Emergency Auto Assistance

A recall has been issued by Kia of 6,680 of the Rondo EX and LX minivans from the model years 2008 and 2009. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there may be a defective fuel pump for the four-cylinder 2.4-liter engine, which may not be able to get enough fuel effectively to the engine.

This could result in engine hesitation or failure of the engine starting correctly, which might endanger motorists if the problem gets progressively worse. If the problem occurs, the check engine light coming on may alert drivers.

If you have a 2008 or 2009 Kia Rondo, Kia will replace your fuel pump free of charge. Vehicle owners can also call Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Taking care of the problem right away may save you a call to emergency roadside assistance.

Consumer Reports picked four car models for its 2008 Top Picks list. The top pickup is the Chevrolet Silverado, top luxury sedan is the Lexus LS 460L, top midsized SUV is the Hyundai Santa Fe, and top small sedan is the Hyundai Elantra SE.

Hyundai is the first South Korean carmaker to make the list, and the Chevrolet Silverado is the first U.S. model to be on the list since 2005. Consumer Reports typically tries to pick a mix of Japanese, European, and domestic vehicle models, however the last two years has only had Japanese automakers.

The Toyota Prius was the winner of the “green” vehicle category for the fifth year in a row. The Prius received an impressive 44-mpg in fuel-efficiency tests. This is the best rating any five-passenger car received in the CR testing.

Consumer Reports’ Top Picks demonstrate the car models that prove to be the most well rounded in their categories. The vehicles must excel in road tests, reliability, and safety requirements.

Consumers are trying to protect themselves on the road by choosing vehicles that are safe and reliable and signing up for emergency roadside assistance. Consumer Reports’ Top Picks List is a good way for motorists to be educated about good, reliable vehicles.

Many drivers are leery about buying a used car because they are afraid of inheriting old problems that a vehicle may have. Unfortunately, this instinct is sometimes correct. If you were considering buying a used car, it would be worth your while to place a call to the Better Business Bureau.

The Better Business Bureau claims they get tons of complaints from drivers who have purchased used cars, just to discover that their car breaks down three weeks later. Placing this call can keep you from having to call for emergency roadside assistance.

The large amount of consumer complaints has led the Better Business Bureau to make a buyer beware packet and a presentation that will explain things you should know before you buy a car. Things on the list include buyers’ rights, things you should check out, and things to ask for in writing. Also, fuel-efficiency should be a consideration when purchasing a pre-owned car because of high fuel prices.

It’s unfortunate that some people experience breakdowns not long after buying a used car. In order to protect yourself, it is essential that you have a road service program in case of breakdowns.

Modern vehicles have many safety features for adults, but parents are responsible for providing special safety protection for children. However, it can be confusing to decide on a child safety seat because there are so many different choices. What type do you need?

Infant car seats must be rear facing. These seats should be used for infants weighing under 20 pounds and who are under a year old. This seat is convenient because it allows you to unclip it from the base and carry your infant it.

Convertible seats are very versatile. You can use these seats with rear facing infants, or children under 40 pounds that face forward. These seats can be bought in different configurations; so it is necessary to do your homework to make sure your child is secured correctly. The advantage to these seats is that they are cost effective because you never have to buy an infant car seat.

Booster seats act as an intermediate seat between the infant and convertible seat and a seat belt. These seats are for children that weigh from 40-65 pounds and are forward facing.

Don’t get overwhelmed by the options for child seats. Research car seats ahead of time so that when you get to the store you will know what you’re looking at. It’s up to you to be responsible for the safety of your child. This includes buying a suitable car seat and having an emergency roadside assistance program so that you never end up stranded on the side of the road.

Microsoft’s latest attempt at vehicle technology appears to be promising.  Vi-Fi, or vehicle Wi-Fi, is Wi-Fi connections in vehicles.  Microsoft has partnered up with the University of Washington and the University of Massachusetts in order to make Wi-Fi connections a reliable and steady experience, which hasn’t happened with offerings by cell phone makers and their cards for laptops.

This new system allows for multiple Wi-Fi signals to come in and out at any given time in order for the signal to remain strong and steer clear of “hand-offs”, which are known to fumble and lead to spotty service.

But many people might ask, “Why do we need Wi-Fi in cars anyway?”  Do we really need to net surf behind the wheel?  Well, Wi-Fi- would be a good addition to technology in cars because it would replace satellite subscription services that are expensive, and it would allow us to have an unlimited amount of applications.  With Wi-Fi in cars, the weather and movie times could be displayed, as well as Internet radio, live stock quotes, instant messaging, and pretty much anything else you could access on a laptop.

For this to be an option for the everyday driver, there will need to be a larger infrastructure for Wi-Fi, but Microsoft has proven they can produce terrific technology in cars with the Sync system.  Just beware, with a road full of drivers surfing the Internet, you might want to sign up for a good emergency roadside assistance program.

