All cars break down. That’s a fact. You might have a brand new car or a well maintained one but one small issue can cause it to break down. No, you don’t have to blame yourself for your car breaking down. Even mechanics can’t predict when a car will just quit. So you need to know a little bit of know-how if your car breaks down.

Now, if you are like every other responsible car owner out there you will have at least a tow truck’s phone number on your speed dial or your mechanic’s phone. This is so you can call them to help bail you out. You can always do the fixing yourself but not everybody can do a McGyver and improvise. So while waiting for help, the most logical thing to do is push your car.

But wait. Push? Why? Do you really need to push your car when it breaks down?

Why Do You Need to Push?

Unless you have a broken axle or anything tire related that makes the car unmovable, you should consider pushing the car especially when it’s in the middle of the road.

The only reason you need to is for safety purposes. A broken down car in the middle of the road is a hazard to all motorists. You certainly don’t want people to get into accidents because you didn’t want to push your car. Of course, you can place your early warning devices, but they can only do so much.

But before you go and try to push your car, here are a couple of pointers for you in doing it right. Yes, there’s a right and wrong way to do it. The right way of pushing ensures you and your car is safe and you won’t get hurt or cause an accident.

1. Assess the area

The first thing you need to consider before pushing your car out of the road is the area. How busy is the street and is it safe for you to push? When you are in a very busy highway, then you might want to take your chances with putting up your early warning signs first.

Different situations call for different approaches, so you must take each situation differently. Sometimes, the safest thing to do is leave your car where it is! Weigh the risks of pushing your car versus leaving it in its current location.

2. Ask for help

If you are driving alone, pushing can be such a pain. If you are aiming for a safe way to push your car then you might need help. Pushing requires at least 2 people: one to push and the other to steer. If you have a bigger car, more people might be needed to push it easily. Try to flag down good samaritans to help you out. Most drivers won’t hesitate to help you out as they know how dangerous a broken down car in the middle of the road is.

3. Use the correct technique

As mentioned above, you need at least two people to push a car. The first person should steer the vehicle inside. The other one will do his/her best to push the car. Just go slow and steady. Most cars are easier to push once you get them going.

If the car is a bit heavier, there’s a secret that can help. Use a rocking motion to get the car moving. It will require you to do a little bit of back-and-forth motion but it will be easier on your body.

4. Be aware of your body

While pushing a car can get really taxing on your body, poor form can cause more damage. A poor pusing form can hurt your back and legs so you better make sure you push that car right. For starters, start by pushing with your legs and not your arms. Lean close to the car and make contact with your shoulder. Push slowly and in unison with other people pushing.

Prevent Breaking Down on the Road with T3 Atlanta

In a perfect world, when your car breaks down you will be in a safe location with plenty of people to help you out. You can just call your favorite repair shop like T3 Atlanta or a nearby tow truck service to help you out.

To minimize your risk of breaking down when you least expect it, visit our mechanics at T3 Atlanta to give your car a thorough maintenance check. Our team of experts will locate potential issues to stop them before they even become a problem. With T3 Atlanta, you can rest assured that your car will always be in peak health.

Running out of gas in the middle of nowhere is any car owner’s nightmare. We can’t count how many horror stories started with a car stalling in the middle of the road. Scary stories aside, running out of gas can be quite an experience, especially for new car owners. But what should you do when your car runs out of gas?

Well, as always, we are here to help you out. We will be using two scenarios – running out of gas in the city and out on the road. The two are very different scenarios considering one is located in the heart of civilization while the other scenario places you in a location where you might have trouble looking for another person. Let’s start.

What to Do When You Run Out of Gas in the City?

Alright, let’s assume that you are not a totally clueless driver and you actually noticed the fuel gauge dropping to E as in “Empty”. If you are in the city the first thing you need to do is to find the nearest gasoline station. While reaching the gasoline station just as the car starts to putter is the target, that might not be the case.

