At the writing of this article, several 2007 Acura TL units are coming off of 36 month lease, through American Honda, and many of these units are still under the balance of factory warranty.

Let’s talk absolute value: Many will claim that the 2007 / 2008 Acura TL is the best equipped model that American Honda has ever produced in it’s price category, and that there isn’t a better choice in Asian, Domestic or European vehicles. The Acura TL is assembled in the U.S., in the State of Ohio and all Acura TL units are loaded with standard factory equipment that are an extra cost on other makes and models. Just a few of the standard factory features include:

• Sunroof
• Fog Lights
• 17 inch Alloy Wheels
• Heated Leather Seats
• 4 Wheel Disc Brakes with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Bluetooth Technology, which American Honda Refers to as Handsfree Link
• A Very Fuel Efficient V6 Engine (makes around 30 to 32 MPG on the highway)
• An Excellent Factory Warranty That Includes Powertrain Coverage to 70,000 Miles

Fuel Efficient: As mentioned in the list above, the 2007 Acura TL comes standard with a 3.2 Liter V6 VTEC engine that produces 258 horsepower. The Acura TL Type S has a 3.5 Liter V6 VTEC engne that produces 286 horsepower.  This power-to-weight ratio provides the driver with excellent acceleration as well as great fuel efficiency. Acura TL owners can expect between 30 and 32 MPG on the interstate if they maintain a reasonable and consistent speed of 70 to 75 miles-per-hour (MPH) when using the recommended 91 or higher octane fuel. In stop-and-go city driving, this MPG can drop 20%, which will still provide an average MPG of 23 to 25 miles per gallon.

Low Maintenance Cost: As far as maintenance costs, Acura TL owners have very few. In normal driving conditions, American Honda recommends replacement of the timing belt every 7 years or 105,000 miles (whichever occurs first). The manufacturer also recommends that the spark plugs be replaced every 105,000 miles. In most environments, engine air filters and cabin air filters should be replaced every 30,000 miles. As with all Honda and Acura vehicles; our own service department recommends that the automatic transmission fluid be changed once a year or every 15,000 miles, and the engine oil & filter be changed every 3,750 miles. Unlike European vehicles, that may hold up to 10 quarts of a unique oil weight, which may be uncommon to comparable vehicles in the United States; the Acura TL engine holds approx. 4.5 quarts of 5w20 motor oil and a $6.00 spin-on oil filter.

Market Driven Oppportunity: As with most vehicles that have an initial MSRP of over $32,000;  a large percentage of Acura vehicles are leased for the first 3 years. Once the 36 month lease term has ended; many of the Acura cars and SUV units are then sold by American Honda Finance at dealer auction. To the consumer, this is an opportunity because of the large volume of lease units that saturate the market for a few months. Currently, there are enough 2007 Acura TL units in the market, that a dealer can likely sell a 2007 model for less than a 2006 model Acura TL. However, this market condition will not last. Within just a few months, this surplus of 2007 Acura TL units will be absorbed into the retail market, and dealers will then be paying more for the same vehicle when obtaining them from American Honda.

One Final Thought: For the readers that sit on the fence and say, “the same thing will happen when the 2008 Acura TL units come off lease”……. My response is, “don’t count on it”.

In 2008 we were paying very high prices for gasoline and we also had a presidential election. This effected leases and purchases in 2008.  In 2009 we had two major car manufacturers go dormant in the U.S., for about 8 months and we also had the program, “cash for clunkers”. This effected new car inventory and used car inventory.  In 2010, we have had major flooding in several areas of the United States. This has destroyed many vehicles that were flooded and the replacement of these flooded vehicles has also weighed heavily on new and used car inventories.

At Accurate, we are the best place in Nashville / Middle Tennessee to purchase / service your Honda & Acura automobiles. Our vehicles are “hand-picked” by our own Accurate car buyer, who was the first technician that our company hired back in 1996. Our technician-selected Honda and Acura used cars are fully serviced and fully detailed prior to marketing. You will not find a better place to purchase your next Honda or Acura used car than www.accuratecars.com

The 1st used car buying tip covered the importance of always referencing the vehicle identification number (commonly referred to as the VIN or serial number),when considering a Honda or Acura pre-owned unit that is advertised online. This is the first step, because without a VIN, a consumer cannot reference a title history report on a particular vehicle.

