Do You Need to Have Your Brakes Inspected?

When it comes to your brakes, many people “set it and forget it,” never checking up on their brakes until there’s something obviously wrong. However, Your brakes are a key part of your car, and are a huge part of ensuring that you can drive safely. Before you get behind the wheel again, make sure you know the signs of potential brake problems. Here are some helpful tips from CarCare.org:

“When it comes to vehicle safety, the brake system is at the top of the list, so have your brakes checked by an auto service professional at least once a year,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Knowing the key warning signs that your brakes may need maintenance will go a long way toward keeping you and others safe on the road.”

The Car Care Council recommends that motorists watch for seven signs that their brakes need to be inspected:

1. Noise: screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes.
2. Pulling: vehicle pulls to one side while braking.
3. Low Pedal:brake pedal nearly touches the floor before engaging.
4. Hard Pedal: must apply extreme pressure to the pedal before brakes engage.
5. Grabbing: brakes grab at the slightest touch to the pedal.
6. Vibration: brake pedal vibrates or pulses, even under normal braking conditions.
7. Light: brake light is illuminated on your vehicle’s dashboard.

Brakes are a normal wear item on any vehicle and they will eventually need to be replaced. Factors that can affect brake wear include driving habits, operating conditions, vehicle type and the quality of the brake lining material.”

Read the whole article here at CarCare.org: http://www.carcare.org/2014/08/seven-signs-your-brakes-need-to-be-inspected/

Drive Safe in Work Zones This Summer

Summer road trips are a great time to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy time with friends and family. Of course, every road trip can get bogged down by the inevitable: Summer construction. It’s so common that in many places, there’s an old joke: “My city only has two seasons, winter and construction!”

Not only does construction slow you down, it can also be extremely costly. In many places, traffic violations in a construction area come with a heftier fine. And with so many people and machines so close to the roadway, it’s extra-important to drive safely. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe around construction this summer from Drivers-Test.org:

“1 Look for the orange diamonds. Several of these signs will be placed along side the roadway well before the actual construction zone to warn drivers. As soon as you see a “work zone ahead” sign, reduce your speed and be on the lookout for workers, machinery, and obstacles.

2 Double fines are put in place in most work zones as an incentive for drivers to reduce their speed and follow all traffic regulations. If you are issued a traffic citation within a work zone that has a double fine warning posted, the cost of your ticket will be multiplied by two. Ouch!

3 On many U.S. interstate highways, the speed limit in construction zones while workers are not present is 55 miles per hour. It may be considerably lower during times when people are on and around the road.

4 Orange cones and barrels are used to direct the flow of traffic in work zones. Do not steer into or run over these objects. You will be responsible for any damage to your vehicle if you make contact with construction cones or barrels.

5 Flaggers are often used to stop and direct traffic in work zones. Their instructions supersede any posted or implied traffic signals. Their presence will be announced by orange construction signs that say “flagger ahead.” Keep an eye out for flaggers in all construction zones and keep your vehicle as far away from their bodies as possible.”

Get more tips for summer construction safety at Drivers-Test.org: http://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/construction-zones-how-to-stay-safe/

3 Bad Habits That Prematurely Age Your Car

Whether you just got a new car or you want to extend the life of your existing ride, it’s important to make sure you do all you can to extend the life of your car. In many cases, you can prematurely age your car by hanging onto your bad habits. To keep your car looking and running its best, try to break these bad habits, which according to AOL Autos can seriously age your car and even reduce its performance:

“Warming car up or otherwise leaving it idling.

Today's engines have enough lubrication that they don't need to be warmed up. Maybe like me, however, you like the seats and interior a bit toasty before you take off in the morning. That's fine, but keep it to a minimum, as in just a couple of minutes. Engines aren't designed to sit idling for long periods of time. Keep it idling too long and a buildup can develop on your spark plugs, which can make them less efficient, which wastes gas.

Driving too fast.

It can do far more than get you ticketed, injured or killed. Driving too far over the speed limit forces you to brake hard, fast and abruptly, which takes a toll on your tires' tread, says McKinney Tire Pros on the tire dealer's blog. Few things wear your tires out faster. Allow extra distance between your car and the car in front so you don't have to brake – especially hard – just because the guy in front did so, perhaps unnecessarily. And teach yourself to scan the road far ahead so you can react with plenty of time in an emergency.

Riding the brake or clutch.

Perhaps years of $3-a-gallon gas taught you to drive more responsibly. Hopefully there aren't too many of you left out there, but for any two-footed drivers of automatic transmission vehicles, it really is time to stop doing that. We can all tell who you are by the frequent flickering of your brake lights when we ride behind you. And along with driving us crazy, you're wearing your brakes down for no good reason. You may not be making us nuts with this other habit, but the same can be said of clutch-riding if you're one of those manual transmission drivers who keeps your foot practically on the clutch while driving. You'll wear that down too, which can require complicated (read: costly) fixes. If you're guilty of either of these near-sins, try this: Plant your left foot on what's known as the "dead pedal," to the left of the brake or clutch. Doing so will brace you during sharp turns and keep you from riding the brake or clutch.”

Learn more about car maintenance and get two more tips for keeping your car in tiptop shape over at AOL Autos: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/12/five-ways-you-may-be-prematurely-aging-your-car/

6 Car Warning Signs You Can Smell

In many cases, your car will alert you when something’s wrong. You have lights on your dash for nearly everything nowadays, from alerts for oil changes to the dreaded “check engine” light. However, some warning signs that you car may need maintenance don’t come from your eyes - they come from your nose!

According to this infographic, many different smells can mean that something is wrong with your car. For example, if you smell gasoline while driving, it could mean that there’s a gas leak in your engine, and you should stop driving to investigate. As they explain, “Any smell of fuel is a possible fire hazard, so immediate attention should be given.”

Other smells that may alert you to a problem in your car are simple syrup, rotten eggs, burning carpet, and more. You can investigate the entire infographic to learn what each smell could be telling you about your car. View the entire thing here: http://www.carcare.org/2013/10/car-smells-infographic/