What To Do If You Are Involved In A Minor Car Accident

Any car accident can be very distressing - buying a brand new front wheel hub or rear wheel hub and then having it destroyed is never fun. However, if you are prepared it can help make a stressful situation more manageable. This guide is for cases in which there are no injuries to either party in the accident. If you are involved in an accident where there are injuries to either party, you must stop immediately and dial 911.

 The first thing to do if you are involved in an accident is, if possible, to move your car to a safe nearby location out of the way of other motorists. Be careful not to go too far, and never leave the scene. Leaving the scene of an accident is a highly punishable offense and a felony in cases where someone is injured.

Stay calm. Regardless of whether the accident was your fault or not, don’t panic, remain polite, and do not admit fault. Contact your local police, who will inform you whether or not a patrol officer should come and assess the situation.

Then exchange information with the other party. Collect their contact information, insurance information, the year make model and color of their vehicle, and their license plate number. Take a picture of the damage to both vehicles at the scene of the accident. Take pictures from multiple angles, and try to get as much detail as possible – from close-ups of the damage to wider shots of the scene itself. If you do not have a camera on your mobile phone, purchase a disposable camera and keep it in your car at all times in case of an accident. Also collect contact information from the tow truck driver and any witnesses (if present).

After you have exchanged all of the information necessary, you should be ready to get on your way. Make sure to keep all of the information you gathered in a safe place so you can reference it once you return home to complete the necessary paperwork, and ensure the responsible party pays for the repairs.

How to Get Warranty Work Done at the Dealership

A great way to ruin your day is to have your diesel engine parts or diesel injectors go out on you. It's even worse when the parts aren't warrantied; or worse still, when the parts ARE warrantied by the manufacturer but your local dealership doesn't want to warranty the parts for you.

It's sometimes difficult to realize that dealerships are not directly related to the brand of vehicles they sell. Though you hold high regard for the automaker of the car you purchased, the dealership can fall short of those high standards. Automakers try very hard to get their dealers to be honest and good to their customers (it affects their brand image a great deal), but still sleazy dealerships persist.

Marilynn K. Yee/The New York Times

 Here are some tips to get warranty work done on your vehicle:

1. Know Your Warranty: The owner's manual for your vehicle will have a warranty section, or a separate warranty pamphlet. There are often separate warranty terms for different parts of your vehicle; an example is a Drivetrain Warranty. Make sure that the part in question is covered under the manufacturer's warranty, and that your vehicle is within the warranty parameters.

2. Be Polite But Firm: If a dealer argues with you that the part is not under warranty when it clearly is, ask politely if you can check the warranty section of your manual. If they are still being resistant, nicely ask if they would like you to call the automaker to get authorization for them. Maintain an attitude of trying to work to solve the problem, not trying to accuse the dealer. Unfortunately your best bet of getting the problem fixed lies with the dealer, so make sure to remain polite and genial but firm.

3. Call The Automaker: If the dealer still refuses, you can always repeat the process at a different dealer in hopes of getting better service. If not, however, it may be necessary to contact your automaker and let them know of your experience. They often have national and regional telephone numbers; check your automaker's main website and search for the regional telephone number (if you can get it). Once on the phone, still remain polite and calm and do not badmouth the dealer. You do not want to be labeled as one of those "insane customers" so it's best to keep your cool and emphasize you are just trying to resolve an issue with your vehicle, and you need help.

Think this is a warranty issue?

 4. Lemon Laws: If all else fails, you might need to get help from a lawyer. There are different laws for manufacturer's warranties in each state; finding out how many issues, and what kind of issues, you need to be experiencing to qualify could be useful to you. At this point you need to weigh the cost of lawyer's fees with the cost of buying a new part at your expense.

Hopefully, you will never need to follow all of these guidelines to get warranty work done on your vehicle. It can be an extremely frustrating experience but hopefully, armed with the facts, you'll get your vehicle taken care of.

Rear-Facing Camera's Might be Required by 2014

Last week we covered why it might be a good idea to install a dash cam into your vehicle. So many vehicles now come with a Car Navigation System and In Dash Navigation Screen stock, that adding a few cameras in the front and the rear can be easy and provide you with a range of benefits. Soon, however, automakers will not have a choice: rear facing back up cameras are set to be required for all vehicles made after 2014.

Based on a proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers must have the ability to see behind their vehicle when the vehicle is put into reverse. According to NHTSA, this "blind spot" regulation could save 95 to 112 lives per year, and prevent 7,000 to 8,000 or more injuries. Tragically, backover accidents cause an average of 229 deaths per year, 44% of which are children under 5 years old. Cars with lots of travel and small back windows (like SUVs) have very poor rear visibility, especially for children who are not taller than the back windows of the vehicle.

