If you’re looking to purchase a new or new-to-you car in the near future, you need to understand what auto warranty program to get, to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

There are essentially two different types of auto warranties available. One is the standard warranty that was provided when your car rolled off the lot. This warranty will usually run anywhere from two to five years, or up to a set amount of mileage, whichever comes first. This warranty is usually included with the purchase of the vehicle, and is non-negotiable. What you see is what you get. Make sure you take the time to read the entire warranty, and understand what is covered, and what you will be expected to take care of yourself.

The other most common form of auto warranty is the extended warranty. This is where you can end up spending way more money than you need to, if you’re not careful. An extended warranty can be purchased either when the car is initially sold, or at any time thereafter. Be warned, it will be much easier to purchase an extended warranty for your car while it is still under the manufacturer’s original warranty. Once that expires, you may have a hard time finding new coverage.

Extended coverage can be for a variable amount of time or distance – as little as six months, or as long as several years. Do your homework, and find out which duration will work best for you. How long do you plan to keep your car? If you want a longer warranty than that time frame, make sure it is transferrable to the new owner. Check to see what exactly is covered by the extended warranty – is it just drive train, or does it include all factory-installed parts? Does it include bonuses like roadside assistance?

Remember that an extended warranty can be purchased at the time you buy the car, but make sure to read the fine print. Some extended warranties start immediately, even if the current manufacturer’s warranty is still in place. And never let the salesman pressure you into getting the extended warranty. There are options to get that coverage later on, should you decide you need it.

In the end, just remember to do your research. An auto warranty program can be very confusing, if you don’t take the time to sit down and read through the fine print. Don’t assume, ask as many questions as you need to, and make sure that the plan you have is the right one for you and your car.

By: Gregory D Nelson

So you’ve got your LED or Neon interior car lights, but you’re now a bit confused
as to where all the car interior neon lights and wires go?” Well fear not, we’ll
show all the “in’s & out’s” of this type of installation and the easiest way of
doing it.

It’s a good idea to disconnect the battery before installing any car light
accessories. You can do this by disconnecting the negative battery cable and
placing it to one side of the battery where it won’t touch any part of the vehicles
body. It’s also wise to have your vehicles service manual handy for information
about the specifics of the electrical system on your vehicle.

For interior car lights, the best places to mount the LED or neon tubes are under
the dash on both sides just above where your feet go, but high enough so as not
to kick the tubes or damage them. There are also many other places you can fit
them and their location is only limited by your imagination.

To operate the lights manually, your going to need a switch located near you,
so you’ll need to buy a simple “2way toggle” switch (or use the switch that
may have came with your neon/led tube kit) from your nearest custom car
accessories store. This switch will be inserted into (in-line with) the main
power wire that supplies the kit with 12Volt power.

Choose if you want your interior car lights to turn on automatically when the
headlights are turned on, or if you want to control the lights separately with a
“toggle” switch.

If you want the neon or LED tubes to light up automatically when the headlights
are turned on, then you will need to find a wire under the dash near the
steering column. This wire you are looking for is normally Red or Yellow, and it’s
supplying the “headlight control switch” with 12V power – you’re going to have
to “tap” into this wire to light-up your neon lights when the headlights are
turned on.

If you want to be able to control the interior car lights separately from the
headlights, (best option) then there’s two ways you can do this…

1) The power wire can be connected directly to the Positive side of the car
battery, or…

2) It can be connected to any 12V power wire from under the dashboard.

If you choose to tap into a power wire from behind the dash to power your interior car lights you’ll also need to
buy a “Circuit Tester” from your nearest custom car accessory store – they only
cost about $10 dollars. To use this tester is simple, it looks like a pen with an
earth wire hanging out the top of it and a clamp attached to the end of the
wire, and it has a globe inside the middle of the pen, or on its end, which lights
up when you have found power somewhere.

To complete the interior car lighting circuit – you’ll now just need to
attach the earth wire coming out from the from your led or neon tubes to the
chassis of the vehicle. You can do this in the same way as described above for
the earth wire on the tester – anywhere where there is bare steel under the
dash is always a good earth connection for your interior car lights, even if you
find a screw under the dash that is screwed into bare steel and it is holding
another wire in place as an earth, you can use this too as an earth location.
The control panel earth wire will need to be securely screwed to the chassis of the vehicle
or to any “Earth wire” to complete the power circuit.

After your “power” & “earth” connections are complete, your car interior neon
lights should now work. If they appear dull and not real bright, then be sure to
check that you have made GOOD earth and POWER connections.
That’s it, you’re all done – now all you have to do is put any plastic panels back
into place that you may have removed, pack your tools up, and then head off to
show your friends what a great look you’ve just created on your car – Enjoy!

Please see our “More-In-depth” and step-by-step picture illustrated instructions on the How to install page listed below.

By: Antonio T Gabellone

The Chrysler Group’s Jeep brand will prove enthusiasts that the old charm could be rekindled to make it new once again. Jeep’s pool of engineers has redesigned the new Liberty with strong ties to the traditional model.

To some brands, the classic versions of their product lines are better. This is true even with Jeep. This is why the automaker, the American division of DaimlerChrysler AG, has redrawn the 2008 Jeep Liberty to radiate a more classic Jeep aura and form.

The vehicle, which epitomizes the characteristics of a lean and mean machine of more traditional Jeeps, has debuted at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). Behind the innovative features of the new Liberty is the distinctly classic look and feel. And Jeep purists are glad to hear the news. As a fact, even those who are not Jeep enthusiasts are pleased with the changes. “Our objective was to refine the design and stay true to the core of the brand,” said John Sgalia, the director of Jeep Design.

The redesigned Liberty, scheduled to hit dealerships this fall, entertained several elements that vaulted the auto into a top seller small SUV. Jeep’s designers straightened out some of the vehicle’s curves but retained its quirks.

“There are two types of Jeeps, modern and classic,” explained Ralph Gilles, Jeep’s top designer. “We wanted the Liberty to mature but still remain playful,” said Gilles, who designed the interior for the original Liberty that debuted in 2002. “The open top was really an engineering tour de force.”

The Sky Slide, an industry exclusive, works like a giant sunroof creating an open space 33-inches by 41-inches, Liberty engineers said. “It’s four times the size of a standard sunroof,” said Rick Reuter, the chief engineer who worked on the Jeep Liberty. “But it still operates the same way for a driver.”

The roof opens electronically, gathering the canvas at either end. When the roof is completely open, passengers in the second row will be able to enjoy open sky ride. The automaker spent several months testing the roof to ensure that it would not leak and would seal tightly when closed. “Jeep has always been about being in the open air, and this roof is one way to give our customers that,” said John Plecha, Jeep’s marketing director.

The new Liberty looks substantially bigger than its ancestors. The automaker has increased its overall length by two inches, expanded the cargo space by three inches, and extended the wheelbase by two inches. The spare tire, once on the rear hatch, was transferred behind the rear axle.

Other features of the redesigned Liberty include the powerful 3.7-liter V-6, new front and rear suspension mated to EBC rotors and other refinements to provide comfy and reliable ride. The new Liberty finishes Jeep’s lineup, Plecha noted.

By: Anthony Fontanelle