Think twice when lending a car

If you’re the parent of a teenager, you probably feel like you wrote the book on rules around borrowing a car. Plus, you know you have to have your kids on your policy as an occasional teenage driver.

But what about when a friend or neighbour asks about borrowing a car from you? Does your auto insurance cover them? What if they have an accident – even one that isn’t their fault?

When it comes to lending a car to somebody there are two questions to think about:

• Can I lend my car?
• Should I lend my car?
• Can I lend my car to a friend, family member or another individual if they aren’t named on my car insurance policy?

Yes, you can, and the driver will be covered by your insurance. When you’re lending a car to somebody, they don’t have to be named on your auto insurance policy if the following criteria are met:

You have given consent for them to use your car.

They are licensed and are legally allowed to drive in Ontario.

They aren’t borrowing your car on a routine basis.

What’s a routine basis? Well, if they are borrowing your car to drive to the laundromat every Saturday, they should be named on your car insurance policy as a routine driver.

You are also responsible for making sure the person who is borrowing a car from you isn’t an impaired driver. If they have an accident while impaired, your car insurance policy won’t cover it, and you could be held liable for damage and injuries.

Should I lend my car?

Even if you’ve decided that you could lend your car, you still have to decide if you should lend it. If there’s an accident involving your car when you’ve loaned it, the incident goes against your vehicle insurance policy. It could mean a claim. Depending on the circumstances, it could mean a rise in your premiums.

So when you’re asked about borrowing a car, think twice and consider whether you’ll also trust the borrower with your car insurance record.

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Give Special Attention so Timing Belt not Disconnect Easily

Disconnecting of Timing Belt

The impact that we experienced due to broken timing belt is very uncomfortable. If this condition occurs when the center of the car we drive on the road, it is definitely not the car broke down and we can use to continue the journey. It's nothing. You could say that this is an instrumental component determines the engine by turning the camshaft that govern when to open and close the valve in line with the rise and fall of the piston.

It's not impossible to make the machine break the timing belt should be overhauled due to valve damage (bent or broken) due to hit the piston.

Broken timing belt can indeed make complicated. In fact, the treatment is simple. Most of the damage to the timing belt is influenced by the age factor. The rest, due to the occurrence of an error during setup. Installation is too hard or loose, affecting the timing belt durability while performing their duties.

Prior to these threats due to bad timing belt breaking that befall us, give special attention:

First, trust routine timing belt replacement at authorized workshops. For cars with gasoline, replacement can be done every 40,000 to 60,000 miles. As for diesel, can usually be done every 100,000 km. When the car stalled and often carry heavy loads, should a replacement be done faster than the figures mentioned above km.

Another advantage when doing timing belt replacement at authorized workshops is due

timing belt installation should not be arbitrary. Installation of timing belt should be according to the standard. Well, more formal workshop mechanic can we believe in ensuring the accuracy of the installation of this component on each engine.

Second, special attention to the timing belt also can be done by checking whether or not the engine oil leaks at the oil seal on the crankshaft or contained camshatf. Because, if the oil leak and the timing belt, this component will quickly brittle so easily broken.

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Beware of Unstable Engine when Idle

Remain Engine Stable in Idle Position

Wasteful consumption of fuel is not only caused by improper driving style, road traffic, but can also be influenced by our engine settings. Especially from setting mixture of fuel and air that are less fit. Could be, setting the engine's fuel ratio right so the mixture does not become "fat". Called "fat" because the supply of fuel to the combustion chamber is larger than needed.

That is why setting the air and fuel mixture affects the least wasteful fuel consumption. Well, to find out whether or not fitting arrangement, it is very easy. One of them can be detected when the engine is in the idle position. If the engine RPM up and down, it's a sign setting ratio of fuel and air that are less fit. Supposedly, after the ignition is turned to the START position and engine life, RPM remains stable when we leave on the gas pedal.

Therefore, beware of machines that are not stable in the idle position. In addition to causing more wasteful consumption, it is possible engine suddenly off when the car is racing toward us in the middle of the road.

How to know the arrangement of fuel and air mixture that does not fit with the simpler method is through emissions testing. Just try to follow the activities of free emissions testing, when the paper test results indicated levels of HC and CO are too high, meaning that the fuel into the combustion chamber is larger than necessary due to an improper setting.

The solution is simple. Lives rearranged mixing ratio of fuel and air in the vehicle. Any routine service at the garage was usually mechanical inspection and adjustment of the ratio of fuel and air burning is often called CO set.