The matter is not cut and dried, however: there is some heated debate on whether measures like this are necessary. The NHTSA says the total approximate cost to equip their estimate of 16.6 million vehicles sold in 2014 would be between $1.9 billion and $2.7 billion. Of course it's impossible to put a price on a child's life, but it is possible to hold drivers responsible for making sure there is nothing behind their vehicle, especially if there are children around.

There is also the responsibility of parents  to keep an eye on their children to make sure they are not playing behind cars, and not in the driveway when a car is running. Given that in 2009 33,808 people were killed in automobile related accidents, back-up related deaths are relatively rare.

The decision has been delayed on several occasions so the jury isn't out yet on the issue, but if passed we could be seeing even the lowest base model cars with in-dash screens to support rear-facing cameras as early as 2014. Do you think the burden of responsibility lies with automakers or parents?

The Importance of Having a Dash Cam

Have you ever thought about getting a dash camera? Most people are more concerned with whether their Pre-Cat Oxygen Sensors and Post-Cat Oxygen Sensors are functioning properly, and that dash cams are just for police vehicles.

The driver pointing out his dash cam.

You might want to think again - there are several advantages to having a dash cam, first and foremost having a recorded account of anything you witness while driving. There is a video circulating online currently of a driver with a dash cam who had a car in front of them BACK INTO their vehicle. By law, this would normally be his fault as anything that looks like a rear-end is the fault of the rear driver. However, despite attempts of the front driver to threaten to call the police unless our driver pay him $500 on the spot, because of the dash cam he had evidence for his case.

This is also handy in case you witness a crime while driving, even if it doesn't involve your vehicle. Events like accidents and crimes can happen fast - human memory can prove to be hazy when pressed to recall exact details about a certain moment in time. A dash cam can be very useful in these situations to provide an accurate account of events, and to identify anyone involved.

Serious matters aside, footage from a dash cam can be entertaining. I'm sure you can think of a time when you've seen something while driving that is almost beyond belief, but upon telling the story to your friends it turns into one of those "you had to be there" moments. Showing the footage to friends, and even uploading it to popular video aggregating sites, enables you to share your hilarious moment with potentially thousands of people.

Lastly, footage from a dash cam can be artistic. Want to remember what that road trip was like a few years ago? A neat video compilation of normal hand-held video camera footage mixed with dash cam footage of your trip can provide a very cool experience for you and your loved ones to share.


Whatever you use it for, a dash cam can come in handy in the right moment. For all of it's uses, it seems worth the average $60 investment.

What Documents Are Important to Keep for my Vehicle?

There are several documents you are required to keep with you when you drive in the United States. It is easy to forget about necessary paperwork when driving – most of us are only concerned whether our CD Player and navigation units are functioning to make sure we are entertained and comfortable. However not having a piece of the necessary paperwork required for driving on public roads can leave you with a huge headache.

 One of these is a driver’s license, which also serves as a valid form of identification. As it is your license to drive, and a form of identification, it is best to carry your driver’s license with you at all times. These are issued by your home state, and the requirements for obtaining one vary from state to state. To check the requirements where you live, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website for your home state.

You are also required to carry a liability insurance policy for driving. The minimum requirements of these policies also vary from each state, but regardless, a card will be issued to you either physically or electronically. There are many insurance companies switching to paperless policies, and while this is more efficient and “eco-friendly,” it is important to make sure you print a copy of your insurance card and keep it with you if you received it electronically.

You are also required to register your vehicle in the state in which you live. After filling out a registration form, and a check for the fees for registering your vehicle, you will receive a document and a sticker to apply on the top right corner of your license plate. Make sure to keep the document that comes with the sticker – this is your vehicle registration paperwork and should be kept, along with your insurance information, in the glove compartment of your vehicle.

Why are these documents important to keep with you? If you are ever pulled over by any law enforcement officer, you will be required to furnish these documents as proof you are legally able to drive in the U.S. If you are caught without these documents you will most likely be issued a separate ticket for not having them on you, along with whatever violation you were cited for in the first place. Additionally, if you are ever involved in an auto accident, you will be required to exchange the information on these documents to the other party involved (if any), and depending on the severity of the accident, report it to the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is best to avoid any problems by making sure you have your paperwork in order at all times.
 

 Lastly, it is very important to keep the original documents that prove your ownership of the vehicle – typically called a title. The title to your vehicle is critical in proving that the vehicle belongs to you, and is required for registering the vehicle in your name for the first time. Never keep the title inside the vehicle – if the title is lost, getting another copy can be difficult. It is best to keep the title to your vehicle in a safe place at home where you can find it if you need it.

