Micro Import Service, Inc. is going to be hosting a Women’s Car Care Clinic on March 14th from 5:30-6:30pm. And there is no charge to you…this clinic is FREE! We will have beverages and snacks for you during the clinic. Spacing is limited, so email trish@microimportservice.com or call 520-795-8724, and reserve your spot!

Hope to see you there!

For those of you not aware of this, ever get in your car, put your car key in the ignition, and realize you can’t turn the car key? According to About.com Auto Repair, it happens to everybody. Before you rip the head off the key trying to force it, try this more gently approach. Your car has a steering lock that clicks into place when you take the car key out of the ignition. This prevents thieves from being able to steer your car if they hotwire it. Sometimes the wheel is turned to just the right place to keep your key from being able to disengage that steering wheel lock. All you have to do is turn the wheel a little bit in either direction while you turn the key, and voila! Everything’s moving again.

Ok, so I’m sure this gave a laugh to some because this is ‘old news’, but believe it or not, there are some of us out there that did not know the reason for the steering wheel locking in place. Just trying to be your source of information whether old news or new.

What a fantastic article in ConsumerReports!  This is an older article from early 2011, but the information is still very informative. 

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/best-and-worst-used-cars.html

I have attached a link to the ConsumerReports online magazine of what to have in a roadside emergency kit.   Although this time of the year we live in a climate that the weather is less harsh then say the east coast, things can still happen.  The more prepared we are for the unexpected, the less stressful the situation can be.  One other item to keep in your kit is Micro Import Service’s phone number (520-795-8724).  Call us and we can arrange to have your vehicle towed to the shop.  And if you use our license plate holder, the towing is free within the Tucson City limits!    

A Roadside Emergency kit is a very important item to carry in your vehicle.  Hopefully you will never need it, but as the saying goes, ‘Expect the best,  prepare for the worst!’.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/roadside-emergency-kit-what-to-carry-with-you.html

$74.95 Value

Includes 33-Point Inspection

* up to 5 quarts of oil, diesels slightly higher.
Vehicle Inspection valued at $45.

> Read More

Micro Import Service Nominated for SASIE Awards

February 12, 2007 | Media Release

Micro Import Service has been recognized for its outstanding customer service by the Arizona Small Business Association.

The Southern Arizona “Smart Inspiring Enterprise” (SASIE) Awards recognize and honor outstanding entrepreneurs in the Southern Arizona region whose innovative, enterprising approach to business deserves special recognition.

The 2007 SASIE Award winners will be announced at the awards ceremony being held at the Fox Tucson Theater on Tuesday, March 6th, 2007.

The companies nominated are inspiring examples of entrepreneurial practices achieved while rising to the challenges of running a business in the Tucson. The presentation of the SASIE Awards is guided by a panel of judges from a wide range of business interests. Sponsors and supporters include media, corporate, education and government.

September 22, 2005 | By Jennifer Saranow
The Wall Street Journal

One of the classic annoyances of car ownership — the check-engine light — is causing a growing number of vehicles to fail inspection.

Traditionally, the light has been a sign that you should get your car checked out sooner rather than later. But now, more states are using it as a signal that a car’s emissions system isn’t up to par and automatically failing vehicles with an illuminated check-engine light.

That usually means that owners can’t register their cars until they pay to get the problem behind their glowing light fixed — even if what’s causing the light to go on isn’t affecting the car’s operations or polluting the air yet, as is often the case.

Most recently, Virginia this month completed rolling out its new emission tests in five northern counties, where drivers of 1996 or newer cars whose check-engine lights are illuminated now fail the inspection. Elsewhere, drivers of 1996 or newer vehicles in the St. Louis area started failing emissions tests in June if their check-engine lights are glowing. They no longer have the option of a backup tailpipe test. New York began rolling out a similar testing program in September 2004 and expanded it in May to nine counties, including the New York City region.

New Hampshire plans to fail such drivers starting in May, and Ohio put into place a comparable policy last year. Other states that have implemented similar programs in recent years include Louisiana, Maine and Vermont.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates about 33 states plus the District of Columbia now have some kind of emissions testing in place that involves looking at whether the check engine light is on.

This growing emphasis on the check-engine light, technically called the “MIL” or “malfunction indicator light,” comes as there’s more chance a car’s illuminator will be lighted. In the past, the light was more of a reminder that vehicle maintenance was needed, and was based on a simple computer system that monitored basic engine-control components.

But the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 mandated that manufacturers equip all light-duty cars and trucks from model year 1996 on with a more sophisticated “on-board” computer system that more closely monitors engine-transmission and emissions systems and better identifies problems that could lead the vehicle to pollute the air.

The new on-board computer comes with many more sensors than its predecessor, so that it can pick up potential emission-related problems as small as a loose gas cap (registered as a vapor leakage) and as big as a broken catalytic converter, the primary device that cleans up a vehicle’s emissions. If it detects a problem, it displays a glowing picture of an engine or the words “check engine” or “service engine soon.”

