Spring/Summer

The use of a car cover can help protect your car from a myriad of harmful factors such as sunlight, acid rain, fallen braches, etc. However, if you do not use the cover properly, you may risk the chance of damaging your vehicle rather than protecting it.

Most car covers are used to shield your car from the outdoor elements but some people use them indoors as well to protect against dust. There are three basic types of car covers: water proof, water resistant and non-water resistant. Each of these covers has advantages and disadvantages.

Although you may want to get rid of your present vehicle in favor of a new car, repowering your current set of wheels may make much more sense in the long run, according to the Engine Repower Council (ERC) and the Car Care Council (CCC).

Major Associations Support Act to Keep Marketplace Competitive Passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act is critical toward ensuring both the economic well being of the small businesses that comprise the independent vehicle repair industry and the affordability and convenience of maintaining vehicles for American car owners, according to leaders of several national aftermarket associations.

One of the most vital components to a properly functioning vehicle is the ‘Check Engine’ light. It alerts the driver to a variety of potential problems based on the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system. When the ‘Check Engine’ light comes on, it means that some system in your vehicle, including ignition, fuel injection or emission control, is not operating at peak performance, even if your vehicle appears to you to be running normally.

The ravages of winter can be hard on a vehicle, so whether you do it yourself or take your car to a professional service technician, the Car Care Council recommends a spring tune-up to help ensure that your car is ready for the upcoming spring and summer travel season.

To stay on top of proper care, maintenance and repair, the Car Care Council is offering a free vehicle service interval schedule on its Web site, www.carcare.org.

A “totaled” engine no longer means having to purchase a new car. Today’s car owners have another option: purchasing a repowered engine.

Repowering simply means installation of a rebuilt or remanufactured engine by your vehicle service provider or the process of rebuilding your existing engine and reinstalling it. Both are alternatives to trading in your vehicle, according to the Engine Repower Council.

A pothole can be your car’s worst enemy. These holes or pits on a road’s surface can seriously damage a vehicle’s ride control system.

If you do drive over a pothole, have your car’s shocks or struts checked to make sure they aren’t damaged.

Shocks and struts control how vehicles ride and handle. The shock absorbers, or struts act as a cushion to dampen the bouncing action of a car’s springs. The springs absorb the road bumps; without them, the vehicle would continually bounce and bound down the road, making driving extremely difficult.

Many of the more than 25,000 vehicle accidents caused by debris on the highway could be avoided by simple maintenance, according to the Care car Council.

Maintaining Present Vehicle May Be Key to Long-Term Financial Happiness
Everybody wants a new car. You see a nice car pass you on the highway and think, ‘Why can’t I have that’? However, financial planners believe that taking better care of your current car may help you in the long run with your goal of financial freedom, according to the Car Care Council.

Do you have your vehicle’s oil changed every 3,000 miles? Do you regularly check the air pressure in your tires or have them rotated on a set maintenance schedule? Are your vehicle’s fluids checked regularly?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you’re not alone.

According to the Car Care Council, 87 percent of vehicles inspected during National Car Care Month earlier this year failed one or more aspects of the annual inspection.