E3 Spark Plugs News

Your kids’ back seat dramatics are far more distracting than your cell phone, researchers say.

Those crazy kids! One might think that drivers fiddling with their cell phones would be the most distracting thing ever – what with the dialing, the texting, the checking of emails, the downloading of the latest Angry Birds smartphone app and all that. But in a recently released report, Australian researchers instead point the finger of blame at your… precious angels.

That’s right. Study results say kids are an even greater distraction to drivers than are cell phones – 12 percent more distracting, to be exact. Turns out, as many a minivan maven probably already knows, those backseat fits of giggles/rage/gotta-go-potties are a major distracted-driving force. And as many a police officer/paramedic/personal injury attorney knows, distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents, far outpacing drunken driving. In fact, a full 80 percent of traffic accidents nationwide are deemed results of distracted driving, statistics show.

The study revealed that during an average 16-minute car trip, drivers are distracted for an average three minutes and 22 seconds by the actions of their children. Participants drove with kids ages 1-8 in the car and here’s what ensued:

• 76.4 percent of the drivers turned to look at the backseat passengers or viewed them in the rear-view mirror
• 16 percent talked to their children in the backseat
• 7 percent passed food or drinks to their kids
• 1 percent played with their kids

A few tips: Make sure kids know that if they drop something and need you to pick it up, they’re outta luck until you’re able to fully stop the car. Pack a snack and a few toys or car-friendly games to keep them happily occupied, but skip balls or tubular-shaped objects that can roll beneath your gas and brake pedals should your future MLB pitcher decide to launch one into the front seat. Insist kids use their “inside voices” – no screaming, bickering or making like an American Idol contestant while on the road. And if all else fails, bribe the lil’ suckers. Offer a prize – a yummy treat, visit to the park, favorite TV show, etc. if they can just keep the peace until your tires hit the driveway.

What do you think, moms and dads? Post your top tips for keeping your kids’ backseat dramatics at bay on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page. And if you’re convinced that your beautiful brood isn’t crimping your driving style, check out this NBC Nightline feature wherein reporter Paula Faris’ pint-sized passengers put her to the test.

Frozen door locks got you out in the cold? E3 Spark Plugs offers a few clever tips.

If you live and drive in what we here at E3 Spark Plugs refer to as the “Frozen Tundra,” meaning anywhere north of the Florida-Georgia line, you’ve no doubt encountered the problem of your car door locks freezing, leaving you – literally – out in the cold.

Based in sunny Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where we do sand, not snow (that freak winter of 1989 notwithstanding) we could just prop our flip-flopped feet on our patio chairs and laugh at you. But we have hearts. So instead, we’re going to offer you a few tips for thawing out that frozen door lock so you can get to work/the gym/the monster truck show on time.

• If your driver-seat door is frozen shut, try another one. Even on family cars, it’s the driver’s door that gets opened and shut more than any other, which means it’s more susceptible to water slipping in and subsequently and freezing. If all doors fail, try crawling in through the hatch or even the trunk if you’re able to get the back seat down. Start the engine and let your car run for a few minutes. Soon, it’ll heat up and warm the locks on all doors.
• If you’ve got a single, traditional key sans the modern, computer-chipped key fob, use a lighter or match to warm the business end of your car door key before inserting it into the lock. Be sure to wear thick gloves that won’t ignite. Burned fingertips do nobody any good. And only use this trick on a traditional key so you don’t fry your computer chip. Those chipped keys are pricey to replace.
• Everyone keeps a straw or a toilet paper tube handy during the winter, right? If not, start now. When your lock freeze, place the straw or tube over the lock and breathe. If you can’t do this without getting heckled by your neighbor, use a hair dryer instead. Or just tell your neighbor to knock it off.
• To prevent your locks from freezing in the first place, keep a can of deicer or WD-40 on hand. Spray your locks each evening. It’ll keep the condensation from freezing. And whatever you do, never pour hot water over your door locks. While it may sound like the perfect solution, it’ll only increase the amount of water pooling inside your lock and lead to more frustrating days locked out of your ride.

Got more cold-day automotive tips? Post them on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page.

Garage door murals by Style Your Garage are convincing enough to fool Wile E. Coyote – and maybe even your neighbors.

Want to protect your garage-kept loot, or just make your neighbors do a double-take? E3 Spark Plugs found a way to add some serious drama to your boring ol’ garage door.

Head over to Style Your Garage’s website and take your pick of dozens of ultra-realistic billboard murals perfectly sized for garage doors. Created by Created by artist Thomas Sassenbach, the doors are an example of the trompe l’oeil (“deceive the eye”) art technique, which uses realistic 2D images to create a 3D optical illusion effect.

