What Should You Do With Your Gas Hog

The economy continues to struggle and gas prices remain high. The cost to fill up the gas tank in an average car is over $60. If that is breaking your budget, there are two things you can do about it. You can try to improve the gas mileage in your car or you can replace it with a more fuel efficient one.

To improve the gas mileage in your car, make sure your tires are properly inflated. Under inflated tires will waste as much as 2 miles per gallon. Also, put in new spark plugs in every 30,000 miles and replace your air filter regularly. A tune up will also help. The smoother your car runs, the better its gas mileage will be. You should remove anything from your car you do not really need. The more weight there is in your car, the more gas it will use.  Also, remove your roof rack when you are not using it and if you have a pickup truck put a bed cover on. These changes will reduce drag and give you 2 or 3 more mpg.

Of course, the ultimate gas saver is to slow down. The faster you drive the more gas your car will use. If you drive the speed limit, accelerate gradually and avoid sudden stops you can save 3 mpg or more.

If you do buy a fuel efficient car, you have to figure out what to do with your gas guzzler. The car dealership will probably not want it as a trade in because there is no demand for them. For the same reason, it will be difficult to sell it privately. You can sell it for parts at a junk yard for a couple hundred dollars, or you can donate your car to charity. When you donate car, you get a tax deduction of the amount the charity sells your cr for or $500, whichever is more. You only need to itemize on your federal tax return to claim your tax deduction. 

Cars4Charities will gladly take your gas guzzler for donation. You car will be picked up for free too! You just need to provide them with a valid title for your car. And, Cars4Charities has hundreds of charities that can be helped by your car donation. For details, please go to http://www.cars4charities.org/ or call 866.448.3487.

Troubleshooting A/C Problems

This is the time of the year when you want the air conditioning in your car to be running at its peak performance. If yours is not, there are some things you can do to fix it.

If your A/C works for awhile, but then begins to blow warm air, it is freezing up. That occurs when there is air and/or moisture in the system. To correct the problem, use a vacuum pump to purge the system.

If you A/C only blows warm or hot air, check the compressor by starting the car and putting the A/C on. If the compressor itself makes a lot of noise or you hear a squeal, it is telling you it is time to replace it. If not, look to see if the compressor clutch is turning. The clutch is located in the front of the compressor. If it is turning, there is enough refrigerant in the system. Most cars have a safety switch that shuts off the compressor if it is too low on refrigerant.   

If the compressor clutch is not turning, check to see if it is getting voltage. If it is not, replace the fuse.  Then start the car and put the A/C on. If the A/C works for awhile, but the fuse subsequently blows, you have a short somewhere. If the compressor is getting voltage but it is not engaging, the clutch is bad and needs to be replaced. If you feel any liquid around the compressor shaft seal, you should replace that also. Remember, before you replace any parts, the refrigerant must first be evacuated from the system.

One good way to diagnose the system is by using a set of A/C service gauges. The price range for a set of gauges is $50 and up. Attach the gauges to the high and low service fittings on the A/C unit. Then turn the A/C in your car to the highest setting and rev the engine. If both gauges read low, the problem could be with the compressor or that the system is low on refrigerant. Before you recharge the system, check for leaks.

If you have an older car with an R-12 system, you can feel for an oily residue around the compressor, condenser, hoses, etc.  Most new cars have an R-134 system. Leaks with this system are harder to find because you will not find any oily residue. Another way to check for leaks is to spray some soapy water on the hoses, connections, etc. Wherever you see a bubble, there is a leak. If you find a leak, you need to replace that part. Unfortunately, if your evaporator or condenser is leaking, the replacement cost will be high. If you do replace the leaky part, you will need to recharge the system afterwards.

If you do not find any leaks, the system could still need to be recharged. That is because all cars leak some refrigerant through tiny pores in the hoses and through the seals. The older the car, the more refrigerant will have leaked. Newer cars have a smaller system capacity than older ones. Therefore, even a small amount of leakage in a newer car can negatively impact its cooling capability.

Why is my Car Overheating?

It has been a very hot summer so far. Many people are complaining that their car is overheating in these extreme temperatures. When your engine overheats, it can damage the radiator and the engine. It is not a minor thing. So, what might cause a car to overheat? There are a lot of reasons.

First, check the level of coolant in the radiator and overflow bottle. Add a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze to water if it is low. Next, check underneath your car. If there is fluid there, coolant could be leaking from either the radiator or the hoses. You can check the hoses to see if there are cracks or wet spots. If so, replace them. If the coolant is leaking from the radiator, it will need to be replaced.

