• One in four could not pay for a car repair of $2,000
• One in eight could not even pay for a $1,000 car repair bill
• One fourth of drivers are neglecting car repairs and maintenance largely due to the economy – which could put them at risk for unexpected car repair costs.

If a $2,000 car repair came up for you, how would you pay for it? The survey found:

• 38 percent would pay with funds from a savings account
• 20 percent would pay with their credit cards
• 11 percent would have to borrow from friends, family, retirement or home equity

None of these is a good situation, right? A much better solution is a vehicle service contract from WarrantyDirect.com that can cost just a few dollars a day and protect you from a wide range of expensive auto repairs.

The AAA survey found that repair bills of $1,000, $2,000 or more can quickly arise – especially with older vehicles that have not been properly maintained. For example:

• A transmission repair can cost $2,000 to $4,000
• A major engine repair can exceed $5,000
• Even major brake repairs can range from $350 to $1,000 or more

Project yourself and your family. Call Warranty Direct today to talk about affordable coverage options for your car at 877-867-3565.

Warranty Direct has been in business for 35 years, has an A+ rating with the BBB, handles their own claims, and is licensed in all 50 states. Call 877-867-3565 or visit www.warrantydirect.com now.

“We are increasing the coverage for our most popular contracts by a whole year, and providing additional options for others, to make our coverage an even better value in the current economy,” said Tara Williams, Executive Vice President of Warranty Direct in Charlotte. “We have had numerous customer requests for these options, and we are very pleased to make them available, effective Sept. 12.”

“With several comprehensive policy options, coverage for new cars has been increased by one year, to a maximum of eight years, and for used cars up to a maximum of 11 years of vehicle age,” Williams explained. “For one of our popular economical products, which just covers major components such as engine, transmission and drive train, we have expanded it to cover electronic components as well, for just about 10 percent more.”

Warranty Direct is also offering the extended warranty industry’s first “disappearing deductible.” It will waive its normal $100 deductible whenever customers have their cars repaired at two major approved suppliers, Firestone Complete Auto Care with 1,500 stores nationwide and AAMCO Transmission Repair with 750 locations.

Additional information on the coverage improvement options are available on the company website, www.warrantydirect.com.

For more than 30 years, Warranty Direct has been part of one of the largest and most established vehicle service contract companies in North America. Today Warranty Direct operates primarily on the Internet, providing full transparency for the consumer so they can see all options, prices and contracts online prior to purchase. The company respects consumers by never engaging in unsolicited phone calls (telemarketing). Warranty Direct is one of the few auto warranty companies rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.

Dear Tom,
I purchased a used ‘09 VW Jetta, with 8,000 miles. The car has a 2-yr/24k mile warranty, and I was offered an additional warranty of 5 yr/75k miles for an additional $1900. Should I buy the extended warranty, or is the standard one enough?
Arika from San Diego, CA

Arika,
It all depends on how long you are going to keep the car and what is covered in the ‘standard warranty.’ If the standard warranty covers the car bumper to bumper and you’re going to keep the car beyond the two years and 24K miles, then buy the extended warranty after the present warranty expires. If the present warranty lacks coverage on items you would like covered now, then buy the extended warranty now. Before you buy, make sure the warranty company is a solid one. We recommend Warranty Direct.Com on my national radio show and on the show’s website because they have an impeccable history on customer service and claim payouts. Make sure you check this warranty company out before making a decision. I wish you success.
Tom

Michael,
The transmission in your car is shifted via cables between the shifter and the trans. My first guess would be that one of the cables has popped off the linkage or shifter. There is a Technical Service Bulletin from Jaguar (# XT308-04) referring to revised shift cables to correct a noise concern. I suspect you need to have this service performed to correct the problem.
Tom

Paul,
First, I have one question: are you talking about a car or a woman? Wow… talk about having a relationship with your car! I would start by rechecking the battery connections. Check the ground wire at the battery as well as engine and body connections. Check the positive cable at the battery and down at the starter. It could be that the starter went bad or a fuse blew. Oftentimes the starting system on European models is fused with a large fuse under the hood. I also checked my database on your vehicle and came up with recall# 06-01 Group# 27 that was done on March 29th of 2006. It addresses a concern with the alternators on that particular year, make, and model vehicle. Under certain operating conditions, the alternator may discharge, resulting in a dead battery. Have the dealership check your VIN to see if your vehicle is involved in this recall from VW. Good luck!
Tom

Robert,
You have an intake leak. This is common on GM 3800 engines. Have the gasket replaced and make sure, from this point forward, that you have the coolant serviced every 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. Your vehicle uses Dexcool as a coolant. When the level gets low, oxygen chemically reacts with the coolant forming an acid. This acid eats away at the intake gaskets causing a leak. If you keep the cooling system clean with fresh coolant every two years or 24,000 miles this will not happen.
Tom

