Brake Problems for You are Problems for All

Getting a car to go is half of the equation of driving.  The other half is getting it to stop.  We recommend very strongly that you have the “stop” part in place well before you ever try the “go” part.

 

The problems with brake problems is they almost never suddenly happen.  Brakes are always getting progressively worse, and they’re never quite as good as they were on day one.

Little by little your brakes begin to wear down.  Stopping takes longer and longer, and next thing you know you’re sitting in the middle of the intersection.

Your brakes are equipped with a funny little feature:  an alarm that goes off when the brakes are wearing down.  It’s that squeal you hear, and it’s trying to tell you something.   We don’t recommend you wait for that alarm, however.  A good mechanic will make it a point to really check your brakes whenever you are getting an oil change. 

Finally, consider this odd occurrence recently out west.  A car going down a hill in California actually started a brush fire when a small piece of metal flaked off of its brakes and landed in the dry grass.  Firefighters say this is not all that unusual.  So, keep in mind that bad brakes cause bad problems for you, people around you, and Smokey Bear.

A Car Crash Test That’s Not So Dumb

 

We’ve all seen the films of cars driving straight into a brick wall, while airbags deploy and a computerized mannequin bounces around inside.  The only problem is, people don’t drive in straight lines and crash into a straight wall.  That’s why the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is experimenting with something called “location based” crash tests.

This doesn’t mean they smash a car up on the streets of St. Louis, instead cars are being equipped with a unique monitor that will determine where a car was positioned when modern crash avoidance technology kicks in. 

Scientists are working with engineers to constantly improve data in features that act like a second set of eyes on the road.  Some of these systems alert you when you’re too close to another vehicle, while others will even apply the brakes.  Lane departure warnings were intended to alert you when you started to drift into another lane, but the new location based tests are suggesting that one may be getting inaccurate information.

While these fancy things are designed to keep you safe, there’s no guarantee that your insurance company will be impressed.  According to insurance.com, major insurance companies don’t seem to be offering any discounts for these things.  So, it’s best to always keep your eyes on the road.

A Bit of Basic Car Battery Bathing

Remember the lowly car battery?  Not the sexiest part of a car with all those modern conveniences in new cars, but a pretty important part none-the-less.  If the battery isn’t working, nothing else happens.

Next chance you get to open the hood, take a peek at those two posts on top of the battery.  You may have to pull back the rubber covering, and if you see white powdery looking substances, you are getting corrosion.

This battery is having major corrosion issues

This is perfectly normal, and you haven’t done anything wrong.  But, you do have to get it off of there.  Before you do anything, be sure to protect your eyes.  There’s a chance some nasty stuff will fly around and you don’t want that in your eyes.  A cheap face mask is also a good idea.

Step 1 is to remove the terminals.  Depending on your battery, you’ll probably have to get a wrench or pliers to do the job.  Start with the negative side, and loosen the nut on the wire connecting the terminal.  You shouldn’t have to turn it too much for it to easily slide off.  If the corrosion has things stuck, try to gently wiggle from side to side to get it to move.  Be careful, because if you pry or pull too hard, you could pull the terminal right off, and that will mean a new battery.  Next remove the wire on the positive side the same way.

Step 2.  Cleaning. There are many options at car parts stores that you can purchase and they all work quite well.  They are mostly just baking soda and water, so there’s nothing wrong with mixing up your own batch.  Put the mixture on the terminals and the wires so it saturates well.

Step 3 requires a simple wire brush that’s not too stiff, and also not too big.  Scrub off the terminals and the wires until the corrosion is gone. 

Step 4.  Put the positive wire back on the terminal and tighten up the nut, then do the same for the negative wire. 

You’re done!  Good job! Of course, we here at U.S. Automotive suggest a full electrical check every two years...this is more than just your battery. Schedule an appointment for the electrical check-up today!

It's Routine for You, Why Not Your Car?

How dirty is your car right now? Not the inside, but the exterior. Are you a regular car washer or do you wait until you can barely see out the windows or the door is stuck with grime and slime?

If you are the later, you are actually hurting your car and taking years off of its life. The dirt, oil, debris, and salt used in winter for snow and ice can wreak havoc on your paint job. Keeping your car free of all that junk on a regular basis will keep it from eating away at the body panels. A monthly bath will keep your car’s exterior alive a little longer and save you cash on paint and body work! 

And, don’t forget the worst for your car’s exterior – bird droppings. You shouldn’t let it sit there until it rains. After 24 hours, acid starts to seep from it and damages your paint.  Wash the droppings off immediately.

Routine maintenance for your car and truck doesn’t only involve oil changes, tire rotations and valve replacement. Your car would love a monthly bath!

They Aren’t Just Pretty Lights!

There’s a reason car manufacturers put those pretty pictogram lights on the dashboard. Well, two reasons: one a diagram is easier to read and two, you will notice a bright picture and know something wrong.

The problem is this: who actually reads their Owner’s Manual? A light comes on and it looks like a deformed snake or an upside down beetle with a mustache and you think, “What the heck? My engine’s beetle is sad?” Or, there are so many different symbols, you have no idea what means what and the last car you drove had a symbol for engine that is different than this car…I could go on!

There are a few lights you need to be wary of right away when they light up – Oil Pressure, Check Engine, Brake System, ABS Fault and Air Bag Fault. We suggest contacting us right away when you see these lights turn on. If you don’t know what they are on your car, once you pull over, grab your Owner’s Manual and look.

While you might hit a pothole and the pesky warning light shuts off, it doesn’t mean the problem is fixed. That’s why we are here!

Making it Easy to Get Your Car Serviced

We are all busy. We get it! Sometimes, it’s easier to do something via computer rather than calling, waiting on hold or leaving a message. That’s why we have made it very easy to schedule auto services for your car or truck with all four of our locations on-line. You might not have noticed it since you are so busy.

Front End Alignment - Just one of our many services!

Here’s the link to the Nixa shop.

Here’s the link to West Springfield.

Here’s the link to North Springfield.

Here’s the link to Ozark.

Remember, we are here for you for all repair and service needs as well as regular maintenance. This is where the online appointment forms come in handy! Oil changes, brakes, tires and wheels plus alignments and nearly every other auto service your car might need routinely. We are here to help you with all these issues that, if not taken care of quickly, can compound and cost you even more!

Don’t forget, we offer free Wi-Fi if you are waiting and free shuttle if you want us to take you back to work or home.