Replacing Your Headlight Bulb

 

Want to know a sure fire way to get pulled over? Drive with a headlight out and at the very least you’ll find blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror. Avoid the hassle and expense this can cost you by checking your headlights periodically and replacing them yourself if needed. Use the easy to follow steps below as a guide to replacing your headlight bulb.

Step 1 – Located the bulb holder. Look for a trapezoid-shaped plug that has three wires coming out of it.

Step 2 – Unhook the bulb holder. The plug the three wires are attached to is at the base of the headlight. It is held in place by either a plastic catch, a metal clip, or a screw cap. If it’s a plastic catch, press the little lever sticking up at the top of the plug with your thumb while you gently pull the plug out. If you see a metal clip, simply pull it off. If it’s a screw cap, turn it counter-clockwise to loosen it.

Step 3 – Remove the old bulb. With the wiring gone, the bulb should be easily accessible and can be pulled out.

Step 4 – Insert the new bulb into place. Hold the bulb by the plug end and slide it into the back of the headlight. When the bulb is lined up evenly and none of its rubber gasket is showing, then you will know it is in all the way.

Step 5 – Re-secure the wiring. Put the wiring back in and give the headlights a test. It’s as simple as that!

Now remember, these steps are only for most halogen headlight systems, so if your car has sealed beam headlights these steps won’t help.

Easy Car Repairs You Can Do at Home

 

For many drivers, a car repair can be nothing short of a horror story. The car won’t start. The battery… it’s dead! Dollar signs dance before your eyes as your cell phone seems to dial the tow truck all by itself. What’s that silhouette coming over the hill behind you? It’s The Mechanic, a gruesome beast here to sap you of next week’s paycheck. He’s getting closer, there’s nowhere to run!

The good news is that you can avoid a scary service bill with a little forethought and these easy at-home car repairs. Not all car repairs can be done at home (can you say serpentine belt?), but there are a few quick fixes that are easy and inexpensive.

Replace a Car Battery - This is an easy one that can save you around $30 when you skip the repair shop. A replacement takes up to 45 minutes to complete, and you will need to wear some protective gear.

Change Windshield Wiper Blades – This is a 10-minute repair that could cost you nearly $50 in the service station. Wiper blades tend to cost under $20, so the savings are significant. Read our blog below for simple steps on how to do this yourself.

Fix a Burnt-Out Tail Light – How many mechanics does it take to change a light bulb? About $20 - $100 worth (depending on your car model). But getting pulled over for a burnt-out tail light is no fun, so it is a good idea to fix a bad bulb as soon as possible. Look for our next blog to feature steps on how to change the bulb yourself.

Jump-Start a Dead Battery – In our drive-in scenario, hopefully there would be a nice bearded man in a pick-up truck that is more than happy to help you jump-start your car. In case he turns out to be a little old lady without jumper cables or a clue, you’d better learn how to jumpstart a dead car battery. Progressive has a set of jump-start instructions to study before you find yourself in trouble.

While you can save a lot of money by taking on simple car repairs, you should also know when to throw in the towel. Modern cars are complicated, with onboard diagnostics systems and engines that can be hard to work around. If you aren’t sure of how to proceed, go to a knowledgeable mechanic. It is best to get an expert on the job than to risk doing further damage to your car.

How To Replace Your Windshield Wipers

As summer is drawing to an end, cooler and rainy weather are just around the corner. Be sure your windshield wipers are in proper working order and replace the blades if necessary. Follow our simple steps below to change out wiper blades yourself at a time convenient for you.

Step 1 – Before you begin, make sure the new wiper blades are the same length as the ones you are replacing. This will ensure you are getting the optimal coverage on your windshield.

Step 2 – Gently pull the spring loaded wiper arm from its resting place on the windshield until the arm is perpendicular to the windshield. The arm will be able to stay up without you having to hold it once it reaches this position.

Step 3 – Apply pressure to the release pin of the wiper arm and remove the old wiper blade.

