car tips

4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips

January 19, 2021 by admin 4 Comments

You are an expert when it comes to keeping your car’s exterior looking great as you carefully wash it, add wax, and detail the wheels regularly. Inside, however, may be another matter, one that you’ve handled by occasionally vacuuming the seats and floors, and applying protectant across the dash and on other soft-touch surfaces. But, that coffee stain from a recent mishap and your toddler’s tamped in snack crumbs on the back seat has you looking for ways to restore the well-worn interior. It’s time to concentrate on your vehicle’s cabin, by employing the following four upholstery cleaning tips.

1. Remove and Prepare

Take out all floor mats, the car seats, and all other removable materials that can get in the way of your work.

Anything that is on the floor or covering the seating surfaces, including seat covers, must be removed from your car before you can move on to the next step.

2. Vacuum the Interior

There are two ways to approach vacuuming the interior. Whichever one provides the best suction and ease of use is the approach that you will want to take.

The first option is to bring your canister or another vacuum with attachments and place these next to your car. Plug it in, attach the proper hose or brush, and begin to brush each seat, working from the top on down and from side to side. If the seats can be moved and flipped forward, you can reach into tight crevices that way. After the seats are done, then begin working on the carpeting.

Your second option is to plug a handheld vacuum into the cigarette lighter or use a battery-charged vacuum such as a Dyson or an Oreck. Battery vacuums typically give no more than 10 minutes of suction cleaning time before needing to be recharged. Plan accordingly or supplement the handheld with a household vacuum cleaner.

3. Treat Stains

Treat every stain on the carpeting and across the seating surfaces. Here, you have several options for removing stains, some will work better with certain types of stains. If you do not know what caused the stain, then you may need to experiment. The advice herein is for cloth or vinyl seats only; use a special stain cleaner for leather surfaces.

Vinegar can handle most stains, by mixing two tablespoons of salt that has dissolved within eight ounces of vinegar. Dip a clean, white cloth in the solution and dab the stain. Vacuum, once dry.

Ammonia can also work if you mix one cup of clear ammonia with an equal amount of warm water. Dab this solution into the carpet with a clean cloth and allow it to dry. You can repeat this process if needed.

Other homemade solutions include using beer, shaving cream, borax, and cornstarch. The Reader’s Digest even advises using WD-40 to combat ink stains.

4. Clean the Seat Covers and Floor Mats

If you have seat covers, follow the cleaning instructions provided with the covers. For sheepskin covers, you can handle minor stains by mixing a mild dish detergent with water and dabbing. Allow to dry. For soiled covers, remove these from the car, shake clean, dab with the solution, then allow to air dry. You can also fluff dry these in your dryer (at the lowest possible setting) for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Floor mats can be vacuumed separately. Attach a brush, set the vacuum to its highest setting, and move it across the carpeted surface vigorously. To bring out the shine in the rubber or plastic edges, wipe down with a dish detergent solution, allow to dry, then apply a liquid shoe polish wax. When done, reinstall the floor mats and the seat covers, then return the car seats and other removed objects where you found them.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL

Clean Your Car on Schedule

You can avoid a major cleaning job by vacuuming your car’s interior regularly. You might also test various cleaning solutions by first applying them in an obscure place such as in your car’s trunk or underneath a seat.

Commercial cleaners are also available, with some products designed to handle a variety of stains. Once your interior has been cleaned, reinstall the floor mats and the seat covers.

Summer Daze: Tips for Keeping Your Car Running During Hot Weather

June 24, 2016 by admin 2 Comments

Temperature extremes can wreak havoc on your car, increasing the likelihood of a problem leading to a breakdown. Indeed, sub-zero weather may keep your car from starting, while a heatwave can cause it to overheat.

Summer weather is here and with it comes extreme temperatures. No, the Fahrenheit does not need to top 90 degrees to cause mischief. However, a combination of poor maintenance habits and heat can conspire to suddenly disable your car, forcing you to call for assistance.

Here’s how to keep your car running during hot weather.

Examine Your Owner’s Manual

The best way to avoid a breakdown is to keep your car properly maintained. And that maintenance is outlined in your owner’s manual, typically tucked away in your glove box, gathering dust.

Pull out the owner’s manual and familiarize yourself with it. Learn what maintenance due items are coming up and complete them, especially if you are planning a long trip. Look back as well — you may have missed something.

