Automotive | All About Automotive

I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 with the ABS Light on. The codes say both speed sensors are bad in the front. I replaced both spend sensors and the light is still. The shop wants more money to look at it and I don't want to put anymore money into it. Is there a way to just unplug the bulbs so that I don't have to see the light?

Answer:

Yes and No. This truck does not have bulbs, it is equipped with LED lights. But you can take the dash apart and remove the circuit board from the gauge cluster and clip one leg of the LED and it will no longer light up. I do not recommend clipping both legs in case you want to reconnect it later.

Buying Used? How to Avoid Getting Bitten by Repair Costs

(ARA) – If your old clunker is gasping its last, you might think (like millions of other Americans these days) you can save yourself some money by buying a used car instead of a new one. You can -- if you make smart buying decisions. Hasty or unwise used-car buying can end up costing you much more in the long run.

As new car sales have crashed, purchases of used cars continue to rise, according to many news reports. In March, PBS reported that dealerships sold more than 2 million used cars in recent months, about 25 percent higher volume than you would expect in a healthy economy. The math behind the trend is simple: new cars cost more than used, depreciate faster and are generally costlier to insure, so more Americans are buying used to save money.

But what about repair expenses? If you buy a used car for $15,000 and it costs you $5,000 in repairs in the first year, have you really saved? To ensure you’re buying a used vehicle that won’t turn into a money pit, follow a few simple steps:

Early in the Process:

Repairs are a reality of used car buying. As vehicles get older, they begin to need more maintenance and repairs. Some newer model used vehicles may still have some factory warranty left, but older models usually do not. An impending need for repairs, however, may not necessarily be a deal-breaker if you find out ahead of time how much those repairs might cost and budget appropriately.

You probably already have a few makes and models in mind. Before you settle on one, compare the cost of the parts needed for the most common repairs and maintenance. One model may have a sales price that’s $5,000 less than another you’re considering, but if the cost of parts is 20 or 30 percent higher than parts for another vehicle, the higher priced model might actually be a better deal.

Turn to resources like RockAuto.com to compare parts prices. The site’s Repair Index automatically pulls prices from the company’s vast auto parts catalog based on year, make, model and type of part. It’s a quick, easy way to compare parts costs for different models and the results can be surprising.

For example, you might think a Chevy Metro is an economical car, but parts for one can be expensive, according to RockAuto, which sells parts for an average 20 to 60 percent less than other parts dealers. The bulk of the company’s business is selling parts direct to consumers, so it’s possible to save even more money by buying parts directly and doing repairs yourself. Visit www.RockAuto.com to learn more.

Next, check the repair history for a particular make and model from a credible source like Consumer Reports. The independent ratings organization maintains a huge database of information on virtually every make and model vehicle available in America. Actual owners and drivers contribute the information based on their experiences with a particular vehicle.

Once You’ve Narrowed it Down

When you find a vehicle you’re interested in, check the repair history and maintenance for that specific car. Pull a vehicle history report from a third-party source like CarFax, which will generally list major (reported) maintenance and accidents. The report can also help you spot discrepancies in odometer readings, if the vehicle has been used in an area prone to flooding, or if it’s been rebuilt after being in an accident so severe it was declared a total loss.

Never buy a used car until you’ve had it checked by your own mechanic – not even from a dealership that offers “certification” on its used vehicles. If a seller isn’t willing to let you take the vehicle to your mechanic, walk away.

Finally, consult your insurance agent to see how much it will cost to insure the vehicle. A used car that actually increases your annual premium may not be the great deal you thought it was.

By Carjunky

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about an auto auction is that you're on your own – with an auction, it is every man for his self. What this means is that you always have to be on the lookout for warning signs of a bad auction or a bad vehicle.

At an auto auction, you're buying what you see in the condition it is in right then, like the ‘As Is’ sign in the window of the car you looked at in the local dealership. There is no warranty, no mechanic on hand to check out the engine, frame, or body of the vehicle, and there are no written promises anywhere guaranteeing that a vehicle will run. If you buy a car that breaks down within two days, there is no return policy.

There are several steps to take when looking for a ‘good’ car auction. First, know which type of auction you want to attend. Government car auctions offer vehicles and other properties that have been repossessed or seized and are held at a specific location on a routine basis, like once a month or every second and fourth Saturday.

You can find announcements of government car auctions in your local newspaper. Secondly, do the research prior to bidding on any automobiles at any auto auctions.

You should know exactly what type of vehicle you want, as well as the estimated value of the car and, if possible, the VIN number in order to do a car history search, and the mileage.

If possible, have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, or you do it yourself. A lot of auctions have a two-day preview period before the actual auction where interested parties may examine the vehicle. However, this does not include driving the vehicle, and auto auctions offer no guarantees or warranties.

You can search for auto auctions in your state online or with your city, state, or federal government offices to find auction sites and dates. Repossession auctions offer cars so new they still have the window sticker as well as high-mileage used, older vehicles at below the sticker price.

Online auctions work just like on-site auto auctions, only you cannot inspect the car prior to purchasing it. All of the information you need about the car is provided so nothing is in question, and the vehicle will be shipped for a small charge to a location of your choice for inspection before finalizing the deal.

Look for companies that, in the case you aren't satisfied, will give you your money back. Select a handful of services that provide what you are looking for and compare them before making a decision on which to go with.

A former employee of an auction company said to always go to the preview period prior to the auction, where you and your mechanic can inspect the vehicle. Check for odors or mildew stains on the carpets – signs a car has gotten wet – and try see if it was jump-started to bring into the auction room – signs the car has some small or major issues.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about an auto auction is that you're on your own – with an auction, it is every man for his self. What this means is that you always have to be on the lookout for warning signs of a bad auction or a bad vehicle.

At an auto auction, you're buying what you see in the condition it is in right then, like the ‘As Is’ sign in the window of the car you looked at in the local dealership. There is no warranty, no mechanic on hand to check out the engine, frame, or body of the vehicle, and there are no written promises anywhere guaranteeing that a vehicle will run. If you buy a car that breaks down within two days, there is no return policy.

There are several steps to take when looking for a ‘good’ car auction. First, know which type of auction you want to attend. Government car auctions offer vehicles and other properties that have been repossessed or seized and are held at a specific location on a routine basis, like once a month or every second and fourth Saturday.

You can find announcements of government car auctions in your local newspaper. Secondly, do the research prior to bidding on any automobiles at any auto auctions.

You should know exactly what type of vehicle you want, as well as the estimated value of the car and, if possible, the VIN number in order to do a car history search, and the mileage.

If possible, have a mechanic inspect the vehicle, or you do it yourself. A lot of auctions have a two-day preview period before the actual auction where interested parties may examine the vehicle. However, this does not include driving the vehicle, and auto auctions offer no guarantees or warranties.

You can search for auto auctions in your state online or with your city, state, or federal government offices to find auction sites and dates. Repossession auctions offer cars so new they still have the window sticker as well as high-mileage used, older vehicles at below the sticker price.

Online auctions work just like on-site auto auctions, only you cannot inspect the car prior to purchasing it. All of the information you need about the car is provided so nothing is in question, and the vehicle will be shipped for a small charge to a location of your choice for inspection before finalizing the deal.

Look for companies that, in the case you aren't satisfied, will give you your money back. Select a handful of services that provide what you are looking for and compare them before making a decision on which to go with.

A former employee of an auction company said to always go to the preview period prior to the auction, where you and your mechanic can inspect the vehicle. Check for odors or mildew stains on the carpets – signs a car has gotten wet – and try see if it was jump-started to bring into the auction room – signs the car has some small or major issues.