5 Windshield Repair Myths

Small Windshield Chips Are Safe and Won't Crack

Research shows that 7 out of 10 chips in a windshield will eventually crack. This means that the problem went from something that could simply be repaired turned into something that needed to be completely replaced. A windshield that is chipped immediately becomes weaker and is at risk for becoming more damaged. Car owners should be aware of any small windshield chips that exist on their vehicle and repair them before they worsen.

All Chips in Your Windshield Require a Full Replacement

While windshield chips can cause a lot of problems in the future if they are not repaired, they do not require a full replacement. Chips in a windshield are actually very simple to repair and if done right, one would never know the window was ever chipped. A windshield only requires a full replacement by a windshield repair company if it is cracked or when a chip turns into a crack that is larger than a quarter. If a crack is the size of a quarter or smaller, it may be able to be repaired instead of replacing the whole windshield.

Do-It-Yourself Repair Kits Are Good Enough

Taking the cheap way out and using a do-it-yourself kit is going to have cheap did-it-yourself results. Many windshield repair companies will not repair a window that has already been experimented on with a repair kit. Going straight to a professional will save more money in the long run and will ensure that the job is done well. Do not make the mistake of using a kit to substitute a real repair. Companies that make and distribute repair kits will market that their products work just as well as a professional repair job, but remember that they are a business trying to sell a product. Do not fall for it.

Chip Repairs Must Be Paid for Out of Pocket

Usually, vehicle owners will not have to pay for the entire chip repair on their own. Paying for a chip repair is much cheaper than replacing the windshield. Insurance companies are aware of this, so they will often waive the deductible on the chip repair. In the case of the entire windshield being repaired, a car owner will most likely have to pay the deductible themselves. In addition, windshield repair professionals often offer warranties and other benefits to their clients.

All Chips Are the Same 

Most people do not know that all windshield chips are categorized into 6 different types and are treated accordingly. These are combo break, bee's wing, star break, bull's eye, clover leaf, and half-moon. A professional can determine what kind of chip is in a windshield. Each kind of chip will spread differently. Some types will spread faster than others. Knowing what type of chip it is plays a part in the repair process, which is another reason to have a windshield repaired by a professional rather than with an at-home repair kit. 

5 Automotive Mobile Devices Ideal for Teenage Drivers

Many parents worry when their teens start to drive. Distracted driving, inexperience and simple carelessness are all reasons for parents to be concerned. The added distraction of a cellphone and all its available functions bring even more reasons to worry.

While it would be great if parents could keep a watchful eye every time a teenager is behind the wheel, it’s just not possible. In this age of technology, can parents have more peace of mind when their newly licensed teenage driver is on the road?

“Parents can make use of vehicle monitoring devices,” says Chris Kersting, president and CEO of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). The trade association represents the $33 billion automotive specialty equipment industry that includes thousands of products that are available to enhance a vehicle’s styling, performance, comfort and convenience. “These devices can help relieve some parents’ anxieties about their teen driver and can even improve teen driving habits.”

Here are some devices to consider for anyone who wants to keep tabs on teenagers behind the wheel.

Bluetooth

While you don’t want your teen texting while driving, it’s equally as important to make sure that he’s not talking with his phone glued to his ear. A vehicle with Bluetooth capabilities will ensure a safer hands-free experience – not to mention you can call him knowing he can answer you without taking his hands off the wheel or his eyes off the road. Choices range from a standalone universal Bluetooth kit, FM transmitters or a new Bluetooth-enabled car stereo system.

GPS tracker

You can easily track a vehicle’s movement using a GPS tracker. These handy devices can be mounted in any car, sometimes using only a magnet, and will report back to your computer or smartphone. Advanced features include alerts letting you know if your teenager is driving out of a pre-designated area. Trackers typically require a monthly subscription service fee.

Plug-in diagnostic port adapters

Plug-in diagnostic port adapters plug into your vehicle’s onboard diagnostic port (OBDII). The OBDII connects to the car’s brain and when accessed, can provide a plethora of information on how the car is being driven. Every car sold after Jan. 1, 1996 was required to have an OBDII port, so most vehicles on the road today include this port. Numerous plug-in adapters are available to monitor driving habits and gather reports, including speed monitoring, harsh braking, location displays and more. Most adapters also require a service subscription in order to provide text or email alerts on activities you wish to monitor.

