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20
Jan 2012

Top 4 things to do to void your car warranty

posted by cheryl

http://www.oranges-world.com

Car warranties are excellent protection against manufacturing defects or workmanship errors. With a car warranty, manufacturers promise that within a certain time frame, your new car purchase will function as promised. But car warranties are not blank checks from the manufacturer to pay for any necessary repairs. Certain things you do can cancel the agreement of the car warranty.

1. Don’t use the right fluids in your car.

When your car manual says to use a specific type of oil (or any other type of fluid) in your car, use that type. They spend lots of money to figure out what will help the car work most efficiently, and they aren’t just “suggesting,” they are insisting. You might find a better deal on a cheaper type, and in the interest of saving money, you could be tempted to go against the manufacturer’s instructions. But here’s a warning for you – if you use the wrong type of oil and your engine seizes up, your car warranty won’t cover the repair.

2. Don’t install the right tires on your car.

You might think it’s really cool to “pimp your ride” by adding some special modifications to your car, like “dubs” or special lifts that change the height of car with lift or lower kits. Unfortunately, your car was not designed to ride like that. Modified tires or a different center of gravity in your car can drastically alter the torque on your chassis and axle bearings. If your modifications can be traced as the root of a problem, your repair won’t be covered by your car warranty.

3. Don’t save your receipts.

You probably know that you aren’t required to go to your dealer for regular maintenance. What you may not know is that every time you take your car to another service center, you absolutely need to save your receipts. And not just your credit card slip. Make sure you leave with a detailed list of all the fluids, filters and other parts that were used during service. If there’s a contest over coverage on your warranty, the manufacturer can 1. claim that you didn’t service the vehicle according to maintenance instructions or 2. the service center didn’t use the correct parts. Save your receipts. If you’re not sure, go to the dealer. They are required by their contract with the manufacturer to keep very detailed record of any services performed.

4. Tow something.

Unless you own a heavy-duty truck that has a guaranteed capability to tow specific weights, don’t try it. If the manufacturer can prove you towed something, either a trailer or another vehicle — even a short distance — that could void your car warranty. Your car’s engine is probably not built to handle the strain of the extra weight, and any damages that occur after the tow would probably not be covered by your car warranty.

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15
Jan 2012

Electronic Stability Control: How it works

posted by cheryl

http://www.caranddriver.com/

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is considered by many to be the most important safety feature on vehicles since the seatbelt. At the very least, it has reduced fatal crashes by 35%. This blog post will explain a little bit about how it works.

Yaw Rate Control

The yaw rate of a vehicle is the rotation of the vehicle around a vertical axis. This physics term describes the dangerous situation that occurs when the car skids around a turn. This sensor measures the steering wheel angle (where the driver intends the car to go) and at what rate the car is actually rotating to get there. Yaw Rate Control uses the functions of the Anti-Lock Brake System to correct the vehicle’s trajectory.

In essence, it corrects a probable loss in steering control. In addition to controlling the brakes individually, it can also modify the transmission and throttle output to slow the car down and increase torque in cooperation with the brakes to correct the path of the car.

Because of its effectiveness, ESC is now required to be standard on all vehicles from 2012 and beyond. It is known by several different names across the range of manufacturers, including the following:

  • Electronic Stability Program (Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Jeep, Suzuki)
  • Dynamic Stability Control (Land Rover, Mazda)
  • Vehicle Stability Assist (Honda, Acura, Hyundai)
  • StabiliTrak (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Pontiac, Saturn)
  • Vehicle Dynamics Control (Subaru, Fiat, Infiniti, Nissan)
  • Precision Control System (Oldsmobile)
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12
Jan 2012

You’re Getting a Little Rusty

posted by cheryl

https://wwwx.cs.unc.edu/~hays/

It seems like such a rarity these days – a car with a severe rust problem. Perhaps the manufacturers have developed better paint or sealers. For whatever reason, it usually takes years for rust to develop on vehicles. If rust does develop in the first few years, usually 3-5, the damage might be covered under your standard car warranty, specifically the corrosion coverage.

Like most car warranties, they offer protection against manufacturing defects, but only for a certain period of time. Just like when you buy a CD, the store won’t replace it for you when the disc gets scratched. Cars are a little different, though. They have car warranties, and consumers are offered a baseline of protection for this very large purchase they made.

Corrosion, or rust, is usually caused when the paint has been chipped due to debris, gravel or pebbles. When the raw sheet metal is exposed to the elements, it can oxidize, causing unsightly rust that will only spread to surrounding areas. Surface rust can usually be remedied by sanding the rust and surrounding areas down to the raw metal and repainting and resealing the area.