Nancy,
It sounds like a relay is shorting internally. Also, check the brake pedal linkage to see if a wiring harness has chaffed through and is grounding on the pedal arm. I wish you success.
Tom

Susan,
The best scenario for your “less experienced wintertime drivers” is to put four snow tires on the vehicle. This will ensure maximum traction in all inclement weather. There are many excellent winter tires on the market. I like Hapikolita, Nokian, and Hankook, just to mention a few. Winter treads are designed with special segmentation (and often ice cleats) that aid in winter traction. As for your son being in a hurry because of his sister’s problem with time management, tell him to leave without her a couple of times and she will mend her ways. If he does slide off the road, make him pay for the tow job. We learn best when we get hit in the wallet! Best to you.
Tom

Find Tom’s new book, “How To Make Your Car Last Forever” in local Barnes & Nobel, Borders, and Walden booksellers. Find it online at Amazon.com. Great holiday gift for anyone who wants his or her car to run efficiently and last longer

For more articles by Tom Torbjornsen, visit AMERICA’S CAR SHOW web site: www.americascarshow.com

Tom Torbjornsen is an automotive expert of 37 years. An automotive journalist in good standing with the IMPA (International Motor Press Association), Torbjornsen is the Repair and Maintenance Editor for AOL Autos, At Home Portals, and many other websites. Hear his radio show AMERICA’S CAR SHOW, on the Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel – Stars Too – Sirius 108 and XM 139; Sunday nights – 10PM – Mid EST. You can hear the live stream of the show at www.americascarshow.com Saturdays at Noon EST. Send your car questions to his website at: www.americascarshow.com.

Take advantage of our April Sales Promotion to save on your vehicle service contract (extended auto warranty).

This offer is available is available for a limited time. (Discount offer not available in Florida or California.)

Call 800-632-4222 or visit Warranty Direct today for more details!

(promo now expired)

This is just to let you know how pleased I am with your service. I recently purchased a policy with Warranty Direct, just before my car’s original warranty expired. My car had not had any problems up to that point, so I was unsure whether this extra expense was really necessary, but only a few weeks later, I took my car to the dealer for some maintenance and several leaks were discovered. Your company covered the cost of repairs without any problem. Shortly thereafter, a totally different issue was discovered and Warranty Direct also covered it, this time supplying the required part directly to the mechanic. Needless to say, I am very glad that I purchased the warranty when I did. Thank you for making these repairs so simple and direct. I will definitely recommend your service.

Bob W.
Atlanta, Georgia

Take advantage of our March 8th Sales Promotion to save a lot on your vehicle service contract (extended auto warranty).

• $500 Off all plans we offer
• 5% Down (normally 10% down is required)
• 0% Financing

This offer is available today only (March 8th, 2010) until 8:00 PM EST. (Discount offer not available in Florida or California.)

Call 800-632-4222 or visit Warranty Direct today!

Dear Tom,
Should I buy the extended warranty for my 2003 Buick? I was just advised that I should have purchased the warranty when I bought the car. How important is it?
Pat from Johnstown, PA

Pat,
Extended warranties are well worth the money if you keep the car for longer than the factory warranty covers the vehicle. Why? Because auto repair gets quite expensive when you consider electrical component repair/replacement, transmission/engine repairs, etc. When buying an extended warranty, make sure you buy from a company that has a good track record when it comes to paying claims. Also, find out if they do business with a lot of car dealerships and if they have been in business for a lot of years OR that they have serious capital to back up their coverage/claims. I recommend Warranty Direct because they meet the criteria I outlined above.
Tom

Mannie,
Why do you ask this question? Are you going for the Guinness Book of World Records for time lapsed between oil changes? Seriously, if engine oil is left in the engine too long, viscosity breakdown occurs (the oil loses its ability to lubricate the engine). Sludging will also occur due to the increased engine temperatures from friction caused by decreased lubrication. Stick to the recommended maintenance drain interval or, if you want to go longer between oil changes, switch to synthetic motor oil and change the oil every 7,000 miles. Good luck.
Tom

GR,
First of all, your car has electronic fuel injection (carburetors are a thing of the past since the late eighties). If the fuel delivery system were leaking, you would smell gas, so let’s rule out a fuel leak. It could be an engine oil leak, trans fluid leak, coolant leak, power steering fluid leak, or (most likely) a leak in the heater core. Start the diagnosis with a cooling system pressure test to see if the heater core is leaking. If it’s okay, then get the car up on a lift and check for a transmission or engine oil leak. Best to you.
Tom