Garage murals can make it appear that your garage is hiding any of a whole, crazy range of items from classic cars to space ships to airplanes, to wild animals to beachfront property or Medieval castles – even in the middle of the ‘burbs. A few feature expansive roadway views a la an episode of a Wile E. Coyote cartoon.

Does your garage sport a wicked cool mural? Post your pics or tell us what kind of image you’d choose on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

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Hey, car nuts – What are you hoping for this Christmas?

Christmas is just a week away. Got the car lover you lover covered? E3 Spark Plugs offers a few great gift ideas for the auto enthusiast.

1. A copy of Paul Ingrassia’s Engines of Change, a hard-cover history of the automobile’s profound effects on and reflections of America “from the assembly lines of Henry Ford to the open roads of Route 66, from the lore of Jack Kerouac to the sex appeal of the Hot Rod.”
2. A power boost via the PowerLine PowerCup 200/400 watt mobile inverter with USB power port. It’s great for recharging your Kindle, cell phone and laptop batteries while on the go. And it sports a delicious coffee cup look.
3. A care package. The AAA 70 Piece Explorer Road Assistance Kit is the perfect gift for the young or roadside disaster-prone driver you love. The double-sided carrying bag comes complete with an AAA emergency care guide, heavy duty booster cable, hand-charted dual LED flashlight, a pair of dimpled work gloves, poncho, whistle, one flat head and one Phillips head screwdriver, a roll of duct tape, utility knife, bungee cord, two shop cloths, 10 cable ties and a 45-piece first-aid kit.
4. A game changer. If the auto enthusiast you love is also a serious gamer, he’ll love the Thrustmaster T500RS. The pack includes a steering wheel optimized for PS3 and PC game play and multiple driving sensations, and a pedal console with three adjustable pedals for an amazingly realistic driving experience.
5. A view from the stands. Tickets to most any racing event, from Indy 500 to the Monaco Grand Prix to the local motorsports track event will make any car nut happy.
6. A set of E3 Spark Plugs, of course. Stronger, cleaner, more economical performance.

So, autophiles – What are you hoping to find under the tree or in your stocking Christmas Day? Post your wish list items on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

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This car, hit by Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge, could presumably show up on an auction or used car lot in the coming months. E3 Spark Plugs offers tips on spotting flood-damaged vehicles.

As towns hit by Hurricane Sandy begin what may be a long and arduous recovery, victims will be looking for ways to get back on their feet financially. Unfortunately, a few less scrupulous individuals will find ways that cause further victimization. And among the common tactics is selling flood-damaged vehicles, passing them off as strong, clean rides.

Buying one of these cars saddles victims with a load of trouble. Flood water is an abrasive mix of water, dirt and other contaminates that can seep into every crack and crevice of a vehicle. Upholstery and carpet is ruined – but that’s the least of your problems. Engine computers, sensors and other electronics are susceptible to corrosion and can prove faulty, if not altogether fried.

“Most vulnerable are the engine, transmission and drive train, along with the fuel, brake and power steering systems,” AAA Spokesman John Nielsen told reporters. “Unless dirt and other contaminants are completely removed from these important vehicle components, increased wear and premature failure can result.”

Before you sign the dotted line and hand over your hard-earned cash, E3 Spark Plugs offers tips on spotting flood damaged cars:

1. Take a sniff: And if you get a strong whiff of Febreze, be suspicious. Unscrupulous sellers will go to lengths to mask the tell-tale scents of a flooded car. Hit the ground and sniff in the footwells and under the dash. Also, turn on the air conditioner and heat to see what the HVAC systems smells like. You might look funny down on all fours, but you won’t feel foolish walking off the lot with your wallet still intact.
2. Inspect the electricals: Turn on lights, wipers, seat heaters, the radio, fan and anything else with an “on” button, switch or dial to make sure they’re working properly. Pop out a few of the fuses and check to see if the terminals are discolored or corroded. Swipe the end of a wooden toothpick in the sockets and check for moisture, dirt or grit. Also, pop the hood and check beneath any push-on terminals, such as those on the battery. Look for corrosion or discoloration inside the terminals. And feel the wires. If the car is relatively new, yet the wire insulation feels brittle and stiff, it’s a red flag that the car’s engine was once submersed.
3. Go dark: If possible, take the car to a dark area, turn off all lights and take a look at the dash instruments. If any indicator lights are glowing without being entirely illuminated, it could mean electrical trouble, as mild current leaks can sometimes semi-illuminate warning lights. Also check for condensation beneath LCD or LED display panel glass and for errant pixel patterns, such as displays stuck on certain numbers.
4. Check compartments: Sellers tend to miss tell-tale dirt and grime in hard to see, but easy to reach spots. One notorious such spot is the bent sheet metal support welded onto the inner trunk lid of most cars. These typically are hollow with access holes. Run a cotton swab inside one of them and see what comes out. A little rust and dust is normal, but silt, sludge and moisture is not. Other spots to check include inside the wheel well and bumpers, and behind the door panels.
5. Look for wear-and-tear weirdness: If much of the car’s softer, porous parts such as the carpet and upholstery have been replaced, it can be a sure sign of a recently-flooded car. A used car should show a reasonable amount of wear-and-tear on the seats, carpet and pedals. If multiple components look too new, keep walking.

