Archive for the ‘Car Curiosities’ Category

Why Adding “Bells & Whistles” Can Become an Investment

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

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If you’re intent on keeping the same car for a long period of time, adding enhancements can prove a worthy investment. Next time you’re considering trading in your vehicle, consider whether it would make more sense to customize and “perk up” the one you already have. Enhancements improve the value of your car and can make it easier to sell when you’re ready to. After all, a 10-year old car is a 10-year old. But a 10-year old with custom seats and grille guards can be a one-of-a-kind vehicle.

When adding accessories to your car, consider the following:

Air dams
Bug deflectors
Camper caps
Carrier racks
Custom seats
Custom wheels
GPS and other instrumentation systems

Grille guards
Keyless entry systems
Stereo systems
Striping
Sun roofs
Vehicle navigation systems
Customized wheels and tires
Window tinting

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Posted in Car Care, Car Curiosities | 2 Comments »

Have a Teen? Don’t Hand Over the Keys Just Yet

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

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Every parent has a moment of panic when a teen ask for the car keys. When you certainly have the option of saying no, chances are you will end up sharing your car. Rather than praying for it to come back intact, there are some things you can discuss with your teen to make sure the car stays in good shape and your kid is safe.

  • Have a talk about general car maintenance and security. Don’t make it about protecting the car from scratches but instead focus on how to look out for warning signs of car trouble, how to drive in extreme conditions and how to do small maintenance things, including changing a tire.
  • Talk about emergency situations and come up with a plan. If the car breaks down in an empty road, what is your teen supposed to do? If you have an AA membership, share the phone number and explain how the process work. They should also have access to a few phone numbers of adults (family or family members) they can contact in an emergency. If you have a trusted repair shop or mechanic in town, give them that number too.
  • Establish rules about driving. While chances they will be broken once in a while, you can set rules on how far your teen can drive, whether he can take road trips and how often he should call and check in. Don’t be obsessive and allow for some breathing room. Asking your teen to call if he’s running late is normal and should be enforced.

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Must-Have Features for A Family Car

Monday, June 21st, 2010

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If you just had a baby or are planning on expanding the family, your car will likely become an integral part of your life. When that happens, you need to start thinking about switching to a more family-friendly car that will meet the needs of everybody, including parents, kids and even the pets.

  • Make sure your car allows you to attach a car seat or booster. Not all models have the proper formatting or settings for this, and you choose one that doesn’t you will need to make changes later on. This will mean additional expenses, so keep that in mind.
  • Having enough cargo space is essential when you have kids. You will have to cart along a stroller, school gear, sports equipment and probably toys or a change of clothes. Whether that means getting an SUV with lots of space in the back or a car with under-floor storage, make sure you can fit enough bags and items to keep everybody happy.
  • Comfort gadgets can be a lifesaver if you have kids. If you can get a car with a DVD player, you will save yourself the agony of having to answer “Are we there yet?” one more time. If the car has multiple headphone jacks, even better, so not everybody has to listen to the same Barney song over and over again. Fold-out trays are another great addition to help kids snack in style or spend time coloring their favorite book.

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Why Do You Need Car Care Software?

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

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A number of companies, such as CarCareSoftware.com, are now selling programs to help you care for your car, even if you have no previous knowledge of mechanics. Aside from providing information on car-care basics, the programs also offer a number of tracking tools, such as the ability to record service history and parts, emissions test results, expenses and costs, technical specs and registration renewals. You can even track car shipping expenses and dates.

Software usually comes with network compatibility, free e-mail support, free updates as they come out, graphs and dialog options, user-interface features, vehicle ownership logs and reminder alarms and charts.

If you’re thinking of shipping your car, you can also track the expenses connected to the process, so you can then deduct it from your taxes (if moving for work) or use it to estimate costs related to your car maintenance.

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Vehicle Extras and Add-Ons: Are They Worth It?

Monday, March 15th, 2010

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There are a lot of bells and whistles you can add to your car. Some will just enhance the cosmetic look of the vehicle, while others will improve comfort and overall value. When choosing add-ons and extras for your vehicle, it’s important to keep your budget in mind and not spend on things you don’t absolutely love. When in doubt, start with small changes and then move on to bigger changes when you feel more comfortable with the process.


Some of the extras available for cars include:


Safety Extras: Anti-theft devices, bug deflectors, instrumentation (GPS system), keyless entry devices, radar detectors, remote engine starting systems and special shock absorbers.


Cosmetic: Neon trim lighting, stereo or DVD systems, decals or custom painting jobs, window tinting, customized seat covers and car phones.


Specialized Add-Ons: If you have a favorite sport or activity you practice on a regular bais, you might consider adding related extras. For example, you can add carrier racks if you regularly take your bicycle along in trips. Or look for camper caps, RV and towing accessories, running boards or custom wheels.

