Road Service

Today drivers encounter many distractions. People are talking on cell phones, playing with gadgets on their dashboard, tuning the radio, etc. This can lead to many auto road service calls. If you see a car in front of you slowing down and speeding up randomly, chances are the driver is distracted. What to do? Drive defensively.

According to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, driving is a full-time job. They found that 94% of motorists admitted to engaging in distracting activities, such as tending to their children, tuning the radio, and eating. They also found that 39% of the activities were distracting were while drivers were working. Also alarming is that between 25-50 percent of accidents occur because of driver distractions.

Automakers are adding more and more gadgets and entertainment systems to new vehicles, which means that people are going to get even more distracted driving. People will be looking at navigation systems, MP3 players and DVDs, leading to more accidents. The best thing that drivers can do to protect themselves against distracted motorists is steer clear from them if possible. In addition, have a road service program just in case of an accident. You don’t want to end up stranded on the side of the road somewhere because of someone else’s mistakes.

Although cars of today don’t require maintenance as regularly as the cars of the past, they still need a maintenance schedule.  This will ensure that your car has a long, healthy life span.  Consulting your owner’s manual for the service schedule that your car requires can save you from having to call your road service program.  Here are a few maintenance mistakes that you should avoid.

Many people fail to check their tire pressure.  Underinflated tires can cost you more at the gas pump and wear out sooner.  You should check your tires twice a year.

As simple as it may seem, motorists forget to replace their windshield wipers.  This should be done once a year to ensure that you have good visibility through your windshield.

Recent cars don’t need regular tune-ups.  This is because valves don’t need adjusting and there aren’t any carburetors to mess with.  Make sure to do your big car service at 60,000 and 120,000 to replace spark plugs, timing belts, and coolants.

Finally, change your oil according to your car’s owner’s manual.  They don’t have to be done every 3,000 miles like in days past.  Also, use the oil recommended for your car.

Regular maintenance is necessary for your car to keep you from calling for emergency roadside assistance.  However, don’t make maintenance mistakes that could cost you extra money.

It’s the moment that every motorists dreads, a flat tire.  You don’t know if you ran over glass or hit a nail, but you need to take action.  You may need to call for road service, and then you have to have the tire fixed or do it yourself.  Surprisingly, it isn’t that hard to repair a tire yourself, and you can save the extra expense of having a repair shop do it.  Here’s how.

First, it is necessary to determine the location of the puncture.  You can do this by submerging the tire in water and watching where the bubbles come from.  Before you can patch the tire you must remove any foreign objects stuck in the tire.  You can pull out the object out with pliers.  Be sure to pull out the object in the direction of the tread so you don’t do additional damage to the tire.

Now, use a tire reamer and clean out the hole from the inside of the tire.  Center the patch over the puncture to ensure proper sizing.  Take off the patch and coat an awl using cement.  You should run the awl in the hole a few times to make sure the damaged area is coated adequately.  Then, put a coat of vulcanizing cement directly on the patch and tire and let it dry.

Next, apply a layer of cement on the stem of the patch and then pull the stem through.  When the patch stem is all the way through the hole, cut it off.

Now, you are ready to get back out on the road.  With a little diligence you can do a quick tire fix and save yourself a trip to the repair shop.

Is it time for you to replace your vehicle? Are you fed up with having to call for road service? If so, you might want to consider purchasing a used car. Many people are turning to used vehicles to save money, and they’re onto something. According to a survey conducted by the Consumer Reports Nat’l Research Center, there are hundreds of pre-owned vehicles that offer great reliability. Also, they can offer safety, affordability, and fuel-efficiency.

One reason that used cars are such a great value is because you avoid the depreciation that comes with buying a new vehicle. For example, you can find a Lexus RX SUV that is seven years old for approximately $13,000, when it costs $40,000 new. Also, new drivers don’t have to buy a small vehicle, such as a Toyota Yaris, when a roomier, nicer used car, such as a Nissan Altima or Honda Accord is in the same price range.

Consumers should do their homework before buying a used car. People can minimize risks by purchasing cars that have reputations for reliability. This will help you avoid having to call for emergency roadside assistance.

Most Japanese brand automobiles are known for their reliability.  Out of 33 models in a reliability list, Japanese manufacturers made 22 of them.  According to a recent survey, it is predicted that all Honda and Subaru vehicles will have at least average reliability this year.

Also in this year’s forecast, domestic car models are continuing to improve.  Ford is leading the way, and European cars are following suit.

The stellar reliability that Toyota was experiencing has slipped slightly.  The 2007 Toyota V6 Camry, and the 2007 Toyota Tundra V8 are below average in reliability.  Also below average is the Lexus GS.  These three models are no longer recommended due to their reliability ratings.

