Car Driving Tips

- An extended warranty may be considered at any time but make sure your vehicle qualifies. Certain vehicles may be restricted from an extended coverage so invest the time now to research before your original warranty expires.

- As a safety measure, ensure that your running lights are working properly. If you live in a jurisdiction that doesn't mandate daylight running lights, and you can turn them on, do so. It is much easier to see a vehicle with headlights or running lights on than without.

- If you share your vehicle with other drivers, make sure that you re-adjust more than just your seat when you return to the wheel. One of the first things to do is to re-adjust all mirrors while you are parked and not while you are driving.

- Current vehicles seem to run longer and better on their spark plugs than previously. I haven't replaced my spark plugs for over three years but do have my fuel injectors cleaned at the shop once a year. If you are experiencing a drop in power or gas mileage, check when you last replaced them and when you last had your fuel injectors professionally cleaned.

- Not all windshield wipers perform the same way. Make sure you have winter wiper blades installed. I made the mistake of thinking my flex blade wipers would also do the trick for winter snow conditions, but I was wrong. These flex wipers are great in all conditions except winter snow because they allow ice to build up on the wipers.

- Recently, I needed a new power steering unit. I contacyed my local garage and asked for a quote and was alarmed at the cost of a new unit. However, several local scrap yards were available and after checking, I got the same part for well over half the cost. If you are considering repairs, other than warranty work, check out local scrap yards for parts.

- If you live in a cold winter climate, you may decide that you need to plug in your car so your oil is not cold like molasses. However, don't forget to unplug your vehicle before you drive away or it could lead to some costly repairs.

- Did you know that cat litter can be used to help get you out of a slippery situation? As a temporary measure on slippery or ice surfaces, it is a cheap and effective way to lend assistance. It can also be used to add weight to the back of a pickup truck, and used later for its intended purpose if not wet.

- One thing to ensure no matter where or when you drive is your vision to the rear and especially to any blind spots on your particular vehicle. An old trick I learned was to position my rear view mirror so I could just barely see behind me but had more vision to the right rear of the car. In this way, I could keep an eye directed toward my blind spot and did not solely depend on my side mirrors.

- You will here this quite often but it is one practice that soon gets forgotten in heavy traffic. The safety practice I'm referring to is to not follow closely to the vehicle in front. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you can see the front tires of the vehicle in front of you. If you can't and can only see the rear tires, you are probably following too close. This may mean that you will not be able to stop in an emergency and you will rear end the vehicle in front of you.

- If you have experienced a flat tire stuck out in the middle of nowhere, you know how difficult this can be even if you have a spare tire. This is especially true after dark when everything is more of a challenge not to mention more dangerous on a busy highway. Make your life a bit easier by keeping self-inflating sealant in your car kit. You can buy this item at most automotive stores.

- If you are unfortunate enough to be stuck in snow this winter season, and you are not able to get a tow truck, try using your car matts under your rear drive or front drive wheels (depending on your vehicle) as an additional traction aid.

- Driving defensively is always a must but even more care is required when driving on snow covered highways. Keep a safe distance so you can stop in an emergency recognizing that it will take a lot longer to stop safely on snow covered roads than on dry pavement.

- Dont' be distracted talking on your cell phone while driving. In some jurisdictions, it is illegal to drive and talk so if you are going to be travelling for holidays, make sure you know what is and isn't legal wherever you drive.

Now that the weather is becoming nicer and most roads are clear, this isn't the time to let your guard down. Too many distractions, including those thoughts of other things while driving, can result in serious gaps in attention. The act of paying attention isn't just a bad weather routine - it is primary at all times.

If you live in a snow prone area, March is not the time to remove your snow tires. Winter storms can hit a snow region at this time of year as witnessed in the last few days.

Although this may not apply to you, if you live in a snow or freezing rain area, do not try and lower your windows when they are frozen. You can damage your window motor or mechanism like I did recently. The repair bill may shock you.

Very simple tip but ofyen ignored. Make sure you buckle up that seat belt even if you are only backing out of your driveway to turn around and come back in. You may not think so, but even a mishap at slow speeds can potentially cause serious injury. It only takes a second to do up your seat belt, and it only takes a second to get injured. Which second would you rather spend?

If you still have your snow tires on your car or vehicle, now is the time to inspect those summer tires before you re-install them. Check for excessive wear and replace tires as needed making sure they are the same size.

If you'd like to contribute tou our car driving tips, or you have a valuable lesson learned about some aspect of owning and maintaining a vehicle, please feel free to submit it to us and we will consider using your tip on our main page.