for a car cover consider what it does other than cover your car. Questions to ask include: Does it protect from harmful UV rays? If you live in an intense sun area, such as Florida, you need a car cover offering the maximum protection from the sun. How durable is the material? Will it rip if exposed to ice and snow? Will it resist or completely repel rain? Can it withstand intense heat or intense cold? Will the product resist dust? Some car covers prevent even the finest dust from accumulating. Does the car cover have extra layers to protect from dings? This is important to have if you leave your car in a public lot! In addition, you will want to know if there is a lengthy warranty included, what colors are available, and what are the return policies, if any. Yes, you can even remove and clean some car covers yourself. Those made of super weave material can actually be placed in a washing machine and cleaned using cold to warm water, regular laundry detergent -- without bleach, and dried on your dryer's permanent press cycle. In all cases make sure you strictly follow manufacturer specifications for the proper care of the car cover you purchase.

Read More

Tireless Servant Protects Your Car While You Sleep...

So here I am at the dealer about to purchase a brand new vehicle. My old car was a good one, but after being having it’s frame and axle bent in a car accident, (that by the way wasn’t my fault, but that’s another story...) my old car was just never the same. It was about time I moved on, and got myself a brand new vehicle. So I’m going through the usual list of standard options, and things I just got to have in this new car, when a guy car browsing next to me says, “Nice vehicle. Going to keep it on the street, or in your garage?”. I said “Well, in my development, we have assigned parking spots, so I will keep it as close to my unit as I’m able”. He replied back “You better consider a custom car cover then, you want to protect your investment.” A car cover, I thought to myself, I wouldn’t have even considered that. I thanked the gentlemen, and continued with signing the papers for the new car. I asked the dealer what he thought about car covers, and he said “They are a great investment if you don’t have a indoor place to park your car. They help protect your vehicle from the elements, not to mention, other people.” Seems I hit on a topic he knew about because he kept on talking. “You’re going to need a custom car cover for this vehicle, being it’s a SUV, and there are plenty of places you can find that make them” he replied. He then went on to explain that not only will it help to retain a higher value of the car, but it will have less wear and tear, and it would help to avoid the usual nicks and scratches you get. Most of the time you speak to people in casual conversation, you either forget what they were saying, or you just brush it off as nonsense, but I have to say, this time I sure am glad that complete stranger mentioned this to me. Protect what you have, get a better return on your investment, and keep your car looking newer, longer, with a custom car cover.

Read More

Looking For Antique Car Part?

Finally you are able to own that antique car you’ve always dreamed of. You can be the talk of the town and get all the attention you want. For many, restoring the classic car is also one of the reasons they purchased it. They don’t mind about all the time and money spent on it, because it’s one of the charms of owning an antique car. First you’ll have to look around and figure out where indeed you’ll find the parts. This is when a bit of research is involved. It can be quite difficult to find all the parts you’re looking for. The best place to look for the part is on the internet. Just type in “antique car part” and your city and see what you get. But if you don’t find anything much you research for, online stores and purchase the parts online, they will then be delivered to you. This is even more convenient since you don’t have to leave the house. Get all the parts you want with the click of a mouse. There are even many companies that work with you to find the antique car parts you need. They are like a locator service. You tell them what part you want and they basically do all the work for you and find where the part can be bought. Of course you will have to pay them a fee and buy the part from the place they found. There are also companies who solely focus on antique car parts. They have a vast collection that can be offered on their web site or store. If you buy it online you’ll have to pay shipping. But hey, if you’re having trouble finding a part, it would be worth it to pay a little more to get what you want. Another place to check out would be you’re local newspapers. You may be lucky and find someone who is selling a part that you need. You might even be able to bargain a little bit, as it’s not a company selling the part. It may be a difficult task finding the antique part you need, but with a little research you’ll have a better chance finding them.