Consider Severe Duty Car Care

As you examine your owner’s manual, you will typically find two levels of car care — standard and severe service. Severe duty may pertain only to a few things, such as changing the oil and fluids.

Standard care routinely covers vehicles where owners drive to work or use their cars for personal use. On the other hand, severe service should be applied to vehicles operated in dusty conditions or for vehicles used to regularly tow, operate in sandy areas, or aren’t driven enough.

Adopt the severe schedule if you live in a southern state or wherever high temperatures are constant for several months during the summer. Older vehicles or models with 75,000 or miles on the odometer should also adhere to the more rigorous severe duty schedule, covering oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and radiator coolant changes. Include your filter changes — oil, air, and fuel — and replace your cabin filter too.

Under the Hood

Beyond fluids, there are other things to examine while you’re looking under the hood. Start with your car’s battery to ensure the connection points are clean and secure. If your battery is old, check it with a voltmeter. If the battery voltage comes in less than 12.45 volts, it should be recharged with a battery charger. If the battery will not accept and hold a charge, then it should be replaced.

Belts and hoses are two other areas that must be checked. For belts, look for signs of wear and tear, sliding your fingers across the belt to pinpoint cracking, fraying, and missing sections. Check tension by pushing down on the belt. If it gives more than a half-inch, then change it.

As for hoses, check only when the engine has cooled. A hose is sufficient if it feels firm to the touch. On the other hand, you’ll want to replace it if has soft or mushy areas. Cracks and fraying are two other problems — both can lead to leaks.

Don’t Forget Your Tires

The only things separating two tons of car from the road are your tires. Thus, it is very important your tires are in top shape, especially for your next trip.

When properly inflated, tires offer sufficient grip on road surfaces. Oppositely, under-inflated tires can affect fuel economy, handling, and hasten tire wear. Tires with tread wear indicators showing should be replaced.

Adequately inflate your tires to the level outlined on the placard located on the driver’s door jamb. Don’t follow the number listed on the tires. Your spare tire should be in excellent shape and fully inflated. But know this: if your car is equipped with an air inflator kit, it won’t do you any good if you have a blowout. Therefore, consider bringing a full-size spare with you.

Getting it Done

There are a few more areas of your car to examine before you take to the road this summer.

Replace your worn wiper blades, check the air conditioning for sufficient cooling, replace burnt out lights, and test your brakes. Blades and bulb replacement you can handle yourself; coolant systems and brake care may require the assistance of an automotive technician.

Finally, you handle most problems en route if your car is equipped with basic tools, a flashlight and replacement batteries, duct tape, and a spare belt and hoses. An emergency kit contains many of these same items and can be assembled on your own or purchased.

How to Get Your Car Ready for Winter

November 27, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

The first very cold weather of the season has arrived and that means winter will soon settle in. Seasonal extremes can take its toll on your car, but if you’re prepared you can avoid the worst that it has to offer. To that end, we’ll take a look at some steps you can take to help get your car ready for winter.

winter plow — Winter is coming. Are you ready?

1. Review your owner’s manual. The first thing you should do is pull out the owner’s manual from your glove box and reacquaint yourself with it. Go to the section for the maintenance schedule and choose the one that mirrors your driving habits. While most people follow the standard level of care, if you drive in the city, take to dusty roads or put a lot of miles on your car each year, then choose the “severe service” schedule. In any case, get those open items done before winter makes its home.

2. Change your oil and oil filter. Chances are your engine oil is due for a change. Today’s cars can usually go upwards of 7,500 miles between changes, but consult the owner’s manual for change interval information. When changing your oil for the winter season, go with 5W30 oil as it is ideal for winter use.

3. Replace your wiper blades and check your washer fluid. Your wiper blades may last as long as a year, but if your summer was particularly hot, they can become brittle and crack. Always change the blades if you notice streaking. Doing this job before winter settles in and again before next summer is a sensible approach. While you are at it, replenish the washer fluid. Choose a solution that has a greater concentration of alcohol to ensure that the line does not freeze during the winter.

4. Check your heating system. Just because the air conditioning was working so well during the summer doesn’t mean that the heating system will perform faithfully in the winter. Take your car on the road, turn the heat on high and determine if it is sufficiently warming the cabin and defrosting the windows. If it isn’t, then you may need to get it serviced. At the very least pop the hood and verify that the hoses are in good condition.

