How to Buy The Right Electric Car Charger?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/10 in Hybrid/Electric with Comments Off on How to Buy The Right Electric Car Charger?

It goes without saying that the obvious feature of a recharge is to suffuse the battery with charge when it has been drained and can no longer be used to power up an electric car. It is only natural and more sensible to install a system at your home that lets you recharge your electric car using 240 Volts as that is likely to make it more affordable. Essentially, when we buy any car that is electric, it can give you an impressive drive of 80 miles before the battery gets exhausted and this battery can be recharged in about 4 hours’ time.

The Electric vehicle service equipment as it is popularly known can be installed easily in your home. This charger is essentially a medium sized box that is required to be mounted onto the wall. It also boasts of a chord and a plug that enables the charging of the electric car batteries. Buying a car charger or an EVSE as it is popularly known can be a fairly expensive affair and therefore, it is important that you make the right decision as it is easily considered as an investment. Given below are some important tips that will guide you in the process of purchasing the right car battery charger.

Measure the length of the chord or the cable:

Ideally, the length of the chord that connects the charger and the electric car should be a minimum of 15 feet and can be a maximum of 25 feet. Under any usual circumstance, when we buy any car, it is a common practice to have it parked in the garage. Therefore, from the nearest power source available in your home where the charger box will be mounted, the length of the charging chord should be enough to travel all the way till the garage and into the charging socket. This may sound like a no brainer, but there are quite a few people who tend to purchase their car battery charger only to realize that the chord is not long enough to reach the car in the first place.

Refrain from buying fancy chargers:

As a rule of thumb, your car battery must fulfil one but the most important feature of charging the car battery effectively. Usually, you are likely to come across extremely fancy features that may sound incredibly stunning to you, thus tempting you to purchase them at the blink of an eye. You must refrain from getting lured into this. While there is nothing wrong in purchasing a charger that possess Bluetooth features or WiFi, you must realize that these chargers are likely to burn a hole in your pocket and if these features do happen to get damaged, then you may have to go the extra mile to get it repaired. Instead, use your smartphone or tablet that has been designed for this purpose and buy a battery charger that is simple and one dimensional.

The amperage capacity can make a difference:

The 30 amp level can be the yardstick by which you can charge your electric car. Therefore, when you buy the electric car charger it would be wise to look for this magic number as it can help you immensely in rapidly charging the car. If you have only recently purchased your electric car, you may not require the high power in the initial months; however, the rate at which an electric car charges completely is synonymous with this amperage and this is true for most of the electric cars that are purchased at any given point of time.

Author’s bio: Jonathan Cook is a freelance writer and encourages us to look carefully into the details before we buy any car. He has a formal degree in business management and his passion for cars led him to work at a dealership at a managerial position.

Road Trip Disasters: 5 Common Car Problems And How To Avoid Them

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/08 in On the Road with Comments Off on Road Trip Disasters: 5 Common Car Problems And How To Avoid Them

Road trips are a lot of fun, but they can wind up stressful and costly if the vehicle you’re taking isn’t up to snuff. Make sure to have your car inspected for these five common issues before you embark on your journey, or you may find your trip cut short.  Road trips are known for fun plot twists along the way, but a broken down car often makes things get a bit more melodramatic than anyone wants!

1. Coolant Leaks

If you ever notice drips under your car, get them checked out quickly. Lack of coolant can cause a vehicle to overheat astonishingly quickly. Without sufficient coolant, hot engine components burn oil, grind together, and can even fuse. The last thing you need is to be the car on the side of the highway, popping the hood and coughing through the smoke.

2. Flat Tires

A lot of things can go wrong with your tires before you notice, and unfortunately, when you do notice it’s usually because they’re beyond repair. Small nails can embed themselves in the tread, leaking air for weeks before you notice. Underinflated tires cause worse gas mileage. Bald tires reduce traction and make driving dangerous. Schedule a consultation or get tips from professionals like those at mcgeetire.com to ensure the only parts of your car that touch the road are road-worthy enough for a long trip.

3. Battery Failure

Car batteries are only rated to last around three or four years, but many people let them go for much longer without replacement. Any number of things can go wrong with a battery, and it’s better to replace it early than to go to get an early start for your day and find it dead. While you’re at it, check and clean the corrosion around the terminals to ensure proper conductivity.

