What do you think about when you hear “car alignment?” Most people probably only think about getting an alignment when their car has an issue like pulling or drifting. Second, I would guess people think of alignments as something they get when they purchase a new set of tires. What about the rest of your car’s life? Did you know that making an alignment part of your car maintenance routine can benefit your car and your pocket? Let’s dive in.
What Is A Car Alignment, Lower Control Arm, Auto Repair Near Me, Mechanic Laurel MD, A. Anthony’s Mobile Vehicle Service Inc
What is a car alignment?
First, I want to define an alignment. In terms of your car, it is setting specific parts to specific angles and measurements. Technically speaking, these measurements are the toe, caster, camber, and thrust angles. Your car’s manufacturer has determined the best angles and settings to optimize performance and handling down to the tenth of a degree.
Why, then, do we only address them when our cars are pulling or drifting, or when we buy a set of tires? Okay, we also get an alignment when a suspension or steering part is changed, like struts or tie rods, but you get my point. Precise measurements to the tenth of a degree…How much do those measurements really matter?
Note: If you are clumsy like me, do not try this at home. Take your feet. Stand up. Point both big toes inward and walk forward. Feels SO wrong. Okay. Now, turn your left foot out and your right foot out and walk forward. It still feels awkward. That is how I would simplify the toe setting of a car–when it is within specification, your feet are pointing straight ahead. Leaning your body to one side or the other would best represent camber. Depending on which way you lean would represent positive or negative camber. But imagine walking that way. Okay now. Fix your posture, quit slouching.
Toes InToes OutLean to One SideLean to the Other Side
So, I have been able to bring to life two parts of your car’s alignment that make them a little bit more relatable. When you walk pigeon-toed or lean, it strains you and your body. Kind of like sleeping wrong and getting a crick in your neck or having one pant leg get a hole in the bottom from always dragging the ground–maybe that’s just me.
The strain is no different on your car. Let’s say your alignment is out, just a little bit. You barely notice it. You continue to drive on, not really paying much mind to that minute shift in your steering wheel. Whatever the root cause was is there and won’t just magically go away. In fact, until a mechanic addresses it, it will progress and may start taking other parts with it. Let me give you an example. True story…
My little car–not the Mom Tank, was due for service. It hadn’t been in the shop for a while (whoops–life happens, I’m human too). I noticed a bad shimmy. It felt like the front end was dancing along to my road singing. One of the tie rods had excessive movement. The tie rod attaches to the steering gear rack and pinion and the wheel. When the tie rod end first started to fail, it probably would have felt like a slight vibration and maybe would have made a little noise. Had I caught it early enough, I could have replaced the tie rod end, aligned the car and called it a day. Since it had gon on for so long and been left unaddressed, the tires had worn on the outside edges. Now, I needed a set of tires, and the tie rod, and the alignment. This just became more expensive than it needed to be.
Sometimes, an incident like hitting a curb or a pothole can cause your alignment to shift. Other times, worn parts lead to excessive movement in your suspension and steering. Here is a funny one: habitual driving! I used to enter my driveway the same way every day. Now, I alternate how I enter my driveway and save wear and tear on my suspension, steering and alignment life.
Tips To Help:
To sum it all up, alignments are beneficial. You even save a few pennies in gas from not over steering or fighting your own car as you go down the road. Here are some other ways you can save.
Your tires play an important role. Start by maintaining proper tire pressure and checking the pressure regularly. Correct tire pressure promotes even tire wear, which will affect how the steering feels.
Balancing the tires regularly keeps the weight distribution around the axle even. Routine tire balances reduce friction which helps maintain even tire wear and prevents premature suspension part wear too.
Lastly, go ahead and get a routine alignment. Whether it feels off or not, make this part of your annual car care health. The benefits of keeping the alignment measurements correct include spending less money on tire replacement, suspension, and steering parts.
I remember a time not too long ago when gas was less than one dollar per gallon for premium. Okay sure, it was two decades ago, but who’s counting…
Once upon a time… (image courtesy of Pexels)
Today’s average price (today as in while I am writing this article) in Maryland is $3.63 for Regular and $4.46 for Premium. Location has a lot to do with what you pay at the pump. For instance, I was at a prime shopping area when my gas light came on (shame on me).
