Protector Plates – Protecting what?

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

Not only does the array of panels under your vehicle protect the more delicate components from exposure to rocks, sticks and other elements, they also make it much more difficult for critters to get into places that could be fatal...

We often find protection plates missing or damaged. Rarely does the client have any idea they were there or missing. Though usually the result of impact, too many times it is a result of improper installation or ethically worse, failure to reinstall them at all!

I have to admit, they can be a pain to get back on right. My opinion and experience has shown that many minimum wage quickie lube type employees either presume you’ll never know or are discouraged from taking too much time trying to get them back on right. You may not realize that these are NOT mechanics. No state or national certification is required, or even encouraged, as mechanics are.

Cars for Keeps is recognized by:

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) as a Blue Seal Of Excellence Facility.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) as a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility

The Robert Bosch Corporation as a Bosch Authorized Car Service Company.

How to Prevent Cold-Weather Stalls: Winterizing your Battery

by Mike, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Hunting season is fast approaching, and that means it is time to at least start THINKING about winterizing your vehicle. Have you ever jumped inside your car to head to work in the morning to find your car will not start? It's happened to the best of us, but there are a few simple things you can do to help prevent this scenario from happening to you this winter.

Something to keep in mind is that our car's battery loses about a third of its starting power when the temps dip down into the 30's. In addition, our driving habits in the winter make it less likely the alternator will be able to fully recharge our car battery as we drive. For example, we tend to drive less often and we drive shorter distances in the winter, we constantly run the defrost and we are using our headlights more than in the warmer months - all putting a larger load on the alternator.

So what can you do?

1) Take a Peek Under the Hood: Have your battery checked before winter hits to make sure your terminals are tight and your battery is not corroded. (Stop in at Cars For Keeps & We'll do it FREE!)

2) Turn "Stuff" Off: Turn off your blowers and accessories when you turn off your car so there isn't as large of a load on your battery when you go to start your vehicle again. Turn your headlights on after you start your vehicle, NOT before.

3) Park Inside: Park your vehicle in a garage if you have one. This will help keep the battery somewhat warmer.

4) Pay Attention to Your Headlights: Do they dim and brighten on occasion? If so, stop by Cars4Keeps and one of our technicians can test your alternator for you.

5) Listen to Your Vehicle Start: Do you notice your car is having trouble turning over (starting), but once it is running everything seems normal? This may indicate that your battery has a low charge, weak connection or strater getting ready to leave you walking.

The last thing any of us need this winter is to be stranded somewhere with flakes swirling around us and a car that refuses to start. Be proactive and take winterizing your vehicle seriously this year. While there is more to it than batteries and alternators, a quick stop into Cars4Keeps is all you need to get your car in top winter condition.

See you soon,
Mike

I SURVIVED CASH FOR CLUNKERS

Well I did it, and I’m proud of it. I jumped into the fray, and survived the chaos of Cash for Clunkers. On the heels of my previous blog of 7/17/09, IT’S TIME FOR ME TO BUY,

http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2009/07/its-time-for-me-to-buy.html,

the time was here. My mind was made up, I just needed to make a decision as to what, when, where, how. The why was clear, take advantage of the $3500 or $4500 government rebate now, or keep my 2002 Windstar van for a few more years until it died.

The Windstar was in no way a clunker. It was in perfect condition, with only 92,000, mostly highway miles on it. Its functionality was still valid, proving repeatedly how handy it could be with hockey bags, soccer gear, and too many suitcases for the long family road trips.

(see http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2008/07/minivan-dead-or-alive.html.)

Toting various battles scars from parking lots around town, the Windstar looked “used”, but it was mechanically flawless. Its tarnished façade provided a perfect vehicle for my 15 year old son to exercise his learner’s permit, as well as provide comfort to his parents knowing that he could do little harm. We did not have to replace it, but $4500 is a lot of money, and the C4Cs program could not to be ignored.

When the criteria of the Cash for Clunkers program was announced in late July, I casually checked our eligibility. The Ford Windstar just qualified with a combined mileage of 18 mpg, so the process began. A car guy like me is always researching his next purchase, whether it’s fantasy or reality years in the future. Our goal was to improve fuel economy (and qualify for the full $4500), without sacrificing the needs of our family. The talent pool was quickly narrowed down to the Toyota RAV 4 and the Ford Edge.

The Edge was eliminated because its mileage rating only qualified for the rebate of $3500. In addition, the purchase price would be $2000 more than the RAV 4, not to mention that the cost of operation for the life of the vehicle would be more. A no brainer, it was all about money. After considering its size, cost, reliability, and glowing reviews from friends who owned the RAV, we made a confident decision that the RAV 4 was best for us.

It was now time for the fun to begin. I was off to my favorite Toyota dealer. Our family was going on a two week vacation, so we would not make a purchase until our return. I still went to the dealer to lay the ground work; to establish a relationship; in preparation for what I hoped would be a real deal, sweetened with 4500 free dollars. But nothing comes easy. The first snag in this grand plan hit as our vacation began, the Cash for Clunkers program was already concluding, as it was nearly out of its initial $1 billion allocation. With no C4Cs, there would be no new car. The deal was off. We enjoyed our vacation with the RAV4 as a distant memory.

