by Admin | Mar 13, 2020 | Auto Care Blog, Uncategorized
High school popularity might be over in most of our lives, but let’s face it. It is still cool to hang with the popular kids, or in this instance, the most popular vehicle. Here is how 2019 panned out for vehicle popularity and it has a few surprises.
2019’s Most Popular Vehicles
Here are the vehicles that sold the most in the year 2019, starting with the big winner and counting down.
- Ford F-Series Sold 896,526
You might be expecting the vehicle with the most sales would look more like a passenger car and not a pickup truck, but here we are. The highest sales numbers goes to the Ford F-Series pickup trucks. People seem to like it for just driving around and running errands, as well as for the hobby farm.
- Ram Pickup Sold 633,694
The model 1500 is a very popular truck and a heavy-duty vehicle for towing, hauling and moving your brother-in-law’s junk into his own place. It’s Ram tough!
- Chevrolet Silverado Sold 575,600
You might be seeing a pattern here. Trucks are very popular, including this light to heavy-duty pickup truck that got surpassed by the Ram 1500.
- Toyota RAV4 Sold 448,071
It’s the 5th generation of the RAV and it’s is one popular SUV, the most popular as luck would have it. And hey, it isn’t a pickup truck! But it is very convenient for any home to have.
- Honda CR-V Sold 384,168
While it’s sales were higher in 2019 than in 2018, it lost its #1 SUV spot to the RAV4.
- Nissan Rogue and Rogue Sport Sold 350,447
This was a very popular SUV in 2018, but its sales numbers dropped by 15% in 2019. The odd thing is, it is still very high up on the charts.
Your Vehicle
So, how did you fare? Are you driving one of the most popular vehicles all the cool kids have now?
by Admin | Mar 4, 2020 | Auto Care Blog
When the manufacturer of your vehicle decides to recall your vehicle for a repair they’ll send a letter to the address on your car’s registration. Then you’ll need to get your car repaired. Here is how to do that for free.
Recalls
In order to receive your notice of recall for your car, van or truck, you’ll need to have your correct name and address on your car’s registration. This is an easy to overlook task after you move. But it’s important that you keep that address current for recalls and other notices that the DMV might be sending to you – like automated traffic violations from those pesky cameras.
There is another way to receive notices for recalls. You can register your email address with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You’ll fill out the form which includes the year, make and model of your car. You have the option to add more vehicles and to subscribe to all vehicle notices.
What to Do
When you receive a recall notice for a vehicle you currently own, it’ll give you information on what needs to be repaired and where to get it repaired. The repair is free to the car owner providing you have it repaired at the auto dealership. If you use a private mechanic to do the work then you’ll have to pay for it.
You don’t have to get the repair done, but it’s highly recommended that you do. Recalls are issued when it’s a safety issue. If you don’t fix it then you’ll probably be putting you and your passengers in harm’s way.
Car Maintenance
At A1 Performance Auto Repair we provide recall information for our customers’ convenience. We do not do any recall work for the manufacturers. You’ll get an appointment at the auto dealership for those repairs. We can do your car’s maintenance and other repairs that are not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
by Admin | Feb 26, 2020 | Auto Care Blog
If you were thinking of fudging the details about your solo fender bender on that country road late at night, you’d better think again. Whatever details you report to your insurance company had better match what your car told them first.
The Spy – Your Automobile
Your vehicle is spying on you. Every street you take, every rock you collide with, every bump in the road, it’s all being turned in to your car’s manufacturer constantly. The intention of this reporting isn’t to spy on you or catch you doing something wrong, but it may be used against you for just that reason.
The Event Data Recorder (EDR) is meant to keep an eye on the vehicle’s performance. This provides valuable information on the car’s safety. Instead of having to wait until X number of car owners report a vehicle problem and then having to sort of exactly what it is they are trying to describe, the vehicle sends the data along with everything needed to diagnose the problem. It was the EDR that discovered the Chevrolet Cobalt’s ignition switch was shutting down the car while it was still in use. The manufacturer recalled 2.6 million vehicles to fix it.
Luckily, California has joined several other states in putting legislation in place to protect consumers from unnecessarily spying on the car’s drivers. In California, the car’s owner must give permission to use this data. But a court order can also get that data without the car owner’s or driver’s permission. If it’s used for research, then they can collect that data. They can also use the data without permission for diagnosing and servicing of the vehicle.
What It All Means
What this means to you is you might think twice if you’re considering changing the details on what happened in a car accident. Your insurance company might have access to the data logged at the car’s manufacturer.
by Admin | Feb 13, 2020 | Auto Care Blog, Brake Repair
Brakes wearing out is a quiet, almost unnoticeable process usually. You drive the car every day and push the brake pedal often. Any change that is going on is so small that its unnoticeable. That’s why when the mechanic tells you that your brakes are in bad shape, you wonder how you could not have noticed they were so worn down.