Now your whimpers to a halt signifying it has drunk the last drop of gasoline from the tank. The first thing you need to do is to try to maneuver the car to the curb so you don’t disrupt other motorists. You turn on your hazard lights and park your car. Depending on how safe the place you parked is, you can either go out of the car and try to find the nearest gasoline station (with an approved gasoline container) to refill your car.

However, this is not always the case. You might find yourself in an unfamiliar location so going out of the car might be dangerous. In such cases, you can either call a family member or friend to bail you out. If you signed up to a road assistance program you can also give them a call to help you out. But if you really think you are in a bad neighborhood then don’t hesitate to call 911 as they can get the police to help or a tow truck to tow your vehicle.

The city might be a “better” place to run out of gas, but it is definitely not safer. So, make sure to prioritize your safety at all times.

What to Do When You Run Out of Gas on the Road?

This one can get a bit tricky. When you run out of gas on the road, you simply can’t do the same things as in the city. First thing you need to do is assess how far you are from the nearest gas station. Depending on where you are this can mean a few hundred meters to a few miles. If the gas station is within walking distance, you can take your chances of making the trip. However, you can only do this on places that you know are safe.

In case you see yourself stuck in a place where the nearest gas station is a couple of miles, just contact roadside assistance or 911 to help you out. Remember that if you are unfamiliar with a place you can always stay in your car. However, don’t count out good samaritans. If people offer to extend a helping hand think it over.

How Not To Run Out of Gas Anywhere

When asked “how do I keep my car from running out of gas?” I usually give a very simple reply:

“Make sure to keep your fuel at least ¼ full at all times.”

We forget things. That’s normal. As humans, we can get so overwhelmed that we forget a lot of things – including filling up on gas. So as a general rule, you should always keep your fuel tank at least ¼ full. With that enough gas, you will never have to worry about running out of fuel before reaching a gasoline station.

Remember that every time your car runs out of gas, it causes problems on your engine. If you’ve run out of gas recently, you might want to let the expert mechanics at T3 Atlanta take a look at your car. They can check the car to look any damage your car experienced when it ran out of gas. Call T3 Atlanta today.

Test driving a vehicle is the best way for any prospective car owner to figure out if they finally found the perfect car for them. If you are buying a second-hand car, test driving it will give you a good idea of whether the car is worth its price or not.

But what should you be looking for when test driving a vehicle? Should you just be focusing on weird sounds or unnecessary moving parts? Well, there’s those things but there should be more.

For some people who are buying new vehicles, they believe getting an expert driver is important to gauge a car. While that is true, you can also do the test driving yourself. You just need to create a mental checklist of the stuff you should look out for. To help you out, we’ve compiled the 10 things you should do or look out for during a vehicle test drive. These points will help you create a fair and rational analysis of the car and will therefore allow you to make the right decision. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s start.

10 Things to Remember During a Vehicle Test Drive

1. Have an open mind

When we are car hunting, we often have this idea of looking for what we want first before setting out for the day. Oftentimes, we already have the car we want in our head so when we find one we automatically feel like that’s the car you are taking home.

When you test drive, remove any bias in your mind. Forget that this is the car of your dreams. Don’t think of it as your dream car. These thoughts will only cloud your mind and will result in you not noticing obvious problems of the car during the test drive.

2. Have a benchmark

If you have been in the cars of other people, by now you might already have a benchmark of what you are looking for. It’s the same thing when car hunting. Try as many cars as possible to create a benchmark. Does Car Z drive better than Car B but loses in steering compared to Car D?

Try to come up with a benchmark so that you can judge each car by their merits in comparison to the other cars you have tried.

3. Do a pre-test checkup

A quick checkup before a test drive should be step #1 at all times. Check under the hood for obvious concerns like dirty fluids, strong odors, or signs of poor maintenance. Look underneath the car to see if anything leaks or if there are creaks and raps underneath when you try to move the car. Check the tires for uneven wear and try to see if you can spot any cracks, discoloration, or grooves on the brake rotors.

4. Take down notes

If you feel like you are getting overwhelmed by the information you are taking in then don’t hesitate to take down notes. Get a notebook and jot down the stuff that you noticed on each car.

