“I have no idea what’s wrong with it.” We hear that one a lot. There’s something going on, but you can’t even explain it. Hey, we know, we’ve heard every clank, clunk and boom. You name it, Superior can diagnose your car even though you can’t even describe the issue.
Here’s your first lesson to speak like a technician!
What are the Symptoms: Write down everything that is going on with your new or used car before you take it to the shop. That information is vital for the technician. The more you can tell us, the better we can diagnose the issue. Doe it rattle? Does it make a high squeal? Just describe what your hear, feel and, sometimes, smell.
Previous Issues: Has your new or used car had issues in the past? Make sure you take with you the past receipts and paperwork of work done on your new or used car. It’s possible that the previous shop missed something, or mis-diagnosed the problem.
Give Descriptions: Make sure that you are clear with your explanation to the technician. Make sure you use words like “passenger side” and “driver’s side” instead of “right” and “left” when describing what the symptoms are. Those are simple, yet important, references when describing the issue.
Confusion: When the technician comes back with an explanation of your new or used car’s issues, don’t be afraid to ask him to explain it more thoroughly if you are confused at all. You need to be informed at all times. So, ask us as many questions as you need to.
Repairs: When the repair order is given to you, make sure that you understand what is about to happen to your new or used car. Ask questions. If you don’t one one thing done, but another instead, you can do that. You won’t hurt our feelings. Superior is here for you, so any repair that we may recommend, we’ll be up front to the reason and severity of the issue and, of course, we’ll have the lowest prices around.
The bottom line is that if you think something is wrong with your car, you need to bring it in before it gets worse. It’s OK if you can’t explain your car’s problem, Superior will figure it out. It’s also OK that you aren’t a master technician either. We know what that thing that is connected to the do-hickey, that’s on that thing-a-ma-jig that’s making all of that noise.
Now this post is specific in nature, but almost all of us at Superior know someone where an act as simple as getting in and out of your vehicle can be very difficult. For users of wheelchairs and scooters, a method of loading necessary equipment is an essential feature. Smaller minivans tend to have ramps, while full size and conversion vans usually have lifts. These can be located at either the side or rear of the vehicle. Unoccupied lifts raise the chair or scooter by itself for easy stowing. Occupied lifts accommodate those who unable to lift themselves into the vehicle. They allow the passenger to remain in his or her wheelchair and to fit comfortably inside while still leaving room to accommodate additional ambulatory passengers.
Alternatively, provisions can also be made for those wheelchair users who are able to drive themselves. Vans designed with this in mind enable the disabled to navigate his or her wheelchair right up to the driver’s seat and lock it in place. Hand controls can be used operate the gas and brake pedals.
For individuals who retain partial mobility but still may need a little extra help entering and exiting the vehicle, another option is a seat assist.
With the pull of a lever the seat spins to face the van door and then extends and tilts for ease of boarding. Similarly, assist steps can be mounted underneath the door to extend and retract as needed.
Additional modifications can include:
• raised ceiling
• lowered floor
• widened entry
• steering wheel hand grips
Just as no two humans are exactly alike, no two disabilities require identical assistance. It is important to consult an experienced and knowledgeable disabled dealer who can help determine your unique needs and guide you through proper installation. In addition, it may be helpful to seek advice and wisdom from fellow disabled persons and experts in related industries.
The necessity for handicapped accessible vehicles is growing, and at the same time, becoming more advanced. If you have any questions or suggestions, or need help finding the right vehicle for you, please leave a comment or see any Superior Automotive Group location.
First you hear it. The crack of the pebble, rock, or small piece of metal hitting your windshield. Then you see it. That nasty little pockmark. You might think to yourself. “OK, no big deal. It’s not that bad.” That is until that crack starts creeping slowly across the entirety of your windshield. Good luck trying to get your car inspection to pass now. A crack that obscures vision, or is otherwise significant enough to spread across the windshield will not pass inspection, and can be dangerous. The worst part of it is that, instead of addressing the issue early, which would have probably stopped its spread,you now will probably have to replace your windshield.
Did you know that you can fix the crack yourself if it less than 2-3 inches long? Everything you’ll need you can get from your local automotive repair store. They have small kits that are specifically designed for this type of simple windshield repair job. The sales associate should be able to direct you to the kits. Of course it has to be fixable first. How do you know if it is, or not? Check out the video below.
Of course, if you aren’t interested in doing it yourself, you can certainly take your new or used car to a car repair facility that specializes in professional windshield crack repair. If the crack is more than 2 or 3 inches and growing, this is where you should probably take your new or used car. They will have the correct equipment to not only analyze the damage but make the repair for you. Of course you can always bring your vehicle to one of our Superior Automotive Group locations, we certainly have the technology and the people to fix it quickly. If the crack is not fixable, and it very well can’t be, we’ll let you know the next steps that need to be taken so you can get a new windshield, which usually involves contacting your insurance and then moving on from there.