4. Loose or Missing Gas Cap

A gas cap doesn’t seem that essential, but you’ll be surprised at how much it can affect your gas mileage. Whether you left it on the trunk after a fill, or it simply doesn’t fit snugly any more, it’s time to get a new one. Thankfully, a replacement gas cap is only a few dollars at any auto parts store, so you should have no trouble fixing this problem.

5. Faltering Spark Plugs

Every driver has likely heard of a spark plug before, but few people know where to find one or what happens when they fail. Misfiring spark plugs can cascade into dozens of different ailments for a car—from faltering engines to broken catalytic converters.

Once you’ve thoroughly checked out these features of your car, (and thrown in an emergency kit, just in case) you can hit the road a little more assured that you’ll have a memorable road trip—but for good reasons. 

About Author: Rianne Hunter is a wife, mother of three, and lover of all things travel and transportation. She often writes about cars, fuel economy, and tires. Regarding tires in Tampa FL or Seattle WA (wherever you may be) she always recommends checking them before leaving on prolonged road trips.

How to Find The Best Car for Your Needs

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/06 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on How to Find The Best Car for Your Needs

Recently, you’ve been experiencing some troubles with your vehicle. On the other hand, maybe you’ve never had a car before, and you’re getting tired of the subway, cabs or biking. Whatever the case may be, following these tips can help you find the best car for your needs.

Determine Your Price Point

Before you can even begin to look at cars, you need to figure out how much overall money you are going to be able to spend on this vehicle. If you are buying a car outright, then you must calculate the total cost. When you’re planning to go into a leasing or financing agreement, you should figure out how much you can spend on the down payment and the monthly payments according to Mazda Miata in Kansas City.

Matching Your Financial Needs with a Dealership

Once you have determined the amount of money you’re able to spend on the vehicle, you’ll have to find a dealership with cars in that price range. Browsing on various websites will introduce you to the cars available. Conducting research about cars online is smart. By doing so, you do not have to take trips to a multitude of dealerships. Instead, you can go to one or two that have cars of interest to you.

Consider The Car Size

You will also need to decide if you want to have a larger car or a smaller car. By purchasing a larger vehicle, you’ll get more space, and this is great if you have a big family or go on a lot of vacations. However, you may have to pay more for the car itself, and the gas might also be more expensive. A mid-sized car might be the best option for you to ensure that all of the elements are accounted for.

Look to The Future

Remember, you don’t want to purchase a car only to find that it needs to be returned in a year. Think about your future needs. Are you planning to go on a long road trip soon? Do you think you will have a couple of kids in the next few years? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you need to consider getting a car that is able to suit your soon-changing needs.

Finding the best car for you is not something that happens in a brief moment. You’ll need to put some dedication into the research to get it right.

Five Safety Tips Car Enthusiasts Should Remember during Their Next Project

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/02 in Auto Collection with Comments Off on Five Safety Tips Car Enthusiasts Should Remember during Their Next Project

Repairing an aging classic car or improving the performance of a new car can be incredibly satisfying. The work does come with a number of hazards. Small mistakes or unexpected events can cause serious injuries. Anyone working on a car needs to be prepared and take steps to remain safe. There are five safety tips car enthusiasts should remember during their next project.

Use Proper Safety Equipment

Car enthusiasts should own a full range of safety equipment. Personal protection gear should include safety glasses and thick gloves to stop sparks or metal splinters from causing injuries. A respirator should be on hand when painting or working with strong solvents. A fire extinguisher rated for liquids, electrical fires and grease fires should be kept near the car while working.

Perform Electrical Work with Insulated Tools

Many car enthusiasts have been shocked by the car battery while performing basic electrical work. Something that can be very harmful is electricity from the ignition system. This can provide a shock of up to 40,000 volts. It is important to use insulated tools when working on the car. The shock can actually be transmitted through other pieces of metal in the engine like the distributor cap. Insulated tools will prevent shocks.

