5 Signs You Need New Tires

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tire failure causes around 11,000 car crashes each year. Both Unser and NHTSA recommend doing a quick tire inspection once a month to see if you need new tires.

Tempurature changes: Tire pressure drops in extreme cold.  The challenge in summer is excessive heat buildup in the tire.  If you're heading out on a road trip with an underinflated tire. it will generate more heat and wear out faster.

Bulges, gouges, or cracks: When a tire deflates , it bulges at the sides.  This is a sign of low tire pressure or slow air leak. If you see bulges, gouges, or cracks, take it in to your dealer and have them look at it.

Vibration: Watch out for vibration or thumping when you're driving.  If it feels like it's coming from under the seats, the rear tires may be out of balance.  Vibration from the steering wheel could indicate suspension issues.

Tread wear: One of the best ways to tell if you need new tires is the old-school penny test: Place a penny into the tread, with lincoln's head faced down.  If you can still see the top of his noggin, the tread is dangerously low. Most modern tires, however, have wear bars: bits of rubber woven into the pattern at a specific depth.

Tire pressure: Tires deflate at a rate of about one pound per square inch per month.

Although not as common today, millions of Americans still choose to drive manual transmission vehicles. Here are a few maintenance tips for your stick shift. Clutch slips When a clutch slips, the engine will rev, but the car doesn’t move as it should or not at all. This often indicates a worn clutch or a clutch pedal that needs to be adjusted. Trouble getting into gear Just like when the clutch slips, trouble shifting gears is another sign the clutch may need to be replaced. According to industry experts, trouble shifting or staying in gear could be a sign that an internal or external transmission part is worn or damaged, or it could signal an electrical problem. Clutch sticks This usually means the clutch master or slave cylinder has an external seal leakage and needs to be replaced, which can generally cost $100 to $300.

A chip in a windshield occurs when a small rock or other object impacts it, nicking the glass and causing a small damaged spot. This often occurs when the tires of other cars fling debris behind them, and sometimes small rocks can fall out of dump trucks or other similar vehicles. A chip may be a very small spot that is barely noticeable, but most people know instantly when they occur because of the loud popping sound of impact.

Even though the damage seems very minor, it is important to repair the chip as soon as possible. If dirt and debris are embedded into the area of the chip, it will make the repair less effective or even impossible.

When a chip occurs, it is best to get it repaired immediately. But what if a driver has to wait a few days or weeks before seeking the repair? In this case there are a few things that can be done to ensure a quality repair can be performed, as well as preventing the chip from growing into a large crack.

1. Chip could be covered by a packing tape to keep dirt out. Only clear packing tape should be placed over the chip to keep out debris. No other type of tape should ever be used.
2. The car should not be washed, if possible, and especially not with very cold water.
3. The driver should be very conscious of internal pressure upon the windshield. Because of the way windshield glass is tempered, pressure from inside the vehicle is much more likely to cause a chip to grow into a crack. Even something as simple as pushing on the chip from the inside can cause it to crack.

What are the Most Common Problems with Manual Transmission Vehicles?

Although not as common today, millions of Americans still choose to drive manual transmission vehicles. Here are a few maintenance tips for your stick shift.

Clutch slips

When a clutch slips, the engine will rev, but the car doesn’t move as it should or not at all. This often indicates a worn clutch or a clutch pedal that needs to be adjusted.

Trouble getting into gear

Just like when the clutch slips, trouble shifting gears is another sign the clutch may need to be replaced. According to industry experts, trouble shifting or staying in gear could be a sign that an internal or external transmission part is worn or damaged, or it could signal an electrical problem.

Clutch sticks

This usually means the clutch master or slave cylinder has an external seal leakage and needs to be replaced, which can generally cost $100 to $300.

How can I tell if my car’s alignment is off?

There are some noticeable signs that could indicate a misalignment. Just use your eyes, ears and hands. Your senses (and even the good old personal hunch) are good human capital for spotting poor alignment. Here are some common signs that you are dealing with wheels with poor alignment:

• Vehicle pulling to the left or right
• Uneven or rapid tire wear
• Your steering wheel is crooked when driving straight
• Squealing tires

Symptoms of a Bad Clutch

Bad clutch symptoms come in different forms—from odd sounds, to poor performance, to mechanical problems. The source of any of these symptoms can be hard to recognize.

