14 Broadcaster Press September 25, 2018 www.broadcasteronline.com FallHome Improvement & Car Care 2018 Top Tips for Buying Teens Their First Cars According to the experts at Edmunds. com, an automotive research and advice group, involving teens in the process of selecting a car helps teach them responsibility and learn lessons about money that may help them make smart choices in the future. • Manage expectations. Cars are generous gifts and not something teenagers have a right to. Teenagers may not realize the expenses involved in acquiring, running and insuring a vehicle. Parents can explain all of these factors. Unless the teen has enough money to buy his or her own car, the final call is up to the parents on how much to spend and which vehicle to choose. • Note that bigger isn’t always better. Some parents think their teens will be safer in a truck or SUV. While large vehicles may fare slightly better in a crash, they can be more cumbersome to park and drive, Start teen drivers out with a vehicle that is not too flashy but gets high marks for especially for novices. A large vehicle may safety. tempt teens to pile in friends for a Saturday night, but research indicates the risk of a Selecting a first car for a teenage son sporty that also looks cool, while their parcrash increases with multiple teens in a car. or daughter can be challenging. Newly ents no doubt want them behind the wheel • Choose safety over looks. Safety licensed drivers probably want something of something sturdy, safe and reliable. Two Headlights are Better Than One: How Changing Headlights in Pairs Makes Nighttime Driving Safer Consistent light output from both headlights makes the road safer for drivers, their passengers and oncoming motorists. should be the top priority. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to crash than older drivers. Choose a vehicle with a high safety rating over one that looks stylish or comes equipped with distracting bells and whistles. • Pass down the family roadster. Teenagers may anticipate being handed the keys to a brand-new or previously owned vehicle off of a dealership lot. But giving him or her a set of keys to a car already in the driveway may be more practical. Everyone involved already knows the history, driving capabilities, safety statistics, and potential quirks of cars that have been in the family for years. It may not be flashy, but cars already in the driveway will get teenagers from point A to point B just as effectively as those currently sitting idle on the dealership lot. Outfitting a new teen driver with a car requires careful research. ? MetroCreativeConnection Why Do Brake Rotors Warp? Braking systems are comprised of various components, including rotors. Rotors are large metal discs that can be seen behind the wheels of the car. Rotors can sometimes appear to warp, and many drivers may question why this occurs or if this is a significant problem. Rotors cannot really warp. Automotive experts note that rotors are metal discs that are cast under extreme heat conditions. It would take a similar application of heat by the braking system for rotors to actually bend, which is impossible. Other factors make rotors appear to be warped, so describing such rotors as “warped” is an easy way to explain the problem to vehicle owners. For brakes to work correctly, brake pads must be applied squarely and evenly against the rotor. But friction can cause some brake pad materials to form residue on certain areas of the rotor, eventually contributing to uneven rotor surface levels. Some spots become thicker, while others may thin out. Drivers’ own habits, including their braking tendencies, can contribute to uneven rotors. The automotive advice resource Your Mechanic says that riding the brakes for prolonged periods of time can cause hot brake pads to “paint” the rotors. So constant braking should be avoided. Drivers also can shift into a lower gear when driving downhill so that prolonged breaking is unnecessary. Also, avoiding frequent hard breaking may help. People who live in an area where they’re hard on the brakes either because of hilly terrain or traffic may find such environments can take a toll on the performance of their vehicles’ brake systems. Brake system issues, such as front brakes having to work harder than rear brakes, or over-torqueing when wheels are installed, also may cause rotors to warp, advise automotive experts at Kal Tires. Moss Motoring also states that new pads and brake pads need to be fitted correctly and properly “bedded.” Bedding is the initial transfer of friction material from pad to the disc to form a smooth, uniform layer. Breakin instructions should be included with new brake installation. Warped rotors can cause symptoms such as squeaky sounds and lead to jittery feelings in the car when brakes are applied. Such rotors also can cause the vehicle to vibrate when coming to a stop. If warped rotors seem to be an issue, mechanics may be able to put thicker rotors into a lathe to smooth out the residue and restore an even surface but the problem can come back. It is usually best to replace rotors if they are causing severe vibrations or issues when braking. ? MetroCreativeConnection When it comes to vehicle maintenance, road safer for drivers, their passengers and oncoming motorists. When only one professional automotive technicians and bulb is replaced, the resulting light output organizations that promote safe driving can be both unbalanced and unpredicthave always advocated replacing certain safety components in their vehicles, such able, providing inadequate lighting that as tires, brakes, shocks and wiper blades, can compromise driver visibility. In addition, when one bulb burns out or starts in pairs. dimming, the other bulb will likely follow, Replacing parts in pairs ensures that forcing drivers to deal with the expense the vehicle is properly balanced and and inconvenience of getting it replaced functioning safely. But it’s not just tires, all over again. brakes and shocks that How else can drivers improve visibility? should be replaced in pairs. In addition to properly maintaining Vehicle lighting plays an integral role in keeping drivers and their passengers safe, their headlights, drivers can take the following proactive measures to make and motorists should exercise the same nighttime driving safer. level of caution regarding their vehicles’ • Replace worn out wiper blades each headlights, taillights, and turn signals that they do with other parts of their cars and season or in three-month intervals to ensure adequate visibility during rain or trucks. According to Energy Star, the U.S. than 10 years old. Also, washing clothes snow. Why replace aging headlight bulbs? Department of Energy and Consumer in cold water can reduce energy consump• Clean interior glass and mirrors to Most drivers are not aware that headReports, homeowners who want to curb tion. remove any film-like buildup that reduces their energy consumption can consider light bulbs can wear out and degrade • Kitchen/laundry appliances: Trade vision and creates hazy reflections from over time. As a result, headlights are upgrading, repairing or replacing the bigin old appliances for new models, which the sun. This is especially important for often overlooked when drivers conduct gest energy consumers in their homes. are more energy-efficient. For example, an routine vehicle maintenance. As they age, smokers who smoke while driving. The following appliances tend to consume Energy Star-rated refrigerator uses 50 per• Don’t hang accessories on rearview headlight bulbs put out less light, which the most energy in a typical home. cent less energy to run than a refrigerator mirrors. This includes fuzzy dice, photos can dramatically compromise visibility • Heating & cooling unit: Nearly half of manufactured 15 years ago. Innovations in and other items that can be distracting at night, when drivers’ visual acuity is all energy used in a home is consumed by laundry appliances also help make units and block your vision. already naturally reduced by as much as HVAC systems. Regularly inspecting and more efficient without compromising on To learn more, check out the public 70 percent. servicing the system can conserve energy performance. ? MetroCreativeConnection service website and video produced by According to Lumileds, a leading lightand save money. ing solutions company for the automotive Lumileds at: philipsautolighting.com/ • Water heater: Energy Star suggests replacing industry, headlight bulbs begin to project chips. ? 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