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Palmer Administrative Services Earning Great Reviews From Customers

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Palmer Administrative Services is one of the most respected names in the extended vehicle service industry because of the excellent customer service they provide to their customers. 

Palmer Administrative Services reviews offer a broad commentary on what customers love about this company. 

For example, many drivers comment that they appreciate the lengths Palmer goes to in order to provide contracts designed for their needs. 

If a driver is primarily concerned about engine breakdowns, Palmer’s Basic Plan allows them to pay only for the coverage they need, saving money every month. 

In contrast, Palmer’s Elite Exclusionary Plan is so comprehensive that the contract lists everything that isn’t covered instead of what is to save space. This freedom to choose exactly what you want helps Palmer Administration stand out in a crowded field. 

Palmer Administrative Services reviews also emphasize the company’s knowledgeable customer service team. Emotions can run high when you find out your car requires significant repairs and having a calming voice to talk to can make a significant impact on a customer’s overall experience. 

Furthermore, Palmer customers love that there is no limit on the number of claims they can make over the life of their contract. Many competitors have a cap in place, forcing drivers to choose if a given repair is “worth it” only to discover that they have claims remaining when their contract expires. 

Another common theme in Palmer Administrative Services reviews is how ecstatic customers are to find out that they don’t need to lay out the money for covered repairs. Unfortunately, many competitors expect drivers to shell out the full price of a repair and wait for reimbursement that may never come. 

Likewise, many Palmer Administrative Services reviews call out all of the bonuses included in every contract. For instance, drivers can rent a car on Palmer’s dime if they breakdown away from home, allowing them to continue their trip as if nothing had happened. 

The company also provides a stipend to cover room and board while a customer’s vehicle is in the shop, taking some of the financial pressure off. 

Additionally, roadside assistance such as complimentary towing and gasoline delivery is included in every contract Palmer sells. Clients can even file a claim for a licensed locksmith to let them back into their vehicle if they accidentally lock themselves out.  

Some other factors don’t come up as often but are appreciated when they do. For example, one reviewer noted that he decided to sell his vehicle before his Palmer vehicle service contract expired. He reported that he was able to transfer his contract to his vehicle’s new owner, pocketing more for it than he could have without an extended vehicle service contract. 

Reviewers who do their homework will also mention Palmer’s credentials in the industry within their reviews. For instance, Palmer’s executive team has over 30 years of experience in the extended service warranty space, ensuring that customers never come up with anything they’ve never seen before. Palmer Administration is also BBB-accredited and maintains a ranking as an A-rated insurance company, giving new customers confidence that they will be there when needed. 

Best of all, every Palmer Administration Services plan includes flexible financing options so quality protection doesn’t break the bank. If you are interested in reading some Palmer Administrative Services reviews for yourself or learning more about the services Palmer provides, please contact the company directly with any further questions you may have. A sales rep looks forward to serving all of your needs!

 

Top 5 All Season Tires You Can Put on Your Car

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In many ways, the tires are the most important part of your vehicle. They are the only part that actually makes contact with the road. A good tire can make the difference between grip and no-grip when it really counts.

Of course, that’s only part of the equation. When you have the right tires you also need to take the time to rotate them regularly, this will ensure they wear evenly. In short, rotating the tire will improve your chances of staying on the road. You can and should find out more about tire rotation services.

If you’re ready to choose the newest of all-season tires then you’ll want to know the top choices currently available.

Here are our Top 5 All Season Tires:

1. Michelin Primacy 3 ST

It’s not surprising to find a Michelin tire featuring prominently on this list. The Primacy 3 ST offers excellent handling in wet and dry conditions. It’s also effective at reducing road noise compared t most standard tires and is well enough built that you can expect it to last for 2-3 seasons, depending on the number of miles you do.

2. Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE0003

It’s possible that these Bridgestone tires actually hold the road better than the Michelin’s. However, the build quality and durability are not quite a match for the Michelins. 

It is worth noting that theses tires are very good at reducing road noise. 

