The IRS released their updated mileage rates for 2012 on December 9th, 2012.

Standard mileage rates are used to determine how much of a deduction you get for miles driven for business, charity, moving, or medical reasons.  These miles can really add up for the average business person that spends time on the road, and shouldn’t be neglected for the average Joe either.  No one wants to pay Uncle Sam more than they need to!

Each year the IRS computes a value for standard mileage based on the costs they expect a driver to incur during the average mile driven.

These rates take effect on January 1, 2012 for all cars, light trucks, and vans.

As a taxpayers you can choose between calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle or using the standard mileage rates.

IRS Press Release for 2012 Standard Mileage Rate
Revenue Procedure 2010-51 contains additional details regarding the standard mileage rates.
Analysis of How Much Money Are You Loosing Not Keeping Track of Your Business Mileage

Today, June 23, 2011, the IRS made a surprise adjustment for business mileage deductions starting on July 1st, 2011.  This change has bumped the the rate (effective July 1) to $0.55 per mile.  Normally, the IRS make adjustments in the fall for the following tax year.

Current IRS Standard Mileage Rates:

Here are the current rates (as of June 23 2011):

"This year’s increased gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans. The IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the recent increase in gas prices," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "We are taking this step so the reimbursement rate will be fair to taxpayers."

sources:
IRS.gov
IRS Optional Standard Mileage Rates

In the world of real estate, travel is paramount. According to Carole Liszak, an Indianapolis realtor of over 25 years service, “If you’re not on the road, you’re not making money.” Unfortunately, time spent on the road can become costly for the realtor that fails to successfully claim real estate agent tax deductions.

The government currently offers real estate agents a tax deduction at a rate of $0.51 for every business-related mile traveled. Unfortunately, many realtors fail to successfully maximize these real estate agent tax deductions due to gaping holes and inaccuracies in their records. This is because balancing clients and travel while keeping accurate logs of business mileage is a near impossibility.

A Better Way

In 2002, CarCheckup introduced a new device capable of providing drivers with detailed trip information including driving style, miles traveled, and codes for vehicle engine lights. Almost 10 years later, realtors just like Carole Liszak are using CarCheckup to maximize their mileage-related real estate agent tax deductions.

“Before CarCheckup I had to keep all my receipts and hand-write my business mile logs, which is a tedious task that’s easy to neglect,” Liszak offered. “CarCheckup makes mileage tracking as simple as plugging the device in once a week…It couldn’t be simpler!”

How it Works

Unlike heavy paper logs, the CarCheckup device is small, easy to carry, and doesn’t require any more space than a cell-phone. It’s ready to use straight out of the box and simply plugs into the diagnostic port of any vehicle built since 1996. Once connected, CarCheckup logs the intricate details of every trip a realtor makes. To access the information CarCheckup logs, realtors have simply to connect the device to an Internet-capable PC using the self-contained USB arm of the CarCheckup device. No discs or cables are necessary. All information is available to realtors via their online CarCheckup account.

Maximizing Real Estate Agent Tax Deductions for Mileage

With CarCheckup, realtors can focus on the business of their clients, knowing that CarCheckup is tracking all business-related mileage with the accuracy and detail necessary to maximize mileage-related real estate agent tax deductions.Consider the benefits:

• - Accurate and tangible records of exact time, date, and mileage of every business trip.
• - Designated categories to better organize trip data for real estate agent tax deductions.
• - The ability to add greater detail to CarCheckup’s already accurate information, increasing the odds of successfully claiming real estate agent tax deductions.
• - Information is customizable allowing realtors to accurately provide the information most relevant to claiming real estate agent tax deductions.
• - Printable reports that are also available for direct download into the Microsoft Excel program.

Maximum Efficiency

Thanks to CarCheckup, realtors no longer have to choose between focusing attention on clients and shortchanging themselves in terms of mileage-related real estate agent tax deductions. As a result, a burden is lifted from agents, clients are better served, and mileage-related real estate agent tax deductions are maximized thanks to CarCheckup’s accurate record keeping capabilities. As Indianapolis realtor Carole Liszak would tell you, CarCheckup “improves the bottom line of your business.”

One of the most time consuming parts of a realtor’s day is the travel. For every mile a realtor travels on behalf clients, the expenses quickly add up. Fortunately, the government offers realtor’s tax deductions for mileage to help offset what would be an otherwise enormous expense.

Claiming realtor tax deductions, however, is another matter entirely. Realtors must keep logs detailing the purpose of every business trip and every mile traveled. Thus, realtors end up carting around heavy paper logs in hopes of finding a spare moment to jot down the minutiae of the travel day. With so much riding on that information, there has to be a better way.

Step Out of the Dark Ages

This is the age of information. With technology evolving faster every day, it doesn’t make sense to hold on to an outdated system of record keeping. To maximize realtor tax deductions for mileage, realtors must embrace the future.

That’s where CarCheckup comes in. Founded in 2002, CarCheckup set out to design a product that would enlighten drivers by providing a snapshot of their driving habits while tracking mileage and unraveling the mystery of the vehicle engine light. In doing just that, CarCheckup also designed the perfect tool for maximizing realtor tax deductions.

7 Steps to Maximizing Realtor Tax Deductions for Mileage

1. To maximize realtor tax deductions, realtors must embrace the information age and replace outdated paper logs with the convenience and accuracy of CarCheckup. The cell-phone-sized device plugs easily into the on-board diagnostic port of vehicles manufactured from 1996 to present day.
2. Once the device is plugged in, all the realtor has to do is simply enjoy the drive. With CarCheckup tracking everything from mph to the exact date, time, and mileage of the trip, realtors no longer have to worry about inaccuracies in their mileage logs due to guesswork or error.
3. When the ride is over, realtors have only to plug the CarCheckup device into an Internet-ready computer using the self-contained USB arm. No cables or discs are necessary.
4. Realtors can gather all of their travel information in one place by creating a personal CarCheckup online account.
5. Using their online account, realtors can provide a detailed account of business-related mileage by outlining the specifics of each trip and assigning them to the designated business category. This increases the chances successfully claiming realtor tax deductions.
6. Once the information is finalized, realtors can customize their report to reflect only that information relevant to mileage-related realtor tax deductions. This information is available for printing or download into Microsoft Excel.
7. By using CarCheckup to track, detail, customize, and print their mileage report, realtors can file a significantly more accurate claim for realtor tax deductions and maximize potential returns.

Why Fight Progress?

Realtors nationwide are already reaping the benefits of CarCheckup. According to Indianapolis realtor Carole Liszak, the device “paid for itself within the first month” thanks to realtor tax deductions. With CarCheckup, realtors finally have a simple, worry-free way of accurately recording business-related mileage and maximizing potential returns on realtor tax deductions.

For the average real estate agent, travel is a way of life. Just ask Carole Liszak, an Indianapolis realtor of more than 25 years. “I’ve been in the real estate business for a long time, and if you’re not on the road, you’re not making money,” Liszak admitted.

While travel is a necessary evil for realtors hoping find the perfect home for his or her client, it brings with it some rather hefty expenses. Luckily for the real estate industry, the IRS provides 51 cents on the mile for approved business travel deductions.

Business Travel Deductions

Of course, to maximize the potential of business travel deductions, realtors must keep accurate records of business-related mileage. This traditionally means dragging around heavy paper logs and trying to fill in travel information whenever the opportunity presents itself. Unfortunately, this often leads to realtors and agents neglecting other important duties for fear of missing out on business travel deductions. No matter how an agent chooses to deal with the task, keeping track of business travel deductions tends to consume time the agent really doesn’t have.

Carole Liszak was all too familiar with this situation. “I had to keep all my receipts and hand-write my business mileage logs, which is a tedious task that’s easy to neglect.” Sick of the paperwork, Carole Liszak sought a solution. That’s when she discovered CarCheckup.

CarCheckup

A device designed to record diagnostic information, CarCheckup plugs directly into the diagnostic port of vehicles produced from 1996 forward. Being the size of a cell-phone, CarCheckup offers a small, easy to use alternative to hauling around heavy paper logs. As CarCheckup records everything a realtor could need in terms of business travel deductions, agents no longer have to worry about finding the time to log mileage, which means realtors like Carole Liszak can once again focus on the needs of their clients. “CarCheckup makes mileage tracking as simple as plugging the device in once a week and letting it stay in the diagnostic port. It couldn’t be simpler!”

Everything a Realtor Needs for Business Travel Deductions

Recording everything from the exact date and time of the trip to the total miles traveled, CarCheckup provides everything a realtor needs for business travel deductions. To access the information, realtors can use CarCheckup’s built-in USB arm to connect to an Internet-ready personal computer. Then, using CarCheckup’s personalized online accounts, realtors can view all of their diagnostic information in one place.

Using the CarCheckup system for business travel deductions has several benefits:

1.  By eliminating the potential for human error, CarCheckup provides a level of accuracy that could not be obtained with traditional paper logs.

2.  Information is customizable. Trips can be designated to a business category and additional information can be provided in the notes section of each trip.

3.  Agents have the option of printing only that information which is relevant to claiming business travel deductions.

In addition to maximizing business travel deductions, CarCheckup “pays for itself,” according to Carole Liszak, “and improves the bottom line of your business.”

Travel is a huge yet often overlooked aspect of the real estate business. Constantly in motion, realtors seem to be on the road more often than not, as their clients’ needs take them from property to property, mile after mile. Luckily for the real estate agent tax deductions on business mileage help to offset what can be a tremendous expense.

Ironically, for the average real estate agent tax deductions can be a double-edged sword. While these real estate agent tax deductions are appreciated, the amount of time and effort involved in accurately logging mileage can be overwhelming. As a result, realtors find themselves caught in the midst of a balancing act that requires logging mileage without sacrificing huge chunks of time better spent serving their clients.

Enter CarCheckup

Founded in 2002, CarCheckup designed a product intended to empower drivers with insight into their driving habits while solving the age-old mystery of the ever-flashing engine light. In doing so, they also provided time-juggling, mile-counting realtors with an easy to use method of logging the detailed information required to successfully file for real estate agent tax deductions.

Ready to use straight out of the box, CarCheckup plugs directly into the on-board diagnostic port of any vehicle manufactured since 1996. Being the size of  a cell phone, CarCheckup takes up little space and requires no cumbersome cables or discs for operation. Once an agent is ready to view the information
CarCheckup has logged, they can simply plug the device into an Internet-capable PC using CarCheckup’s self-contained USB arm. Realtors can then log into their personal CarCheckup online account for an all-inclusive
view of their detailed travel information.

