When you buy a car, you never think it is going to be a lemon. However, sometimes you face a lot of problems after your purchase.

A lot of used car owners or people who are planning to buy a used car are asking whether the California Lemon Law can help them protect their rights or not in case the vehicle turns out to be defective.

The California Lemon Law provisions apply to new vehicles. However used cars that are under express written warranty can qualify as well. Therefore some general rules may apply to motorcycles, motor homes, used vehicles sold under the dealer’s express written warranty, “lemon” vehicles repurchased by the manufacturer and sold to consumers, and vehicles sold with a service contract.

According to California law, the first time that a lemon vehicle is resold, it must have a one-year factory warranty. The law requires as well that the car has a “lemon law buyback” title and a “lemon” sticker on the door jamb. The cars cannot be sold “as is”. In case you were sold a lemon illegally “as is”, you still have rights under the California Lemon Law.

The law covers cars that were purchased for personal, family or household but not commercial use.

We would be happy to share our advocate expertise in California Lemon Law and help you obtain your rights. Contact LETTERCHAMP.com

Later on, the price conscious car buyers that the price was not really worth the vehicle. Some would go for looks to later on realize that the car is lacking some features that they are looking for in a vehicle.

This is the very reason why experts advise consumers to check out vehicle reviews and vehicle guides to help them choose the right vehicle that would be up to par to their needs and wants.

One of the newest guides that could help consumers find the vehicle to own is Kiplinger.com’s Car Buyer’s Guide, consumers would be able to learn about the best vehicles in the market as well as reviews on some of the industry’s vehicles. Guests would also be able to learn more about car specifications. The guide also has interactive tools which would help consumers find the vehicle that would be the right buy.

Doug Harbrecht is Kiplinger.com’s director for New Media and he shares, “For years, Kiplinger’s has provided expert analysis of cars and the industry from both the personal finance and business perspectives. Now an entire section of our Web site is devoted to the topic, and we encourage visitors to take advantage of it to find the right car, at the right price.”

Some of the special features that Kiplinger.com’s New Buyer’s Guide has include online reviews. Every week, there two new cars put under the spotlight and visitors can learn more about the vehicles featured. Kiplinger.com would also be announcing their choice of winners for the awards that they give to deserving automobiles. The list of awards includes the Best in Class, Best Resale Value, First for Safety, Best New Car, and Most Fuel Efficient. All these awards are given to one vehicle in each category.

At press time, the whole guide has a collection of over 1,110 vehicles which includes cars, crossover vehicles, sports utility vehicles, and trucks. Profiles of these vehicles are available as well as specifications. If you are looking for Jeep Cherokee parts compatible vehicles, the New Buyer’s Guide would assist you well.

Purchasing a vehicle is just the start of being a car owner. One of the most important things that car owners look for is auto insurance. The New Buyer’s Guide also has a page dedicated to assisting consumers find auto insurance quotes. Consumers are also given tips on the whole process of buying a car.

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Source: articlebase

So, I learnt these three GOLDEN rules from a car consumer helpline article in California.

Car Maintenance Rule Number 1: Check the engine oil. Do it regularly — monthly for a vehicle in good condition; more often if you notice an oil leak or find you need to add oil routinely. The car should be parked on level ground so you can get an accurate dipstick reading. Don’t overfill. And if you do have a leak, find and fix it soon.

Car Consumer Helpline Rule #2 Check tire air pressure. Once a month and before any extended road trips, use an accurate tire-pressure gauge to check the inflation pressure in each tire, including the spare. Do this when the tires are cold (before the vehicle has been driven or after no more than a couple of miles of driving). Use the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer, not the maximum pressure embossed on the tire’s sidewall. The recommended pressure is usually found on a placard on a front doorjamb, in the glove compartment, or in the owner’s manual. Also be sure to inspect tires for abnormal or uneven wear, cuts and any sidewall bulges you can see.

RULE # 3 Wash your Car. Try to wash the car every week, if you can. Wash the body and, if necessary, hose out the fender wells and undercarriage to remove dirt and road salt. It’s time to wax the finish when water beads become larger than a quarter.

Other Checks at Each Oil Change

To read more, “a href=”http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=779339″>READ MORE

In the past, govt. has pulled out all the stops to help the ‘petrol’ giants by subsidizing gas guzzling cars! Look, where it got us. Instead of offering subsidies to work on alternative fuels, it is really the same old story in a brand new avatar. Same wine in a new ‘obamaized’ bottle!. Of course, he has no choice! The auto industry is a mess!!

Mess created by earlier politicians, who were funded and put in the senate with the money from the Petrol Giants and other corporates. So, what will a smart leader do! Accept this.

Obama told CBS’ “Sunday Morning” that his grade is incomplete because the economy has yet to fully rebound. (seattlepi.com)

Still, Obama cites accomplishments – preventing a complete collapse of the economy, saving the financial markets and the auto industry, and passing the health care law.

According to USA Today, “Just in time for President Obama’s visit to Detroit, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne announced the automaker will add 900 jobs at its Sterling Heights, Mich., assembly plant where it builds the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, both due to be refreshed substantially for the 2011 model year. Marchionne also announced that the plant, slated to close after 2012, will remain open after that “to support the company’s long-term product plan.”

July 30 Twitter page of Chrysler stated, just before the Presidents, visit, – that they will keep the plant open and the second shift going. Good news, right??? Yes, maybe.

So, what does this mean for the car dealers, America, American public, consumers who buy cars, and the ‘auto’ industry?

Mr.Ingrassia is of the opinion that it is indeed good news, however, is ‘tough love’. The rescue of car industry is unexpectedly successful. