Roadside Assistance Program

When buying a used car you need to do your homework.  This includes doing a thorough inspection of the vehicle, and don’t forget to look under the hood. You don’t want to end up with a car that will leave you stranded calling for road service.  Here are some things you need to be aware of.

Squeeze all of the various rubber hoses that run to the air conditioner, radiator, etc.  The rubber shouldn’t feel hard or mushy.  In addition, there shouldn’t be cracks.  Make sure it is supple and firm.  Also, make sure the drive belts are frayed.

Check all of the fluid levels in the car.  You can consult your owner’s manual to know where to look.  You should have dark brown or black oil.  It it’s honey colored, it means it was changed recently.  If the oil is foamy or gray, it might mean there is a cracked engine block or a head gasket that is blown.  You should have pinkish transmission fluid, not brown.

Also, take a look at the battery.  Batteries that are “maintenance free” have a charge indicator that is built in.  Green means that the battery is still good, where yellow or black means the battery is no good.

With any car purchase, it is important to have an emergency roadside assistance program just in case of unforeseen incidents.  However, following these simple tips might save you from being stuck on the side of the road.

Billions of dollars are spent by automakers to build awareness about their cars and promote them.  However, marketing is not the only thing that shapes a consumer’s perception of cars.

Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted an Auto Pulse survey, which found that Toyota and Honda automobiles came in first and second place over all the other car brands.  In addition, those vehicles have performed well consistently, and usually rank in the top of their classes.  Toyota and Honda have also been found to be the most reliable over the years.

In this survey, consumers had to rank vehicle brands in seven different areas.  These included quality, safety, value, environmental friendliness, performance, technological innovation and design.  The survey also showed the factors that consumers consider to be the most important when purchasing a car.

According to this survey, motorists that value reliability and want to avoid calling their road service program should look to Toyota and Honda.  They have shown consistent reliability and consumer satisfaction.

Sometimes the hardest part about purchasing a new or used vehicle is getting rid of your present car.  There are several options for selling your car.  You can trade it in to the dealer, sell your car privately, or donate it to charity.  Here are the pros and cons of each of these.

Probably the easiest way to go is to trade in your vehicle.  Dealers tend to make the process easy because they want your car.  The dealer will assess your car to determine how much it is worth and deduct it from the price of your new car.  The pitfall to this is that a trade in value is generally much lower than what you could get for your car privately.  However, you can’t beat the convenience.

If you sell your car yourself you will most likely get the most money.  However, this can be a lot of work.  It will be time consuming to prep your car for sale.  Assess your vehicle and determine what you’re willing to pay on minor repairs.  Things should be fixed well enough to avoid legal troubles down the road.

Another option for getting rid of your car is to donate it to charity.  Some people find this option attractive on principle.  If your car is on it’s last leg and might be hard to sell, this is probably the best option for you.  After all, who’s going to buy a car that is going to require constant roadside assistance?

Consider the condition of your car to make the best choice about getting rid of your car.  Be realistic about how much you will get for your car.

Spring is finally here, and with it comes spring-cleaning. However, don’t just clean your house, also clean up your vehicle and make sure it’s in tip-top shape. Not only will it help your car look it’s best, it will keep you from having to call your road service program.

First, to help your vehicle look like new, give it a wash and wax in order to remove the grime and winter salt. This will help protect your finish in the summer heat.

Next, consult your owner’s manual to flush and refill your radiator. You should check the condition, level, and concentration of the coolant on a regular basis.

Get an oil change. Skipping oil changes can greatly reduce the life of your vehicle. Also, change the oil filter when you get your oil changed. Other filters also need replacing occasionally, such as air, fuel, and PCV.

Finally, check your tires. Let them cool down, and check your air pressure. Also, be aware that cupping, uneven wear, vibrations, and pulling to one side may indicate a problem with either your tires or your suspension system.

These simple tips will have your car driving safely and keep you from calling for emergency roadside assistance.

It’s that time again when students all over the country are taking road trips for spring break. Chances are that most of these people are headed towards warm, beach weather. So, what is an ideal ride for these students on spring break?

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a perfect spring break vehicle. What car would look better with a surfboard on top? This ride has a retro design that will demand stares from the opposite sex. The floor that is rubberized, as well as the water-shedding interior will allow students to clean up easily for the ride home.

Ford’s Mustang is a blast from the past without being stuck there. This is definitely a muscle car that has a 300 horsepower V8. You can’t beat the Mustang for a four-seat convertible, and the price is right. It starts at $25,060.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the hot vehicle of the Wrangler lineup. It has four doors and a true back seat. The Wrangler handles great in dirt, boulders, and more importantly, sand. With the top down and a car full of college students, the Wrangler has a great wow factor.

These rides would make any college student proud. However, college students need to consider safety. While cruising around looking cool, students need to behave sensibly. Also, they should have a road service program in case of unforeseen circumstances.

To avoid having to call for emergency roadside assistance, maintain your car.  There are a lot of motorists driving around with poorly maintained cars, and many of them find themselves stranded on the side of the road calling for road service.  To avoid this situation follow these simple tips.

Many people drive with very low tire pressure.  It used to be that gas stations would check tire pressure when you filled up your tank, but those days are gone.  Tires that are under inflated cause additional wear in tires and make your car get poor gas mileage.  It can be like driving with the parking brake on.  Check your owner’s manual for the proper tire pressure.

Also, be on the lookout for alignment problems.  If you sense a change in the steering, your vehicle probably needs to be aligned.  Many times there is a symbol on the steering wheel.  Make sure that the symbol is completely straight.  To avoid alignment problems, avoid potholes.

The most important thing that you can do for your car is changing your oil on a regular basis.  Generally, you want to change your oil every 3,000 miles.  However, if you use synthetic oil you can wait a little longer in between your oil changes.

Following these simple tips can keep you on the road and help you avoid being stranded.  Of course, you never want to leave home without a phone number for your road service program, because you never know when your car will fail.

According to Colorado State Patrol troopers, drivers still need to be prepared for winter driving conditions.  Cars should be fully loaded and prepared, especially when driving into the mountains and every driver should have road service in case of an emergency.  During this time of the year, weather can change from clear and sunny one minute to icy and snowy the next.

Conditions that change so rapidly often catch drivers unprepared and the result is auto accidents.  For instance, there was a pileup on Interstate 70 out of Frisco on Friday.  The lanes heading east were closed for almost seven hours leaving drivers in the thousands stranded on the side of the road.

Troopers say that drivers need to plan ahead and stock their vehicles.  This includes water, food, and a full tank of gas, blankets, and warm clothes.  In addition, every motorist should have an emergency roadside assistance program in case they find themselves stranded.

The average gasoline price across the nation set a record Friday.  For regular gasoline, the average price rose to $3.28 overnight.  Today is the fourth day in a row of record prices.  It is speculated that by summer gas prices will hit $4.

Due to the outlandish gas prices, tips are prevalent on how to get more mileage out of a gallon of gasoline.  Here are some to take note of.

It is a good idea to avoid trips that aren’t necessary and do all of your errands in one trip.  Also, replace your PCV valve, fuel filter, and breather filter approximately every 12,000 miles.  This can improve your mileage up to 15 percent.  If you replace an oxygen sensor that is faulty you could be saving yourself up to six trips to the fuel pump every year.  Motorists should also check their tires to make sure that they are inflated fully for optimal fuel efficiency.  In addition, drivers should eliminate unnecessary weight in their vehicle trunks because added weight causes gas to burn.

In this economy, and with gas rates up high consumers are trying to save as much as possible.  These simple tips can put money in your wallet.  Also, don’t wait until the last minute to fill up your tank.  More drivers than ever are requiring roadside assistance because they are putting off buying gas, and they end up running out of gas.

Modern vehicles are designed safer to survive accidents and keep passengers safe.  Virtually all automakers include emergency kits installed by the factory.  This is either due to competitive pressure or government regulations.  Most of the roadside kits include reflective markers, jumper cables, and flashlights.  These kits typically deal with mechanical and accident breakdowns.

Today’s automobiles endure unique conditions.  There is an increase in natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, etc.  Other emergencies include major accidents, snowstorms, and mechanical breakdowns, which all leave motorists stranded.

This is why it is necessary to be prepared in an emergency situation.  Motorists need to have emergency kits, first aid kits, and most importantly, a roadside assistance program.  In any emergency drivers are left vulnerable, and knowing that help is only a phone call away leaves drivers with peace of mind.  It is simple to take these precautions, and they can literally save your life.

Motorists traveling on their own fear that at some point they might have car problems. This isn’t surprising since drivers are spending more and more time in their car. People are driving long distances to and from work, and have more errands than ever, so it is inevitable that drivers will experience a breakdown at one point or another. Male and female drivers alike are fearful of this occurrence.

According to a recent survey conducted by Britannia Rescue, approximately two-thirds of the male and female motorists who were interviewed are scared of being alone and breaking down.

The figures break down into ninety three percent of women and forty five percent of men. The survey also revealed that people become more fearful of someone stopping to help. In fact, seventy percent of women wouldn’t want a man to stop and offer assistance.

The one thing that motorists can do to avoid being fearful of a breakdown is have an emergency roadside assistance program that will assist them in case they get into trouble. After all, it can be scary to have a random stranger stop and offer you help.