Real Estate Agent Tax Deductions

Can CarCheckup really log all of the information necessary to successfully file for real estate agent tax deductions? Yes. In fact, the information CarCheckup provides is much more accurate, as it eliminates the potential for oversight and guesswork. Consider the ways CarCheckup can assist realtors in claiming real estate agent tax deductions.

CarCheckup logs the exact date, time and total distance of each trip.  A designated business category can be assigned.  A more detailed account of each business-related trip can be entered to improve the chances of successfully claiming real estate agent tax deductions. Reports may be customized to include only that information pertaining to real estate agent tax deductions. Reports can be printed or download to Microsoft  Excel.

Improved Bottom Line

With CarCheckup, realtors can stop wasting time and start focusing on the business of their valued customers. In addition, the accuracy of CarCheckup allows realtors to maximize real estate agent tax deductions and earn more money over the long-term. For those realtors who have used CarCheckup, the results speak for themselves.  “Before CarCheckup I had to keep all my receipts and hand-write my business mileage logs, which is a tedious task that’s easy to neglect,”  says Carole Liszak, an Indianapolis Realtor of 25 years.  “CarCheckup is an investment that pays for itself in no time and improves the bottom line of your business.”

Image: ‘>’>jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Gas prices getting you down?  CarCheckup has gathered the five best bets that you can use today to lower your fuel consumption.

1.  55 mph instead of 65 mph saves you 15% on fuel 

Each make/model/year of car has it’s own fuel efficiency numbers. A full size SUV will have lower fuel economy than a new small sedan. The math still holds though:  dropping 15% of your fuel economy can make a big difference to your weekly fuel cost. 

Assuming a cost per gallon of $4.00 per gallon, that extra 10mph is costing you $0.60 per gallon.  If your gas tank is a 15 gallon tank then you’re spending an extra $9 per fill up on average. 

Time is money and there just aren’t enough hours in a day, but let’s use an example to see what the actual impact of that extra speed buys you. 

Let’s assume your car gets 30 miles per gallon on the highway at the posted speed limit of 55.  You need to make the trip from Indianapolis to Chicago,about 165 miles one way, for a client meeting.

Save even more money by tracking your business mileage!  Round trip, at the 2011 IRS business mileage deduction rate of .51/mile, will give you a cool $168.30 mileage deduction come tax time.  (Need a simple business mileage tracking solution? See if CarCheckup.com is right for you)

Fun Fact:  The average cost for a speeding ticket is $150 in the US. If you get caught speeding that will increase your trip cost as well!

2.  Rapid Acceleration/breaking can drop mileage by up to 33%

Aggressive driving (hard acceleration, hard breaking, and excess speed) can drop your mileage my up to 33%! That’s like choosing to spend an extra $1.49 per gallon by hammering the gas after each stoplight turns green and stopping aggressively slamming the breaks when you approach a stoplight.  Simply adjusting driver performance by accelerating slowly and coasting towards a light can make a huge impact on your fuel economy.   

3.  Clean out your trunk!  Every extra 100 pounds reduces your fuel economy by 2%

You don’t have 100 pounds of junk in your trunk, right? 

Do you put bags of sand or salt in your trunk to help with winter traction?  Are you still lugging it around with you now?  That could be well over 100 pounds by itself!

Now that we’ve taken care of that: What else do you have in there that you really don’t need to carry?

4.  At Idle you get ZERO miles per gallon

The average passenger sedan burns car at idle burns approximately one gallon of gas per hour of idling.

It may not seem like a lot, but it really adds up!.  Let’s take a look:

As you can see, even small changes in driver behavior can have a huge impact on fuel spend over the course of a year.  One of the best ways to increase fuel economy is to reduce idle time.

5.  If you’re check engine light is on, find out why and fix it!

Did you know that a bad O2 sensor can reduce your fuel economy by up to 40%?  Or that a  failed gas cap seal can cost you 5% of your fuel economy?  The EPA originally mandated the use of OBDII technology to aid in monitoring emissions related systems.  If you’re check engine light is on there is a solid chance that your gas mileage is being impacted. These two check engine light codes are among the most popular seen in the CarCheckup system.

CarCheckup.com can help you find these issues as well make tracking driver performance and business mileage for you or your fleet painless.

Sources:
EPA Fuel Tips – http://www.epa.gov/oms/consumer/17-tips.pdf
Fuel Econ.gov- Improving Driving Habits – http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drivehabits.shtml
Infographic on Speeding Tickets-http://www.theautoinsurance.com/how-much-is-that-speeding-ticket-really-worth_2010-05-18/
Argon Laboratory -  http://www.transportation.anl.gov/pdfs/TA/361.pdf

March 7th – March 11, 2011 is California Teen Driving Safety Week!

In honor of California Teen Driving Safety Week we thought it would be a great time to share with you recent statistics from ImpactTeenDrivers.org…the organization behind the teen driving safety materials used in California Schools.

FACT #1 –
In the National Young Driver Survey 20 percent of 11th grade drivers reported at least one crash over the past year, while nearly 3 percent experienced two or more crashes.

FACT #2 –
Crashes are more common among young drivers than any other age group. In the United States, 1 in 4 crash fatalities involve someone 16 to 24 years old, nearly twice as high as other age groups.

FACT #3 –
The fatality rate for drivers ages 16 to 19, based on miles driven, is four times higher than for drivers ages 25 to 69.

These statistics are alarming, to say the least.  As parents our best weapons in the battle of teen driving safety are awareness and education.

Parents need to establish clear rules and expectations with their teen driver and ensure that they understand that those will be enforced.  One great way to to make sure everyone is on the same page is with the use of a teen driving contract.

Download CarCheckup’s free teen driving contract to get you started

Good news for small fleet owners:  Monitoring three simple metrics for your fleets can lead to significant dollars saved on fuel.

There are many, many, many factors that contribute to fuel economy of the cars we drive everyday.  Everything from how much load the car has to how warm it is outside can have an impact on fuel economy.  How do you know what to focus on, and what not to when it comes to trying to reduce your fuel costs?

While you could spend time trying to decide which factors were under your drivers control, and of the ones that we’re, which ones would have the most impact…we’ve done the hard work for you.

We’ve found that by monitoring just THREE metrics can have a significant impact of your fuel expense:
*Aggressive driving
*Time at idle
*Average speed

Let’s take a look at each of these, why you want to monitor them, and how big of an impact it can have on your fleet’s operating expenses.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving is a large contributor to reduction in fuel economy.  While the term aggressive driving is a a very broad term covering everything from hard acceleration and hard breaking as well as behaviors like quick lane changes and following too closely we’re going to focus on a more narrowly defined definition for this discussion: Hard acceleration and hard breaking.

According to the EPA hard acceleration and hard breaking and account for a 33% decrease in fuel economy at highway speeds and up to 5% when driving in the city.

That’s the equivalent of between $0.15 and a whopping $1.01/gallon in fuel spend by reducing this metric alone!

Time at Idle

According to National Resources Canada idling 10 min per day will cost you 5% more in fuel.  If your going to be stopped for more than 30 seconds, and you’re not in traffic, shut off your car!  It takes less fuel to restart a car then it does to run it for 10 seconds at idle, so being in the habit of shutting the car off instead of idling while waiting can really add up.

The California Consumer Energy Center puts it another way…Idling for one hour burns approximately 1 gallon of fuel.  Results can very, but for drivers that spend a considerable amount of time at idle while making a delivery or waiting on a client, the impact fleet wide can be dramatic.

Average Speed

Busy drivers hurrying between appointments can have a tendency to speed to make up time.  The few minutes that they make up by speeding…just a little bit.

The implications of speeding in regard to tickets, increased risk of accidents, and potentially higher insurance are obvious to most, but what may not be as apparent is the cost in terms of fuel consumption.

Cars built for sale in the US are built to achieve maximum efficiency at between 50 and 60 miles per hour.  The graph below shows and average car efficiency band in relation to MPH.

For every 5 mph over the speed of 60, you normally lose between 7% and 23% depending on the vehicle.  That equates to paying an extra $0.21 to $0.71 PER GALLON of gas!

The impact of these 3 metrics:

Armed with this data, the question becomes “How do I put this in practice to save my fleet money?”  The answer is simple:  Monitor and manage these three metrics for your fleet vehicles.

Monitor drivers performance, share that data (and it’s impact) with them and make them aware that small change can have a big impact on their bottom line, and train them on ways to use their knowledge to help the bottom line.

In the coming weeks we’ll do a deep dive into each of these metrics to help you understand how they can be applied to your business!

What other tips do you have to reduce fuel costs?  Please share in the comments below:

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Data Sources:
EPA.gov – Driving More Efficiently
EPA.gov – Fuel Economy Graph
California Consumer Energy Center – fuel consumption at idle
National Resources Canada – fuel consumption at idle

Photo Credits: Speedometer and Fuel Gauge pictures from Nathan Earl Photography via Flicker

Photo Credit: planetc1 via Flickr

Forbes has released a list of car models that can be expected to last past 200,000 miles, a helpful resource for people looking to invest in a new car in the New Year.  Based on reliability reports released by Consumer Reports in October, Forbes’ list is composed of each of the top 2011 models in each of the 10 automotive segments (family sedan, SUV, pickup truck, etc).

Ford, Acura and Lexus all make appearances on the list, with annual frontrunners Toyota and Honda filling the majority of  spots. Toyota rebounded with the 2011 Yaris, Sienna, Cruiser and Tundra models, capping off a year that was full of struggles for the Japanese automaker. Ford makes an exciting move onto the list, as the Fusion hybrid beat out strong contenders such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Accord to be named the best Family Sedan. With a 53% above average rating, this small victory for American automakers will hopefully be a starting point for sustainable, environmentally-friendly car manufacturing.

Not everyone needs a brand new 2011 car to reach 200,000 miles! CarCheckup can help break bad driving habits that can put strain on an engine over a long period of time. CarCheckup will record driving tendencies such as sudden acceleration and pumping the gas while accelerating, which can cause undue strain over a long period of time and prevent your car from reaching the 200,000 mile mark!

Do you think Forbes got it right this year? Any more useful tips for making your car last past the 200,000 mile mark? Let us know in your comments below!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!

Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?

Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?

Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage

Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving

Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

GM is recalling 26,751 GM vehicles for an issue with the rear axel.  Many of GMs truck based vehicles share basic components, so see the cart below to see if your impacted.

General Motors is reporting on these vehicles, a rear axle cross pin was not properly heat treated and, if it were to brake, could create interference and lock the rear axle.  Should this happen the driver may lose directional control.

Dealers will replace the pin free of charge for impacted trucks.

Owners should contact:
*Cadillac  at 1-866-982-2339
*Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438
*GMC at 1-866-996-9463
*WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM
*The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-424-9153
*or their local dealer

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

We love to hear your thoughts!  Please reach out to us!

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Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Jan 2011)

On Monday, the U.S. Energy Information Association released the average gasoline prices for the first week of the year. The report shows an upward trend in gas prices for last week while also comparing it to the price trend at this time last year. This week, the West Coast saw the largest increase at 0.025. Gas prices on the Gulf Coast remained the most consistent, seeing an increase of only 0.012 in the first week of the new year.

While the West Coast has seen the most increase in the past week, over the past year, the region has seen one of the smallest increases in gas prices at only 0.295. The New England area has seen the most an almost 0.40 jump since last year, the highest in the nation.

The EIA is an independent and impartial reporting agency that is committed to collecting, analyzing and disseminating information to assist in sound policymaking. The report comes out on a weekly basis and constitutes both unleaded and diesel fuel prices around the country.

How much of an increase has your area seen in the last year? What do you think about the EIA’s breakdown of where the gasoline prices come from? Let us know in the comments below!

Many auto manufactures introduced new and/or improved infotainment systems at this years CES show.

We wanted to save you the airfare and recap them for you so you didn’t feel left out

Toyota EnTune Infotainment System, Hyundai Blue Link, Ford won’t be left out with their MyFord, and even OnStar made news by expanding to offer after market OnStar gear for non-GM cars.  As an added bonus for the hard core geeks we’ll also touch on the Parrot Android based car stereo.

Entune Video Overview

Toyota EnTune

Toyota EnTune Infotainment system allows user to install applications like Bing, OpenTable, and Pandora on their phone and sync it with their car. 

What makes Toyota’s system intriguing is that to install new apps, you simply load them to your phone and then sync the phone. This makes it as easy to install applications to your Toyota as it is to install an App on your iphone. 

The downside of Toyota’s system is that it will require an custom Toyota version of the app you want to install.  So you’ll have you’re standard iPhone version of Pandora and your Toyota version of Pandora installed.   EnTune relies on Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone to handle the magic of live updating and internet connectivity.  This makes a double edge sword…The good is that the car itself doesn’t require it’s own cell phone contract, but it also means that it is of limited functionality without your phone.

Hyundai Blue Link
Hyundai’s Blue Link is really more of a OnStar competitor than a true infotainment system.  The focus is mostly on the “info” part. Offering a trio of service tiers ranging from  the “Assurance Package” that provides for crash notifications and the ability for the driver to call “SOS” in an emergency to the “Essentials Package” the provides vehicle theft recovery, maintenance notifications, and geolocation among other features.  Finally their top tier of service also provides for turn by turn based navigation.  No hardware or service pricing has been released yet, but Hyundai is saying that it will be substantially less expensive than OnStar’s offerings.

Ford MyFord Mobile

Ford MyFord Mobile app that allows the Focus Electric driver to remain engaged and in control even when away from the vehicle. It’s part of a strategic approach to make Ford electric car ownership a real experience MyFord Mobile works via a smartphone app or secure website to give owners the ability to monitor and control selected vehicle functions anywhere they and the car have connectivity A value charging feature, powered by Microsoft, allows Ford customers to reduce their electricity costs by taking advantage of off-peak or reduced rates from their utility without a complicated set-up process

OnStar
OnStar is taking the plunge into the automotive aftermarket by selling to owners of non-GM vehicles. The $299 + install replacement rearview mirror will provide accident alerts, stolen-vehicle tracking, and navigation services and can be installed permanently on any vehicle through a partnership with BestBuy.

Parrot Asteroid Radio
The Parrot Asteroid Radio is proof that Android is moving from the smartphone to other aspects of our technology lives.  It provides for multimedia and hands free applications right from your car radio.  Details are a bit thin at this point, but it appears that it will provide for internet streaming radio, point of interest search, and navigation in addition to “standard” radio functionality.  

What is your favorite piece of auto technology from CES this year? Sound off in the comments below

Links for further reading:

Toyota Entune homepage
EnGadget review of the EnTune System
Hyundai Blue Link Home Page
Ford MyFord
OnStar Homepage
Parrot USA Homepage

This weeks Friday fun is brought to you by the letter L for Lights and C for cars.

These are some very coordinated people!  Check this out:

Cars with Blinky lights.

Don’t forget about CarCheckup if your Check Engine Light is on!

Have a funny car video that you’d like to share with us?  Let us know in the comment section below!

Photo credit: Image by Grace Olsson via Flickr

Article by Lauren Cascio

These nine, no-fail driving tips will help you as you take on the dangers of ice, snow and unexpected obstacles during the winter months.

1. Clear loose snow- even on top of the car!

When loose snow flies from the top of moving cars, it makes driving extremely dangerous for everyone on the road. Loose snow on your car’s hood can fly up and block your windshield at high speeds. To be safer this winter, take caution and clear all snow.

2. Avoid sudden braking

When possible, try to avoid braking at all. When driving on snow or ice, it is safer to allow your car to roll to a stop than to apply significant pressure to the brakes. Another way to avoid sudden braking is to remain aware of your surroundings and anticipate stopping situations before the last second.

3. Clear ice and snow from your headlights

Having snow and ice on your headlights can dull the light illuminating from them. Clearing your headlights will make sure that every obstacle is spotted soon enough to make a safe and controlled stop.

4. Stay aware!

It is always a good tip to avoid using devices such as your car’s CD player, your phone or other entertainment items while driving. In the winter, being aware is more important because stopping distances are much shorter on ice and snow.

5. Scrape your windows- all of them!

In the early morning rush, important things like clearing your windshield can be completely forgotten. Lack of time can make it tempting to only clear a small hole directly in front of the steering wheel. While a little scraping is better than no scraping at all, this is still a bad idea because peripheral vision is extremely limited and can lead to exceedingly dangerous conditions.

6. Know your brakes!

If your car does not have anti-lock breaks, knowing what to do can make your winter driving much safer. Applying a light, steady pressure is the best way to stop in snowy or icy conditions without an anti-lock braking system. Applying strong, sudden pressure can cause a brake lock-up and result in a skid.

7. Warm up your vehicle- but never in the garage!

Warming up your vehicle is a good idea, as it gets the engine warm before driving and the heat begins to circulate around the car to make the driving experience better. However, car exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a clear, odorless gas that can cause death if inhaled. When cars are on in enclosed spaces, the carbon monoxide can build up, displace the oxygen in the air and have fatal consequences.

8. Top off the gas!

Keeping your gas tank full at all times is always a good idea. An uncontrolled skid could cause an accident and result in being stranded for a long period of time. Another reason to top off the tank is to prevent gas line freeze up. Most gas is watered down and the water in it can freeze in sub-zero temperatures. If expecting a deep freeze, make sure that the tank at least a quarter-full to prevent the water from freezing in your tank.

9. Keep your distance!

AAA, a national traveling and roadside assistance agency, recommends that drivers in icy conditions opt for a traveling distance of at least 8-10 seconds, instead of the normal 3-4 seconds. More distance allows for more reaction time and can make everyone safer this winter!

What tips/tricks did we miss? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your company’s fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Warm Wishes this Holiday Season from your Friends at Wildfire!

The CarCheckup team is so enormously grateful for your support, loyalty, and enthusiasm for our product and our company. 2010 has been an incredible year for us and it’s all thanks to you – our awesome customers, partners, fans, followers and supporters!

We are super excited for the New Year and have lots of exciting developments in the works. If you liked our system in 2010, just wait until you see what we have in store for you in 2011!

CarCheckup warmly wishes that you and yours have very Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year! We look forward to working with you in 2011!

(photo credit: srogan via flicker)

Here are some handy tips from the team at CarCheckup to keep in mind as you prepare for your holiday travels.

Check your tire pressure before you leave – Check your owners manual for proper tire pressure and make sure your tires are properly inflated.  A blowout is a horrible way to delay your travels 

Double check your spare tire – Make sure your spare tire is accessible and aired up.  Should you need it, you won’t want to have to take everything out of the trunk in the cold to get to your spare…and you absolutely don’t want to find out it’s flat.

Belt Check – In the old days, braking a belt would mean you were stranded on the side of the road.  Today’s modern car are likely to suffer major engine damage if a belt breaks. On newer engines the engines are timed so that the heads and valves can actually occupy the same space at different times.  Should a belt fail, these components can crash into each other causing catastrophic damage.

Check Radiator and Radiator Reservoir – Make sure you’re coolant levels are full. Check both the radiator itself as well as the overflow reservoir.  The overflow is normally located close to the firewall in the engine component.   Safety Note: Never remove the radiator cap from a hot radiator.  Hot liquid and steam that is pressurized in the radiator can escape when the cap is removed causing severe burns.

If you’re car begins to overheat during your trip…turn you heat to to full and turn the full to maximum. It will get uncomfortable, but it will buy you time to pull off to the side of the road (or to a service station) before the car boils over.

Have an emergency kit – Keep a prepaid phone card and a prepaid debit card in your emergency kit in addition to the “standard” items like flares/triangle, flashlight, first aid kit, and tire jack.  With cold weather approaching you should also keep a blanket, coat, hat, and other items to keep you and your traveling companions warm. It’s also a good idea to keep cat litter and a shovel in your trunk if space permits so that you have a way to dig out and get traction should you get stuck.

Take Your Account Numbers – Have an AAA, OnStar or other service that can get you help in a roadside emergency?  Make sure you have the phone numbers, account numbers, and any other pieces of information you may need to use those services.

Take some cash! – We all rely on credit and debit cards as a convenient way to pay for our everyday purchases.  Be sure to also have some cash incase there is a problem with your card.

If you are a user of the CarCheckup system, take a minute to check your car for Pending Trouble codes before your trip.  Pending trouble codes are the precursor to something going wrong and your check engine light coming on.  If you are a user of our system, you owe it to yourself to get a clean bill of health for your car before you go.  As we say here at CarCheckup, “Know Before You Go!”