You can even create your own criteria (by writing down the important parts of the car you are going to check) and grading them. This will give you a way to compare each car you are going to test drive.

5. Don’t rush

A test drive check should be done on a day when you are not on a rush. Rushing things will only result in poor checks. Make sure you allot time to check and do the test drive.

Some experts claim that running a car up to 10 miles is what’s needed in order to find out what is wrong with the vehicle. If the seller thinks you are a joyrider then offer to pay for another 30 minutes of test driving.

6. Practice consistency

Make sure you create a consistent checklist in your head when test driving. Treat each separate car the same way so you can get a fair assessment. If possible, make sure you go through the same route on your test drive for all cars. Use the same speed and do the same turns. This way, you will be sure that you are judging each drive the same way.

7. Turn the radio off

Want to really evaluate the car? Turn the radio and air conditioning off but leave the windows up. This is so you can hear any noises emanating from the car. You might hear an unusual noise from time to time and this can be indicative of a problem. If you do hear an unusual sound, try to isolate it by changing speeds, gears, or stopping.

8. Be reasonable

Unless you are buying a brand new car, you must be reasonable in your criteria. Don’t expect a perfect car if your budget is not that high. Your goal is to have a car that you can safely drive that won’t give you headaches in the future. So, keep your expectations on a reasonable level but don’t forget to list down all issues as they should be addressed in case you do decide to buy the car.

9. Make small circles

After driving the car, find an empty parking lot or a large flat area. Make small circles with the car by doing tight turns. Wait for any sounds that suggest problems with the car’s CV joints. These can be expensive to fix depending on the damage. A lot of people forget this part of the test as they just focus on the “test drive” part.

10. Get an expert opinion

While it will be your decision that will matter in the end, having an expert take a look at the car can help you ensure you aren’t buying a dud. Our experts at T3 Atlanta can help you make a more informed decision by doing a quick check on the car during your test drive. We can point out issues that you might miss or any pointers for you during your car hunt. Call us today to schedule a test drive or checkup.

Buying a used car is an experience almost all of us are familiar with. While the idea of getting a car for cheap can be quite exciting, the used car market can be quite unforgiving. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the ten things you should look for when buying a used car. Use this as a base when checking each car you like. The idea is simple: create a list of specific cars you are interested in and shop around. If you see a couple of good candidates, start a thorough check using this list.

What to Look for When Buying a Used Car

1. Check the price

Remember when we told you to first create a list of specific cars you are interested in buying? Well, it’s because knowing what you want and getting a good idea of its price in the secondhand market will help you. Sometimes you can see a car sold at a very high price which means you can still haggle. Knowing the average price for that specific car will be helpful in negotiating with the seller.

Also, it’s worth noting that when a car is sold way below its average price then you should be wary. The car might have hidden issues or the seller is dishonest with the condition of the car.

2. Test drive the car

Test driving a used car should be automatic. You are going to buy a car that has been driven so you need to personally know how it feels. If you just started driving, it might be better to ask a more seasoned veteran to drive for you. When you test drive the vehicle you will get a good feel of its condition.

Do you hear random noises? Is it accelerating well? Does the steering feel natural? Make sure you simulate regular car usage to see if the car is indeed in the condition it is being sold on.

3. Research the vehicle

Assuming you made your list based on research, then this shouldn’t take long. However, in case you found a car you liked that is not on your list, then just do a quick Google search of the car to see any common issues you should be looking out for.

4. Check the history of the vehicle

The car might have a bit of a story behind it that the seller does not want you to know. Find out and make sure you are getting a car with zero secrets (which can sometimes mean serious internal damage).

5. Have a mechanic check the vehicle

Honest sellers wouldn’t mind having a trained mechanic check the vehicle. A professional can see issues that most of us might miss. The mechanic can then give you a good idea of the issues the car has, how much it will cost to repair, and a suggestion on whether the car is worth buying.

