Monthly Archives: September 2014

Ambiguities of Texting-While-Driving Laws

Ambiguities of Texting-While-Driving Laws

Drivers, take heed! In recent years, Kansas and Missouri have cracked down on texting-while-driving laws. However, in spite of increased ticketing for this offense, it seems there is still some ambiguity about the specifics of the laws. At Sallas Auto Repair, we are dedicated to keeping you safe and ticket-free. Because of our commitment to you, we’ve done some research and will set the record straight. Kansas Kansas drivers, especially those in the Prairie Village area, need to take extra caution on the road. A KMBC article reported that, “Prairie Village police wrote more texting-while-driving tickets than any other city in the metropolitan area last year.” Kansas law states that it is illegal for drivers to text while driving ANYWHERE on the road. This law seems pretty straightforward, but there has still been some confusion. Kansas traffic officials explained that many people believe it i ... read more

Categories:

Car Accidents

Braking News: Keep Your Stopping Power

Richard Petty once told AutoNetTV, “You’ve gotta have good brakes. If you’ve got good brakes you can keep yourself out of a lotta trouble.” That’s why a regular brake inspection is on every Kansas City car’s maintenance schedule. An inspection at Sallas Auto Repair will check your brake system and let you know if there are any problems. Of course, if you’re having trouble with your brakes, get your car into Sallas Auto Repair right away. Here are some symptoms to watch for: If you are experiencing any of these, it’s time to get your brakes checked. There are two types of brakes: disk and drum. Disk brakes have a rotor that’s attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, kind of like the brakes on a bicycle. Drum brakes are more common on back wheels. Both types have pads or shoes that press against the brakes and slow the vehicle. Brake pads and shoes are made out of very tough material to withstand the heat and force generated when stopping your car. Eventually, they wear out ... read more

Categories:

Brakes

Top 10 Safety Features that Could Save your Life

Top 10 Safety Features that Could Save your Life

Car crashes typically kill between 30,000 and 40,000 people in the United States annually. The most important thing you can do to avoid injury or death in a collision is use your seat belt. Aside from that, there are other important safety devices that could prevent crashes or protect you if there is one. Some are relatively new, and others are older features that have drastically improved over the years. These top 10 car safety features could save your life. 1. Antilock Braking System (ABS) Antilock braking prevents your brakes from locking up and your car from skidding when you slam on the brakes. The system pumps your breaks up to 20 times per second, which allows you to stay in control of your vehicle. 2. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) This feature applies the brakes to individual wheels when skidding is detected. ECS could prevent single vehicle fatal crashes by 50%, according to t ... read more

Categories:

Brakes

Maintain That Battery In High Summer Temps

Maintain That Battery In High Summer Temps

As we continue to endure an almost endless scorching summer we could probably pay more attention to our poor cars. Forced to drive around outside, sit in parking lots all day and wait in endless traffic snarls the heat can really do a number on them. Auto maintenance should include your car’s battery. Take your car battery. The extreme heat of summer can actually destroy it. Excessive heat and overcharging will shorten your battery’s life. Your battery fluid will actually begin to evaporate and this damages the inside structure of your battery. The voltage regulator is particularly vulnerable and if this is damaged it allows too high a charging rate and this is a battery killer. Summer’s heat damage may not even be apparent until winter and we find ourselves stranded at home or worse at 11pm after a really nice dinner and a movie. So what can you do to keep your battery happy now and avoid ... read more

Categories:

Battery

Dangers Of A Frozen Car Battery

Dangers Of A Frozen Car Battery

As you may have found out the hard way, a dead battery can put a real crimp in your day. It’s the number one winter automotive problem, and when your battery dies, it leaves you stopped in your tracks. The cold temperatures will reduce your battery voltage. Cold temperatures combined with the age of your battery can cause problems and keep you home when you need to be mobile. Is this your car battery?What to Do? If you do discover a dead battery when you head out in the morning, take care when attempting to revive it. If it’s been a few days since you’ve driven or it’s excessively cold, your battery can actually freeze, and jumpstarting a frozen battery can be disastrous. If your car cranks even a tiny bit your battery probably isn’t frozen, and it is ok to pr ... read more

Categories:

Battery