5. Examine the cooling system. If your coolant hasn’t been flushed in a few years, get this job done before winter arrives. Your coolant should be either yellow, blue or green. If it has lost its color, appears rusty or if you notice detritus floating in the fluid, then have it flushed. Verify that the hoses are in good condition and that the clamps are secure too.

6. Consider your tires. If you live in a place where snow is not common, your current tires should be sufficient. Still, you need to examine them to ensure that there is enough tread remaining. Also check your spare tire to determine its condition — you don’t want to have a flat tire on hand when you need a working spare. In places where snow is common, replacing your “all season” tires with snow tires makes sense. In fact, it may be required where you live or at least chains may need to be added. It is always best to put winter (snow) tires on all four wheels.

7. Probe the battery. If your car’s battery dies this winter, you’re not going anywhere. Most car batteries last three years with some models hanging around for five years. No matter, check the connections to ensure that they’re clean and attached. If your battery is pushing its life limit, then replace it. Winter will only cause it to work harder — you might as well invest in a new one. By the way, ensure that your jumper cables are stashed away in your car whether you choose to buy a new car battery or not.

8. Inspect your brakes. Are your brakes ready for winter? New brakes pads and calipers may be in order. If you hear grinding when you apply the brakes, that is a sure sign that brake work is needed. Get this work done before you’re dealing with black ice, snow and frosty road conditions.

Here Comes Winter

What else can you do to prepare for the next winter wallop? If you travel a lot and are prone to head out to remote places, then an emergency kit is a smart idea. Include the usual emergency supplies, but also bring blankets, boots, winter clothing, food, and water. A fully charged cell phone and charger are essentials too, but neither will do you much good if you are out of cell phone range.

Finally, ensure that all lights are working, that you have extra fuses on hand, bring with you duct tape, spare hoses and belts, and inform someone not traveling with you of your route and of your plans. With your car in great shape and you taking the necessary driving precautions, you can handle everything that the season throws your way.

Manual Transmissions and How to Drive Stick Shift

August 4, 2015 by admin 2 Comments

Most cars include automatic transmissions, with the gears shifting systematically. Other vehicles have a manual transmission, requiring drivers to control the shift points with a clutch, a stick shift, and the accelerator pedal. A manual transmission provides drivers with a more engaged driving adventure, something you can learn as you follow our streamlined tips for driving with a stick.

The Ford Mustang offers an available manual transmission.

Drive Stick Shift Tips

Familiarize yourself with the interior arrangement. The first of our drive stick tips will have you getting acquainted with the interior of a car outfitted with a manual transmission, especially by taking note of a few important distinctions. Instead of just two pedals — a brake and an accelerator (gas pedal) — a vehicle with a manual transmission has a third pedal, the clutch, located to the left of the brake.

You will also find a stick shift between the front row seats. On top of the stick is a knob displaying a treelike shifting pattern comprised of numbers and an “R” symbol for reverse. Most cars built today have five or six forward gears. Neutral is defined by the horizontal line between the gears.

With the car turned off, practice shifting between the gears. Here, you will push the clutch in each time you shift. Take note of the simplicity in shifting — most modern transmissions shift quickly between the forward gears.

Start the Car

clutch, brake and a gas pedal Now that you are acquainted with the pedal and shifter arrangement, you can move on to the next of our drive stick tips — starting the car. Place the stick shift in neutral, hold down the clutch with your left foot and press down on the brake with your right foot. Once the car starts, then remove your foot from the clutch.

To move the car you will depress the clutch and either put it in first gear or move the stick shift into reverse gear. Moving to the reverse gear typically means pulling up on the stick and moving it to the reverse position as you depress the clutch. Once engaged, begin to slowly move out of your parking space, applying slight pressure to the gas pedal to put the car in motion. Slowly take your foot off the clutch as you begin to move. Keep in mind that whenever you brake you must depress the clutch or the car will stall.

On the Road

The next step in our drive stick shift tips will have you taking to the road. Here, you will begin your journey in first gear and start shifting to second gear when your speed reaches 15 mph. Switching gears to correspond to every 12 to 15 mph increase in speed is a good rule to follow. Thus, if you are approaching 30 mph, you would shift from second to third gear. Conversely, downshift to the next lowest gear as you reduce your speed.

