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In general, whether you should or shouldn't buy a car is a big decision to make, and whether you should or shouldn't buy a used rental car can be an even bigger decision, factoring in that more than a few people have already used this vehicle before you. All Tech Automotive found this article to give you a little more insight into making this choice. Should You Buy a Used Rental Car? If you've ever rented a car, you might have driven it a little harder than you'd drive your own car. And, chances are, many other customers who rented it were just as "respectful" of that car as you were. So, the thought of owning that car after the rental car company's done with it might be a little scary. If you're shopping for a later-model used car on a budget, though, this is an avenue you might want to consider. Rental car companies rotate their fleets on a regular basis, which means there's a steady supply of older cars they're looking to unload. Many of t ... read more

Winter is coming! All Tech Automotive found this article from the DMV with recommendations on how to prepare your car for the cold and snow that lies ahead.  Winter months can prevent many challenges for your vehicle. While modern vehicles are designed to handle inclement weather conditions, there are some basic steps every driver should take as the days get shorter and the temperature drops. How to Winterize Your Car Replace or refill all fluids The best way to winterize your car is to start by checking your fluid levels. Coolant - It is especially important to have the correct antifreeze/water mixture to prevent fluid from freezing in your radiator. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual for information on this mixture. Pick up a tester at an auto parts store and make sure the fluid is filled to the maximum line. Oil - Some mechanics recommend switching to a thinner oil if you live where temperatures drop below freezing. Your best be ... read more

Some drivers will go their whole life without using the cruise control function on their vehicle, whether it's because they prefer not to use it, don't find it safe, or don't know how to use it. To keep you informed, All Tech Automotive found this article to give you some insight on cruise control. Cruise control is a feature that now comes standard on many models of cars. Many drivers prefer to drive a vehicle that has cruise control installed because of its convenience. If you are a commuter, cruise control will allow you to drive at a constant speed. Cruise control is an electronic device that allows a vehicle's driver to lock the accelerator on a specific speed and take the foot off of the pedal. Cruise control is designed to be used on roadways without frequent stops, turns, or required driving maneuvers. An interstate highway is an ideal location to use your vehicle's cruise control feature. Here's how to apply cruise control: 7-Step Guide to Cruise Contr ... read more

All Tech Automotive cares about the safety of the drivers on the road, especially mature drivers. We found this article on safety suggestions mature drivers should consider. These are only suggestions and any mature driver should consult their doctor with any questions.  Just because you've aged doesn't mean your driving safety should be compromised. With a few adjustments and an acute awareness of your abilities, you can continue to drive without feeling like you're in danger of a collision.  To stay safe the next time you get behind the wheel, consider these 7 safety suggestions geared towards senior drivers.  1) Take Stock of Your Health As you age, physical and mental changes can affect your ability to operate a vehicle safely. Schedule regular appointments with your physician to monitor: Pain or stiffness in your joints - This may affect your ability to control the steering wheel or turn to look into safety mirrors. Any chronic conditions - Diabetes ... read more

Keeping your vehicle up to date on any required maintenance is an important part of vehicle safety. All Tech Automotive found this article on when you should change your windshield wiper blades. Although your windshield wiper blades are a small part of your car, they are a big component in safe driving.  When to replace your windshield wiper blades Windshield wiper blades play a crucial part in vehicle safety, but unless you live in a rainy climate, they're also easy to overlook. If you don't use them regularly you might not know they need to be replaced - until you really, really need them. Manufacturers typically recommend changing them every six months to once a year, but your own driving conditions might call for a more frequent replacement. There's no hard-and-fast rule about when you change your wiper blades, but you can use a few criteria to decide when it's time. When they visibly don't work well For many drivers, the simplest answer is to repla ... read more

At All Tech Automotive, we love finding interesting articles and fun facts about vehicles. Check out this article we found about why Minivans aren't so bad after all. Minivans may get a bad rap for being stodgy vehicles, but they've actually been subject to pretty pioneering advances in auto tech. "The nicest thing I ever said about a minivan on air is 'it's your money, do what you want.'" That's Ben Bowlin, co-host of the CarStuff podcast, firing another volley in the Great CarStuff Minivan War. Ben (self-avowed minivan cynic) and co-host Scott Benjamin (reluctant minivan apologist) discuss in this podcast episode not just the history of the minivan, but their own deepening understanding of how the minivan may or may not be the worst thing that's ever happened to cars. Conclusion? Probably not! There's more to the minivan story than just the tale of a harried parent trying to stuff more kids into a vehicle bound for basketball practice. In ... read more

At All Tech Automotive, we believe you should thoroughly know every part of your vehicle and how every part works. We found this article on how emergency brakes work to give you a better understanding of your brake system.  How Emergency Brakes Work You're 16 years old. Your father has decided it would be a great idea to take you to the steepest hill in town and make you stop precariously at the stop sign that is halfway up the hill. You're driving a stick shift. As you stop, he reaches over and puts on the emergency brake. You notice three cars pulling up behind you. Your father snickers. You break into a cold sweat. But for a second, you feel safe. Because the emergency brake is on. But what exactly is holding you in place? Emergency brakes are a secondary braking system installed in motor vehicles. Also known as e-brakes, hand brakes and parking brakes, emergency brakes are not powered by hydraulics and are independent of the service brakes used to slow and stop vehic ... read more

All Tech Automotive in support of WellSpring 2017 Purple Purse Challenge October is not only Car Care Month, but also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. All Tech Automotive wants to give a spotlight to WellSpring, a local nonprofit that works in Saratoga County to end relationship and sexual abuse in the community. What does WellSpring do? In Saratoga County, domestic violence is the number one cause of family homelessness, and the number two crime and number two cause of homicide. WellSpring strives to meet the growing demand for services in Saratoga County to support domestic violence survivors. At the same time, they aspire to reduce the prevalence of sexual and relationship violence by putting greater focus on prevention, early intervention, and service accessibility.  At WellSpring, the mission is to support survivors and engage the community to end relationship and sexual abuse. Each year, the crisis intervention and survivor services support more than 1,000 clients ... read more

It might not always be a fun conversation, but setting clear rules for younger drivers is a safety basic.  1) Set Basic Rules of the Road Teens whose parents set rules of the road and enforce them are more likely to be safer while behind the wheel than their peers without that parental support and communication. In fact, having family driving rules has been shown to reduce teen crashes by as much as 50 percent (and to reduce the odds your teen will drink and drive by as much as 71 percent) [source: GHSA]. Be clear about what your rules and expectations are, such as curfew and number of passengers allowed (if any). Also understand and follow your state's licensing requirements; for instance, all 50 states have some type of graduated driver licensing (GDL) program, which slowly introduces risky on-the-road situations such as nighttime driving to novice drivers over a set period of time. It's a program that works (it's reduced the number of crashes at the hands of young ... read more

Your brake warning lights are on... now what? Most cars have one or two brake warning lights on the dashboard. When you first start your car, all of the lights on the dashboard should light up. This is the bulb check; they should go out in a few seconds. If a light doesn't go out, then your car is alerting you of a problem. If a light does not light during the bulb check, it tells you that you need to replace the bulb. Your car illuminates the BRAKE light­ to indicate one of two things: that your emergency brake is on. Release it to solve the problem. that you have lost brake pressure in half of the brake system (see How a Combination Valve Works for details). Brake Fluid and Pressure Problems If releasing the emergency brake doesn't make the light go off, you should slowly and calmly pull over and stop. If the brake system has completely failed, you will have to use the emergency brake for braking. If the light stays on, it means that the pressure on one side of the br ... read more