Next, check the thermostat. If it is stuck in the closed position it will not let the coolant flow into your engine. A good way to check it is to feel the upper part of the radiator hose when the car is warm. It should be warm also. If the hose is not warm, the thermostat is not open and needs to be replaced.

Next, check the radiator cap. It will need to be replaced if it is cracked or if the seal gasket is cracked or gone. If you do not find any problems with the radiator cap, take a look at the water pump. Check the belt to the water pump to make sure it is tight and there are no cracks. The water pump circulates the coolant through the engine. If your water pump is bad, your car will overheat within a few minutes after it is started.

Now take a look at the cooling fan. There are two types of fans, electric and mechanical. If you have a front wheel drive car, it probably has an electrical fan.  This fan will start automatically when your car is warm or when the air conditioning is turned on. The best way to check it is to start your car and turn on the air conditioner. If the fan does not start, it is bad and needs to be replaced.

Cars that have a mechanical fan also have a belt driven fan blade and clutch. The clutch makes the fan run faster when the engine is warm. If there is a problem with it, you will not be able to turn the fan blade easily when the car is off and the engine is cold.

A clogged radiator will also cause your car to overheat. The best way to check it is to have a mechanic pressure check it. If you do not want to spend the money to do that, you can check to see if there is a big difference between the temperature of the upper hose on the radiator and the temperature of the lower hose. If there is, your radiator is clogged and needs to be flushed. When checking this, be careful of the fan blades. You can also use an infrared thermometer to check the radiator for cold spots. Again, if your radiator has cold spots it is probably clogged.

When it Does Not Make Sense to Fix Your Car

During these hard economic times, we are all trying to stretch a dollar. One way we are doing that is by keeping our car longer. That of course means we now have to make repairs to a car that we may have simply replaced a few years ago. That puts many of us into the uncharted waters of car repair. So, when does repairing the car fall into the category of throwing good money after bad? The answer depends on a lot of things and is different for everyone.

Obviously, one major contributor to that decision is the cost of the repairs. If the cost of those repairs is more that the car is worth, is does not make much sense to fix it. If you do not know the value of your car, you can find out from the Kelly Blue Book. The Kelly Blue Book only goes back twenty years. If your car is older than that, you can find out its value from The NADA Guides classic car section.

If the costs of repairs are less than the value of the vehicle and you are fairly handy, you may be able to save the labor costs by doing the repairs yourself. If you cannot do the repairs yourself, there are many things to consider when deciding what to do with the car. If your car has high mileage, is very old, has been giving you a lot of trouble or is generally in poor condition, it simply may not be in your best interest to repair it. Ultimately, the decision will come down to you level of comfort with your car.

If you do decide to replace your car, you then have to figure out what to do with it. You can trade it in. However, most car buying guides suggest that you are likely to get a better deal without a trade in. Also, the car dealer will probably not give you much for it because it needs repairs. For the same reason, it may be hard to sell it privately. Most car buyers do not want to purchase a car that needs repair, particularly if it does not run.

You can sell it to a junk yard. They might give you a couple of hundred dollars for it. They will then sell all the workable parts from it for a lot more money than you received, then crush it and sell the scrap metal.

You can decide to dismantle your car and sell the parts yourself. That will cost you a lot of time along with some money for advertising. Then you have to decide what to do if someone claims the part you sold them does not work. You also have the problem of disposing of the left over parts and the carcass of the car. And, many communities will not allow you to have a dismantled car on your property.

Another alternative is to simply donate your car to charity. If you donate car, you will get a tax deduction of the greater of $500 or the amount the charity sells your vehicle for.

Is it Better to Buy a New Car or a Used Car?

If you are in the market for another car, you are probably wondering whether it is better financially to buy a new car or a used car. There are a lot of pros and cons to each and it really comes down to the choice that is best for your situation.

If you are looking to finance the car, the rates are much better for new cars. In addition, you will get the latest style, technology and safety features with a new car. Currently, you will get special factory incentives, rebates, discounts and free extra features on a new vehicle. New car warranties cover a lot more than they did just a few years ago and most new cars come with free roadside assistance during the warranty period. The short term maintenance costs are much lower for new cars as well. If you do end up buying a car that develops significant problems, there are lemon laws in most states that will protect you. 

One big negative associated with buying a new car is that the sales tax is usually calculated before the incentives and rebates are tallied. Another big problem with buying a new car is that it depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot. Some car buying guides suggest that new cars depreciate between 20% and 40% over the first 2 to 3 years.

