Infographic: Check engine light on?

How to Protect Your Car’s Interior

Try to add up the hours you spend in your car. It’s a lot, isn’t it? Commutes, errand runs and road trips can have you sitting in those bucket seats for hours on end, and during that time, you and your passengers are actually living in the interior. That means smudges on the windows, scratches on the dash and food in the seat crevices accumulate and leave you wondering what happened to the spotless interior you swear it had when you first bought the car.


Luckily, it’s not that difficult to keep a car’s cabin from looking a little too, well, lived in. First things first, get something to stuff your trash into. Just use a plastic bag or a container you don’t use around the house and throw it in the backseat. You can even affix a temporary hook to the door or seat to keep things even neater. Every once and awhile, take it out and relish in the fact that you haven’t spent an hour cleaning up. Keeping trash off the floor also preserves your carpets, which can get stained from any number of items.

The idea of taking a rag to your dash and leather seats is made easier if you have them on-hand. The key here is to just use a little bit of soapy water to wipe the surfaces of your car – some cleaning products contain alcohols that prematurely dry and age the materials by reducing the flexibility in the vinyl. Store a small spray bottle of your homemade cleaning fluid and a rag under your seat or in a storage bin for access when you’re waiting for your kids to get out of school or sitting in that crazy-long drive-through line. This will also come in handy when an emergency spill happens. Lastly, keep your car smelling like roses (or at least a laundromat) by adding dryer sheets under the seats.


You can’t discount the impact weather has on your vehicle either. In summer, sandy feet can quickly make a mess of an interior, and dare we mention the destruction caused by mud and snow? If you spend a lot of time ducking in and out of the elements, you might want to grab some all-weather floor mats. They’re easy to clean and do a great job of keeping the muck in one place.

The sun’s rays can also wreak havoc on your car’s surfaces, causing vinyl to crack over time and materials to fade. A simple solution is to regularly put a sunshade on the windshield. They’re inexpensive and help to keep your interior looking new.

Saving money on repair work and cleaning comes more easily when you take the time to make preventative care a priority. Not only will these tricks make your car a nicer place to be, keeping grime out of your ride will cut down on large maintenance costs in the future and will help to retain its value over time.

Lights Out? Check Vehicle Lighting

Fall is here and its arrival means fewer hours of daylight and upcoming holiday travel. Before hitting the road, it is a wise idea to make sure your vehicle’s lights are in proper working order, says the non-profit Car Care Council.

“Lights play a critical role in safe driving, as the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “From the driver’s seat you may not notice a light that isn’t working, so inspect all of your car’s lights and replace those that are out.”

Lights are normal wear items that require periodic inspection and replacement. The vehicle lighting system provides nighttime visibility; signals and alerts other drivers; and supplies light for viewing instruments and the vehicle’s interior. In addition to replacing dimming, rapidly blinking and non-functioning lights, the following tips can help keep you safe:

• Keep headlights, tail lights and signal lights clean. External dirt and debris can dim operational lights from being seen by others.

• Make sure that your headlights are properly aimed. Misaimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.

• If there is any doubt on whether or not your headlights should be on, turn them on. Lights not only help you see better in early twilight, they also make it easier for other drivers to see you.

• Don’t overdrive your headlights; you should be able to stop inside the illuminated area, otherwise you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.

“Some states have laws that require the headlights to be on with the wipers,” said White. “Keeping your vehicle’s lights properly cared for and replacing wiper blades periodically will help ensure a safer ride, keeping the road ahead well-lit and giving you a clear view.”

For more information on vehicle lighting, service interval schedules, questions to ask a technician and tips to drive smart and save money.

The non-profit Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

Infographic: Car Maintance Checklist

Start the new year fresh with this car maintenance checklist! Our general service schedule is easy to follow based on month intervals and focuses on what items need to be checked and when.

Not only does routine auto care and preventative maintenance help keep your car safe and dependable, but it helps save money and aggravation. This info graphic helps you understand what items should be inspected, either by you or your mechanic, to determine if there is a maintenance need before it becomes a bigger problem.

Easy Steps to Better Gas Mileage

With the average price of gas dipping below two dollars per gallon for the first time since 2009, many motorists have been seeing a real savings at the pump. Putting some of that savings toward basic auto care can lead to more miles per gallon and, in turn, more savings, says the non-profit Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council encourages motorists to be car care aware and perform these five simple steps to improve fuel economy and save money.

Check Tire Pressure: Keep tires properly inflated and improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent.
Use the Right Motor Oil: Improve gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent by using the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer.

Replace Clogged Air Filters: Replacing clogged air filters on older vehicles can improve fuel economy and will improve performance and acceleration on all vehicles.
Check Engine Performance: Keep your engine running efficiently and improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.

Fix It: Addressing a serious maintenance problem, like a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent.

