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Car Service Schedule – Louisville Cars

January 18, 2012 by admin in Louisville Cars | Leave a comment

We all know our vehicles need to be maintained. What is oftentimes unclear is exactly when this maintenance should take place. An additional unknown is what kind of car service is recommended each time your car receives care. Well, you don’t need to be uncertain anymore, because this post is dedicated to making these unknowns, knowns.

Here is a list of car service recommendations – when to have your car serviced and what should be checked during each visit:

Monthly:
Cleaning
Lights
Check engine light on
Windshield washer fluid
Tire inflation and condition

Every 3 months or 3,000 miles:
Automatic transmission fluid
Belts
Engine air filter
Check engine light on
Battery and cables
Exhaust
Lights
Power steering fluid
Hoses
Engine oil and filter
Tire inflation and condition
Windshield washer fluid
Power steering fluid

Check every six months or 6,000 miles:
Chassis lubrication
Check engine light on
Automatic transmission fluid
Belts
Battery and cables
Fuel filter
Exhaust
Polish
Hoses
Lights
Tire inflation and condition
Wiper blades
Engine air filter
Power steering fluid
Windshield washer fluid

Check every nine months or 9,000 miles:
Lights
Hoses
Tire inflation and condition
Windshield washer fluid
Power steering fluid
Check engine light on
Belts
Engine air filter
Fuel filter
Exhaust
Batter and cables
Automatic transmission fluid

Check every year or 12,000 miles:
Exhaust
Hoses
Fuel filter
Lights
Spark plugs
Power steering fluid
Engine air filter
Engine oil and filter
Spark plugs
Windshield washer fluid
Wiper blades
Tire inflation and condition
Steering and suspension
Coolant (antifreeze)
Check engine light on
Polish
Belts
Brakes
Automatic transmission fluid
Battery and cables
Cabin air filter
Chassis lubrication

 

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Buying KY Used Cars Part 2: Inspecting the Engine

January 17, 2012 by admin in KY Used Cars, Louisville Cars, Louisville KY Cars | Leave a comment

In Louisville-Cars.com‘s previous post, we discussed what to look for when inspecting a used car’s interior to gauge its value (you can read it here: Buying KY Used Cars Part 1: Examining the Interior). In this post, we will be discussing things to consider when it comes to gauging the value of the heart of a used car: its engine. Here is a terrific checklist to run through when evaluating the health of a used car’s motor brought to you by the guys over at Engineblox.com (see the original post here):

Oil sludge – Remove and look under the oil cap. If it’s grimy, then you should know what to expect if you look into the oil compartment. Using a flashlight, inspect the internal engine parts through the oil filler neck. If there are black deposits, those are oil sludge telling you not to buy that vehicle because its owner probably seldom cared for oil change or high-quality engine lubricants.

Oil sludge covers an engine 

Engine knocks – To check for this, you should of course test run the engine. If you hear pinging or rattling from the engine, then decline the seller’s offer politely. Engine knocks have a range of causes. It can be due to the things that go into the chambers or due to the engine design itself. (Yes, cylinder block design somehow determines if your engine is knock-prone or not. The nearer the fuel injector is to the spark plug, the lesser the chances of knocking.)

Timing belt – For plain view checking, inspect the chain or belt for fraying or corrosion. For performance check, remove the valve cover and idle the engine. If there’s no chain tensioner, watch the timing mark on the gear. If it slightly moves back and forth, it means the chain or belt is already loose. Turn off the engine. Check for a stretched chain by pulling on the chain resting on the top side teeth of the sprocket or gear.

Noises – Test drive the engine and listen for whistling, tapping, or rattling noises from the engine. An engine in good condition shouldn’t have irregular noises coming from it. Whistling may come from loose drive belts and sprockets, while rattling may indicate engine knock.

Radiator fluid – This can be of any color—green, red, or yellow—but the color should be uniform. There should be no trace of brownish orange color, which indicates rust. Any indication of rust means the coolant has not been regularly changed.

Idle the engine – The car shouldn’t seem to be struggling if you idle it. Open the hood and watch the engine parts. There should be no irregular movements in the engine; everything should be running and moving smoothly.

But aside from all the things to check listed here, it would also do you good to practice inspecting cars of the type you want to buy. That way, you can compare and make a wiser decision. Also, just to be sure, you can check with Carfax for the record of the vehicle you’re planning to buy; you only need to provide its Vehicle Identification Number. Checking this and that on a used vehicle can be tiring. But we tell you, it’s better to get tired that way and get a good second-hand car afterwards, than to easily get a second-hand car only to eventually get tired of repairing it.

