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The Keys To A Front Wheel Alignment

by admin on Jan.27, 2010, under Car Maintenance, Car Tips

The Keys To A Front Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignments are one of many maintenance items that drivers overlook or completely ignore. Unlike an engine that overheats or a transmission that suddenly whines, alignment problems are nearly imperceptible when they originally form. Plus, they build gradually over time, making them difficult to identify. Eventually, you discover that your front-end is so poorly aligned that your car can make a right turn on its own when you release the steering wheel.

Fortunately, the problem is simple for a mechanic to resolve. It’s usually a matter of adjusting the caster, camber, and toe. In this article, I’ll explain the respective roles played by each in the proper alignment of your vehicle.

The Role Of Caster

Caster affects the directional movement (and thus, handling) of your car. It is defined as the forward or backward tilt of the steering axis when viewed from the side. If the axis tilts forward, the measurement is positive. If it tilts backward, it is negative.

Caster is influenced by the height of your vehicle. That means lowering or raising your car will affect it. Automakers typically set caster between +2 and +5. If it is not positive enough, the steering response will be highly sensitive. What’s more, uneven caster between the two front wheels will result in pulling toward the side with the lesser amount. It’s worth noting that such problems rarely impact tread wear.

The Role Of Camber

Camber reflects the tilt of your wheels when viewed from the front or the back. If the top of the wheel tilts outward, the camber is said to be positive. If it tilts inward toward the center of your vehicle, it is said to be negative. The measurement is defined by the tilt off each wheel’s vertical axis.

Automakers usually set the camber between 0 and -2. If it is too positive, you’ll notice tread wear on the outside of your tire. If it is too negative, you’ll see tread wear on the inside. Both can cause excess wear and tear on your car’s suspension.

Toe In And Toe Out

Toe reflects how much the front of your wheels are turned inward or outward when viewed from above. If they are turned inward, toe is said to be positive (or, toe-in exists). If they are turned outward, it is negative (i.e. toe-out). The former leads to an understeer while the latter causes an oversteer.

Automakers normally set the toe near zero, which means the tires point forward. Any other setting will usually cause excess tread wear and lower gas mileage.

There are additional factors that influence the alignment of your vehicle’s wheels, such as the track, wheelbase, and ride height. However, these factors are related to the design of your car and are rarely adjusted. If you suspect your car’s caster, camber, or toe is off, have an experienced mechanic perform a complete front-end alignment.

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A Refresher Course On Changing Your Car's Oil

by admin on Jun.01, 2009, under Car Maintenance

A Refresher Course On Changing Your Car’s Oil

Drivers who were born prior to 1980 may remember when they had to have their car’s oil changed every 3,000 miles. That is the mileage marker most automakers used as a general recommendation regardless of the type of driving motorists subjected their vehicles to. Today, the 3,000-mile marker is rarely necessary. Engines are built more durable and the technology behind the lubricants has improved dramatically. In extreme cases, it might make sense (I’ll describe what “extreme” means in a moment), but most drivers can wait until 5,000, 7,500, and even 10,000 miles.

Having said that, it’s worth revisiting the frequency with which you change your vehicle’s oil. Below, I’ll describe driving conditions in which frequent changes may be necessary. We’ll also take a brief look at new technology which is eliminating the need to check the dipstick.

Consider Your Driving Conditions

A lot of automakers are recommending that drivers can wait up to 10,000 miles before having their car’s oil changed. However, if you look closely at the print, you may notice that the recommendation is for motorists who meet certain driving standards. Most of us don’t meet those standards. We push our vehicles in circumstances that might be considered harsh.

For example, many drivers cope with stop and go traffic when they leave the office and head home. Others use their cars to drive short distances on a regular basis. Still other motorists drive their vehicles at freeway speeds for long periods of time. Any of these circumstances are less than ideal and can put your engine at risk if it doesn’t receive proper lubrication. The problem is that most of us drive this way. If your owner’s manual recommends an oil change every 10,000 miles, check to see whether it mentions specific conditions.

Your Vehicle’s Computer Knows

More vehicles are being designed today with sensors that can detect when a lubricant change is necessary. In fact, many owners manuals will not suggest a recommended mileage marker at all. Instead, a car’s computer will keep track of the number of miles you’ve driven, the temperature of the antifreeze or coolant, and other factors. Then, it makes an estimation of the lubricant’s life. If it needs to be changed, the computer triggers a light on your dashboard.

What Happens When You Don’t Change It?

Over time, the oil that lubricates your engine accumulates moisture, dirt, and even metal particles. The filter should catch most of the debris before it reaches your engine, but there’s another potential problem: the longer you drive with it, the more depleted it becomes of important additives. Once those additives are depleted past a certain point, it loses its ability to lubricate your vehicle’s engine. When that happens, your engine can overheat.

The oil which protects your engine must be changed periodically. Check your owner’s manual and follow its recommendations based on your normal driving conditions.

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Can Your Auto Loan Provider Turn Off Your Engine?

by admin on May.06, 2009, under Car Tips, Cars

Can Your Auto Loan Provider Turn Off Your Engine?

Over the next few years, people who are thinking about purchasing a new vehicle may be in for a surprise. Many auto dealerships are outfitting new and used cars with devices which can deactivate the engine remotely. The reason: to make repossessions easier.

As more people lose their jobs, they’re forced to prioritize their bills. Some bills have to wait while others are put on top of the stack. Dealers and lenders want to ensure that their customers make their payments on time. The shut-down units that are installed into automobiles provide the motivation.

In this article, I’ll explain how these devices work and describe a few of the issues involved with their use. We’ll also take a closer look at how they can benefit customers, dealers, and lenders.

Safety And Other Issues

The shut-off component is installed onto a vehicle’s powertrain. Through telematics, a dealership or lender can remotely turn the engine off if the driver has failed to send in his or her payments. Currently, dealers are triggering the device only after a payment is several days late. Before the engine is deactivated, an indicator light will normally display on the vehicle’s dashboard. Some companies will allow the deadline to pass in order to give the motorist time to send a payment.

Drivers are understandably concerned that the shut-down device can be dangerous, especially if their engine is turned off while they’re driving at high speeds. Most dealers will only trigger the unit once the engine has been manually turned off or while the car is at idling speed.

Protecting Customers, Dealerships, And Lenders

The component was initially introduced for subprime borrowers. Car dealerships and lenders consider such borrowers (those with “B” credit ratings) to present more risk. In the past, they offset the increased risk by applying a higher interest rate to auto loans. The shut-off units offer an alternative.

By installing them on a car’s powertrain, dealers and lenders assume less risk. First, motorists are motivated to make their payments on time in order to avoid having their driving privileges interrupted. Second, the car can be retrieved more easily if payments are not forthcoming. As a result, subprime borrowers can enjoy a lower interest rate when buying a vehicle.

Full Disclosure

It’s important to note that the shut-down devices are not hidden from prospective buyers. In effect, they know the vehicles have been equipped with them. Dealerships will usually disclose the unit’s presence on forms that require the buyer’s signature.

Even though the components were originally meant for the subprime car buyer market, it is likely that more dealers will outfit their vehicles with them over the next few years. In fact, a growing number of credit unions and banks are requesting the device’s installation before providing an auto loan. When the time comes to purchase a new car, the component may not be an option.

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