Photo credit: HunterJumper on Flicker

Do you have tips to share with our readers?  Share them in the comments below!

 

The IRS released their updated mileage rates for 2011.

Standard mileage rates are used to determine how much of a deduction you get for miles driven for business, charity, moving, or medical reasons.  These miles can really add up for the average business person, and shouldn’t be neglected for the average Joe either.  No one wants to pay Uncle Sam more than they need to!

Each year the IRS computes a value for standard mileage based on the costs they expect a driver to incur during the average mile driven.

These new rates take effect on January 1, 2011 for all cars, light trucks, and vans.

• Deduction	Classification
  14 cents per mile	Charity
  19 cents per mile	Moving
  19 cents per mile	Medical
  51 cents per mile	Business mileage

As a taxpayers you can choose between calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle or using the standard mileage rates.

>>>Download our FREE special report on “Tips to Maximize Your Mileage Deduction”  to learn more ways to maximize your deduction for tax time.

Additional Handy Resources For IRS Business Mileage Tracking
IRS Press Release for 2011 Standard Mileage Rate
Revenue Procedure 2010-51 contains additional details regarding the standard mileage rates.
Analysis of How Much Money Are You Loosing Not Keeping Track of Your Business Mileage 

Photo credit: image by: di_the_huntress via Flickr

There is no question that snow, sleet and ice make for one hazardous driving season. To the prepared motorist, the perils of winter are significantly reduced. Here are 10 tips to readying your car for  dangerous winter driving.

1. Change the Windshield Washer Fluid

Having the appropriate windshield washer fluid is even more important in the winter because some formulas may not be viable in subzero temperatures.  What’s the big deal?  Well, if your fluid isn’t already completely frozen inside the reservoir under your hood, it will freeze instantly on your windshield when exposed to temperatures below the approved level. De-Icer fluids are available in stores and some can be good for up to -30°F!

2.  Have the Battery Tested

The freezing temperatures of winter can zap the power from your car’s battery, especially if it has been idle for a long period of time. National car part and service store, AutoZone, will test your car’s parts for free. Their staff can test your car’s battery, alternator, starter and voltage regulator- while they’re in your car!

3.  Put on Specialized Tires

Snow tires are a great way to increase acceleration, stopping ability and traction in snowy or icy conditions. For regions of the country with more snowfall and isolated roads, snow tires with studs on them may be available. Have your mechanic put snow tires on before the first snow and take them off after the last, most likely around early March.  Another plus? Using different tires in the winter will save the tread on your summer tires!

4. Protect Your Car- You Won’t Regret It!

If you are traveling in areas with high traffic, snowfall and/or ice, then your car could be exposed to thousands of pounds of salt this winter. Salt can erode a car’s exterior and cause unsightly rust. While rust may seem like a small problem, when it spreads to the underside of your car, it can corrode holes on vital parts, such as your gas line. Car detailing chain stores, like Ziebart, offer spray protection for both the underbody and exterior.

5.  Get the 4-1-1 on 4-wheel drive

There is no doubt that four-wheel drive is one feature that can come in handy this winter. This feature is another way to increase control while braking and help with vehicle handling and acceleration in snowy and icy conditions. Knowing when to use four-wheel drive is one way to keep money in your wallet this winter! Four-wheel drive significantly reduces your car’s fuel efficiency and can lower gas mileage. Make sure that every member of the family (who’s old enough to drive, of course) knows when and when not to use it.

6. Top off the Anti-freeze

Anti-freeze, also known as coolant, is an important part of a winter maintenance routine. Antifreeze is found in your car’s radiator where it keeps the water in the radiator from freezing in subzero temperatures.  Take caution, as this is one step not suited for the garage. Antifreeze is highly toxic and can cause severe damage or death if accidentally ingested. This sweet, clear substance is almost undetectable and discharge on the ground can lead to groundwater contamination. Leave this one up to your mechanic!

7. Pack for You

No matter how many precautions you take, you are still at a risk for an accident in the winter’s harsh elements. Sliding off a lightly traveled road can land you right in the middle of a dangerous situation. Having these supplies ready can help you be safe and prepared in your travels:

• Flares
• Blankets
• Boots
• Radio
• Non-Perishable Food
• Flashlight

8. Pack for Your Car

Now that you are prepared for the perils of winter, it’s time to make sure you pack what you need for your car.

• Scraper to clear car windows. Window scrapers should have a brush on one end to clear loose snow and also be long enough to reach over the top of your car.
• Spare tire with air in it and tools to put the tire on your car
• Jumper cables
• Tow rope
• Duct tape- for those small roadside repairs
• Short shovel and maybe a bag of sand (putting sand down in front of a car stuck in snow can significantly increase traction and aid in getting the car out).

9.  Update the Headlights

Visibility is much more important in the winter as ice and snow make emergency braking extremely dangerous. The brighter your headlights are, the earlier an object can be spotted and avoided safely. Old, dim headlights can decrease visibility on the roads. Consider purchasing new headlights, but no need to go for the more expensive premium brands such as SilverStar Ultra. According to a study by Consumer Reports, these pricier bulbs have been proven to have little advantage over regular halogen lights.

10.  Invest in Peace of Mind

National roadside assistance programs, such as those offered by AAA Motor Club, provide towing services to their members 24 hours a day. These clubs also offer fuel delivery, should you run out of gas, roadside battery service and mechanical first-aid for your car.

What tips/tricks did we miss?  Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your company’s fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

In the spirit of Thanksgiving we offer up this tasty tidbit for our Friday Fun segment.  As you rush around with your holiday shopping or recovering from your turkey hangover…beware…of turkey REVENGE!

Turkey attacking a car

Happy Thanksgiving from the crew at CarCheckup!

Added Bonus for Turkey day…This will make you chuckle.  I’m not sure if they are responding positively or negativity to the car horn.

Car Turkey Call

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Photo Credit: WishUponACupcake via Flicker

Here are some handy tips from the team at CarCheckup to keep in mind as you prepare for your Thanksgiving travels.

 Check your tire pressure before you leave – Properly inflated tries can save you from a blow out. 
 Double check your spare tire – is it aired up and in working order in case you need it.
 Belt Check – To tell if your belts are worn simply give them a look and see if they are showing sign of cracking or fraying.
Check Radiator and Radiator Reservoir – Make sure you’re coolant levels are full.  Overheating is a terrible way to spend your vacation. 

If you’re car begins to overheat during your trip…turn you heat to to full and turn the full to maximum. It will get uncomfortable, but it will buy you time to pull off to the side of the road (or to a service station) before the car boils over.

Have an emergency kit – Keep a prepaid phone card and a prepaid debit card in your emergency kit in addition to the “standard” items like flares/triangle, flashlight, first aid kit, and tire jack.  With cold weather approaching you should also keep a blanket, coat, hat, and other items to keep you and your traveling companions warm.
Take Your Account Numbers – Make sure you have your account numbers and their related phone numbers.  AAA, Auto Insurance, OnStar, or any similar service could be invaluable if you break down…but only if you have their phone number (and other required information handy)
Take some cash! – In this world of debt cards and credit cards it’s easy to not think about having some cash on hand, but a lost credit card or…the credit card company thinking a purchase your trying to make on your trip looks “suspicious” and freezing your card can leave you in a bind if you don’t have cash on hand.

If you are a user of the CarCheckup system, take a minute to check your car for Pending Trouble codes before your trip.  Pending trouble codes are the precursor to something going wrong and your check engine light coming on.  If you are a user of our system, you owe it to yourself to get a clean bill of health for your car before you go.  As we say here at CarCheckup, “Know Before You Go!”

Do you have tips to share with our readers?  Share them in the comments below!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

AAA has released their travel forecast for Thanksgiving 2010 and it looks like the roads are going to be busy this year.  They are projecting an 11.4 percent increase over last years Thanksgiving holiday (which they define at Wednesday November 24th to Sunday November 28th).  That means that around 42 million of us are traveling at least 50 miles from home to be with family and friends for the holidays.

“While Americans remain cautious with household budgets and discretionary spending amidst high levels of unemployment, many are in a better financial position this Thanksgiving than a year ago,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “This improvement, along with a strong desire to spend time with friends and family, is expected to propel a significant increase in Thanksgiving travel.”

Source: AAA Travel Forecast

What they don’t touch on is the media frenzy surrounding air travel with the newly instituted backscatter scanners and/or “enhanced” pat down procedures.   There seems to be so much blowback on the TSA that one has to wonder if that is also increasing the amount of people traveling by car over the holiday.

Picture Credit: Burning Image via Flicker

Let us know what kind of traveling are you doing this holiday in the comments below:

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

This is a truly amazing video that shows just how nimble a car can be in the right hands.  I wonder if we could talk the driver into giving up racing and teaching defensive driving?

Would he be the best defensive driving teacher ever?

Got an idea for our Friday Fun segment?  Give us the heads up in the comments below!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

You’ve got to see this.  It’s one heck of a taxi ride!

Hold on tight!

Have a car funny you’d like to share?  Or a cool car video?  Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!

Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Here is a great review of the CarCheckup system on  OneMammaSavingMoney!

You can read it here http://onemommasavingmoney.blogspot.com/2010/11/carcheckup-review.html 

Thanks to OneMammaSavingMoney for taking the time to share her thoughts with us all!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Today’s Fun Friday segment is brought to us by a performer on Hollywood Blvd.  It’s not uncommon to see performers dressed as famous people who that make a living by posing with tourists for photos in exchange for tips.

This is by far the most interesting one that I’ve seen.

This makes me want to be a transformer when I grow up…

Have you seen a more unique street performer?  Let us know in the comments.

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

I saw this and thought it was a fantastic idea.  Our kids end up with WAY too much candy after Halloween and we don’t need it laying around the house.  If you have little ones I’ll bet your in the same boat.

Operation Gratitude will be collecting donated Halloween candy and using it in their effort to make care packages for members of the military who are overseas.

CarCheckup will be collecting donated candy from our team members,  friends, family, and neighbors to package and send to Operation Gratitude to help them with their efforts.

If you would like to help out you can send your left over Halloween candy directly to Operation Gratitude at the following address:

Operation Gratitude/California Army National Guard

17330 Victory Blvd.

Van Nuys, CA 91406

Attn: Charlie Othold

Operation Gratitude collects all types of items for it’s care packages, and they are always looking for help bringing everything together.  If you can’t help out with candy, be sure to check out their website for other ways to help

Here is an overview video that you may enjoy:

Operation Gratitude Halloween Candy Program

Nissan has announce the 3rd biggest recall in their history.  Nearly two million trucks world wide are  being recalled for replacement of a problematic ignition relay.  Just over 730,000 are being recalled in the US and Canada.

