April 2015 – Affordable Auto Service

The Top 5 Car Safety Features

Although in-car connectivity seems all the rage today, safety features shouldn’t take a backseat during the car buying experience. That said, many prospective car owners don’t know what type of car safety features they should be looking for in a car. With that in mind, here are five of the best safety features you should consider looking for in your next vehicle.

1. Adaptive Cruise Control –Â Adaptive cruise control is perfect for the driver who doesn’t like to hit the breaks once he or she has the cruise control set. Sometimes you’re cruising along and hope the driver in the left lane will move over before you get close and have to hit the breaks. With adaptive cruise control, the vehicle uses sensors and radar to ensure your vehicle maintains a safe distance from the car in front of you while on cruise control. If the car ahead of you slows, your car will too, without the need to hit the brakes.

2. Backup Camera –Â Backup cameras are becoming much more popular in newer model cars. These cameras help drivers see exactly what’s behind them. This is a great technology for anyone in a busy neighborhood, or for someone who does a lot of parallel parking.

3. Auto Braking – You might not like the idea that your car could brake on its own, but just like car insurance, if you need it, you’ll be glad you have it. Just like adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking uses sensors to detect your speed and objects ahead of you. Although it may not prevent a crash, slowing your car down prior to impact can be the difference between walking and limping away.

4. Smart Headlights –Â Â Adaptive headlights actually shift the light’s direction as you turn the steering wheel. For example, as you go around a curve, normal headlights continue to point straight ahead, which doesn’t illuminate the full picture of what’s ahead. Adaptive headlights shift so that the driver can see more of what’s in front of them when they go around a turn. Cars with adaptive headlights get in fewer accidents compared to the average car, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute.

5.Â Blindspot Monitors –Â Sideview assist monitors help sense when someone is in your blindspot. These sensors help ensure that it’s safe to change lanes. If you put your blinker on while someone is in your blind spot, the car will beep to let you know that it’s not safe to merge.

Related source: USAA

My Car Is Making a Weird Noise. What is it?

If your car is making a funny noise, you’re probably wondering if the problem is serious. Although diagnosing a car problem by noise is no perfect science, there are some sounds that can give you a pretty good idea of what is wrong. Here are some common car sounds and what they might signal.

1. Screeching or “Whining” – If your car is screeching or it sounds like it’s “whining,” you might have a problem with your brakes. If you car makes this sound while braking, your brake pads and rotors are likely worn. You’re going to want to get into an auto shop quick to ensure you’re not a hazard on the road.

2. Clicking or Tapping – If you hear a clicking noise, odds are it’s coming from under the hood. If the clicking sound becomes faster while you accelerate, you could have a tappet issue, which can cause problems with your internal combustion system. If it’s not a tappet problem, the clicking sound could be indicative of low oil pressure. Check your oil to ensure you haven’t sprung an unwanted leak.

3. Knocking – Not that any of these sounds are great, but a knocking sound could signal a major problem. Engine knocking typically means that your combustion system isn’t working correctly. The knocking sound occurs when the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the stroke cycle. Continuing to drive with a knocking engine could cause the engine to fail.

4. Squealing – Â Unless you’re peeling out of a parking lot, a squealing sound can be indicative of a loose fan belt or a loose air conditioning compressor belt. Depending on the severity, the belt can be tightened, or if it’s damaged it may need to be replaced.

5. Rattling – A rattling sound when you hit the gas could mean that your cam shaft is misaligned. Unless you have an extensive knowledge of your car’s cam shaft, it’s definitely work bringing in to a shop, otherwise you could end up doing more harm than good.

In the end, this guide is here to provide some possible answers to the question “Why is my car making a weird noise?” That said, because each car is unique, you’re going to need to contact a mechanic to get a full diagnosis. If your car is making an odd noise, swing on in to Affordable Auto or click here to request a free quote!

4 Tips for Protecting Your Carâ€™s Windshield

In a perfect world that 18-wheeler wouldn’t have sprayed up that rock and cracked your windshield, but sometimes windshield damage is unavoidable. Fluke cracks aside, there are some steps you can take help extend the life of your windshield and protect it against damaging chips and cracks. Below, we explain four tips for protecting your car’s windshield.

1. Avoid the Sun – When you’re on a beach, sun is a top priority, but you’ll want to avoid extended exposure for your car’s windshield. The longer you leave your car parked in the direct sunlight, the shorter the lifespan on your windshield. Tiny cracks can expand when there’s a considerable temperature difference on each side of the widow. Try to find a shady spot to park when leaving your car for an extended period of time.

