When to Call the AAA

Many people are familiar with the AAA, or American Automobile Association, which is a nonprofit federation of motor clubs that are independently owned and operated. This organization is widely known for its help with travel planning, directions, and even roadside assistance. With the many locations and services that it offers to its members, it can be a valuable source, especially for those upcoming family road trips. It is good to be familiar with the basics of AAA, the extent of assistance that they can offer, and the other benefits of membership. Make sure you contact your regional AAA office to find information that is pertinent to your area, such as fees, special pricing, and other features and discounts.

Get Help on the Go with Roadside Assistance

One of the two things that AAA is most known for is the roadside assistance service. Members can to call their local or regional office to get help if the car breaks down or if you have an accident. Your membership will cover you even if you are riding with someone who is not a member. Your membership will cover the car in which you are a passenger or if you are driving someone else’s car. Some roadside assistance services would include towing, battery charging, and lockouts if you accidentally lock your keys in the car. AAA can provide referrals to AAA-approved auto repair shops that offers its members special pricing. Be sure to check with your regional office because each office is independently owned and the terms for these services will vary. For instance, one office may provide towing service for up to only three miles free to specific places while other offices will provide over three miles to a location that you designate. The approved auto repair shops would staff mechanics that have a variety of specialties to suit your needs, so you will not have to search for a particular service shop on your own. 

Get Help in Planning Your Vacations

Many people contact AAA for driving directions or for plans for family vacations. The driving itineraries could give you information such as the amount of travel time to and from your destination and which routes would be the best ones to take, especially during those seasons when some states are making road repairs. You may also get information about road closings that are the result of severe weather. You can get information about the weather conditions of your destination as well as lodging, attractions, dining, and entertainment.

Some Surprising Benefits

One thing that surprises people about AAA is that it also offers services such as discounts from various retail partners such as hotels, restaurants, and other stores. You will be able to save money through your membership on items such as shoes, eyeglasses, toys, shipping, jewelry, and furniture. Members can also use the travel agency service to get discounts on car rentals, hotels, and airfare.  A bail bond service, emergency cash acceptance program, and the 24-hour customer service toll-free number are just some of the ways AAA can become a valuable resource for you. If you need more information, you can always call your local chapter or the national toll-free number to get answers to any questions you may have. 

Benefits and Pitfalls of Owning an Asian Car Model

For many years, the American automotive industry has been lagging behind the Asian counterpart in terms of reliability, resale value, and prestige. They consistently earn awards, with some models winning the same awards year after year. Rising fuel costs, financial problems, and management mishaps have plagued the American automakers and the quality of the vehicles suffered. However, recent years have seen many improvements and there has been a slow shifting from the Asian vehicles to American ones. Some people are very loyal to import vehicles and will not accept anything else. If you are in the market for a new car, you should know some of the benefits and pitfalls of owning an import.

The Benefits of the Asian Car Model

America has had a love affair with the vehicle since its invention. America once held the title of being a premier car producer, but competition from the Asian market grew in popularity. They have been regarded as some of the most dependable, affordable, and reliable cars on the market and as a result, their resale value tends to be higher than a comparable American car. These models have the reputation of being made with quality materials and constructed with solid manufacturing standards to produce cars that tend to last longer and use less gas. The technology under the hood also reached the outside of the car and made them very attractive without being trendy. The ability to retain a high resale value while maintaining an appealing aesthetic has propelled Asian car to the top of the global automotive industry. 

The Pitfalls of the Asian Car Model

One thing that detracts from the attractiveness of these imports is that while the resale value tends to be higher than that of domestic models, refinancing imports is a bit more difficult, especially if you purchase a used car. Banks tend to not want to lend money for a used import and will want you to put down a higher down payment. The higher resale value can also place the purchase of a used import out of reach of some consumers who may want an import. Asian car models also tend to be smaller than domestic cars, which can deter some potential buyers who may need a larger car. While the size of a car has no bearing on its safety, some people do believe that a larger car is safer than a smaller car and will let this belief affect their purchasing decision.

What Should Be the Deciding Factor?