Brake Need Repair
It usually takes a person who has never driven your car before to notice that something is amiss with your brakes. If their car has good brakes, it is very noticeable when they drive with worn brakes that need work. Here are some tips to use in recognizing brake problems in your own car.
Mushy Brakes
When your brake pedal feels mushy or goes almost to the floor when you press it, the brakes are in need of repair immediately. The car isn’t safe to drive probably.
Veering
When you press the brakes, your car should continue in a straight line and not veer off to one side. If it does, it could be a simple fix, but it needs a mechanic to find the cause right away before serious damage is done.
Fluid Leak
Brake fluid is clear or a light golden color. If you see this color on the pavement where you park then you probably have a brake line leak.
Wobbling
If you feel a wobbling sensation in the steering wheel or hear it when you apply the brakes, it is an indicator that the rotor has worn unevenly. You’ll need to have your brake repaired before it quickly shreds your brake pads.
Grinding
Grinding or squealing that sounds like metal on metal is the indicator sound the pads make when they are worn down. But if you just had your brakes done then it’s probably just cheap brake pads making their annoying sounds.
Get Your Brakes Checked
If you’re concerned you might need a set of brakes repaired, call for an appointment at A1 Performance Auto Repair. We’ll be happy to check it out and find the cause of the problem you’re having.
by Admin | Feb 4, 2020 | Auto Care Blog
Of course, the most common problems that can cause you to get into an accident are weather problems and driver error and phone usage, but there are mechanical issues that can cause you to get into an accident, too. Here are the most common mechanical problems that can turn dangerous on the road.
Mechanical Problems That Cause Accidents
Aside from very obvious problems like the car suddenly breaking down and stopping in heavy, fast traffic, there are some minor mechanical problems that can get you into trouble, too.
Worn Out Brakes
A major problem is brake failure. Even with a dual brake system, worn out brakes are still a problem that can cause you to hit someone, something or another vehicle. Have your brakes checked once per year to make sure they are always in great shape.
Faulty Suspension
When your suspension is in disrepair, you’ll be bouncing around so much that you cannot control the car properly. And then you’ll become a hazard on the road. Faulty steering is also a problem that will cause you to lose control of the vehicle. When you notice odd behavior in the steering or suspension, contact A1 Performance Auto Repair soon to have it diagnosed and repaired.
Worn Out Wiper blades
Windshield wiper blades need replacing every year at the least. When they no longer completely clear your windshield, you become an accident waiting to happen.
Faulty Headlights and Taillights
When your lights are blinking on and off, too dim to see or won’t go on at all, you’re not going to see well and others are not going to see you. This is a recipe for disaster. Get your headlights and taillights checked every year.
Bad Tires
Worn out tire tread puts you at high risk for a tire blowout. Make sure you always have enough tread and the wear is even.
A1 Performance Auto Repair
Anytime you have a problem with your vehicle, give us a call for an appointment. We’ll figure out what it the problem is and promptly fix it. Stay safe on the roads.
by Admin | Jan 20, 2020 | Auto Care Blog
If you have nothing better on the schedule today, go ahead and daydream about what you’d do with a brand-spankin’ new Tesla Cybertruck. You can’t buy one just yet, but they’ll let you reserve one for a mere $100. Yay!
Cybertruck
The Tesla Cybertruck is projected to be ready for ordering for late 2021 or 2022, depending on the model. That is only for configuring the Cybertruck for your order, it is not taking delivery. And as things always go, that date is likely to move farther away, not sooner. But hey, it is only $100 to put an imaginary one on hold today. Fun. And it is fully refundable.
The Tesla Cybertruck goes 60mph in 6.5 seconds, which is about the speed of a Chevy Silverado. You weren’t looking for a sportscar speed anyway, right? It’s a pickup truck. Sort of.
This is an electric car, so there is a range of how far this vehicle can go on a charge. For this Cybertruck it is 250+ miles on the single motor model. That should be plenty for hauling things around the city. If you plan on going on a tour, you’ll need to make sure there are some Tesla charging options along the way.
There have been many very amazing and mind-bending claims made by Elon Musk and Tesla about how much this little vehicle can tow. That number is 7,500 pounds for the single motor RWD model. That is comparable to the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, but about half of what the Silverado 3500 HD can tow, to give you some perspective. However, order the Tri-Motor AWD and now you’re talking 2.5 seconds on the 0-60mph and over 14,000 pounds towing capacity.
But it’s fun to dream the big dream and be on board with the creation of a brand-new vehicle, right? Just a side note: There is a driverless option for only $7,000. Oh, yeah! So, curl up on the couch, shut your eyes and your Cybertruck will be here in only about 2 years.