6. Look at the reviews of the model type and year

Now let’s assume you already found the perfect car for you and your mechanic gave you the green light. Should you go ahead and pay for the car? Well, if you have 10 minutes to spare then you should go and check reviews of the car model. Some people might have experienced certain issues with the car that you haven’t noticed yet. Just don’t forget to take reviews with a grain of salt, especially when they don’t come from seasoned reviewers.

7. Try to negotiate

There’s nothing wrong with trying to negotiate with the seller. Most sellers put a price on their used car already considering the buyer to negotiate. If you can take a few hundred dollars to a thousand from the original price then that would be a score. Having a mechanic also helps as their suggestions and findings can help you negotiate with the seller better.

8. Check the papers

You wouldn’t want to drive a stolen car, right? Double check the papers presented to you by the owner and you can even do a VIN number to make sure there were no replacements made. Most honest sellers will have no problems presenting the papers and showing you the VIN of the vehicle.

9. Ask for a warranty

Try to talk to the owner if you can come up with a warranty for the vehicle. Sure, you already did a test drive and the mechanic checked it but there are times when problems arise a few days after driving the vehicle. Make sure you agree to a fair warranty agreement that ensures both parties are protected if certain issues arise.

10. Take your time

Most of the people who regretted their used car purchase are the ones that get too giddy and make the purchase right away. While waiting means another person might get the car, waiting also ensures you are really making the right decision. A day or two of waiting usually works wonders.

Bring Your Used Car Candidates to T3 Atlanta for an Inspection

If you’ve found the perfect used vehicle but want to make sure it’s in good condition before you buy, let our team at T3 Atlanta check it out for you. Our expert mechanics can help you spot hidden issues or future concerns with your car and solutions on how to address them before they become big problems. Remember, prevention is always better than the cure!

If you have driven an older car for a long time, driving a new car often feels like a totally new experience. It’s not because the steering is better or the brakes are on the right sensitivity. It’s because for some reason, you don’t hear anything else but the engine running. Nothing but the purr of the engine in idle or the roar when you accelerate. No clickety clanks or hard, metal-on-metal noise that makes you feel like your car will get disassembled anytime soon.

No engine is truly silent. However, some noises truly don’t belong under the hood. But what’s normal and when should you worry?

Let’s find out.

Engine Noise – What’s Normal

Normal engine noise is pretty simple to detect. It’s unmistakable. However, you might still be able to hear a number of other noises under the hood.

For example, soft ticking sounds may be given off by electrical components on your car. While this noise usually is very soft and silent that you don’t normally hear them, you might notice them by chance.

Also, some amount of ticking/knocking can be hear from some cars when starting. This can get worse when the weather is cold. However, this is pretty normal as long as it is within an acceptable level. One thing to note is that such “cold-start noises” can be reduced by using synthetic oil on your engine.

Engine Noise – What’s Not Normal

Alright, now that we have established how engines normally sound, let’s try to find out what sounds you should be wary about. Note that while this is a general guideline on diagnosing problems with your car, it will always be better to have an expert take a look at it.

Whistling Sound

Whenever you hear a whistling sound or something like air passing through a narrow exit, you automatically check if the windows are partly open or if the weather stripping has problems. However, if the whistling sound originates from under the hood, it can mean bigger problems.

If you hear the whistling sound while the car is running, it might be a hose that has a crack. One common culprit is the hose on your engine’s cooling system. It is one of the weakest parts of your engine and it’s not unheard of to have hoses suddenly cracking and breaking the vacuum seal. The whistling sound you hear might be due to air escaping the small crack. To find out if a hose is the real issue, find a safe place to park and turn the car off. If you can still hear whistling, it might be the radiator’s pressure cap. The pressure cap is designed to keep coolant from escaping but when the rubber gasket breaks, some coolant and air can escape resulting in a whistling sound.

Whirring Sound

If you hear a whirring sound coming from the front of your vehicle, like that of a giant fan running at max speed, then you might have issues with your engine belts. Engine belts work around a system of pulleys inside your car and they run at high speeds. As they age, they crack or stretch. As a result, they give off a whirring sound.

If your engine belts are not the culprit, it might be a bad bearing on your front wheel. Whatever the case, the replacement for a belt or bad bearing is very cheap.