Read More

Toyota's Prius to be Built in China

The Toyota Prius, a car built on hybrid gas-electric technology, will soon receive a major production boost. Toyota and an undisclosed Chinese based manufacturing company have sealed a deal where the two companies will be working together to produce the Prius for worldwide export. This bodes well for the American consumer who has to endure long waits for an all new Prius. More importantly, the move signals a sea change in the way Japanese cars are built and marketed. Ultimately, you may be the biggest winner; please read on for all the scintillating details! If you wait nine months for a car, it means you must really want that model. This is exactly what future owners of the Prius have been doing as well as owners of other hybrid cars including some Honda models. No manufacturer has been able to keep up with the surging demand and, despite lower fuel prices, demand continues to increase. For Toyota, production levels on virtually every car they produce have been very high. Thus, even producing more Prius’ has been impossible as manufacturing capacity has been stretched thin. Until now that is. With Toyota’s new relationship with China, it is expected that Prius production will ramp up. More Prius’ built in China will mean more hybrid models from Toyota as production shifts westward to the Chinese mainland from Japan. As you might guess, labor costs in China are extremely low too. There is no telling if a car produced in China for Toyota will be sold for less in the US or simply translate into bigger profits for Toyota. Likely it will be a combination of the two, a true win-win situation for Toyota as well as for the American consumer! Hopefully, the Chinese built Prius will match typical Toyota quality levels. It probably will as whatever vehicles Toyota builds around the globe must match Toyota quality standards. Are you waiting for a Prius? Your wait won’t get shortened any time soon, but for future owners they expect to see a significant drop in wait times as new, Chinese-built Prius’ show up on American shores.

Read More

Proper Tire Care Means Safety, Fuel Savings

Before hitting the road, take a few minutes to check the condition of your tires. Well-maintained tires keep your car safer, help it last longer and save you money at the gas pump, too. These tips from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) will help to keep your tires in good shape and your travels safe all year long: • Choose your tires carefully. Tire selection should be based on the correct size recommended for the vehicle and its loading recommendations. Consult with a knowledgeable tire or automobile dealer about selecting the proper tire for your typical driving patterns. • Buy a tire gauge and keep it handy in your car at all times. It will inform you if you need to add more air to your tires. • Check your tire pressure at least once per month, and especially before a long trip. Underinflation can cause damage that may lead to tire failure. And overinflation can cause uneven wear plus handling and stopping problems. Use the manufacturer's recommended air pressure as a guide. • During wet weather, slow down. As your speed decreases, the tire footprint (the amount of the tire's tread contacting the road surface) increases, providing better traction. • Rotate your tires every 6,000 miles. If your tires show uneven wear, ask your automotive service professional to check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem involved before rotation. • Check your vehicle alignment periodically. Have an automotive professional check your alignment if you notice your vehicle is pulling to one side. • Inspect and measure your tire tread. You can do this yourself by placing a penny in the tread groove and if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, then it is time to replace your tires. • Check the tire sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or other irregularities. • Don't overload your vehicle as it can create excessive heat inside your tires. • Have your tire balance checked periodically. An unbalanced tire and wheel assembly may result in irregular wear. Remember, by checking your tires regularly, you can keep your vacation drives safe, enjoyable and affordable.

Read More

Resurface-Don't Replace-Your Worn Driveway

Your driveway is your home's first impression to the neighborhood. As the trend of remodeling older homes continues to grow; a cracked, chipped driveway is often a neglected improvement project due to the effort and expense of removing and replacing the concrete or asphalt. A more cost-effective solution is to repair-and strengthen-a driveway by resurfacing the concrete. Resurface With A Squeegee • With a simple squeegee application, the Quikrete Concrete Resurfacer provides a durable, wear-resistant surface designed to withstand heavy traffic on driveways, walkways, sidewalks and patios. In order to resurface a driveway, homeowners will need only a long handled squeegee, a five-gallon bucket and the concrete resurfacer, available in 20-pound pails, 40-pound bags and 80-pound bags. One 40-pound bag resurfaces approximately 90 square feet at 1/16-inch thickness. How To Do It • Begin by cleaning the driveway. This will ensure the concrete resurfacer properly bonds with the existing surface. • Follow the directions on the bag by blending the resurfacing mix with water until a pourable consistency is achieved. • Use a pressure washer to clean the surface and saturate the driveway. Finish step by removing any standing water. • Pour the mixture onto the concrete surface and then carefully spread with a long-handled squeegee. • Use the squeegee to scrub the material into the surface. • For a slip-resistant professional finish, follow within 5 minutes with a broom making full strokes across the full distance of the current work area without stopping. • Wait 6 hours before allowing foot traffic and 24 hours for automobile traffic (with cool temperatures allow longer curing time prior to use). • Protect from rain for at least 6 hours, longer in cool or damp weather. • Do not cover unless immediate rain protection is necessary. No sealer is required. *If interested in a decorative finish, add desired Quikrete Cement Color to product mixture. For thicker applications, use additional thin layers of the concrete resurfacer or use a trowel applied layer after the initial squeegee application.