3. Pirelli Scorpion ATR

These tires are built to go in all weathers and they do exceptionally well in wet and dry. As with most tires, they’ll perform slightly better in the dry but the build quality is excellent, even if the grip doesn’t quite match the previous two. 

They’re good value for money and provide a reasonable level of noise reduction. The reason they’re only third is that they may not last as long as the first two offerings. 

4. Hankook Dynapro ATM

These are a surprise contender but actually outperform all the other tires in the dry. Unfortunately, the grip suffers a little in the wet although still offers decent grip and water dispersal.

all season tiresThe Hankook is well built, potentially capable of outlasting all the other options on this list. Perhaps most impressive is the reduction in road noise, it’s impressive. 

Unfortunately, the build quality suffers slightly in comparison to the others. Making it a great set of tires but not the best.

5. Tyo Open Country A/T II

The last tire on this list is difficult to beat. It’s wet and dry weather handling are superior to any other tire, as is its durability and road noise. It struggles to achieve the road noise reductions of the Hankook but still outmatches the rest of the competition.

In short, the Tyo Open Country A/T II is potentially the best all-season tire you can buy right now. 

But, as always, speak to your tire professional The right choice will be influenced by your vehicle and your driving style. 

Five Best Current BMW’s to Buy For Track Day Fun

We are all familiar with the BMW’s legendary slogan ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’. However, instead of it being just a marketing gimmick, the German automaker has backed up its claims for a couple of decades since the slogan’s creation and made some of the most fun cars to drive in the world. However, when it comes to pure track day lunacy and fun action on the track, some of their recent cars stand out. Here are five of them!

BMW M2 Competition

The F87 chassis M2 is powered by a 3 litre straight six engine with 365 horsepower. It’s a fun, and very good track day car, but the competition has 405 HP which makes it more exciting and more brutal in the areas where the regular M2 seems out of breath. The M2CS is a bonkers car, but the M2 Competition just is the better car overall.

BMW M340i

Until there isn’t an M3 car to lay our gaze upon, we have to deal with the more sensible MSport version with a 3 litre I6 engine that has 385HP. It’s almost as quick as the M2 Competition, but slightly less playful in the corners. You can sense that this is a regular car that’s taken up a notch instead of a thoroughbred car for the track. However, it’s still loads of fun and plenty powerful.

BMW M4GTS

best BMWs to buy The production output is limited to 700 units which does make you think that this car is special. And it definitely is. This particular version laps the Nordschleife in the same time as the legendary V10 monster that is Porsche Carrera GT. Any more convincing that the 493HP and 600NM track-ready demon is nuts to drive? We don’t think that’s necessary.

BMW M5 Competition

When it comes to the F90 BMW M5, there’s absolutely no point in bothering with the regular version. Plop another 20 grand on the table and get the more powerful and more brutal Competition version with 617HP. It’s one of the most powerful and arguably the fastest petrol-powered sedan in the market today. It has great handling, a sweet-sounding V8 and for daily driving it’s as comfy as a car can be.

BMW M8 Competition

Once again, no point in bothering with the regular version. Choose the competition and you will be able to drive what is believed to be the fastest road-legal, mass-produced BMW has ever made. It’s very high-tech and modern, so you will likely not see BMW wood steering wheels appear or those buttons from the 90’s as well. On paper the M8 Comp is slightly quicker than the M5 Competition and should be more precise in the corners, but it weighs just as much as the sedan, so who knows?

Who will be crowned winner in The Great Movie Car Race?

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The Great Movie Car RaceWe often remember a film because of the storyline or characters that feature in it. From
much loved comedy films like Superbad which have us crying with laughter, to magical
family favorites like Frozen; film fans are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking the
perfect movie. Over the years the film industry has become more and more advanced;
meaning the quality and overall experience when watching a movie has changed
dramatically.

Film creators can now use the most cutting-edge technology to help bring a
movie to life and leave its viewers in awe. You only have to look at recent releases such as
the remake of Disney’s The Lion King to appreciate how the quality of films has improved in
only a matter of years.