The direct link to the 1st used car buying tip is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2009/11/03/tips-on-buying-a-honda-or-acura-used-car/

The 2nd Honda & Acura used car buying tip recommended referencing the Carfax Report for possible service history records.

The direct link to Tip #2  is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2010/02/11/honda-and-acura-used-car-buying-tip-2-check-carfax-for-honda-acura-service-records/

Used car buying tip #3 was one of the most important, because it showed how AutoCheck title history reports will expose “frame damaged” and / or “unibody damaged” vehicles that are sold at Manheim Auctions.

The direct link to Tip #3 is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2010/02/12/honda-and-acura-used-car-buying-tip-3-reference-autocheck-for-possible-frame-damage-history/

Used car buying tip #4 covered the importance of referencing both Autocheck and Carfax title history reports because both companies use different referencing sources for their data.This is especially important because one of the sources that autocheck uses is Manheim auto auctions. If a vehicle goes through their auction with an announced “frame damaged” condition, autocheck gets notified and they will note it on their title history reports, while Carfax may not get this information.

The direct link to tip #4 is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2010/02/18/honda-acura-used-car-buying-tip-4-always-reference-both-title-history-reports/

Used car Buying Tip #5 - Internet Car Shopping: Dealer or No Dealer

There are many used car buyers that refuse to go through a car dealer for their used car purchases and based on their past experiences; their objection may be understandable. All types of businesses have competitors that are dishonest and may not serve the public well. There are restaurants that serve bad food. There are grocery stores that charge excessive amounts or may sell food that is past it’s ”sell by” date. There are dishonest attorneys. There are banks that consumers would not open an account with or aquire a home mortgage through. And, there are many car dealers that have been known to be dishonest, charge excessive amounts, and not provide a good product……. But there are also good car dealers that are out to help consumers obtain a good deal on a used car and many of these same dealers won’t rope a car buyer into products (including extending warranties) that will have little or no benefit to the consumer..

Three reasons to using an established and respected car dealer to purchase your next used car include:

First, car dealers must be bonded and licensed. This means that car dealers are held to a professional standard that ensures compliance with Federal laws, State laws, and local ordinances. These professional standards can include selling a car that has a reasonable history, satisfying any and all past financial leins associated with the vehicle,  collecting and paying all applicable taxes that are associated with the sell of the vehicle and making sure that the ownership of the used car can be transferred with ease.  If a dealer sells a vehicle that does not have a clear title or does not meet certain criteria; the bond that he must carry will monetarily guarantee that he will fulfill his legal obligations in all car transactions. If he doesn’t fulfill his legal obligations; his bond company will financially compensate the buyer. In most cases, a car buyer does not have this level of security, if purchasing a used car from a private individual.

Second, most used car dealers have an business investment to protect.  Ever heard the phrase “good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster”? This is true in all businesses and especially true in the car business. What the dealership looks like and how long has it has been in business can greatly effect your used car buying experience. A used car dealer that has been in existence for several years and has built a reputation of being an honest and legitimate business will not likely be willing to sell a vehicle that can have repercussions that can damage his reputation. An internet car dealer that has not been in business very long and simply operates out of his house or out of a warehouse;  has very little to lose. If his reputation starts to effect the number of  cars he can sell on the internet, in a month; he can simply move his warehouse operation and change the name of his business. A private seller also has little to lose if he takes advantage of an internet car buyer.

Third, car dealers can usually save you money on a used car purchase and the newer the vehicle, the more this holds true. Used car dealers are in the business of buying and selling cars and in most cases that involve late model, low mileage vehicles;  they can save the consumer several thousand dollars off of new car prices. While good ole American car marketing attempts to make the idea of purchasing a new car as the safer and better investment, new car depreciation will bring all new cars down to a resale level that is very close to the same vehicle that is one or two years older. Because of new car depreciation,  a private individual is rarely in a position to sell the same one or two year old vehicle at a better price or that is in better condition.

At www.accuratecars.comwe are focused on all aspects of Honda and Acura car ownership. This includes buying, servicing, and repairing. Whether you live in the areas around Nashville or outside the State of Tennessee; we are in the business to help consumers with their Honda and Acura cars.

Thanks for reading our blog articles.

At Accurate, we have always respected the weather and this especially holds true during the Spring-time. We constantly monitor our local weather and when strong storms, high winds, and hail are predicted or possible; we move our Honda and Acura used cars inside of our service facility. This past weekend, the weather prediction was for heavy rains. Because Accurate was built on a high elevation off of the interstate, flooding is not an issue.

