How to Have a Long Lasting Car Battery

Cars will not be able to run without batteries which explains why your car batteries are important to maintain. One way to make them last for a long time is simple maintenance. Your batteries need to be cleaned and should stay free from rust and corrosion in order to avoid damages.

Clean batteries enable you to have a smooth ride. And they enable the vehicle to work properly. Here are some nifty tips for maintaining your car batteries:

• The outer shell of your batteries needs to be cleaned in order to avoid dirt to permanently stick to it. Make sure that it is free of rust and corrosion. If there are signs of corrosion, you can just wash and wipe it off.

• Check the battery compartment to see if it is clean before placing the battery in it. Also make sure that when you place the battery, each corner of the battery is fitted well in its compartment so that the car will be able to work properly.

• Regularly check the battery connectors to see if they need cleaning since this wire connectors may not be able to transmit power and energy to your car if they are not cleaned. Hence this is very important that you get to monitor them as well.

• If your car’s battery needs to be charged, you can disconnect it from your car and charge it in a safe and propely secured area. Take note that the area should be far from fire of any form in order to prevent possible accidents.

• When charging, do not disturb your car battery until it is fully charged to make it compact, prepared and always good to go. Take note that after charging the battery and as you put it back to its compartment you have to make sure that as you install the battery, you connect the positive terminal first before the negative terminal.

The battery is the main component in your car and that it stores an enormous amount of power and energy. Most of all, your car battery’s life will also depend on the maintainance of your car, particularly the engine and some other parts so that your car will be able to operate properly.

 For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

6 Things to Look For During a Winter Test Drive

Are you looking for a new drive? Well, if you want to be a part of the glitzy world, your new car could as well as be the ticket. So how do you buy a car? Just as you try out a new garment while buying it in the trial room, you got to put the car of your choice to the test as well. You take the to-be-your-own car out for a test drive, and then if it does fit into your demand, it will go straight into your garage.

Scrape windows!

But be careful while you make your choice. A lot of people are not sincerely into it during the test drive and they end up buying a car that they detest for a long time. If you do not want to end up just as frustrated, it is time that you paid attention.

A drive in the winter hours is a dangerous affair. The daylight shortens, the night falls early. As if this was not enough, there is the fog, snow, sleet, ice and rain that could make the situation much worse. It is not just for nothing that the people living in the snowy areas add spikes to their tires to stop them from slipping on the roads covered with sleet. There are certain other tips that you can follow to keep the risk at bay:

1, Before you take your car out for a drive, clean up the hood and windows. Remove all the snow. Take extra care to see that the windshield wiper fluid contains anti-freeze material. Then again, do not drive too fast and while using the windshield wiper at the same time. The extreme speed will freeze the wiping solution even though it is anti-freeze, and you will end up with a glass so fogged up that you would not be able to see a thing. This could surely lead to accidents.

2. Though it is necessary to leave your engine running before you drive to warm it up, do not spend a lot of time at this. Usually spend at least thirty seconds or so in warming up your engine. It takes faster to warm up a cold engine when the car is gunning around instead of spending too many hours idle in the garage. Always drive slowly at first in order to warm up your engine.

3. Try to understand the condition of the roads that you are using. Drive slowly and brake occasionally to see how slippery it really is. Then adjust your speed in accordance with the result. If your car has the “cruise control”, make sure that you do not use it when driving on a slippery road.

4. If your car has a front wheel drive, make sure that you use snow tires for the front axle. You should get snow spiked tires at the rear axle if your car has a rear wheel drive. But if you have a four wheel drive, it is better that you get snow tires only for precaution. They increase the tension, and have great traction that can get a grip on the road during the wintry days.

5. Just having snow tires does not mean that you will start speeding. This is dangerous, and that is why you should still go at a slower pace, no matter how much of a hurry you are in. you can also use reinforced tire chains for better protection.

6. Use power steering so that you do not have to put too much pressure in order to have the tires respond immediately. But putting too less a pressure to get the desired effect is also very dicey. See that the car moves at a steady course when you are driving.

All these things must be noticed when you are getting a new car for yourself. While you are at the test drive, just make sure that you get the best part of the deal.

For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

Online Resources to Help with Winter Driving and Trip Planning

The Federal Emergency Management Agency states that the primary cause of death during the season of winter in America is transport accidents. One must take adequate precautions and know what to do in case they are stranded or lost.

Driving during winter can be precarious thanks to many factors both natural and man-made. You can come across poor road conditions, or have rain and snow reducing your visibility. The common advice is not to venture out in such conditions. However there are always emergencies and at times you cannot help but go out.

Here we enlist a couple of things you need to keep in mind while taking your vehicle out in winter.

The first thing one must do when winter is approaching is to get your vehicle inspected. Whether you take on the task yourself or go to a professional, enlisted below is a small checklist of the things you need to review.

• Battery
• Wipers
• Fluid
• Thermostat
• Brakes
• Ignition system
• Antifreeze
• Exhaust system
• Lights
• Oil (it must be changed to thinner winter grade oil)
• Oil level
• Heater
• Defrosters

Ensure all of them are in working condition. Even if you do not perform the review when winter arrives, make sure this is done before you leave for trips.

It is difficult to gain perfect control over one’s car during this season. Roads are slippery and taking sudden turns can prove fatal. If you get certain devices, controlling your car will become easier, thus giving you and your family better protection.

• Antilock brakes: This will prevent your car wheels from getting locked up or from skidding while driving during winter. It will help you steer evenly when coming to a sudden halt.
• The traction control system: It can feel the car wheel slip. It reduces your engine’s power and commands the antilock braking system to send power to your wheels for proper maneuvering.
• The electronic stability system
• The four wheel drive
• All season or winter tires
• Winter transmission mode

Check websites of AAA, Mapquest.com and other popular car sites for more tips on driving your vehicle during winter. Be safe and drive safely!

For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

Winter Safe Driving Tips For You

Winter can be a great time to go for a vacation. You can visit nearby places, or go out of the country. A lot of people choose to visit their friends or families during this season. Winter is marked with a number of festivals beginning with Halloween in October, followed by Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

Clear Your windshield

However, unless you are prepared enough to take on the weather, your vacation in winter can turn into a nightmare. The cold wind and the heavy snow can be dangerous and troublesome unless you take adequate precautions.

If you are driving to your holiday destination in winter then you should check these following points in your car before setting off:

1. Use a thinner grade of engine oil to maintain the smoothness in the cold weather.

2. Check the tires and change them into ones that are specially constructed to drive through heavy snow and slippery road.
3. Check the wipers and fill up your wiper wash liquid.

4. Charge the car battery to its fullest. Carry chargers and/or an extra battery in your car trunk if possible to avoid getting stranded if the car refuses to start in the cold.
5. Check the heater in the car. You will need this while driving early in the morning or late at night when the temperature is colder than usual.

6. Check both head and tail lights of the car to make sure they are working properly. You will need their assistance in making your way to through fog in the cold.
 

Take the following precautions while driving in the cold and snow:

• Drive slowly in the fog and brake before you take a turn.

• If you skid, instead of pushing the brake paddle, maneuver your tires into the skid and push the acceleration to avoid running off the road.

• Carry emergency tools and basic equipments in case of breakdowns or battery restart issues. Water is essential, both for yourself and your car.

• Make sure your cell phone has full charge on it so that you can call for help.

Carry flashlights, antifreeze, matchsticks, lighter and even blankets for safety. Be safe and stay safe! 

For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

Organization and Planning Tips for Winter Auto Repairs and Maintenance

It is vital that you prepare your car for the winter season. There a couple of steps you need to take to ensure you car is ready to take on the harshness that winter poses. You can face difficulty on the road, the temperature might get freezing, your tires can slip, etc. There are a host of things you can encounter so it is best you take adequate precautions. 

Checking Your Tires

This step is very important. If your tires do not have tread, you will not get enough traction on the icy roads. If you see that the tread has worn down to the tires’ wear bars then they need immediate replacement. Do not venture out with tires of that condition in any season for that matter. 

Checking Parts of the Car

Get the mechanics of your car checked out with the oncoming of winter. Inspect all the parts and change your oil or tires, as required. Check on the car brakes, hoses, battery, etc. Your wiper should be in good condition and there should be adequate fluid for it to give you clear visibility at all times. The windshield wipers should be changed every winter. The weather might cause cracks and tears to appear on the rubber blades. You also get to have nice ones for the rest of the year. 

Getting Your Floor Mats Suited to the Weather

The next thing to do is to replace your carpet floor mats with rubber all weather mats. They former will get dirty and worn out with all the sand, snow and grime. It is best to save the nice mats for weathers which allow it to stay clean. In case you need to kneel outside the car to fix something, you can use the all weather mats to cushion yourself and save your clothes from getting dirty.

There are a host of other things you need to do to make sure you remain safe at all times while driving in winter. The ones mentioned above are only the basics. Please do not ignore them as you need to be prepared for all kinds of circumstances. 

 For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

Choosing Auto Repair Services

A lot of us may use cars in our daily lives. But how many of us actually know things about our cars that go beyond the knowledge of changing the CD on the media player or reading the digital fuel meter?

 
There are details about every car that should be known by the driver regardless of whether or not the person is a specialist in auto mechanics. Basic information regarding car parts such as the engine or the carbonator is important because in the long run it will help you with your car.