If you ask the majority of film fans what makes them love their favorite movies so much, a
popular answer is likely to be the characters within it. Film characters become iconic for
numerous reasons. Whether it’s due to their comical humor, superpowers or villainous
profile, we grow to love and remember them for a mixture of reasons.

Famous film characters such as Starsky & Hutch, James Bond, and Batman are all famous in
their own right, but each one has something in common; they all have a signature vehicle
associated with them. From James Bond’s stylish Aston Martin to the iconic red Ford Gran
Torino driven by Starsky & Hutch; a film characters vehicle is often what makes them such a
memorable profile.

With many popular films featuring an iconic vehicle, it would be interesting to see who would
win if the best of the bunch were put together to compete in the ultimate movie car race.
Thanks to LeaseCar UK this has been made possible, as they have chosen 10 cars from the
big screen and created the race I’m sure we all want to see. The race features cars from
much-loved films including Back to the Future, James Bond, Herbie, The Italian Job and
more.

Without further ado, it’s now time to enjoy The Great Movie Car Race. 10 of the best cars
from film battle it out to see who will make it to 60mph in the quickest time. Who would you
like to claim the first prize? Let us know who you’re backing and overall thoughts on the race on
social, using #MovieCarRace.

Things You Need to Do Before You Go Car Shopping

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Car ShoppingCar shopping is often presented as a magical, weekend experience. You spend days wandering various car lots, asking questions, driving a number of vehicles, and then receiving eager service as you sign the dotted line and drive the new car home. It is possible that your car buying experience will look like a car commercial, but it might not, especially if you do your due diligence. Here are the top X things you need to do before you go car shopping.

Clean Up Your Credit

There are several reasons you want to clean up your credit before you do anything else. Late payments and unpaid bills hurt your credit. This means you’ll be charged a higher interest rate on a car loan no matter where you go. Your prior financial mismanagement may result in higher insurance premiums, as well. If your credit is bad enough, they won’t let you drive off the lot with a car. Know before you go so that you aren’t embarrassed or taken to the used car lots and shown other people’s trade-ins with the knowledge that’s all they’ll let you choose from.

Learn about Your Auto Insurance Coverage

If you sell your current car and buy a new one, at a minimum, you’ll need to update your auto insurance. However, your current insurance policy may not pay out enough to cover the full cost of repairing your future new car. If you saved money by having a minimal auto insurance policy, you may want to increase your coverage to include vandalism, theft of the car, and the cost of a fender bender.

Determine How Much Car You Can Afford

Create a realistic budget and determine the most you can afford to spend on a car. Factor in costs like insurance, gas, tolls and parking fees. Set a ceiling of how much you can spend in total. Note that you don’t want to spend that much if you don’t have to, and you want margin so that you don’t end up stressed trying to afford the payments on the car you need to get to work. When you have that hard limit, you can tell the dealer no, you can’t afford the sporty package or the built-in infotainment center.

Create a List of Prospective Cars

Don’t walk onto a car lot and get railroaded into a car that really isn’t right for you. Create a list of requirements like the fuel efficiency you want it to get, the amount of cargo space it must have, how many seats you want, and any other features that you consider to be necessities. Do some tentative research on your own for cars, trucks or vans that may fit your needs. Even ruling out a few car brands is progress, because you can tell the dealer you’re not interested in them. This will save everyone time.

Shop around for a Loan

Take the time to shop around for a car loan. You can ask your current lender and main bank for quotes but know that they may not give you the best rate. Check out other lenders. This is especially true if you have bad credit. This car loan site for bad credit will offer lower interest rates and fees than mainstream banks.

Know Which Car Dealers Are Worth Your Time

Before you go car shopping, spend as much time researching local car dealers as you do cars. You don’t want to do business with a car dealer known for selling cars with problems or over-charging customers. Learn which dealers sell the makes and models of vehicles you’re considering so you don’t waste time showing up at a dealer that doesn’t sell them.

