Do You Have a Leaky Brake System?

Do you suspect that your vehicle may have a leaky brake system? Is your brake fluid level just a little bit low? Well, one explanation for the low fluid level may be relatively simple: If your vehicle has worn brake pads or brake shoes, the fluid level in your brake fluid reservoir will be low.

Your braking system is comprised of series of rubber and steel hoses, check valves, pistons and cylinders. They're all joined together, and work in concert to slow and stop your vehicle. It may help you to understand it all a little better if you imagine your brake system as a cardiovascular system, pumping blood to several different areas of the body. The vehicle's master cylinder acts as the heart and pumps brake fluid through brake lines to the extremities, in this case, the calipers and drums. This is where a lot of brake problems originate. At all four corners of your vehicle, brake lines -- with fittings that serve to connect the master cylinder to the different parts of the brake system that actually slow or stop your wheels -- quite simply, can leak. 

To properly diagnose a brake leak, you must first locate the leaking point. The best way to do this is by parking your vehicle on a level surface for a couple of hours, then observing the position of the brake fluid that has accumulated beneath the vehicle. This will give you an idea as to which fitting may be the culprit. If you find that the puddle of brake fluid is beneath the rear of the engine -- not near one of the wheels -- you may have a leak somewhere in (or near) the master cylinder.

Whatever the situation, if you have a brake fluid leak, you need to find and repair it as soon as possible. If you don't address the problem, your vehicle will eventually run out of brake fluid, just Remember, brake fluid is essential for the brake system to operate properly.

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How To Replace Your Wiper Blades

NOTE: If you purchase your windshield wipers from your dealership, those wipers are made specifically for your car, making them easier to install. Most dealers will put your windshield wipers on for free if you buy them at the dealership.

If you can pull the rubber from your windshield wipers, it’s time for some new wipers. Make sure to check your user manual before you begin this process. Some cars have a special service setting specifically for changing your windshield wipers. As a precaution before you purchase new wiper blades, check if there are any contaminants – such as hot wax – that may be contributing to the problem.

WARNING: Leave the wiper arm stationary in its extended position. If you try to move to the arm as you work, you could cause damage which could lead to a costly repair.

1.    Take a hold of the wiper blade.

2.    Gently lift the wiper arm until it is in the extended position.

3.    Move the wiper blade into a horizontal position with the rubber side facing upward.

4.    Locate the clip on the wiper blade.

5.    Press the clip to release the old wiper blade.

6.    Slide the wiper blade clip down. It should separate from the wiper arm.

7.    Push the hook on the wiper arm through the center of the wiper blade.

8.    Pull the old wiper blade free from the arm.

9.    Check for special instructions on the new wiper blades before you attach them to the vehicle.

10. Take the new wiper blade out of the package and locate the clip in the center of the blade.

11. Rotate the clip so that the rounded side is upward or in the center of the wiper blade.

12. Line the clip up with the hook on the wiper arm.

13. Slide the hook over the clip.

14. Slide the clip into the hook until you feel the clip lock into place.

15. Return the wiper to its normal position and lower the arm back to the windshield. 

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Car Battery Care Tips

If the heat of summer is wearing you down, it is likely taking its toll on your car battery too. Contrary to popular belief, summer highs rather than winter lows pose the greater threat to battery life.

To get the most life out of a battery, the Car Care Council suggests the following simple steps:

• Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging.

• If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather. Add distilled water when necessary.

• Always replace a battery with one that’s rated at least as high as the one originally specified.

• Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

Sooner or later all batteries have to be replaced. Excessive heat and overcharging are the two main reasons for shortened battery life. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate, leading to slow death for a battery

Content credited to: http://www.carcare.org

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The Six Types of Auto Insurance Coverage

Property Damage (PD) Liability
This mandatory (in almost all states) coverage pays for the damage caused to another vehicle in the event of an accident in which you are legally responsible. Given the high price of many vehicles and the unknown damage you could have on public property it is a good idea to have adequate coverage here.
 
2. Bodily Injury (BD) Liability
This coverage is very important and covers payment for damages due to injury or death in an incident that you are legally responsible. While this covers medical expenses it can also be used to pay your legal defense costs. We all know how expensive medical care and legal representation can be so again, this coverage is very important.