Jaguar F-Type with a stick shift. If your car has a tachometer you might shift gears as the meter approaches 3,000 RPM instead. When learning how to drive with a stick shift, practice where traffic is light and with few red lights to slow your momentum.

When approaching a stop sign or a traffic light, begin to brake, then depress the clutch as your speed drops below 10 mph. You can move the stick into neutral as you come to a stop, taking your foot off the clutch. Only shift into first gear when you are ready to move forward, continuing your upshifts as you pick up speed.

Drive Stick Shift Summation

Learning how to operate a car with a manual transmission takes time. The car will buck and even stall as you learn the ropes, but do not give up. Concentrate on clutch activation and shifting, and gas pedal management will follow naturally.

You might also enlist the support of a patient family member or friend to ride with you. The operative word here is “patient” as the individual riding in the front passenger seat should offer much encouragement as you learn how to drive with a manual transmission.

See Also — 5 Tips for Driving at Night

Five Steps to Follow for a Fun Family Road Trip

February 24, 2013 by Jay Allen 1 Comment

Planning a family vacation can be difficult as there are often many interests and age groups involved, so pleasing everyone may seem impossible. However, many families find that a road trip offers an ideal way to experience many different areas and activities while still bonding together as a family.

Taking the time to plan ahead and stay flexible during the trip is critical to ensuring that the vacation is relaxing and interesting for all involved. Follow these five easy steps for creating a memorable family road trip.

1. Plan an Itinerary

Discuss ahead of time what is most important to everyone and create an itinerary, but leave space each day for unplanned activities. Logistically, it is easy to know what will be done each day as the family travels because attractions will be visited along the way.

Keep in mind driving time, unexpected traffic, and leaving enough time for meals and other stops when making the schedule. Incorporating an app such as the free Trip Planner by GPSmyCity (iOS, Android) allows for creating an easily accessible itinerary which can be shared with the other travelers, and the app includes packing lists and activity suggestions for the area.

2. Stock the Car

A road trip invariably requires a good bit of time spent driving in the car. Car snacks and drinks help to keep extra stops to a minimum, so get everyone to pick a few of their favorites for the trip.

Small children require activities, books, and toys. Get them excited to travel by checking out library books about the places the family is traveling to and bringing the books in the car. Traditional road trip games such as I Spy and license plate bingo are easy to play with the whole family. Modern parents know that smartphones also offer a multitude of games for all ages and watching movies in the car can offer quiet time for everyone.

3. Have Down Time

A family trip is all about togetherness, but even the closest family can start to feel the stress of traveling in close quarters, sleeping in the same space, and spending every bit of the day together. While on the road it may be difficult to get some down time, but upon arriving at a destination allow for time for everyone to explore a bit on his or her own.

If traveling with young kids it may be best for those with different interests to go along with an adult who shares that passion. Forced togetherness for the entire trip will only result in bad memories. Agree on a meet up time and location for later in the day, a meal such as lunch or dinner can be a great way for everyone to come back together and share about their experience.

4. Be Flexible

Even the best laid plans have a way of falling through. Any number of factors from weather, road conditions, or simply the interruption of a much needed naptime for a little one can affect how the plan works out in reality.

It is important for family members to have some flexibility. An outdoor concert or show can be rained out, so have a backup plan.

5. Reassess

On the way home consider what worked best on the road trip to the destination and what could be changed to make the trip home even better. Tap into resources such as the Greatest Drive GPS Road and Trip Finder (free for iOS, Android) which shows scenic roads to take based on recommendations from other users.

Taking a different route home makes it seem like a new trip with fresh sights and local attractions to take in. Before making any big changes make sure they work for everyone.

What You Need to Know About Winter Driving

January 26, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

Just as parts of the Northern Hemisphere enters a deep freeze, our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are enduring record heat. The earth may be a little blue marble, but weather conditions can vary widely and have a huge impact on your car.

Driving Tips

If you are planning to take an extended trip this season, the following winter driving tips are worth reviewing.

1. Examine your antifreeze. When was the last time you checked your antifreeze? It may not need to be flushed, but it may need to be topped off. Check for leaks too you do not want to get stranded because your radiator was not up to the task.

2. Check your tires. It is always good practice to outfit your car with snow tires when driving on icy, slippery roads. You may have been lulled into believing that all-season tires are sufficient to get the job done, but you simply cannot get the same benefit from tread design and compounds used with snow tires. And, yes, for maximum traction place snow tires on all four corners, not just two.