Cars break down for various reasons. Some of them are incomprehensible to the layman. What do you do when your car breaks down in the middle of the road amidst busy traffic? You cannot jump out of your car, open the hood and start tinkering with the wires unless you know what you are doing. Knowing a reliable auto repair service center comes in handy in such situations.

There are many of these service centers out there. However, you have to find out which of these are dependable enough. A lot of service centers may repair your car successfully but charge you a ridiculous amount of money unnecessarily. Others may charge you money and at the same time not fix your car well enough, so when you are on the road, after two days your car will suffer from another breakdown!

This is the reason why you should find out which of the centers are good. Also find out if these service centers work on the kind of car you drive.

There are centers which perform service on only specific genres of automobiles. Find out from those around you where they go for auto repairs and maintenance. Seek referrals. And look online, conduct searches for your area using keywords like, “auto repair Columbus, Ohio.”

As far as your own initiative is concerned you should al least Google the basic parts of a car and find out what may go wrong on a usual basis via auto-related forums. If it is possible and you know how, then fix it yourself.

Also, keep basic tools for the car in your trunk so that you can use it if and when you need to. A spare tire is something to start with. Along with this you will need a lever of some sort, a jack. Changing tires is not a difficult task.

The more you learn, the better off your vehicle will be for you. And when you need help, find good references in your area.

 For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

Benefits of Choosing ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)

Gone are the days when you randomly flipped through the Yellow Pages to get hold of a mechanic to fix your vehicle or looked for one living close to you. Nowadays people love their car and want them to be taken care of by professionals. It was post 1972, that Automotive Service Excellence or ASE changed the scene completely. 

Seek Certified ASE Technicians!

 

Since its inception, the Automotive Service Excellence has changed the way people think and look at mechanics and their skill. If you still follow the archaic methods of getting your car or truck repaired, you might just be in for a shock. This is because you do not know whether your mechanic knows enough. It is the ASE that has brought about a sea change in training mechanics extensively and testing them rigorously to put an authorized stamp upon the services the mechanic will be offering as authentic and reliable.

• The Automotive Service Excellence has trained more than 400,000 mechanics, or as they say, automotive professionals.

• Their motto is to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service through the testing and certification of repair and service professionals.
• As far as the mechanic is concerned, being certified by the Automotive Service Excellence is equal to having a degree with specializations. They train him not just to be skilful with his hand but teaches him or her all that is required to understand vehicles and sort out the problems. It is what makes the mechanic a true success at his job.
 
A mechanics needs training for two years minimum with hands on experience and then pass one of their exams at least. Once the mechanic has passed the examinations under Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an ASE certificate is given. Besides that, a blue and white badge is gifted that has the area of specialization engraved on it. The employers post the credentials of the mechanic in the customer lobby that has a sign of the ASE certification on the property. This certificate needs to be updated to ensure the mechanics are in touch with the latest of technological improvement. This makes the “blue seal” of the Institute worthy. 

Automotive Service Excellence’s premier Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition Program is for repairing and servicing. The shops are highly committed to the ASE motto. This sector involves businesses with a great number of mechanics that are certified by the ASE. After all, the ASE would want to do business that is headed towards improving their own organization.

 For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

3 Top Gas Saving Tips for Vehicles

Oil prices increasing by the day are making it difficult for most car owners to cope with the expenditures like those involved in regular day-to-day vehicle refueling where fuel prices are on the rise, and the demand for fuel, too, is rising proportionally. Since no causal linkage has yet been established between these two phenomena, there is no way to bring down fuel prices quickly.

Money-Saving Tips!

The main way to decrease expenditures is by decreasing the fuel consumption of your car; which you can do by ensuring all parts of the car are in perfect working condition. Check out these three top tips to help you save the most you can:

1. Check the Oil
Make it routine to check that there is enough oil in the engine. The engine has a number of compartments containing oil for various purposes which includes lubricating, cooling and brake fluids. The combination of these fuels make the engine work, so the levels and quantity of the fluids are important as otherwise the engine will burn down and stop working. You have to replace these oils regularly so that your car’s engine requires less refueling.

2. Air Pressure of Tires
Keep a constant check on the tire pressures of your car and get them filled up regularly. Maintaining the correct tire pressure is one of the most important factors in making the car run smoothly. You can seek help from air pumps at any number of gas and service stations to refill your tires. At some places, refilling tires is a free service; while at others, it’s paid, but the cost is very low.

3. Tune Ups
Tune ups of your cars at intervals of a few months can minimize problems while keeping your vehicle operating at its best condition. The tune up dates are usually given to you when you purchase the car, but you can also ask for a tune up if you feel that the car is not working properly. For example, you can recheck your mileage problems during tune ups.