These formerly flooded vehicles are expected to start flooding into used car lots soon, so beware. Flooded vehicles often are bought by the owner’s insurance company to settle the claim. These vehicles, along with that were part of vehicle fleets owned by self-insured companies, often turn up at auctions in states unaffected by storms. Some states have enacted laws with specific standards requiring flood-damaged cars be titled as salvage, flood, water-damaged, etc., though many an unscrupulous seller will ignore those laws. If you suspect a seller is attempting to fraudulently pass off a storm-damaged car, walk away and report the details to local law enforcement.

Own a flooded car? Click here for info on how you might be able to revive it.

Attention Racers! E3 Spark Plugs is getting ready to launch their Team E3 Racing 2013 Sponsorship Contest on December 1st. Do you have what it takes to be on the team?

We’re looking for up-and-coming racers and crew who want to rev up their pro racing careers. If that describes you, this is your chance to be one of 12 first place winners and receive $500 in cash, 16 E3 Spark Plugs, official apparel and decals for you and your team.

So how do you enter? First, make sure you are a fan of the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page. Check our page often to get all of the details and be ready to enter when the contest goes live December 1.

Want to meet a few current Team E3 Racing winners? Visit our blog and click the “Team E3 Racing” category link in the sidebar to the right.

Good luck!

Are you covered for Hurricane Sandy’s damage to your vehicle? E3 Spark Plug sheds some light.

Was your vehicle a victim of Hurricane Sandy? And are you wondering if your insurance company will pay up? E3 Spark Plugs offers a few pointers.

The first thing to know is whether your auto insurance policy has comprehensive coverage. If so, you’re likely in luck. That’s because comprehensive coverage differs from liability and collision coverage in that it’s specifically designed for storm damage, theft and vandalism. While nearly all states require liability insurance (which pays for damage to other vehicles in the event of an accident that’s deemed your fault), many do not mandate collision (which covers damage to your car) or comprehensive coverage. So, if you were looking to pinch pennies by going with the minimum required coverage at the time you signed, you may have opted out of comprehensive coverage. Fortunately, But 76 percent of auto policy holders do have comprehensive coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The next bit of info to ascertain is the amount of the deductible you chose when you purchased your comprehensive auto insurance policy. In an effort to keep their monthly premiums manageable, many people opt for a higher deductible, particularly if they feel they’ll be able to pay for any auto damage with their savings or other financial resources. So long as the damage racks up to more than your deductible amount, you’re likely covered for any damage above the deductible.

Of course, it all depends on how much your car is worth. No matter how bad the damage, your insurance provider will not pay more than its determined total value of the car. This is particularly true for older cars. And it’s all a moot point if you failed to keep up your monthly premiums and allowed your insurance coverage to laps.

If your car is damaged and you have comprehensive auto insurance in place, take photos and call your provider to file a claim right away. Also send copies of any appraisals you may have had done on your vehicle, but understand that your insurance adjuster likely will have the last word on your car’s worth.

Halloween is meant for spooky fun. But impaired drivers and excited trick-or-treaters make it one of the most dangerous nights on the highways and residential streets.

Across the country, children, teens and adults will be out on the highways and residential roadways celebrating Halloween. It’s a fun, fantastical time of year. But it can quickly turn into a real-life horror story for drivers and trick-or-treaters.

The statistics are scary. Upwards of 60 percent of highway fatalities involve drunk drivers on Halloween night. And four times as many children between five and 14 are killed while walking on Halloween night compared to an average evening, according to the Centers for Disease Control. E3 Spark Plugs offers a few Halloween safety tips:

• Designate a driver: If you’re planning to enjoy a few adult beverages this Halloween, designating a non-drinking driver is a must. Not only are other partying adults likely to be driving impaired, but trick-or-treating children are out in full force. It’s critical for even the soberest of drivers to drive slowly and carefully through neighborhood streets.
• Choose costumes wisely: If you’re the parent of a trick-or-treating child, encourage them to choose a light- or bright-colored costume to help make them more easily visible to drivers. If your young Dracula insists upon a dark colored costume, place reflective tape on portions of the costume, props and candy bag or bucket. The reflective tape will gleam in the beam of a headlight, alerting drivers. Also make sure that long, flowing costumes are short enough to avoid a tripping hazard, and that masks have large enough eye holes to allow for full peripheral vision. Kids will be kids, and excited trick-or-treating kids are bound to dart across streets for the next handful of candy.
• Minimize your time on the road: Opt for Halloween parties and trick-or-treating spots close to your home, or plan to spend the night at or near the home or venue where you’ll celebrate. Better yet, throw a party at your own home. Know that even the most careful drivers are at risk as long as there are impaired drivers on the roadways, and you can bet that will be the case throughout the Halloween week and weekend.