According to Nissan, the bad relay can cause the truck to stall and not restart.

Nissan is reporting that no accidents have been reported as a result of this issue and that dealers should be able to replace the suspect relay in about 25 minutes.

Models covered by this recall include:

1. Nissan Pathfinder
2. Nissan Armada
3. Nissan Xterra
4. Nissan Titan
5. Nissan Frontier
6. Infiniti QX56

For recall and repair information consumers can contact:

Nissan Consumer Affairs

P.O. Box 685003
Franklin TN 37068-5003
(800)NISSAN-1 (or 800-647-7261)
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Eastern / Central Time / Pacific Time
Monday through Friday

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-424-9153 or contact their local dealer.

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Story written by Lauren Casio

Next Sunday, the ghosts and ghouls will come out as children around the country enjoy a spook-tacular night of candy, family and friends. However, the reality of Halloween can be quite different. For one night only, child foot traffic in America’s neighborhoods is significantly increased. According to a study reported in TIME magazine, children are more than twice as likely to be killed by a car while walking on Halloween night than at any other time of the year.

Photo Credit: Image by stevendepolo via Flicker

Here are five ways that you as a driver can make Halloween safer for the children in your area:

1. Stay under the speed limit- It’s there for a reason!

According to the Gene Farber, a consultant for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian visibility drops from thousands of feet in the daytime to only 150-250 ft at night. Going 55mph, the distance required for a driver with typical reaction time to react and stop is 265ft. Nationwide, residential speed limits can vary, but many range from 15-25mph for this exact reason. When in doubt, caution can keep everyone safe.

2. Children+ Candy + Crazy Outfits= Confused pedestrians

Sure, some of the responsibility for child safety on Halloween lies on the shoulders of those little monsters, vampires and princesses running around, getting as much candy as possible in such a short time. But keep in mind that, while the typical child would most likely stop and look both ways if their ball rolled into the street, a child chasing a part of their precious costume that blew off may not be as aware. Masks can drastically reduce peripheral vision, and so that little zombie on the corner may not see you coming and may cross anyways.

3. Caution: Parked vehicles!

Maintain caution while passing cars parked on the side of the road. These cars make perfect barriers from which little monsters can emerge at any time! Being aware and maintaining a slow speed is the best way to protect from any unexpected horrors this Halloween.

4. Don’t rely only on your headlights alone!

According to Frank Schieber, a consultant for the NHTSA on nighttime visual requirements, roadside pedestrians “represent the worst case scenario” for drivers. They are non-reflective, low contrast objects that can have horrible consequences if they are hit. NHTSA-funded studies compared the efficiency of high-beam headlights compared with low-beam and found that while high beams are marginally better at detecting pedestrians, the glare emitted can be disorienting to the pedestrian. The NHTSA recommends keeping high-beams on until pedestrians are spotted.

5. Avoid driving in early evening hours

Most child safety organizations recommend being prepared for trick-or-treaters from 5:30-9:30pm. Many neighborhood organizations have recommended trick-or-treat times for different age levels. Check your city government’s website for official recommended trick-or-treat times for your area so you can know when the little ones may be running around.

What tips/tricks did we miss? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your company’s fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

This weeks Friday Fun is brought to you by a bad day at the car was…a very, very bad day.

Got an idea for our Friday Fun Feature?  Drop us a line in the comments or call our comments line at 317-586-CAR1.

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Image by BrisChri via Flickr

Dodge and Chrysler just issued a recall for a power steering issue for the following vehicles:

Year	Make	Model
2010	Chrysler	300
2010	Chrysler	Sebring
2010	Dodge	Avenger
2010	Dodge	Challenger
2010	Dodge	Journey
2011	Dodge	Ram

Chrysler is reporting that some vehicles may have an issue with the crimping on the power steering hose that may case it to come lose.  This would cause a lack of power steering and, because of power steering fluid spraying onto the hot engine, could cause a fire.

Dodge and Chrysler dealers will be replacing the hose at no cost to owners to help fix the issue.  With over 25,000 cars and trucks  covered in the recall, be sure to check with your dealer to see if you’re car or truck is hit by this problem.

Owners should contact:

Their local dealer, the Dodge/Chrysler Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-992-1997, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-424-9153

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Image via Wikipedia

Volvo announced  a recall of some 2010-11 Volvo S80s, 2010 V70s, 2011 XC60, and 2010-11 XC70s. 

Nearly 10,000 Volvos may have an intermittent fault in the clock spring wiring connector that can cause it not to deploy during an accident. Dealers will begin repairing the effected cars for free on October 29, 2010.

Owners should contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-424-9153 or their the local dealer.

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Time for our Friday Funny!

This is the fist video in a long time that actually made me laugh out loud!  These are from the official TomTom YouTube channel.

I happen to live in a town with “RoundAbounds” so this cracked me up.

Darth in a sound booth recording TomTom voiceover

Yoda in a soundbooth recording TomTom voiceover

I can’t decide which is funnier and I’m not even a StarWars fan!

What do you think?

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

With all the work involved between leading a professional life and leading a balanced life, how many times have we forgotten seemingly simple things… such as tracking our business mileage? With everything that goes on in life, it’s easy to brush off logging your mileage – after all, you’re just trying to get from point A to point B without spilling your morning cup of coffee! But when you forget to track your business mileage, it can really put a huge drain your wallet.

Perhaps you do track your business miles, but aren’t aware of certain places that you could be counting towards your expenses. Or maybe you almost always track your mileage, except when you forget to make a note of your trip in your log. Or worse yet, you might not be logging any of your business miles at all!

According to statistics posted on epa.gov, the average mileage per year for normal passenger cars is 12,000 miles. The mileage for people who use their cars for business can be considered higher than that, perhaps closer to

After much research (and many cups of coffee), we’ve crunched the numbers to show you how much money you could be losing if you’re not keeping track of your business mileage. Here are three different scenarios that describe most business people and their mileage tracking habits. What category fits you? How much money could you be saving?

A) You Generally Track Your Business Mileage, you just might not know all the places you can track mileage

People who do this get the “Good Effort” award. Why only “Good Effort?” Even people who are fairly religious about tracking their business mileage often overlook trips that they could count as business mileage. It might be something as simple as not counting your daily 2 mile drive to get your mail (which also has business mail in it) or your drive to the bank (where you deposit a check from your client). If you’re not counting these extra miles you drive every business day, it really adds up. So that you can prevent this from happening, you might want to take a peek at Business Mileage that you didn’t know counted.

The Math: 2 Miles a day x 253 possible Work days

Total Time Not Tracked: 506 Miles

Total Money Lost By Not Tracking: $250+

B) You track business mileage, except when you forget your logs.

Good Job! Almost… Okay, everyone forgets things once in a while. But before you brush aside the lapse of mileage memory, look at how much money you might be missing when you forget your logs! Let’s say you forget to log one day of travel out of each week. If you’re not traveling too often, that’s 300 miles a week, roughly 70 miles a day. And let’s say you forget to record one day out of each work week because you forgot. That’s 3600 miles not recorded in a year. Take a look at how much that little memory leak is costing you.

The Math: 70 miles (one day) not tracked x 52 (once a week)

Total Miles Not Tracked: 3600

Total Money Wasted By Forgetting To Log Miles: $1800+

C) You never track your business mileage.

People in this category get the red alert. First off, why aren’t you tracking your business mileage? Business mileage is perhaps one of the biggest ways to get a tax break from the IRS. Maybe you have a desire to throw out massive amounts of money, or perhaps the IRS is too intimidating. Either way, people in this category might as well have holes in their pockets due to the amount of money they’re losing!

The Math: 22,000 Miles Driven Purely for Business

Total Miles Not Tracked: 22,000

Total Amount of Money Lost By Not Tracking: $11,000 +

With figures like that, it’s easy to see why it’s important to keep track of your business mileage. So, how much money are you loosing each tax year by not logging all your miles?

How Calculations were made:

Estimates based on average business mileage times the 2010 business mileage rate of 0.50 with the average business distance driven of 20,000 miles per year.

Sources

EPA.gov

IRS.gov

This is the coolest combination of graphics arts, technology, and cars I’ve seen in a long time.

bllankWall / Live Car Custom from bllank.com on Vimeo.

Seen other cool car videos that push the technology envelope?  Let’s us know in the comment section below!

Do you only write off the business trips you take to meetings?

Or perhaps that 2 hour drive that you took to see your client?

If those are the extent of your write offs, you’re probably missing out on some interesting business mileage write-offs.

We’re not talking about the business trips you take from the office to pick up office supplies, the jaunt to the bank to drop off that check from your merchant, or even the much-coveted home-office-to-outside-office trip. We’re talking about the hidden ‘Easter Egg’ business trips that most people probably didn’t know counted.

1. Purchasing a Gift – You’re close to closing the deal with your newest client who happens to be a baseball fan. You’re pretty sure that deal would be sealed if you bought him a Dodger’s jersey. Did you count the drive as a business trip? Why not? According to the IRS, any trip that is for business counts towards your mileage deduction. That means even something like driving to buy a gift for your client- as long as it was purely for business- is okay to count.

That also means that if your sister watched your kids for you while you had to go to a business meeting, you can buy her a gift and write off the mileage it took you to get there.

1. Driving to the movies – If you’re entertaining a client and trying to get them to sign on with you, your trip driving them to the movies is perfectly acceptable. In fact, driving a client to any event/ food place counts, as long as it’s to either discuss the terms of your contract, or woo them over to signing up for your services. But don’t try to fool Uncle Sam into thinking your kids are business associates!

1. Driving business partner/client to a business meeting destination – Is your business partner repeatedly asking you to help them get to business destinations? Well now you can say yes with a smile- because the miles you spend lugging around your business partner for business trips counts towards your total mileage write off! (Make sure you have them pay you back for your kindness with your favorite beverage!)

Friendly CarCheckUp reminder: It’s never worth it to ‘stretch the truth’ with the IRS, unless you’re craving an audit. Use these tips as a guideline, and contact a professional tax preparer if you have any questions regarding your specific trips and circumstances. An easy way to figure out if you should write it off: Did the drive purely have to do with business? So, have you ever forgotten to write up hidden business trip gems like these?

