Browsing Tag

auto

About my Site, Auto News, Car fun, Car Reviews

Signs of a Bad Transmission

May 16, 2014
Don’t wait till the last moment! Look for the warning signs of a bad transmission before it’s too late.

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1. Noises: If you’re hearing a clunking or whining noise, it’s usually a sign that you have an issue with your vehicle. Listen to what your car is trying to tell you.

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2. Leaks: Red fluid on your driveway could mean two different things: you ran over some road kill or a troubling transmission.

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3. Smells: Have you ever smelled that gross burning smell? That usually means low fluids, which is a result of overheated transmission fluid.

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4. Hard time shifting: If your car is a manual and you’re having a hard time shifting it could be a warning sign.

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5. Check engine light: Last but not least, if the check engine light comes on.

Make sure to seek repairs as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of these warning signs.

Auto News, Dealership Events

McCarthy Toyota Grand Opening Celebration!

May 15, 2014

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You DONT want to miss this event! Come celebrate the grand opening of the new McCarthy Toyota dealership. If you crave BBQ as much as I do, then you are going to love the BBQ  competition, plus more free food. Feel free to bring your family, because there’s going to be live music and face painting. If you’re looking for a car, then you’ll want to check out the deals on the new and used vehicles. During the event you will receive a 39” TV with every vehicle that you purchase!

Did I mention the various prizes at the event? You could win a 50” flat screen TV, a two year lease on a 2014 Toyota Corolla S2, Royals tickets, or an autographed Jamaal Charles helmet!

Details

Location: 3110 West Broadway Boulevard

Sedalia, MO 65301

Date: May 17th

Time: 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

To view more details click below:

http://mccarthytoyotaofsedalia.com/Grand-Opening-Celebration/
Uncategorized

Lakeside Speedway Hosts McCarthy Auto Group!

May 2, 2014

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Do you have the need for speed? Well we’ve got just the thing for you! Come out to the Lakeside Speedway where you can watch some sprint car racing.

Get tickets for the McCarthy Auto Group KC Klassic on March 8th, where 360ci sprint cars will speed across the half-mile dirt track for the first time since 2008. This will be an exciting event seeing as NASCAR weekend will be starting off just a few miles away.

McCarthy Auto Group loves the local dirt track racing in Kansas City, and so they will be the primary sponsor for the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Race. I hope all of you that love dirt track racing and break-neck speeds will come and cheer these sprint car racers on!

To purchase tickets go to www.TBJPromotions.com

Car fun

Hilarious Custom License Plates

May 1, 2014

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You’re having a bad day and all you need to do is get out of the house and onto some open road. You just can’t wait to speed away in your Nissan Altima. You put on your seatbelt, put on your favorite playlist, and put the pedal to the metal.

Just your luck, you hit every red light.

“Blast!” you yell out loud.

You look ahead, and there it is a custom license plate. But it’s not just any custom license plate, it’s happens to be hilarious.

The plate reads, “JedI IAM”. You start to laugh, and all of the sudden your day seems brighter.

Custom license plates, especially clever or funny ones, can make anyone smile on the road.

What was the best custom license plate that you have ever seen?

Uncategorized

Why Won’t My Car Start?!

April 24, 2014

It’s a cool brisk Saturday morning and you’re excited to go shopping for yourself. You deserve it after a brutal week at work. Walking towards your car, you’re already thinking about all the stores you want to hit up.

“Maybe I’ll buy those cute strappy sandals from that boutique,” you think as you open the car door.

Hopping into the drivers seat you place the key into the ignition and… nothing! Thinking there might have been a fluke, you try it again. Dread washes over you when you realize that, yes, your car won’t start.

“I have to get those cute strappy sandals,” you yell out loud.

No worries, I’m here to help solve the mystery of why your car won’t start.

#1. Dead Battery- My first thought would be check to see if you left any lights on in your car. Even the smallest light can drain your battery if left on for too long. If you have a battery tester then that is great! If you do believe that your battery is dead then try jump starting your car. If your car starts right away, most likely the problem was just a dead battery. You can always get it replaced or have someone clean the connections. Over time battery connections can become dirty or corroded. Bad connections can make it difficult to start your car as well.

#2. Faulty Fuses- Hope that it is just a faulty fuse. It’s easy to get them replaced! You can tell when a fuse is blown, because the fine wires in the casing will be broken and there will be discoloring. (Few cars have faulty fuses related to starting systems, but your car might be one of them)

#3. Ignition Switch Problems- Your ignition switch could be the problem if it wasn’t your fuse or your battery. One sure sign that it could be the ignition switch is if you turn your key and the red warning lights on your dash don’t ever light up.

#4. Bad Starter- If you’re getting current to the starter but it just keeps spinning, it most likely needs to be replaced. I would recommend having someone help you test this, seeing as it could be slightly dangerous to do own your own.

There are some other reasons why your car won’t start, but hopefully this will help eliminate possibilities! So you can get back on the road and buy those cute strappy sandals!

Car fun

9 of the Most Outrageous Cars

April 11, 2014

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Thinking about changing the exterior of your car? Well I have come up with some great ideas for you! Try making your car the shape of your favorite animal; such as a whale, shark, or cheetah! If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, then airbrush your favorite historical figure on your car. My personal favorite idea is changing your car’s interior and exterior into your favorite piece of fruit!

There are so many creative and talented people, and I hope they continue to create more interesting and outrageous cars!