Step 4 – Slip the new wiper blade into place over the wiper arm and insert the clip into the hook to lock it in. Duplicate these steps for the other windshield wiper blade.

Step 5 – Start your vehicle and test the new wiper blades for proper operation before hitting the road.

In no time at all, you’ll be an expert at perform simple repairs like this at yourself.

10 Items You Should Always Keep in Your Car

Cars break down. It’s only a matter of time before a blown tire, a stalled engine, or transmission issues interrupt your travel plans. Don’t be left helpless and hopeless on the side of the road. Be prepared for these potential problems before they happen. Keeping an emergency supply kit in your car can really save the day (or night) if you find yourself unable to drive and in need of a tow.

If you want to save yourself the time of putting together your own emergency road kit, there are several options of prepackaged kits available at a variety of stores. However, the majority of these kits don’t include supplies for keeping vehicle passengers comfortable and happy until help arrives. We’ve compiled a list of 10 things to keep in your car at all times in addition to an emergency road kit:

1.       Water – Since you can’t plan for roadside emergencies, you can’t plan for how long they will have you stranded. A few one-liter bottles of water should be kept in your car.

2.       Food – We’re not saying that you need to keep a feast in your trunk just in case you miss a meal due to a roadside problem, but it’s a good idea to keep a few high-calorie items, such as fitness bars, in your car to keep hunger pains away. Individually wrapped nonperishable items like granola bars will easily satisfy short-term hunger. Remember to swap out water and food items quarterly or semi-annually to make sure they are fresh.

3.       Clothing – Throw an extra pair of sweatpants and a windbreaker in your trunk. Warm and waterproof clothing can make a big difference when you are stuck in cold or rainy weather.

4.       First Aid Kit – This one is pretty self-explanatory. A basic first aid kit can be found at almost any convenience or specialty store and should be kept in your car at all times.

5.       Flashlight – Keep a simple, good sized flashlight and extra batteries in your car if your emergency road kit did not come with one.

6.       Lighter – Unless you spend every weekend on an adventure in the wilderness, you probably can’t start a fire by hand. If you find yourself out of your car and off the well beaten path in extreme cases it may be necessary to start a fire for light and warm.

7.       Blanket – Keeping an extra blanket from your linen closet in the car can really come in handy.

8.       Tow Rope – As long as you have another vehicle that is able to pull you out, a tow rope is a quick solution to getting your car out from over an embankment.

9.       Additional Tools – A basic tool kit can be improved with the addition of a proper jack, a lug wrench that fits, and a roll of duct tape.

10.   Jumper Cables – One of the main reasons you may find yourself on the side of the road is due to a dead battery. Jumper cables and a willing partner to actually give you the jump are a quicker and cheaper solution than calling a service to do it for you.

Five Easy Steps to Changing a Tire

If you have gone your entire life without changing a tire, consider yourself lucky. However, if you are like most of us, this nuisance of this task has crossed your path at least one time. Here are few easy steps to help eliminate the stress of changing a tire:

Step 1 – Gather the tools you’ll need. If your car came with a spare tire, most car manufactures will also place the essential tools you will need to change that tire next to it under the trunk floor. Upon lifting the flooring, you should find a spare tire, diamond jack, and tire iron.

Step 2 – Loosen lug nuts. The lug nuts holding the wheel to the hub will need to be loosened before you beginning using the diamond jack to lift the car. Use the tire iron and some elbow grease to loosen the lug nuts. Be careful not to round off the edges with all that force or you won’t be able to get them off yourself. Do not remove the lug nuts all the way, just to the point where you will be able to use your hands to unscrew them the rest of the way.

Step 3 – Crank the car up. Now it’s time to use the jack. The jack needs to be located under the vehicle so that it pushed up on the frame in order to raise the car correctly. Typically car frames will have a notch next to each tire where the top of the jack will fit. After placing the jack under this slot, twist the lever to start opening the jack and the car should start rising.