A Guide to Picking the Best DC to DC Charger For Your Car

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Battery care for vehicles sometimes takes a back seat in terms of priority. You only get to focus on it when things go wrong. By then, it’s usually too late. Whether it’s for regular driving, trailer or camper driving, the battery is one of the most critical components of your vehicles. The best way to take care of your batteries is to ensure the proper level of charging with the appropriate charging speeds and current. Using DC to DC chargers is one of the recommended ways to achieve this.

What DC to DC Chargers Are

Especially important for multi-battery setups, DC to DC chargers ensure that your batteries are carefully balanced and isolated from each other. This gives you a predictable and reliable performance when you need it. A DC to DC charger always keeps your second battery at 100% charge, even if it’s located far away from your alternator.

Moreover, since it’s a DC power supply, the DC to DC charger isn’t dependent on the fluctuations in current coming from the alternator, giving you a more steady supply and lessening the abuse on your car’s electrical system. DC to DC chargers are very helpful for camper setups wherein you have your auxiliary batteries far away from the engine.

How to Select the Best DC to DC Charger

Here are pointers to help you choose the best DC to DC charger for your vehicle.

  1. Top DC to DC chargers can determine the type of batteries you have.

Many battery types are now available in the market. These include the conventional lead-acid and calcium batteries, as well as the more expensive and sophisticated AGM (absorbent glass mat) and lithium batteries in the auxiliary power roles.

The best DC to DC battery chargers in the market can detect the type of batteries in your car’s electrical system, and give the proper output that’s required. Battery types have different charging requirements and may get damaged if they’re given improper charging currents.

  1. The best charger can accept multiple inputs.

Another factor that you need to consider is if the DC to DC charger can accept different power inputs. The engine’s alternator is a vehicle’s main power supply. As such, the alternator regulates the proper supply input to give the adequate required voltage and current for the battery.

Some 4×4 and camper van enthusiasts now also bring their own auxiliary power sources, such as solar panels. Having your own solar panels with you gets increasingly useful, especially when you’re driving and setting up camp in the desert. You may set up your camp and charge your batteries while you’re resting. The perfect DC to DC charger brand should be able to accept this auxiliary power supply.

DC to DC Charger

  1. The ideal DC to DC charger caters to your battery size.

Similar to getting a charger that’s compatible with your battery type, another variable is getting one that can cater to your car’s specific battery size. Battery size doesn’t refer to its actual physical size. Rather, battery size pertains to how many amp-hours your battery can store.

A full-size auto battery has different capacities compared to a deep cycle marine battery. As such, it would have different charging time requirements. You need to have a DC to DC charger that’s perfectly suited to your vehicle’s battery size in order to ensure the battery’s long life and reliability.

  1. The best charger will meet your purpose for purchasing a battery charging system.

Some users own offline chargers that make sure their spare batteries are being charged at home during the off-season. Offline chargers may be used for motorcycles, boats, or classic cars. In such cases, a low-current DC charger would be perfect. However, for heavier charging requirements and in-vehicle chargers, bigger and more sophisticated DC chargers may be necessary.

  1. It can withstand high temperatures.

Check the DC charger’s working temperature limits when you’re shopping around. For the camping and 4×4 enthusiasts who use in-vehicle chargers, another major item to carefully consider is the temperature limits of the unit. Some drivers use their vehicles in the most extreme weather conditions and abuse all of the car’s components heavily. The hot conditions in the engine bay and wherever you might install the charging unit may damage low-quality DC chargers. This will give you more problems when you’re driving in the outback.

  1. The ideal charger has the proper indicators and selectors for different charging requirements.

A battery charging system should have the proper indicators and display, which will give you an idea of its current status. Some important information that you need to be able to see on the charger are the following:

  • Type of battery being charged
  • Current charging level
  • Fault status

You should be especially aware of the fault status at any point in time, giving you ample time to react when needed.

