Is Your Car Ready For Winter Driving?

Here in Greensboro and the rest of the Piedmont Triad, we don't have to worry much about tire chains and snow tires but just because we don't get a lot of snow doesn't mean we don't need to winterize our cars. Here's some things you should check.

1. Check the level and usefulness of your antifreeze using an antifreeze tester. An antifreeze tester is a hydrometer that is graduated especially for antifreeze. Most cars need to be protected to -20 even though it never gets that cold here. Any hydrometer can check the specific gravity of your antifreeze but then you'd have to do a bunch of equations to convert specific gravity measurements to your level of protection. Besides, if you happen to use a battery hydrometer then you risk getting battery acid in your cooling system.

2. Speaking of batteries-- how old is your battery? If it's over 3 years old then you might do well to replace it with a newer battery. If you can't afford a new battery then try an almost new battery from any of the used auto parts dealers listed here at GreensboroJunkyards.com.

3. Check all your belts and hoses. And replace any belt or hose that is over 5 years old even if it still looks good.

4. Like I said, you won't need snow tires but you do need good tires. All of our area junkyards sell good used tires if new tires are too expensive. And by all means, make sure your tires are aired-up to the specifications on the sides of your tires.

5. Is anything leaking from under your car? If yes then get it fixed ASAP.

6. When was the last time you had an oil and filter change?

7. Fill up that windshield-washer bottle with windshield washer fluid as plain water will freeze and burst the plastic bottle. And don't forget new windshield wiper blades.

8. Keep the following items in a box in your trunk:
*a blanket
*extra boots and gloves
*an extra set of warm clothes
*extra water and food, including hard candies
*an ice scraper
*a small shovel
*a flashlight with a flashing red light built in
*windshield washer fluid
*jumper cables
*a tire gauge
*a spare tire with air in it
*a first-aid kit
*paper towels

9. Write down the telephone numbers of an area 24/7 towing service and your motor club if you belong to one and keep them in your glove box. Is your cell phone charged?

10. If your car is more than 5 or 6 years old, now is a good time to pour a bottle of fuel conditioner in your gas tank. Gasoline and diesel fuel won't freeze here in Greensboro but the water that accumulates in your fuel over time can freeze and the end result is the same.

10 Tips To Cheaply Improve Your Miles Per Gallon

The argument as to how much oil remains in the ground continues to be debated but no one is arguing about the price of gasoline-- it's going to go up.

1. Clean out your car. Especially your trunk. Extra weight in your car makes your engine work harder and burn more fuel.

2 Use the freeway when possible. Most cars get the best mileage between 30 and 60 miles per hour.

3. Drive steady speeds. Yes, I know traffic makes this difficult but if you slow down a little and maintain a longer following distance you will spend less time on the brake and save gas.

4. Avoid road rage. Driving calmly can increase your mileage by as much as 1/3.

5. Maintain your car. Well maintained cars can get 25 to 50% better mileage than poorly maintained cars.

6. Use the grade of oil recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. Synthetic oils help too. Check your owner's manual.

7. Check your tire pressure often. Keeping your tires inflated to the recommended pressure can contribute to a 3 fuel percent savings, make your tires last longer and save your life . The recommended tire pressure is printed on the side of your tire. Forget the owner's manual when it comes to tire pressure. Why? Because car manufacturers do not make tires and don't know as much about tires as tire manufacturers.

8. For most drivers it is recommended that you use cruise control but some drivers are able to get better mileage without cruise control because they are better at maintaining a steady speed than cruise controls and are willing to allow the car to slow somewhat when going uphill.

9. Many will tell you not to use your air conditioner but on many modern cars the air conditioners run almost all the time-- especially when defrosting and defogging your windows. Turning off the AC might help you get better gas mileage in stop and go driving but on the Interstate the act of rolling down your windows will also cause a significant loss of fuel mileage as the wind gets trapped in your car.

10. Learn and practice hypermiling.

A trip to your local junkyard to pick up a set of smoother wheel covers can help too.