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Posted in Automotive, Car Care, Car Curiosities | 11 Comments »

3 Car Cleaning Myths

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

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You can use soap or detergent to clean your car. You can, but it could ruin the paint, cause rust and accelerate the oxidation process. Also, cleaners that are not made specifically for cars may leave a residue, which can trap dust and debris, causing scratches. If you’re going to apply wax, it’s important that no residue is left on the paint.

You shouldn’t use a polishing machine at home. Orbital buffers or dual-action polishers can be used safely at home. They won’t damage the paint finish and won’t cause scratches. Avoid professional machines and those with faster RPMs, though, as those will be harder to handle.

Any cloth is fine to clean and polish. Old t-shirts, cleaning rags and flannel may seem like a good choice for cleaning, but they can scratch the paint, as they easily attract dust and debris. Instead, use a terrycloth microfiber towel made especially for cleaning cars or other soft surface.

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Gifts for People Who Love Cars

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

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For people who love cars, themed-related items may be the ultimate gifts. If you can afford to spend a few thousands, many of the major car manufacturers produce their own merchandise. For example, BMW sells golf accessories and Ferrari makes chronographs. Expect to pay dearly for these products, though.

If your budget is smaller, however, you’ll have to be a bit more creative. The most obvious choice is car accessories. From an expensive set of wheels to a new car stereo, the options are basically endless. Think out of the envelope when choosing gifts. GPS systems, new rubber mats, a car emergency kit and even an auxiliary transmission cooler are all great options.

Budget even smaller? Think tool sets, a magazine subscription or book (on care care, car history or car collecting), tickets to a car race or a die-cast car model of their favorite or dream car. Shop at hobby shops rather than toy stores and you’ll be able to find high-quality, collectible items that will look good in an office or exhibition cupboard.

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How to Find A Car’s Background

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

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Checking a car’s history is one of the basic steps to ensure you’re getting what you’re paying for. Even when a car seems to be in excellent condition at first view, you may still run into issues if your car has underlying issues that the seller is not reporting and that are not obvious at first view. The best way to verify a car’s history is to obtain its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and then run a report. Companies such as Carfax allow you to enter a VIN number online and check if the car has ever been totaled in an accident, suffered flood damage, has any lien on it, had an odometer rollback, what it has been used for (was it always a private vehicle or was it ever rented out or used as a taxi?) as well as the repair history of the car.

Carfax and similar companies charge you a fee for the report, but this is well-worth it if you’re buying on your own and you want to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

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Basic Radiator Maintenance

Monday, June 1st, 2009

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Routine maintenance of your vehicle should always include checking the coolant level.

To do so, pop the hood open and look for the radiator cap, usually found down center in the engine compartment. One very important point, never open a radiator cap if the engine is hot. Contents of the radiator are under pressure and this can result in serious injury.

Once the engine has cooled, wear a thick glove or place a towel over the cap and slowly turn it. If there is a hissing sound, stop, and close the cap-this means there is still pressure.

Coolant for the vehicle is a mixture of anti-freeze and water. This can be purchased together (known as 50-50 coolant) or separately. Clear directions can always be found on the back of the container. If mixing anti-freeze with water at home, make sure to use only distilled water so your radiator doesn’t rust.

Also, usually to the left of the radiator and in front of the battery is the radiator fluid reservoir. The reservoir both siphons and receives fluid from the actual radiator as needed. Make sure the reservoir is also sufficiently full. After this, check the radiator hoses, of which there are usually three. One leads to the reservoir, the others to the engine. Inspect them to make certain they are not cracked and leaking. Check where the hoses are connected via clamps as well and replace as needed.

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Identifying Car Fluids

Monday, June 1st, 2009

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If there is a leak of any kind coming from your vehicle, it is helpful to know what types of fluids there are. The various fluids in any car are of varying colors and thickness, and knowing the difference can help you make decisions on the road that can make life a lot easier. Plus, if the rare shady mechanic is trying to pull a fast one on you, you will have some idea before hand and can make a better decision as to what course to take.

  • The easiest to identify is radiator fluid. Usually a neon, almost glowing green color, although some are orange.
  • Brake fluid is clear like water at first, then gradually turns from lighter to darker shades of amber. The darker it is, the quicker you need to change it.
  • Steering fluid is almost identical to brake fluid. Motor and gear oil are also similar. These two both start out in a dark amber color, sort of like dark iced tea. These oils become black after prolonged use.
  • Automatic transmission fluid is red and will retain some of this color even after prolonged use.
  • Window washer fluid will vary so its best to inspect what type your car has, but often times it is a light blue.

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