Hardwired telematics systems

A hardwired vehicle tracking system eliminates the possibility of your teenager finding and removing the diagnostic port adapter. Hardwired systems also provide real-time information and can pinpoint locations more accurately than a plug-in unit. These systems provide the same features such as speed tracking and notifications when your teen exceeds speed thresholds, and have built-in motion sensors to detect rapid acceleration or rapid starts. When real-time information is important, a hardwired system, while more costly and time consuming up-front, has real advantages.

Cellphone blockers

Some aftermarket products available today can actually block cellphone usage when your teenager is driving, going a step beyond vehicle tracking or telematics. These cellphone blockers can be configured to block numerous phone capabilities, including texting while driving, taking photos and using applications. It can even block all incoming and outgoing phone calls, except from numbers you specify (i.e. mom and dad). Like a plug-in or hardwired telematics system, cellphone blockers connect to the vehicle’s telematics system. Along with blocking the most distracting functions of a phone, cellphone blockers also monitor and report speeding, driving habits and provide location identification.

Defeat drowsy driving dangers: Tips for staying awake at the wheel

One in five fatal accidents in America involves a drowsy driver, according to a recent report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Unfortunately, driving while fatigued is common in today’s business world. Yet the consequences of driving when you’re tired can be tragic.
“Drowsiness is similar to alcohol in how it compromises driving ability by reducing alertness and attentiveness, delaying reaction times, and hindering decision-making skills,” says Dr. Nathaniel Watson, president-elect of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and national spokesperson for the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project, which is raising awareness of the dangers of driving while fatigued. “Drowsy driving is deadly, but it can be prevented.”
The Healthy Sleep Project has issued a Drowsy Driving Health Advisory, which urges every driver to take responsibility for staying “Awake at the Wheel.” Drivers should make it a daily priority to get sufficient sleep, refuse to drive when sleep-deprived, recognize the signs of drowsiness, and pull off the road to a safe location when sleepy.
“Rolling down the windows or turning up the music will do little to increase your alertness while driving,” Watson says. “You can drink coffee for a short-term energy boost, but if you catch yourself drifting into other lanes or nodding off, it’s absolutely time to pull over and take a nap.”
Getting seven to nine hours of nightly sleep is the best way to prevent drowsy driving, according to the Healthy Sleep Project. Drivers should also avoid driving late at night or alone, and they should share the driving with another passenger on long trips.
How do you know if you’re too sleepy to drive? If you experience any of these warning signs, you should pull over or have another passenger take the wheel:
* You keep yawning or are unable to keep your eyes open.
* You catch yourself “nodding off” and have trouble keeping your head up.
* You can’t remember driving the last few miles.
* You end up too close to cars in front of you.
* You miss road signs or drive past your turn.
* You drift into the other lane of traffic.
* You drift onto the “rumble strip” or onto the shoulder of the road.
The Healthy Sleep Project also encourages transportation companies to promote public safety by adhering to hours-of-service regulations, scheduling work shifts based on sleep need and circadian timing, implementing an evidence-based fatigue management system, and screening commercial drivers for sleep diseases such as obstructive sleep apnea.
“There is no substitute for healthy sleep – it’s essential to promote personal safety and optimal alertness behind the wheel,” Watson says. “Evaluate your sleep habits, address potential problems with a board-certified sleep specialist, and make sleep a priority to protect yourself, your passengers and other drivers from avoidable, life-threatening accidents caused by drowsiness.”

Learn More About Adaptive Cruise Control in the 2015 Chrysler 300

Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive Cruise Control is the next logical step on the road to completely autonomous vehicles. Rather than maintaining speed in isolation, a vehicle with adaptive cruise control can actually react to the traffic around it. The key to adaptive cruise control is the presence of a sensor, usually radar--based, that can not only measure the distance to the vehicle ahead, but also the rate of closure. This means that an adaptive cruise control-equipped vehicle can automatically slow down when the car ahead does; without driver intervention. It also means that if the driver changes lanes to an open one, the car automatically resumes speed. Most adaptive cruise control systems also allow the driver to set the following distance to the limits of the system's range, which is usually about 500 feet. While the majority of adaptive cruise control systems use radar, there are a few that use lidar or even cameras. Regardless of the sensor system involved, all systems provide essentially the same functionality.

Benefits of Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive cruise control provides a number of benefits, not all of which are obvious at first glance. The first and simplest benefit is of course that a vehicle with adaptive cruise control can automatically slow down when the car ahead of it does, which reduces the chance of rear-end collisions. What is less obvious is that the presence of adaptive cruise control also appears to improve traffic flow. According to the simulations, the presence of adaptive cruise control in as few as one-quarter of all vehicles on the road can lead to a marked improvement in traffic flow. In fact, the figures indicate that at 25 percent penetration, there would be a 20 percent decrease in traffic delays, and that 37.5 percent of motorists would have improved travel times. It is one of the few automotive accessories that can benefit those who do not have it as well as those who do.

