I live in a residential area in a city with a population of about 200,000 people. It’s probably hard to imagine that with all the housing, highways, retail establishments, schools, office buildings and everything else that makes up a city this size that we would have a pretty high deer population – right in the neighborhoods – but we do. In fact, I live just across the road from a cemetery and a slightly wooded area, which ends at a highly trafficked street, and the deer love to hang out in the woods across the road and explore the cemetery at night, especially at dusk.  From my deck, it’s not unusual to see five or six deer creep out from the cemetery, while the cars are speeding down the street only a few yards away. 

Deer really do seem to appear suddenly out of nowhere, and since the deer population seems to be increasing, the number of incidents involving a deer jumping into the path of a car has been on the rise in the past few years, especially in my area.

Most deer activity is the greatest during this time of year- mid September through December – resulting in vehicular collisions.  Generally, a deer/car collision can result in significant vehicle damage, and can even be life-threatening. According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), on average, deer-vehicle collisions cost $2,800 per insurance claim, and the cost increases to $10,000 if there is an injury involved.

Here are a few tips to stay safe during deer season:

• Watch the Clock

Deer are most active from sunset to midnight, and during the hours just before and after sunrise, which are known to be feeding times.

• Watch your Speed

It’s not just the speed of the animal that plays a factor-it’s the speed of the vehicle, too. 

• Be Alert

Remember that deer don’t roam alone.  The chances are high that if you see one, others are sure to follow or are nearby, just out of sight.

• Don’t Swerve

If a deer suddenly appears in front of you on the road, honk your horn to frighten it away. Press the breaks firmly but stay in your lane. Collisions happen when we swerve to avoid a deer, only to hit other car, or lose control behind the wheel.

• Wear your Seat Belt/Use a Car Seat

Many injuries in deer/car crashes have been the result of drivers and/or passengers who were not buckled in, or car seats which were not installed properly.

Tags: Advice, General, Guides

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If you recently bought a vehicle from General Motors and for one reason or another, have decided it’s simply not for you after all, you’re in luck; GM has recently announced the 60 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.

Late last week, GM announced that it’s prepared to offer a Satisfaction Guarantee to eligible buyers of new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.  The guarantee allows customers to return their vehicle to the dealership between 31 and 60 days of purchase to receive a refund of the purchase price.

As of this writing, here are the details:

• The offer covers 2009 and 2010 Chevys, Buicks, GMCs and Cadillacs (except medium duty trucks).
• Customers (one per household) can return their vehicle between 31 and 60 days, as long as the vehicle has less than 4,000 miles.
• Customers will be informed in writing before they buy the vehicle of the terms of the Satisfaction Guarantee.
• Customers must take delivery by November 30.
• The Satisfaction Guarantee covers the vehicle purchase price and sales tax, but not other add-ons like accessories, negative equity on a trade-in or other fees; other restrictions apply.
• Leased vehicles are not included.

More details are available online, beginning today at gm.com/guarantee.

The guarantee is part of GM’s “May the Best Car Win” campaign, which highlights the advantage of the company’s products over those of their competitors.

While the whole thing might seem a little odd, I think it’s good marketing on GM’s part, but honestly, not much usually goes wrong with a car in the first 60 days – especially on a brand new vehicle, so GM probably has very little to lose here. Also, since I’d like to think that most car buyers do a lot of research, test driving and comparison shopping before they actually decide to purchase, I don’t think too many consumers will take advantage of the offer  – but it’s a little peace of mind for those who need to – or want to change their mind.

Please be sure to read the complete details and limitations by clicking this GM link, and be sure to look over the FAQ, as well.

Tags: Car Shopping, General

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While our cars may have cruised through the warmth of the summer without any trouble, cold weather can set in before we even notice the leaves have fallen from the trees – just another reason to remember how important it is to get our cars ready for winter driving in the fall, otherwise we could find ourselves left out in the cold.

Following a simple maintenance checklist can save you time and money by extending the life of your car and insuring that you have fewer problems in the winter months, so to keep our cars running as smoothly as possible in cooler weather, here are some good tips:

Tires

Tires lose pressure every month and even more so when the temperatures drop. To maintain proper pressure, it’s good to get in the routine of checking tires monthly to be sure they’re filled up to their recommended psi rating (which can be found on the driver’s side door paneling, in the owner’s manual or sometimes on the tires themselves).

Check the tread on the tires for wear and replace them if they’re excessively worn.  If it’s been over 5,000 miles since your tires have last been rotated, it’s a good idea to have it done since there’s a risk of having one tire wear more significantly than the others.

Finally, if you live in an area where the temperature consistently hits the freezing point during winter months and snow vastly accumulates, now is the time to begin looking for winter tires.