Regardless the Superior Automotive Group can help with any type of windshield issue you may experience.
Believe it or not, I know there are more of us who have locked our keys in the car than we’d ever admit to. Superior customers, on occasion, have called us to come and help get them out of their situation. I’m not going to name names, but a few of us here have done the same thing. The bottom line is that there is a pretty good chance that you will lock yourself out of your car once in your life. Just face it. Accept that even you…will lock your keys in your car. So, when you do, just remember the following tips and you’ll be just fine. Maybe a little embarrassed; maybe a little angry; definitely, frustrated, but fine, never the less. I remember this kid in High School who locked his only set of keys in his car…while it was still running. It idled all day, until it finally ran out of gas just as he was walking up to it with a borrowed Slim Jim.
Anyway, if you’ve locked your keys in your car, just hang in there. Help is on the way. The following is an excerpt from Consumer Reports article with their tips and hints as to ho to get out of this sticky situation.
Dial 911. Safety comes first, and if you don’t feel secure where you’restranded, you should call 911 to get help on the way fast. In many cases the police can unlock the car’s door. But if they can’t, they will probably call a tow truck, which will be on your tab, of course. But at least you’ll be safe.
Call for roadside assistance. Here’s when those annual auto-club fees really pay off. AAA, Allstate, and other organizations that provide roadside service will help you, though it could take a while for them to reach you. If you don’t subscribe to such a service, you might still be in luck. Most new cars come with roadside assistance during the basic warranty period. Your owner’s manual should have the details, but of course that’s locked in the car with the keys. The number to call might be posted on a window decal. If it isn’t, you can get the details by calling a dealership. To be prepared, you should store the number in your phone or write it down on paper and keep it in your wallet or purse. What if you don’t have a new car or you don’t belong to a service like AAA? Ask about adding roadside assistance to your auto-insurance policy. Also, some major highways are patrolled by trucks offering emergency aid. Keep an eye out for one.
Call a tow truck. If you have no free options, most towing services provide lock-out service. Call 411 for services in your area. Or text the words “tow service” and your location to GOOGL (46645).
Get a temporary key. A dealer might be able to make you an inexpensive key that will open the doors (but not start your car) so that you can retrieve your permanent keys. You’ll probably need your vehicle identification number (visible through the lower edge of the driver’s-side windshield) and proof that you own the car. Of course, you’ll also need a ride to the dealership.
Keep an extra key handy. Stash a spare key in your purse, your wallet, or a well-hidden spot on the car. You can buy a small magnetic box that can hold a key and be placed on a car’s underside. Or leave a spare with someone who could rescue you.
Buy a car with benefits. Some cars won’t lock with the power-lock button if the key is in the ignition and a door is open. Also, many vehicles from Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury have a door-mounted keypad that lets you tap in a code to unlock the door. If you drive a vehicle with a telematics system such as GM’s OnStar, Hyundai’s Blue Link, or Mercedes-Benz’s Mbrace, you can call a toll-free number to have your car remotely unlocked. Those systems also offer free apps that let smart-phone owners unlock doors themselves. Check automaker websites for compatible phones and specifics.
Keyless. If you have lost the key altogether, things get more complicated. You’re going to need a locksmith, and while the ones we spoke with said they did do emergency road service, expect to pay around $200 and up for a replacement key. Keys for some higher-end models can cost several hundred dollars and can only be purchased and programmed through a dealer. And that means an expensive trip to the dealer on a flatbed.
So, now that you know that you aren’t alone. I mean, the fact that Consumer Reports had to go as far as to write an article about it, and here I am writing about it means some of us are lying, because it sure sounds like an awful lot of people have locked their keys in their cars. Have any other great tips you can share with the Superior Automotive Group, feel free to share them with me. The best advice I can give someone you trust a spare key…and make sure they are easy to get in touch with.
All of us here at this Cincinnati car dealer group, know that there’s nothing more frustrating than being stranded after a breakdown, or a flat. Throw in pitch black darkness, and now you have a frustrating situation mixed with absolute danger. How do you alert on-coming traffic that you are there? For the sake of argument, let’s just assume that you are a prepared traveler and have a few road flares in your trunk “somewhere”. Road safety lighting can be invaluable. Of course I hope you never have to use them, but if you do you’ll want the most noticeable lighting you can get…that is not necessarily traditional flares. Ever heard of Duroflares? I haven’t, until today. The unit is roughly four-inch-square of aluminum with an LED tinted red or blue, it’s waterproof and can support up to 20,000 pounds. In other words, it would take a loaded semi to crush them.