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Sources:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/index.html

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch08.html#d0e5360

cool money photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/redjar/113911116/

Hyundai is recalling nearly 140,000 model year Sonatas due to a steering issue.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) some Sonata’s were either improperly assembled or the the connections weren’t tightened down properly.

This can lead the a potential loss of control if the the column separates form the other steering components.

Dealers are expected to inspect the steering column and rebuilt it if needed.  They are also going to apply a software update to improve steering response.

This is one of the recalls issues that won’t set off your check engine light.  It’s a mechanical issue instead of a computer controlled issue.  Even if you’re check engine light isn’t on, if you own a 2011 Sonata you should contact your dealer and get it checked out.

Hyundai owners can contact the Hyundai Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-633-5151  or call the  NHTSA  safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Wholly SMOKES.  These guys are F A S T.

I can’t even change a tire in under four minutes!

These guys go from running Jeep to completely torn down…and back to driving in under 4 minutes

Team tears down and rebuilds Jeep in under 4 Min!

So what I want to know is…What car maintenance can YOU do to a car in under 4 min?  Sound off in the comments below

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues a statement that GM is recalling over 20,000 2009 and 2010 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V for a defect in the glove box assembly that causes an unacceptable risk to front seat passengers.

Starting October 20th dealers will start replacing, at no charge, the glove compartment on the effected Cadillac models. 

Some vehicles may also require work on the instrument panel to bring the car into Federal safety requirements.

Owners can contact their local dealer for more information or contact Cadillac directly at 1-866-982-2339.

Is your CTS impacted by this recall?  Let us know what you’re experience is in the comments!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues a statement stating that the oil lubrication hole in the six-speed manual transmission has not been drilled on the affected vehicles, which can cause gears to break due to the gears running without oil lubrication. From the NHTSA statement:

"If the transmission gears are not properly lubricated, a groaning sound may begin to develop, alerting the driver to a problem. If this sound is ignored and no action is taken, the gears will eventually break and this condition will lead to vehicle power loss, possibly resulting in a crash."

American Subaru dealers will repair the cars free of charge by drilling the oil hole in cars with low mileage.  On cars with mileage over 6,2500 they will be replacing gears 3 – 6 as well as the main shaft.

Subaru is warning drivers that if there vehicle is damaged from this problem there will be a noticeable “groan” that gets worse over time.  Drivers experiencing this should stop driving their cars.  If the gears wear bad enough to fail, then the car will lose power and can result in a crash.

The recall will officially go into effect on August 6th, but we recommend you contact your Subaru dealer as soon as possible to get scheduled.  The Outback and Legacy are two of Subaru’s main stay models, so we’d expect the service center schedules to fill up quickly.

• Important Numbers
• Subaru Customer Support -  800-782-2783
• NHTSA’s hot line – 888-327-4236.

AAA of Michigan is estimating that 1.2 MILLION of us are going to be traveling to be with friends or family over this 4th of July weekend. 

Average trip length?  617 Miles.

We’ve put together a list of things to check before your big holiday driving adventure this holiday to keep you happily motoring down the road…instead of being broken down on the side of it.

    Check your tire pressure – Properly inflated tries can save you from a blow out. 
    Make sure your spare tire is aired up and in working order in case you need it.
    Take a look at your belts – a broken belt will leave you stranded for sure.  To tell if your belts are worn simply give them a look and see if they are showing sign of cracking or fraying.
    Check Radiator – Most newer cars have 50,000 or 100,000 mile coolant, so changing it isn’t as big of an issue as simply making sure you’re coolant levels are full.  Overheating is a terrible way to spend your vacation.  If you’re car begins to overheat…Crank your heat to full with full fan. yup…it’s uncomfortable, but it will buy you time before the car boils over.
    Have an emergency kit – Keep a prepaid phone card and a prepaid debit card in your emergency kit in addition to the “standard” items like flares/triangle, flashlight, first aid kit, and tire jack.
    Take Your Account Numbers – Make sure you have your account numbers and their related phone numbers.  AAA, Auto Insurance, OnStar, or any similar service could be invaluable if you break down…but only if you have their phone number (and other required information handy)
    Take some cash! – In this world of debt cards and credit cards it’s easy to not think about having some cash on hand, but a lost credit card or…the credit card thinking your trip purchases looking “suspicious” and freezing your card can leave you in a world of hurt without cash.

If you are a user of the CarCheckup system, take a minute to check your car for Pending Trouble codes before your trip.  Pending trouble codes are the precursor to something going wrong and your check engine light coming on.  If you are a user of our system, you owe it to yourself to get a clean bill of health for your car before you go.  As we say here at CarCheckup, “Know Before You Go!”

Bonus Tip:

Do you know when to use “Max AC” on your car to cool your car the quickest while also lowering the strain on your AC?

Don’t run your AC on “Max” or “Recirculation” until your car has cooled down!  You can burn up the refrigerant or over pressurize your AC system which can destroy the system.

1. When you start your trip set the AC to high fan, no AC to get that initial blast of super hot, yucky air out of the system.
2. Once the air coming from your vents is close to the ambient air temperature outside, turn your AC onto normal or “auto” and set it to a reasonable temp.
3. Once your car has begun cooling down to the point where it’s as cool as it’s going to get on “normal” go ahead and turn it to MAX/Recirculate to bring the temp down to where your comfortable.

What other tips/ tricks do you do before you take your family on a road trip?  Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

The folks over at CarBibles.com have put together a pretty thorough review of the CarCheckup system on their site today.  You can find it by clicking on the following link – CarCheckup Review 

Chris does a great job of giving an unbiased review of the system as well as covers some of the systems features like monitoring driver performance for businesses, monitoring the driving of your teen driver, finding out why your check engine light is on, and recording business mileage.

The team at CarBible.com has put together a contest to give one lucky reader a free CarCheckup device! by entering his easy and fun trivia contest.  Please be sure to stop by the  CarBibles.com CarCheckup Trivia Contest and take a shot a winning a free CarCheckup device of your very own.  While you’re there be sure to check out the wealth of information that Chris has made available.

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software without costly GPS vehicle tracking?

Steve Jobs announced the long awaited iPhone 4 Tuesday and it looks like a really great hardware and software update.

Here at CarCheckup we’ve asked ourselves if now is the time for the iPhone to overtake personal GPS devices like TomTom and Garmin as rulers of your dashboard navigation.

Here is our staff breakdown based upon the specs of the yet to be release phone:

The Good!
    No additional device to carry – It’s nearly always with you when you need it.
    Extended battery life over the iPhone 3GS – You’ll still want to plug into a car power adapter.
    Higher Resolution Screen – Sharper screen = less eye strain and sharper graphics
    Multi-tasking – Run your Navigation application and other apps at the same time
    Better Antenna – Case integrated antenna with and glass front & back should help GPS accuracy

The Bad!

    Small-ish 3.5 inch screen - smaller than the typical Personal Navigation Device
    Longer trips will still need a power adapter – .
    Big name GPS apps cost nearly as much as a stand alone GPS
    Less speed/Accuracy than a stand-alone personal GPS – It’s yet to be seen if the iPhone will be able to hold it’s own vs. stand alone GPS in terms of update speed and accuracy.

The real question becomes…What will software developers do to maximize GPS applications abilities on the new iPhone 4 platform?  We’re as anxious as you are to find out!

Preorders for the Apple iPhone 4 start on June 15th.  iPhone 4 deliveries start on 24th.

Will you be ditching your GPS for an iPhone 4 based solution?  Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think!

Don’t forget CarCheckup has your solutions to your automotive information needs!
    Need an Automotive Diagnostic Tool because your Check Engine Light on?
    Need a Vehicle Tracking System to monitor your companies fleet vehicles or fleet drivers?
    Tired of tracking business mileage manually and want and easier way to record mileage
    Looking for peace of mind for your teen aged driver – Check out our solution to monitor teen driving
    Want Fleet Management Software with out costly GPS Vehicle tracking?

Jennifer Funkhouser, President & CEO of CarCheckup recently sat down with Gerry Dick from Inside Indiana Business to discuss the CarCheckup System.  Jennifer and Gerry discussed how CarCheckup got it’s start, as well as some of the systems important features like business mileage tracking, monitoring teen driving, and finding our why your check engine light is on.

Click on the embedded video to see the whole interview!

Transcription

Gerry Dick: Well, in the Business Spotlight now, an interesting new Indiana company is trying to bring peace-of-mind to parents with teen drivers with a brand new high-tech device. Carmel-based Car Check Up is behind the product that can easily connect to a car to monitor extreme accelerations, braking, and high speeds. It also has applications for businesses as well. Here now with more is the President and Co-founder of Car Check Up, Jennifer Funkhouser. Jennifer, welcome to the program.

Jennifer Funkhouser: Thank you for having me.

Gerry Dick: This is the product and before we talk about it, interesting how it all got started, because you’re at the University of Indianapolis and Scott Jones, who is my partner with our company, really kind of sparked your interest…how did it all start?

Jennifer Funkhouser: Well, I was fortunate enough to take a class at IU, and it was a Business Meets Technology class, and we had to come up with a new way that technology that could be useful for consumers. And then we had to write a business plan and prove its viability, and my husband and I, we and a couple friends, we came up with Car Check Up and Scott said, this is fantastic, run with it, and we have.

Gerry Dick: Alright, let’s talk how it works, the small device, this actually plugs into the vehicle essentially right under the steering wheel.

Jennifer Funkhouser: Uh-huh, right under the steering wheel. It’s mandated to be within driver’s reach without any tools so usually you can find it right along, right underneath the steering wheel column.

Gerry Dick: And what does this track, because I know there are a number of applications, a lot of parents with teen drivers, I know this could be a big thing for them.

Jennifer Funkhouser: Well, it’s really good because it can track their speed and RPM, and you can know their duration of the trip, when the car started, when it ended, if they unplugged it for any trips that were unauthorized.

Gerry Dick: So fast erratic driving and all those kinds of things…

Jennifer Funkhouser: Absolutely, extreme acceleration, braking, it will give you a summary of each of the trips so that way you can really quickly see what’s going on, how your teen’s driving. We like to think of it more of as a tool to work with your teens. It’s not spying, it’s to prove responsibility.

Gerry Dick: Right, now, there’s also business applications, right?

Gerry Dick: If you’ve got a business fleet, I know there’s interest from companies.

