Holiday Travel Hints: Tackle Road Trip Setbacks

Embarking on lengthy road trips to spend holidays with faraway loved ones has become a coveted pastime for many families. For those whose holiday tradition includes hours traveling the unpredictable open highway, the excitement surrounding the holiday season is tinged with the inevitable strain of road travel—is the vehicle going to make it without problems? Will we spend countless hours in a traffic jam? Though not all of life’s travel inconveniences are avoidable, you can take precautions to reduce the chance that your family’s holiday travels will involve some of the most dreaded road travel setbacks.

In the scurry to pack, get children ready, wrap gifts and arrange for pet and plant care, many holiday travelers neglect getting the adequate number of hours of sleep before a long trip. Since drowsiness contributes to thousands of automobile accidents, having a cautious, alert driver is perhaps the most important safety measure a family can take to prepare for an accident free trip. Planning and packing in advance can help alleviate the last minute rush that leads too many drivers to miss out on valuable sleep prior to a long trip.

One important step that cannot be overemphasized is preparing your vehicle for the trip—ahead of time. Even newer vehicles need to be inspected by a trained eye to ensure that they are in road trip condition. Do not wait until the last minute to have your vehicle checked. Allow enough time to have any repairs performed if needed. If you will be traveling in an area where severe winter weather is probable, ensure that your vehicle is equipped with proper gear for the climate, such as snow tires or chains. If everyone took these simple precautions before traveling, less stranded vehicles would clog the roadways and create another major travel foe—the traffic jam.

Traffic jams evoke frustration and disrupt travel plans for many holiday travelers. Sometimes, encountering heavy traffic during the holiday travel season cannot be avoided. However, it is becoming more feasible than ever to learn what traffic conditions lay ahead so that you can redirect your planned route when conditions are adverse. Research whether there are travel information websites or phone numbers in your travel area, useful resources which provide information about routes that have traffic delays caused by construction, an accident, or unfavorable weather, for instance. Modern GPS devices are even beginning to incorporate live traffic information features that allow motorists to avert traffic jams altogether.

Even after your vehicle has been thoroughly checked and undergone any necessary repairs, it is still a good idea to have an emergency kit that contains items such as flashlights, blankets, a first aid kit, jumper cables, and an inflated spare tire to protect the family if all does not go as planned.

About the Author: Greg Chapman, of Greg Chapman Motors, is a leading provider of used cars in Austin. For more information please visit Greg Chapman Motors.

What are Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)?

Today, most new vehicles are equipped with an anti-lock braking system or offer it as an option, and many car shoppers consider anti-lock brakes a must when they make a vehicle purchase. Designed to give the driver control over the vehicle while coming to a rapid stop, anti-lock brakes employ precisely calculated, rapid pumping action to prevent wheels from locking up during a sudden stop. Anti-lock brake technology marks such a significant breakthrough in the automobile industry that in a 2006 report published by www.cars.com, anti-lock braking technology was rated the #1 automobile innovation in recent years and was credited it for paving the way for roll mitigation and stability control technology.

Let us examine for a moment what happens to a vehicle without ABS as sudden pressure is applied to the brake. The wheel is capable of coming to a stop quicker than the vehicle itself, resulting in a skid as the wheel locks but the vehicle continues to move. When a vehicle skids, there is little traction and the driver has minimal or no control over the direction the vehicle will go.

Anti-lock brakes employ computer controlled speed sensors which detect sudden deceleration and activate right before the point when the wheels would otherwise lock up. By rapidly releasing and reapplying pressure to the brake system in quick intervals, the ABS system allows the tires to decelerate at the same rate as the vehicle, preventing skidding and allowing the driver to steer away from obstacles while braking if necessary. Without ABS, a vehicle in the same situation could lose traction, leaving the driver at the mercy of the out of control vehicle and anything in its path.

Several studies have raised doubt regarding whether the presence of ABS actually prevents accidents, and some experts suggest that drivers being unaware of how to correctly utilize the system contributes to the findings. When you rapidly compress the brake pedal in a vehicle with anti-lock brakes, it is normal to feel a pulsing or vibrating from the pedal, and possibly some noise. In vehicles with ABS, brakes should never be pumped with the foot. In an emergency stopping situation, hold constant pressure on the brake pedal while maintaining a firm grip on the steering wheel to control the direction of the vehicle, allowing the ABS to do the job for which they are designed.

In purchasing a vehicle with ABS, note that all ABS systems are not the same. While some systems include a speed sensor and valve for each of the four wheels, others may have just one valve and sensor for both rear wheels. Consult the owner’s manual for information about the type of ABS system with which a particular vehicle is equipped.

About the Author: Greg Chapman, of Greg Chapman Motors, is a leading provider of used cars in Austin. For more information please visit Greg Chapman Motors.