Chump at the pump.
I drove to the nearest gas station and selected my fuel grade. I put the nozzle in and started pumping. I could feel my body cringe and get smaller and smaller as the dollars on the display rose exponentially while the gallons just trickled. I was paying over $5.00 per gallon. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take one more tick from the pump. I had enough to get home. I stopped pumping, returned the nozzle, backed away from the pump, and back into my truck. I. Felt. Robbed.
“Give us all of your gas money!” (image courtesy of Canva)
‘Tis the season already.
News stations like CBS News and travel advisories like AAA Newsroom predict over 55 million people will travel for Thanksgiving. That is a lot of people going a lot of miles. Granted some may fly or go by train, but most will drive. AAA Newsroom states that these holiday travelers are going 50 miles or more from home. I wanted to see what advice I could give to help you enjoy the turkey on your plate rather than feel like a turkey at the pump.
image courtesy of Pexelsimage courtesy of Pexels
The Mom-Tank.
Business Insider looked at the most fuel-efficient and least fuel-efficient cars sold in the United States and found that our cars get around 25 miles per gallon on average. How does your car compare? My truck, whom I lovingly call the Mom-Tank, does not disappoint me.
Funny Faces in the Mom Tank
She has a rather large 6.2L engine. Before we get too judgy, it has what is called Active Fuel Management. This engine is designed to operate like a 4-cylinder engine until I need the power of all 8 cylinders. I have a feature in the Driver Information Center that lets me know if I am using some or all the ROAR that she has and can adjust my driving style accordingly. I also have a display that lets me know my current fuel efficiency. As a bonus, there is a mode that lets me know my “best score.” I can set it for 25, 50, or 100 miles. I’m a bit competitive so I like to beat my own high score. Here is what I have discovered from watching these data points.
It’s her world. I’m just the driver.One of the best co-pilots.
Tip #1 Watch your step.
More precisely, your foot pressure on the accelerator or gas pedal. It may seem trivial, but how you apply your foot to the gas pedal makes a bit of difference in fuel economy. Have you ever sat beside someone who fidgets? Are you a fidgeter? Your foot just tap-tap-taps away? Consider keeping steady, even pressure on the pedal. The fluttering of the gas pedal changes the signal sent from the Throttle Position Sensor to the PCM. The computer compensates for the fluctuation and load change.
Tip #2 Cruise with me.
Consider using cruise control. Your owner’s manual will tell you how to use your car’s system properly. In simple terms, you have a way to turn it on and off, a button to “Set” your speed, a button to “Accelerate,” and a button to “Coast.” In the Mom-Tank, once I set the cruise control, my speed increases by one mile per hour each time I click the plus symbol. Each time I click the minus symbol, my speed decreases by one mile per hour. I have electronically told the computer how fast I would like to travel and it sets the fuel/air mixture and throttle accordingly.
Tip #3 Coast for the most.
I am a commuter. Rush hour and I are besties. What I don’t do (I’m shaking my head as I write) is race to a red light. For me and the Mom-Tank, it is “nice and easy” for the win. To coast, I take my foot off the gas pedal and let my truck move on its own power. I am not picking up miles and miles to the gallon with this tip. Remember though, I am competitive, and I like to beat my “best score.” Watching that average MPG (miles per gallon) go up by a few tenths during each 25-minute trip is exciting. With a 26-gallon fuel tank—that is money.
Genette talks about Car Maintenance
Tip #4 Maintenance is the key.
Your owner’s manual is full of great information. One of the biggest tips you will find there is your maintenance plan. Routinely changing parts and fluids not only gives you more life and miles with your car, but it also makes it run as efficiently as possible. The first thing that comes to mind when talking about fuel economy is spark plugs. A worn spark plug just doesn’t get the job done. Did you also know everything else plays a role in your fuel economy? The cooling system affects the engine operating temperature. Keeping it in the “Goldilocks Zone” where the engine temperature is just right is crucial for engine efficiency. Your alignment is another factor; just like tap-tap-tapping the gas pedal, compensating for a misaligned vehicle makes the car work harder than it needs to. How about the tiny and commonly overlooked PCV valve? This part can typically fit in the palm of your hand and is relatively inexpensive. When it fails, you can experience rough idle, spitting, and sputtering. Oh, and poor fuel economy.