One advantage of buying a used car is that you avoid that huge depreciation. If you purchase a late model used car, you will also get the remainder of the factory warranty. Since the purchase price is less on a used car, you will pay less sales tax and your car insurance will be less. These savings will be offset by the higher interest rate you will have to pay for the loan on the used vehicle.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of buying a used car is that you may be buying someone else’s problem. In most states, used cars are not covered under the lemon laws. You are also subject to getting scammed by an unscrupulous dealer or person trying to sell you a previously salvaged, wrecked or flooded vehicle. You can avoid this by getting a Carfax report on the car and having it inspected by a qualified mechanic.

Of course another issue with buying a used car is that it already has the wear and tear associated with its age and mileage. For this reason, your maintenance costs will be higher on a used car. Also, you will not know how well the car was maintained by its previous owner. Again, you should have the car inspected. The mechanic will be able to give you a lot of information about the condition of the car. Those things will include the condition of the brakes, tires, hoses, belts etc. You should never purchase a used car from a private party without having it inspected first.

There are a lot of things to consider when making the decision between buying a new car or an older one. It really comes down to your financial situation and your comfort level.

I am Buying a New Car, What Should I do With My Old One?

When purchasing a new or used car, there are several things you can do with your older car. You can use it as a trade in, you can sell it privately, you can give it to a friend or relative, or you can donate car to charity. There are pros and cons with each choice.

Negotiating the purchase price for a car with the dealer is difficult enough without having to haggle over the trade in amount. Most car buying guides indicate that you can probably make a better deal without a trade in. If your used car needs significant repair or does not run, the dealer may not offer you much of a trade in for it simply because he does not really want it.

Selling your used car privately comes with its own set of problems. First, you have to advertise it and wait for people to response and make arrangements to look at it. Then, you have to wait for them show up.  If you car does not run or is in poor condition, you might have to makes some repairs in order to sell it. Once you have an interested person, you then have to negotiate the selling price. After you settle on that, you have to establish the terms of payment, i.e. will you take a check, accept payments, etc.  Accepting another method of payment other than cash, a money order or a certified check is never in your best interest. There are some other concerns associated with the private sale of a car. Everyone has heard horror stories of the buyer suing to get their money back by claiming the car had some major problem that the seller failed to disclose. Fortunately, in most states private sales are viewed as being as-is and these types of lawsuits are generally unsuccessful. The other concern is that the buyer will drive the vehicle without transferring the title or registering it in their name. This can happen particularly in states where the license plates stay on the car.

On the surface, giving your older car to a friend or relative seems like a very generous gesture. However, this can really backfire and cause irreparable damage to your friendship particularly if the vehicle develops a major problem you were not aware of shortly after the gift.  Besides the possibility of losing a friendship, you will get no financial benefit by gifting a car.

Car donation may be the least stressful of all the choices. The financial benefit to you is the tax deduction you will receive when you donate your car. You do have to itemize on your federal tax return to claim it. The car donation process is very simple. Usually, you only have to make a phone call or go online to donate your car. Your car should be picked up for free. Some car donation charities will let you donate car that is in poor condition or does not run. If that is your case, you may need to do a little research to find a charity that will take it.  To avoid any pitfalls, you should only donate car to a reputable car donation charity. That way you will not have to worry about any documentation issues.

Can I Keep My New Car from Rusting?

Car rust is caused when the metal is exposed to moisture over time. Keeping your new car waxed will help protect it from rusting since the wax forms a barrier between the metal and the moisture.

It is also important to keep moisture off your car. So, after you wash it, make sure the car and the undercarriage are completely dry before you put it in a garage. The undercarriage will dry simply by leaving the car outside for awhile.

You should also put mud flaps on your car to keep mud and other debris from collecting in the wheel wells. They will also protect your car from the dings caused by stones kicking up. Those dings will expose the metal to the elements and create an excellent place for rust to begin. If you do have any dings or small scratches on your car, you should address them before any rust begins. Some polishing compound and a little touch up paint will usually take care of them.

If you live in an area where it snows, you know how fast road salt will eat through the wax, paint and metal on your new car and accelerate the formation of rust. That is why it is very important to give your car a good coat of wax before the snow comes. During the winter, you only need to wash your car when the air temperature is above. Road salt is only active at temperatures above freezing, so you do not need to wash your car when it is very cold out. Besides, if you do wash your car when it is very cold outside, your door locks and power windows are likely to freeze. Of course, if you park your car in a garage, you will want to gauge when to wash your car by the temperature in the garage. When you do finally wash your car, you should pay special attention to cleaning the wheel hubs, wheel wells and undercarriage as these are the places where the road salt tends to stick.

You should also consider putting rubber mats on the floor of your new car during the winter months. These rubber mats will keep the salty water from melting snow from seeping into the carpets and rusting your floor boards.

Keeping your new car from rusting will take a little time. That time spend will be worth it by helping to maintain the appearance and value of your inverstment.