To help motorists increase fuel economy and take better care of their vehicles, the Car Care Council offers valuable tools on its website, including a free personalized schedule and email reminder service.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. 

Happy 4th of July!

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July! From your friends at Team Superstores!

Fuel Saving Tips: Save money on gas

Check Your Air Filter

Nearly one in four cars needs an air filter replacement. A clean air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%

Check Your Gas Cap

Believe it or not, its been estimated that nearly 17% of cars on the road have broken or missing gas caps. What's the big deal? Escaping fumes not only hurt fuel economy but release smog-causing compounds into the air. Avoid air pollution and improving fuel mileage is as easy as replacing a bad gas cap.

Slow Down

For every 5 mph you reduce highway speed, you can reduce fuel consumption by 7%

Lay Off the Brakes

Riding with your foot on the brake pedal will not only wear out your brake pads (which will cost you at the maintenance shop) but can also increase gas consumption by as much as 35%

Lighten Up

For every 100 extra pounds carried around, your vehicle loses 1 to 2% in fuel efficiency. Don't drive with too much junk in the trunk.

Building Credit with an Auto Loan

Whether you’re working on improving your credit health after a bankruptcy or just getting started as a borrower, making car payments on an auto loan is an excellent way to establish or build your credit score.

Before you take out that big home mortgage loan, business loan or finance that designer furniture set, you need to prove to lenders that you’re creditworthy.

Car loans help you do just that for the following reasons.

Auto Loans are Installment Loans

When lenders and credit reporting bureaus look at your credit history, they want to see a good mix of installment loans and revolving credit. Revolving loans include credit cards and home equity loans. Installment loans include student loans, mortgages and auto loans. In most cases, it’s not feasible (or wise) to take out a student loan, home mortgage or home equity loan simply to build your credit. It’s much easier to qualify for and pay off an auto loan, which makes it the best option for improving your credit health.

Auto Loan Refinances are Easy

As a borrower with no credit history or bad credit, you’ll pay a premium for your first car loan. Don’t be surprised if you’re hit with a double digit car loan interest rate, especially if you’re emerging from bankruptcy. But the good news is that after one or two years of making your payments on time, you can refinance for a lower interest rate if your credit score has improved (which it will have, if you haven’t done anything else to negatively impact it).

You can refinance every few years and continue to get lower interest rates until you’re no longer paying the subprime rate. This is all made possible because, unlike home mortgage loans, the origination fees and other closing costs of a car loan are typically very low and the payback period is relatively short.

Car Payments are Somewhat Flexible

As long as you avoid loans with early payment penalties, car payments are very flexible. If you get a low monthly car payment, you can elect to make extra payments or double payments whenever you have extra cash. Paying off your loan early not only saves you money on interest, it reportedly boots your credit score faster as well.

You can also put down a larger down payment from the beginning or when you refinance to get a lower interest rate.

Overall, having an installment loan in good standing on your credit history is important to establishing or improving your credit health. A car loan is one of the easiest, most affordable and most flexible installment loans you can get. Keep this in mind as you embark on the road back to good credit.

Benefits of Buying a New Car

Popularity and Strong Resale Values

Depreciation is usually a reason to buy used instead of new, but vehicles in high demand will have a higher value. For instance, new vehicles that sell for more than the dealer's list price suggest stronger resale values and less depreciation. Certain brands have lower depreciation and stronger resale values because of their quality and reliability records.

While depreciation may not matter initially to you, it will have an impact when it comes time to trade in your vehicle, so it's worth considering when you buy a new car.

Better Finance Rates

While a used car may initially cost less than a new one, the interest rate you pay likely will be higher. To begin with, you wouldn't get the low-interest financing or cash rebate that usually is offered as an incentive to new-car buyers. Furthermore, financial institutions generally charge a higher rate of interest on loans for used cars — usually a full percentage point or two. However, some of the automakers' certified pre-owned programs offer discount financing.

Available Features

When you buy a used car, you get the state of the art — of the year of the used car. Every model year, manufacturers add and adopt technologies and features to vehicles either as standard or optional equipment as a way to lure buyers to new cars. Those technologies may be safety breakthroughs or they may just be convenience gadgets. The only way to get the most advanced technology and the latest convenience features is with a new vehicle. Automotive electronics are evolving so rapidly that unless you buy a new car, your vehicle's technology is already outdated.

Used-Up

Finally, some 1- and 2-year-old used cars on dealers' lots are former rental cars. Rental cars generally get considerable use and abuse in a short time, so they may not be good choices. Some leased vehicles may offer a better alternative. Leasing companies carefully inspect the vehicles before they put them up for sale. People who lease are charged for all necessary repairs. This policy encourages people who lease vehicles to take care of them.

Does headlight cleaning and restoration make a difference?