Read More

Tips to Keep You Rolling Into Fall

Recent research by the Rubber Manufacturers Association tells us that more people wash their cars each month than properly check their tire pressure. But a clean car is not going to do much to keep us safe on the roads. Adding a few minutes to your fall car care routine to check your tires will help keep you safer this season. Here are some simple tips: * Examine the tread on your tires once per month and before every long trip. Your tires should have at least one-sixteenth of an inch of tread depth, which is the legal limit in most states. Perform the "penny test" by inserting a penny in the tread at several points on the tire, with Lincoln's head pointed down. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, the tread is worn and the tire probably needs to be replaced. * Take a good look at your tires. Uneven tread wear could mean a number of different problems: under- or overinflation, tires out of balance or wheels out of alignment. If your tread appears to be wearing unevenly, ask your TiresPlus service professional to take a look. * Don't neglect the signals your tires are sending you. Tires have "wear bars" built into them. These indicators appear when you have worn your tread down to one-sixteenth of an inch. * Rotate your tires according to the vehicle owner's manual. The forces exerted on tires differ depending on the tire's position on the car, which may cause uneven tire wear. Front wheels work harder because they do the turning and most of the braking. And rear wheels can be unevenly loaded. * Check your air pressure with an accurate tire gauge at least once a month and always when cool - meaning the car has been driven less than one mile or has not moved in at least three hours. Tires can lose up to 1 pound per square inch per month, and tire pressure can change by 1 pound per square inch for every 10 degrees change in ambient temperature. The next time you head to the car wash, take a few minutes to check your tires so you can cruise the roads knowing your vehicle is clean and, more importantly, safer for any season.

Read More

Protecting Vehicles From Theft

What does DNA have in common with vehicle etching? More than you might think. Both have a unique code and both can be used to fight crime. Vehicle etching and DNA labels refer to a system that applies a car owner's specific and unique code to a vehicle in a number of apparent or concealed places (the corners of windows, on doors, etc.). Once a car is etched, a highly visible label is applied, letting potential thieves know it has been etched and the car's code is registered with a security company. Doing so makes it easier to track the car down if it is stolen-but it also makes the car less likely to be stolen in the first place. Here's how it works: • Owners apply an etching stencil to the outside, lower corners of windows and add an etch cream. After five minutes, owners peel the etching stickers off and the car is protected. • DNA labels are placed on car parts such as doorjambs, hoods and trunks, in places that are easy for you to find, but that do not affect the appearance of your vehicle. If a thief peels off a label, a hidden mark remains in its place. The mark can only be seen under a UV light. The idea is that when a vehicle is etched, its parts are less valuable to a car thief because they can't be sold off as easily as nonetched cars. A do-it-yourself kit, The Club DNA Vehicle Etching System, has been developed by Winner International. People using the system are assigned a code known only to them and then, should they choose to do so, they can store their codes in Winner's secure database. The codes can then be used to help identify a vehicle if it is stolen. The company recommends people use the etching system in conjunction with a steering wheel lock such as The Club. "When it comes to preventing car theft, a layered approach is always best. A steering wheel lock for visibility and deterrence, plus etching to decrease the attractiveness for chop shops, makes a vehicle more secure," says Karen Winner Hale of Winner International. "What's most important is that vehicle owners take the first steps in fighting auto theft by taking responsibility to deter the theft of their own vehicles."