Can I get this to go?
Here’s the thing. We can dive deep into this rabbit hole. There are tons of things I can share to help pick up a tenth or two here and there. Unless you have significant engine wear, you can get great fuel economy out of your car. Start with figuring out what your car should get based on the manufacturer’s specifications. We can compare that to what you are currently getting per gallon and see how much room for improvement you may have. Once we know that, we can create a plan to make your car get the best miles per gallon.
Who’s the turkey now? Me. It’s still me.
Genette Talks Turkey at the A. Anthony’s Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
Your phone rings. It is an unknown number. You stare at the screen and maybe you debate whether to answer. It didn’t say “SCAM LIKELY,” so you press the green icon and say “Hello?”
(image courtesy of Pexels)(image courtesy of Pexels)(image courtesy of Pexels)
“We’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s warranty!”
Sigh, disconnect…
The fact is, there are tons of programs out there and they are NOT created equally. When new clients call, they will often ask if we work with their extended warranty company. I also get asked what company I would recommend when my existing clients are considering coverage. Let’s explore what this coverage actually is, what you the consumer get, and if it is worth it.
We are an approved vendor for nearly all insurance companies, extended warranty companies, and fleet management companies. Over the past 30 years, I have honed my skills in this industry, learning the steps these companies require to move your repair service from start to finish.
Advertising
This is where I feel most of the public can be grossly misled. Words are thrown around like “free” and “no cost to you.” A radio ad played recently stated your car would be towed at no cost to you, and you would have rental car coverage at no cost to you. This is a fantastic hook.
These are two of the biggest “pains” when you have a car breakdown. How are you going to get your car to the repair shop? How will you get around while your car is in the repair shop? In our area, a tow service can start at $80 to “hook up” and $3 per mile. A rental car can be ~$50 per day (including taxes and fees). These “pains” are also two expenses that do not go towards the cost of repair—you have incurred these fees and haven’t even fixed anything yet. Ouch. Of course, a plan that “covers” these expenses for you looks attractive!
Tip #1: Confirm the fringe benefit coverage.
When shopping for your plan, look at the fine print. Who pays for the tow service? Do you have to pay for it and get reimbursed? Does it cap at a specific dollar amount? If the breakdown is not covered, is the tow still covered? Is there a maximum number of tows per incident—what if you tow it to your home while you find a reputable auto repair shop?
The same applies to your rental car coverage. I have come across outdated contracts that still have rental cars at $35 per day. Some other questions you may want to ask are when does rental coverage start—does it start at vehicle drop off or when repairs are approved? Is there a maximum allowance? Some contracts only allow rental coverage when the labor guide time will be more than a certain number of hours. Your car could be at the shop for several days waiting for approval, but if the labor guide says the repair takes four hours, that could mean no rental car coverage.
These answers need to be in writing in your contract. Since the salesperson is not the agent who authorizes repairs or claims, anything they say to you really doesn’t matter.
The Whole Package
Affordable and easy. That is the idea behind many of these programs. The salesperson wants to help find the package that fits your budget and your needs. They may be called different things like Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. You may hear Basic, Standard, Comprehensive, Premium, and Ultimate.
One thing I want you to keep in mind is that the salesperson is usually NOT a repair expert. They may not know your car, your systems, and what you need.
TIP #2: What kind of coverage do you really need?
The level of coverage you purchase depends on what you are looking for and what your car is equipped with. Most basic plans are usually “drivetrain” only. What does that mean? Well, that means the engine, transmission, and differentials would be covered. As it is basic, it is just that. Basic. The guts of those parts are covered, meaning an internal failure would have to occur. I want to pause here. When was the last time you recall having an internal failure of a major component? Now, is this the type of coverage you need? In most cases, the answer is no.
Modern cars have more electrical parts like modules and sensors. Consider the difference in cost between a basic plan and something more robust that covers electronics and all systems. Look for something that will cover the exterior parts of your major components too. Something else to consider would be programming your computer-related parts. When modules and sensors are replaced, programming may be required. A good plan will include parts and services along with the necessary repair.