But that’s not what corrosion coverage in a car warranty will cover. The vast majority of car warranties offer corrosion coverage, but only for perforations, not simple surface rust along the edges.

Preventing Rust

  • You can prevent rust by following a few simple guidelines:
  • Wash your car often – every two weeks in the winter especially if there is salt on the roads
  • Wax your car every few months to protect the finish
  • Examine your car carefully every few months for nicks or scratches. Don’t neglect the undercarriage and trunk areas.
  • If you find a nick or a scratch, seal it as soon as you can. The best choice is touch-up paint, but clear nail polish will also offer protection.

If you think you might have a claim for corrosion based on your car warranty coverage, see your car dealer as soon as possible to speed up the claims process.

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08
Jan 2012

Stop Right There: All about Traction Control

posted by cheryl

http://denverhomeinspectornews.com/

Call it a TCS (Traction Control System) or ASR (Anti-Slip Regulator)… for many drivers it can be a lifesaver, especially if you are not familiar with driving in slippery conditions. It’s not just for ice-covered winter roads. Traction control can also assist when there’s water on the road during other seasons of the year.

First Warning

If you’ve ever driven on an icy road, you remember that floating feeling that occurs when one or more of your wheels is spinning but isn’t gaining any purchase on the ground you’re covering. It might feel like you are slowing down, and often, drivers will accelerate when they feel the sensation. The TCS stops that impulse and takes control over those car functions.

  • Inhibit or reduce spark to one of the engine cylinders
  • Limit fuel supply to one of the cylinders
  • Close the throttle if appropriate
  • Activate one or more of the brakes if needed

Although Traction Control has been available on high-performance vehicles since the 1990s, the function has become more and more widespread as it appears on less expensive vehicles. In addition to the safety control of the microprocessor that makes all of the decisions, a warning light will often appear on the dashboard to warn the driver of slippery conditions. With winter’s deadly black ice, your car might be aware of bad conditions before you are.

If you aren’t fortunate enough to have TCS/ASR on your vehicle, there are other ways you can drive more cautiously on bad roads.

  • Run the air conditioner (on hot, in the winter) to remove condensation from the inside of your windows.
  • Make sure your wiper blades and headlights are in good working order.
  • Replace your tires if needed. Bald tires spell disaster on icy roads.
  • Learn proper braking procedure. In vehicles with ABS brakes, just stomp, stay and steer. In non-ABS vehicles, pump your brakes slowly to avoid locking your tires. Tires that aren’t moving provide very little traction, so it helps to gain traction by maintaining friction.

Traction Control might sound similar to Electronic Stability Control, which is mandatory on all vehicles manufactured in 2012 and beyond. It is indeed similar, but it operates in a different way. We’ll explore ESC in a future blog post.

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04
Jan 2012

What makes a car go? All about the Powertrain.

posted by cheryl

http://www.carbuyermax.com

When researching car warranties, the term “powertrain” is used quite often. Most major car manufacturers have two types of warranties on all new cars: a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty. The powertrain warranty usually lasts a lot longer, up to ten years or even for life, but this particular car warranty doesn’t cover the entire car but only portions of it.

What does a powertrain warranty cover?

In short, a powertrain warranty covers the parts of a vehicle that cause it to go. This includes, but is not generally limited to, the following:

  • Engine
  • Transmission
  • Drive axle
  • Differentials

If any of those parts fail in a car, the car is usually worthless to the owner, so prompt and reliable repair of any failures is essential. That’s why car manufacturers are eager to offer powertrain warranty coverage. While they might not feel inclined to fix the heating system after 50,000 miles, a broken transmission should be covered a bit longer.

Always read the fine print on your car warranty, however. Even the almighty powertrain warranty for a specific brand might not cover general wear and tear on your car. For instance, most powertrain car warranties will cover the transmission but will not cover the clutch unit. If you’ve ever driven a stick shift, you know that operator error plays a huge role in how soon a clutch will wear out. The manufacturer doesn’t want to be held responsible for damage that you cause.

Other exclusions that might not seem that important at first (but will become very important to you in the event of a failure) could be cabling, sensors or electrical. While these smaller parts might not cost as much to replace outright, the diagnostics at your local dealer or mechanic can take hours, and you’ll be liable for that cost as well.

The value of any car warranty is in the coverage details. Ask your dealer the tough questions about what is covered and don’t be fooled by the glossy packaging. Weigh your options carefully before making a purchase.

 

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