What would you turn your car into?
Car Culture, Car Reviews

My Top Cars for Summer Adventures

March 28, 2014
I might be jumping the gun on this, but I can’t stop thinking about summer! Picnics, hiking, swimming, tanning and road trips are just a few of my favorite summer activities. And summer activities and cars are meant to be together, just like French fries dipped in a chocolate milkshake (What? Tell me you do that too!) So to help you get excited for summer, I’ve come up with my top three cars for summer fun!

1. 2014 Nissan 370Z Roadster

Can’t you see yourself driving around town in this hot sports car!? The Nissan 370Z Roadster is meant for the adventurer that seeks luxury!

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2. 2014 Toyota Prius C

It’s time for some fun road trips this summer, and the 2014 Toyota Prius C can take you anywhere you want to go! Don’t worry about spending too much money on gas when you get 53 city/46 hwy mpg!

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3. 2015 Chevy Colorado

Need to haul your things for a campout? This 2015 Chevy Colorado is for the active person inside all of us!

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What is your favorite summer vehicle?
Behind the Wheel

Seatbelt argument: Lap belts versus shoulder restraints

December 20, 2013
Alrighty, folks! I don’t necessarily think this is a debate, but I thought I’d enlighten y’all on the differences between lap belts and shoulder restraints when it comes to seatbelt safety. First off, a lap belt is simply the strap that goes across your waist, or lap, while a shoulder restraint not only has the lap belt, but also a strap coming down from your left or right shoulder and diagonally crossing your chest. Now I’m totally team shoulder restraint. Why? Here are some facts that might scare you… (sorry):
  • “Seat Belt Syndrome. Seat Belt Syndrome, or SBS, is a phrase that was originally coined by the medical community in the late 1950s and early 1960s to describe injuries that physicians were seeing as a result of occupants wearing lap-belt-only restraints in frontal collisions. These injuries typically include: (1) severe abdominal injuries, (2) fractures of the lumbar spine, and (3) serious closed head and facial injuries. These injuries are primarily the result of the occupant’s body jackknifing over the lap belt, at the waist, during the collision. Under such circumstances, the lap belt causes extreme force to be applied along the pelvis to the mid-section of the occupant. Securing the waist without securing the upper torso leads to increased head and neck velocities, which can cause serious head and neck injuries following either a head strike or inertial loading of the spine. A majority of these injuries can be prevented by the installation of an integrated three-point belt or other upper-torso restraint. (http://www.mobar.net/journal/1999/mayjun/langdon.htm)
  • “Kathleen Weber’s research paper “Crash Protection for Child Passengers” says:
      The question of fatality reduction effectiveness of rear-seat lap vs. lap/shoulder belts has recently been addressed in an extensive double-pair analysis by Morgan in which children of age 5 through 14 were included and evaluated separately. The conclusions for rear-outboard occupants in this age group are that lap-belted children were 38% less likely to die than unrestrained children, while lap/ shoulder-belted children were less likely by 52%. The lap/shoulder belt was found to reduce fatalities 26% over lap belts alone for children 5 through 14 in all crashes and 31% in frontal crashes, and children derived more relative benefit from the lap/shoulder belt than did the adult groups. Further analysis with supplemental cause of death data indicated that both types of belted children were somewhat more likely to receive abdominal injuries than unrestrained children, but the increase for the adult groups in lap belts was much greater. Finally, both belt systems markedly reduced fatal head injuries, but these were still twice as likely among lap-belted than lap/shoulder-belted children. This study makes it clear that shoulder belt use is very beneficial for older children.”
Behind the Wheel, Under the Hood

Bundle up and buckle up, it's time for cold weather!

November 6, 2013
It is 41 degrees right now and all I want to do is curl up in the warmest blanket possible right next to a fireplace with a huge cup o’ cocoa. As you can probably tell, I don’t fare too well during winter 😉 And you know what else doesn’t run at peak performance during cold weather? Your car! So bundle up and buckle up, folks, it’s time to prepare your vehicular transport for the chilly weather! 1. First off, shout out to all the mamas and papas in the world who’ve given this advice to their kiddos driving in icy weather at any point in their life: “Take it slow. Don’t drive any faster than the speed at which you’re willing to hit a brick wall.” Driving slowly and carefully will always be an option that the driver can have full control over. 2. Pack some heat for the cold. Some items I’d suggest for your trunk in case of emergency: ice scraper, windshield de-icer, flashlight, blanket(s), extra layers of clothing, a first aid kit, water, and  snacks. 3. Double-check your headlights and any other lights on the exterior of your car! 4. I went on a tiny road trip this past weekend, and before I left I checked the air pressure in my car tires… And thank goodness! The air was almost 10 PSI lower than I normally had ’em at. The cold weather is going to do funky things to your tires, so make sure you double check, especially before trips! 5. Replace your windshield wipers every 6 months, and make sure you’re super on top of that once it starts raining, hailing, and snowing. Special wipers might be necessary if the weather dictates. 6. Always make sure your heater and defroster are in proper working order. 7. It can’t hurt to take a trip to your local auto store to have certain things looked over. This includes the battery, exhaust system, and anything else that might normally cause problems during winter. 8. Have chains or snow tires if your area is known to get dumped on with snow. I cannot stress this enough. 9. Keep your gas tank half full at all times. 10. Don’t be a hero when it comes to driving! Take it slow and steady if you feel it necessary!