The photo below shows a storm drain and some of the impact that the flood waters had on our local area. This photo was taken after the heavy rains on Saturday afternoon and this is the highest that the waters came in the immediate area. In the background, you can see that our facility is on a significantly higher elevation and completely safe during this historic rainfall event. The second photo was taken on the following Monday morning and is at the same location; to give indication of the topography (varying elevations) of the area.

The silver lining: Middle TN has always been noted for having high pollen counts during the Spring….. Right now, even the most asthmatic can breathe easy.

The 1st used car buying tip covered the importance of always referencing the vehicle identification number (commonly referred to as the VIN or serial number), when considering a Honda or Acura pre-owned unit that is advertised online. This is the first step, because without a VIN, a consumer cannot reference a title history report on a particular vehicle. The direct link to the 1st used car buying tip is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2009/11/03/tips-on-buying-a-honda-or-acura-used-car/

The 2nd Honda & Acura used car buying tip recommended referencing the Carfax Report for possible service history records.

The direct link to Tip #2  is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2010/02/11/honda-and-acura-used-car-buying-tip-2-check-carfax-for-honda-acura-service-records/

Used car buying tip #3 was one of the most important, because it showed how AutoCheck title history reports will expose “frame damaged” and / or “unibody damaged” vehicles that are sold at Manheim Auctions. The direct link to Tip #3 is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2010/02/12/honda-and-acura-used-car-buying-tip-3-reference-autocheck-for-possible-frame-damage-history/

Used Car Buying Tip#4 :    Always Reference Both Carfax and AutoCheck

On the Used Car Buying Tip #3 article, we were a little tough on Carfax. After reading that article, some readers may have concluded that Carfax deserved it, because not only did their report not show that a ”frame damaged” vehicle had gone through an dealer auto auction, but it didn’t even show that the vehicle had been involved in an accident…..But don’t choose one title history report over the other….. Remember, title history reports are simply data entries that make a historical record of a vehicle. The sources that AutoCheck uses may vary to some of the sources that Carfax uses……..So both title history reports should be pulled and examined before making your used car purchase.

In this article, we are going to make a timeline of events referencing the same vehicle from our used car buying tip #3 article;  the 2005 Honda Accord EX, vin 1HGCM56705A034719 (pictured above with a copy of the clean Carfax Report printed on 12-03-08). We will also be referencing a present day copy of both the Carfax Title History Report and the AutoCheck Title History Report (pictured below). The AutoCheck and Carfax reports that are pictured below were pulled and printed on February 12, 2010.

The Timeline by reference numbers:

#1 Carfax shows this vehicle was sold at dealer auction on December 1, 2008.

#2 AutoCheck shows vehicle is announced as fleet lease on December 1, 2008.

#3   AutoCheck shows vehicle is announced as a “frame damaged” unit on December 5, 2008

To this point, AutoCheck is the most accurate record. This 2005 Honda Accord was actually sold at dealer auction on December 3, 2008.

#4 The Carfax Report  (printed on December 3, 2008)  shows no previous accident damage.

#5 The Carfax Report shows this vehicle is offered for sale on December 3, 2008

#6 Carfax shows an accident that happened on July 8, 2008

#7 Carfax indicates that they listed this accident on their report, starting October 15, 2009

#8   Vehicle was purchased by current owner on December 18, 2008

#6 , #7 and #8 are critical problems with Carfax. The reason is because until October 15, 2010 this “frame damaged” Honda Accord had a clean Carfax Report with no accident data. This means that the present owner of this vehicle had owned this 2005 Honda Accord for almost a year before accident data showed up on the Carfax Report from July of 2008.

This 2005 “frame damaged” Honda Accord had a clean Carfax Report when the current owner purchased it on December 18, 2008.

To date, with the exception of the “announced condition” at dealer auction, AutoCheck still does not show the vehicle accident on July 8, 2008.

This is the reason that both Carfax and AutoCheck should be viewed before purchasing your next used car. These title history reporting companies use different sources for their data and one title history report may differ from the other.

The website www.accuratecars.com consists of Accurate Automotive and Accurate Auto Sales. Both Tennessee based corporations are independent, non-franchised companies that exclusively specialize in the sales & service of Honda and Acura automobiles, vans, and SUVs, in the Nashville / Middle Tennessee area. Both companies are privately owned by the same individuals and are not endorsed, or paid by any outside sources. Accurate Automotive and Accurate Auto Sales are not affiliated with American Honda, Acura, Carfax, AutoCheck, or Manheim Auto Auctions. The companies listed above were named in this article for informational purposes only.

Whether they are at our facility in Nashville, TN or across the country, in another state; at Accurate, we want all consumers of Honda & Acura products to be treated honestly in sales & service. For this reason, we are writing these used car buying tips along with other blog articles for tips on service & maintenance of Honda and Acura automobiles.

Thanks for reading our blog articles at www.accuratecars.com

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/12/16/internet-used-car-buyinghow-much-do-you-rely-on-a-carfax-report/

Tip #1 covered the importance of always referencing the vehicle identification number (commonly referred to as the VIN or serial number), when considering a Honda or Acura pre-owned unit that is advertised online. This is the first step, because without a VIN, a consumer cannot reference a title history report on a particular vehicle. The direct link to the first used car buying tip is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2009/11/03/tips-on-buying-a-honda-or-acura-used-car/

Tip #2 recommended referencing the Carfax Report for possible service history records.

The direct link to Tip #2  is:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2010/02/11/honda-and-acura-used-car-buying-tip-2-check-carfax-for-honda-acura-service-records/

While all of our used car buying tips are helpful, this next tip on buying Honda used cars and Acura used cars is one of the most important.

Tip #3  Always refer to the AutoCheck Title History Report for record of frame damage

Many car buyers and internet car shoppers are familiar with Carfax Title History Reports. Carfax has spent a fortune in branding their name and because of their marketing investment, Carfax is currently the most recognized title history reporting source.

However, there is another title history reporting company called AutoCheck, and it is owned by Experian. AutoCheck has also been around  for several years, but AutoCheck has not marketed itself as agressively as Carfax.

The most important thing about AutoCheck title history reports is that Manheim Auto Auctions report directly to AutoCheck if a vehicle is sold at any Manheim auction facility as a “frame damaged” or “unibody damaged” unit.

While only a small percentage of vehicles sold at Manheim Auctions are frame damaged units, many of these vehicles that are announced as “frame damaged” or “unibody damaged”, have a clean Carfax Title History Report.

Just a few years ago,  there were some unscrupulous car dealers that were buying  “frame damaged” used cars at dealer auction, and at a huge savings because of the announced “frame damage” or “unibody damage” condition. These dishonest dealers were then marketing and selling these units on the internet, on sites such as Ebay, and without full disclosure of the “frame damage” condition. This was a big problem with Ebay because many of these vehicles had a clean Carfax History Report. For this reason,  Ebay Motors started posting the AutoCheck Report on all of the cars listed on Ebay’s site. Today, if a vehicle is posted on Ebay, the AutoCheck report is automatically posted on the listing as well. Carfax simply does not receive this information from Manheim Auctions….But AutoCheck does.

The website www.accuratecars.com consists of Accurate Automotive and Accurate Auto Sales. Both Tennessee based corporations are independent, non-franchised companies that exclusively specialize in the sales & service of Honda and Acura automobiles, vans, and SUVs, in the Nashville / middle Tennessee area. Both companies are privately owned by the same individuals and are not endorsed, or paid by any outside sources. Accurate Automotive and Accurate Auto Sales are not affiliated with American Honda, Acura, Carfax, AutoCheck, Manheim Auto Auctions, or Ebay Motors. The companies listed above were named in this article for informational purposes only.

Whether they are at our facility in Nashville, TN or across the country, in another state; at Accurate, we want all consumers of Honda & Acura products to be treated honestly in sales & service. For this reason, we are writing these used car buying tips along with other blog articles for tips on service & maintenance of Honda and Acura automobiles.

Thanks for reading our blog articles at www.accuratecars.com

Our first tip covered the importance of always referencing the vehicle identification number (commonly referred to as the VIN or serial number), when considering a Honda or Acura pre-owned unit that is advertised online. This is the first step, because without a VIN, a consumer cannot reference a title history report on a particular vehicle. The direct link to the first used car buying tip is:   http://accuratecars.com/blog/2009/11/03/tips-on-buying-a-honda-or-acura-used-car/

TIP #2  Reference Carfax for Possible Vehicle Service History

Because of identity theft,  most consumers put a high regard in protecting their personal information that includes addresses, phone numbers, and credit / debit card receipts. For this reason, it is unlikely that printed service records and receipts will be left in the glove box of used Honda cars and Acura used cars that are for sale in the Nashville area in Middle Tennessee. But, one possible source for vehicle service history may actually be the Carfax title history report.

