How to tell if you need new brakes!

Not all people can tell when they need new brakes until it's almost too late; so let Medford Auto Body help you!

 There will be a few warning signs, some more noticeable than others:

1. Hearing the brakes

This one is pretty obvious, unless you generally have the music loud. What you will hear is a loud high pitched screeching when you brake; it's caused by a metal indicator so you know when it's time. If it is a consistent sound, it's probably time to change the brakes. The noise sometimes happens after a lot of rain (or wash) too, so just keep an ear out for it.

Also, there is usually a grinding sound when you waited too long to get the brakes changed. This means the pad is gone and it's just the metal rotors and discs grinding. Get your brakes changed ASAP. If the grinding goes on for too long, you could lose the brakes entirely and/or have to get the rotors replaced, which is costly.

2. Looking at the brakes

If you have disc brakes, you can check on the pads by looking through the wheel spokes. The pad will be next to the rotor (metal piece), with about a 1/4" of pad. However, if there is less than that, take it to a shop or change the brakes. 

If you can't see through the spokes, you may have to take the tire off the car to see.

3. Pulling of the car

If you vehicle starts puling to one side, it can mean the brakes are the problem. Sometimes the brake fluid had debris in it, the hose is damaged or the vehicle has an unaligned caliper or pad. Pulling of the car can mean so many different things (IE: unaligned car, uneven wear on the tires, etc.), so get the car checked out to see where the problem is stemming from.

4. Vibration in the brakes

This usually indicates rotors that need replacing, however, it can mean other things for the car (like an alignment). The vibration feels something like a quick, fast stop with an almost thud feeling in the anti lock brakes, but this is without the quick stopping. This gets the brakes working harder due to the fact that the pads can't evenly grab hold of the rotors. It's also more prone to happen when excessively using of the brakes, like driving down steep roads or mountains.

5. Slower response or easy pedal

 

The pedal will usually be more lenient in use and likely get pushed to the floor to actually work. There might be a leak somewhere when this happens (air hose or brake fluid usually) or the pads are not working properly.

Brake fluid looks like clear cooking oil, as opposed to anti freeze which is green and sweet smelling or oil which is thick brown.

You can't usually tell on the pavement or parking spaces, but if you suspect it, put down a white or light colored sheet or towel under the car overnight to check. Obviously, the brake fluid leak will be near the brakes.

 6. Hard pedal


The brake pedal is very hard to push and might be touchy to use. It could be an uneven rotor or require a change of brake fluid.

 It's always a good idea to keep your vehicle in good working order, but your brakes should be one of the most important things you pay attention to. It can save you a lot of money if you're on top of it and help avoid an accident.

Things to consider when buying a new car

Deciding to buy a new car is a big decision, so make sure you are prepared when you end up at the dealer.

 Here are a few questions and concerns you should think about:

Start by compiling a list (on paper, your phone or in your head) of what qualities you want in the new car. Whether it be good for kids, sedan, roomy trunk, fast, stick, safe etc. just know what you want before you go.It's best to know what you are doing/want, than to go to the dealer confused and frazzled.

Would you like new or used?

Most people think new is always better, however, when it comes to cars, used might be the way to go. Cars lose thousands of dollars in value after they leave the lot as a brand new car. So why not go for a car that is a couple years old? They are still new feeling and working and are going to be a better deal. Also, some of the kinks may have already been worked out or fixed after a couple years with the dealer (check TSB blog here to learn more).

However, if you really want a nice brand new car, they are going to be maintained exactly the way you want to and you will know everything that has happened to it.

Should you buy or lease a car?

Buying a car is usually better, just for the price factor alone. You pay a, pretty much, smaller car payment every month and can only keep the car for a few years. So, for the amount of money put into the car, you might have been halfway there to owning it, which means you won't always be paying for a car.

Although, leased cars are always in good shape and run pretty smoothly. Plus, they are newer cars without the new car monthly payment.You will always have the newest model and technology.