Always Use Jack Stands

A major safety hazard is working under an unstable car. Jack stands should always be placed under cars that are elevated. Wooden blocks or other items are not enough. The jack stands need to be attached to a structural part of the vehicle. The stands will support the full weight of the car if it suddenly drops or shifts. This can prevent serious injuries or fatalities when working under the vehicle.

Have a Dedicated Workspace

Working on a car in a shared home garage can be dangerous in many ways. Tools, sharp parts and chemicals can all cause injuries to family members who come into the area. Family items stored in the garage can get in the way of tools or cause a person to trip and fall. It is best to have a dedicated space when working on a car. One option is to rent a unit from a storage unit that is large enough to hold the car and extra tools. This will keep car enthusiasts and the family safe.

Use Ventilation Fans

Car enthusiasts regularly use chemicals, paints and solvents that release fumes into the air. These can accumulate quickly and could cause nausea, disorientation or even neurological damage. Some type of ventilation should always be used even when working with something as simple as gasoline. Ventilation fans will keep the air clean and breathable.

Failing in Your Efforts to Sell Your Car? 4 Tips to Help you Find a Buyer

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/30 in Auto Selling with Comments Off on Failing in Your Efforts to Sell Your Car? 4 Tips to Help you Find a Buyer

Has your car been on the market for a while? Are you getting sick of waiting for the phone to ring with an interested buyer on the other end? It may be time to kick things up a notch in order to find a buyer. There are several methods for getting the word out about your car, but with how many cars are for sale, and posted every day, you may need to be more creative in your efforts.

Post Your Vehicle on Craigslist.com

This is one of the main ways to sell a vehicle and it’s free to list. Make sure you put at least four pictures detailing the front, back, sides and inside of the vehicle. Leave a short descriptive paragraph with the history of the vehicle. You’ll want to post the vehicle according to Kelly Blue Book pricing, also look at the listings of other similar vehicles. One disadvantage of Craigslist is you’ll have to keep re-listing the ad nearly everyday to keep it relevant.

The site does have 20 million unique visitors each month. If you have posted on Craigslist in the past without luck, there might be a few things you can do so that your post gets noticed. Make sure it has a good title, something that mentions the car and perhaps the price. Within the post, make sure you include quality pictures of your car and the features (make sure the car is clean and looking it’s best when taking these pictures.) Include important information, but don’t overload. Make the information easy to read and make sure your contact information is prominent on the page.

Displaying Your Car in a Public Area

Have you ever seen cars parked in a certain parking lot with a for sale sign in the window? This is one way to get your vehicle noticed by many people. One danger here is vandalism and theft, so be smart if parking somewhere in public. The auto experts of Sawyers Chevrolet suggest that if you have a friend or family member that lives on a busy street, you could ask them if they would allow you to park the car in their driveway or in front of their house for a few days.

If you park the car on a busy street during the day for a few days, you’ll be sure to get some calls from interested buyers. Make sure you return it home at night. Put a for sale sign in the window with your phone number, price of vehicle, features and mileage. Make sure this information is legible, and reapply if it rains or snows.

List on AutoTrader.com

In May 2013 Autotrader stopped print versions and is now only online. This is a great place to sell your vehicle if it’s specialized or more valuable. AutoTrader.com receives 15 million visitors a month and boasts having the largest selection of vehicle listings. The ad listing here will cost from $20 for three weeks to $80 for unlimited time until sells plus getting 14 days featured. This investment is worth the money if you are eager to sell your car.

Resources for sellers and buyers also make this a great place to sell your vehicle. If you haven’t used this resource yet, this could be a great place to find a buyer as soon as possible.

Listing in Local Newspapers

There are still many people who read the classifieds, especially when looking to buy a car. Here you will pay from $10-$30 to list your vehicle and can even put in a photo. The ad will run continually with this amount of money for two weeks to a month. Generally this is a good way to attract serious buyers and avoid spammers and scams. One benefit to posting the car in a local paper is that you will find a local buyer, making it easier for you to meet up with them and show them the car, which could speed up the selling process.

These methods should help you find a direction suited to your needs and vehicle. There are advantages to each and you may use more than one. Of course you’ll want to make sure the price is low enough to attract buyers and still be content with the amount. Rest assured if the price is right, you’ll find a buyer with one of these methods.

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