All posts by The Cool Car Guy

Oil Prices Are On The Rise Again

It might be time to get yourself a vehicle that gets better gas mileage. After you read the article “Oil prices could put consumers over a barrel” you will see that gas prices are heading in the wrong direction once again….

“High oil prices can dampen economic growth by weighing on consumer spending and business investment.

“The danger is that this latest bout of higher oil prices will last longer and have a more detrimental effect on consumer activity

,” said Nomura Securities Chief Economist David Resler.

“Mortgage rates and long-term rates are certainly much higher than the last time we were flirting with $70 a barrel for oil, and that means we’re not going to get the counterweight from low interest rates to ease some of the burden of energy costs,” Resler said.”

Visit MSNBC at the link above for the whole story.

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John BoydAuto Broker – John Boyd “The Cool Car Guy”
John is an automotive consultant with JFR & Associates in Denver, Colorado. He can help you save time and money on any make or model, new or used, lease or purchase – nationwide! Call or email John about your next vehicle!
jboyd@coolcarguy.com

An Inexpensive Way To Change Your Spark Plugs

Get some inexpensive zip and zap. Changing your plugs gives performance and economy.

Neglecting your car’s spark plugs can have some serious side effects including a degrading your fuel mileage, increasing emissions and a host of other problems. Eventually, if neglected long enough, your vehicle’s performance will reflect that of a 1972 model. Not something that most owners really want.

Most auto owners want the most “bang” for their buck. Paying attention to small things like spark plugs will help keep your money in your pockets and not your mechanic’s. It isn’t always necessary to spend hundreds of dollars to get minimal performance gains. One quick and easy way is to upgrade your ignition system. This begins with upgrading your spark plugs, followed by changing your wires and ignition coil.

Pop your hood open and take a look at your vehicles ignition system. What kind of condition is it in? Are your spark plug wires frayed or disintegrated? If they are, those are obvious signs that replacement is in order.

Maybe you have a new vehicle and your wires and ignition system are practically brand-new. Good. But you may want to consider upgrading your plugs and your wires with a set of Nology Hotwires. They are a simple and cost efficient way to upgrade both power and efficiency.

Nology HotWires are the most technologically advanced ignition wires available. HotWires create the most powerful spark possible. HotWires are engineered with a special built-in capacitor, exclusive only to HotWires. This revolutionary design allows energy from the ignition coil to accumulate in the capacitor until the voltage at the spark plug electrodes reaches the ionization point.

At that split second point the entire power of the stored spark is discharged at once, creating a spark 300 times more powerful. The result is faster, more complete combustion, and most importantly, MORE HORSEPOWER and they’re 100% smog legal.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended intervals for changing the plugs. There is no better tool than a good socket wrench for changing your spark plugs. Refer to the following points to assist you with changing your plugs:

∑ Trying changing your plugs before you start your engine for the day. Spark plugs are typically well set into the engine block and require some touching of the block. You don’t want to do this when it is HOT. Have all the essential tools gathered before you get to work. A set of mechanic gloves will provide you with some protection and makes for a cleaner job.

∑ Do not attempt to remove the spark plug wires by pulling on them. Rotate the spark plug boots 90-180 degrees before attempting to pull them off with a Spark Plug Wire Puller. Rotating helps break the covers loose without tearing the fragile wires within. Do not pull on the wire.

∑ Mark the wires with a piece of tape. Number them from 1 to however many cylinders you have. This makes putting the wires back much easier. You cannot just simple reattach the wires in whatever order you’d like.

∑ Clean all debris or moisture from around the old spark plugs with some sort of air pressure. This helps to prevent any engine damage.

∑ Visually inspect the condition of the old spark plug tips to see if there is an indication of some type
of engine problem. Worn plugs with carbon buildup can cause overheating, converter failure, rough idle and other problems.

∑ A crucial step not to be avoided is to properly gap your new plugs. People have the tendency to put the plugs directly from the box into their block. Gapping your plugs will give you the intended performance will also help extend the life of the spark plug. Use an Ignition Spark Tester with an Adjustable Spark Gap for the best results. The tester can test for no start conditions and for spark strength. The adjustable gap feature allows for spark gap requirements from 0 to 40,000 volts. A gauge background makes spark easier to see for accurate measurement. An alligator clip securely fastens to ground. Screw assembly adjusts spark gap quickly and easily. It now includes safety shield.

