Car Tips

Check your drive belts frequently for cracking or fraying. If you replace them early, you won't get stuck out in the middle of nowhere when they break.

Did you know that simply changing the oil in your car will make your car last twice as long? You should be changing the oil every 3000 to 4000 miles. Don't foget a new oil filter and don't fill past the full mark.

Change your air filter - You should change your air filter at least once every year.

Tire Pressure - You must frequently check the air in your tires if you want your tires to last. Do not over-inflate as this could lead to tire blowout

Overheating - Never open the radiator while your car is hot. This could result in severe injury!

Try to use original parts only when replacing defective car parts.

Not only should you wash your car on a regular basis but you should wax it now and then to avoid rusting and corrosion.

Have your car inspected regularly. The more you can stay on top of maintenance, the more life you will get out of your vehicle and the more it will protect your investment.

The best time to buy a car is around the end of December. This is because most people are out buying Christmas presents and the car lots are empty. This motivates car dealers to slash prices. They also have year end sales quotas to meet so you're bound to get a good deal if you're prepared and have done your homework.

Be sure to check out top rated car websites such as Car and Driver, for car buying tips, car reviews, photos of cars, and car forums.

Today's modern clearcoat finishes may look shinier longer than those of even 10 years ago, but they need special care to keep them that way. The clearcoat is what takes the wear, not the actual pigmented finish.

Use car wash liquids and polishes designed specifically for clearcoat finishes. Dishwashing liquids and ordinary car polishes can remove the clearcoat finish. And never let bird droppings and wet leaves sit on the paint; they can etch into the clearcoating and leave permanent damage.

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keepin' the beat goin' and passing it on!

If you live in an area where you have to park your car outside in freezing rain, sleet, and snow--and you don't have an ice scraper handy--you may have heard about using a plastic credit card or an old CD to scrape the glass.

Don't!

You could end up breaking or damaging your credit card, or you could scratch your surrounding paint with the CD. Keep a scraper and/or de-icer spray inside the house near the door (keep the spray out of children's reach) and you won't accidentally lock your scraper inside the car.

Better still, try this: Good old dependable duct tape! If you still have a key slot in your front doors, wipe the area around the slot dry and apply a piece of duct tape to cover the slot (make sure you don't cover the painted surface!) It'll help keep the slot clean and dry.

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keepin' the beat goin' and passing it on!

Just because you have four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive on your ride doesn't mean you can drive as fast in snow as you can on dry pavement!

4WD and AWD do NOT work well in icy conditions; if you hit a slick spot, you're going to be in as much trouble as you would be in an ordinary two-wheel-drive vehicle.

Drive with the same caution and courtesy you would use in good weather!

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keepin' the beat goin' and passing it on!

During winter driving, if you need to make a sudden stop due to icy road conditions, make sure you know what kind of brakes your car has! If you have disc brakes, the best way to stop is to "pump" your brakes and not push down and hold your foot. If you have anti-lock brakes, the opposite is true.

Have your tires rotated on a regular basis to ensure that they all receive the same amount of wear.

If the forecast is calling for heavy snow and ice and you have to park outside, pull your wiper blades away from the glass and have them sticking up. This way when you have to scrape your windows you will not accidentally break the wiper blades with the scraper.

If your windshield gets a chip in it for whatever reason – go ahead and have it sealed. If the size of the chip is smaller then a quarter, then it should be able to be sealed. A sealed chip will not crack and spread. This will save you the hassle of having to replace your windshield.

Before you buy a used car run the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) through a website such as carfax.com. This will tell you all kinds of information about the vehicle – such as where or not it is a vehicle that has been reported stolen anywhere, or if it has been in a wreck and might have an underlying problem you cant see.

Make sure you have a membership to an auto club, such as AAA (American Automobile Association); or, if you buy a new car and the dealer offers roadside assistance, take it. You don't want to be stranded somewhere and have no reliable way to get your tire changed or car towed when you need it!

Make sure you have your transmission flushed every 30,000 miles. This keeps it running in tip top shape!