On-Star and Other Hi-Tech Life Savers
Manufacturers are finding some very cool ways
to put all the computer power in your car to practical use.
General Motors OnStar product hooks you up to a central office
using a cellular phone connection, and, using a hands-free speaker and
microphone, you talk to a real human being who answers all your questions. On
the new Cadillac Escalade sport/utility, and available on almost every mid-sized
and larger GM car and truck, OnStar has been simplified to a 3-button
unit...just push once and in seconds you're talking to someone who can call for
help, give you directions, help you order movie tickets...you name it. OnStar
costs about $1300 and there's a monthly fee after the first year of use. But on
Escalade, and as a special feature on many other GM vehicles, OnStar is a
standard feature. Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are offering collision avoidance
systems which tell you when there's something in front of, behind, or to the
sides of your car. Already in use on some large trucks and many school busses,
these systems use radar, and are sort of electronic versions of the old metal
curb feelers which would let you know when your parking skills left something to
be desired. The systems are adjustable for sensitivity and will become standard
on many cars and trucks in the next decade. Mercedes, in fact, has a system on
their all-new topline S-class car which allows you to leave the cruise control
in operation and not worry if someone cuts in front of you...if that happens,
the system automatically applies the brakes!
Gadgets for Safer Rain Driving
If you live in snow country, you know you should keep certain supplies in your car
or trunk...like an ice scraper, tire chains, even an emergency kit with a space
blanket to help you stay warm. But just because most of us in live in rain
country and not where it snows, that doesn't mean you should not be prepared for
wet weather with some special rainy day car gadgets. If you're planning to
replace your windshield wipers, and you should if it's been more than a year
since the last replacement, get a pair of the two- and even three-bladed wipers
made by several different companies. Folks who use them swear by their ability
to clean rain and mud off the windshield faster than the standard single-bladed
variety. I'm not totally convinced they're that great, but they're worth
considering. Another way to keep rain slowing off your windows fast, and one
that really does work, is called Rain-X. There are several types of these
products on the market. Apply the liquid correctly to your car's windows, and
rain and mud and muck will flow off the glass in even sheets and do a lot less
streaking. Hey...race car drivers use this stuff on the clear face shields on
their helmets, so you know it works! Finally, there's a new product from Japan
which will go on-sale in this country later this year...so ask your auto supply
store about it. It's called Hydrotect, and these are clear plastic sheets which
can be applied to your outside side rear view mirrors...and they say the product
keeps the glass clear of water and fog-free, too.
Getting Ready for that Road Trip!
If it's time for that family road trip, maybe that quick trip to
Las Vegas or a weekend in Palm Springs, prepare properly. Now's a good time to
get your car or truck thoroughly checked-out before you head through the
badlands! And a lot of this pre-trip inspection you can do yourself, so let's
start with the obvious: your tires. There's no excuse for hitting the road with
worn tires, and the old saw about being able to see the top of Lincoln's head
when putting a penny in the tread still holds true. If you can't see that much,
it's time for new tires before visiting grandma in Idaho. Your vehicle's cooling
system is, believe me, your best friend on the open road. And remember never use
just plain water to fill up the radiator if the level is low! Always use the
proper mixture of coolant or anti-freeze and water otherwise you can do serious
damage to the radiator itself! Now's also the time to check other important
fluids, including: Brake fluid, power steering fluid, and automatic transmission
fluid. You can do all this easily yourself by reading your owner's manual.
Finally, another do-it-yourself job: check all the belts and hoses. Make sure
they are all supple to the touch, they are connected tightly to the right
fittings, and there is no visible wear or cracking, and especially no rotting
areas around the connectors. If all these systems check-out before you hit the
road, you'll have a much better chance of making it to your destination and back
home without spending time stuck on the side of a boiling hot
freeway.
Need a New Car? Why Not Just a New Engine?
You can expect to get about
200,000 miles out of the average car or truck engine these days...if you take
excellent care of it! The truth is, most of us don't take proper care of the
engine...we don't change the oil when we should, we don't check the filters as
often as we're supposed to, we put in a lower-grade gasoline than recommended,
we let the belts and hoses in the engine fall apart...you get the picture. So
let's say, like many people, your car has about 80,000 miles or so and the
engine needs a lot of work...I mean a lot of work, many hundreds of dollars
worth. But otherwise your car is in really great shape...and most important,
it's paid for! You don't want the expense of new car payments, but you also know
that engine is going to nickel and dime you to death as long as you keep the
car. Here's an alternative...simply get a new engine! For about $2000, you can
purchase and have installed a remanufactured engine with a good warranty in your
car or truck. If you want to spend a few more dollars, you can even buy a
brand-new engine right off the engine assembly line for your older car or truck.
But the remanufactured engines are practically as good as new...just make sure
the one you get has a warranty which makes sense...at least one year and 12,000
miles. And for a few dollars more, you can even buy an extended warranty, just
like at a new car dealership. And with the average cost of a new car in 1999
over $23,000, for less than 10 percent of that, you can buy a like-new engine
and have it installed. It is definitely an alternative worth
considering.
A Recall Notice. What Do You Do Now?
What should you do if your car
or truck gets recalled? Well, as you might imagine, the process is not as simple
as you may think. If you get a recall notice in the mail, the first thing to do
is call your local dealer and find out if they have the parts and tools to make
the fix. They may not yet, and in that case, don't bother going to the dealer
until they do. When the dealer does get the necessary parts and tools, don't
just go roaring down there demanding your car be fixed. The best thing to do is
to make an appointment, just like you would for a regular service visit. This
will give the dealer the time to do the fix right the first time. Finally, and
most important, remember that with any recall, the dealer can not charge you one
dime for any of the necessary service. If they try to charge you or try to sell
you more service, tell the dealer forget about it...and never go to that dealer
again!
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