∑ The new plugs should be installed by hand. This makes sure that the fine threads are lined up properly and the spark plug is set correctly. If this proves to be difficult, try to use a piece of hose to slip over the end of them to extend your reach. It’s important to adhere to the manufacturer’s torque recommendations when you torque the plugs.

∑ Reconnect the wires in the order in which you removed them. Failure to do this correctly could result in damage to your vehicle, or your vehicle simply will not start.

∑ If oil has covered any parts of the plug or boots make sure to clean them well. A clean plug and boot will extend the life of both of them. Keep wires off of manifolds and other hot areas, or away from areas which may damage them.

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John BoydAuto Broker – John Boyd “The Cool Car Guy”
John is an automotive consultant with JFR & Associates in Denver, Colorado. He can help you save time and money on any make or model, new or used, lease or purchase – nationwide! Call or email John about your next vehicle!
jboyd@coolcarguy.com

28 Days Later… dvd

Check Out The Denver Auto Show

2006 CorvetteIf you’re looking for something to do this Weekend with your family, head down to the Denver Auto Show and check out the cool cars that are being featured. All of the major manufacturers have vehicles on display, including some very cool concept vehicles.

Here are the manufacturers with vehicles that you can see up close and personal, all at one location…
Acura, Aston Marton, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Explorer Vans Co., Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, KIA, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Maserati , Mercedes Benz , Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Porsche, Saab, Saturn, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

Admission
All tickets are sold at the door. Adult admission is $10.
Admission for children 6-12 is $2; children 5 and under will
be admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Seniors (65 and over with photo ID) free admission on
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 from 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Public Hours
Wednesday, March 29 – 5 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 30 – 5 to 9 p.m.
Friday, March 31 – noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 1- 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, April 2 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Show Location

Colorado Convention Center
700 14th Street
Denver, Colorado
80202
303-228-8000 (convention center #)

For more information visit The Denver Auto Show
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John BoydAuto Consultant – John Boyd “The Cool Car Guy”
John is an automotive consultant with JFR & Associates in Denver, Colorado. He can help you save time and money on any make or model, new or used, lease or purchase – nationwide!
Call or email John about your next vehicle!
jboyd@coolcarguy.com

What You Need To Know About Your Tires

They’re between you and the road. Maintaining your tires is key to proper performance. The Digby Biggest Dog in the World download

I recently put four new tires on our 2005 Nissan Murano and it cost me $595, which was a great deal compared to what most places were charging. After they were installed though, they needed to be balanced properly to get the most out of the tires and to provide proper performance. I thought I would include an article here on the importance of maintaining your tires and some tools you can get to assist with getting the most out of your tires.

What is connecting your car to the road? When you get asked that question it doesn’t take long to come up with the proper answer. But for some reason, people tend to forget that the only part of their vehicle touching the road is four small patches of rubber we affectionately call tires. Spending a million dollars on a vehicle but neglecting tire care basically relegates your tires to the same performance stats as lawnmower tires.

But your high performance car is not a lawnmower you argue. Ok, we believe you. Keeping your tires properly inflated to the manufacture’s recommended specs is the key to preventing any future confusion as to whether or not you’re driving a lawnmower. Grab your pressure gauge and check your tire’s inflation at least once a month.

If every month you have to add more than a few psi to a tire, then there is an underlying problem. There could be a tire/wheel assembly problem. It’s wise to contact a tire professional immediately if this is suspected. Check the pressure when you tires are cold before you do ANY driving. Just driving down your driveway causes your pressure to increase and you’ll get an bogus reading. A digital gauge gives a far more precise reading than a conventional gauge.

Tire GaugeThe Accutire MS-4710 features a large LCD readout, and a ruggedly designed plastic metallic body with rubberized sure grip handle. It measures from 5 to 99 psi in 1/2-pound increments, auto on/off, permanent lifetime lithium battery, plus a 5 year warranty. The 4710 has an added advantage with a longer reach neck for those hard to reach valve stems. It’s perfect for deep offset wheels.

Here are some visual cues to gauge whether or not you have an inflation problem:

Wear on Both Edges: UNDER INFLATION A tire that has both side edges worn down may be under inflated. Too little pressure is a tire’s worst fate as it reduces its life. The abnormal wear patterns can also cause handling anomalies which could result in an accident. This excessive wear generates excessive heat which reduces the tire’s overall durability – or worse, a flat. Your fuel economy is also affected by the increase of rolling resistance (under inflated tires makes your vehicle expend more energy). Regularly check for proper inflation. Shoulder wear on a tire often is caused by misalignment.