Check out this blog post to figure out which may be better for your lifestyle.

What can you afford?

This step involves looking at your own/family budget to get an idea of what you can afford. You don't want to short yourself on bills, family money and/or personal needs with a new car payment. The normal is about 20% of your income for a car payment is considered good. Also, don't extend your car loan past 5 years or 60 months; your car could end upside down (owing more than the vehicle is worth). This could affect if you planned on selling or trading in before your loan is up.

Should you get the extra packages?

This could include a warranty on parts that aren't on the original warranty. Make sure this is written down and the dealer has good standing, meaning they have been around and in business with a good rating for quite some time.

A good rule of thumb is to start by test driving a base model and adding upgrades from there. The salesman might try to get you to add on some options that really don't matter to you. So try the base model and decide what you want from the car and go from there. Even small add ons can end up costing you thousands of dollars. 

What do all these random charges mean?

You see destination/delivery charges (costs of moving the car from manufacturer to dealer), marketing fees, finance charges (interest), all sorts of fees for registration and license plates, etc. There are tons of them and some may be able to be waived if you are pretty good at your negotiation skills. It might also help if you go towards the end of the month, when they are most likely to let the car leave for a lower cost to meet deadlines.

What is the invoice price and what does it mean?

This price tells the customer how much the dealer paid for the car from the manufacturer, but dealers get a lot of discounts and rebates after the fact.



You can find this information on consumer report websites. Going to a salesman with this information means you know what you want and a good idea of how much you can get it for.

With used cars, it may be easier to negotiate a new cost. They may have gotten a really good deal on it with a trade in or something along those lines. But the dealers will always be looking to make as much off of you as they can. So don't accept the sticker price as set in stone!


Knowing the invoice price of your car will tell the dealer that you mean business and expect a good deal. Don’t walk into the dealership without this information.

Negotiation/Financing

Ask the dealer how much they can work with you on price, then go in with the facts you have about the car (invoice price, ratings, discount programs, etc.). Just know, you probably will have to pay more than the invoice price for the vehicle.

Remember, you do NOT have to used the dealer's financing programs. You can absolutely shop around for your own loan beforehand or after. Credit unions are becoming increasingly popular for auto loans, due to their lower than normal interest rates.

Know your credit score before shopping, this information will let you know what kind of interest rate is appropriate for you. Which means don't settle on a high interest rate if you have great credit. You work hard for a good credit score and should take full advantage.

How safe is the car?

 

Do your research on this one. Check into crash tests, recalls, customer testimonials, ratings, reviews, etc. This is a big decision that usually affects your life for 5+ years, so don't accept less than what you want.

 

 

A few other things to consider:

• Don't rush the test drive. You should get a good feel for the car, how well it handles, if it fits the baby seat or your bikes. Learn the ins and outs of the car before deciding on it. Don't worry if the salesman thinks you are taking a little longer than usual; this is a huge decision.
  
• Learn about how much it will cost you to maintain and repair the car after warranties run out; some manufacturer's parts cost a lot more than others. This also goes for learning how much it will cost to insure the car.
  
• Use your car as a trade in, but it is best to negotiate your price before you let them know about using your car as a trade in. 

The dangers of driving with pets

While some people couldn't imagine driving without their pet, others only do it when they have to. Either way, here's how to keep yourself and your pets safe while on the road!

Driving with animals can be very distracting for drivers:

In New Jersey, it is illegal to “improperly” transport animals; which means, they can’t be in your lap. This is probably better for everyone in the car, as the animal might affect the driving. Fines, tickets and possible animal cruelty charges can ensue. There can be distracted driving tickets, which fall under the category of cell phone tickets, which we all know are pretty serious I most states.

It can hurt you, your passengers and the pet:

A lot of people who are driving with their pets in their laps might think it calms the animal during the ride, but maybe it is better to leave them home or restrain them better. Also, it is a bad idea due to safety hazards for both you and the pet. If there is an accident, it can propel the pet forward and cause serious damage or death to the pet. An accident could also freak out the pet and they can cause more harm to you or your passengers. It is best to make sure they are safely contained in the backseat. They have pet carriers or harnesses for animals that clip into the seat belt buckles.