Loud Idling

Depending on your car, there should be a certain amount of noise given off when it is idling. For some, it can be a gentle purr but others can be a loud roar. However, if you feel like your car is idling much louder than usual then you might have an issue at hand.

Loud idling is usually caused by issues with cylinder compression. When there are problems with cylinder compression, you get an uneven fuel-air ratio. As a result, combustion becomes unusual. Having higher pressure inside the cylinder will result in loud idling noise. At times it can even result in some knocking sounds. Get a mechanic right away to check your engine as prolonged exposure to such issue can result in engine damage.

T3 Atlanta: Engine Noise Specialists

If you feel like your car’s engine sounds funny then you should bring your car to T3 Atlanta. Our team of experts can take a look at your car and take it for a short test drive to see the issue you are facing. They will then recommend options for you to choose from. After all, it’s your safety that we are after.

Father’s day is fast approaching. If you are still struggling to find the perfect gift for your car-loving dad, we’ve come up with 5 of the best Father’s Day gifts for 2019. What are we waiting for? Let’s start the countdown.

1. Car Cleaning Kit

If you grew up with a dad who was truly in love with his car then the line “For Pete’s sake don’t make a mess inside my car”. Dad’s love their cars and they want to keep them as clean and pristine as possible. However, if you have kids or if other people use the car it’s hard to make sure it’s spotless.

So why don’t you give your dad an all-around car cleaning kit? Most car cleaning kits include a cocktail of cleaning solutions, scrubs, restorers, and washes. A car cleaning kit will make any clean freak go crazy. It will also make the biannual car detailing at home ceremony extra special for your dad.

2. Exotic Car Experience

So dad’s been on a rut lately and is down. He has driven this 2000 Nissan Quest for as long as you can remember and you want to cheer him up. Why not give him a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he will probably tell all his friends about and will definitely renew his love for driving?

Give him the exotic car experience.

While there are no studies to prove it, it’s not hard to see that people feel extra special after a few hours of driving a sports car. Well, not just any sports car but a Ferrari 430 or a Lamborghini Gallardo. The drive will be around an hour but the experience will stick with him for a lifetime.

3. Infotainment Set

Let’s admit it. A boring car makes for a boring life. If you want your car-loving dad get that extra oomph! in his life, then help make sure his daily car ride is not dull.

The answer? An infotainment set.

Modern infotainment sets include a touch screen monitor with bluetooth and wifi capabilities. This will allow connectivity on a variety of devices especially a smartphone. Installing it is as easy as going to a mechanic and paying them a meager sum.

Plus, the few hours of you teaching him how to connect his phone to watch the replays from Youtube will be like the reverse of him teaching you how to ride a bike.

4. Car Detailing

If there is one truth out there that all dads can agree on, it’s that we don’t have time to do everything we want. If dads can just go and request an additional hour or two from Father time then they would probably ask for it just to keep their car clean.

But even the weekly cleaning won’t get the dirt and grime hidden along the crevices on your car. What that car needs is a professional cleaning and detailing.

It’s the perfect gift for a dad whose car clearly has seen better days. Professional detailing can bring the beauty out of older cars. The pricing might vary depending on how much work is needed but it is definitely worth it. It’s like seeing your car for the first time all over again. A good recommendation for people who have nostalgic fathers.

5. A Car-Centric Movie Night

No budget? That does not mean you can’t get your dad a gift. Money is not everything on Father’s Day. You know what’s better than money?

Time.

So why don’t you surprise your gearhead of a father to a car-centric movie night? Prepare the chips and pop the popcorn because you will waste the night away watching cars speed, jump, and explode! Here are a few car-centric movies that will surely put a smile on his face.

• Ronin
• Gone in 60 Seconds
• The Transporter Franchise
• Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
• Rush
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• Collateral
• Death Proof
• Baby Driver

Complete Auto Care at T3 Atlanta

If you are still not sure of what to give your father on Father’s Day, why don’t you take his car to T3 Atlanta for a maintenance check? A team of experts can take a look and give dad’s the car the care it needs.