It is important for consumers to do their homework and purchase vehicles that have a good reliability rating.  There is nothing worse than being stuck on the side of the road with a broken down vehicle.  However, drivers should always make sure they have a road service program in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Many parents struggle with the decision of whether to purchase their teenager a vehicle.  Often, parents can afford a new vehicle, but they are concerned with indulging their children in this way.  So what is the answer?

If parents spend too little on a vehicle, their teenager may wind up with a junker that is unreliable.  Also, their teen might end up working too hard on supporting the vehicle, instead of worrying about their studies.

If parents spend too much, teens might acquire a sense of entitlement that is unhealthy.  Also, they may have a warped sense of how much things really cost.

Children who are just handed cars never really learn about the value of money.  In fact, children whose parents buy them luxury cars often end up totaling the car within a few months.  In this case, the only thing parents can do is make sure their child is covered with a road service program.

When it comes right down to it, if you’re going to give your child a car, you should make your child put some effort towards the car.  In other words, it is a good idea for children to have to put some of their own money towards the vehicle.

Recently, Saab made an announcement that a new vehicle would be given to any original Saab owner in the U.S. that drove their vehicle 1 million miles. Peter Gilbert of Wisconsin just won the challenge in his 1989 Saab 900 SPG. Now, his car is in a museum with its original turbocharger and engine.

In the past, it was a big deal if a car was still running at 100,000 miles. At this point, there was major transmission and engine rebuilding required, not to mention, a lot of road service calls. A vehicle in the ‘90’s lasted to approximately 150,000 miles.

According to The U.S. Department of Transportation, the life of a vehicle on average is approximately 128,500 miles or 12 years. These numbers are low because many drivers don’t maintain their vehicles. People neglect to do simple maintenance, which cuts down the life of their car and has them calling for emergency roadside assistance.

People who buy cars today should easily expect their car to last 200,000 miles. This is assuming that you do the necessary maintenance that is required. You can find this information in your owner’s manual.

Smart’s fortwo vehicle is on the market and doing well, according to dealership polls.  However, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns about the crash-test performance of the car.

Several crash tests were recently performed on the two-door microcar.  The vehicle performed well in the rear crashes, as well as frontal crashes.  In fact, it earned a rating of four-stars for crash protection of drivers, and three stars for crash protection of passengers.

Tests were also performed for side-impact, and the vehicle was awarded five stars.  However, during a test, the driver door of the car came open.  This problem could lead to the driver being thrown from the car.  The test only measures the ability of the vehicle to withstand the full impact.

According to Smart, the fortwo was designed to receive four star crash ratings.  It receives 41 mpg on the highway.  With any vehicle, drivers should protect themselves with a roadside assistance program.  You never want to be stranded on the side of the road in the case of an accident.

Now is a great time to make a commitment to take better care of your car.  It’s National Car Care Month, so many people are taking the time to give their vehicles a little TLC.  Regular maintenance is more important than people realize.  It can keep motorists from having to call their road service program.

During the month of April, a lot of repair shops and auto stores are giving good discounts because of National Car Care Month.  It is a good time for drivers to take advantage of these prices.  Many companies hand out guides to help with car care, and host car check-ups.  Businesses will even volunteer to inspect parts of cars that get overlooked, such as air filters, tires, belts and hoses, fluids, and battery cables.

Unfortunately, the result of some of the car care experiences demonstrated that motorists neglect their vehicles.  In fact, eight out of ten cars failed a component of the inspection.  Tire pressure was low on 23 percent of the cars, where 24 percent of tires needed replacing.  Also, 25 percent of vehicles had air filters that were dirty, and 13 percent of cars had the check engine light on.

With April being National Car Care Month, it is a good time for motorists to be more responsible with maintenance.  Just by taking a few preventative measures you can avoid having to call for emergency roadside assistance.

Many economists are predicting that fuel prices will reach $4 a gallon by summer.  According to a recent survey, if this happens motorists will alter their driving behaviors dramatically.

This survey also revealed that 91 percent of motorists are cutting back on their driving and 74 percent are being better about maintaining their cars since fuel prices are rising.  In addition, approximately 30 percent of people have started carpooling, 31 percent have purchased vehicles that have greater fuel efficiency, and 25 percent are making use of their public transportation systems.

It may not be feasible for some people to drive less, however, there are a few tips that can save drivers up to $1,200 per year.  First of all, make sure your gas cap is sealed tight so that your gas doesn’t vaporize.  Next, inflate your tires to the proper level.  Also, replace air-filters that are clogged.  Finally, replace spark plugs regularly.

Even though gas prices are soaring, motorists can improve their vehicles’ fuel efficiency by having these simple maintenance tips performed.  In addition, make sure you have an auto road service program.  Many drivers are putting off getting to the pump, therefore running out of gas.