What to do if your brakes fail

What to do if your brakes fail

• Shift into a lower gear, release the clutch pedal (for manual transmissions) and apply the emergency brake.
• If your automobile has an automatic transmission, apply the emergency brake and move the gear lever into the low range position.
• Be Advised: This action can potentially cause damage to the emergency brake and to the transmission, but under the circumstances of brake failure, there is no better choice.

If your brakes become wet, you can dry them by:

• Drive the vehicle a short distance
• Apply light pressure to the brake pedal.
• The heat generated by the friction of the brakes against the brake drum will evaporate the water from the brake linings.
• To prevent excessive wear on brakes when moving down a long hill or steep grade, use a lower gear instead of the brake pedal to control speed. Shift to the lower gear at the top of the hill, before you descend.

What to do during a tire blowout

What to do during a tire blowout

• The goal in any rapid loss of tire pressure or "blowout" is to keep the vehicle balanced and controllable. Do not panic. Any over-reaction by the driver -- including slamming on the brakes or abruptly removing your foot from the accelerator -- can result in a loss of vehicle control.
• In any blowout situation, it's most important to first remember the 2 things you should NOT do:
• Do not step on the brake. As instinctive as it may be, it's the worst mistake you can make in any tire blowout situation. Applying the brakes will cause an even greater imbalance on the vehicle's stability.
• Do not abruptly release your foot from the accelerator. This is the second worst mistake you can make. Rapidly releasing the accelerator causes the vehicle to transfer more of its weight from the rear tires to the front tires. With a flat tire, this can lead to loss of control of the vehicle.
• Instead, in any blowout situation, you should follow these 3 steps:
• Gradually release the accelerator .
• Correct the steering as necessary to stabilize your vehicle and regain control. Look where you want the vehicle to go and steer in that direction.
• Once your vehicle has stabilized, continue to slow down and pull off the road where and when you judge it's safe to do so.
• Remember, no matter which tire blows out -- front or back -- the do's and don'ts for safely maintaining control of your vehicle are exactly the same. The only difference between a front and rear tire blowout is that you will feel the force of a front blowout more in the vehicle's steering, while you'll feel a rear blowout more in the seat or body of the vehicle.

Choosing a Car Color

Choosing a Car Color

It’s never an easy decision to make. When purchasing a new car, the car color is something you will very likely have to live with for at least several years. As such, it is important to choose a color that appeals to you. But the color of your car will affect your car experience in a number of different ways that you should consider. Here are a few points to think about:

Yellow, Red, Orange
Colors such as red and yellow will attract attention, including the attention of traffic cops. Bright red, orange and yellow are more visible on the road and don’t blend in as well as grey cars. Be wary of speeding or taking liberties with cars these colors.

Black
On the right car, black can look elegant and stylish. I knew a girl in New York who worked for Vogue magazine, and she told me that everyone in the office wore black to work everyday. Black always seems to be in style. The major downside with black as a car color though is the way it shows dust. Black cars are magnets for dirt. Be prepared to wash you car more frequently with black. In addition, black tends to absorbs heat, so your interior temperature will run higher than a white car.

Grey, Champagne, and Sand
Conversely, these colors will do a remarkable job of hiding dust and dirt. If you are lazy and wash your car infrequently, a grey car may be exactly what you need. The only problem is that grey is the most popular car color so it might make your vehicle look bland.

Certain vehicles look great in certain colors. For example, the mini-cooper looks fabulous in British racing green. Every car wears colors a little differently, the same way different people wear colors differently. When choosing your car color keep the practical issues in mind as well as the aesthetic ones.

10 Ways to Reduce Your Fuel Costs, NOW!

10 Ways to Reduce Your Fuel Costs, NOW!

Here are ways to reduce your fuel costs in your vehicle.

Purchase Fuel Wisely - Save up to 20%

1. Use the Right Grade of Gasoline / Don't Top Off: Most cars run fine on regular. Check your vehicle owner's manual to find out what's right for your car. (See regular vs. premium.) Don't "top off" at the pump and make sure your fuel fill cap is on tight and working right. Regular grade fuel cost about 20-cents per gallon less than premium grade.


2. Look for the Best Price / Limit Purchases When Prices are High: Today's gasolines provide very similar engine performance (although some brands have different gasoline blends that provide other benefits), so choose stations in your area with the lowest prices. Fuel prices can vary 10% within a few blocks. Avoid filling the tank during high-price periods.

Alter Travel Practices - Save up to 30%

3. Use Carpooling / Public Transit / Non-Motorized Options: Ride the bus, carpool, bicycle or walk instead of driving alone. Sharing a ride to work with a friend or two effectively doubles your fuel economy for the trip and may allow you to use the diamond lane.


4. Take Advantage of Telecommuting / Telecommunications Technology: Many employers offer telecommuting as an option. Use the computer and telephone to replace vehicle trips for business, shopping and services when possible.

Drive More Efficiently - Save up to 20%

5. Don't Drive Aggressively / Drive at the Speed Limit: Avoid aggressive driving and aggressive starts. All vehicles lose fuel economy at speeds above 55 mph. Driving 65 instead of 75 mph reduces fuel cost 13%. Driving 55 would save 25%.


6. Reduce Air Conditioner Use / Close Windows: Using the air conditioner increases fuel cost from 13% up to 21%. If it's cool enough, use the flow-through ventilation instead of rolling down the windows or using the AC.


7. Eliminate Extra Wind Resistance and Weight: Using a loaded roof rack increases fuel consumption. Carry the load inside your vehicle if you can. Removing unnecessary weight is better still.


8. Minimize Vehicle Idling: Today's vehicles are designed to warm up fast. Avoid idling when you can; idling is 0 miles per gallon.

Improve the Efficiency of the Vehicle You Drive - save up to 50%

9. Maintain Vehicle Efficiency: Regular maintenance as prescribed by the vehicle owner's manual will help your vehicle achieve its best fuel economy. Some overlooked maintenance items, such as a dirty air filter and under-inflated tires, can increase your fuel cost up to 13%. When replacing your tires, replace them with the same make and model as the tires that were on your vehicle when it was new. It's been estimated that if all Californians properly inflated and aligned their tires, we'd save 300 million gallons of gasoline a year!


10. Drive or Purchase a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle: Drive your most fuel-efficient vehicle whenever possible. When purchasing, consider the most fuel efficient vehicle and save up to 50%. Consider a hybrid-electric, a diesel vehicle, or even a motorcycle. The next best option is to purchase the most fuel efficient vehicle within the class of vehicles you are considering.