JUMP START If your car battery is dead and someone is willing to give you a jump start, attach the red positive cable clamp to the positive (+) battery terminal of the dead battery. Then, secure the red positive cable clamp on the other side of the jumper cables to the functioning vehicles’ positive (+)
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING Texting and talking on cell phones distracts drivers from anticipating potential problems ahead. It is important to take a look down the road in order to chart safe paths around potentially troublesome events. Once such a problem is spotted, it is often just a matter of taking corrective measures to avoid crashes
AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEMS Automatic Braking Systems – We are entering a new era in vehicle safety. Car manufacturers are focusing, on preventing crashes, not just protecting occupants from car crashes that have already occurred. While the federal government has yet to mandate that automatic braking systems be installed in all new vehicles, several auto manufacturers
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) One of the most important safety features in modern vehicles is “electronic stability control” (ESC). This life-saving technology utilizes sensors and microprocessors to monitor a vehicle’s direction, which is compared to the input from the steering wheel. If the system senses the driver is losing control during a skid, it will
Vehicle Safety Recalls Recall surge After a recent surge in vehicle safety recalls (largely caused by exploding airbags and faulty ignition switches), more than 50 million vehicles have been affected. The good news is that vehicle safety recalls fix problems recognized by the manufacturer with no cost to consumers. The bad news is that the
USED VEHICLE HISTORY When purchasing a used vehicle, it’s important to look for clues that the automobile may have been in a crash, because vehicles with accidents in their histories are generally worth less than more “original” examples. Signs With this in mind, visually inspecting the vehicle for any variations in paint gloss, color, and
PORTABLE CAR BATTERY JUMP STARTERS While a set of jump-starter cables can get a vehicle with a dead battery back on the road headed to a service station, it is necessary to flag down a car with a good battery and a willing driver to get the job done. Problems However, car-product manufacturers have recently
Rear Seat Safety Rear Seat Study: According to a recent study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, front-seat seat-belt use stands at 87 percent while rear seat use by passengers age 8 years and older lags behind at 78 percent. Misperception: Perhaps this discrepancy can be explained by many people’s misperception that the rear seat
Brake Fluid Facts Brake Fluid Maintenance Along with maintaining proper brake fluid levels to avoid brake fade (slow braking response), it is important to flush the braking system to preserve its overall health. The fact is that conventional glycol-based brake fluid is “hygroscopic,” meaning that it absorbs moisture over time. This is important in order
Appealing Features Survey Results Each year, a study conducted by the J.D. Power marketing firm examines how gratifying a vehicle is to buy and own. This year, the 2015 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study once again asked owners to evaluate 77 aspects of their automobiles, which combine into an overall APEAL Index
