Auto Roadside Assistance Blog

It isn’t surprising that Ford’s aiming the new 2010 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion hybrids straight at the Toyota Camry Hybrid, but what is attention getting is Ford claiming that its sedan hybrids will outdo the city mileage of the Camry Hybrid by 5 mpg.  That would make the Milan and Fusion hybrids’ rating at 38 mpg.  Although there wasn’t a number provided for highway mileage, Ford claims that it beats the Camry Hybrid in this area as well.  The Camry Hybrid currently gets 34 mpg/highway.

The complete reveal of the Milan and Fusion hybrids is going to wait until the Los Angeles auto show, however Ford just disclosed a few tidbits today about the new sedans.

The Milan and Fusion hybrids will be the first hybrid technology use, besides the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner hybrids.  Battery technology has undergone a big improvement since the launch of Ford’s compact SUV hybrids.

Consumers are anxious for new hybrid technology and want to save money on such things as gas, roadside assistance, and auto loans.  In this poor economy, people are looking for all of the financial relief they can get, including hybrid technology.

For motorists who like to take things into their own hands, the Internet is the place to look for valuable information.  Consumers are seeking research online to aid them in buying a new automobile, finding out about car service, and finding a road service program.

A new study shows that 74 percent of people who do research on service and parts say they are utilizing the Internet more now than two years ago.  In addition, 90 percent of motorists researching service information about automobiles say that the Internet influenced their purchase.

Customers who are well informed can do a good job of describing issues for potential repair when they visit their mechanic for maintenance.  However, it can be a problem when car owners try to do significant repairs by themselves because many times they make misdiagnoses on their car.  This can end up harming their car more.

For example, if a motorist replaces the alternator because the car is having trouble starting, when in fact the battery should have been changed, it could cost hundreds of dollars to rectify the situation.

It is good for consumers to use the Web to research about cars because it can aid their mechanic.  However, motorists who think they can fix anything could end up stranded somewhere.  At any rate, it is always good to have road service in case of breakdowns.

There have been several Front Range companies who have been trying for years to improve upon auto batteries.  For them, John McCain’s offer of $300 million to the developer of the battery responsible for leapfrogging electric and hybrid vehicles was very enticing.

Allowing vehicles to run on batteries instead of engines would reduce the consumption of gasoline and cut down on our country’s oil dependency.

However, the batteries aren’t cheap.  In fact, a lithium-ion battery is tens of thousands of dollars, and its technology hasn’t even debuted in a commercial car.  This is why consumers may want to invest in a good auto warranty.

Even without McCain’s prize, there are plenty of incentives to improve batteries.  People are already putting a great deal of money into researching and developing batteries because technology is in high demand.

However, the U.S. needs to urge for additional battery research because China, Korea, and Japan have already forged ahead.

With the improvement of battery technology, people will soon forget the days of dead batteries and calls for emergency roadside assistance.  Instead, batteries will be associated with electric and hybrid cars.

The government has announced to carmakers that they must get a fleet average fuel-efficiency of 35 mpg by the year 2020, however Hyundai now claims that they will hit this goal by the year 2015, which is five years earlier.

How will the Korean company hit this goal?  Hyundai doesn’t just plan to move forward on developing new hybrid cars, but also to take an approach to its gas engines that are holistic, by discovering ways to take off a mpg here and there.

Some of the new technologies that Hyundai plans to use in its new cars include transmissions that increase efficiency, turbocharging, eight speed automatic transmissions, direct injection, integrated Stop and Go technology, and dual continuously variable valve timing.  Other carmakers plan to make changes that are similar, but Hyundai has a lineup that is relatively small, with no large trucks and SUVs, so it makes it easier to make a quicker mileage jump.

Hyundai’s increased fuel-economy will make consumers happy, since gas prices have been such a concern to all.  Currently, people have been pushing the limit and running out of gas often, which have put roadside assistance calls at an all time high.

Most people realize that hypermiling is not the safest practice; in fact it leads to accidents and calls for auto road service. 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.

Colorado has a new system that will help prevent road kill along one of the busiest highways in the state.  The system works by using an underground cable running parallel to the highway that is able to sense if an animal is around through an electromagnetic field.  If an animal trips the system, drivers are alerted through electronic road signs.

The system is going to be tested in Colorado on US-160, and radar detectors will be deployed to observe if motorists slow down after receiving the warning.  If it is obvious that the system is working it will most likely proliferate on roadways that have seen a large amount of collisions between cars and animals.

