recall notices

Recall Notices – Cars And Trucks

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recall noticeRecall notices by automobile manufacturers seem to get announced and never heard about again in most cases.  We’ve put this information together to help you quickly look-up your vehicle and determine if your vehicle has been included in a recall action, the reason why and what resolution is offered, repair or  compensation might be available.  Of course, some recalls offer little in terms of compensation, but there’s more to consider in most cases.

A good portion of all recalls are mandated by U.S. government agencies, but quite a few are arranged and announced directly by manufacturers.  Multiple information resource links are provided below for your convenience.

 

Recall Notices Look-up by VIN – Vehicle Identification Number

Owners may not always know their recalled vehicle still needs to be repaired. NHTSA’s new search tool lets you enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to quickly learn if a specific vehicle has not been repaired as part of a safety recall in the last 15 years. Safecar.gov Click
recall notices
Edmunds is an industry leading automotive information web site and business used by individuals and industry sources.  Edmunds.com is the Internet’s pioneer and leader in providing unbiased automotive information, tools and services for consumers.
The primary source for recall notices information is also a keeper and registrar for new car and truck safety ratings. The United States Department of Transportation facilitates relative laws and safety information through National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  It really applies to newer cars, but is a great source potentially when purchasing a new or newer automobile.

Search vehicle safety ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers make smart decisions about safety when purchasing a vehicle. You can also search ratings by manufacturer.

Recall notices are issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, (car van, SUV, truck, equipment, car seat, or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards and specifications. Almost all decisions to conduct a recall and remedy a safety defect are made voluntarily by manufacturers before any involvement by NHTSA.

Manufacturers are required to fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund, or in rare cases repurchasing the vehicle. View the 2018 Recall Report.

Using the VIN lookup tool, access to recall information is provided by the manufacturer conducting the recall which may or may not be posted currently on NHTSA’s site.

recall notices

5 Signs of a Bad Engine

5 Signs of a Bad Engine

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A bad engine?

Think you have a bad engine?

Here are five key areas to investigate to see if your bad engine has blown a head gasket, has a cracked head, or cracked cylinder block.

Exhaust

Your exhaust will present one of the common signs of a blown head gasket. When you have a gasket leak, you will notice white smoke coming out of your tailpipe. Sometimes drops of water will drop from the end of the tailpipe. The exhaust will also have a sweet smell to it.

Bubbles

Bubbles are also one of the signs of a blown head gasket. A gasket leak may cause bubbles of air to come into your radiator. To check for this, you should first remove the radiator cap then warm up the engine. When you rev the engine, you will see bubbles come out from the top of the radiator.

Oil

One of the next signs of a blown head gasket is contaminated oil. You may notice a milky ring surrounding your oil cap. This is caused by coolant entering the engine oil through the leaking gasket. This mixture leaves the milky ring around the oil cap when it evaporates. You can check for this by taking the car for a short drive, then checking the oil for contamination.

used enginesEngine

Lack of engine power is also one of the signs of a blown head gasket. The engine will lack power because of compression loss. The engine will also run poorly and will idle roughly. You should also be careful because the engine will overheat quickly when you have a blown head gasket.

Spark Plugs

The spark plugs will present one of the last signs of a blown head gasket. If you have green coolant in your system, the spark plugs may have a green tint around them. If the problem is very severe, the coolant may start squirting out of the plug holes.
These are the most common signs of a blown head gasket. One of the most noticeable is white smoke coming out of your tailpipe. You will also notice that your oil has been contaminated with coolant that will form a milky ring around your oil cap. If you see any of these signs of a blown head gasket, you should stop driving your car and get it fixed. If you don’t, the engine may easily overheat and may cause an expensive repair bill.

Watch Scotty Kilmer’s Youtube Video on How to Tell if your Engine is Worn Out