For those people who are not sure about whether to stick with conventional cruise control or to make the jump to adaptive cruise control, the following table should help them make a decision.

Benefit	Conventional	Adaptive
Maintain Constant Speed	Yes	Yes
Reduce Driver Fatigue	Yes	Yes
Improve Fuel Economy	Yes	Yes
Manage Following Distance	No	Yes
Reduce Rear-End Collisions	No	Yes
Reduce Traffic Congestion	No	Yes

2016 Dodge Ram 1500 diesel, concept, changes | Jim Doran Auto Center

Are you looking for a stylish and high performance pickup truck? You might have to wait for a little while to see the 2016 Dodge Ram 1500. The 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 is undoubtedly one of the finest pickup trucks in the market. This is perhaps because of its great performance coupled with the numerous features that is has to offer. It is just perfect for driving in the city as well as out of the city. The 2016 model will be a great improvement on the current model.

Blake Anderson drives an over-the-top patriotic Jeep | Jim Doran Auto Center

Comedian Blake Anderson is seeing growing success as one of the stars and co-creators of the Comedy Central show Workaholics. Not surprisingly, when you get your own TV show, there's a deep desire to celebrate with a big purchase, a car perhaps. Anderson did just that, but as opposed to plunking his money down on a Porsche or Mercedes-Benz, he took a much more patriotic route.

Anderson described his ride as "an American Jeep" in an interview with Conan O'Brien, and he didn't mean that it was from the AMC years of the off-road brand's ownership. Instead, this one is as patriotic as they come thanks to a beautifully regal bald eagle covering the hood with the nation's flag as the background running up at least to the windshield. Hear Anderson's entire story of buying this red, white and blue off-roader in the video above.

What to look for in a Car for your Teen Driver | Jim Doran Auto Center

If you ask any teenager what they are looking forward to doing the most as they get older, at the top of most lists is probably being able to drive. After all, being licensed to drive gives teens a great sense of freedom – they can now come and go as they please; they are no longer dependent on mom and dad to get them where they need to go.

However, the time when teens begin to drive can potentially be the most deadly. Every dayseven teens ages 16 to 19 die from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash. And the crash rate is 3.7 times higher for 16 year old drivers compared to drivers all of all ages, and 2.7 higher for drivers aged 16 to 19.

For parents that are conducting a used cars search for appropriate vehicle options for their teen drivers, how can they help them stay as safe as possible? Here’s a look at five in-car options to look for during their used cars search.

Side Airbags

Although everybody knows about airbags as a safety component in vehicles, some may not realize the importance of side airbags. A study conducted in 2006 conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found side airbags that protected driver’s heads helped reduce deaths in cars that were hit on the driver side by about 37 percent.

Electronic Stability Control

ESC works through speed sensors that are placed on all wheels and the steering wheel to help drivers when on roads that are slippery or very curved.

If the ESC system notices the vehicle is about to go in an opposite direction from where the steering wheel is pointed, is will break the necessary wheels to help keep the car under control. ESC can be found vehicles from 2012, and even earlier.

Crash Avoidance Technology

Over the past few years, vehicle manufacturers have unveiled a crop of new applications to help drivers avoid car accidents. These crash avoidance technologies work by providing the driver with warnings, or in some instances even automatically putting on the brakes. Examples of these technologies to look for in a used cars search include blind spot detection, adaptive headlights, lane departure warning, and front crash prevention.

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

An ABS is another safeguard against slippery roads, as well as inexperienced young drives that may find themselves “panic braking” in certain situations. The ABS helps ensure the brakes on a car do not lock up, which could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. ABS on the rear wheels allows the vehicle to keep moving in a straight line, while ABS on all wheels allows the driver to maintain steering capabilities.

Seat Belt Reminder System

Although the “ding, ding, ding” that reminds you to buckle up every time you’re in the car can be rather annoying, studies show they do save lives. For instance, a study published in 2008 found 97.5 percent of passengers put on a seat belt when in a vehicle with a reminder system, while only about 86 percent did in cars without a reminder. And teens need all the reminders they can — a 2002 study found that only 69 percent of teens ages 16 to 24 wear their seat belts, and more than two-thirds of teens killed in car crashes were not wearing seat belts.