Compared to 30 years ago, cars are a bit easier to understand these days. Manufacturers made it a point to include as many warning lights on your dashboard as possible. This means no more guessing what’s wrong with the vehicle. Well, as long as you know each one of the lights and what they mean.

We get it, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You may have as many as 10 lights on your dashboard and newer cars even have more. Don’t worry, unless you are the unluckiest person alive, you won’t be worrying about multiple warning lights on your dashboard. The idea is, when you see one warning light stay on, you should go to the mechanic right away.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let us first discuss the most important lights on your dashboard, what they mean, and what you need to do when they light up.

Understanding Your Dashboard Lights

Before we go and discuss the symbols, let’s first talk about the colors of the lights on your dashboard. Not all symbols in your car denote a warning when they light up. You just have to follow this simple light color code:

• White – When the symbol is colored white then you should not worry about anything. White just means it’s currently in use or the symbol is active.
• Green or Blue – While white is the universal “don’t worry symbol”. Green or blue also means that the system is currently active and in use.
• Yellow or Orange – These colors denote a “warning something might go wrong within the next few kilometers”. This means your car needs to be serviced soon. A yellow or orange light gives you enough warning to take your car to your favorite mechanic.
• Red – Red means danger. When something in your dashboard lights up in color red then you might want to find a safe place to stop. Call your mechanic or try to diagnose the problem before deciding to go back on the road.

What Do The Symbols on Your Dashboard Mean

Now we know what the colors mean, let’s not discuss what each symbol on your dashboard mean. We will be discussing the more important ones that can affect your driving or your own safety.

1. Brake System/Brake Fluid Warning Light – This symbol covers everything related to the braking system of your car. When this light ups, this can mean something as tame as your parking brake is engaged or something scary like your whole braking system is busted. When you notice this light going on even after disengaging your parking brake, you need to get off the road right away. A faulty brake system can cause accidents so you shouldn’t risk it.
2. Engine Warning Light – This is the symbol that most of us see light up that means there are problems with your car. The thing with this symbol is that it can mean a lot of things. When the Engine Warning Light goes on, it is usually accompanied by different symptoms. For example, the engine might stutter as you step on the accelerator signifying a misfire. Your engine might also feel like it’s losing power which means the engine has gone into a “safe mode” to protect itself from further damage. The engine warning light can light up from something as simple as a damaged sensor to something big and mechanical in nature. You can buy an OBD Diagnostic tool if you have enough know-how to find out what’s wrong. However, just to be on the safe side, you should always take your car to the mechanic to solve the problem properly.
3. Airbag Warning Light – Depending on your car, the airbag warning light might also be called the SRS light. This light basically covers the inside safety system of your car. If the SRS or airbag warning light is on, this means something is wrong with the system. As a result, the airbag might not engage when an accident happens. There are also times that a faulty airbag system causes the airbag to go off while driving normally which can cause quite a shock and result in an accident. Usually, the fix is quite easy if you take your car to a mechanic and they can reset the light within minutes.
4. Coolant Warning Light – Nobody wants their car to overheat in the middle of the road. It’s such a bother and you will be causing a traffic jam. Your coolant warning light basically exists to tell you that you need to top off your coolant. When you see your coolant warning light on and your temperature gauge going up, this means your car is overheating. When these two coincide, this can mean serious things like a leak or a gasket failure. Take your car to a repair shop right away because the damage will get more expensive if you disregard it.
5. Oil Warning Light – Oil is one of the more important liquids in your car engine. Without oil, your engine won’t work. When the oil warning light goes on, it means you either have low oil pressure or the oil level is low. When either of the two happens, this can spell disaster for your car. With low oil levels or oil pressure, your car engine won’t get the lubrication it needs. The result can be piles and piles of repair bills if no addressed right away.

If you see any of the warning lights stay on while driving then it is best to go to a repair shop right away. T3Atlanta is the leading name in repairs and maintenance for Infiniti, Lexus, Toyota, and Nissan cars in Atlanta. Our team of experts can help you diagnose the problem and fix it in no time.