Sandi,
There is no specific tune up schedule for your car. As a matter of fact, if you check the maintenance schedule, it will probably suggest to change your sparkplugs at 100,000 miles. I do not subscribe to this suggestion. I would remove the plugs every 25,000 miles, inspect and clean them, and re-gap. Then re-install the plugs, applying never-seize compound to the threads (and torquing them according to manufacturer’s specs). Also, make sure to change the air filters and breather elements according to manufacturer’s specs. This regimen will keep your chariot in tiptop running condition. Success to you.
Tom

Abdul,
Yes, I would flush the radiator, replace the thermostat, and refill with a fresh 50/50 mix of coolant and water. I would also flush the trans and replace the filter with an OEM quality one. Brake fluid and power steering fluid flushing are subject to condition. Check for the presence of rust or sediment in the brake master cylinder. If it’s clean, leave it alone. Check the power steering fluid for color and smell. If it’s clear and there’s no burnt smell, leave it alone. Using a gasoline with high sulfur content can cause the rotten egg smell. Try switching brands. Run a couple of tanks through and see if the smell goes away. If it doesn’t, have a diagnostic done because the engine is dumping more fuel into the engine than the catalytic converter can process (resulting in the rotten egg smell).
Tom

For more articles by Tom Torbjornsen, visit AMERICA’S CAR SHOW web site: www.americascarshow.com

Tom Torbjornsen is an automotive expert of 37 years. An automotive journalist in good standing with the IMPA (International Motor Press Association), Torbjornsen is the Repair and Maintenance Editor for AOL Autos, Edmunds.Com, At Home Portals and many other websites. Torbjornsen is the auto expert of record for Channel 4 WIVB TV, Western New York’s CBS affiliate. Hear his radio show AMERICA’S CAR SHOW, on the Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel – Stars Too – Sirius 108 and XM 139; Sunday nights – 10PM – Mid EST. Send your car questions to his website at: www.americascarshow.com

According to US News & World Report, you don’t need to purchase a warranty the moment you buy the car. If you want one, you can easily buy it later from a reputable third-party company. “The dealer’s extended warranty isn’t necessarily the best deal; in fact, it usually costs more. Plus, you’re in a high-pressure situation at the dealer and might not be able to read the fine print. Finally, if you buy the dealer’s extended warranty, you might be required to return to that dealership to get it honored – which could become a problem if you move.” So contact Warranty Direct and buy direct from us and save.

If you need a vehicle service contract (generally known as an extended warranty), call Warranty Direct first and let us help you get protected  from unexpected repair bill costs when a break down occurs. You can reach us at (800) 632-4222 or visit www.warrantydirect.com to find out more.

Dear Warranty Direct,

It is clear Warranty Direct is a cut above its’ competitors, and you’ll be proud to know Scott Richards embraces the company’s motto by the manner in which he delivers client services.  Therefore, I’d like to take a moment to share with you my appreciation of Scott’s quality of service and professionalism.

Scott and I negotiated my extended car warranty for approximately 2 months and we closed the deal officially on 9/21/09.  Through my 2 months of interaction with Scott, it became apparent he consciously strives to provide a collaborative and consultative relationship with his customers in a proactive manner.  Below are a few attributes he displayed, and all of which contribute to his “winning formula” in rendering top-notch client services.

Scott successfully embraces and renders the following invaluable competencies:

• Presents a professional first impression
• Discovers, defines, and understands his customers’ needs – demonstrating agility
• Listens and acknowledges customer opinions
• Sets expectations in a relationship building manner
• Deals with difficult clients – demonstrating agility and resilience
• Possesses a level of influence, leadership in thought, and people by going beyond transactional-based sales

Business Results:

• Differentiates through collaboration and relationship building
• Exercises good judgment and leadership
• Successfully close sales

Bottom Line: Scott’s quality of work and professionalism shines through and it is appreciated!

Sincerely,
D. Porter from McLean, VA

If you are a current customer and would like to let us know how we are doing please write us at feedback@warrantydirect.com or give us a call Toll Free at (800) 632-4222.

One thing we haven’t heard much about, however, is how Chrysler owners will be effected by the bankruptcy filing.  Being in the extended warranty business, we’re frequently fielding the following questions:

• How will my factory warranty coverage be effected by Chrysler’s bankruptcy?
• The President said that Chrysler purchasers would be protected even if Chrysler filed bankruptcy.  Are there any caveats?
• Does my extended warranty coverage immediately go into effect if Chrysler’s factory warranty is terminated?

At Warranty Direct, we’ve been examining the Chrysler bankruptcy issue and want to assure our customers that we can provide them with solid answers.  Starting next week we’ll be posting information on our blog to help Chrysler owners better understand what happens in a bankruptcy situation.

If you’re a Chrysler owner and you can’t wait, feel free to call us at (800) 632-4222 with any questions you might have.