Step 4 – Welcome new tire. Use your hands to unscrew the lug nuts the rest of the way. Remove the flat tire by pulling it straight off and make the new tire match up with the holes on the rim with the bolts on the car. Lift the spare tire up and hold it in place as you tighten the lug nuts by hand. When the lug nuts are as tight as you can get them by hand, lower the car slowly with the jack.

Step 5 – Tighten lug nuts. When the car is safely back on level ground, finish tightening the lug nuts with the tire iron. Be sure to tighten lug nuts in a diagonal pattern (ie: after tightening the first one, go to the lug nut diagonally across from it).

To help you feel more comfortable, there is no harm in practicing these steps in the safety of your driveway before you actually have to use them on the road. Practice makes perfect and in doing so you’ll have the confidence you need to change your own tire the next time it is necessary.

Tips and Techniques for Driving in Rain

Rain on the roadways is often underestimated, and always a real danger. With a cautious attitude and the following rainy day driving tips, you can stay safe and dry no matter what the storm brings.

Before you hit the road, make sure that your car has been maintained for optimal performance in all weather. Tires and windshield wipers are easy parts to check at home. Tires should have the proper pressure and the tread should be in good condition. Windshield wipers should be regularly checked  for effectiveness. Take your car in for service to have the brakes and defroster functions regularly maintained. When you know there is a storm coming, allow for extra travel time so that you are never rushed down a rainy highway.

While traveling through stormy weather, let caution be your guide. Maintain a safe distance behind the car in front of you, especially large buses and trucks that throw a lot of water off their wheels. To help your visibility in a downpour, turn on the defroster to defog the windows. Switching on the headlights or fog lamps can also maximize visibility, but don’t turn on the high beams; the extra light will only further obscure your vision against the rain.

In the event of an emergency, you should be prepared with an emergency kit that includes at least the basics like road flares, a flashlight, jumper cables, a quart of oil, a first aid kit, multipurpose tool and extra fuses. Hydroplaning can be a serious threat on slick roads. If you do hydroplane, don’t hit the brakes; steadily steer the car as it glides, maintaining your trajectory until the tires can gain traction.

With a bit of preparation and careful driving, you can be road-ready when a storm hits. Maintain your car, take your time, and stay cautious if you find yourself caught in the rain.

Pros and Cons of Leasing and Buying

As with any financial decision, the choice to lease or buy your next car is solely dependent on what you need to fit your lifestyle. Both buying and leasing have perks and pitfalls, so let’s weigh the options to see which choice is right for you.

Buying is a process that is readily understood by the first-time car consumer. You want the car, they sell the car, you buy the car. Easy, right? The car you purchase is yours to own until the day you choose to sell it. Ownership can be very economical, with the reward of resale value at the end of your run. With any luck, you’ll be driving the same car for years to come.

But this model doesn’t fit everyone’s tastes. After three years of ownership, the ride can get stale. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a brand new car again? The technology and style of cars changes so quickly, it’s tempting to trade in that purchased car for the latest model. That can be a difficult choice if you’ve already put a hefty down-payment on a purchased car.

With leasing, a new car can be had every few years, giving you the option of driving the latest and greatest the automotive industry has to offer, time and time again. Leasing can avoid the pain of scraping together the down payment for a new car, or hassling over the resale value of your current vehicle. With a lease, you can often get a better equipped car with more bells and whistles than you could buy outright. Down payments on leased cars are usually low.

However, just like buying a car, leasing isn’t perfect. Interest rates on leased cars are often higher than those of equivalent loans, so you’ll be paying more per time spent driving the car, even though lease payments tend to be lower per-month. There will also be limited mileage on your car, with a lease allowing an average of just 13,000 miles per year.  Limited mileage can be a source of stress, as you tally up your distance every day. Overage miles typically cost from 10 to 25 cents each.

Ask yourself what you want out of a car as you consider the pros and cons of leasing and buying. Each is a good option, depending on the demands of your lifestyle.