Read More

Los 7 Mejores Musicales

Aquí te presento una lista de las películas mas destacadas en la sección de musicales para que disfrutes y entretengas. La novicia rebelde (The Sound of Music): La clásica historia de la familia Van Trapp en Austria y la niñera, protagonizada por Julie Andrews en 1965, todavía sigue siendo entretenida ya tractiva para la educación de los niños. La trama, la música, las visuales y el mensaje son parte de la niñez de muchos de mi generación. Chicago: Del musical teatral protagonizado en cine por Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones y Richard Gere es otro de los recomendados. Su más reciente estreno en los 2000 es de una excelente actuación, baile y sonido que ha ganado un premio tras otro. Vale la pena! Mouline Rouge: Protagonizada por Nicole Kidman y Ewan McGregor , dirigida por Baz Luhrmann este increíble musical fue uno de los mas impactantes que vi. En 2001 Moulin Rouge logro traer a la pantalla grande, de la llegada de un humilde escritor ingles en 1900 a Paris, y su encuentro con una bailarina en Mouline Rouge. Grease: Grease es un musical para adolescentes, de 1978 que todavía vale la pena mirar. John Travolta comienza su carrera de galán en la pantalla grande, junto con Olivia newton John hacen un dúo inolvidable. Sus canciones siguen siendo un éxito hoy en día, reproducidas en transe y house music. Mary Poppins: Julie Andrews en 1964 de nuevo hace una brillante actuación junto con Dick Van Dyke convierten este musical en un mágico de Disney inolvidable para niños! Ese clásico nunca pasara de moda. El Mago de Oz: Judy Garland en 1939, junto con sus tres amigos (el hombre de lata sin corazón, el espantapájaros sin cerebro y el León sin coraje) siguen el inolvidable camino amarillo para llegar al Mago de Oz. Excelente. La Bella y La Bestia: Un dibujo animado de Disney para adultos y niños que fue capaz de ganar los corazones de millones de personas en 1991. Un gran mensaje para no guiarse por las apariencias, lleno de magia y entretenimiento. Increíble sonido! Aquí termino mi lista, espero que la hayan disfrutado y que ahora puedan con seguridad elegir su próximo musical!

Read More

Looking After Your Cars Tires

A piece of advice that I've always taken to heart when looking after a car was 'always look after your breaks and tires'. Sound advice as these are obviously two of the most important pieces of safety equipment on any vehicle, and are relatively inexpensive to care for. To ensure that your tires are always in tip-top condition I suggest you check your tire pressure regularly. It is important that tires are inflated to the correct pressure to ensure the best grip on the road. Remember over-inflated tires will wear more in the center of the tire, whereas under-inflated tires have a tendency to wear more on the outside of the tire. Always check your tire pressure before long trips and make sure the spare tire is in good condition and properly inflated in case of an emergency. It is also advisable to check your vehicle owner's handbook for the correct tire pressure for your car in different circumstances. For example, tire pressure can be different if carrying heavy loads or towing trailers for example. Always check for uneven wear and tear of the tire. As stated previously it is important that the tire is correctly inflated, but other causes of uneven wear include wheel alignment issues. In these instances it is always advisable to have your local garage check out the vehicle. All tires have tire tread wear indicators, small rubber markers in the tread to show you the minimum depth that your tires tread should be. If you are nearing these markers, its time to replace the tires. In general it's always advisable to slow down when going over pot-holes, or try to avoid them if you can. This goes for curbs as well. This will help you increase your tire's life, reduce the chance of disturbing the alignment of your wheels and generally avoid accidental damage to the tires.

Read More

You Can Replace Your Car's EGR Valve

Located smack dab on your car’s intake manifold, an EGR [Exhaust Gas Recirculation] valve functions by sending exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber as “exhausted air” is much hotter than intake air. By bringing warmer gas into the combustion chamber, your engine operates much more cleanly and efficiently. Like any part, your Ford EGR valve or Toyota EGR valve is subject to getting clogged with dirt or crud. A clogged unit may cause your car to stall, hesitate, or idle roughly. Sometimes, simply cleaning the EGR valve with a product like STP carburetor cleaner will resolve the problem. Still, if you take your car in for its MV inspection and the diagnostic tests shows that your EGR valve is not working, you will fail inspection and be forced to swap out the device before bringing your car back in for a follow up inspection. What a hassle, but something you just don’t want to forget about. Prices on replacement EGR valves are all over the place: some parts are reasonably priced while others will cost you a mint. Your Ford or Toyota dealer will charge you a mint if you purchase one through their parts department, as buying through any dealer can quickly turn into a financial nightmare. Instead of going through all that aggravation, you can save big money by shopping online through a quality wholesaler such as All EGR Valves. As is common with all high quality auto parts wholesalers, you can purchase an EGR valve at a huge discount and save a bundle over dealer mark up prices. Leading wholesalers deal directly with manufacturers, buy in gigantic quantities, negotiate the lowest prices, and pass big savings on to you. Replacing an EGR valve is a simple process and can be accomplished with standard automobile tools. With your handy Chilton repair manual at your side, you will quickly remove and replace the device and have a strong sense of accomplishment on a job “well done.” Best yet, you will have saved yourself plenty of money which you can use for other parts, like the K&B cold air intake that you always wanted!