The first thing you should do is consider your needs and your location. If you have a large family or need to transport supplies, stock, or anything of size, you would need a larger car. Some foreign carmakers are beginning to fill the need of the American consumers for larger vehicles. If you live in an area that can have severe winters, you would want a car that receives good ratings in vehicle safety. You will want to find a car with such standard features as antilock brakes, driver and passenger seat airbags, and other safety features. The trunk should be roomy enough to be able to include a winter safety kit for emergencies and other roadside tools and kits. Any car that you purchase should be subjected to a rigorous safety inspection, which you can incorporate into your regular general car maintenance schedule. 

Winter Safety Tips You Should Remember

The slow pace of winter should not be indicative of your attitude toward winter safety for
your car. Although many of these tasks can be done in the comfort of your own garage,
carport, or parking space in front of your house, some of them should be done by a qualified
professional. ASE master technicians will make sure that every system is assessed,
maintained, repaired, and replaced so that you will remain safe on the road and not stranded
on the side of the road waiting for AAA or the tow truck.

The Complete Inspection

If you have not already done so, you can have a bumper-to-bumper inspection done. A
qualified mechanic will inspect your car and all of its systems to check the health statuses of
them. They will connect your car to a computer to access any error codes and the mechanic
can give you a complete explanation of any messages you may have seen light up in the
cabin. If you have the check engine light come on, your mechanic can check the error codes
and decipher the problem. The electrical systems, suspension systems, and heating and
cooling systems will be tested and maintained. The inspection will include your battery,
windshield wipers, headlights, and even turn signals. Your winter safety check will include
most of these services, and you can request additional checks if you feel the need.

Don’t Forget Your Tires and Headlights

Check your tires to make sure they have the right amount of air in them. Many people have
tires with air pressure that is either too high or too low. It is crucial to note that you cannot
tell if you have the proper amount of air just by testing the firmness of the tire. Use an air
pressure gauge to properly measure the air pressure, which you can find at gas stations, auto
parts stores, and general merchandise stores with an automotive section. They are relatively
inexpensive and you can use the gauge to monitor the air pressure so you can determine if
you have a slow leak. Proper tire air pressure will help you drive safely and with better fuel
efficiency. Check your owner’s manual or locate the sticker on the driver’s side doorjam for
the air pressure that is recommended by the manufacturer. If you live in an area that
experiences a lot of snow, you may want to get a set of snow tires. While all-season tires are
supposed to provide good traction in almost any weather condition, car manufacturers are
outfitting the newer cars with low-profile all-weather tires that are wider than previous
models. Unfortunately, low-profile tires are not suitable for driving in snow.

Get Those Winter Safety Kits Packed and Stored

Even the best-laid plans can go awry and sometimes the most well maintained cars are
sidelined because of accidents and other problems that can occur. You should make it a point
to assemble winter safety kits to make your wait on AAA, a tow truck, or a good friend to
come to your aid. Your kit should include blankets, a first aid kit, flashlights with good
batteries, and phone numbers to emergency services, taxis, and doctors. You should also
make sure that your cell phone battery is charged and carry a spare fully charged battery
with you.

Which Engine Oil Should You Use?

Engine oil is so important to the health of a car that it has often been compared to being the
blood and the engine to being the heart. The analogy has some people regarding it as so
important, that they will change their oil every 3,000 miles but only do other maintenance
tasks sparingly. With all of the many different brands, weights, and types of oils on the
market, you may be confused about which oil to pick for your next oil change. Keeping
some simple things in mind may help you make the best decision for your needs.

Engine Oil: What is it Good For?

Engine oil is the product that lubricates your engine and keeps it running. It protects the
engine from rust, gunk, and corrosion. It decreases the heat generated by the moving parts
by forming a protective coating over the moving metal parts to decrease the friction. The
reduction in friction means that less heat is produced. Engine oil has additives in the
mixture, which are chemical agents that serve as detergents to clean the engine. The
molecules of the additives keep the dirt in suspension so it will not settle into the moving
parts. Technology has produced engine oils that do not need to be changed as frequently,
enabling you to save money on car maintenance and repairs.

You Mean There’s More Than One?