Powered by a rechargeable lithium ion cell, the Duroflares come in a box that acts as both a charger and the on/off switch: take them out, they come on, plug them back in, they turn off. They’re a little on the pricey side at $180, but if you spend a lot of time on the side of the road these might be for you.
Pretty cool, huh? What do you think? Is your roadside worth $180? Would you carry these? The Superior Auto Group is always concerned about driver safety. If you have any other products or suggestions you can share with the rest of our readers, please do.
It’s late and time to go home after a really amazing dinner at your favorite restaurant. You might be feeling a little relaxed, maybe a bit fatigued after a long day at work, but you are sure that driving is not going to be a problem. Besides you live only a few miles away. You jump in your car full and relaxed and the next thing you realize is that Road Hypnotism has sent in and you are drifting in and out of your lane. What do you do? Before you answer, read below:
A recent study conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found Drowsy driving crashes can be hard to detect due to difficult and unreliable reporting, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates there are about 100,000 sleep-related crashes per year and 1,550 fatalities.
After staying awake for 24 hours straight, a person will be about as impaired as if he had had enough alcohol to be legally drunk in most states, a study says. Australian researchers tested 40 people to create a “blood alcohol equivalent” for different levels of impairment from sleeplessness.In one experiment, participants stayed awake for 28 hours. In the other, they drank alcohol every half hour until they reached a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent. That’s the drunken-driving standard in most American states.
Every half hour, the subjects took a computerized test of hand-eye coordination.
Results showed that after 24 hours of sleeplessness, participants were about as impaired as they were at the 0.10 percent level of blood alcohol. After 17 hours, they were about as impaired as they were with an alcohol level of 0.05 percent, which many Western countries define as legally drunk, the researchers said.
The State of New Jersey has now made any injury crash involving fatigue, a felony.
The only way to combat drowsy driving is to pull over and rest for the evening, or take an extended nap. This is it. Don’t rely on coffee or energy drinks. Eating will just make you even more sleepy….the bottom line is PULL OVER and REST. Chances are if you neglect to ad hear to this very simple requirement, you will end up on the side of the road much like the guy in the video below.
Thankfully, he wasn’t killed. But it’s hard to deny the importance of not driving drowsy.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. The Superior Automotive Group want you to keep the roadways safe for everyone.
I was just thinking about all of the advancements we’ve been seeing in new Hondas, Hyundais, Acuras and Kias recently. I mean, our livelihood here at Superior is directly related to the growth of our industry. As it stands now, the technology is growing by leaps and bounds, with no foreseeable end in sight. Want to update your Facebook status? Doing it with your phone is old news. Doing it with your car, well that’s a whole different type of chic . Our cars are literally becoming our computers too. So, W=when does science fiction meet science fact, and what does that mean for the modern driver?
It truly is remarkable, but are we moving too fast? Don’t plan on seeing it anytime soon, but one day our “driving” experience may be more like being a passenger in a driver-less pod. The video below makes some good points. Let’s get back to driving.
I am wondering what you think. Do you need all of the information that is now available on your dashboards? At some point the Government may start regulating this. How do you feel about that? Isn’t it your responsibility to drive and be not be distracted by your vehicle? Is the new technology even a distraction to begin with, or just a target for those who are uncomfortable with progress?
At the Superior Auto Group, we see lots of cars in our collision center — both fixable and the non-operative. Whenever we talk shop, friends as questions like Which ones have sustained the most damage? Which ones dissipated the most energy when involved in a crash? Which vehicle absorbed more force? The video below shows three front-to-front crash tests, each involving an economy class into a midsize model from the same manufacturers. You’ll see how extra vehicle size and weight enhance occupant protection in collisions.
So the common thought that you are safe in a bigger vehicle is true, that is unless the other vehicle involved in the collision has the same mass and velocity as the one you are traveling in. These tests in the video below are about the physics of car crashes, which prove that very small cars generally can’t protect people in crashes as well as bigger, heavier models.
Now, keep in mind, under no circumstances does this mean that smaller cars aren’t safe. Quite the contrary. Compacts and midsized vehicles are very safe and provide their drivers and passengers with the very latest in crash technology, including the latest advancements in airbag safety.
If you have any questions about the crash test ratings of Honda, Acura, Kia, and Hyundai. feel free to contact and of the Superior Auto Group Locations and we can get you all of the latest…and quite impressive, crash test data.
