Tips and Training

All Auto Shops Are Not Created Equal
Keep You Cool In the Heat of Summer Driving
Please Don't Try this On the Street!
Four Ways to Save On Auto Insurance
Give Kids a Lift for Life
When Brakes Talk, Drivers Should Listen
Steel Recycling Continues to Grow

All Auto Shops Are Not Created Equal (NAPSI)

As the weather gets colder, vehicle owners should turn their attention to automotive maintenance. But busy lifestyles and today's increasingly complex, computer-enhanced vehicles mean many consumers will be shopping for professional auto services rather than doing the work themselves.

The following tips, from the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-the group that tests and certifies automotive technicians-will help you choose wisely among the many automotive repair facilities:

• Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one;
• Ask your friends and associates for their recommendations; consult local consumer groups;
• Arrange for alternate transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop based solely on location;
• Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays;
• Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant or technicians willing to answer your questions;
• Look for policies regarding estimated repair costs, diagnostic fees, guarantees, acceptable methods of payment, etc.;
• Ask if the repair facility specializes or if it usually handles your type of repair work;
• Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community or customer service awards;
• Look for evidence of qualified technicians: trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work and certification by ASE indicate the presence of professional, trained technicians;
• Look for the ASE sign. Facilities with a high percentage of ASE-certified professionals may also be members of the Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition program; and
• Reward good service with repeat business and customer loyalty.

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Keep Your Cool In The Heat Of Summer Driving (NAPSI)

When the temperature outside starts to rise, do you start to sweat about your car overheating?

Any car older than seven years with more than 50,000 miles is a probable candidate for boil over. Your car heats up every time you run it, which creates wear on all the cooling system parts, including hoses, belts, thermostat, and the radiator.

If your car starts overheating, it's probably caused by one of the following:

• Insufficient coolant-When the temperature warning light goes on, you may be low on coolant. After the car cools, check the coolant and fill to the proper level with a 50/50 mixture.
• Dirty or rusty coolant-It's time to flush the cooling system.
• Hose deterioration-If your hoses are spongy, hard, or start to swell around the hose clamps, it's time to replace them.
• Sticky thermostat-If the engine takes too long to heat, it means your thermostat is stuck in the open position and needs to be replaced.
• Worn fan belt-If your fan belt is cracked, fraying, or starts to squeal, it is probably slipping. Replace worn belts and check for proper belt tension.
• Sludge or rust in the radiator-When your engine overheats and there is goo visible in the radiator neck, it's time to clean or replace the radiator.
• Coolant overflow-Loss of coolant through the overflow pipe usually means a leaky radiator cap.

"When it comes to radiator failure, it's a combination of the age of the car and the mileage," said Mike Rippey, president of 1-800-Radiator. "Most of our customers drive vehicles that are at least five years old."

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Please Don't Try This on the Street! Industry Program Combats Illegal Street Racing (NAPSI)

Sport compact cars are today's very popular hotrods. Honda Civics and Ford Focuses and their hi-tech cousins are being tuned-and-tweaked rather than the V-8 monsters of the past.

These nimbler, quicker cars provide their drivers with the opportunity to show off their stuff, sometimes in unsafe and illegal ways. Illegal street racing and its possible unfortunate consequences make headlines, negative ones at that.

RASR, aka Racers Against Street Racing, is working hard to combat the problem of dangerous, illegal street racing. How? Professional sport compact drag-racing heroes and heroines are taking their status as role models seriously, and speaking out against the practice of illegal street racing.

Stephan Papadakis and Lisa Kubo-the Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm of sport compact drag racing-were featured prominently on an episode of MTV's acclaimed series "Flipped." The show focused on the tragic repercussions of street racing, including death.

RASR uses a video version of the TV show in classrooms and at automotive enthusiast events. Driver education and other high school classroom teachers draw on RASR's professionally developed curriculum to supplement the dramatic video.

Classroom programs are only one part of the RASR outreach, however.

