Automotive

Oct

2009

Keep teenage drivers safe behind the wheel

Teen 2col full 10-22 For many teens, the high point of high school and college is getting their first set of keys and, finally, their own car.

Regardless of how excited your child is about driving, the idea of putting a teen behind the wheel and the cost associated with doing so can be daunting for any parent. However, teaching teens to drive safely and putting them in safe and affordable vehicles can help calm parental nerves.

For starters, teen drivers should learn to pay attention in the front seat. Distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents among teens, as many are preoccupied with cell phones, texting and fiddling with MP3 players.

According to a new survey of young drivers conducted by the National Organizations for Youth Safety and the Allstate Foundation, an alarming 83 percent of teens admit they talk on cell phones while driving and 68 percent confess to texting behind the wheel.

Oct

2009

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Drive environmentally sound

Small changes in the way you drive can have a big impact in reducing fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions, no matter what type of car you drive or how old it is.
And what’s good for the environment also can be good for you at the gas pump.

“The key to EcoDriving is that anyone can do it, in any vehicle, and best of all, it’s easy,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Here are some best practices for green driving, also known as EcoDriving:

• Avoid rapid starts and stops. Gentle acceleration and braking can save more than $1 a gallon.

• Keep on rolling. Stop-and-go can waste energy because it takes more gas to accelerate from a full-stop. Anticipate stops ahead and try to coast whenever possible. Slow-and-go beats stop-and-go.

• Use air conditioning at higher speeds: Air conditioning can reduce mileage as much as 20 percent, but driving with the windows down can reduce fuel economy through aerodynamic drag. So, when driving at slower speeds (less than 40 mph), open those windows. At higher speeds close them and turn on the air conditioner. Also, use the “recycle inside air” option, instead of drawing hot air from outside to be cooled completely.

• Maintain optimum speed. Driving over 60 mph guzzles more fuel. Observing the speed limit can improve mileage by as much as 23 percent. Use cruise control on flat terrain. Driving at a steady speed also can help avoid red lights, keeping your vehicle moving more efficiently.

• Plan trips to take the shortest route.

• Avoid idling, even if you will be waiting at the curb for a short period.

• Use the highest gear possible. Your car starts in the lowest possible gear, for optimum power, which uses more fuel. Use overdrive gearing when possible, such as on the highway to reduce engine speed and save gas, engine wear and cut emissions.

For more green driving tips, visit www.ecodrivingusa.com.

The site, which is maintained by the Auto Alliance, also includes an “EcoCalculator,” a Virtual Road Test, and a variety of educational tools.

“It’s time that we all begin taking the steps necessary to reduce our carbon footprint,” McCurdy said.

Oct

2009

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When to check your brakes

When it comes to vehicle safety, brakes top the list of systems that need to be routinely inspected and repaired immediately should motorists suspect problems.
According to the Car Care Council, many are unaware of the signs and symptoms that their brakes may need maintenance or repair.

“Brakes are a normal wear item for any car and eventually they’re going to need to be replaced for both performance and safety reasons,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Never put off routine brake inspections or any needed repair, as letting the brakes get to the ‘metal-to-metal’ point is potentially dangerous and can lead to a more costly repair bill.”

Symptoms of Brake Wear:

• Car pulls to one side during braking.
• Brake pedal pulsates when the brakes are applied.
• Brake pedal feels “mushy.”
• Noise when the brake pedal is stepped on.
• Repeatedly need to add brake fluid to the master cylinder.

Several factors affect brake wear, including driving habits, operating conditions, vehicle type and the quality of the brake lining material.

A professional service technician will inspect brake linings, brake fluid, drums and rotors to determine what repairs are needed. The typical “brake job” consists of brake pad and/or shoe replacement, along with related hardware. Depending on the condition or thickness of drums or rotors, machining or replacement may be necessary. Parking brakes also should be checked for proper operation and adjustment. In some cases, the parking brake shoes/pads may need replacement.

Oct

2009

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Avoid scams

An estimated 90 percent of people use online resources when hunting for vehicles, according to industry experts. However, with this convenience comes a growing number of scams putting vehicle shoppers and sellers at risk, and greater need to protect yourself against online fraud.
A new Harris Interactive survey sponsored by AutoTrader.com, the Internet’s largest auto classifieds marketplace, finds that two out of three Americans worry about online fraud, and nearly one in three has either already fallen victim to an online scam or knows someone who has.

Despite worries, many surveyed are not well educated on protecting themselves, with only one in eight saying they feel “very confident” they know enough to avoid online fraud.

Sid Kirchheimer, nationally renowned fraud expert, author and the AARP Bulletin’s “Scam Alert” columnist, advises consumers to learn about protecting themselves before researching or making any major purchases online.

“It’s easy for the average consumer to be duped into an online scam, especially when dealing with a high-ticket item like a car,” he says. “People need to know how to recognize common scams and what they can do to easily avoid them and stay safe.”

Kirchheimer offers the following tips:

* Mind your money (and other paper): If shopping for a car online, ensure its existence by getting photocopies of vehicle title and registration, and a vehicle history report from a company like Carfax to note its location and accident and repair history. Never wire money to buy a car, and when selling one online, wait until the bank says the “money has been collected” on deposited checks from the “buyer.” It’s not enough to hear “the check has cleared.” Never provide sensitive information like Social Security, credit card or checking account numbers via email before inspecting the vehicle and striking a deal.

* Watch for scammers and “too good to be true” deals: Beware of ads urging the need for a quick sale at an incredible discount; research realistic prices on similar cars or other big-ticket items to learn general market prices. Be suspicious of “sob story” reasons for quick and cheap sales. Two common scams are the fake soldier departing for Iraq or the recently divorced woman needing cash.

* Know with whom you’re dealing: Many online classified sites like AutoTrader.com only advertise items for sale and don’t get involved in transactions. Other sites help facilitate transactions. If a seller claims to be using a transaction service from a site you know, make sure that site actually offers that service by visiting it yourself.

* Use the phone: Don’t rely only on e-mails when negotiating in cyberspace. Although there’s no guarantee scammers will provide legitimate phone numbers, phone contact can weed out foreign scammers placing bogus online ads.

* Don’t click on emailed links: Scam Web sites often resemble well-known banks, retailers and escrow services. Links in emails to these sites allow scammers to steal your money when you enter payment information. You’re safer accessing a site by visiting its home page than by clicking a link in an email from a stranger.

* Beware of overpayment or complicated payment schemes. Don’t agree to plans where the buyer asks to send a check for more than the sale price, requesting the seller refund the difference. Be suspicious of buyers who propose making payment through friends or agents.

For more on safely shopping online, visit www.autotrader.com/fraudtips.