EXAMPLE: A few weeks ago, our dealership purchased this 2005 Acura TL from a South Florida Acura dealer. This particular Acura TL had over 114,000 miles on it but it was in very good shape

http://www.accuratecars.com/car_listing/592.php

We put a great emphisis on the extensive service history that was recorded on the Carfax Report before our inventory purchaser acquired this unit.

Like Geico Insurance Company; Carfax has spent a small fortune in strategically marketing themselves. Carfax is probably the most recognized source for title history reports. Their reports include the following information:

• How the vehicle was previously registered ( as a personal vehicle, rental or a lease )
• What state (s) the vehicle was titled in.
• If the vehicle’s VIN shows up on any police records. These records including police reports that were written due to vandalism, which has been known to inaccurately show up on a Carfax Report as accident history.)

In addition,  the Carfax report may show previous maintenance history on the vehicle. This is a fairly new feature on the Carfax title history report. If you are researching a vehicle that does not have service history recorded on the Carfax report, don’t be alarmed. There is a limited number of repair and maintenance facilities that use a DMS (Dealer Management System) that Carfax accepts for this exchange of maintenance data. Currently the DMS list is made up of only ten possibilities and some of these are very expensive billing systems. So you may find that while some of the most expensive franchised dealership service departments will likely have these DMS tools;  some smaller repair / service facilities (that closely watch their overhead, to save their customers additional money on vehicle maintenance) may not have these particular accounting tools that electronically link to Carfax.

At Accurate, we specialize in the sales, service, and repair of Honda and Acura automobiles, trucks, vans, and SUVs. Come in and see why www.accuratecars.com is the best place in Nashville and Middle TN to purchase and service your Acura and Honda vehicles. Always expect certified quality Honda and Acura pre-owned units from our facility.

TIP #1

DO NOT CONSIDER ANY VEHICLE WITH AN ONLINE LISTING THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE VIN OR SERIAL NUMBER POSTED ON THE AD.

Do you know how to not get ripped off buying a used car? Start your research on the internet. But understand that this research should be based on the history of the vehicle, and not how many cup holders or iPod jacks that it has.  Because you are shopping used cars, you must perform that internet research with “a foundation” or “point of reference”.

This point of reference will be the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

Every vehicle has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and this is the serial number of the automobile.

The vehicle identification number is critical when shopping for a used Honda’s and when shopping for used Acura’s. This number must be referenced to access current Carfax and AutoCheck title history reports. The VIN confirms the year model of the vehicle. It identifies the model variations, such as ”Touring”, “Premium”, “Technology”, EX-L, and “Sport”.  The VIN also identifies many equipment packages that may or may not be actually on the vehicle.

Even though that internet ad may state that the vehicle is a certain year model and equipped with specific factory equipment options, in most cases, the VIN will confirm or it may dispute the ad description.

For example: Let’s take the vin of one our most recent inventory units: vin 2HNYD18905H557357, which was a 2005 Acura MDX Touring.

The first digit “2″ indicates that the vehicle was built in Canada

The 6th digit  “1″ after HNYD indicates that this vehicle is a 4 wheel drive unit

The 7th digit “8″ indicates that this vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission.

The 8th digit “9″ indicates that this Acura MDX is a Touring model and it is equipped with Navigation and RES (Rear Entertainment DVD System).

The 10th digit “5″ indicates this Acura MDX was produced as a 2005 model.

Most consumers know that the vin is located on the driver’s side of the dashboard, but their are several other places the vin can be found on a vehicle.

Most Honda and Acura vehicles will have a VIN sticker on all major body panels, if they are the original panels. These include the doors, the fenders, the hood, the trunk lid and rear hatch.

There will also be a production sticker and the Vehicle Identification Number will be on this label as well. On Honda and Acura vehicles, the production sticker is normally located on the body of the vehicle inside of the driver’s door.

If these vin labels are missing or the production sticker has been removed from the vehicle, it is possible that those body panels are not the original and have been replaced…..However, note that some models of Honda and Acura vehicles do not have vin labels that can been seen, on certain original body panels. One example of this are the early year models of the Honda Pilot. The front fenders of the Honda Pilots have the vin label behind an outer molding, instead of under the hood, where the fender labels are located on the Acura MDX.

