Did Someone Say Road Trip?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/04/27 in On the Road with Comments Off on Did Someone Say Road Trip?

Everybody loves a good road trip.  It’s really the chance to enjoy the journey before reaching the destination.  Who doesn’t love a good roadside attraction – World’s Largest Pistachio? Carhenge? Garden of 1,000 Buddhas? Don’t ask me twice, I’m there! 

Before you hit the road with your best pals, it’s good to know whose car you’re going to be taking and more importantly whose car you should be taking for a long road trip!

Your Car or Mine?

If you are going to volunteer “Big Red” for the long haul, make sure your car is up for it!  It’s important to take the preventative measures, so you don’t get stranded in an unfamiliar place.

First, check your fluids.  Check your oil levels and the date you’re due for your next oil change.  It is better to do this before you even take off for a road trip.  If you are close to the manufacturer’s-recommended oil-change listed, then change it.  Mobil recommends a synthetic motor oil for long distances, especially in hot weather.  This will be ideal for a summer road trip! 

Also be sure to have transmission and other motor oils checked.  Both your transmission and drive axle have their own lubricant supply. Check your owner’s manual for their change intervals. A regular oil-change shop can handle the greasy job of changing manual transmission oil and the differential oil. While they are under the car, have them give the drive-shaft U-joints and any other grease points a squirt of grease.

It is very important to have your car’s coolant system checked.  In the extreme summer temperatures, your coolant can reach as high as 250 degrees Fahrenheit, causing your car to overheat.  Nobody wants to be stuck on the side of the road to begin with, but especially during the warm summer months! In order to check your cooling system, you’ll want to check the radiator and hoses for leaks or cracks.  Be sure all of the connections are snug and before even getting under the hood, make sure your engine is cool! Once you have gone over the coolant system, you should also do a routine maintenance check-up. 

Do a quick run up the local freeway to listen for noises, feel for shakes, and watch for trouble signs in the gauges. Don’t assume everything is fine just because you drive your car every day. This is a test, not a commute, so focus on your car. Do you hear grinding or moaning from the wheels? That could be a bad wheel bearing or a worn CV joint. Does the car pull? Check for alignment problems or worn tires. Does it shimmy or squeal under braking? Might be warped rotors or worn pads. Does the brake pedal feel soft? Might mean worn pads or bad fluid. Do the headlights flicker at idle? It’s probably a loose alternator belt, a dying alternator or corroded battery terminals.

Give your brakes a few pumps to check them out!  The DMV states you should inspect your brakes if your summer includes frequent thunderstorms and rain, since wet brakes can be less responsive.  You can either refer to your owner’s manual (or your mechanic), on inspecting your brakes.  When you are having your brakes inspected, find out about the brake pads. The warmer temperatures can increase the temperature of your braking system, which can wear your pads more quickly.

If it is the choice between you or your friend’s car, you should both do the routine maintenance check up to see whose car is in better shape!  Consider checking off car maintenance items before you offer to take your car for a road trip and especially before you leave.   If Big Red starts acting up in the middle of your trip, it could potentially cause you to have to end your road trip early. 

8 Things to Check Before Buying a Used Motorcycle

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/04/25 in Motorcycles with Comments Off on 8 Things to Check Before Buying a Used Motorcycle

While used motorcycles are hugely popular in most countries (for obvious reasons – new ones are expensive!), care needs to be taken when thinking about buying one. Motorcycles are much more dangerous than even cars are, so you must ensure that any second-hand bike you buy is still roadworthy.

Choose a reputable dealership

This is possibly the most important thing to do when considering second-hand bikes, for a variety of reasons.  The main reason is that, unfortunately, second-hand motorcycles are quite often stolen rather than legitimately obtained.

In order to ensure that the bike you are currently looking at hasn’t been stolen, go through the following steps:

  • Ask the seller for the registration number, make and model of the bike, tax details and details of the last MOT it had,
  • If you have access to the registration certificate, hold it up to the light and check for the DVL watermark – if you think it has been forged, or that the serial number has been alter, do not buy the bike!
  • Check for the vehicle identification number – if it has been tampered with or is missing, do not buy the bike.

Another reason for going to a dealership is that, while you may be paying more money, there is generally some form of plan in place for you to get your money back if the bike breaks down within a certain time of buying it.  If you do go to a private seller, try and take your bike to a dealership to be inspected – it might save you down the line!