Conclusion

As a final note, purchase a DC to DC charger that can offer you the best warranty for your purchase. As part of its long-term reliability, you need a charger with a good warranty to give you peace of mind. High-quality manufacturers give longer warranties, showing their high confidence in their products.

Used Cars For Sale In Rochester NY: 7 Questions To Ask The Dealer Before Buying One

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Used Cars For Sale In Rochester NYWhen you are out hunting for a second-hand car, you need to be smart about it. There have been many people who have become victims of shady car dealers and you don’t want to be one of those victims. Many salesmen are only concerned about their sales and do not care whether you buy a good unit or not, so it is up to you to determine which one you should get. You can do this by asking the right questions.

Questions you need to ask when buying a used car:

  1. Is the car certified and can a certification be provided? There are used cars that undergo pre-owned certification, which extends the warranty of the car. Before getting a certification, the car goes through inspection and if it passes, it will have a seal of approval in the papers. Used cars that are certified pre-owned cost a little bit higher than those that are not because they are usually in better shape and it gives the new owner some peace of mind.
  2. What is the ownership history of the vehicle? There are several ways that car dealers such as the Vision Automotive Group acquire used cars. They could get it as a trade-in, from an auction, from a rental company, or they could buy demos from car companies. When you know where the car came from, you can ask for maintenance records. Auctioned cars are good because they have been inspected by expert mechanics. However, you should still see the papers. If they are unwilling to show it, this should serve as a red flag.
  3. Can you take it out for a long test drive? You won’t be able to determine if a used car works properly and has good car maintenance just by test driving it for a few minutes. You need to take it out on a long drive, but not more than 100 kilometers. Here are a few things you need to look out for when test driving a used car:
  • Car should accelerate quickly or what is expected of the car model
  • Brakes should work properly
  • Listen carefully if it is making too much noise
  • Steering wheel should function properly
  • Clutch should not be too hard if the car is on a manual transmission
  • Make sure all systems are working
  • Car mileage
  1. Will they be giving you a CarFax report? CarFAx is a third-party vehicle history report provided by most dealers of used cars. It is even present on their ads in order to attract customers. However, if the car dealer you’re talking to refuses to do so, you should simply find another one. However, if they provide you with the CarFax report, you need to check and make sure that the vehicle identification number or VIN on that report matches the car.
  2. Can you have your mechanic check the car? If the car dealer cannot provide you with a certification, ask them if your certified mechanic can inspect the car and check if everything is working the way it’s supposed to. If the car dealer is not being shady, they will allow it and you can be assured that you are getting your money’s worth.
  3. What is the return policy? Used cars may have defects that you cannot see during the initial test drive it. Sometimes, the defects will surface after you have driven it for a few days. If this happens, a reputable car dealer will offer another unit that has the same value as the one you got. However, car dealers that do not care about their customers will most likely not have a good return policy.
    Used Cars For Sale Rochester NY
  4. What are all the fees that you need to pay on top of the actual car price? When car dealers offer you a price, do not assume that is the only thing you are going to pay for. You will certainly need to pay other fees, so they have to be clear on how much money you need to shell out in total. Don’t forget to ask how much discount they’re willing to give should you decide to pay in cash. Most car dealers prefer their customers to pay in cash so they give discounts.

Conclusion

Buying used cars in Rochester can be exciting especially if it is going to be your first car. There are a lot of options. However, before you choose, just make sure that you are dealing with a reputable car dealer who does not only want to sell you their car, but also for you to have a great experience with them.

Five Safety Tips for Long Drives and Fast Cars

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Safety tips for long drivesDriving fast cars on long trips is a love and addiction that no one can take away from us, but it can be dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Accidents involving fast cars are always more destructive, and deadly. Hiring an accident lawyer from reputable law firms such as LegacyCarAccidentLawyers.com is a must in case you get involved in a serious accident. However, you can lessen your chance of needing a legal service if you follow these safety tips when embarking on long drives with your fast car:

1. Get enough rest and sleep.

The biggest mistake that you can make is embarking on a lengthy road trip right after your work shift. If you have to go to work before your long drive, consider filing a half day leave so you can head back to your home and rest before driving for hours. Giving yourself a nap lasting up to 90 minutes at most can improve your procedural memory, which you’ll need the minute you operate your vehicle. Enough rest can prevent you from overthinking, which can send you into a panic and may cause an accident.