Surprise! Upon our return, thanks to the miracle workers in Washington, Cash for Clunkers was still alive and well, reborn with a new lease on life. While we were away, an additional $2 billion had been magically infused into the program. The pursuit of the RAV4 was on again. A test drive of the RAV4 confirmed that our family had made the right choice. Now, it was just a simple matter of closing the deal, and drive away a happy owner. Wrong!

From the beginning, we wanted a new 2009 Base, FWD RAV4; any color as long as it was red. The one and only in the area fitting our criteria had just arrived by truck. After negotiating a fair price, I was ready to close the deal, but then the phone rang. Apparently, the one and only, had just been damaged upon delivery, and was in the body shop being repaired. Damaged? No thank you. The deal was off, again! Encouraged by a friend to consider 4 wheel drive, I was able to negotiate, for a few dollars more, a 4 wheel drive RAV. Deal on, again!

Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the Cash for Clunkers program was a raging success. The additional $2 billion dollars was already nearly gone. Dealers were in fear that they would not be paid by the government for deals already made. It was on a Thursday, and my dealer announced that they would cease participation in the program at 8:00 PM that evening. Coincidentally, we had just come to terms on price, so I informed my sales associate that I would stop by the dealership that evening after work to close the deal.

I arrived at the specified time, only to find total chaos on the sales floor. It was mobbed with frantic buyers. There was not a seat in the room, or a sales person available. My associate was busy with another client. Too busy to even a hello. After waiting way too long, with kids home alone and my frustration mounting, I left the dealership. Regardless of their self-imposed Cash for Clunkers deadline of that evening, I walked. The deal was off, AGAIN!

That was it, the final straw, time to move on. With the RAV4 once again out of my mind, I went about my business the next day, only to receive word that the dealership had extended their participation in C4Cs. Not surprisingly, no dealer is going to pass on a sure sale. Tired of the game of ping pong, with me as the ball, I made it clear that the only way I would close would be if I could be the very first in the showroom as they opened that Saturday. No more waiting for me.

With dew on the grass, and my still sleepy family in tow, the deal was finally closed early that Saturday morning. We all shed a tear for the Windstar, left behind to be scrapped. Years of memories coldly abandoned, but replaced with a shiny new RAV4. A whole new set of memories underway, the most vivid for me, will be the chaos of Cash for Clunkers. The best part of the deal? As we left the dealership in our new RAV, there was a steady, bumper-to-bumper line of cars and trucks heading into the chaos of Cash for Clunkers. We escaped comparatively unscathed, just in time.

A Woman’s Point of View: A Tribute to the Customer

by Colette Cooley, Cars For Keeps Office Manager

We have the most wonderful customers in the world. The excitement of waiting for your car to be worked on ranks somewhere between going to the dentist and watching paint dry. You know - the “good news/bad news” syndrome. But mostly, it is just plain boring. Every person who comes into the waiting area adds something quite special to the space they occupy and gives off their own unique charge of energy to the whole room.

There is the businessperson who closes deals on their cell phone. The mother with two young children who got maybe 3 hours of sleep last night, gently reading or singing to her fussy babies. The young entrepreneur who is madly working on his laptop, making all the pieces fit into his new, fledgling endeavor. The author, who is writing the next chapter in his head and mentally is a million miles away. The sportswoman, who has too much energy to sit and wait and finally jumps up and out the door to take a “small” 3 mile run. The retirees, who have all the time in the world and a treasure trove of wisdom to share with anyone wise enough to listen. The woman who quietly sits and knits newborn baby caps she donates to the hospital. She also brings us the best Banana Bread you ever tasted in your life. Every person met in a day has something positive to bring into our lives. Seize the opportunity.

Black Friday, Christmas Prep and Car Trivia

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

Now that most of us have recovered from celebrating - or attempting to drown out - Thanksgiving, we turn our attention immediately towards the next big landmark: Christmas. I'm sure many of you have taken advantage of what the consumer market has dubbed "Cyber Monday"; most reports from the auto sector reported that auto sales were strong for Black Friday this year, a good sign for the coming fiscal year.

It's been a common mantra of ours here at the shop since early November, but it remains true: now is a good time to make sure your vehicles are in good working condition. Before the snow hits the roads, before inevitable holiday travel, before you turn on your windshield wipers to find that they are too old to work. As incentive, we're running several winter specials, including10% off all European model repairs (interpret that however you wish) and 15% off returning customers who have left a positive review on our Merchant Circle or Superpages listings. Piece of cake.

Rob will guest post on Monday with some sage advice on seasonal "Pit Stops". For now, let's relax with a few items of car trivia.

1. Industry experts believe one of every 25 air bags that have been deployed have not been properly replaced. They're also the most stolen item from a vehicle (having surpassed radios)

2. Nearly half the used vehicles on the market come with air conditioning.

3. Windshield wipers were invented by a woman (as were all smart things!).

4. The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At the time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.

