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Posts Tagged ‘CarMax’

Car Care Means Battery Maintenance

January 25th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 2 Comments | Filed in Autos Express

Cold weather can place an enormous burden on your car with your battery straining to provide the juice needed to help it run. If your battery is not working optimally or dies, then you may find that heat and lights are not working at full capacity or your car’s engine might not turn over, leaving you stranded.

Your car's battery is under assault due to winter weather conditions.

CarMax, the nation’s largest used car retailer, offers some timely advice about car batteries that we’re happy to share with SayEducate readers. “Car batteries supply electrical energy to retain the memory in the onboard computers as well as the energy needed to start the engine,” said Tom Damon, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. “Proper maintenance is vital to keep your vehicle running year round, especially during the harsh winter months.”

Let’s review some of the do’s and don’ts of battery care as offered by the CarMax technicians:

Do’s

* Wear proper eye, hand and clothing protection when working with batteries.
* Check the terminals where cables connect to be sure they are tight and corrosion free. If corrosion is present, have terminals cleaned by a professional.
* Lubricate terminals with a dab of petroleum jelly to keep cables clean and free from corrosion.
* Make sure the battery is firmly secured to its mounting bracket. An unsecured battery can become damaged and cause short circuits.
* Check the fluid level unless it’s a maintenance-free battery. If the fluid is low, add distilled water. If there is no fluid visible, then replace the battery.
* Keep your battery case clean. Dirt conducts electricity and can discharge the battery. Use a solution of baking soda dissolved in warm water to clean the battery. Wet the case and agitate with a nylon bristle brush to scrub surface. Rinse well with plain water.
* Batteries come in many different sizes. When replacing a car battery, make sure you choose the right size for your vehicle. When it comes to car batteries, bigger is not always better.
* Prior to disconnecting the battery, check manufacturer specifications on what items may be disrupted when disconnecting the battery. For example, the radio may require a security code when the battery has been disconnected.
* Always disconnect the negative cable first and reconnect it last.
* Charge battery in a well-ventilated area.

Don’ts

* If your battery is frozen, do not charge it, as it may explode! One visual sign of a frozen battery is that the sides are bowed out. This condition is dangerous; the battery will need to be replaced.
* If you need to charge your battery yourself, switch the charger to a low-charge setting. Most chargers have this feature, but if not, have a professional charge the battery.
* Don’t charge a dead battery with a car’s alternator. An alternator is not designed to function as a charger, and it may be damaged or have a shortened life as a result.
* Never lean over a battery when charging, testing, or jump-starting the engine.
* Don’t disconnect battery cables while engine is running (your battery acts as a filter).
* Don’t let the battery get totally discharged. Most car batteries get their power from lead cells submerged in electrolyte and these cells can be damaged when the battery is totally discharged.
* Don’t let the battery get hot while charging.

If you are not familiar with battery maintenance, most any major auto parts retailer can test your battery for free. Some stores offer battery charging services too which can ensure that your battery is ready to take on winter’s worst.

Source: CarMax


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10 Tips To Help Prepare Your Car For Winter’s Worst

December 4th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 9 Comments | Filed in Autos Express

Used car retailer CarMax offers timely advice

Winter weather has been breaking out in some areas of the country recently with much of the nation expected to be within its icy grip in January and February. Some people thrive in cold weather, while others seem to be ill prepared to manage every wintry blast that comes their way.

Prepare your car for winter driving now in order to avoid this problem.

Prepare your car for winter driving now in order to avoid this problem.

Your car can thrive in all kinds of weather including the harshest wintry conditions manageable. However, there are some things you should do right now in order to ensure that your next trip doesn’t expose underlying problems which can lead to expensive repair bills or leave you stranded.

CarMax Tips

Thanks to the work of automotive service technicians at CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, the following ten maintenance tips can help your prevent a serious problem this winter:

1. Check your anti-freeze. The best ratio of anti-freeze to water is 50/50. The No. 1 cause of engine-related breakdowns is cooling system failure. To prevent those breakdowns, have your cooling system flushed every two years.