From all of us here at E3 Spark Plugs, have a safe and happy Halloween.

A few summertime car care tips can help make sure you're sunning on the beach rather than sweltering in your broke-down vehicle.

As summer gets underway, extreme temperatures have probably already sent you sprinting into your air conditioned home or the deep end of your swimming pool. But just like you, your automobile can take only so much heat. Turns out that excessive heat can cause or worsen a whole slew of car maintenance issues. E3 Spark Plugs offers these tips to help your car and your wallet keep cool.

• Clean your battery and terminals, particularly if it’s an older one. Make sure that there is no acid leaking, that it has adequate water (heat can evaporate a battery’s internal fluids) and that the charge is strong but not off the charts. High summertime temperatures can speed up the chemical reaction inside your battery, causing it to overcharge. This can significantly shorten the battery’s lifespan.
• Check your coolant system and make sure all fluids are topped off. Keep in mind that all engine fluids break down more quickly during the summer.
• Check all hoses and belts for cracks and breaks. If they’re looking ragged, replace them.
• Check your tires for worn or weak spots. Remember that tire pressure changes with the rising temperatures. You lose one to two PSI (pounds per square inch) with every 10-degree increase in outside air temperature. And with those PSI, you’ll lose gas money, too.
• Change your oil and air filters. Clogged oil filters can cause your engine to overheat. And clogged air filters can do a real number on your gas mileage.
• Replace your windshield wipers so you’re ready for those summertime torrential downpours.
• Get your air conditioning system checked out for refrigerant leaks.

Being stranded on the side of the road is no fun to begin with. Don’t get stuck beneath a sweltering sun. Got more stay-cool tips? Post them on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

A used car can be a great deal if you know what to look for in a vehicle history report. E3 Spark Plugs offers tips.

In the market for a used car or truck? E3 Spark Plugs has a few tips for reading and effectively deciphering a vehicle history report. One clue – it’s not just what’s on the report that’s important. What’s missing may be crucial to your car buying decision.

A good, comprehensive vehicle history report combines information from multiple sources, including states DMVs (Division of Motor Vehicles) or RMVs (Registry of Motor Vehicles), fire and police departments, vehicle inspection stations, auto auctions, fleet management and rental agencies, and auto manufacturers. All that info can seem a bit overwhelming. But a few basic tips will help you cut through the ink clutter and make an informed decision.

1. Devil’s in the description. The first order of business is to carefully read through the vehicle’s name, description and VIN number to make sure everything lines up. This is one way to protect yourself against buying a VIN cloned ride. Fraudsters often use the vehicle identification numbers from legally owned, non-stolen vehicles to pass off a stolen vehicle of a similar make and model. Go through the description with a fine-toothed comb to make sure the car your reading about is, indeed the car you’re looking at.
2. Look for too many trips to the shop. A paper trail showing that a vehicle’s former owner faithfully took it to the garage for recommended scheduled maintenance is one thing. But an excessive number of visits might signal that something’s wonky and that you’ll be paying for lots of repairs.
3. Look for too many owners. If a vehicle has been sold, sold and resold many times, there’s probably a reason – and it probably ain’t a good reason. It’s likely that each owner dealt with a few too many repair bills and decided to cut his losses and pass the car along to the next sucker. Don’t be that sucker.
4. Remember the old adage, “Location, location, location.” Some regions of the country are a bit more auto-friendly than others. For instance, salt can do a number on a paint job and accelerate rusting, particularly in a car’s undercarriage. So watch for vehicles that have spent lots of time in beach towns or in snowy regions where roads are salted during the winter. Excessive heat also can affect multiple car parts and systems including the coolant system, air conditioning and engine.
5. Keep an eye out for what’s not there. If a vehicle’s accident report is clean, yet its body work records show a replaced front bumper, hood and headlights, you might be looking at a car that was crashed and never reported.

Do you have a story about dodging a bad deal thanks to a vehicle history report? E3 Spark Plugs wants to hear it. Leave us a comment on our E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.