At Superior Automotive Group, we know that our cars and trucks have become more than just transportation. People who own high-end luxury vehicles and even economically friendly cars are inclined to accessorize their new car with the hottest custom lights. The rear lights and headlights are very important to the overall look of your new car. You can either go for the simple Euro lights or choose HOT L.E.D. custom tail lights for your Honda, Hyundai, Acura or Kia. A set of custom rear lights can are considered extremely safe because they are illuminating brighter than regular lenses. Also, brighter taillights during the day provide a higher visibility for braking purposes.
You can make choices easily and order a set back lights for your Honda, Hyundai, Acura or Kia (there are many more manufacturers on line too). The newest fascination with many car owners is L.E.D. tail lights. LED’s are used as back lights replacing regular lenses and standard incandescent bulbs. Many late-model high end cars and SUV’s have these LED rear lights from the factory. You too can get them for your car or truck. Custom L.E.D. tail lights are far brighter than OEM lenses with incandescent bulbs. And, you can install these aftermarket tail light lenses in your new car easily to give it a stylish and sporty look. Plus, L.E.D. Tail light lenses consume much less power and will last for many years.
When purchasing Euro style back light lenses or LED back lights for your car, truck or SUV, keep in mind these taillight lenses are complete sets/pairs and contain the entire housing and outer lenses. Most of them are a simple plug-n-play configuration and will require the removal of the entire old tail light lenses in replacement of the new aftermarket tail light lenses. The new custom LED tail light lenses will have plugs that simply connect to the existing socket. Many aftermarket LED back lights are a snap to install and often take less than 30 minutes to complete the entire process. It’s very easy to do.
Aftermarket Custom back lights are very popular and being used by many people to modify the whole look of their car or truck. Custom tail light lenses come in many colors to choose from and will dramatically change the look of your vehicle! You can choose from red lenses, chrome housings, smoked lenses and black housings for your new tail light lenses.
Just like the back lights, your headlights are very important. As a car or truck owner, you should choose the perfect headlamps for your car.
Many late-model cars, trucks and SUV’s now come with projector headlights. Projector headlights focus the light directly in front of the vehicle to aid in visibility at night. Projector headlights also keep the light away from oncoming traffic to avoid night blindness from other drivers. A new set of stylish angel eye projector headlights will greatly improve the functionality of your ride.
Another type of headlight that is available (and is also an economical option), is the euro clear headlights. Euro Headlights are a clean, fast replacement to your old headlights and have better lighting ability. Many old headlight lenses tend to become cloudy over time. Having cloudy headlight lenses will hinder the headlight’s ability to light up the road ahead. Euro clear headlights will use the same bulbs as your regular headlights but will have a better light emission. This translates into more light on the road. Having dull headlight lenses will make your car or truck look weathered and old. New Euro clear headlights will TIGHTEN the look of your new car.
If you have any questions or want to see what we can do, post a comment or swing by your favorite Cincinnati Superior Car Dealer!
It seems logical to Superior that if we have Black Boxes in airplanes we should have them standard in all of our cars. If something were to happen to a member of my family and they were to die in a car accident, I would want to know what happened. If it was operator error, or if it is the responsibility of the auto maker. Likewise I think my family would want to know what had happened to me in that situation.
An event data recorder or EDR is a device installed in some automobiles to record information related to vehicle crashes or accidents. In modern diesel trucks, EDRs are triggered by electronically-sensed problems in the engine (often called faults), or a sudden change in wheel speed. One or more of these conditions may occur because of an accident. Information from these devices can be collected after a crash and analyzed to help determine what the vehicles were doing before, during and after the crash or event. The term generally refers to a simple, tamper-proof, read-write memory device, similar to the “black box” found on airplanes (as opposed to the tape recorders and video cameras common in police vehicles and many commercial trucks). – Wikipedia
What do you guys think about having an Event Data Recorder in your vehicle? Should this be standard in all vehicles? Superior would like to know what you think. There is no doubt that EDRs can make crash and accident investigations easier for the authorities to reach a conclusion. Of course, as you’d expect, that loudest opponents to such devices in our cars are both those believing that it infringes on our privacy and habitual law breakers. We do understand the privacy issue, but as for those who are more concerned about getting caught while doing something they shouldn’t of because of an EDR, well…I guess, they’ll just have to learn how to be better drivers.
The Superior Automotive Group and Mike Albert Direct have been serving Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky since 1928. We care about you, your cars, your safety, and our community.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask and any suggestions are always welcome at SuperiorAutomotiveGroup@gmail.com
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“I have no idea what’s wrong with it.” We hear that one a lot. There’s something going on, but you can’t even explain it. Hey, we know, we’ve heard every clank, clunk and boom. You name it, Superior can diagnose your car even though you can’t even describe the issue.
