CBS Local covers the true die-hards who are already camped out in preparation for Friday:
bit.ly/TY3Rci
"PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Black Friday is still slightly less than a week away, but some locals are already camping out for deals.
One group of about a half-dozen people – and a dog — is already camped out at the Best Buy in Pleasant Hills.
“It’s exciting,” said Jesse Bredholt from West Mifflin"
Courtesy of pittsburgh.cbslocal.com
Developers have been working to improve the child safety seat beyond what it is currently capable of. Check out this article form Howstuffworks.com to take a look at how the current LATCH system does and does not work: bit.ly/UvrxDe
"The problem, researchers determined, is that there was no consistency across the industry. Car seats were a confusing mass of plastic and metal and fabric that perched awkwardly and unsteadily on a car's backseat, and it was up to the most responsible adult available to decide how to thread the car's seatbeltsthrough the seat base's loops and come up with something that looked like it might be a tight enough fit. This was, one can imagine, done quickly, under pressure, with a squalling infant balanced on the hip, all the while grabbing fistfuls of hair. Most of the time, it was okay, since people don't crash every time they leave the driveway. But when a crash did happen, this installation simply wasn't adequate and the kid would get hurt.
And so, the LATCH system was introduced. It stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren, and believe it or not, the acronym isn't the most awkward part of the initiative. Rather, that would be the result of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiative to force automakers and infant safety seat manufacturers to meet a series of standards that would simplify the entire process of getting a kid strapped safely into a car. LATCH was rolled out gradually, with orders to be fully implemented by September of 2002. Years later, there are still a lot of questions -- and some of its purported benefits are still being called into question."
Courtesy of Howstuffworks.com
Check out this article from InternetAutoGuide.com to find out why the alignment on a car can go wrong, and what to do when it does: bit.ly/UrrHBs
"Taking Sides
Tire separation can make a car steer itself, and this condition often escapes notice. The separation occurs between the tire belts, and sometimes no obvious defect is visible. You can check for this by switching the front tires and going for a test drive. Replace the tire if the pulling sensation changes sides with the tire. Do not continue to use a separated tire anywhere on the car, as its structural integrity has been compromised.
Braking Bad
A brake that fails to release completely can cause a car to pull to the side that has the excessive drag. The brake caliper piston can fail to retract completely if the piston or bore are corroded. The rubber brake hose that serves the right front wheel may suffer from internal decomposition. Loose rubber inside the hose can act like a check-valve, holding hydraulic pressure on the caliper piston after the brake pedal has been released. Experienced mechanics will often spin a car's wheels by hand, to verify proper, and similar, function.
Continental Drift
Most paved public roads are higher in the center, to aid drainage. This crowning may be more exaggerated in areas prone to routine road flooding. Whether you drive a Lincoln or a Lotus, road crown may cause your car to drift toward the right. Special alignment adjustments may be prescribed by the manufacturer to ease your car's tendency to drift away from the road crown. You might ask if some degree of "road crown compensation" can be added into your alignment adjustments if extensive travel on such roads is anticipated."
Courtesy of Internetautoguide.com
Your car couldn't run without them. Check out this article from Howstuffworks.com to see how sparkplugs put the ignition in your car: bit.ly/RABZZv
"Basically, this is what happens: The spark plug sits at the top of the cylinder head. The piston first travels down the cylinder, drawing in a mixture of fuel and air. The piston then goes back up toward the spark plug, compressing the mixture. At the very last second, when the piston is at its fullest reach or top dead center (TDC), the spark plug sparks and ignites the mixture. The piston is forced back down to create power for the vehicle, then pushed back up again to clear out the exhaust. At that point, the process starts all over again.
A four-cylinder car will have four spark plugs; a six-cylinder car will have six and so on (though a HEMI engine has two plugs per cylinder). Now that we've got the basics down, let's talk about the kinds of spark plugs on the shelves at your local parts shop."
Courtesy of Howstuffworks.com
Ever wonder what's the next stage of life for a car after they're junkers? HowStuffWorks.com gives you the skinny on the machines that turn cars into cubes. Head over to their site to check it out: bit.ly/RVwXaC
"For every beginning there's an end. Every shiny new car on the showroom floor will one day end up in a junkyard, its value no greater than the weight of the metal used to build it. North American auto plants built 15.8 million cars in 2005 -- all of which have to end up somewhere [Source: Business Week]. One of the most important stops an old car reaches at the end of the line is the crusher -- a massive machine whose only purpose is to compress a car into a tiny cube or flattened slab."
Courtesy of Howstuffworks.com
Think fast. Put your knowledge to the test, and play the Think Fast Challenge:
Take the challenge: https://www.facebook.com/Chrysler/app_388076601227060?ism=KMOct1712Facebook1
Thank you for visiting the Ron Lewis Automotive Group online! Here's our news from "Around the Lots" this October:
At each Ron Lewis Automotive Group dealership, we strive to make your automotive search, purchase, and/or service experience truly exceptional. Whether you are a first-time driver, seeking a family-friendly vehicle, work truck, or a fun luxury car to add to your collection, we're committed to working with you to find the best vehicle to fit your lifestyle and budget.
We want you to have an exceptional experience at our dealerships that you'll want to tell your family and friends about. We consider all customer feedback an opportunity to give our staff credit where credit is due, or as an opportunity to continually improve our dealerships.
We're here to serve all of your automotive needs. Let us know how we can assist you today!
Sincerely,
Gwen
Gwen Lewis
Founding Director of Online Operations
Ron Lewis Automotive Group