Nevertheless, it is quite possible if the adjustment is just right but remain incomplete fuel combustion. To be sure, do the inspection throttle body. Most likely components where the flow of air is dirty and disturbing the smooth flow of air into the combustion chamber.

In addition, check the ignition system. Perhaps there is a dead spark plugs, coil worn or detainees in the ignition spark plug wires too high.

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Utilizing Engine Braking when Driving An Automatic Car

Engine Braking in Automatic Car

Basically the engine braking can still be used in automatic car (matic). The use of engine braking is to help save brake pads that can be obtained by performing the transfer gear lever to the lower position of the transmission (downshift). After stepping on the brake pedal and the vehicle speed is reduced, move the gear lever from position D (DRIVE) to:

1. To "3", or OFF the function of overdrive / OD on the transmission that still use manual overdrive (by pressing the O / D are located on the gear lever). The transmission will drop into third gear position and will not be able to move into fourth gear.

2. Move back to position "2". The transmission will drop into second gear when vehicle speed drops quickly to speed below 90 ~ 80 km / h. This shift makes a stronger engine braking effect.

3. Moving on to the "L". The transmission will drop into first gear when the vehicle speed drops quickly to speed below 40 ~ 30 km / h. In this position obtained maximum engine braking.

Do the above three things in sequence from the highest to the lowest gear.

The principle is similar to a manual transmission, engine braking is obtained by moving to a lower transmission. Figures speed we mentioned above shall be adjusted on each vehicle (the descriptions in the owners manual).

Indeed, with this move so the car feels a little jolt. It marks engine braking works. Jolt more we can reduce vehicle speed by taking into account when making the transmission shift lever position.

For road conditions in the field on the uphill or downhill, we can get the engine braking without having to move the position of the gear lever as above. The trick is to run the vehicle with the position of the gear lever in position "2". This position makes the transmission can not move from the position of "2" to a higher gear and engine braking effect when we reduced the gas pedal pressure will be greater.

Or you can also use the "L" when dealing with the position of the vehicle that steep uphill or downhill (for example, in the basement of the building). In this position, gear acceleration can only move the gear position 1 only.

However, the position of "2" or "L" should not be used in a long time. If it was on a flat road, immediately move the transmission to "D". This is to prevent transmission fluid from overheating and damage to the transmission.

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10 Guidelines in Applying Defensive Driving

Many factors determine the safety of driving.

In the midst of an often chaotic traffic, plus discipline of other drivers are still low, taking the attitude of "survive" is a much safer option. That's why we must apply defensive driving. Slightly different to driving safely that leads to the ability or skill driving, defensive driving even more leads to behavioral patterns, mental as well as our behavior.

How to apply defensive driving? Here are 10 guidelines that we have to bear in mind because often afflict drivers who do not apply.

1. Never complacent. Driving it should be relaxed, but it must always be vigilant. Monitor continues to vehicles and objects around you. Not only that far ahead, which is also monitored in the back, left and right through the glass mirror.

2. Obey road markings and traffic light. Adjust the rate of your car with the information that was on the side of the road. And be careful when crossing the intersection. When the red light is on, do not break through. Stop behind the white line.

3. Do not fall for inconsiderate motorists. If met with reckless motorists, better yield. Let them pass first, because the most appalling is that we do not know the condition of the driver. It could be, he was emotional, or even being drunk.

4. Do not be emotional. Even if there were overtaken, or someone suddenly honked repeatedly, remain calm. There are millions of reasons that you can not be angry and looking to avoid the dangers that lurk on your own safety.

5. Do not trust other motorists. Although essentially all motorists want to survive, you should not believe that they will also ensure our safety. Remain cautious.

6. Use the safety belt. Do not worry shirt or pants become wrinkled due to stress safety belt. We have to think, this device may reduce the neatness of our clothes will make us safe and alive when the accident occurred. For motorcycle riders, use the helmet properly.

7. Use light sign on fellow rider communication. Make sure the light is bright. If it will turn, not at all hard to turn on the lights so that other motorists know sign you will turn.

8. Remove objects that could potentially interfere with the concentration of driving.Precautions should also be our wake by creating an environment that is conducive to concentration driving. In fact, when there is incoming phone calls when you're driving, do not need to be removed first because it can interfere with concentration.

9. Do not drink intoxicating beverages. Because awareness is very important, avoid drinking intoxicating beverages. In fact, if taking medications that cause drowsiness, you should not drive.

10. Better to wait for passing trains. It happens at the junction of railway track. Many speculate train riders still further when the train will pass the signal sign is off. Wait a few minutes is much better.

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