And not to mention, if your pet happens to get on the floor an accidentally messes with the pedals, touches controls they aren’t supposed to or possibly affect the steering or visibility of the driver. There are so many reasons to make sure your pet is safely in the back seat, much like a child would be. Not only can they affect the steering or driving skills, but people may become distracted if the pet is chewing on something or maybe relieving themselves in the vehicle.

Ways to keep them and you safe:

If your pet does have an anxious ride, maybe you can start them off with smaller car rides until they are more comfortable.

Of course, never ever leave your pets unattended in the car, even if it feels cool enough. They could get seriously hurt (learn why here) or someone could hurt them or steal them. 

Try to not let animals have their heads or other body parts out the window; they could get hit by objects, debris or can become irritated. 

They should never be put in the bed of a pickup, either in a cage or not. They could become strangled, dehydrated, burned or die. “It is estimated that at least 100,000 dogs die in accidents each year because they were riding in truck beds.”

Make sure the animals have an up to date ID tag on their collars, with contact information. Also, if you have a microchip in them, make sure that is current as well. 

Felines should generally be secured and restrained (with a seat belt over the carrier) in a carrier because they usually hate driving in cars.

 

So, there are many ways to keep your pet happy and safe on short and long car rides! Always keep their safety, as well as yours, in mind.

How to keep your car's air cool all summer long!

How to avoid the blistering heat in your car after it's been parked:

Sunshade-These have been around for quite awhile and can be found in most stores. It keeps the dash and front seats pretty cool after a long day in the sun.






Covering the seats- You can use towels (wet pool towels work well to cool the seats and dry the towels!) or blankets to cover your seats after being away from the car for a while. The covers will take all the sun's heat and leave your seats cooler.



Park in the shade/garage/car port- Any one of these (and those similar) will eliminate any hot seats, steering wheels or buckles. This can also help with the stuffy hot feeling if you have left the car in the sun for a while.



Use cloth seats covers and/or cloth steering wheel covers- This will avoid burning yourself on the hot seats (and sticking to them) and steering wheel. It may not look pretty over your nice leather seats, but it will save you a lot of frustration in the warmer months.








Use window shades-like the ones from baby stores, they sell bigger ones too!


Remote start- Yes, it is good for summer too! Your car can be sitting with the air running for a few minutes before you even get in. This can be really handy with small children, elderly people and people that have health issues.

Tinted windows- This keeps the sun's heat and UV rays to a minimum in the car.


Use the car's air conditioner- This is great for the groups of people prone to heat injuries (young and older people). It is also just a bit better for gas mileage than having the windows open on highways.


Leave the windows cracked while running into stores.

Tips for dealing with a hot car!

• Open the windows right away when you enter the car- It is very stuffy and sauna like in the car after it has been sitting in the sun for a while. It may feel like you can't breath when you get in, so let some fresh air in for a bit.
• Try not to let children and elderly people use the seat belt buckles after it's been sitting in the sun; they can actually burn their hands/body parts on them. It can burn anyone, but their delicate skin is more at risk.
• Obviously, don't leave perishable food items in the car or anything else that might melt or get ruined.
  
  
• If your steering wheel, etc. do end up being too hot to handle, take a cool rag (you can pour cool water on one) and wipe them down until they are a bit cooler to touch.
• If your car's air isn't running as cool as you think it should, take it to your local repair shop and ask them to take a look at it. The frion might need to be "charged" or added to your car. This can mean a world of difference on a hot summer day!
  
• Keep a good amount of coolant in the tank, it will help the engine not overheat. It's a good tip to keep some extra in the trunk just in case; but remember to never open the coolant tank cap while the engine it hot! It can burst open and cause serious injuries. In fact, make sure all of your fluids are maintained at all times.