LOOK FOR CONSISTENCY:

If the right front door has a vin label, then the left front door should have a vin label and in that same place on the door as well. If a right front fender has a vin sticker in a specific place, then the left front fender should have the same vin sticker and in about the same location.

When shopping for that perfect Honda or Acura used car, always verify the VIN to the vehicle that you saw online.

Print the ad when you are at your computer. When you get to the location of the vehicle that you are interested in, check the VIN on the vehicle to the VIN on your copy of the online ad.

On most online vehicle listing sites, the Vehicle Identification Number can not be entered incorrectly. They will not be off by a couple of digits (such as tranposing the numbers when it is being typed / entered on a computer database).

If the vehicle that you see online and the vehicle that you looking at do not have the same VIN when you walk up to it, then DO NOT BUY THAT VEHICLE.

If a car dealer has multiple Honda used cars or multiple Acura used cars in their inventory; They may try to ( accidentally ) show you a clean title history report from a different vehicle, with a different VIN.

ALWAYS USE THE VIN AS YOUR FUNDAMENTAL POINT OF REFERENCE

Some other accurate car articles pertaining to the VIN of Honda used cars and Acura used cars are posted below:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/07/25/always-shop-and-buy-2001-to-2006-acura-mdx-units-by-vin/

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/07/25/identifying-the-2007-and-2008-mdx-by-vin/

http://www.accuratecars.com/http://www.accuratecars.com/http://www.accuratecars.com/http://www.accuratecars.com/news-article-36.html

The use of the internet has drastically changed used car marketing over the past decade.

For instance;  a few years ago, many consumers viewed shopping & purchasing used cars on Ebay to be very risky. But, with the feedback scores and buyers comments posted online for all to see, Carfax reports, AutoCheck reports, NADA pricing guides and other major internet referencing tools; the consumer does not have to be in a position of intimidation when shopping for a used car.

In fact, the internet shopper has never been in a better position and would probably consider just going down to the local used car lot and buying a used car on a handshake and a smile to be very risky….And they would be correct.

Along with the internet research tools, most consumers can also find exactly what they are looking for in make, model, and factory options with just a few clicks on the keyboard or I-Touch screen.

Over the next several weeks, used car buying tips will be posted (one at a time) at www.accuratecars.com and you will likely find these tips to be very useful and pertinent to finding that perfect used Honda or Acura vehicle. As these Honda used car buying tips and Acura used car buying tips are composed and published on the website, they will be written to be very precise, and will include reasons for performing certain actions, as well as avoiding certain actions that may make you vulnerable to internet scams and other pitfalls.

While these internet used cars buying tips are written to assist in buying Honda used cars and Acura pre-owned units on the internet, they can also be applied to other makes / models of passenger vehicles, vans, SUVs and light duty trucks.

All four vehicles are earlier model used cars. These tow-in vehicles consisted of a 2002 Honda Civic, a 2001 Honda Prelude Si, a 1993 Honda Accord 10th Anniversary Edition, and a 1992 Acura Vigor. What all four of these Honda and Acura vehicles have in common was while they are all very reliable cars, they are older cars and the temperatures, that had dropped well below freezing,  had caused some problems. These cold weather problems consisted from not starting to major oil leaks.

While the vehicles that wouldn’t start had to be towed; the Honda and Acura car owners with major engine oil leaks, wisely chose to have their vehicle towed instead of risking further damage and a more extensive & expensive car repair.

The most common cold weather problem is “the car won’t start”  Please note, the information below is based on local, middle Tennessee weather conditions and may not apply to the bitter, sub-zero temperatures that many experieince in the mid west regions and further north of TN.

Car Won’t Start in Cold Weather.

If the vehicle has been regularly maintained and serviced,  this problem is usually caused by a low crank speed. Low crank speed during cold weather usually results from two common problems; a low charged / bad battery or the wrong engine oil viscosity for winter temperatures.

• A bad car battery  can show up at any time. Regardless of how old the battery is, or what brand the battery is, provides no guarantee that it cannot fail. According to our own Interstate Battery Supplier, during cold weather, the individual plates inside of a car battery can short-out. This can occur with no previous warning and if this happens the battery “is toast” and cannot even be “jumped-off”.  During the winter, Accurate Automotive recommends that you drive your Honda and Acura vehicles every few days, including some constant speed driving on an interstate or highway. Also, have your car battery load tested when you go in for an oil change. Most shops have a way to load test the battery and many of them will provide this service at no cost if you request it during routine maintenance, such as an oil change.