Read More

Tracking Tractor Ease For Farmers To Lower Costs For You

How much and what kind of food is at the store-and how much the store has to charge for it-depends on how well America's farmers can do their work. That can depend on how comfortable and efficient our great growers can be on the job. After all, the modern farmer spends much of the 1,200 to 3,100 hours a year it takes to run a farm in the seat of a tractor. In fact, farmers are often in the tractor for 12 hours or more at a stretch during busy planting and harvesting seasons. Tractors today not only have to be rugged and dependable, they have to be as comfortable as possible to keep farmers safe and productive. Many have air conditioning, stereo, on-board computers, GPS tracking, automatic transmission and a way to smooth out shocks from rocks in the ground or rough soil. The "torsional vibration dampers" once exclusive to the most expensive tractors are now available in more kinds of tractors, including less expensive ones. That's because one of the world's largest producers of the dampers, Voith Turbo, discovered how to eliminate much of the costly metal-cutting that went into the devices. While better tractors can help cut costs at the grocery store, you can save even more if you heed a few hints available from the United States Department of Agriculture: • Check newspaper ads for coupons and specials. • Eat something before you go shopping and try to avoid shopping when tired or rushed. • Go it alone. You'll probably spend more if you are distracted by your kids, your spouse or your friends. • Read labels so you know what you're paying for. • Use unit pricing and food labels to compare cost of similar food items. • Use coupons wisely. If you don't need it, you won't save anything by buying it. • Stick to your list. Studies show that without a list, you can spend almost twice as much. If you see something on sale, however, that you know you use, buy it even if it's not on your list. • Stock up on sale items you use often and can store safely. • Don't go down every aisle.

Read More

Tools Women Can Use to Impress Their Auto Technician

Trust, reliability and good communication are not just key ingredients to a healthy and successful relationship with your significant other. They are also instrumental to a balanced and sound relationship with your automobile and its technician. At some point in a vehicle's life, most women will have to take their automobile to a repair shop because it has, unfortunately, let them down. AAA, North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, is helping women motorists jump-start their awareness in automotive maintenance with a checklist they can use to boost their car care confidence and automotive self-reliance. "If women put off visiting an auto repair shop because of fear, it could be a recipe for disaster," said John Nielson, director of AAA's Approved Auto Repair program. "The more you know about your vehicle and how it operates, the better." AAA offers the following tips for women: * Become familiar with your automobile's maintenance schedule. This information is provided in the owner's manual of your vehicle. * Don't wait for your car to break down to identify a repair shop. Be proactive and research where you want to take your vehicle when it's time to be serviced. * Gather recommendations and opinions from friends and family about auto repair shops. This will help streamline the decision-making process. * Check with local consumer agencies to identify if the repair shop in question has any unresolved disputes. * Find out if the shop employs ASE certified automotive technicians that are experienced working on the type of car you own. * Select an AAA Approved Auto Repair facility. These shops undergo an extensive investigation before being allowed to enter the program and AAA is confident that they will provide competent and professional repairs. * Communicate your vehicle's symptoms effectively by using simple everyday language or demonstrating the problem during a test drive with the technician.