Wear in the Center: OVER INFLATION When you eat too much you get fat in the middle. The same goes for your tires. When a tire has too much air in it – it is over inflated. The center of the tire balloons out and bears the load of the car causing the center to wear out faster than the outer edges. Over inflation is dangerous because under rough terrain or under heavy loads, the added stress can cause the tire to “blowout.” Have your alignment looked at; perform any recommended necessary services.

Maintaining proper inflation levels is only one part of tire maintenance. Here are some other areas to pay attention to ensure your tires, and vehicle, reach their potentials:

Tire Tread
“A penny earned is a penny saved,” or something like that. A penny is still useful these days. They are great for checking your tire’s tread depth. Insert a penny into a tread slot with Lincoln upside-down and facing you. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head when you look level with the tire it is time to replace it. Also most passenger, light truck, and medium commercial tires have tread wear indicators molded into the tread. It is time to replace a tire when the indicator becomes visible.

Cups or Dips in the tread: WORN PARTS Cupping (also called dipping or scalloping) is most common on front tires, though rear tires can also cup depending on the rear suspension setup. The steering components may be worn out or the wheels are out of balance if you notice that any of your tires are cupped.

Sawtooth edges: MISALIGNMENT Do the edges of your tires tread look like a saw was taken to them? Literally this is what is happening to them. The road is chewing, sawing, at your tires and it won’t be long before the tire is completely destroyed. The solution is a toe-in or toe-out alignment correction.

Tire Balancing
You’re driving down the road and your steering wheel is bouncing around in unison with the beat blaring from your car’s speakers. Soon comes the headache as the vibration starts working its way from your hands into the back of your skull. If this describes a typical day behind the wheel for you, then its time to get your car balanced. Unbalanced tires cause vibration, which can fatigue the driver, and cause premature tire wear. It also places a lot of unnecessary stress on your vehicle’s suspension. Balance your tires when you have a new tire mounted on your rim, or after you have had a repair on some part of the wheel. Bring your car into the shop right when your car begins to vibrate or shimmy.

Vehicle Alignment
When you turn the steering wheel right and your car wanders left it would be a pretty good indication your car needs an alignment service. A poorly aligned vehicle will suffer from many different ailments. The worst being the wear it places on your tires. A vehicle is properly aligned when there are no abnormal signs of treadwear and all suspension and steering components are functioning within recommended guidelines.

Tire Rotation
Tire rotation can easily be performed in your own garage. No need to go to the repair shop, unless you are not one to do your own repairs. Refer to your owner’s manual on their recommendations. Roll-out your floor jack and do it yourself. Remember to initially loosen your lugnuts before you jack up your vehicle. Use jack stands for safety. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual specifies the proper rotation pattern, which tire is changed with which, and recommends the schedule for performing it. Sometimes there is no schedule specified. It doesn’t mean that that a rotation should never be performed. If there is clear information in your manual, a good rule of thumb to follow is to rotate them every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Don’t forget to torque your lugnuts to specifications.

Proper tread depth is essential for proper tire performance. If you notice a loss or change in wet traction, you may not have enough tread left on your tires. Replace a tire once the tread depth reaches 1/16th of an inch.

For additional tire care products be sure and check out the following:

Deluxe Contour Tire Care Brush
Seasonal Tire Tote

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John BoydAuto Broker – John Boyd “The Cool Car Guy”
John is an automotive consultant with JFR & Associates in Denver, Colorado. He can help you save time and money on any make or model, new or used, lease or purchase – nationwide!
Call or email John about your next vehicle!
jboyd@coolcarguy.com

VW Creates Virtual Joyride

VW has created a new feature on their VW GTI website that allows a person to add features to a VW GTI and then take the vehicle for a test drive. Each video is different depending on the options that are selected. It’s pretty cool how they have done it. Just go to the following link, pick your vehicle and click on the Joyride button.

Click here: VW JoyRide

Enjoy!
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John Boyd

Auto Consultant – John Boyd: The Cool Car Guy

John is an auto consultant with his license at a car dealership in Denver, Colorado. He can help you save time and money on any make or model, new or used, lease or purchase – nationwide! Call or email John about your next vehicle! jboyd@coolcarguy.com or Twitter @coolcarguy