Wash your Vehicle like the Pros for Less

Having a sparkling clean vehicle does more than boost your pride in driving it. Removing the many substances that collect on your vehicle with normal use—tree sap, salt, grease, dirt, dead bugs and the like—can be a simple step toward preserving the quality of its exterior paint and thus its value. While having a professional wash can be a convenient luxury, the price tag leads many vehicle owners to take car washing into their own hands. These do-it-yourself car washing tips can help you achieve the same shine as the professionals at a fraction of the price:

-Begin with the right supplies. Though the convenience may be tempting, using household dishwashing detergent or other cleaners is not recommended for washing vehicles, as they may contain detergents that could harm paint or wax coatings. Before you begin, prepare a solution of warm water and car wash product in the recommended proportions. You will also need a soft, clean cloth for washing and another for drying. It may be helpful to also have another cloth or brush for cleaning wheels and tires. Tire protectant and wheel (or wheel cover) cleaner appropriate for your vehicle are also good to have on hand for final touches.

-Take a top-down approach. Cleaning the top of your vehicle first will allow you to clean the roof, windshield and windows while your cloth is cleanest, which can prevent streaks and the need to re-rinse clean areas later. Clean the glass and roof first, rinsing often to prevent soap from drying before it is removed. The bottom perimeter of a vehicle is typically the most heavily soiled, so cleaning it last prevents transferring dirt particles to parts of the vehicle that have already been cleaned.

-Don’t stop at washing. Drying the exterior of your vehicle with a clean, absorptive cloth after washing will prevent water spots and pick up any dirt you may have missed.
-Details, details. Opening the doors of your vehicle will reveal an area often overlooked by people cleaning their own vehicles. The insides of door panels usually include an extension of the finish on the exterior of the vehicle, and collect debris that can be easily removed by wiping with a wet cloth.

-Accentuate with glossy wheels and tires. Clean wheels and tires are an attractive final touch that will make your vehicle look truly clean. Depending on the finish of your wheels or wheel covers, the car wash product used on the rest of the vehicle may remove brake dust and other debris, or a cleaner designed for such may be needed. Before purchasing a wheel cleaner, ensure that it is designed for the type of wheels or wheel covers on your vehicle to prevent damage.

Waiting long periods of time between washes can make the process more difficult as layers of debris collect on the vehicle. Though not necessary each time you wash your vehicle, regularly applying a coat of vehicle wax to protect the paint will help maintain its luster and make cleaning the vehicle easier the next time around.

About the Author: Greg Chapman, of Greg Chapman Motors, is a leading provider of used cars in Austin. For more information please visit Greg Chapman Motors.

Don’t Make your Vehicle a Target for Thieves

Most people have in the back of their minds some concern about their vehicles being involved in an accident or unexpected breakdown—major inconveniences that leave many people across the country stranded without a vehicle every day. Though the likelihood is often ignored, theft represents another major threat to vehicles owners. In fact, www.nicb.org reports that a vehicle is stolen in the United States every 25.5 seconds—a telling statistic that reminds us why we should take precautions to protect our vehicles against thieves who are waiting for the moment we let our guards down. Here we examine some precautions vehicle owners can take to reduce the likelihood that their vehicle will be targeted by a thief:

-Never leave keys in the ignition. Neglect of this seemingly obvious piece of advice results in numerous effortless car thefts across the country. Even a quick thirty second run into a convenience store or your home is ample time for your car to disappear into the hands of a thief. Always take your keys with you when you leave your vehicle.

-Lock all vehicle doors, all the time. Simply locking the doors to your vehicle may be enough to deter a thief who is looking for an easy target. Keeping vehicle doors locked is advised not only when your vehicle is parked, but when you are driving as well to protect against carjacking. If a person approaches your vehicle while you are in it, drive away immediately.

-Keep windows closed completely when parked. Even a slightly open window can be enough to give a thief easy access to your vehicle, and may be the simple cue that attracts a thief to your vehicle in the first place.

-Keep valuables out of your vehicle, or at least out of view. If you must leave valuable items in your vehicle—or even items that may appear valuable to a thief—make sure to lock them in the trunk or otherwise out of sight. Anything that could entice a thief to target your vehicle should be considered a valuable item. Purses, wallets, jewelry, electronics, briefcases, laptops, shopping bags or other containers that may be perceived to hold valuable items should never be left in clear view from outside the vehicle. Hiding valuables also includes removing the face of a detachable face CD player if you have one.

-Utilize an alarm system. An alarm system can be a valuable deterrent to a thief seeking an easy target. A wide range of vehicle alarms are available, from the familiar audible alarm system to modern tracking systems that provide authorities with information about your vehicle’s location in the event that it is reported stolen.

-Park in well lighted, heavily traveled areas. Car thieves seek out environments conducive to committing their crimes unnoticed, such as poorly lit areas with little to no passersby. Parking your vehicle in a well lit, populated location can reduce the chances that a thief will target your vehicle for theft.

Precautions to prevent your vehicle from being stolen should not be overlooked. Car thieves are driven by the profits they can make by selling your vehicle, disassembling and selling its individual parts or the possibility of using your vehicle as an instrument to commit other crimes. Identity theft is another viable threat when a thief obtains access to all of the documents and information within your vehicle. Complying with the simple precautions above can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of car theft.

About the Author: Greg Chapman, of Greg Chapman Motors, is a leading provider of used cars in Austin. For more information please visit Greg Chapman Motors.