2. Replace your windshield wiper blades twice a year. Fill the windshield washer reservoir with freeze resistant wiper fluid (plain water and standard windshield washer fluid will freeze) and keep an extra gallon in the trunk.

3. Check your battery. If the battery is more than three years old, have a technician test its capacity. Have the alternator tested at the same time. Make sure the battery terminal ends are corrosion-free.

4. Check your tire pressure. Check the pressure when the tires are cold, and set the pressure to the car manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific tires. When the weather turns cold, the air inside the tire will contract and the pressure will drop.

5. Look at the tread depth on your tires. Put a penny headfirst between the treads. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s hair, it’s time to replace the tire.

6. Check your spare tire. Make sure it has the proper air pressure and tread depth and that all the proper tire-changing equipment is in the vehicle.

7. Make sure your lights, heater and defrosters are working properly.

8. Check all rubber hoses and belts to ensure they are not damaged. Coolant hoses wear from the inside out. Inspect for heavy cracks or chunking in the belts. Alternatively, have a professional inspect all hoses and belts.

9. Have your car’s brake system checked. If you haven’t had the system inspected in the last six months, have this performed.

10.Assemble a winter emergency kit for the trunk of your vehicle. It should include a blanket, extra boots and gloves, an ice scraper, windshield washer fluid, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, flares, a small snow shovel, a flashlight, kitty litter (for traction when stuck in snow) and bottled water.

Fill ‘Er Up!

One more point that CarMax makes that I always tell everyone before they set out on a trip during the winter months: keep your gas tank filled. Running out of gas in the summer is an inconvenience, during winter that can prove deadly.

Source: CarMax

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Consumers Warned About Atlanta Area Flood Damaged Cars

September 28th, 2009 by Krayton M Davis | 5 Comments | Filed in Autos Express, News

The recent floods in and around the Atlanta area were of historic proportions. Homes were destroyed, crops ruined and vehicles swept away. Thankfully, casualties were kept to a minimum, but the rebuilding process is likely to take many months to complete.

Flood Damaged Cars

CarMaxSound familiar? It should. Over the past several years devastation has taken its toll on communities from Texas to the Carolinas as hurricane and tropical storm activity rendered many areas uninhabitable for days, weeks, even months. As recovery began in these areas, a number of housing scams came to light as did one involving automobiles – flood-damaged vehicles which were declared destroyed, but “repaired” and retitled and sold to unsuspecting buyers.

CarMax, which is the largest supplier of used cars in the country, has been warning about “Katrina Cars” and other damaged vehicles for several years. Most recently, CarMax issued a news release detailing the problem and telling potential buyers what to look for.

Signs of Damage

“Consumers should be aware that some businesses and individuals may try to sell salvaged and flood-damaged cars without revealing the vehicle history,” said Jason Day, Atlanta region vice president of purchasing for CarMax.  “Flood-damaged cars that are not structurally or mechanically sound could be repaired, re-titled, and sold to unsuspecting buyers.”

CarMax’s purchasing team offers these ten tips for identifying a vehicle with possible flood damage.  If any of these signs are identified, ask further questions to determine if flood damage occurred:

  1. Check for a moldy smell inside the car and feel the carpet for dampness
  2. Be suspicious of an older car with a brand new interior or carpeting
  3. Check for rust under the brake or gas pedals
  4. Look for dirt or rust under the dashboard and floor mats
  5. Inspect the bolts and screws under the seats for evidence of rust
  6. Check the undercarriage for excessive rust
  7. Check inside the trunk under the carpet and in the spare tire well area for rust, dirt or sand
  8. Look for corrosion, water marks, or a thin brown line on the exterior of the vehicle
  9. Check to see if the electrical system works
  10. Check the VIN number with AutoCheck or Carfax to see whether a flood claim has been filed or a salvage title has been issued on the vehicle

Free History Report

For their part, CarMax provides a free AutoCheck vehicle history report for every used vehicle.  The company’s countrywide team of more than 800 car purchasers has been trained to observe whether a car has flood damage or has been in a major mishap.  CarMax has a policy in place where they will not sell any car that has flood or frame damage or an odometer or title discrepancy.

Source: CarMax

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