Furthermore, getting a full eight hours of sleep before going on a long drive can recharge your body and make all of your senses alert and awake since stepping behind the wheel requires you to multitask a lot.

But you can only achieve a 90-minute nap or eight-hour sleep by committing to it once you hit the sack. Don’t use your phone to check your social media account while in bed as it can cause you to stay awake longer and either force yourself to sleep for less than the suggested amount of time or wake up late.

2. Eat just the right amount of food.

Aside from rest or sleep, you should also stock up on food before going on a road trip for the physical and mental energy to drive your car. Eat breakfast or consider having an early dinner before taking the driver’s seat. However, don’t overfill your stomach to avoid going into a food coma that can affect your ability to focus on the road ahead.

3. Map out a few stopovers.

You’ll get exhausted at any point during your journey. Your legs might suddenly feel cramped, your bladder might become full, and your lower back might hurt before you reach your destination. You should thus consider all of these events before embarking on a long drive by consulting a map online and taking note of any establishments where you can step out of your vehicle.

4. Play some music but keep the volume down so it won’t distract you.

You typically should rid yourself of any distractions while driving so that all of your senses can remain focused on the road. But spending hours behind the wheel with only the sound of vehicles as accompaniment can turn boring real quick, which can cause you to suddenly fall asleep. Here’s what you do to stay alert on the road:

  • Turn your car radio on and tune in to a station that plays upbeat music.

  • Create a travel playlist on your phone, which you can play during your trip.

  • Keep the volume down to avoid getting distracted while driving.

tips for long drives
Play some music…

5. Consider bringing anyone you know with you who has driving skills.

Your body might reach a breaking point where it can no longer handle being behind the wheel for several hours. You should thus consider tagging a family member, a colleague at work, a friend, or any of your neighbors along for the ride. Here are the advantages of doing this:

  • You can take turns in driving so you don’t get exhausted.

  • If you are not comfortable with playing music during your trip, you can engage in interesting conversations with your companion to stay alert.

  • Your driving buddy can also help you load and unload all the things that you brought with you.

  • They can even take Instagram-worthy shots for you so that you wouldn’t have to struggle with taking selfies.

Conclusion

The longest journey ever on record was a whopping 460,476 miles across 186 countries as of 2017 achieved by a Swiss couple. Whether you plan to follow their footsteps or not, you’ll need to take care of yourself and whoever else you’re bringing on the road with you, especially during extended road trips. Observing the above-listed safety tips for long drives should make every mile of yours worth it until you reach your destination. You can’t afford to risk getting caught in an accident while on your way there after all.

Maintaining Your Car Battery: Questions and Answers  

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auto tune up serviceHave you ever started your day with that awful experience of having your car not start? When the only thing you hear is the groaning of the engine? A dead battery is probably one of the most dreaded issues of any car owner.

After jump-starting the car, the first thing you usually do is visit your local car battery replacement service.

Far beyond that initial ignition however, the car battery has a very important job in your car’s electrical systems. You can minimize that dreadful dead battery experience by learning the facts about your car battery.

How Long Should My Car Battery Last?

Unfortunately, there’s no definite answer to this question. A typical car battery should last approximately 6 years, but this will naturally depend on how well you treat it. If you forget to turn off the headlights or leave all your mobile devices plugged in to the car chargers when the engine is off, you’re on a fast track to a dead battery.

Your battery can definitely handle all those electronics when the engine is on, but as soon as you turn it off and leave all the gadgets plugged in – they draw electricity directly from your car battery.  

Taking care of your battery will help maintain it for its intended lifespan, but eventually it will die and need to be replaced by your local car battery replacement service.

Is the Problem really with my Battery?