RASR also takes an active role in promoting alternatives to illegal street racing. Many professional racetracks across the country are instituting street-legal "drags." These programs offer participants the thrill of intense competition while providing some things not available on the street-a controlled, professional race environment and official time slips to provide real proof showing just how fast their cars are.

Some racetracks are taking their street-legal programs to another level, adding other lifestyle attractions to their amateur racing events, including car shows, climbing walls, live music performances and foam play pits.

The racetracks have the support of local law enforcement authorities. In southern California, for instance, the local police issue "tickets"-to go race at their local Irwindale Speedway at no charge.
Another RASR fan is professional drag race champion Lisa Kubo. She said, "Illegal street racing is so dangerous. While you might win $5, you can also get a ticket that could cost you hundreds and hundreds of dollars, and the possible loss of your license. The money that ticket costs you could be put to much better use-to improve your car, to support your team, to buy uniforms. Illegal street racing just isn't worth it."

RASR's message against illegal street racing contends with hundreds of media messages that depict street racing as glamorous and OK, said Christopher J. Kersting, president and CEO of SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association which houses the RASR effort. He noted that the reality is quite different, that in fact it's a rare day when there isn't news about the unfortunate results of a street-racing incident in this country. "RASR strives hard to educate new drivers about the dangers of street racing and aggressive driving stunts that put them, and others, at risk of serious injury and death."

More information about RASR and its programs to provide legal alternatives to street racing within controlled environments is available at www.rasr.info.

The Racers Against Street Racing program works to convert amateur racers from illegal street racing to "street legal" programs at local racetracks.
Credit: Super Street magazine

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Four Ways To Save On Auto Insurance (NAPSI)

By simply picking up the phone, visiting an independent agent/broker, or going online you may be able to save yourself hundreds of dollars a year on your auto insurance. Doubt it? A study conducted by the Progressive group of insurance companies, the country's third largest auto insurance group, looked at the insurance comparison rates provided to more than 107,000 consumers in 2002, and found that rates from different companies, for comparable coverages, varied an average of $586 every six months. This means that if you take some time to shop around, you might be able to save yourself a lot of money.

Progressive offers these tips to help you save money on your auto insurance policy:

• Review your policy: Check with your agent or company whenever something about you (where you live, your marital status, etc.) or your vehicle (safety features, new car, etc.) changes. Remember-auto insurance rates are based in part on informaton about you and your vehicle. If this information changes, it could affect your rate.
• Ask about discounts: Many insurance companies reduce premiums as a result of certain driver traits or a car's safety/security features. You may be eligible for a discount if you have been a homeowner for more than three years, you're a student with good grades, or if you drive a car with antilock brakes, antitheft devices, airbags, etc.
• Consider raising your deductibles: According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive premium by 15 to 30 percent.
• Prices vary. Shop around: Auto insurance companies charge premiums based on their cost of doing business. Because each company's costs are different, they each charge different rates.

Build your savings by shopping around.

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Give Kids a Lift for Life (NAPSI)

Thousands of children between four and eight are killed or injured in car crashes each year-and many of these deaths and injuries could be prevented.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that fewer than 10 percent of children ages four to eight (weighing between 40 and 80 pounds and up to 4'9" tall) are properly belted in booster seats.

According to research by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, placing children this age in car booster seats can reduce their risk of injuries in a crash by about 60 percent.

To urge parents to buckle up their older kids safely in booster seats, the National Automobile Dealers Association has created the 'Boost for Safety' public awareness campaign, in partnership with NHTSA.
Booster seats are designed to raise children up so that a vehicle's shoulder and lap belts fit correctly and safely. For more information on booster seat safety, visit www.nada.org/boostforsafety.

Booster seats help older children get the maximum protection from seat belts in the event of a crash.

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When Brakes Talk, Drivers Should Listen (NAPSI)

When it comes to driving safely, it's easy to take your vehicle's ability to stop for granted -until you really need it.

According to brake expert Akebono, your brakes often reveal possible serious situations when they make noise, pull, judder-another term for vibrate-or feel soft. Addressing these symptoms promptly enhances your safety and may save time and money in the long run.