5. One seventh of the new auto/truck sales in the US are in Southern California (and half of those are purchased by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger).

6. The first speeding ticket was issued in 1902 (for going 24 miles an hour, 4 miles over the speed limit).

7. In 1923, 173 new inventions by women for cars had been reported. Among these inventions were a carburetor and an electric engine starter.

8. The first car radio was invented in 1929.

9. Most American car horns beep in the key of F.

10. About half the cars that are flood damaged end up back on the road. As far as Hurricane Katrina is concerned, estimates are that about 200,000 vehicles were dried out and resold.

Happy Christmas shopping!

Used Car Fun Facts

by Kevin, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Hello folks, it's Dr. Auto. I thought I would share some fun used car facts with you. If you have any strange or delightful facts of your own, feel free to share! The Dr. always loves to recieve more knowledge. Enjoy these facts:

1. Three out of four automotive transactions in the U.S. involve previously owned vehicles.

2. The average vehicle will likely have three owners in its lifetime.

3. The most frequently searched price range for a used vehicle is under $5,000.

4. There are more used Silverado pickup trucks for sale than any other model (nearly 120,000 throughout the U.S.)

5. Texas has more used vehicles than any other state (more than 220,000); Houston alone has more than 32,000 on the market at any given time.

6. Silver is the most available color in the used vehicle market -- more than 447,000 vehicles, followed by black (429,000), white (409,000), and red (321,000). Blue (309,000) and gray (277,000) are also aplenty. The color you're least likely to find? Pink, with just 249 used vehicles listed.

7. Age does appear to matter, at least when it comes to a used vehicle. Nearly half those listed at any one time (about 1.5 million) are model years 2007-2008.

8. Automatic transmissions outnumber manual 10 to 1 in the market for used vehicles.

9. Six cylinder vehicles are the most popular on the used car market, accounting for nearly a third of the total available (and roughly the combined total of both four cylinder and eight cylinder powered vehicles).

10. The automobile is the most recycled consumer product in the world today.

As always, when considering purchasing a "new" used car, make sure the vehicle is in sound mechanical condition. If the dealer or seller doesn't have recent diagnostics, you always can ask to have the car inspected by a third party.

Safe Driving and Healthy Cars,

Dr. Auto

Preparing Your Car for Winter

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Like it or not, winter is just around the corner. You may not want to talk about it yet, I know that I sure don't, yet that is one of the more important jobs I have: making sure your vehicle is fully prepared for the next challenge.

Whether you are storing your vehicle over the winter or plan on using it to forge through the snow and ice, there are some key preventative maintenance steps you should take to make sure your vehicle is ready for the colder temperatures.

Your engine coolant is one of the most important things to have checked before the first snowfall. Coolant not only "cools" the engine but it also keeps the water mixture from freezing. When water freezes, it also expands. Fill a glass with ice cubes and let it sit overnight. In the morning when you wake up you can see how far the size was actually reduced. Imagine forming ice inside your engine with those very small passages interweaving through the block and heads. Now imagine that complex system now expanding. WOW, what a sight that is! When this happens, its pretty safe to say that the auto maintenance repair bill is extremely high!

So check your coolant, and if your unsure, bring it to Cars For Keeps and we'll make sure its OK. Oh, and in case you are concerned, we don't charge our clients for checking fluids, tire pressure or other simple (what we call) "no wrench required" type services.

To prepare and prevent is effort well spent. Until next time!

How to Find the Perfect Mechanic - for the Ladies!

by Colette Cooley

Office Manager Cars For Keeps

How does a woman find her “perfect car guy”? Let’s face it, a lot of repair shop service techs and mechanics think we women don’t know anything about cars and we will believe anything they tell us.

Well, this may be true, but we don’t want to be treated that way. We may be ignorant about car repair, but we are not dumb. With a little detective sleuthing, you too, can find your “perfect car guy”. Ask. Women. Girlfriends, co-workers, neighbors, career women, stay-at-home moms, cashiers, bank tellers, etc. Where do they have their cars maintained and repaired? What do they like about that place? What don’t they like about it? Do they have delivery service? Are they treated with respect? Are they kid friendly? Is the waiting room comfortable and inter-active? Are the mechanics ASE Certified? (That last question is very important. The answer should be yes.)

Is the service manager concerned with your schedule, your budget, and your wants and needs concerning your car? How do they handle emergencies? What makes this car repair place stand out from all the rest?

Then there are the all important things we women want to know. Are the guys cute? What color is the building? Is the bathroom clean? Can you bring something to snack on and/or do they have complimentary drinks and snacks? Do the people there have a sense of humor so having your car worked on can – dare I say it – actually be fun!!!

As I was reading Colette's post, I mentally checked off each of her requirements for female-friendly car service, and I have to say that Cars for Keeps meets every single one! As a woman (who obstinately refuses to learn how to change oil), I give Cars for Keeps five stars for being female-friendly! - Marjorie, Social Media Marketing Manager