Don’t always blame the battery when your car won’t start. There are other components in your vehicle that can cause that same annoying symptom. A faulty starter will usually make a clicking noise that sounds almost the same as the sound of a dead battery. The problem can also be your car’s alternator, which charges the battery when the engine is on. If the alternator is defective, then the car battery won’t recharge when the engine is running, leading to a similar no-start situation. Other problems might be with your car’s fuel injectors that can get clogged, or the spark plugs that get worn out. Don’t rush to blame the battery. A reliable auto tune up service will definitely be able to locate the real issue.

car battery replacement service
A reliable auto tune up service will definitely be able to locate the real issue.

Can the weather affect my Car Battery?

If you have a typical car battery, which uses a liquid electrolyte solution to hold the charge, then extreme weather can definitely affect its performance and lifespan. Cold weather makes it harder for the liquid solution to transfer full power. That’s why you have a hard time starting your car in the winter.

On the other end of the weather spectrum, very hot weather can also affect your battery. It can cause the battery’s liquid solution to evaporate, and reduce its ability to hold the charge. If there are signs that a liquid refill is required you should visit your local car battery replacement service.
A small Tip: Keep your car in a garage when possible, to help the battery avoid these extreme temperatures. It will help your battery live longer.  

Can I Recharge a weak Battery by Driving my Car for Long Distances?

In general, cars need to be driven regularly to allow the battery to recharge itself properly, otherwise it will discharge and run flat. Driving your car (no matter for how long) – will not fully charge your already weak battery. When your battery is weak, driving a lot might even lower its capacity and reduce its lifespan.

You could try to charge it with a suitable battery charger, but this can be dangerous. We recommend letting your auto tune up service do this for you.

Can my Car’s Faulty Battery affect the Fuel Economy?

Yes indeed! If your battery is faulty it can affect your car’s fuel economy. Why? Because the alternator will need to draw more power to charge the battery adequately, and this in turn puts more pressure on the battery and consumes more fuel.

Should I disconnect the Battery when I go on Vacation?

That will depend on car’s model, age and the length of your vacation. In newer cars, if it’s a short vacation (less than two weeks), you shouldn’t disconnect the battery. In today’s new computerized cars, disconnecting the battery may lead to losing some of your car’s computer settings.

If your vacation is longer than two weeks, first make sure the battery is fully charged, and if it has removable caps, check that the level of electrolytes is correct. If you’re not sure, contact your auto tune up service.

Hopefully this Q&A helps you understand your car battery a bit more, and will make it easier the next time your car won’t start…

Designing a Race Car with CAD Software

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cad softwareThe mere fact you’re here at HorsePowerKings.com – means you love cars. Right? Do you also love spending hours sketching up super race cars? Have you ever had that inner dream of designing your own race car? Well personally I have, and I’ve been sketching cars since I was a kid. I was always intrigued by how these brilliant Car designers do it. How the heck do they come up with those perfect beautiful monster vehicles? I then found out that a lot of it boils down to CAD Software, which stands for Computer Aided Design. CAD is used in a very wide range of fields, by architects, engineers, product designers, film makers, shipbuilders, and also by car designers.

We all know how pencil and paper have nearly became history in the last 20 years or so, while Computers are used for practically everything. Modern Car designers employ various types of CAD software – which are extremely sophisticated programs that help bring creative ideas to life, easily, quickly and in a stunning manner.

One of the pioneers of using CAD in the cars industry was Dr. Patrick J. Hanratty, who in the mid-60’s developed a revolutionary computer software for GM. This software automated almost all of the repetitive drafting tasks of engineers, making their work many times more efficient. It was the beginning of CAD…

As technology evolved and computer costs went down, the use of CAD programs in the cars industry grew bigger and bigger. Today, probably all car manufacturers on the planet employ 3D CAD software such as AutoCAD, Solidworks, Catia or others in their never-ending process of design, engineering and manufacturing of new car models.

A very powerful example is Aston Martin.