Read More

Understanding Your Auto Warranty

The auto warranty is something everyone thinks about when they are purchasing a car, but few of these people realize that they need to think about it after that as well. You go into a dealership, which convinces you to purchase an auto that is perfect for you. What seals the deal, in many cases, is the fact that the auto has an auto warranty on it. You think that they could not or would not offer a warranty on a product that wasn’t up to standards. So, you purchase your car and get your auto warranty. Regardless of the car, the make or model number, you simply shove that auto warranty into the glove box and call it done. But, what you need to do is to know what is covered on that warranty, what you need to do to get those services, and what you need to do to keep that warranty up to date. Getting the information that you need to make a decision about your auto warranty is also important. For many people, they may not even realize that they should read the thing! You would be surprised at what is and isn’t covered in that warranty. If you have one and you haven’t read it, dig it out and get going. What you will want to know first of all is what things it cover. Does the auto warranty cover things such as parts and oil changes? Does it cover the tires, brakes and the body work? Now that you know that, do you know what to do to get the services that it covers? Read on. Learn where you will need to go to get these services, if there will be any fee and what happens if you don’t go to the right location. Lastly, you also want to know about the auto warranty expiration date if there is one. In some cases, you may actually be able to increase that amount of time by purchasing a warranty extension. The auto warranty can offer many things after all.

Read More

Speeding Ticket – The Legal Basics You Need To Know

If you have chosen to fight your speeding ticket in court, then you’ll need to know the basics of how to act while you’re in court. With this in mind, I’ve prepared for you some basics of how to behave in court. Here they are: Make sure you are well dressed. If you are dressed inappropriately, it will be seen as an insult to the court…and this is NOT going to help your case. ALWAYS be polite and courteous to everyone there. This includes the judge, the prosecutor, and the police officer. Also, remember that these people know each other very well. Always be nice to these people. The idea of innocent until proven guilty is for the movies. It doesn’t work like this in real life. Remember the only thing separating you and a conviction is evidence. If you admit to anything in the court room, the charge against you can be changed at a moments notice. You can be found guilty if it comes from your own mouth. If anyone in the court room (judge, magistrate or prosecutor) asks you anything whatsoever about the ticket, be courteous…and say you would prefer not to testify against yourself. Remember that the proof required in criminal cases is beyond reasonable count. The key word in all of this is reasonable. If you don’t challenge the evidence, it will be presumed reasonable by everyone in the court room. Remember that you are being charged for a specific speed. Not just for driving fast. The prosecution will try to show evidence that you were driving a specific amount over the limit, not that you were simply driving “fast”. You do not need to try and prove your innocence. You simply need to prove that the prosecutions evidence is either unreliable, or is inadmissible. This is an important distinction which you need to keep in mind.

Read More

Tire Tips to Keep You Rolling Into Fall

Recent research by the Rubber Manufacturers Association tells us that more people wash their cars each month than properly check their tire pressure. But a clean car is not going to do much to keep us safe on the roads. Adding a few minutes to your fall car care routine to check your tires will help keep you safer this season. Here are some simple tips: * Examine the tread on your tires once per month and before every long trip. Your tires should have at least one-sixteenth of an inch of tread depth, which is the legal limit in most states. Perform the "penny test" by inserting a penny in the tread at several points on the tire, with Lincoln's head pointed down. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, the tread is worn and the tire probably needs to be replaced. * Take a good look at your tires. Uneven tread wear could mean a number of different problems: under- or overinflation, tires out of balance or wheels out of alignment. If your tread appears to be wearing unevenly, ask your TiresPlus service professional to take a look. * Don't neglect the signals your tires are sending you. Tires have "wear bars" built into them. These indicators appear when you have worn your tread down to one-sixteenth of an inch. * Rotate your tires according to the vehicle owner's manual. The forces exerted on tires differ depending on the tire's position on the car, which may cause uneven tire wear. Front wheels work harder because they do the turning and most of the braking. And rear wheels can be unevenly loaded. * Check your air pressure with an accurate tire gauge at least once a month and always when cool - meaning the car has been driven less than one mile or has not moved in at least three hours. Tires can lose up to 1 pound per square inch per month, and tire pressure can change by 1 pound per square inch for every 10 degrees change in ambient temperature. The next time you head to the car wash, take a few minutes to check your tires so you can cruise the roads knowing your vehicle is clean and, more importantly, safer for any season.

