Posted on October 26th, 2009 by Warranty Direct
This weekly feature for Warranty Direct about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America’s Car Show on satellite radio. Below are some recent Q&A from the America’s Car Show email bag.
Dear Tom,
I own a 2000 For Taurus with only 18,600 miles on it and it’s in excellent condition. I took it into my tire dealer to have the tires rotated for a third time and to have a four-wheel alignment for the second time. They tried to sell me a full four-wheel tire rebalancing. In all the years I have owned cars I have only once had a tire rebalanced because I felt a vibration. Am I right or should I have all four tires rebalanced more often?
George from Atlanta, GA Read more...
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Filed under: Americas Car Show, Driving Tips, Vehicle Maintenance, Vehicle repairs, Warranty Direct, Wear and Tear
Posted on April 17th, 2009 by Warranty Direct
Almost everyone knows someone who has been a victim of car theft. Perhaps you have been a victim yourself.
Having your car stolen can be devastating, especially if you have personal belongings inside the vehicle that are hard to replace, like a purse or wallet, car seat, or special sound system.
If your car does get stolen and can’t be found, your insurance company will only give you the book value price of your vehicle based on Kelly Blue Book or another similar company that values cars based on year, model, and mileage. Often the money you might get from your insurance company isn’t enough to replace your vehicle.
There are, however, great tips to keep you car from getting stolen. Read more...
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Filed under: Wear and Tear
Posted on April 15th, 2009 by Warranty Direct
When you buy a new or used car from an auto dealer, chances are they’ve performed a once over on the vehicle including making sure the tires are still good.
But what about after you drive off that lot? How can you tell if you tires are still good after driving for hundreds or thousands of miles?
You can use the general rule of thumb by reading the manufacturer owner’s manual. In the manual, it usually will recommend how often your tires should be rotated or replaced. This does come with a caveat; however. Depending on what part of the country you live in and what sort of roads you drive on, you can’t always rely that the owner’s manual is the best choice. Read more...
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Filed under: Wear and Tear
Posted on April 9th, 2009 by Warranty Direct
When we drive along in our cars, happy as buzzing bees, we hardly think of the stuff that’s under the car. Parts like…the muffler.
There are things you should and should not do if your muffler falls off. I say this from experience and from the scar my hand still holds, and I blame my sister.
I was about fourteen years old when my older sister was driving us both to see our grandparents. The trip always took us up a long hill that we called “Dracula Hill” because the trees towered over the houses, sidewalks, and street. It was a gloomy hill. First, we heard a bang we could not identify. Next, the car was spitting loud noises so my very nice sister pulled the car over; we were only half way up Dracula Hill. “What was that?” I said. “The muffler fell off,” she told me. “Go get it.” Read more...
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Filed under: Wear and Tear