Like the proverb, “a stitch in time saves nine,” so keep a constant check on every major part of your car to ensure that trifle problems don’t build into complete breakdowns. These duties may initially seem like a burden, but maintaining a routine helps prevent a car from severe functional damage plus guarantees it a longer life.

 For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

Preventive Maintenance for Cars

Like any mechanical body, your car too needs looking after. Regular maintenance, including the checking and updating of worn parts is part and parcel of continuing with your car’s proper functioning. 

"Regular maintenance saves you added costs..."

Unfortunately most people do not take the time or effort to do this. Even though preventive maintenance can help you avoid huge repair costs in the long run, most people do not want to take the trouble. Either they do not have adequate means, or having limited knowledge of the vehicle they lack time and / or money, and then tend to ignore this aspect of vehicle car and ownership. 

The reasons are usually unjustifiable considering the amount the car is used as a mode of constant transportation. For example, there are many reasons one can site to justify why you should keep track of the condition of brakes, tires, engine and other parts and repair them if necessary. Let us list a couple of them:

1. A car functions similar to your body. If you take proper care of yourself, your body will have longevity and better health. It is no different for the car. If you want to see it running well for long, you will have to take it in for regular maintenance. If you do not maintain it, the chances of it breaking down in an untimely manner are likely and increase over time.

2. Regular maintenance saves you added costs. For instance, your car will give you better fuel efficiency if you have the oil changed every couple of thousand miles. This also means better gas mileage. So if you use a lot of gas, it will, in turn, save you money. And small things like checking your car tires can help prevent blowouts. Again you are saved of heavy tow truck and repair expenditures. You can prohibit added costs by maintaining your steering wheel and suspension also.
3. A well-maintained car can sell for a higher price than one in a bad condition. Thus if you invest in a little maintenance cost, you may be paid back by a much more lucrative resale value for your investment.
 
These are the little ways in which maintaining your car can ultimately be a benefit to you. Thus, take that time and effort to get familiar with the car’s mechanism and have it regularly tuned. In the long run, it is you who will gain from this. 

 For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

Maintaining Your Car Battery

 
All vehicles need regular care and maintenance. Like any other machine, you have to maintain it to assure its proper functioning.

Schedule Routine Service

Your vehicle, in most cases a car, should be subjected to all the servicing routines scheduled for it during its purchase. The following list covers a few of them:
1. Oil change
2. Car tire rotation
3. Transmission
4. Coolant flushes
5. Belt replacement
6. Car battery servicing

The last feature mentioned above is one of the most important features of maintaining your car, yet most people simply ignore it till faced with a problem. For some reason or another, there is a general belief among people that the battery of a car needs no maintenance. Even though the advanced technology of today ensures you hassle free batteries operating in your car, it still does not mean that you do not have to check into matters once in a while. If you do not do the basics of maintaining your car battery, it could either fail in advance or result in severe damage to the car that could turn out to be a hefty expense. 

Kinds of Batteries:
Now, there are two kinds of batteries available in today’s cars. There is the unsealed version, which you will notice from the caps they have that you need to twist to take off and there is the more modern, sealed version.
 
Taking care of Unsealed Batteries:
These batteries are hardly found on vehicles, but that does not mean they have become extinct! Now, as with all older technology, you need to take care of unsealed batteries more than sealed ones. You need to twist off those caps and fill in distilled water into the hollow space inside. Naturally, how often you change the water will depend on the weather condition. If you live in a warm place where there is more evaporation, you need a frequent refill. Do not allow the water level to go too low as it might destroy the battery cells. Make sure you follow any routine suggested to you when purchasing your car regarding the care battery.

Taking Care of Sealed Batteries:

Most people seem to be under some grave misconception that these batteries will do their job before they run out without any kind of maintenance and servicing. This is unfortunately not the truth, much as we would all like it to be. The only fact that is true in this case is that it requires much less care than unsealed ones. The most crucial thing to take care of in a sealed car battery is the post. Found either on the top or side of the battery, this is where the cables that connect the power supply of the car to the battery are attached. 

How to Clean Posts of a Sealed Battery:

1. In usual cases, you have to unplug the cables and clean them with some material. But in case the corrosions are too thick to be removed with rag, there are battery post cleaners available in the market.

2. Once that step is done and the build up removed, put petroleum jelly on to the posts. This acts as a protective layer.

3. Ensure that the metal ends are clean before you re-attach those cables. You can try mixing one portion of baking soda with one portion of water as a cleaner. Some find it very useful to clean the contacts.

4. After the cleaning process, put back the cables tightly.

To ensure proper functioning of your car’s battery, check for any kind of breaks or cuts. Please get it immediately checked in case you happen to find any. You see, if your car’s battery is functioning properly, it will last much longer and save you a lot of expense. 

 For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!