Jennifer Funkhouser: Sure, there is. Yes, yes, you can track your business mileage, you can go in and assign it to one of the different categories, and you can put notes on there saying what the trip was for, and then print it out at the end of the year, and you’ve got your documentation that the I.R.S. will approve.

Gerry Dick: So this is for a 1996 models and newer, plugs under the steering wheel, it also then right into your computer. You’re selling the product now, what’s the interest, how’s the interest?

Jennifer Funkhouser: And newer, uh-huh. Yes, it’s been great, we’re really excited, it’s been really great, people can get it on www.carcheckup.com

Gerry Dick: Very good, new technology developed right here in Indiana…Jennifer Funkhouser, Car Check Up, thank you very much, good luck going forward.

Jennifer Funkhouser: Great, thank you very much.

Gerry Dick: Well, coming up, an Indianapolis company has secured a major deal for next year’s Super Bowl. Bill [Binter] has the exclusive details coming up next.

05/07/2010

For Immediate Release

Carmel, Ind. – A newly launched Indiana company has introduced a device that allows car owners to monitor the behavior of inexperienced drivers, solve the riddle of why the “check engine” light has come on and easily keep track of and report business miles.

All this is packed into a cell-phone-sized unit being marketed by CarCheckup, LLC (http://www.carcheckup.com) . The company, based in Carmel, Ind., holds patents on the device, which has no buttons, dials or switches but connects easily to the OBDII port, located near the steering wheel of all cars sold in the United States since 1996. As the car is driven, the device records data. Then it can be plugged into any personal computer’s USB port to provide a performance record or a mechanical condition report on the vehicle.

Jennifer Funkhouser, president and co-founder of CarCheckup, developed the device, working with other technology experts. She believes it will improve teen-age drivers’ habits and skills and provide a lot of peace of mind for their parents.

“When CarCheckup is in the vehicle, it keeps a record of miles driven, extreme acceleration and braking, and highest speeds and RPMs,” Funkhouser says. “Mom or dad can simply remove it from the car, plug it into a PC and go to our web page to see a record of driving performance. The young driver knows it’s there, and the parents know it’s there. We think this will promote honest dialogue and encourage kids to drive responsibly.”

Funkhouser says the device’s ability to interpret information stored in your car’s computer is another exciting feature. “Almost everyone has had the check engine light come on while driving, and that can be scary,” she said. “It could be as simple as a loose gas cap, but it could be something very serious like failed fuel injectors, which can be a very costly repair if not dealt with quickly. With CarCheckup, you will know why the light is on. But that’s only one advantage.

“When you have your car serviced, the mechanic plugs a computer into the OBDII port, and is able to see a lot of information. For example, whether any sensors are malfunctioning or your emission system is not working properly. Most of us have always had to take the mechanic’s word for it. Now anyone can see the same thing at home before going to a mechanic. We broke down every code and turned it all into simple English, so anyone can understand. You will know what the computers are telling the mechanic before he does.”

Another advantage, said Funkhouser, can come with buying a used car. A test drive with the CarCheckup device plugged in can warn the prospective buyer if trouble is lurking under the hood.

Funkhouser said CarCheckup also makes keeping track of business miles simple and accurate. “The web site gives you an easy-to-read record of every trip,” she said. “You just mark it as business or personal and print it out. The IRS recognizes a business mileage report from this kind of device as a valid record. Anyone who uses his or her personal car for business will save a lot of time.”

Funkhouser said CarCheckup is compatible with all PC desktop and laptop computers, and will work on Apple computers using BootCamp, VMWare Fusion or Parallels v5.

She says other electronic devices will do some of the things that her company’s product does, but she believes CarCheckup’s solution is more effective and far easier to use than anything else on the market. The device sells for $149.97, which includes a year’s subscription for one vehicle. Additional cars can be added for $25 a year. Currently it is available on the CarCheckup web site (http://www.carcheckup.com). Purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

About CarCheckup: The mission of Carmel, Ind., based CarCheckup LLC. is to empower consumers to take full advantage of the information available from their automobiles by helping them understand their cars’ systems. The CarCheckup system is distributed by CarCheckup LLC., and is available directly from www.carcheckup.com.

###

Media Contact:

Joe Bennett

CarCheckup LLC

317-574-0044 ext 203

jbennett@carcheckup.com

Press Images:

Presidents Bio:

Jennifer A. Funkhouser, President of CarCheckup LLC

A 10-year veteran of computer information systems, Jennifer Funkhouser is the creative force behind the CarCheckup system.  She realized that automotive systems did not need to be hard for consumers to understand and has dedicated the last 10 years to guiding CarCheckup in developing the world’s most user-friendly automotive information system.  Her mission is to make the technology available in today’s automobiles understandable to every consumer.  Funkhouser graduated from the Indiana University School of Informatics with a Bachelor of Science, Media Arts & Science with High Distinction.  She helped CarCheckup receive two US Patents for the innovative system design. Funkhouser’s leadership and remarkable ability to make highly technical processes easy for consumers to use drives CarCheckup. 

The mission of CarCheckup is to
                • improve safety for teen drivers while bringing peace of mind to parents
                • help car owners monitor the condition of their vehicles
                • simplify tracking business miles
This is achieved by giving effective, practical and very easy to use information to empower consumers about their vehicle.

Tax day giving you the blues?

We’ve got a solution for you!

Until Midnight on Tax Day (April 15th, 2010) we’re giving $50 off on the purchase of a CarCheckup device!

That brings the price down to $99.97!

Take advantage of this offer and next year you have a rock solid business mileage tracking system that is designed to make your business mileage tracking effortless.

The IRS business mileage rate for 2010 is $0.50 per mile!

Let’s put that in perspective with a few examples, shall we?

Are you getting all the mileage deduction your entitled to?

CarCheckup pays itself off in just 48 miles tracked in a year with today’s tax discount.

In addition to just tracking business mileage, that’s like getting our patented internet engine diagnostics…for free.

You also get our driver performance monitoring that can help you improve your gas mileage and have less wear on your car, built right into the system.

If you travel for business, you can’t pass up this deal.

Use code taxday at checkout to receive $50 off your purchase, but hurry…this offer ends at midnight.

We’ve launched a new contest!  It’s easy to enter!

You can enter for a chance to win and IPod Nano for you and a friend!

Just become a fan of CarCheckup on Facebook or follow CarCheckup on Twitter, and ask your friends to do the same!    Our contest page makes both super easy!

The more people you help enter the contest the more chances you have to win!

You can:
Update your Facebook Status
Send a tweet
Email your friends
Post it in your blog
Pretty much anything you can think of!  The sky is the limit!

Click here to find our more and enter now!

Spread the word!  The more friends you have enter the contest the more chances you have to WIN!

The geek part of me thinks this is really neat…and a little creepy.

GM has produced a system comprised of cameras to monitor the driver, night vision, radar, ultraviolet lasers, and GPS that will display of ton of useful data to the driver without them taking their hands off the wheel.  The system collect data on your surroundings, combines it with things like maps, landmarks, and GPS data and projects it on the windshield using ultraviolet lasers.

No more missing a speed limit sign or not being able to see the edge of the road in foggy conditions.

Check out this video of the system in action:

Pretty impressive stuff, huh?

I really like the integrated GPS display.  They are spot on with the “last 100 yards” issue.  I know this would reduce a lot of travelers headaches.

What do you think?  Cool or Creepy?

Vote in the comments below!

No, it’s not likely that your accelerator will stick as your driving down the road, but let’s take a look at what you need to know to get though this in the safest way possible…just in case

1. DON’T Panic!  – This is easier said than done, I know, but the key to not panicking is knowing what to do and what NOT to do. That’s what we’re trying to help you with here!
2. Apply firm, steady break pressure.  Pumping the breaks is bad advice because it drains off the vacuum used by your power breaks.  Once the vacuum is gone, the power assisted breaking is gone.
3. Attempt to shift the car in neutral.  Shifting the car into neutral will remove the power from the wheels.  Once in neutral the engine will not be able to propel the car.  Once the engine isn’t pushing the wheels you should be able to use your breaks as normal to bring the car to a stop in a safe place.  On most vehicles this is a mechanical link, so it is likely to be an option even if the accelerator is stuck…if it’s a mechanical defect like a floor matt that causing the pedal to stick or if it’s a software issue that’s causing the unintended acceleration.
4. If that fails, turn off the vehicle at the ignition.  Turn the key to the ACC or Accessory position.  This is the position that lets you listen to the radio and use the power windows with the engine starting.  This will shut off the engine, remove power from the wheels, and let you stop the car safely.

Notes, Tips, and other Items to be Aware Of:

KEEP STEERING – On cars with power breaks and/or power steering, if the engine is not running the power assist will not work.  This will make the steering stiffer and heavier and will make that breaks more difficult to use…but they will work.  Think of the “good ‘ole days” when all cars has no power breaks or power steering…it’s still works, it just takes a bit more elbow grease.
READ – Read your owners manual and get familiar with your manufactures recommended emergency procedures.  Some vehicles are equipped with  special emergency override that you should get familiar with…before you need them.  For example, some vehicles have an emergency override system that will kill the engine if the breaks and accelerator is pushed at the same time.  Some vehicles with push button ignition have a safety mechanism where buy pushing and holding the START button for 3 seconds or more the engine will be shutdown.
DON’T pump the break.  Even, firm, consistent break pressure is the key. In the days before AntiLock Breaks drivers we told to pump the break to help maintain control in a slide.  With the advent of ABS the breaking system handles this for the driver (and much more efficiently than a human can, I might add.)  Modern cars will perform better at stopping when steady, firm, consistent pressure is used.
DON’T remove the key from the ignition.  Doing so will cause the steering wheel to lock!  Then you have TWO problems to contend with.

DON’T drive the car again until it has been looked at by a knowledgeable mechanic.

This is an uncommon, but dangerous situation.  Knowing what to do and what not to do could make the difference in an emergency.

What has your experience been ?  Let us know in the comments section below.

Google Android, the open source cell phone operating system from internet behemoth Google, has made the jump from phone to car.

The Rowe 350 has started production on March 18th and will be officially launch at the Beijing Auto Show on April 23rd and will feature Android 2.1 as the operating system for the GPS computer/DVD Player.

Android 2.1 is the same software that powers the Google Nexus One and Motorola Droid.  It is being widely pushed by Google as the ultimate operating system for mobile devices…and apparently cars as well.