As for freezing, most modern-day car batteries will not freeze and crack. Several years ago, battery manufacturers provided a way to top off the acid level with tap water, when the acid levels got low during the summer time heat. Today, most battery manufacturers have produced “maintenance-free” batteries and it is harder to obtain a way to top-off the battery acid level with water…. However, if enough water has been added to the battery acid level during the summer or late enough into autumn, and if the battery is exposed to extremely cold temperatures;  they can freeze, crack, and even explode under the right temperature conditions.

NOTE:  Always wear eye protection and gloves when working with car batteries and NEVER stand near either battery when using jumper cables. Hook the jumper cables up and stand clear.

• Wrong engine oil viscosity can not only cause a low crank speed, but it can also cause engine damage because the lubricant cannot flow properly  and protect vital engine parts when cold.

The above photo was taken from a 2000 Honda Accord owners manual is simply being displayed as an example. Oil viscosity does vary by vehicle and the year that it was built. Always consult your own Honda and Acura owners manual for correct engine oil specs.

For additional information on using the correct engine oil in Honda and Acura vehicles, click on the link below:

http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/08/09/always-use-the-correct-motor-oil-weight-in-your-acura-and-honda-automobiles/

During any extreme, below freezing cold weather, snap Honda and Acura Car Owners should be on the look out for an oil leak, coolant / anti-freeze leak and other vehicle issues such as the engine cranking slower than normal. Some of these car engine issues can indicate that your car may not start the next time you turn the key in cold weather.  Instead of that reliable, strong crank of the engine, you might only hear a clicking noise or nothing at all.  In colder than normal temps, Accurate Automotive recommends that car owners “stop, look, listen, and address the warning signs”.

Honda and Acura Car Owners in the Nashville, Brentwood, Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee area can call Accurate Automotive for assistance if any of these issues effect your car.

615-220-0333

A new customer contacted us by phone and requested a price quote for an automatic transmission replacement in his 2002 Acura MDX Touring. His vehicle was at the local Nashville area Acura franchised dealership and their service department had informed him that he would need to replace the transmission. Because their price seemed excessive; he wanted to “shop around” before giving them “the ok” to proceed.

Because the overhead and daily expenses of operating Accurate Automotive is a fraction of what it costs to run a franchised dealership in Cool Springs; our service department was able to quote a price that was less expensive; but there were two other major things that got this new customers attention:

The first thing was that our service department uses a rebuilt transmission from H&A Transmissions, out of  California. We started installing H&A transmissions over 8 years ago and Honda and Acura transmissions are all they rebuild. The reason we rely on H&A is simple:

• Their product is good.
• Their warranty is good.
• They take pride in the product that they sell.

The second thing that seemed to “win him over” was the actions of the franchised dealership service writer. According to the customer, when he told the service writer that Accurate Automotive would be picking up his Acura MDX with the tow truck later that day, the franchised dealer’s service writer had indicated that we would likely install a used transmission out of a wrecked Acura MDX. He also lowered his original price quote and claimed that their warranty was better.

Because this customer is a business owner himself; he identified that Accurate Automotive is a direct and legitimate competitor for the service and repair of Acura and Honda vehicles in the Nashville, Tennessee area. He ignored the franchised dealers defamatory remarks.

We simply explained that Accurate Automotive does not install used transmissions in Acura MDX units and informed him that an H&A rebuilt transmission would be installed in his Acura MDX.

We also informed the customer that a larger and more efficient transmission fluid cooler would be installed during the installation procedure and that the use of Genuine Honda / Acura automatic transmission fluid (Honda part number 08200-9001 or 08200-9001A) would be applied.

The reason for the new cooler is based on an H&A recommendation of installing a larger tranmission fluid cooler when installing a replacement transmission in Honda Pilots, Honda Odysseys and Acura MDXs. Because of their expertise, we make it a habit of listening to H&A’s advice.

The new customer realized that even with the fluid cooler and installation, our price was lower than the franchised dealer’s adjusted price.

He told us to dispatch our tow truck, install the transmission, and to call him when his MDX was ready to go. He came in a few days later and even found our covered customer pick-up area to be useful on that rainy morning.