Brake Squealing and Groaning

Squealing noises soon after a brake job may indicate there is a problem. You should return to the shop where the work was done as soon as possible, to have the brakes checked out by a technician.

Installing premium brake pads, calipers and rotors may cost a bit more up front, but often provides noise—and vibration-free operation and longer pad life.

In some instances, however, brake squealing simply indicates the pads are worn down and those squeaking wear indicators are doing their job.

The abrasive nature of many traditional brake pads against the rotor may also cause squealing. Low quality rotors could be the noise culprit, as well. Neither of these situations is ideal, but the resulting noise is more annoying than anything else.

Groaning noises also can be caused by low quality or abrasive brake pads. Squealing and groaning can both be minimized by installing premium brake system components. Have your installer use the same type of pad fitted as original equipment or an upgrade pad. Ultra-premium ceramic pads, such as Akebono's ProACT brand, are now available for virtually all domestic, Japanese and European models.

Pulling and Judder

When your brakes are applied and the vehicle pulls to one side, low tire pressure may be at fault. But, it can also mean a brake caliper is sticking, leaking or not sliding properly due to corrosion.

This can lead to uneven brake pad and rotor wear, reducing the life of the pads and causing steering wheel judder or vibration.

The rotor may be able to be machined smooth, but this is not a long-term fix. A corroded caliper or rotor may need to be replaced. A trained technician can assess the situation and fix it right the first time.

Soft-Pedal Feel

When air or water gets into the brake system, you may experience a soft-pedal feel. Improper bleeding and general corrosion are typically the culprits. Air in the system forces you to push harder on the brake pedal than normal to stop.

Water can adversely affect caliper performance by causing brake fluid to boil prematurely. This can result in a significant loss of stopping power. It's best to have the brake fluid changed as recommended.

Motorists can learn a lot by paying attention to what their brakes have to say. It can be a key to being both safe on the road-and with their money.

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Steel Recycling Continues To Grow (NAPSI)

The strength of steel can also be found in its recycling appeal.

The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) reported that the steel industry continues to reign as king of the recyclables and remains the most recycled material in North America. During 2002, over 70 million tons of steel scrap found its way to end markets rather than landfills, and this resulted in an overall recycling rate for steel of 70.7 percent, a 4.3 percent increase over 2001.

In the case of automobiles, the recycling rate for 2002 decreased slightly to 100.6 percent, from 101.9 percent in 2001. The automobile recycling rate is calculated by comparing the total steel utilized to produce new cars versus the total steel recovered from old cars.

"With the auto industry continuing to use more and more High Strength and Ultra High Strength Steels in new vehicle production, we will probably see rates in excess of 100 percent occur more often throughout the first decade of the 21st century," commented Daniel R. DiMicco, who is vice chairman, president and CEO of Nucor Corporation, and chairman of the American Iron and Steel Institute. DiMicco continued, "These new steels allow automakers to improve fuel economy through increased structural efficiency without damaging the recycling process for the world's most recycled product, the automobile." He added, "Steel is the engine that drives the automobile recycling process."

In 2002, construction and demolition ferrous debris remain at the very impressive recycling rate of 95 percent for structural beams and plates. In addition, there is continued growth in the collection and recycling of rebars and other construction materials, which increased significantly in 2002 to 57.5 percent, from 50 percent in 2001.

When it comes to household recycling, appliances continue their impressive trend with a recycling rate in 2002 of 86.6 percent, up from 85.0 percent in 2001. Additionally, Americans continue to participate in their local curbside and drop-off programs and the steel can recycling rate has seen a slight increase in 2002 to 58.5 percent, from 58.1 percent in 2001.

The SRI continues to educate consumers that recycling is not limited to the kitchen. Whether it's an empty aerosol shaving cream can or other empty steel non-food containers, they need to be diverted from the trash bin and placed in the recycling bin.

For more information about steel recycling, visit the SRI's Website, www.recycle-steel.org.

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