What makes this interesting is that the Android platform is built specifically to take advantage of wireless technologies like 3G cellular connections and other wireless technologies.  The Android platform also has application marketplace similar to the one available from Apple with it’s App Store.

It’s not hard to imagine that the system would be able to install new applications from the app marketplace to make it truly extendable.  If this system allows users to install any application from the app store, then the possibilities are almost endless.

For those not familiar with the Android platform, this will give you an idea of what type of applications are available:
Searchify – perform translations, calculations, unit conversions, wikipedia searches, calendar entry
Weatherbug – Allows you to get instant weather updates.
Meebo – Let you send/receive Instant Messages on pretty much any platform
Facebook – Access Facebook from Droid to keep you with your friends
Twidroid – Twitter client for Android
FourSquare – Find your friends and see what they are doing
Yelp – Find food and restaurant reviews.

Nearly anything is possible once you open an auto to a application marketplace like this.

Rowe is a luxury brand of SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation,) and has been partially built utilizing technology  licensed from MG Rover.  Rowe doesn’t currently sell in the US or UK, but according to multiple press sources the plan for US availability is “in the works”

Would you be anxious to have an Android powered car?  Or would you want to wait a few years until the “bugs” are worked out?  Let us know what you think in the comments below

The CarCheckup graphics and video gurus have been at it again. The result of this caffeine driven marathon creative session?

A new CarCheckup masterpiece for your enjoyment!  Lights….Camera….Action.

Hope you enjoyed watching that as much as we enjoyed making it for you!  What did you think?  Should we give our creative team MORE caffeine or have they reached their frenzied capacity?

Let us know in the comments below!

Honda is recalling 344,000 Honda Odysseys and 68,000 Honda Elements from model year 2007 and 2008.

These vehicle, when equipped with “vehicle stability” can have issues with a soft break pedal.

Vehicle stability is a safety a system where the vehicle computer can assist the driver in keeping the car upright during emergency driving by intelligently applying the break to the wheels independently to keep the vehicle stable.

The issue, according to Honda, is with the self test that the “vehicle stability assist modulator” performs when the vehicle is started.  When this self test is initiated the module allows a small bit of air into the hydraulic breaking system.  Each time the vehicle is started, a bit more air is added to the system, causing a soft pedal, and potentially more force required to apply the breaks.

The Hydraulic Breaking System & You – A Crash Course in How Your Breaks Work

The hydraulic breaking system used on cars today relies on fluid dynamics to stop the car.  For those of us that aren’t physics wizards what this means in simple terms is:  The breaks on your car rely on pressurized liquid (break fluid) to actually do the heavy lifting of stopping the car.

I’m sure you’ve heard of break fluid before.  The reason it’s so important to stopping you car is that a fluid cannot be compressed.  So when you step on the break, the fluid is forced into a smaller chamber on your wheel that acts as a multiplier on the breaking force you applied.

This is where air entering the system becomes an issue…air CAN be compressed.  The more air you have displacing fluid in the breaking system of your car, the less “non-compressible” fluid you have. This translates into a spongy feel on your break pedal, increased force required to stop the vehicle, and less efficiency in the entire system.

Your mechanic can “bleed” the break system to remove the air, restoring normal braking for you and your car.

What Does This Mean to Me and My Honda?

Honda is saying that there is no reason to panic.  If you feel like you’re vehicle is experiencing soft pedal or reduced breaking, contact your dealer.  They are being instructed to bleed the break system to remove the air and to cap and seal the points on the modulator that are allowing air to enter the break system. This will restore your break pedal to it’s proper function and buy them time to get the corrected replacement part in stock.  Honda reported that they will issue letters to impacted owners during mid- to late- April.

How Can I Tell If MY Vehicle is Impacted by This?

Honda is still working to determine a full list of the vehicles that are affected by this issue.  After April 19th Honda expects to have gathered all the required info for owners.  After that time you can:

Call Honda Customer Service at 800-999-1009 and select option #4
Go to www.recalls.honda.com and enter your VIN number.

Are you experience trouble with the breaks “not feeling right” on your Honda Odyssey or Honda Element?  If you’ve talked to your dealer what have they told you?  Please share your experience with us in the comments section!

There has been a flurry of recall information out in the past few weeks.  Here is a great resource that can help you stay on top of them.

http://www.safercar.gov

What makes this site great is that, in addition to being free, it covers auto recalls, tire recalls, and child and infant restraint systems.  Register you tires and car seats with the site and it will notify you should there be a recall on your products!

Here are some great topics (with links) covered by the SafeCar.gov site:

Child Passenger Safety
Air Bags
Preventing Rollovers
Tire Safety
Safe Winter Driving
Checking for Auto Recalls
Checking for Child Restraint Recalls
Checking for Tire Recalls
Car Safety Ratings

Tell us what resources you use to stay on top of auto safety related info in the comments below!

Nissan has announced the recall of 179,000 US vehicles today due to problems with the break pedal becoming lose.

Affected Models include:
Some 2008 – 2010 Nissan Titan Pickups
Some 2008 – 2010 Infinity QX56
Some 2008 – 2010 Nissan Armada
Some 2008 – 2009 Nissan Quest

Nissan has found that a pin that is used in the pedal assembly can come loose, causing a reduction in break force.  The more mileage on the car… the more likely it is to start showing signs of being loose.

The recall for this break problem officially begins on March 22, 2010.

As per usual, Nissan will be contacting owners who’s vehicles are affected by the recall and provide them with information on how the recall will be conducted, etc.

Nissan is also recalling 419,000 in the US due to faulty gas gauges.

According to Nissan:

“Vehicles at higher mileage levels may have fuel gauges which incorrectly indicate the amount of fuel in the tank. This may result in the vehicle running out of fuel while the gauge reads greater than empty,”

Nissan is saying that there is an issue that causes the fuel gauge on some Nissan vehicles to show 1/4 tank of gas when they are, in fact, empty.  Nissan is recommending that drivers of affected vehicles maintain at least 1/2 tank of gas to insure that they don’t get stranded.

Affected Models Include:
Some 2005 – 2008 Nissan Titan Pickups
Some 2005 – 2008 Infinity QX56
Some 2005 – 2008 Nissan Armada
Some 2006 – 2008 Nissan Frontier
Some 2006 – 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
Some 2006 – 2008 Nissan Xterra

The recall for this fuel gauge problem officially begins on March 22, 2010.  It’s being conducted in two batches, but the details on how it’s being broken up has yet to be released.  I would suspect that it’s being conducted in two batches due to parts availability.

Is anyone else getting tired of all of the recalls?

Are manufactures being hyper-proactive announcing recalls after seeing the aftermath of the Toyota recall?

Sound off in our comments below!

The US Department of Transportation officially released a new website that focuses on the risks associated with distracted driving on US roads.

From the homepage of distraction.gov

At the U.S. Department of Transportation, we heard America’s call to end the dangerous practice of distracted driving on our nation’s roadways. Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening practice and we will not rest until we stop it.

We are leading the effort but you are the key to preventing distracted driving. The message is simple – Put it down!

We will work across the spectrum with private and public entities as well as advocacy groups to tackle distracted driving, and, we will lead by example. We have taken first steps — The President’s Executive Order has established a new way to approach driving – by putting your device down and paying attention to the task at hand.

Internally, the department’s agencies are already working together to share knowledge and promote a greater understanding of the issue, and identify additional strategies to end distracted driving. Check back to this site often so you can stay abreast of our progress and to view the latest updates and information.

The site contains links to recent news on distracted driving, links to the various state laws regarding texting and cell phones, statistics on distracted driving, as well as videos messages made for TV and even a video message from Oprah Winfrey.

What I find interesting is that normally one thinks of cell phones and texting when they think of distracted driving.  The DOT is considering a much larger list.

Other distracting activities include:

• Using a cell phone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a PDA or navigation system
• Watching a video
• Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player.

I know it unnerves me when I’m driving next to someone and notice that they are reading a book, shaving, or putting on makeup while driving with their knee, but I think this is really the first time I’ve heard the government come out and address these types of behaviors in the same category as cell phones and texting. 

It will be interesting to see if this gets any traction and if we start hearing more about it.

What do you think of the distracted driving laws in your state?  Let us know in the comments below.

Wow!  What a month for manufactures!  First Toyota with their recall problems…Now Honda has a massive recall of their own.

According to Honda’s press release they are expanding the driver’s side air bag inflator on over 375,000 of their 2001 & 2002 vehicles.  The problem lies in the airbag inflators possibly causing the airbag to deploy with too much pressure causing the air bag to rupture. 

Directly from the press release on Honda’s site as linked above:

In total, Honda is aware of 12 incidents related to this issue as of February 2010. While Honda was aware of two additional events when the decision to first expand the recall was made in July 2009, we are not aware of any new events that have occurred after July 2009. However, we have concluded that we cannot be completely certain that the driver’s airbag inflator in the vehicles being added to this recall at this time will perform as designed. Therefore, we have decided to add certain 2001 and 2002 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V, and selected 2002 Acura TL vehicles to this recall.*

* We are also adding one (1) Honda Pilot and one (1) Acura CL vehicle, each produced in late 2002, to this recall.

    Honda owners can see if they are impacted here or call they can call 1-800-999-1009
    Acura owners can see if they are impacted here or call they can call 1-800-382-2238.

Have you been effected by this recall?  Let us know how Honda treated you in the comments section.

Toyota has announced a recall today for their some Prisus and all HS 250h.  Some drivers have reported that the ABS system on their car feels “inconsistent” when traveling over bumpy or slick roads.

Prisus that have been sold between May 2009 and January 2010 could be effected.  All 250h are effected.

Toyota is saying that the fix is a simple software update to the car’s ABS computer.  That’s good news!  At least it’s a pretty quick an painless fix.

In the meantime, Toyota is recommending that drivers on slick roads apply even, steady pressure even if the pedal if your ABS system engages.  That really is the same advice that all manufactures give relating to ABS systems, so there isn’t anything really new there.

For more info you can visit Toyota’s press release about this recall.

Poor Toyota has has it’s share of problems over the last few months.

The CarCheckup team would like to say congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts for their hard fought game earlier this evening.  Though they didn’t come out on top in the Super Bowl, they still made Indianapolis proud with their hard work and dedication.

Thank you Indianapolis Colts for a Great season!

Thank you for visiting our Blog!

We plan on sharing with you timely information and advice and auto care, driver safety, and all things that will make owning a car less stressful and more enjoyable!