The three main types of oil are conventional, synthetic blend, and synthetic. One type of oil
is conventional oil. This type is made from petroleum hydrocarbon, which is crude oil. This
crude oil would be the same oil that is spouting through pipes at oilrigs. This oil is good for
the newer model cars because it is lighter oil. Most newer cars have parts that are too snug
against each other for a thicker oil to penetrate. Therefore, the newer cars benefit the most
from conventional oil. The second type of oil is the synthetic blend oil. This oil is a mixture
of crude oil and lab-created lubricant. These oils are good for performance cars and cars that
are older or have high miles. The third type of oil is the synthetic oil, which is laboratory-
created and is the most expensive oils on the market. Check your owner’s manual to
determine which one you can use in your car. Make sure you understand the viscosity rating,
or weight of the oil. Single viscosity oil has only one number to denote its rating, such as
SAE n. This rating denotes the time in seconds times ten that it takes the oil to flow from
one point to another when it is warm. Multi-viscosity oils have two ratings, represented as
nW n, with the first number representing the flow rate of the oil when it is warm and the
second number represents the flow rate of the oil when it is cold.

Which One to Get?

You should first determine the type of oil that is already in your car and check the owner’s
manual to determine if it is the right one for the winter. Choose low-viscosity oil in the
winter because it will flow easier when it is cold. Consult with your mechanic to determine
which would be the best choice for you.

Winter Safety Includes Safe Headlights, Too

Whether your car is new or old, you need to make sure that your headlights are in proper working order for the winter months. While you tend to your general car maintenance or perform your winter safety inspection, you need to make sure that your headlights are in good condition. It does not matter if you have the newest available automatic headlights with integrated heating and wipers or if you have slightly older ones, proper maintenance and attention to detail will make sure that you will be able to see the road and to be seen by others with whom you share the road. 

Types of Headlights

There are several types of headlights. You should consult your car manual to determine which type you have installed in your car. Incandescent headlights have traditionally been used in American cars. It is equivalent to the light bulbs in your home and is considered primitive compared to the other types that uses more advanced technology. Halogen lights uses a thinner filament than incandescent and the light produced is brighter as a result. Halogen bulbs also last longer because the halogen gas inside helps to extend the life of the filament. Xenon lights are becoming more popular because they burn brighter. It is an expensive bulb, but it outlasts halogen bulbs by up to ten times. There are also specialty headlights such as pencil beams and fog lights. Pencil beams have a long range of illumination, increasing visibility. These lights are also called projection lights. Fog lights are small lights that are mounted low on the front of the car to provide light low to the ground. 

Inspecting, Cleaning, and Maintaining Your Headlights

Headlights are crucial to visibility, your visibility of the road and to the other drivers on the road. You should inspect your lights to make sure that the surfaces are clean and clear. Over time, the lenses can become coated with road salt, dirt, and other debris. The film that is created can produce a dull beam, making it difficult for you to see obstacles in the road or for other drivers to see you. If your headlights do not have wipers on them, you need to wipe off the surfaces to keep them clean. If they have become hazy from the film, you will need to clean them. There are several products on the market that claim to remove haze from headlights. If you are unable to clean them, you may have to replace the entire assembly, which can be expensive and time-consuming. However, if you have older headlights, you can use the opportunity to remove the old lights and upgrade to lights with more advanced technology. Prices of new headlights can vary according to their technology, brand, and other factors. 

Why Are They Important in the Winter?

Maintaining your headlights is important not only to improve visibility, but also they can help you determine the condition of your battery. Normally, if your headlights become dim, it is a sign that your battery is getting low. If they are not working, or illuminate intermittently, then it could be a sign that the assembly has loosened from the vibrations produced while driving. Proper maintenance can also reveal if your lights are properly aligned to provide even lighting. If you take care of your headlights, you can make sure that you will have a bright, illuminated view to get safely from one destination to the next. 

Engine Oil: The Lifeblood of the Automobile

If the engine of your car can be considered the heart, then the engine oil can be considered the lifeblood that flows through the heart. It is one of the most important fluids for your car, especially during the winter months. If you own a vehicle, you should be very acquainted with the oil that goes into it and how to use it to keep your car in good condition. Most people use the rule to change your oil every 3,000 miles, but some types of oil can actually extend the time you need between changes.