The average age of vehicles on the road is more than 11 years, and just as humans' vision diminishes with age, so it goes with many cars.

With cars, this loss of "vision" shows as an aging process on headlight lenses that's similar to cataracts: The plastic lenses that commonly cover headlight bulbs become cloudy and hazy over time, reducing the amount of light illuminating the road.

Cars that spend most of their life parked outdoors, where sunlight, oxidation and air pollution take a toll on headlight lenses, are most susceptible to this aging process. Unlike underlying bulbs that may burn out and need to be replaced, the lenses are permanent fixtures that usually don't get replaced unless they're damaged in an accident — or when owners realize they can't see at night because they're so clouded.

New bulbs might restore some headlight brightness, because bulbs dim with age, but clouded lenses that aren't restored will continue to reduce headlight effectiveness, potentially causing safety issues in nighttime driving and low-visibility conditions. In addition, despite the claims of bulb manufacturers, high-priced replacement bulbs might be brighter, but they don't necessarily illuminate more of the road than original-equipment bulbs and usually don't last as long.

A variety of do-it-yourself restoration kits are available, and an increasing number of repair shops and dealership service departments offer headlight restoration services. They typically require a multistep process of sanding the lenses with a light abrasive, then polishing and coating them with a sealant that's supposed to keep them clear.

Prices vary widely, and so might the effectiveness and durability of the products and services offered. Ultimately, restoring dull, cloudy headlight lenses to original or near-original condition can be similar to an older person getting cataract surgery and regaining some of the vision they once had.

Buying new headlight lenses or used ones from a salvage yard is an alternative to trying to restore old ones, but the cost of replacing parts is usually higher. Aftermarket lenses are available at lower cost, though if they don't fit or seal as snugly as original parts, moisture can seep into the headlight housing and corrode electrical connections.

Should I use nitrogen instead of regular air in my tires?

Green caps on tire valve stems usually mean the tires are filled with nitrogen instead of ordinary air. Car dealers, tire dealers and repair shops have touted nitrogen for several years as a better alternative to air based on claims that nitrogen doesn't leak as much, so tires stay fully inflated longer. The catch is that topping off the nitrogen typically costs from about $5 to $10 per tire, and the initial charge for filling the tires can be much higher, so it's also a revenue source for service outlets.

It is true that pure nitrogen doesn't leak out of tires as quickly as air simply because a nitrogen molecule is larger than an oxygen molecule, so tires should remain at or near their recommended inflation levels longer. Fully inflated tires last longer and improve fuel economy and road-holding ability. It's also true, however, that nitrogen will still leak out of tires over time, just not at the same pace as air.

Nitrogen proponents also argue that air contains moisture, which can build up inside tires and possibly corrode the wheels and tire pressure monitors, as well as accelerate tire rot from the inside. Some air compressors use driers that remove moisture before it gets into the hose you use to fill your tires, but many don't. Nitrogen, in comparison, is "dry."

On the other hand, a nitrogen-filled tire isn't 100 percent pure; about 93 to 95 percent of what's inside is nitrogen, but the rest is air. Ordinary air is 78 percent nitrogen, so the difference isn't huge, and compressed air is cheaper to use and still free in some places.

In addition, whether a tire is filled with ordinary air or nitrogen, it will leak if the tire valve is faulty, if the tire isn't properly mounted and sealed on the wheel, or if the tire has a nail in the tread or other damage.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association, a trade group for tire manufacturers, says nitrogen "may contribute to minor reductions in inflation pressure loss," but also notes that "use of

Multi-tasking

While women, especially moms, are excellent at multitasking, no one should attempt to do too much while driving. We’ve all done it in the car — putting on mascara on the way to work, eating a burger because there’s no time to stop, etc. But, these seemingly harmless acts are distracting and can potentially lead to a crash. Pull over on the side of the road to apply make-up, check a map or anything else that diverts your attention away from the road. In the bigger scheme of things, all of these little tasks can wait until you’ve reached your destination.

Valentines Inspired Car

Air Pressure

Experts agree that keeping the correct air pressure in your tires is as important as giving your engine a tune-up. In fact, the economic benefits may be even greater. With the right amount of air pressure, your tires wear longer, save fuel, enhance handling, and prevent accidents. Failure to maintain the correct air pressure can result in poor gas mileage, reduce tire life, affect vehicle handling, and cause vehicle overloading. If you consider these factors, then the need to routinely check your tire pressure is even clearer.

Waxing

Over time, say detailers, oxidation — which occurs when heat and oxygen combine — will break down even the highest quality vehicle paint. Therefore, it’s important to keep your car clean and to apply wax at least twice a year. The pros suggest increasing the frequency of waxing to three or four times a year if you live in a place that receives intense sun exposure or where road salt is used. If you have the time and energy to wax your vehicle yourself, the pros recommend that you make sure it’s freshly washed, rinsed and allowed to thoroughly dry. Apply a thin layer of wax, buff off the excess, and repeat. Don’t over-apply, detailers warn, because a thin application will bond and cure better.