Problems with the clutch disc itself or its related parts can cause many symptoms.

Your car may function poorly: it may start out slowly even though the engine is racing. Or it may be hard to get the car into reverse, or into gear at all.

Noises may indicate a problem: your clutch pedal may make noise, or your transmission may make noise when the car is in neutral. You may hear squealing or growling when you push the pedal or grinding sounds when you shift gears.

The pedal may give you a clue: it may vibrate, chatter, or pulsate, be stiff and hard to push, fall to the floor and stay there, or feel loosely connected or "spongy."

5 New Car Features to Protect You on the Road

1. Forward collision warning and auto-braking

Vehicles can sense hazards in the road, warn the driver and brake the car to prevent a crash. If a driver is following someone who slams on the brakes, for example, a combination of sensors, laser beams and cameras detect the problem and alert the driver. Assistive technology automatically applies the brakes to prevent a crash. The driver resumes control as soon as he or she applies pressure to the brake.

“It’s amazing technology,” Marzolf says. “In most cases, the technology senses the problem before the driver does. Even if it engages the brakes a second sooner, it could save a driver’s life.”

2. Lane departure warning system

Keeping drivers in their respective lanes on slippery roads is essential to highway safety. If a car starts to drift into another lane, the driver is alerted to the hazard by a buzzer, warning light or vibration. Assistive technology will start to correct the problem, slowly moving the car back into the proper lane (though the technology does not work when snow covers lane markings). The driver resumes control as soon as he or she starts to make the correction.

3. Adaptive headlights

Visibility can be an issue on winter roads. Traditional headlights shine straight ahead, but adaptive headlights react to the steering wheel. If a driver turns the wheel to the right, the headlights follow to increase visibility.

“It sounds like a simple feature, but adaptive headlights can really help drivers follow the road,” Marzolf says.

Insurance companies have noticed a 10 percent drop in the number of property damage liability claims in cars that have adaptive headlights, according to a study conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute.

4. LED taillights

When snow is falling, spotting taillights ahead can be a trying task. Halogen light bulbs were the standard, but now more manufacturers are moving to LED bulbs, Marzolf says. LED bulbs outshine halogen bulbs, which gives winter drivers an edge when visibility is low.

“All the vehicles we sell have LED lights now,” Marzolf says. “Again, it’s a small change but one that gives drivers added security.”

5. Traction control

In slippery conditions, tires can lose traction and spin. The traction control feature helps tires grip such slippery roads, Marzolf said. In wet conditions, tires can lose traction and spin. Traction control uses sensors to measure rotational speed in tires and triggers the engine to adjust the level of power the vehicle needs to regain control. If needed, the sensors can pump the brakes to keep the driver from losing control.

9 Tips to Prolong Your Car’s Transmission Life

A car’s transmission is a set of gears that sends power to the engine. Most transmissions last between 60,000 and 100,000 miles without any major problems.   Here are some tips to keep your transmission running smoothly.

1. Check the transmission fluid level at least once a month.  The level of the fluid can cause your car to overheat.
2. Service the transmission every 30,000 miles or two years, whichever comes first.
3. Consider trying synthetic fluids. These newer fluids provide better performance and resist heat and cold better.
4. Add an external filter to the car.  This will trap more dirt and contaminants, which will prolong the life of your transmission.
5. Maintenance of the cooling system should be done every two years.  Maintenance should include changing the anti-freeze, looking for leaks and damage, changing of the hoses, and a radiator cap pressure test.
6. Drive your car easily on a cold start. The transmission does not warm up until after the first two to three miles.
7. If you tow equipment, do not exceed the recommendations made by the manufacturer. Loads over the limit strain the belt, which leads to the overheating of the transmission.
8. Use your emergency brake when parking on an incline.
9. Do not rest your hands on the gear lever while driving.