3. Look at your brake system. An anti-lock brake system can help your car stop, but it is no substitute for worn brake pads and caliper problems. While you are underneath your car, check that the exhaust system is functioning properly too.

4. Top off the windshield washer reservoir. Head out on the road when the snow is melting and you will hit a barrage of slush that will splash up onto your windshield. You will need to start your trip with a full windshield washer reservoir with an antifreeze agent. Replace your wiper blades too if they have not been swapped out in at least six months. Bring an extra container of fluid with you.

5. Bring along emergency supplies. The possibility that you might get stranded looms as you hit the road under unfavorable weather conditions. Ideally, you will wait out a storm, but if you must travel, bring the following items with you: a snow shovel, brush, jumper cables, kitty litter or sand for traction, a spare cell phone battery, flares, blankets, water, food, a mirror to signal for help, and ample clothing. Let someone know of your intended route, giving them instructions to call for help if you do not arrive at your destination at the prescribed time.

6. Practice safe winter driving. You are quite the maverick on the road, are you not? With winter driving, you will quickly discover that you do not always have as much control over your vehicle as you would when road conditions are dry. And neither do other drivers. Ease up on the gas pedal, gently apply the brakes and allow for more room between yourself and other cars. When roads are slick or slippery, you need to account for longer stopping distances.

Winter Driving

If you have a GPS navigation system, keep tabs on possible delays and detours. If your route must change, call ahead to tell your party that your trip has been altered accordingly. If you have an emergency give 9-1-1 a call. Also, make sure that your auto club membership is up to date you may need to call for a tow truck if you get stuck.

See Also — 7 Winter Storage Tips for Classic Cars

“winter driving.” by clive-staples is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Why Does My Gas Mileage Vary?

December 8, 2012 by admin 1 Comment

Estimating gas mileage is something that the Environmental Protection Agency leaves in the hands of car manufacturers. The mileage that you see published on the window sticker represents an estimate for city and highway driving as well as a combined mileage estimate based on 55 percent local driving and 45 percent highway driving.

Gas Mileage

Although the EPA estimates offer a good guideline, your mileage will likely vary. And, lest you think manufacturers can submit any number and get away with it, that is not the case. In November 2012, Hyundai and Kia admitted that it had overestimated fuel economy on a number of its vehicles and has been fined by the EPA. Moreover, the two Korean companies will have to compensate affected vehicle owners and will likely face multiple lawsuits over erroneous MPG claims. An EPA audit of the two companies followed extensive consumer complaints about lousy gas mileage.

According to the EPA, your gas mileage will still vary and for the following reasons:

1. How and where you drive — Clearly, if you put the pedal to the metal and are one to use your vehicle as a race car, then your gas mileage will come in lower than the EPA estimates. Also, if nearly all of your driving is around town, your gas mileage will fall. Then again, if you do extensive highway driving and use your cruise control, you can get better gas mileage.

2. Maintenance and condition — If you follow your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance intervals, keep your tires properly inflated and change your air filters before they get clogged, then your gas mileage will not suffer. Neglect your maintenance and you will see your fuel economy fall accordingly.

3. Types of fuel — Winter blend fuel is less efficient than summer blend and E85 fuel will cause your gas mileage to drop by up to 30 percent. Use the grade of gasoline that is recommended for your car.

4. Vehicle differences — No two vehicles are alike and weight differences of several hundred pounds are possible. For instance, all-wheel-drive generally adds weight to a vehicle. Added equipment including roof rails, door steps, larger wheels, safety features and an extra row of seating can also impact gas mileage. By the way, the fuel economy estimates are for a vehicle with a single occupant; fill up your SUV with seven people, lots of luggage and pull a camper and your gas mileage will plunge.

5. A new car — New cars still have a break-in period ranging from approximately 500 to 1,000 miles. This means that the piston rings on the new engine still have to adjust and your gas mileage will come in lower, at least initially according to CarTalk.com.

(See Also — Fuel Types and Your Car)

Your Mileage

Yes, your fuel mileage will vary and will often come in under EPA estimates. However, you may be able to beat the averages too by babying your car, taking it easy on the accelerator and the brake, and using cruise control on the open road.

See Also — Top Tips for Getting Better Gas Mileage