Why Should I Lower My Tire Pressure?

So, you’re cruising down the white sand beaches of Mexico in your truck with a Diesel Turbocharger, and all your buddies are flying by.  What’s going on? How come they seem to be floating on the sand while you’re struggling? They have exactly the same vehicle as you, right down to the exact same Diesel Injector.  The answer is probably tire pressure.

You may have heard people say that it is good to lower your tire pressure anytime you go off-roading, but might have never known why. You probably don’t want to ask, because not knowing something about off-roading would make you seem unmanly. Well, no need to wonder anymore, because I am about to tell you. The answer is a simple one word solution, FOOTPRINT. Just think of a camel.  Those things have bigger feet than Shaq, and Mother Nature gave the camel those aircraft carriers for a reason.  The bigger the foot, the larger the area to distribute the weight of the camel, which keeps the camel on top of the sand instead of sinking into it.

When you let air out of you tires it increases the size of your cars footprint.  More of your tire touches the sand.  When you do this you may think that more of the tire touches in width just by looking at it, but it actually increases the length of the footprint.  With this increased length your friends will no longer be leaving you in the dust… or should I say sand?

Driving in the sand is not the only time when lowering your tire pressure optimizes your ride.  Anytime you are off-road it will help, especially bumpy or rocky roads.  When you go over a rock, a fully inflated tire has to climb it. Even a small rock can cause the car to think it’s about to go up a steep hill. Just driving over a 2x4 piece of wood creates the same increase in angle as a hill with a 30 degree incline.   When you lower your tire pressure the tire doesn’t climb the rock or piece of wood, it engulfs it.  Your car stays flat on the road while your tire eats up the rock and spits it out the back.

Remember when you get back on a hard surface to reflate your tires.  Tires with low pressure easily bend and break wheels, and driving too fast could overheat your tires. The lower your pressures are set the lower the speed you should drive.

10 Things to NOT Put Off!

With more and more used cars on the road today it is especially important to keep up with regular car maintenance. At some point down the road parts like the AC compressor or a fuel injector may unfortunately go bad, but there are certain things that every driver should keep an eye on to avoid unexpected car fails. The first of these are the brakes because our safety is dependent on them. Brake failure is easily avoided by checking the fluid regularly and by replacing it every 24,000 miles. In addition to the fluid, the pads should be changed out depending on their condition and use. Just because they still make your car come to a stop, does not mean they don't need any help!

Other safety-related parts to keep an eye on are the tires. It’s easy to ignore tires that don’t have enough tread because you don’t want to drop that extra cash on a new set. However, this can be extremely dangerous and you may leave yourself hurt or stranded because of neglect. A typical time-frame for tire replacement is 6-10 years, although it obviously depends on their wear. An easy test to check a tire's condition is to put an upside-down penny between the treads. If you can see the top of the president’s head, time for a new tire! Check out the rest of a top 10 car maintenance checklist below!

1. Brakes: Fluid 2 years or 24,000 miles
2. Tires: Dependent on use; roughly 6-8 years
3. Coolant: 2 years or 24,000 miles
4. Engine Belt & Timing Belts: 3 years or 36,000 miles (Engine Belts) & 60,000-90,000 miles (timing belt)
5. Spark Plugs: Every 30,000-100,000 miles
6. Automatic Trans Fluid & Filter: Every 2 years or 24,000 miles
7. Air Filter: 12 months/12,000 miles or as needed
8. Battery: 48-60 months or as needed
9. Power-Steering Fluid: Top off as needed, inspect level with every oil change
10. Fuel Filter: Every 2 years or 24,000 miles

Pep Boys Sells for $800 Million

When you walk down to the local Pep Boys to replace your AC Condenser or Radiator Fan there may be a sign that reads “Under New Management.”  The iconic parts company recently sold to a Los Angeles equity firm for $800 million dollars.

There may be a sign out front, but not too much else should change.  The new owners plan on keeping management in place, and you know they will keep Manny, Joe and Jack around.  Pep Boys would just not be the same with those giant headed mascots.  There are no plans to shut down any of the 729 stores, or to let go any employees.

Pep Boys hit a rough spot in the road because of increased competition and a bad economy.  They posted losses for four straight years.  While their competitors saw growth during tough times, because of people wanting to fix their old cars instead of buying new ones, Pep Boys did not. Some analysts believe it is because Pep Boys has both a parts and service division while their competitors only focus on one.

The new owner speculates that it will take a while to get Pep Boys back in the fast lane, but they are confident it will happen.