Oil

Lower temperatures can add stress on your engine. To prevent engine wear, change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual. A switch to synthetic oil, if you’re not using it already, will help your car operate more efficiently.  Synthetic motor oils are specifically designed to protect your engine in wide temperature ranges.

Cooling System

Now is the time to check the cooling system (radiator) for any leaks and top up low levels. If needed, it should be flushed and refilled as recommended in the owner’s manual.

Don’t remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled.

While coolant is usually associated with warmer weather, the coolant – or antifreeze – is just as important in the colder months to ensure your car can withstand the winter temperatures.  A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water is the usual recommendation.

Full Engine Tune-Up

If you haven’t taken your car in for its annual tune-up, or haven’t done it yourself yet, now is the time to get it done. Cooler weather only makes existing problems worse, so a tune-up will correct any engine problems, such as stalling and diminished power, and will also ensure that all fluid levels for brakes, transmission, windshield washer, etc. are topped off or replaced if needed.

Tags: Advice, General, Guides

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Recently, the people over at Honeywell wanted to know how many people were doing their own automotive repairs as compared to last year, so they conducted a survey to find out – and the results surprised them.  They found that this year, over half of those who took the survey were doing their own car repairs, which confirmed their initial suspicions – that the economy was having a major impact on vehicle habits of Americans.

According to survey results, within the last 12 months, 51 percent of those who own a car in the States have been rolling up their sleeves and learning how to do their own automotive maintenance and repairs, and an overwhelming majority of those people – 89 percent – said that in the last few years, they would have generally brought in the pro’s to do the maintenance and automotive projects that they’re now taking on themselves. 

In the current economy, I’m not surprised at their results.  It simply stands to reason that more people are looking for ways to cut costs and save money wherever and whenever they can, and routine vehicle maintenance, like changing an air filter or changing the oil, really isn’t that hard to do, so why pay someone else to do it when we don’t have to or if we can – or can learn – to do it ourselves?

According to the survey, they also found that 61 percent of vehicle owners are now changing their own antifreeze, 54 percent are changing their own oil filters, and 32 percent said they’ve even changed their own spark plugs!

I think this is great news – it just goes to show that when the going gets tough, the tough get resourceful!

I vividly recall the very first time I helped install a windshield on an old 1970 Chevy truck.  It was the very first time I had ever installed a windshield of any sort, and it was an experience I’ll never forget.  A full front windshield is very heavy. One false move, one slip of the foot, or an ounce of distraction can cause you to lose your grip instantly, which of course, means losing an entire sheet of glass to the pavement.  Luckily, nothing like that happened, but getting the windshield on the frame exactly right was a huge undertaking – especially in the winter, working in an unheated garage.  I couldn’t wear gloves to do it because I needed to be able to feel the edges of the frame, so by the time we finished up, my hands were so cold that it seemed like hours before they warmed up.  Looking back, this wasn’t one of my least favorite repairs; instead, it was one of my favorites because I learned how to do something new. 

I know there are Cars for Girls readers who have been doing their own car repairs and/or regular vehicle maintenance for a long time, while there are still many who are just learning the ropes, so I have to ask:

What is your favorite – or least favorite – car repair or maintenance task you’ve done so far?

Tags: General

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On Wednesday, GuidePoint Systems announced launch of the first-ever Bluetooth kit for vehicles that offers free emergency dispatch and roadside assistance.

It’s reportedly very similar to OnStar, but I have no idea how good it is, or how well it works.

GuidePoint Systems, which is located in Pontiac Michigan, has already begun shipping the unit, called Guidepoint Connect.  It’s an in-vehicle Bluetooth system which offers hands-free cell phone, emergency services/roadside help and integrated music control. The four-button unit, which has been designed to be mounted on the steering column, combines Bluetooth technology with safety and convenience services for drivers.

Curious? Here’s how the manufacturer says it works: 

In addition to the standard dial and hang-up buttons, the unit includes a phone button that connects callers directly to Guidepoint’s 24/7/365 response centers, and a white-cross button that can be integrated with Guidepoint’s GPS tracking device (sold separately) for pinpoint location-based services and one-touch emergency dispatch.

The unit also allows drivers to safely and conveniently control a cell phone and a portable music player. 

The way I understand it, Guidepoint Connect will be available at new-car dealerships and through retailers of mobile electronics.

 Suggested retail price for the Guidepoint Connect is $399.00 (which doesn’t include installation).  The cost of the unit includes free E-Call service for emergency dispatch, plus one year of complimentary Guidepoint Silver, a service that includes roadside assistance, directory assistance and unlimited concierge service.

The manufacturer says the unit can also be integrated with a Guidepoint GPS tracking module, which provides stolen vehicle recovery and online vehicle tracking.

I wish they would send me one so I could try it out and give a proper review.

For more, check out the website, www.guidepointsystems.com.

Tags: General

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