Medical Payment 
This coverage is used to pay medical expenses incurred by you and your passengers during an accident regardless as to whether or not you are at fault. This coverage is optional in most states with a no-fault law because the no-fault coverage will pay for these expenses as well as often covering things such as lost wages tied to the accident.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage 
There is one thing you can’t control while on the road and that is whether or not other drivers are insured. While it is a legal requirement in most states to have auto insurance, there are many on the roads who drive without. This coverage protects you and your passengers in the event you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. Typically it covers medical expenses, but some states extend this to vehicle damage as well.

Collision Coverage
 This coverage is subject to a deductible and covers damages caused to your own vehicle in a collision. Like homeowners insurance, this coverage is generally required if you have a loan on the vehicle. When looking at collision coverage keep in mind the actual value of the vehicle that is being insured. Older used vehicles may have little or no use for collision coverage.

Comprehensive Coverage 
 In addition to collision damage, comprehensive coverage will pay for damages, subject to a deductible, from: theft, acts of nature, fire, vandalism and collisions with animals. Like collision coverage, many lenders will require comprehensive coverage on vehicles with a loan.









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How To Choose The Right Repair Shop

Once you choose a repair shop, start off with a minor job; if you are pleased, trust them with more complicated repairs later.

    At the Shop

• Look for a neat, well organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.
• Professionally run establishments will have a courteous, helpful staff. The service writer should be willing to answer all of your questions.
• Feel free to ask for the names of a few customers. Call them.
• All policies (labor rates, guarantees, methods of payment, etc.) should be posted and/or explained to your satisfaction.
• Ask if the shop customarily handles your vehicle make and model. Some facilities specialize.
• Ask if the shop usually does your type of repair, especially if you need major work.
• Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area: civic and community service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, AAA-Approved Auto Repair status, customer service awards.
• Look for evidence of qualified technicians, such as trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and ASE certifications - a national standard of technician competence.
  

  Always remember: The backbone of any shop is the competence of its technicians.

   

   

   

   

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Tips On How To Lower Your Auto Insurance Premium

If you're a high risk driver, the tips below are three viable ways to lower your auto insurance premium. Before resigning to shelling out your hard earned cash, try them. You might be surprised at the end result of your efforts.  

Drive an older car. 
Temporarily set aside your fantasy of steering a sports car or fancy truck around the neighborhood for everyone to see. Instead, opt to drive a car at least 10 years old. This way - you only have to purchase liability coverage and can forgo other expensive options such as collision and comprehensive. All you need to be legal and adequately insure this type of vehicle is an inexpensive, bare-bones policy. 

Change your vehicle's usage. 
 The more you expose yourself to high risk situations like rush hour traffic the more you pay. Switch your vehicle usage to pleasure only. Take a bus to work or pay a co-worker to pick you up. You will be surprised at how much you lower your auto insurance premium with this act alone. 

Challenge your driving history. 
Were you really at-fault for your last auto accident? Don't be afraid to revisit the facts. Police officers, claims adjusters and witnesses make mistakes. So, if what happened was murky in the first place, you want to reopen your claim. Your main task is to be sure your within the grace period to challenge an auto accident. 







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Tips on How To Reduce Your Chances of Having a Car Accident

Always look behind you.

Whether you're at a corner store parking lot or in your own private driveway, knowing what's behind you is vital. Most people - even highly intelligent males and females - tend to get comfortable in familiar places or merely glance in their rear view mirror when going in reverse. Big mistake! Not making sure the area is clear behind increases your risk of backing into another vehicle or worse a pedestrian.

Drive at a safe distance.

The space between you and another driver prevents fender-benders and a trip to the local emergency room. So, fight your temptation to 'crowd' behind another vehicle. Driving this closely won't speed up traffic or inspire a slow driver to go any faster. Instead, you lessen your ability to react appropriately if the driver ahead of you stops suddenly. And, unfortunately, no excuse you give to a police officer will prevent him from listing YOU as at-fault on the accident report. 

Keep your eyes on the road.

Sounds like common sense. Right? Unfortunately, many drivers get distracted by their pets, children, cell phone or the Big Mac they just bought from McDonald's. As a result, they take their eyes off the road for a moment and when they look again, it's too late to avoid hitting whatever is in front of them. Distracted driving is an epidemic in America where multitasking is promoted within the culture.

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