Almost every year, Aston Martin’s racing cars win lots of races in competitions around the world. Their engineers believe that the CAD programs they employ have a lot to do with it. In their case, they use PTC’s Creo CAD software for the model design process, as well as PTC’s Product Lifecycle Management system to control and improve the process.

“We used Creo Parametric, along with its Advanced Assembly, Simulation, and Mechanism Analysis Extensions, to design three cars all with very different requirements.”, said Dan Sayers, Aston Martin Racing’s chief engineer. “It cuts design time significantly as you don’t load the detailed geometry of parts you’re not working on.”, he added. The CAD systems helped Aston Martin to build the GTE, which is considered to be one of the best GT cars on the planet, winning both the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship (Source: PTC site)

Another example, for those of you who love French Cars, is RENAULT, one of the biggest car manufacturers in France.

Back in 1998, Renault and Dassault Systems – the maker of Catia CAD software, signed a strategic agreement – under which Catia would be used on all of Renault’s new car programs. “RENAULT has always placed emphasis on the indispensable integration of its CAD/CAM/CAE infrastructure and on its strategic nature for the reengineering of its processes. With CATIA, RENAULT will be able to implement digital mock-up on all its future programs,” said Renault’s executive Vice-President and Head of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Divison, Mr. Detourbet, 20 years ago… (Source: IBM site)

Computer Aided Design tools allow car manufacturers to draft their new models quicker than ever before. Engineers can simulate real performance of models and collaborate with other engineers or colleagues. They can share their designs easily and quickly with other teams, enabling an efficient and productive team-work. CAD drawing software even allows designers or engineers to create beautiful visual prototypes of cars for marketing or consumer research. CAD programs make the whole development process extremely fast and efficient, allowing car manufacturers to produce and roll out new car models in a much faster rate.

However, efficiency and quickness are not the only benefits of CAD softwares. These programs can also aid in identifying design errors. Most CAD programs used in the Car industry include computer simulations that “insert” the newly designed car (model) into real life scenarios such as accidents, bad weather, high speed driving and many more. These simulations aid engineers in determining if a car model is ready for the roads, or if it requires some more design work to make it safer. CAD software provides the ability to design better vehicle control, improve the brakes, test the air bags or seat belts, and more.

Will the entire car design process be run by AI computers in the near future? Well, we will probably always need a creative mind of a car designer to come up with beautiful smart models. All the other design work however, which brings the designer’s idea to life – will be done by ever improving CAD programs.

The Development Process of a Race Car: Where does CAD Come in?


The Race cars world is nothing less than ultra exciting, but its extremely demanding as well. Specially the engineer’s development work on a race car during the season. New technical updates must be developed for each race in no time. The team needs to constantly follow the competitor’s technical improvements, and come up with even better solutions for their own cars.

Here’s a short description of the development process of a Race Car, and where CAD comes in:

  • Stage 1: Coming up with a New Concept – Following the last race, the team holds a briefing with the race engineers regarding the needed changes. The design team comes up with a new concept, or significant modifications to existing features.
  • Stage 2: CAD Drafting – In this stage, the designers draft a CAD model for the new concept or modified feature. They use CAD software to design the new concept or tweak existing components.
  • Stage 3: CFD Analysis – Now, the new concept (or modified feature) has to be analyzed using CFD to evaluate its potential benefits.
  •  Stage 4: Composite Design – In this stage, the composites department has to design tooling, moldings and fixtures that are needed for assembly.
  • Stage 5: Manufacturing – The new concept (or modified component) is ready to roll out. Manufacturing is sometimes done in-house by the Race Car company, or it may be outsourced to external suppliers.
  • Stage 6: Design Verification Process – In this last stage, the new concept (or modified component) is tested in all fronts, including structural verification of the component including fatigue testing, legality checks, etc.

So now that you have a basic understanding of how a Race Car is developed, you can go ahead and do it on your own. Not build a race car, but design one…If you have a creative mind, basic computer and design skills, you can easily download a free CAD software, get a good CAD Workstation – and go bring your car design dreams into reality!