And if by chance you are the type who is into experimentation and prone to keep a close eye on your gauges-- especially your temperature gauge-- a bit of blocking off of the grill openings on the front of your car can make a huge positive difference in fuel mileage. It can be as simple and ugly as duct taping the grill. Duct taping the grill on my '91 Tercel helped me gain 5-10 miles per gallon throughout the last year.

Roll Starting Cars With Automatic Transmissions

Most people will tell you that roll starting a car with an automatic transmission is impossible. For the most part they're right but not always.

I once owned a 1969 2 Wheel Drive Jeep with a Borg-Warner automatic transmission that I roll started for several months. A number of other cars like older Chevrolets and Chryslers made prior to 1970 could also be roll started. But generally it's believed that modern automatics will not roll start.

But after reading about someone who was able to roll start a 2000 Nissan Altima I decided to test my own '91 Tercel to see if it will also roll start and learned that by coasting down a big hill the Tercel would roll start at about 20 miles per hour in 'Drive'.

I'm sure there are other automatic transmission cars that will roll start and would love to hear the make, model, year, gear selection and speed necessary to roll start other cars with automatic transmissions.

Recycle Those Old Car Parts For Cash!

Did you recently buy a new or used fender, control arm, strut, wheel or battery from any of the auto salvage dealers listed at Greensboro Junkyards? How about a quarter panel, shock absorber, starter, alternator, transmission or engine? Did you know that used and broken auto parts made of metals, steel, iron, copper, brass, bronze and aluminum all have value even if they no longer work? It doesn't matter what the part is, it only matters that it's made of metal. Even old wiring harness can be sold to Salvage America, 3001 Holts Chapel Road, Greensboro, NC. 27401. Just click on the address to learn more about how your old parts can reduce the costs of the new or used parts you just had to buy.

Toyota Brake Light Repair

Are your brake lights staying on all the time causing your battery to go dead? This seems to be a pretty common problem on Paseos, Tercels and other 90s Toyota's as it is often caused by the breaking apart of a little round rubber/plastic pad that pops into a hole on the brake pedal arm and rests against the brake light switch until you put your foot on the brake.

An easy repair for this can be done in minutes by slipping a round 3/4" diameter x 3/16" thick magnet into the spot where the plastic piece formerly resided. Anything even close to those dimensions should do the trick and you won't even need any tools. The hardest part is getting under the dash.

Magnets are usually available at hardware stores and other places where tools are sold.

Free Motor Mount Repair

Recently I discovered my Toyota Tercel was in need of engine mount replacement. The metal portions of the mounts were as strong as ever but the rubber centers were broken, allowing the engine to bounce around. If not repaired quickly, broken engine and transmission mounts can lead to damaged axles, CV joints, transmissions, differentials and more. But when I saw my engine mounts were almost $80.oo each I decided there had to be a better way.

So I came up with a free way to repair the motor and trans-axle mounts on Toyotas and other cars that will outlast the factory installed mounts.

Step 1. Remove the remaining rubber from the center of the mount making sure to recover the bolt and steel sleeve.
Step 2. Get your hands on a worn out steel belted radial tire and cut squares that will just fit inside the round holes on your mount. You'll need to cut several squares for each mount. A circular saw will do just fine.
Step 3. Drill a hole in the center of each square that is just big enough to fit the steel sleeve.
Step 4. Tightly pack the squares into the mount and push the sleeve inside.
Step 5. Reinstall the bolt through the center of the mount.

Toyota Transmission Tip

Your's truly spend last weekend replacing a Toyota Tercel transmission/trans-axle because a previous owner failed to keep the differential portion of the transmission filled with the proper fluids. You see, unlike some front wheel drive cars, my 91 Tercel has 2 separate compartments for ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) that must be kept filled and 2 separate drain plugs for the two no so distinct parts of the transmission/trans-axle.

The drain plugs are easily found on the bottom of the trans-axle but the filler/check fluid level plug is harder to see as it is located on the back side in the middle of the rear cover. To check the fluid level you simply remove the plug and stick your little finger in the hole. If the fluid isn't up to the top of the whole you'll need to add more by using a funnel connected to a hose that you run into the same hole where you check the fluid level.

Taking the time to check this one fitting could save Tercel owners hundreds of dollars in repairs and add many years to the life of a great little car.