“Virtually anything in the car that has even a little bit of an effect on emissions can set off the light,” says Paul Baltusis, on-board diagnostics technical leader at Ford Motor Co. Other examples of what can set off the light, he says, include engine misfire and broken wires and sensors. Meanwhile, mechanics say they have seen lights set off by problems varying from gas-covered gas caps to, more rarely, problems with the wiring of computers running parts such as power windows.

The amendments to the Clean Air Act in 1990 also mandated that states with areas that didn’t meet certain air-quality standards incorporate more-advanced emissions tests involving the new computer systems, called “On-Board Diagnostics II,” or OBD II systems, into their vehicle emissions-testing programs for 1996 and newer vehicles.

Generally, if consumers have an illuminated check-engine light when their inspection time comes around or fail an emissions test because of a lighted indicator, they have to get the car fixed and the light turned off before they can register their car or in some states, obtain a sticker necessary to avoid possible tickets and fines, even if what is setting their light off is relatively minor.

September 17, 2005 | By James Prichard
The Associated Press

Get a good mechanic to inspect the vehicle

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In the market for a good used car? Watch out for vehicles that sat submerged for days in the flooded streets of New Orleans, Biloxi or other Gulf Coast cities ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Insurance companies usually purchase such vehicles from policyholders, declare them “totaled” and then sell them at auction to be resold for parts, many of which will still be suitable for use in other vehicles.

But some unscrupulous dealers and wholesalers buy flood-damaged cars at scrap prices, clean them up, retitle them and resell them. The vehicles may look good, but their electronics and safety systems are likely damaged – and threaten the safety of the new owners.

After virtually every major U.S. flood, the Better Business Bureau warns prospective used-car buyers to be on the lookout for flood-damaged vehicles.

“You want to be extra cautious,” said Ken Vender Meeden, president of the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan. “Unfortunately, deals that sound too good to be true for cars could include damaged goods. ‘Let the buyer beware’ applies most readily in post-hurricane-type disasters.”

When Hurricane Floyd struck Florida in 1999, an estimated 75,000 vehicles were ruined by floods and totaled by insurance companies, according to Carfax Inc., a Fairfax, Va.-based firm that performs background checks on used vehicles.

More than half of those cars and trucks, however, were resold to buyers unaware of the vehicles’ past or uninformed about the extent of the damage caused by flooding, Carfax said.

Carfax estimates, based on information it has received from law enforcement and government authorities, that 250,000 to 500,000 vehicles could have been damaged by floodwaters generated by Katrina.

Prospective buyers should have a used car’s history researched to make sure a flood-damaged title hasn’t been issued for it, Carfax spokesman Larry Gamache said. A search using a vehicle identification number can be performed for a fee at Web sites such as Carfax.com and AutoCheck.com.

Get a good mechanic

A mechanic also should inspect the vehicle.

“A mechanic is going to be able to look for signs of water damage that won’t appear on a title document or a piece of paper,” Gamache said. “Things like water levels in the engine well, rusting wires. He can look inside your ventilation system and see if there’s any debris.”

Prospective buyers also can do a bit of detective work themselves. The National Automobile Dealers Association, which represents 20,000 new-car and -truck dealers, offers a 10-step inspection checklist to guide shoppers.

While there’s no foolproof way to detect vehicle flood damage, association officials say potential buyers should inspect the interior, trunk and engine compartment for rust, musty odors and other signs of significant water damage.

“Dealers are very concerned these affected vehicles could enter the used-car market,” said Jack Kain, chairman of the McLean, Va.-based association. “Fortunately, there are steps that car shoppers can take to detect water damage and protect themselves.”

Uniform system advocated

While nearly all states have laws against sellers misrepresenting flood-damaged cars and trucks to their buyers, the nation needs a uniform system for clearly identifying such vehicles, said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety.

Ditlow said his Washington-based advocacy group has lobbied state and federal lawmakers to mandate the words “flood damaged” be placed on certificates of title of all flooded vehicles.

He also wants to require that “flood damaged” markers be placed on doorjambs of affected vehicles.

The sale of all used cars should include disclosure sheets listing any known problems, he said.

“Every consumer buying vehicles should be aware that they may be buying flooded vehicles,” Ditlow said. “Just because you live in Nevada, don’t think you aren’t going to run into a flooded vehicle.”

Courtesy Arizona Auto Theft Authority

The “Layered Approach” to Protection

Professional thieves can steal any car, but make them work for yours. To prevent thefts, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recommends “Layered Protection.”

The more layers of protection on your vehicle, the more difficult it is to steal. The number of layers your vehicle needs varies depending on your vehicle and geographic location. Your budget and personal preferences should determine which anti-theft device is best for you.

Layer 1 – Common Sense

An unlocked vehicle with a key in the ignition is an open invitation to any thief, regardless of which anti-theft device you use. The common sense approach to protection is the simplest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. Lock your car – half of all vehicles stolen are left unlocked

• Take your keys – nearly 20% of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them
• Park in well-lit areas – car thefts occur at night more than half the time
• Park in attended lots – car thieves do not like witnesses.
• Do not leave your vehicle running and unattended.
• Completely close your car windows.
• Do not leave valuables in plain view.
• Do not hide a spare set of keys in the car – the pros know where to look.
• Park with your wheels turned toward the curb.
• Always use your emergency brake when parking.
• If you have a garage, use it – when you do, lock both the vehicle and the garage door.