You may think this is a strange idea, or that it’s a waste of money.  And, people have even asked, “Why not just put up a fence?”  Well, if you’ve ever seen a deer jump a fence you would understand why that wouldn’t help the problem.

About seventy percent of collisions on Colorado’s highways involve animals.  With those high numbers something needs to be done about the problem.  The underground cable is a good start, but drivers need to drive more defensively.  In addition, all motorists should have a roadside assistance program in case of an emergency so they don’t end up stranded.

Unfortunately, drivers can be faced with an unpleasant surprise in the morning when they discover they have a weak battery. Some people may be lucky enough to be covered by auto road service, however others may not. A car won’t start when the starter is not receiving the power that it needs.  However, help is here.  Continental now has The Intelligent Battery Sensor, which gives a warning if age is making the battery run down.  It does this by determining the charge status of your car’s battery.

One third of vehicle breakdowns are due to batteries that are empty.  One reason for this is because today’s car batteries must do more than in past years.  Just look at all of the responsibilities that car electronics have taken on. They ensure that passengers are safer, simplify orientation in traffic, and make passengers more comfortable. This means that batteries also have higher requirements.  This is why Continental’s Electronic Battery Sensor is so beneficial.

Although the new battery sensor is small, it is a great advancement in technology.  It will allow motorists to have an indication of when to change their batteries.  This will definitely cut down on drivers being stranded.  However, technology is never full proof, so it is a good idea to protect yourself with an auto warranty.

Most people don’t find tire shopping to be one of the most enjoyable things to shop for.  Basically, we would just like to find a set of tires that will fit our car and keep us from calling for road service.  Nevertheless, there are a few things that you should be aware of before going tire shopping.

First, you should never buy used tires.  Saving a few dollars is not worth sacrificing traction and performance; in the same way that it isn’t smart to skimp on an auto warranty.  Your safety should be your first priority, so don’t buy used tires.

Next, you need to know what the factory size of your tires is.  You can find this out by looking on the inside of the door hinge located on the driver’s side.

Do your homework and shop around for good tire deals.  It is easy to make price comparisons online, just make sure you factor in shipping and installation costs.  Tiretrack.com is a good website that has practically every tire and they offer good deals.  Also, you can read reviews from other customers who have bought the tires you plan on buying.

Finally, do some research on different tires before you buy anything.  All tires aren’t created equal and the expensive ones aren’t necessarily the best.

Although tires aren’t most people’s favorite things to shop for, they are an important part of your vehicle.  Following these tips will allow you to get good tires at a low price.

The perks of purchasing a used car are the low initial price, property taxes, and insurance costs.  The “downs” are that it isn’t new, which means there’s no auto warranty and you are more vulnerable to car problems.  However, you can reduce your exposure to risk by taking these precautionary measures.

First, shop for used vehicles that are newer, which might still have a portion of their new car warranties left.  Most late model cars have three-year/ 36,000-mile basic auto warranty coverage, so you could get a year of coverage if you look for cars less than three years old.  Otherwise, you should purchase an auto warranty to cover your used vehicle.

Next, check the background of the make and model car that you are looking at.  Go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website to check out recall and safety information.  Also, it never hurts to take a look at Consumer Reports to see if the particular car you like is problematic.

Also, you should always have a mechanic look at the car you are thinking of buying.  This will let you know if the vehicle has been well maintained or has any major problems.

Used cars are a great option for people who don’t want to pay for the instant depreciation associated with new cars.  Just make sure to protect yourself by doing your research and purchasing an auto warranty and auto road service.

With modern vehicles, professional help is usually required for repairs.  A roadside assistance program brings a great deal of reassurance in case of breakdowns.  However, picking a road service program can be difficult.  Here are some things to consider when trying choosing a program that works for you.

Price is a large factor to consider when shopping for roadside benefits.  Yet, keep in mind that this shouldn’t be the only issue.  Determine what aspect of the coverage you find most important, and then proceed with the search.

A lot of times you have the option to choose between auto road services that just help on the road, or those that will also assist you if your vehicle breaks down at home.  It would be wise to purchase the latter.  After all, you can’t choose where your car will breakdown.

Also, you should inquire if the coverage covers you, or the actual vehicle.  The former is a good idea if you are going to drive more than just one car, and the latter is ideal if there are other family members that are going to drive the car.  Also know that it is possible to get discounts for husband and wife policies.

It can be difficult to determine the roadside assistance program that is ideal for you.  Just determine the kind of road service that will suit your needs, and find a company that can provide you with a lot of options.