There’s no way to get around the fact that vehicles experience damage, often irrevocably, everyday in America. According to recent data, in the early part of 2008, approximately 1.3 million cars were tagged as damaged, either because of accidents or severe weather. When damage such as this occurs, it is required that the car’s official title be “branded” as Lemon, Salvaged, Flood, etc, in order for used car shoppers to be protected from buying a poor product.

However, it is predicted that at least 15% of the 2008 damaged cars, or a total of 185,000, have gotten new titles in other states that don’t include the offending “brand”. This sort of “title-washing” leaves buyers in the dark, and causes them to purchase vehicles that they otherwise wouldn’t have considered. This is leading to a high level of unsafe vehicles on the road that often requires emergency roadside assistance.

Of course it is no secret that there can be pitfalls to purchasing a pre-owned car. Unfortunately, consumers can inherit other people’s car problems. This is why it is important to do your homework before buying a used car and always access vehicle records online. In addition, having a road service program will provide you with peace of mind in case you get stuck on the side of the road.

It can be challenging to find an emergency roadside assistance program that you feel good about. Motorists need to do their homework in order to find a provider that they feel is trustworthy and reliable. Also, consumers should be aware of the services that they are paying for.

Recently, a customer from Toyota bought an extended warranty that comes with free roadside assistance. This service is supposed to provide drivers with help if they experience a breakdown or find themselves out of gas. Unfortunately, this motorist ran out of gas on a highway in Cleveland, but didn’t get the emergency auto assistance desired. Initially, the driver who came to rescue her didn’t even bring gas, he had to drive off and get it. After that, he only put one gallon of gasoline in the vehicle, even though you are entitled to three gallons. With the one gallon of gas, the driver couldn’t even get the car started. And, when the driver asked him if he could get some more gas, he said, “No. They don’t pay me enough for that.” Then the worker drove away!

This is a perfect example of why motorists need to find the right emergency roadside assistance company. Make sure to find out what services you are entitled to, and look on the Internet for blogs about different companies. Customer comments will tell you a lot.

Two laws that have been in place since 1988 in all 50 states are receiving new acclaim for lessening fatalities due to drunken-driving.

A recent study in Accident Analysis and Prevention in July has recognized that the drinking age increase to age 21 has reduced the ratio of deaths due to drunken-driving by at least 11%.  Also, making fake ID possession illegal and suspending the person’s driver’s license has lessened fatalities by an additional 7%.

While in all 50 states it’s illegal for people to use a fake ID to buy alcohol, a driver’s-license sanction isn’t always the punishment.  This study suggests that if a law such as this were to be national and linked to highway funds, which are done with the designated drinking age being 21, deaths would decline even more.

Occasionally, there has been talk of making the legal drinking age 18, because soldiers have fought in the Iraq war, but can’t drink a beer.  However, according to the AAP study, making the drinking age 21 has reduced drunken driving deaths drastically.

According to the AAP study, making the drinking age 21 has been a crucial step in reducing accidents and emergency roadside assistance calls due to drunk drivers.  Also apparent is that national driver’s license sanctions would lower deaths even more.

Most people realize that hypermiling is not the safest practice; in fact it leads to accidents and calls for emergency auto assistance. However, many people still do it.  Well now, AAA is weighing in with their view on the subject.

AAA has released a very strong warning saying that practices to save gas, in which illegal driving techniques are used, are dangerous, and therefore shouldn’t be used.  They are referring to practices like drafting off of other cars by tailgating, rolling stops, and turning off the car while driving.

Other gas saving practices toes the line of acceptability.  For example, motorists who have manual transmissions sometimes cruise in neutral to conserve fuel.  This practice is fairly common, yet safety advocates express concerns about motorists not having complete control of their cars.  Also controversial is the practice of utilizing neutral with automatic transmissions, however some drivers who do this say that they can do it safely.  AAA also doesn’t bring up the fact that there are numerous local laws having to do with improper driving, like not keeping your vehicle in gear.

Although motorists are tempted to do anything possible to save money on gas, people need to realize the danger involved in illegal driving techniques.  Unfortunately, hypermiling has been known to lead to car accidents, which is why it is important to have roadside assistance.  After all, we can drive responsibly, but we can’t foresee what other drivers will do.

Apparently, tune-ups and tire inflation can transcend party affiliation.  Regardless of where the presidential candidates are with their campaign, people are always concerned with high gas prices.  So, recently, both presidential candidates have discussed the importance of car maintenance as a way people can save energy.  And according to a recent survey by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, at least 75% of motorists claimed that they are maintaining their vehicles better because gas prices have been so high.

The Car Care Council commends Senator McCain and Obama for making it known that vehicle maintenance is a good way to conserve energy.  People can’t control gas prices, but they can the amount of gas that they burn.  Having inexpensive car maintenance done will not only save you money on gas, even up to $1,200 a year, it will also improve your car’s dependability and safety.  This may save you from having to make a call for emergency auto assistance.

According to the Car Care Council, you should follow these maintenance tips for big savings.  Inflate your tires properly, replace clogged air-filters, replace spark plugs regularly, and get your car tuned.