Layer 2 – Warning Device

The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected.

Popular second layer devices include audible alarms, steering wheel locks, steering column locks, brake locks, tire locks

Watch Your Car decals. Identification markers in or on vehicle. Protective Window Laminate Microdots applied to various surfaces on vehicle, which are imprinted with identification information.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching on vehicle windows.

Layer 3 – Immobilizing Device

This third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity of fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated.

Popular third layer devices include: Smart keys High security locks & keys Fuse cut-offs kill switches, starter, ignition and fuel disablers.

Layer 4 – Tracking Device

The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to a police or monitoring station when the vehicle is reported stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.

Passive and Active Anti-Theft Systems Passive and active anti-theft devices are the two options available when considering an anti-theft system. Passive devices automatically arm themselves when the vehicle is turned off, the ignition key removed, or a door is shut.

No additional action is required. Active devices require some independent physical action before they are set, such as pushing a button, or placing a “lock” over a vehicle component part. This physical action must be repeated every time the anti-theft devices is set or it will not function.

While you may not be able to prevent your vehicle from being stolen, despite every precaution, you can take many of the following steps in advance. Being prepared may ultimately help law enforcement recover your vehicle more quickly and reduce your expenses.

If you discover that your vehicle has been stolen, notify law enforcement immediately. Speed is essential in recovering stolen cars; any delay in reporting only helps the thieves. Be prepared to provide the vehicle’s make, model, color, license plate number, and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

Keep a photocopy of your vehicle registration and insurance card in your wallet or at home. This will enable you to provide information quickly to law enforcement and your insurance claims agent.

Make your vehicle easier to identify. One way is to write your initials on an index card and drop it in the window slot, or carefully engrave your initials inside the trunk, hood, or even the dashboard near the VIN number. Etch the VIN number on all window glass of the vehicle.

Review your insurance policy annually. Don’t wait until after your vehicle is stolen to find out you don’t have the coverage you think you have. Owners are advised to review their auto insurance policies once a year, including coverage you must have, coverage you’ll probably need, and additional types of coverage, including roadside assistance and rental reimbursement.

Exercise caution if you see someone tampering with your car. Call 911 as quickly as possible.

Bayview Motors
Car Chronicles

With the current radical hikes of fuel prices, here are several ways for you to reduce the cost of driving. Some simply require a bit of attention to apparently insignificant details and habits.

Tip 1 – Regular Servicing Is Important

Keep your vehicle well maintained with regular servicing to keep it operating at peak efficiency. An inefficient engine-with fouled spark plugs, for example-won’t make optimum use of fuel. Be sure the air filter and the fuel filter are clean. Put in new ones if they’re not. A new oxygen sensor alone can improve gas mileage by as much as 15 per cent, according to technical experts.

Don’t forget little things like the air in your tires, either. Having tires inflated to the maximum recommended pressure can improve gas mileage by as much as 6 per cent, while periodic wheel alignments can help improve fuel economy up to 10 per cent.

And clean out that trunk and back cargo area. Take out unneeded items that only add weight to your vehicle. Extra weight decreases gas mileage. Every 100 pounds of unnecessary weight adds 0.1 gallons per 30 miles to your vehicle’s fuel consumption.

Tip 2 – Be a Different Driver

Change your driving style. Accelerate gradually, drive smoothly and with care and you could see as much as a 20 per cent gain in fuel economy compared with what you’d get with an aggressive driving style.

Skip those jackrabbit starts and sudden pedal-to-the-metal manoeuvres if you want to save gas. Anticipate stops so you avoid sudden braking, and take a long view of the road ahead, coasting safely to an intersection in front of you where you see traffic stopped.
Don’t speed. A car moving at 40 miles an hour can get about 15 per cent better fuel economy than the same car going 50 m/h.

Tip 3 – An all-important label

But the first and, likely, the most important measure in reducing your fuel costs is to compare fuel economy ratings when you shop for a vehicle. And the best way to achieve this is to take a careful look at the clear and comprehensive fuel consumption rating.

Bear in mind, always, that bigger vehicles, bigger engines, four-wheel drive and lots of optional equipment add to a vehicle’s weight and, as a result, increase fuel consumption. Even larger tires can have an effect.

A tire with a larger “footprint” on the road that doesn’t have a special rubber compound designed to improve fuel economy has more rolling resistance than a comparable smaller tire, and this can lower fuel
economy: More so if it is improperly inflated.

Tip 4 – Other Costs Affected

Keep in mind you might pay a bit more for that next new car. With the Turks & Caicos custom’s duty calcuated as it is, the consumer pays less duty on vehicles equipped with smaller sized engines. Less duty, and more economical gas consuption equals more money in your pocket at the end of the day.

Tip 5 – An Eye to the Future

Think about how your fuel conservation efforts benefit the Earth and future generations. Scientists say global warming and its projected disastrous effects on weather, rising sea levels and heat deaths are due, in part, to the burning of fossil fuels.

So, every gallon of gas you don’t use can help ease global warming. Leaks – What are those drips and puddles under your car?