Check the bike out for yourself

If you’ve passed the test to own a motorcycle license, chances are you will have sat a knowledge test (learn more about BC motorcycle test) which covers more basic knowledge such as how to conduct an oil check, basic maintenance, and other things of that nature.  Using some simple tools (including a multimeter and a flashlight), check:

  • The drive chain and sprocket.  It shouldn’t have much movement, and the sprocket shouldn’t have any visible signs of wear,
  • The tires – they should still have good treads with a firm grip,
  • Sitting on the bike, check the levers for brakes and clutch, the instrument cluster and the bar-end weights,
  • The handbrake.  When you hold it and bounce up and down on the front suspension, the movement should be smooth and steady,
  • The visible frame – if possible remove the seat to see as much as possible, and check for nicks and bumps.
  • While the seat is off, pass the multimeter over the battery.  It should read under 12 volts when off, and under 14 when running.  If it goes over fourteen, there could be a vault in the voltage which could cause your battery to fail.

Consider Your Driving Habits

Before buying a bike, consider the type of driving you do.  If you mainly drive on roads, that will be one particular type of bike.  If you are mainly going to be using the bike off-road, that will require a different type of bike.

How Servicing a Hybrid Is Different Than a Traditional Vehicle

by Anica Oaks on 2016/04/22 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on How Servicing a Hybrid Is Different Than a Traditional Vehicle

Hybrid automobiles have experienced a dramatic rise in popularity over the past decade. Although today’s hybrid vehicles look virtually identical to traditional cars, they have a more sophisticated drivetrain. Here are some of the main differences when it comes to serving a hybrid car.

Longer-Lasting Brake Pads

The majority of modern hybrids feature regenerative braking technology. When activating the brakes, the electric motor engages into what is called reverse mode, which uses the kinetic energy of a hybrid vehicle’s braking system to recharge the car’s batteries. This means that significantly less wear and tear is placed upon the brake pads, and you will have an additional source of electricity to charge your battery.

Hybrid cars also have a backup system of friction brakes just in case the regenerative brakes don’t provide enough stopping power. Hybrid owners will not need to replace their brake pads nearly as often. However, the braking system still should be inspected at least twice a year by a licensed professional who knows how to work with hybrid braking systems.

Battery Replacement

Unlike a traditional automobile, a hybrid vehicle implements the use of a small electric engine and a battery pack. While the electric motor requires very little attention, the battery pack may fail after about 100,000 miles. Luckily, replacement batteries can now be purchased at a specialty automotive parts store. The battery is engineered with a complex wiring system, so the best approach is to allow an Arnold Motor Supply professional or one in your area to perform the installation. Keep in mind that some hybrid batteries also have an air filter that must be replaced, though in the long run these vehicles will require decidedly less maintenance.

Extended Oil Change Intervals

Hybrid engines are designed to perform efficiently. Because of the electric motor’s assistance, the gas engine does not have to work as hard. Although the engine will definitely require an oil change, the interval will be much longer than normal. In fact, you can safely drive 10,000 miles between each oil change. If the oil needs to be changed, the vehicle’s oil life monitor will give you a prompt service warning.

Requires a Skilled Mechanic

Hybrid engines are a bit more complex than the typical gas engine. Unless you are a highly trained automotive technician, you may not be able to perform all of the recommended maintenance. To protect the various components from excess heat, hybrids are designed with multiple cooling systems. While regular vehicles use an alternator, a hybrid is equipped with a special AC-DC converter. Not only are some of the tasks complicated, but they are also quite dangerous. Mechanics must use an extra degree of caution when working around electrical parts.

As you can see, a hybrid vehicle has a lot of differences underneath the surface. The good news is that a hybrid is not much noticeably more expensive to maintain in the long run.

Optimizing Vehicle Fleet Assets through Upstream Re-marketing

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/04/20 in Auto Leasing with Comments Off on Optimizing Vehicle Fleet Assets through Upstream Re-marketing

It is every company’s nightmare having idle vehicles in their corporate pool areas. For almost every business, this means losing money, which is certainly not a trait of a successful and prosperous commercial enterprise. Idle vehicles are not only those sitting around and waiting for a driver, but also those old and withdrawn ones waiting to be re-marketed. Vehicles which are no longer in service still remain in the company’s lot, costing the business both money and valuable space. One of the best ways to optimize your vehicle fleet is through upstream re-marketing, and here is how to get the job done.

Maximize fleet assets with pre-marketing

With upstream re-marketing, every company can make the most out of their aged fleet and used cars right before the time comes for them to be dispatched. What this actually means is that in order to be productive and save money in the process, a company should always work on dispatching the old and aged vehicles before the replacement arrives. Waiting for the last minute to do it can result in severe negative consequences. By eliminating their days to replace or sell, companies can benefit and thus generate savings in depreciation, interim interest and other costs. Stories about successful vehicle re-marketing are still being told, and it is a business that will always exist as long as there is a vehicle fleet.