2. Don’t Slam Doors – Slamming your car door can cause intense vibrations which can lead to the expansion of tiny cracks. If you have a noticeable chip in your windshield, use caution when closing your door, or you may cause the crack to spiderweb.

3. Smart Parking – We mentioned above that you want to avoid parking in the direct sunlight for days on end, but you also don’t want to park under a large tree if you know a storm is coming. Be smart about where you park. Avoid parking under trees when bad weather is expected, and don’t park too close to that Little League diamond when games are being played!

4. Know How to Clean Your Windshield – During the summer, you’ll want to avoid ammonia-based glass cleaners, as they can damage you car’s window tint. As for the winter, steer clear of pouring hot water on your windshield, and only use appropriate window scrapers!

Windshield repair is one of our specialties at Affordable Auto. Whether it’s windshield repair or replacement, we can help get your car back on the road in no time! Contact us for a free quote today!

How To Change Your Carâ€™s Headlight

If you’re like most Americans, you’ve had to deal with a a burnt out headlight on your vehicle at one point or another. Unlike some other car issues, changing a dead bulb is a relatively quick and easy fix. Below, we walk you through the general steps to replace your car’s headlight.

Step 1 – Open your car’s hood. This is the first step in determining which bulb is burnt out.

Step 2 – Locate the back of the headlight and determine which tools you’ll need to get in the headlight compartment. Grab a screwdriver or other tool as necessary.

Step 3 – Determine which bulb needs to be replaced. All makes and models are different, but you’ll want to make sure you purchase the right type of bulb, be it headlight or fog light bulb.

Step 4 – Obtain a new bulb. Your local auto center can help you find the right bulb, and it’s typically listed in your owner’s manual. Don’t drive to the shop at night though, as you can be pulled over!

Step 5 – Follow your owner’s manual on specific instructions to replace your bulb. As oxymoronic as it may seem to write a list of steps in which the last step tells you to read your owner’s manual, every car model is so different that it’s not as straightforward as changing your oil or jumping your car. Generally speaking, your headlight probably snaps or pops into the circuit, so look at your owner’s manual to determine how to remove the dead bulb. Once you remove the dead bulb, attach the new bulb while doing your best to avoid touching the halogen bulb with your fingers. Once installed, lock the bulb back in it’s original position.

Helpful Videos

Reading directions is one thing, but watching someone else preform the task can help visual learners better understand the steps. Again, you’ll want to look up instructions for your specific vehicle, but here are a few links to help find Youtube videos for replacing headlights on certain car brands.

General Car Bulb Replacement

Toyota Corolla

Honda Accord

Ford 150 and Expedition

Again, if you’re going to preform a headlight replacement on your own, please reference your owner’s manual, and if you’re interested in watching a video, search forÂ your specific make and model on Youtube. If you don’t want to preform this service on your own, we’ll be happy to do it for you!

April Brings Us National Car Care Month

Despite posting this on April 1, we can assure you we’re not fooling you when we say that April is National Car Care Month.

Taking care of your car is a yearlong task, from regular scheduled maintenance to DIY repairs, so why is there an extra emphasis on car care in April? Well, for starters, many people put off certain repairs during the cold winter months, especially if they want to preform the service on their own. Another reason why car care is especially important in the spring is because the weather provides drivers with numerous hazards. The roads are typically free of snow in April, but that can lead drivers to put the pedal to the metal and drive faster. Additionally, spring is typically a rainy season, meaning drivers are faced with slick roads and decreased visibility when it rains.

Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council, said lower gas prices mean drivers have more money to spend on repairs and spring travel.

â€œWith gas prices this low, motorists have a few more dollars in their pockets to spend on essentials, like vehicle service and repair, making National Car Care Month the perfect time to reach out to current customers and potential new ones,â€ saidÂ White.

Car Repairs To Consider This Spring

As we mentioned above, spring is typically a wet season which can prove problematic for drivers. Here are a few tuneups you should consider during Car Care Month.

Brakes – Make sure your brake pads and rotors are in working order, as the slick conditions will increase stopping times.

Windshield Wipers – This DIY repair is pretty quick and easy, but neglecting your wipers can put you and other drivers in danger during a spring storm.

Tires – Tires can get worn down during the winter months, and the upcoming pothole season can also do damage to your tires. If yourÂ tire tread is worn, swing on in to have them replaced.

If you have any other troubles in need of service, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Related source: CarCare.org