| Useful Automotive Tips |
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| Topic Shorts www.tripple-d.com |
Useful Automotive Buying & Operating Tips:
Proper Tire Inflation
The proper inflation pressure is not on a tire's sidewall. The correct
specification is listed on the driver's door jamb on a label marked
"Tire and Loading Information". (Some cars might post it inside the
fuel-filler flap or the glove box.) This is the correct pressure for the
tire on your particular car. Improperly inflated tires — be they too
high or too low — compromise your traction, stopping distance and
many other factors, and increase the chance of a flat.
Engine Power Ratings
Engine power ratings must be taken in context. Automakers are
quick to point out that their model has, say, the most horsepower of
any minivan. Without considering the vehicle's weight, transmission
and other factors, the specification is of limited value. In the end,
acceleration and fuel economy tell you what you need to know.
Proper Tire Inflation
The proper inflation pressure is not on a tire's sidewall. The correct
specification is listed on the driver's door jamb on a label marked
"Tire and Loading Information". (Some cars might post it inside the
fuel-filler flap or the glove box.) This is the correct pressure for the
tire on your particular car. Improperly inflated tires — be they too
high or too low — compromise your traction, stopping distance and
many other factors, and increase the chance of a flat.
Engine Power Ratings
Engine power ratings must be taken in context. Automakers are
quick to point out that their model has, say, the most horsepower of
any minivan. Without considering the vehicle's weight, transmission
and other factors, the specification is of limited value. In the end,
acceleration and fuel economy tell you what you need to know.
The Check Engine Light
The check engine light seldom reveals a critical condition. The mysterious check engine light on a vehicle's instrument panel is
part of the On-Board Diagnostic system. A light that stays on only briefly can probably be ignored. A constant check engine
light, in the absence of any other clear symptom, could be an emissions failure — anything from a loose gas cap (check before
you go to a mechanic) to a bad oxygen sensor. Get it checked out to ensure clean, efficient motoring, but pulling over is
probably unnecessary.A red light is to be taken more seriously and if the light flashes, the problem is major and could result in
damage. In this case, pull over and shut it down.
Dealers Don't Own the Cars They Sell
Dealers don't own the cars they sell, and neither do the manufacturers. Instead, the bank — sometimes in the form of the
captive finance company — owns them. Dealers finance the vehicles as any buyer might, so it costs them money to keep the
cars on their lots. The longer a vehicle has been in inventory the more likely they are willing to deal on it. Auto makers might
pay the first month or two of the "floor plan" expenses, as they're called, after which the dealer takes on the burden.
Salespeople might act as if they have all the time in the world, but they really don't.
The check engine light seldom reveals a critical condition. The mysterious check engine light on a vehicle's instrument panel is
part of the On-Board Diagnostic system. A light that stays on only briefly can probably be ignored. A constant check engine
light, in the absence of any other clear symptom, could be an emissions failure — anything from a loose gas cap (check before
you go to a mechanic) to a bad oxygen sensor. Get it checked out to ensure clean, efficient motoring, but pulling over is
probably unnecessary.A red light is to be taken more seriously and if the light flashes, the problem is major and could result in
damage. In this case, pull over and shut it down.
Dealers Don't Own the Cars They Sell
Dealers don't own the cars they sell, and neither do the manufacturers. Instead, the bank — sometimes in the form of the
captive finance company — owns them. Dealers finance the vehicles as any buyer might, so it costs them money to keep the
cars on their lots. The longer a vehicle has been in inventory the more likely they are willing to deal on it. Auto makers might
pay the first month or two of the "floor plan" expenses, as they're called, after which the dealer takes on the burden.
Salespeople might act as if they have all the time in the world, but they really don't.
