Cash for Cars Pro Tips Blog

How Do I Know When To Service My Cars Brakes? Different driving patterns will have a major effect on how often your brakes need servicing. Front brakes usually wear out faster than rear brakes because they handle a higher percentage of the braking load, especially on a front-wheel drive car. If you are concerned about the performance of your brakes you should get them checked before going on a long journey A brake job can mean just replacing brake pads or rotors to repairing or replacing the entire setup. Having a skilled mechanic work on your vehicle can give you peace of mind that it will be fixed properly. Your brakes are probably the most important part of driving safely on the road. If your brakes are not working properly you are taking a risk that could lead to damage to your vehicle and bodily harm to you and the passengers in your vehicle. When To Get Brake Pads Checked? It is recommended that brake maintenance be done at 20,000-60,000 miles or done every time you get your tire...

The Timing Belt Is A Very Important Part Of Your Car. What we all want is to protect our vehicles and we all make sure to keep them maintained properly against wear and tear, and unwanted breakdowns. It's no surprise to learn that one of the greatest potential dangers to a high-mileage vehicle is also one of the least well-known. While we try to prevent engine or transmission breakdown, the end to many older or high mileage cars is the failure of the timing belt. To understand the importance of the timing belt and how we can prevent it from failing, we first need to learn a little bit about what it does for specific car models when it comes to the life expectancy of the belt. The timing belt is the belt that controls the camshafts in your engine and maintains the entire operation running in unison. Timing belts are in all engines with overhead cams and are essential to keep these cams turning at the right time to keep the engine running properly. The camshaft is the shaft that open...

Why is It So Hard To Sell A Car? Once you put your vehicle up for sale buyers will be knocking on your door to be first in line. A few test drives and before you know it you’ll make a deal and walk away with cash in hand. Then you wake up. If you prefer selling your car or truck privately. Here are a few things and more you should know about the process. It may seem to sell a car privately sounds like a good idea. But often it comes with more hassles than you initially bargained for. People call on the phone and ask you what your best price is even though you have a price listed. They don't want to make an offer and if your best price isn't low enough you won't hear back from them anyway. Some don’t have the funds to buy the car without making payments or they're waiting for an insurance settlement. You definitely have to think about what your time is worth. No wonder most people prefer to sell their vehicles to a dealer. Get Ready To Show Your Car When selling your car...

Should I Buy A Car "As Is"? When buying a new car or truck you will most likely be getting a manufacturer’s warranty. The warranty covers the cost of any unexpected repairs for x number of years or miles whichever comes first. When buying a used vehicle it's presumed sold “as is” without a warranty of any kind. Buying a pre-owned vehicle instead of a new one is a much riskier proposition. Vehicles offered for sale "as is" aren't necessarily in poor mechanical condition. You will have to be diligent to keep from getting a costly mechanical surprise later on after the sale. The legal term “as is” is used in a contract regarding items for sale. The contract covers all issues known and unknown. The language used in the bill of sale removes liability from the seller and any responsibility regarding the used car or truck’s mechanical condition. Resulting in the cost of fixing any mechanical problems that may occur after the title changes hands becomes the buyer’s ...

  How Often Should I Check My Cars Engine Oil? You should check your car's engine oil regularly. If you notice that your car's oil level drops between oil changes then it’s a sign that your car is burning too much oil, leaking, or it's simply just time to add more. Oil cools down and lubricates your car's engine. Driving for too long with a low oil level can cause serious engine damage to your car or truck. To check your oil park your vehicle on level ground with the car turned off. Also, make sure the transmission is in the park position. Wait for a minute or two so to let the oil drain into the oil pan. Pull out the oil dipstick, which is usually located in the engine compartment near the engine block. If you are unsure where is it located then check your car's owner’s manual. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it off with a towel or rag. Insert it fully back into the opening. Pull it back out again and check the oil level. The oil level should be between the low and ...

What Gas Should I Use In My Car? While driving home you hear a beeping sound from your car that brings to your attention the yellow light on your dash, signifying you are low on gas. The closest gas station you can find is one of those discount brand stations. You’re not sure if the significantly cheaper gas is good for your car's engine? You’re not sure if the low-octane gas is good for your engine or if the premium is better? No matter the make or model of your vehicle you should be aware of the proper quality and octane level of gas is right for the optimal performance of the engine. Not all cars require high-octane gas so knowing your vehicle's needs is the best for the longevity of its engine. The Difference Between Unleaded & Premium Gas Before we discuss the difference between gasoline brands. It’s best to know the difference between unleaded regular and high-octane premium gas. When discussing the difference it's best to have some knowledge of how combustion in ...

Why is My Cars Engine Misfiring? You notice that your car is shaking while idling. The guy at the auto parts store hooks up his car scanner and it reads a misfire on cylinder four. Why is this problem happening? There are many potential causes of an engine misfire. If your car engine has a misfire it’s best to have a professional mechanic diagnose the problem. Your mechanic may find one of these issues when diagnosing a misfire. Ignition System Issues Most of the time when you hear the term misfire you think of worn-out spark plugs. What you don’t realize is that spark plugs are only one part of the ignition system. An ignition system in most modern cars contains a variety of components, including the engine control module, crankshaft position sensor, coil packs, wiring, and spark plugs. problems with any of these parts can result in one or more engine cylinder misfires. Air and Fuel Delivery Problems Spark plugs ignite a mixture of air and fuel inside the engine cylinders. This ign...