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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today slapped Takata with a $14,000-per-day fine for failing to "fully cooperate" with the agency's investigation into exploding airbag inflators made by the supplier that have been linked to at least six deaths. #oilchange #pennysaver #coupons #localsaver #wralnews

Great winter safety tips

9 Steps For a Winter Ready Car

The last thing any driver needs is to break down in cold, harsh winter weather. A vehicle check now before winter arrives is a sensible way to be car care aware and avoid the inconvenience of being stranded out in the cold and with the unexpected expense of emergency repairs, says the Car Care Council. 

“Winterizing your vehicle before the temperatures drop is a wise idea,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “An investment of an hour or two to have your vehicle checked is all it takes to have peace of mind and help avoid the cost and hassle of car trouble during severe weather.”

The Car Care Council recommends the following steps for winterizing your vehicle:

• If you’re due for a tune-up, have it done before winter sets in. Winter magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling. 

• Have the battery and charging system checked for optimum performance. Cold weather is hard on batteries. 

• Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a general rule of thumb, this should be done every two years. 

• Make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work properly. Consider winter wiper blades and use cold weather washer fluid. As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every six months.

• Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly.

• Have the brakes checked. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item.

• Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed. 

• Check to see that exterior and interior lights work and headlights are properly aimed. 

• Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. Dirty oil can spell trouble in winter. Consider changing to “winter weight” oil if you live in a cold climate. Have your technician check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time. 

Motorists should also keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Drivers should check the tire pressure of the spare in the trunk and stock an emergency kit with an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blanket, extra clothes, candles/matches, bottled water, dry food snacks and needed medication. 

Roadside Safety Kits

Roadside Safety Kits

Be prepared for an emergency on the road. Only 34% of people carry a roadside safety kit in their vehicle. You never know when something is going to go wrong while you are driving. Unfortunately, accidents happen and cars do sometimes break down. That is why it pays to be prepared and always carry a roadside safety kit in your vehicle. Whether it's a flat tire, a break down, an accident or coming to the aid of another stranded motorist, you'll be glad you made the investment.

Auto safety kits come in different shapes and sizes. They are usually available at your local auto parts store and most are very affordable. The kit you see here has an air compressor powered by your lighter socket. It also contains a flashlight with a signal flasher, jumper cables, triangular hazard warning reflectors and a first aid kit.

For flat tires, it has a lug nut wrench and various size sockets. It even comes with a small collapsible shovel to help you dig out if you get stuck. Other common sense items that should be included in the kit are:

Windshield washer fluid

chocolate (important if you are diabetic)

water

blanket

call police sign

Old cell phone (can still dial 911 even if it isn’t hooked up to a service.) Don’t forget the charger though!

Here’s another tip, if you are broken down on the side of the road you should sit in the passenger seat! It gives the appearance to a potential “bad” person that someone has gone to get help for you. You might also want to put your cell phone up to your ear so it looks like you are talking to someone.

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Basic Car Maintenance Tips to Keep You on the Road

Get a tuneup. A poorly tuned engine can reduce fuel efficiency. To ensure your vehicle’s peak performance, get a tuneup once a year. A basic tuneup can involve the replacement of spark plugs, inspection of spark plug wires, distributor cap, distributor rotor and air filter as well as inspection of the distributor’s dwell and timing. It also provides an opportunity to check out your vehicle’s systems, such as brakes and fluid levels.

To Idle or Not to Idle, That is the Question

It is that time of the year when many motorists let their vehicle “warm up” or idle before driving. In fact, today’s modern cars are ready to drive in cold temperatures without excessive idling, says the Mobile Lube Guys Council.

“Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today’s vehicles,” said Rich White, executive director, Mobile Lube Guys Council. “In most cases, idling longer than 30 seconds is unnecessary. The best way to warm up your car’s engine is to drive gently at the start. Remember, a vehicle gets zero miles per gallon when idling and the result is lower fuel economy and wasted money.”

The idea of idling before driving dates back to when cars were built with carburetors. With new fuel-injection technology, complex computer systems and thinner synthetic oils, drivers don’t need to warm up their cars before hitting the road.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “When a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it has several negative effects, such as increasing air pollution unnecessarily, wasting fuel and money, and causing excessive wear or even damaging a car’s engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and the exhaust system. Contrary to popular belief, idling isn’t an effective way to warm up most car engines.”