Quick Cash Auto Blog

The violent weather currently being experienced in the southern United States has forced a halt in production at Toyota and Mercedes-Benz plants in Alabama. Emergency workers and cleanup crews are working in the area to assess the roughly two day’s worth of battering and damage from the many tornadoes that went through the area.

The Mercedes-Benz plant of Tuscaloosa, AL was indirectly struck by a mile-wide tornado that destroyed parts of the factory. The plant currently produces models from the GL, M, and R class of vehicles. Matters were further complicated by interruptions in logistics due to damaged and closed highways and off-ramps. A Mercedes spokeswoman cited the halt in production to this difficulty and tied a restart in production to reestablishment of the flow. The tornado apparently did not damage the plant beyond complete functionality.

The storm cell that produced that tornado as well as others was responsible for the damaging and power loss of several parts manufacturers and businesses as far north as Virginia. The Mercedes-Benz plant is due to stay halted until at least Friday.

A key United States Toyota engine plant was similarly affected by the loss of utility lines and power delivery infrastructure. The Huntsville, AL plant stopped production Wednesday night with the loss of power and is expected to be halted at least through the weekend. That plant produces V-6 and V-8 engines for the Tundra and Tacoma in addition to the Sequoia SUV.

Further damage to the area included cell phone towers which complicated communications for many. Golf-ball-sized hail spread damage to structures and automobiles as far north as Knoxville, TN and towards the eastern side of Georgia.

The impact of the storms is not likely to be felt in extremity as the region cleans up. Re-establishing logistics and power supplies are key to the affected plants being able to resume normal operations. None of the affected plants appeared to have suffered such significant structural damage as to necessitate a lengthy shut down.

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc. of Montgomery and Honda of Alabama Manufacturing in Lincoln reported no direct damage to their operations or supply chains due to the tornadoes. Information is still being gathered on the well-being of employees and their families.

Over 200 people perished across five states due to the tornado cells that decimated the area.

There are many automobiles that were gone before their time because the body became compromised. Their mechanical function and engine still ran well but rampant rust made the body unsafe. Repairing rust spots as they are found can help extend the life of your automobile.

Different climates will affect the body of an automobile in a variety of ways. Areas with heavy moisture and snow are clearly the worst culprits. Even worse are areas that still use salt instead of sand on their roads to combat ice. Salt should be washed off an automobile often; once a week if possible.

Climates that do not have severe snow or ice can still see degradation thanks to rust. Flooded and vehicles left to sit through the course of bad weather seasons are most prone to undercarriage rusting. There really is not a lot that can be done for undercarriage rusting other than replacing the affected components. Generally it is more cost efficient just to buy a new car at that point.

Surface rust spots on the body of an automobile can be fairly easily repaired. Bubbles in the paint are an indicator that rust is forming. Do not ignore this tell-tale warning sign. For every bit of rust you can see there is generally three times as much that you cannot. Repairing the surface rust spots will help prevent it from taking hold and spreading through the body of the automobile.

How to Treat Rust Spots
Gather materials: razorblade, car soap and warm water, primer with a metal conditioner, touch up paint.
*Note: Follow directional usage of paint, primer, and car soap to ensure the area is prepared before continuing to the next step. Failure to do so may compromise additional applications.

1. Scrape loose rust away from the spots with a razorblade, being careful to not knick undamaged areas.
2. Wash the rusted areas with the car soap and warm water. The car soap will ensure any wax or build up comes off.
3. Once dried, apply a primer with a metal conditioner. A local auto parts store will be able to recommend a primer.
4. Once the primer has dried, coat the area using touch up paint.

Prevent rusting from destroying the body by washing your automobile regularly. Take care of rust spots as they appear. If they are left alone, the rust will run rampant and degrade the body before the mechanical workings of the vehicle fail.

The vast number of automobiles on the market and manufacturers vying for consumer attention can make it a bit difficult to locate the right one. Not every vehicle will be appropriate to every driver. Some have physical characteristics they find more or less favorable. Less tangible features come into play more in the long term ownership of the automobile. A little forethought can go a long way to ensuring you stay happy with your purchase into the future.

The following five places are areas for a car shopper to start with to begin forming the foundation of their purchase.

1. Safety
New cars today offer a wide range of safety features to help protect the occupants and minimize physical injury. Most will have appropriate protection for general use. It is generally up to the consumer to decide if additional safety measures are worth the investment or not.

Find Crash Test Ratings at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: www.iihs.org

2. Fuel Economy
Rising gas prices result in a great importance being put on the fuel economy of a potential vehicle. Hybrid or electric automobiles may seem like a good idea at first glance. From an environmental stand point, they can be. The cost of a hybrid will likely not be offset by fuel savings unless driven excessively. Electric cars are a shaky investment due to lack of infrastructure at present.

Aim to find the right type of vehicle for your needs. If you are only going to be doing some moderate city driving; there really is no reason to have a V8 SUV.

3. Reliability
The reliability of a vehicle can be researched through consumer agencies like Consumer Reports. Comparing prices of like automobiles can also be an indicator. If a vehicle is selling for significantly less than like models, that can indicate a reliability issue.

4. Financing
No buyer should head to a dealer without an understanding of how they want to finance their purchase. Banks or credit unions can often offer much better rates on auto loans than an in-house lender can at the dealer. Lower percentage on the final payment can mean hundreds of dollars in savings down the road.

5. Insurance
Get an insurance quote on the vehicles you are considering. There may be many different circumstances at work pushing on their prices. If a model is stolen more often or harder to repair, it will generally have a higher insurance premium. Factors such as age, experience, and location all play an important role in insurance rates. The automobile itself is another major factor. It can be a great way to help make the final decision between two vehicles.

A recent study by Pacific Northwest National Lab claims that Biofuel derived from algae could replace upwards of 17% of petroleum imports for the United States in a year. If this development is able to proceed as projected, it will be a significant step towards meeting the requirements of the federal Energy Independence and Security Act.

Biofuel is a closely examined commodity as it may offer a more easily renewable resource than petroleum. Efficiency is a larger problem when it comes to other alternate fuels. The debate over ethanol largely stems from the side that believes using it is not efficient or ethical. Opponents feel that vegetables should not be used to fuel vehicles when there are still so many individuals going without food.

A fuel derived from algae could fit neatly between the two camps. The algae would require a fairly large supply of water to grow. Farms set up in the Gulf of Mexico area, the Great Lakes area, and the southeastern seaboard of the United States may be able to offset the amount of water that would be needed by making use of the natural humidity of the regions. This type of Biofuel is particularly attractive because it can thrive in anything from sewage to fresh water and grows much quicker than other sources. The lipids in the algae are extracted and used in production of the Biofuel.

Proponents of the program hail the extensive research and documentation that was put into the study to allow renewable energy experts a real chance at examining it. Some concerns present include a wonder if the data accurately reflects just how much water would need to be used to create a certain volume of Biofuel. Wasting fresh water is not a high agenda item with our general use outpacing replenishment in many areas. Regardless of whether this situation comes to fruition, algae will continue to play a role in Biofuel in the future.

Current law requires that Biofuel replace at least 10% of current petroleum consumption by 2022 and not be derived from corn. This development may open the door to a more efficient Biofuel resource even if it is not applied exactly as the studies are suggesting. Finding an efficient Biofuel is favored as the infrastructure for liquid fuel dispensing is already in place whereas charging stations and grid-work still need to be built for electric automobiles.