Here is an example: A Mini Cooper overheated. The client had an extended warranty policy. The cause of the overheating was covered (parts and labor). When the engine overheated, it damaged the power steering module. The power steering module replacement was also covered (parts and labor). However, module/computer programming was not covered in the client’s policy. While it was necessary to make the new module work, it was just not covered, and the client had to pay out of pocket on top of her deductible.
The Process
Different extended warranty companies have different processes for filing claims. Regardless of whether the auto repair shop initiates a claim online or by telephone, they all begin with the same thing. Car identification, policy or contract number, current mileage, and reason for visit. Where they begin to differ is in the authorization process. Some companies are easy; it is cut-and-dry. This part failed, this is the cost to repair, here is your authorized amount, and here is your authorization number. Others…not so much.
Tip #3: What is the claim process?
The first thing I let all my clients know is that the warranty company will expect a diagnosis to be performed. You, the client, must authorize the diagnosis and your warranty company may cover the fee if it is a covered repair. What does that mean?
Your car is overheating. You authorize the fee for me to test and determine why it is overheating. I found out it was a water pump. I called your warranty company and told them you need a water pump. I give them the cost of the test, and the parts and labor for the water pump. It is covered. The warranty company picks up the cost of the diagnosis fee you authorized. Or the opposite:
The water pump is NOT covered. You, the client, would be responsible for the diagnosis fee. The claim is closed, and the repair is between me and you.
Tip #4 Read the fine print.
When it comes to the claims process, there is a lot of fine print. Here are a few things I thought I would share with you. Some companies allow their claims adjusters to authorize up to a certain dollar amount. Once an estimate reaches that threshold, the process stops. Cold. There is a clause in most contracts that allows the warranty company to send an adjuster out to inspect the car. This step takes up to two business days. The warranty company contracts with an outside adjuster who sets up a day to come to the repair shop and inspect the area of repair. The adjuster will take images and write a report. Then, this goes back to the warranty company for authorization. How does this affect you, my client, and me, the repair shop?
Your car has been disassembled since the original diagnosis. It has remained that way, waiting for the adjuster for two business days. It remains that way until the adjuster’s report gets back to the claims department where an agent will decide if your repair will be authorized or not. This part of the process can add up to 4 business days to just the authorization. Your car still has to be repaired.
Radiator & CondenserSubaru Transmission Pan that is disassembled and waiting for an adjuster to perform an inspection.This is a Transmission Assembly that is out of the car.
I do my best to avoid this time delay by sending images directly to the warranty company. All our services come with Digital Vehicle Inspections. My technicians can capture images and videos, and organize them into a detailed report. We then send a link to an email or cell phone for both the client and the warranty company.
Another part of the fine print details coverage amounts. There is a misconception again in the advertising and sales pitch about coverage. The warranty company does not set the auto repair shop’s rates and fees. Just like you cannot go into a restaurant and tell them how much you are going to pay for the Surf and Turf, another business cannot dictate what a repair shop can and cannot charge. Some warranty companies will pay the repair shop’s posted labor rate. Others may pay up to a specific dollar amount. When it comes to parts, it is very similar. The company will pay up to a specific dollar amount or want to use their supplied part. How does this look in print?
When is free not really free?
I keep my clients informed every step of the way. The estimates and invoices that I submit to the warranty company look exactly like the ones I give to my client. I may submit an estimate to my client (parts, labor, tax, and fees) of $595.62. I submitted the exact same estimate to the warranty company. The warranty company states they will pay $450.00 less the client’s $100 deductible for a total of $350. The client will be responsible for $245.62.
The fine print is very important. Whenever you can, make your contract available to your repair shop. Highlight what is and is not covered. The more I know up front, the better advocate I can be for you and your car. I can set expectations with you in the beginning and clear up any concerns you may have before we begin.
I want to get your car repaired and back on the road as quickly as possible, whether you use an extended warranty company or not. Should you have one, I want you to get the benefits from your policy. My ultimate goal is to take care of you and your car. Your car is one of your biggest investments. My team and I can be one of the partners you choose to protect it. We are here for you!
Grease In Her Veins 