Tag: Car Tips
When You’re About To Default On Your Car Payments
by admin on Jun.02, 2010, under Car Tips
When You’re About To Default On Your Car Payments
Even in a strong economy, millions of people struggle to make their car payments. Of course, the past twelve months have been dismal in the automotive industry. And with the economic environment growing darker each day, more people are losing their jobs and looking at their late-model vehicles as expensive liabilities. If you’re having trouble making timely car payments, you have alternatives. Today, I’ll explain the options available to you.
Working With Your Lender
When people fall behind on their auto loan, they often choose to avoid the lender. That’s a mistake. Not only does the lack of communication frustrate the lender, but it effectively eliminates your chance of working with them. For example, they might be willing to defer your next payment. The lender will want to know the details of your situation, including why you’re falling behind and your current credit score. Be open with them. They can often help you bring your account current.
Refinancing Your Auto Loan
Interest rates have dropped significantly over the past year. Most people think of a decline in interest rates in the context of refinancing their homes. You can just as easily refinance your auto loan. If your credit score is reasonably good, there are plenty of companies that will help you refinance the terms of your loan to lower your monthly payments.
It’s also worth noting that higher interest rates can often have the same effect on the amount you need to pay each month. That’s due to some lenders being willing to stretch the terms of your loan over a longer period of time. It’s more expensive over the long run, but you’ll end up with lower – and perhaps more manageable – monthly payments.
Selling Your Vehicle
You can also sell your car if you’re falling behind. However, this requires some clarification. Even though you drive your vehicle off the dealership lot, you don’t actually own it. The title rests with the dealer. In order to sell your car, you need to transfer the title. The only way to do that is by paying off your current auto loan.
Sometimes, given your situation, the value of your car will exceed the amount you owe. If that’s the case, it’s a simple transaction; sell the vehicle to the new buyer and use the money to pay the lender. The title can then be transferred to the buyer. On the other hand, if your vehicle’s value is below the amount you owe the lender, selling it leaves a deficit. You’ll need to make up the difference before the title can be transferred to the buyer.
You’ll notice the option that I’ve neglected to mention is allowing your vehicle to be repossessed. That is always a mistake. It will damage your credit and impact your ability to get an auto loan with a competitive rate in the future. Remember, you have plenty of options if you’re falling behind on your car payments. The key is taking action to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
Related posts
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.
Related posts
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.