Every fleet has its own solution

Each company has a different approach when it comes to upstream re-marketing The most important factor for each company is finding out what they are trying to accomplish with vehicle re-marketing or pre-marketing their fleet, advise experienced asset re-marketing specialists. There are many companies which implemented the driver sales program, allowing them to offer the driver a lower price of the vehicle as a reward for proper maintenance while the vehicle was still in service.

This method has been proved to be the most successful upstream re-marketing plan, as not only do you reward your driver for his flawless service, you also ensure that he will maintain and take good care of the vehicles to come. Opposite to this method, some companies put their vehicles up for an auction on the company’s website or do a live event, where a competitive bidding is performed. There are many individual company philosophies, and even though they might be different, that does not make them right or wrong.

Things to know as a fleet manager

If you are a fleet manager aware of different aspects of service provider agreements looking to create a truly successful upstream re-marketing plan, here are the things you should know:

1. Things you want to accomplish – Each company has different points on view in terms of success and what it means to them. By spending money on each unit in a company’s portfolio and realizing that the increase in sales is low, reevaluation of the program should be undergone.

2. Written policy – Every upstream re-marketing program should be outlined in a written policy and carefully observed with periodic evaluations of the performance.

3. Communication is the key to success – Your job is to talk to all the potential buyers throughout the entire sale process, not only at the beginning of it. Gather feedback and make sure you improve your communication with all parties involved.

Choosing a pre-marketing company that will listen to fleet manager’s needs is essential for re-marketing success. If there are any problems in communication with the fleet manager or potential disagreements along the way, it is highly advised that you find a new pre-marketing company.

Every business should choose a solution which works best for them, and the one involving a vehicle fleet is no exception. Target the market which is best for your portfolio, and design a program that will help you address the market. Remember that if something works great for another company, it will not necessarily bring the same results to you.

Let Contemporary Apps Help You Learn How to Drive

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/04/18 in On the Road with Comments Off on Let Contemporary Apps Help You Learn How to Drive

Nowadays it is easier to grasp the underlying basics with almost little effort, as it will be possible to find plenty of instructions and helpful apps which will guide you through the process. Moreover, you need to only pay attention, as you will have everything at your fingertips, making even learning how to drive effortless and easy.

Gain More Knowledge Online

While most lessons are enough to get you through driving school, make sure that you do not fall behind, and that you practice as much as you can. Thanks to the help of the Driving Skills website online, you can have a chance to rehearse and to find out just how good you are. Then again, you will be only able to test your theoretical knowledge, meaning that you will have to undergo real-live practice as well. Be sure to get yourself as ready as possible, to enable you to sit relaxed and ready behind the wheel.

Be Sure to Follow the Instructions

For those who need a bit more practice on the side, the School Driving 3D app available for almost all platforms, and even for computers, will help get rid of nervousness. However, it will be good to get you mentally prepared for the lessons to be held live. Nevertheless, it will be a good way to get prepared and to ensure that you will be ready for when it is time to drive around town.

Use Your Phone’s Potential

It is very useful today to have a smartphone, not only because you are allowed to use the Internet and check your various social profiles, but because of a plethora of useful apps available. Many will be more than able to help you out in a pinch, either providing useful info, or making sure that you know what to do next. Remember that some will be pricey, but, in the long run, it might just save your car, and your own life.

Get Help Anywhere

The beauty of some apps available for your phone is that you can contact services no matter where you are. Moreover, they will be able to find out where you are and come get you, if you are unable to move your vehicle. On the other hand, you will be able to find out what you need to do if you get in a crash, so that you do not get into more trouble. You can also find a good repair shop to help fix your car in the end. Nevertheless, be sure to look through the apps, to sift through the useless ones, and find what you need.

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Practice Makes Perfect

Even though you can turn your smartphone into a walking encyclopaedia you can use at any moment, it is not always enough to help you learn something. Learning how to drive is theoretical in nature, but, you can only do as much unless you sit behind the wheel. It is best to opt for driving lessons which will help you grasp the basics of the road, and help you learn how to handle a car without problems.

Take advantage of the fact that you can help yourself without having to spend a lot of money on extra classes. With some amazing apps available widely for download, you will be able to work on your driving skills, and have no problems while driving, no matter the situation you are in. Bear in mind that practice makes you perfect, and that you will have to spend some time behind the wheel in order to be able to drive like a pro in no time.

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