Team Superstores

Cadillac ATS 2.0T EPA Rated at 31 MPG Highway

Stephen Elmer  

The Cadillac ATS is the American brand’s answer to the BMW 3 Series and it has now received an official EPA fuel rating of 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway when equipped with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine.

Three engine options are available in the car, starting with the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 202 hp, and offers an EPA rated 22 city and 33 highway mpg. Next is the 2.0-liter turbo, that puts out 272 hp, and gets 21 mpg city 31 mpg highway. Finally, the largest engine in the lineup, the 3.6-liter V6 that puts out 321 hp gets an EPA rated 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
Helping to improve the fuel economy of the ATS are active aero grille shutters that close when the engine does not need any additional cooling, as well as underbody aero shields, which also contribute to a reduction in cabin noise. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Chevrolet also uses the same features on the Cruze Eco to save gas.
The ATS starts at $33,990, and reaches to $42,090.
Read AutoGuide’s Cadillac ATS review here.

Cadillac ELR Confirmed for Production in Volt Plant

Luke Vandezande  | 

General Motors’ luxury take on the Chevrolet Volt – the Cadillac ELR – is soldiering forward toward production despite it’s donor car facing assembly halts earlier this year.

The plan is part of a grander brand strategy that will see Cadillac refresh its entire lineup by 2015. While the Volt has seen its share of struggles since production began in 2011, GM seems committed to building further iterations of its plug-in hybrid. So much so, in fact, that the plant is getting an additional $35 million investment.
“The ELR will be in a class by itself, further proof of our commitment to electric vehicles and advanced technology,” GM boss Mark Reuss said. “People will instantly recognize it as a Cadillac by its distinctive, signature look and true-to-concept exterior design.”
Production is scheduled to begin in late 2013 with cars expected in showrooms the following year. This will also be the first coupe built at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant since the 1999 Cadillac Eldorado.

2013 Cadillac SRX Offers Home Theatre Technology – Video

Jason Siu  

GM is offering an in-depth look at the entertainment system offered in the 2013 SRX, including access to its CUE infotainment system for rear-seat passengers.

Back when the refreshed 2013 Cadillac SRX first made its debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the American automaker was very proud of all the new technology it had packed into its crossover model. An entertainment package featuring a Blu-Ray DVD player that extends the SRX’s CUE system to the rear seats is optional. In addition, a “kid-tested gaming-style” remote control was designed and developed for the entertainment package. The remote control allows each of the eight-inch screens in the rear to play its own entertainment.
“We actually invited a group of kids to test and interact with the new rear-seat entertainment features,” said GM human factors engineer Shannon Chiarcos. “The data we collected allowed us to go back and make several adjustments to the system, including simplifying the remote control so that kids could use it without the help of an adult.”
For the first time, not only can up to 10 Bluetooth devices be paired with the vehicle, but users in the rear seat can connect to and manage their own music players and playlists. A special connector cable also allows the passengers to watch movies stored on those media players.
The system lets one user watch a movie while the other plays a video game; or the passengers in the rear can watch different movies at the same time.
In addition, Cadillac is outfitting its SRX with a pair of updated wireless headphones designed to fit more comfortably than its predecessors.
The rear-seat entertainment package is available for $1,595 as an option on Luxury, Performance, and Premium SRX models.
Watch a video on the 2013 Cadillac SRX’s in car electronics below.

HSV testing supercharged V8... could Chevy SS performance model get Camaro ZL1 power?

By  Jeremy Korzeniewski RSS feed

Posted Oct 12th 2012

Chevrolet isn't hiding the fact that a new rear-wheel-drive performance sedan – called the SS and seen in full checkered-flag regalia above – is on its way to US shores, courtesy of GM's Australian division. Past its eventual existence, though, we've been kept in the dark. How much will the SS cost? Who, exactly, will it be marketed to? And, perhaps most importantly, what will power the 2014 Chevy SS?

As we all know, General Motors has a cornucopia of engine choices at its disposal, from standard four-cylinder engines to turbocharged four- and six-cylinder units and, of course, the classic V8. Not surprisingly, it's the upper-end of the V8 spectrum we're most curious about. According to the Aussie scribes at GoAuto.com, the SS may be getting the same rockin' and rollin' supercharged mill that so ably (over)powers the Camaro ZL1. Yes, please.

Backing up GoAuto's assertion are some engineering mules being tested by Holden that reportedly have the tell-tale whine of a supercharger underhood. Considering that both the SS and Camaro will be sharing the same basic Zeta underpinnings, the addition of the stupid-powerful V8 seems distinctly possible. Let's hope.