Read More

Shopping For Scooters

Once you start shopping around for scooters, you realise that there are so many selections. Even though it’s a good thing there are so many selections, it’s hard to figure out which one is good for you with all the different brands, styles and models out there. That’s why the internet is a good tool to help you in your search. There are scooter retailers and personal websites that can help you find the information that you need. Shopping for motor scooters at the store can have you running around and wasting time, because there are many sales and deals. But using the internet helps you figure out what exactly you’re looking for and where to find it, before you go to the store. And you could even purchase it online if you wanted too. But be cautious as there are sites with inaccurate information pertaining to scooters. So be on the look out for false information while browsing sites. It’s good to look at sites with peoples opinion on scooters which could help you decide, but make sure they have experience in scooters and know what their talking about. You could see the performance ratings on many scooters which could help you decide on a scooter more easily. Many large sites provide reviews that have been submitted by consumers who have purchased the products. These sites are usually more reliable. Your main objective when purchasing a motor scooter is buying one that’s comfortable and fits your needs. The best to achieve this is by researching the product you want so you know what it offers and what it doesn’t. That way you can see if it’s right for you. If the scooter will be used as a commuter vehicle it could save you a lot on gas and time. Finding a good deal on the scooter by knowing what you want exactly, is the best reward.

Read More

Look Over the 2008 Range Rover Sport

Whether it is off-road driving or oft-traveled routes, the 2008 Range Rover Sport lives up to the legacy of the Land Rover brand impeccably. The rugged yet refined SUV offers unparalleled luxury and performance. The RRS has eight-way electric-powered front seats and a 4.2-liter 390-horsepower V8 engine. It comfortably seats five adults. Standard features on the RRS Supercharged version include a six-speed automatic adaptive transmission, a touch-screen DVD-based satellite navigation system, an electronic four-corner air suspension, a front-and-rear park distance control, and an adaptive cruise-control system. The technology and entertainment sources are superb, as it has a Sirius satellite radio, a personal telephone with Bluetooth technology, and an optional rear-seat DVD entertainment system. The electric-powered steering column has a memory function to accommodate various drivers' preferences, and the cool center console features a cooler box for on-the-go chilling. The seats are supple leather and the interior trim features either straight-grained walnut or dark Zebrano wood. Twenty-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels are standard, while 20-inch nine spoke wheels are optional. An adaptive cruise-control system and a cold-climate package are additional options. A regular electronic cruise control comes standard along with an adaptive front-lighting system. Both versions of the RR Sport provide a six-airbag-restraint system, front and rear three-point safety belts, adjustable front and rear head restraints, and active roll mitigation for safety. The ground clearance for everyday driving is 6.8 inches, and 8.9 inches for off-road adventuring. The vehicle's towing capacity is more than 7,700 pounds (braked) and 1,653 pounds (un-braked). The 2008 Ranger Rover Sport Supercharged package comes in six vibrant color options, such as Rimini Red, Buckingham Blue, and Zermatt Silver. The price of this magnificent machine begins at $71,950, and the Range Rover Sport HSE starts at $58,500. Simply defined, the Range Rover Sports were born to be wild, sophisticated and refined.

Read More

Speaking Up About Vehicle Safety

If you think there's no use in complaining, think again. Consumer complaints about vehicle safety have sparked a number of auto recalls that have helped keep American roads safe. How many complaints does it take to initiate a recall investigation? There is no set number. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every consumer complaint counts. The NHTSA is perhaps most recognized for its "5-star government crash test ratings." However, the agency also oversees and manages the recall of defective vehicles. While most recalls are initiated by manufacturers, NHTSA-influenced or -initiated recalls typically result in a greater number of individual vehicles being recalled each year. To encourage consumer input, the agency uses every available avenue. Efforts to get unsafe vehicles off the road are fueled by calls to the DOT Vehicle Safety Hotline, complaints sent by mail, and reports filed via the Web site at www.safercar.gov. Visitors to the site can fill out an online complaint form, at their convenience, and with relative ease of use. Every phone call, Internet report or complaint letter to NHTSA is carefully reviewed by vehicle safety experts and the complaint is posted (with names and personal identifiers removed to protect privacy) on the agency Web site. The agency's technical staff members continuously monitor all complaints to determine trends and next steps. As soon as a trend is suspected and the issue poses a potential safety risk, the agency opens an official recall investigation, with the ultimate goal of saving lives caused by motor vehicle failure and crashes. It could be your vehicle safety complaint that signals agency engineers to open an investigation. The group says that people having problems with their vehicles that they think are safety related shouldn't hesitate to complain. Direct input from consumers is invaluable to the agency's ability to fulfill its mission and improve service when it matters most: when lives are at stake.

Read More