Well said. Do you have any suggestions in addition to those supplied above? Do you have any stories of buying a lemon? What did you overlook?
Here to help.

Jerry, from Louisville-Cars.com
jerry.richards47@yahoo.com

 

Buying KY Used Cars Part 1: Examining the Interior

January 3, 2012 by admin in Louisville Cars | Leave a comment

You might think that buying used cars in Kentucky is not much different than buying used cars elsewhere. In many ways you are correct; however, it is important to realize that many Kentuckians drive their cars and trucks differently than those living in other states because of the jobs, weather patterns, and terrain that cars in Kentucky are uniquely exposed to. For instance, cars that spend years in Kentucky are exposed to an ever-changing climate and terrain, which means the typical Kentucky car owner likely demands more of their vehicle than someone living in southern California would, for instance. Because Kentucky cars and trucks may be pushed harder than those in other states, it is important to thoroughly understand the vehicle’s history before taking it off someone else’s hands.

This is part one of a series of articles discussing items to take into consideration when buying KY used cars. This article focuses on what you will spend the most time directly experiencing as a car owner: the interior.

Ask yourself these six questions when evaluating your next KY used car:

How does it smell?
The smell of a car’s interior can indicate a lot about the car owner and potential problems with the car. A damp or moldy smell might indicate that the car has a leak (in the windshield, weatherstripping or heater core) and was not garage-kept (or at least has been parked outside for a long time).  A smoky smell would indicate that the owner or one of their close friends or relatives smoked in the vehicle repeatedly. Smoking can cause damage to the interior such as yellowing the fabric or clouding the windows.

What does the brake pedal look like?
A warn brake pedal will indicate that the car has been used a lot, especially around a town or city (not on the highway). A warn brake pedal can oftentimes be a better overall indicator of the car’s wear and tear than the odometer can communicate.

What does the dashboard look like?
If the portion of the dashboard that is exposed to light is a different color than the portion of the dashboard that is not exposed to natural light, then this may indicate that the KY used car has spent a majority of its time parked outside, in the sun.

Check for leaks
 Sunroofs can be a great feature – if they don’t leak. Make sure to test the security of the sunroof by spraying water over the used car’s sunroof. If the roof leaks, you’ve just improved your ability to negotiate a reduced price.

What does the driver’s seat and steering wheel look like?
Take a look at the driver’s seat and steering wheel: do they show signs of wear and tear? If they are warn out, this will communicate that the driver has spent a lot of time in the vehicle (or, perhaps more accurately, getting in and out of the vehicle, which would suggest a lot of stop-and-go trips – not good).

What do the floor mats and interior carpet look like?
Many used car sellers will try to fool potential buyers by buying new floor mats; don’t be a victim of this tactic. Make sure to lift up any and all floor mats and inspect the shape that the vehicle’s carpet is in. A used car or truck’s carpet can help you spot a leak, so take heed of these clues.

We hope this list of questions can help you. Feel free to print this list out and refer to it the next time you are looking to buy a used car.

Keep your eyes open for part two of our series on buying KY used cars, which will be on what to look and listen for when it comes to evaluating the engine.

Louisville Car Service Reviews

December 29, 2011 by admin in Auto Care | Leave a comment

When it comes to getting your car repaired in Louisville, there are many options: Louisville car dealerships, dedicated Louisville car service shops, and perhaps your buddy Jim (or Bill, or John… you get what I mean). I imagine that many of you have had good and bad experiences getting your car serviced because that has certainly been the case for me.

In the past, I’ve taken chances with car service shops in Louisville that I was unfamiliar with merely because their locations were convenient. I now regret selecting car service shops in that way because of poor outcomes. I realized that it’s worth my time and gas money to go the extra mile (literally and figuratively) to research my options and select the one that has the best reputation for quality car care.

I’ve decided to list some Louisville car service shops that I have either directly done business with, or have had a close friend or relative who has used their services. I hope this list can help you gain some clarity in the otherwise confusing process of finding a Louisville car service shop.

 

The Kia Stores
Specialty: Kias
These guys are top shelf in terms of the manner and speed in which they process and service cars.

The warranty that Kia offers on its cars is the best in the industry (and the Kia products are continually improving as well – just sneak a peak at the new Kia Optima), but it’s not worth all that much if there isn’t a shop that can repair your covered vehicle. What’s nice is that there are four Kia Stores sprinkled throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana, so a lack of convenience is not a factor. They are certainly the go-to spot for Kia service in our area (and for buying Kias, for that matter) but can also service other vehicles as well.