Purpose of Oil

Engine oil is the fluid that lubricates the engine by creating a slippery coating on the surfaces that are in contact with each other. This coating keeps the metal parts from creating friction and reduces wear on the engine. As it coats the moving parts, the oil helps to cool off the engine by transferring heat away, a job that is often attributed to coolants. The oil coating also protects the engine from corrosion, dirt, and debris that can clog up the engine and create problems. 

Types of Oil

There are three types of oil on the market: petroleum, synthetic, and blended. Petroleum-based engine oil is made from crude oil that comes from the earth. This crude oil is the same oil that is used in gasoline, fertilizers, pesticides, and plastics. Synthetic oil is made in a laboratory and is best used in older cars with high mileage. Blended oil is oil that is made of both petroleum and synthetic oils. Each of these groups of oils is graded according to its viscosity and purpose. If you live in areas that experience cold winter, you should look for oil that has the letter W in the rating. The grade of multi-grade oil is denoted with a number before the W to denote the viscosity when the weather is cold and a number after the W denotes the viscosity of the oil when the weather is hot. The numbers represent the viscosity, or weight of the oil. Single grade oil is denoted with a number followed by the letter W for winter grades. Your owner’s manual will tell you which oil you should be using. Most of the newer model cars use multi-grade oil and the older cars tend to use a single grade. 

How to Use the Right Type in Winter

Engine oil is very important for the winter months because it will help to keep your car properly lubricated. You should pay close attention to the grade of oil that you get for the winter. You should use the type of oil that is recommended by the car manufacturer. It will be listed in the owner’s manual. If you use multi-grade oil, you will not need to change the weight of the oil because it is already rated for winter use.  If you use a single grade, then you will need to get lighter weight oil so that it will flow easier and quicker to the engine when it is cold. Make sure that the oil is not too thin or it will not provide adequate protection against friction. Excessive friction can cause overheating and the wearing down of the engine parts. If you have any questions or need help with changing your engine oil, you should take your car to ASE master mechanics to make sure that you are getting the right oil in your engine. 

Your ASE Master Technician and You

Now that the winter is approaching, you may be thinking about having some work done to your car before the weather gets too cold. If you are unable to perform your own car repairs or just do not have the time, you have ASE master technicians do the work for you. They provide many services, including performing bumper-to-bumper inspections, windshield wiper replacements, engine repairs, and inspections of electrical, steering and suspension systems. You can work together with your technician to keep your car in good shape. 

What is ASE?

The National Institute for Automobile Service Excellence, or ASE, is a group that provides certification for people who want to work in the automotive repair and service industry. The goal of this group is to make sure that this industry has a qualified workforce that can provide competent, professional service. In order to become certified, you must be able to complete and pass a series of examinations. Each series represent a specific area of expertise in repair and service. For instance, if you wanted to work on transmissions, you would take the examination series that is specific to transmission work. You must also have at least two years of documented work experience. You will not need to attend school or receive formal training, although the formal training would give you an edge in passing the examinations. You would be more familiar with the technical terms that are used. 

What Does That Mean to Me?

Certification is the industry’s way of assuring you that the technician you hired to work on your car is qualified and certified to do a good job. Since technicians are required to re-certify every five years, they must stay abreast of new developments in the industry and be able to assimilate and adapt those changes in their work environment. They will be able to know the latest methods of making repairs, diagnostics, and many other areas. Their recertification can assure you that not only does the technician know the industry, he is also able to keep up with the changing trends and adapt to them. They will be able to relate new terms to you in a manner that will be easy for you to understand. That way, you can better understand your repair bill and why you were charged the price that you were charged.

How Can This Help You?

You can request a bumper-to-bumper inspection if you want, or you can request an inspection of a specific system, such as the electrical system or the cooling system. Your technician will hook your car up to a computer and run a diagnostic program. This will give him some indication of the location of the problem. It can also give him some information about the health of your car so that he can make an assessment if there are any concerns that need immediate attention. You will get a clearer understanding of your car and its parts. The mechanic can also give you some tips on how to prepare your car for the winter. He can recommend engine oils that would benefit your car and let you know what purity of gas you should be using. Your car can have a longer life if you work with your mechanic.