Springdale Automotive
Specialty: none
Overall, I’ve had a pleasant experience with these folks, although I’ve found them to be a bit on the pricey side. They certainly do run professional shops and update you immediately when they have identified the cause of a problem. There have been times when they recommended more than was probably necessary to get fixed, but overall I have a positive opinion of these guys. They also have multiple locations in Louisville and Prospect, so a lack of convenience is also a non-issue (like the Kia Stores).

Panther Motors
Specialty: Imports
I know it might come as a surprise to you that I included Panther Motors on this short list, but I had to. I have had my car serviced at Panther Motors a couple of times and really enjoyed the experience. The shop is run by a man named Ishmael who is very thorough and always keeps you in the loop with the status of your car, your options and the cost you are likely to incur. He specializes in servicing imports.

Hunt & Knight Automotive Technicians
Specialty: Corvettes and classic car restoration
 This shop has been operating since 1976, so they have just about seen and worked on it all. They are able to do mild or complete restorations of cars, trucks or fleet vehicles.  Interestingly, they specialize in servicing Corvettes and classic cars. I recommend these folks based on their historical performance and variety of services.

Here are the locations of the Louisville car service centers I recommended. I sincerely hope I helped you. Feel free to comment below and share your opinions and care care experiences (good or bad) below.

The Kia Store
Website
5325 Preston Highway Louisville, KY 40213
1.888.214.1809

Kia Store East
Website
7301 New LaGrange Road Louisville, KY 40222
1.888.208.8387

Kia Store Clarksville
Website
826 E. Lewis and Clark Parkway Clarksville, IN 47129
1.866.545.2429

Kia Store Elizabethtown
Website
1501 N. Dixie Highway Elizabethtown, KY 42701
1.888.933.9544

Springdale Automotive
Website
8005 Brownsboro Road Louisville, KY 40241
502.425.4830

9260 Westport Road Louisville, KY 40242
502.426.9090

13212 West Highway 42 Prospect, KY 40059
502.228.7705

Panther Motor Imports
2347 Frankfort Avenue Louisville, KY 40206
502.895.8889

Hunt & Knight Automotive Technicians

Website
2701 Watterson Trail Louisville, KY 40299
502.267.5160

http://www.kiastore.com/kia-optima.php
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Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf running low on consumer demand – Louisville cars

December 26, 2011 by admin in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Chevrolet and Nissan dealerships may not be feeling charged up (in a good way) this holiday season due to a lack of consumer demand for their electric vehicles: the Volt and Leaf, respectively.

Snapshots of the electric cars:

The Chevrolet Volt
Sales of the Chevrolet Volt began in the United States in mid-December of 2010. It has a fuel economy of 93 mpg when only running on electricity (its all-electric range is an EPA estimated 37 miles) and 37 mpg when in gasoline-only mode. Its overall fuel efficiency is an EPA estimated 60 mpg. The base suggested retail prices of the Chevrolet Volt was $43,568. Among its many awards, it was named the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

The Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf was also introduced in December 2010. It was initially introduced in Japan and the United States. The Leaf’s combined fuel economy is an estimated 99 mpg. The retail prices of the Nissan Leaf is $32,780 in the United States. The Nissan Leaf won the 2011 European Car of the Year and the 2011 World Car of the Year awards.

Louisville’s Business First Magazine recently said this about the Volt and Leaf’s difficulty with creating/maintaining consumer demand:

A year ago, electric cars such as General Motor Co.’s Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf were all the rage. But not now.

As USA Today reports, U.S. consumers aren’t flocking to buy the electric cars as expected, and many are losing interest in the high-priced vehicles as a result of falling gas prices. Limited availability of charging stations for the cars also seems to be hurting sales.

The report said General Motors (NYSE: GM) has fallen well short of its goal of selling 10,000 Volts by the end of this year, and Nissan has sold less than 9,000 Leaf electric cars.

Despite the lower-than-expected interest in electrics, the report noted, Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) are moving forward with plans to introduce their own electric vehicles next year.

Ford operates two manufacturing plants in Louisville, and Toyota bases its U.S. manufacturing headquarters in Northern Kentucky and operates its largest U.S. manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky.

Have you considered purchasing one of these electric cars in Louisville? Why or why not? Do you expect this lack of consumer demand for electric cars to remain flat, increase or decrease?

 

Cars mentioned in this article and associated Louisville car dealerships:

Chevrolet Volt
Montgomery Chevrolet (Big M Chevrolet)
5325 Preston Highway
Louisville, KY 40213

Bachman Chevrolet
9650 Bluegrass Parkway
Louisville, KY 40299

Nissan Leaf
Collins Nissan
4142 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40218

Byerly Nissan
4027 Dixie Highway
Louisville, KY 40216

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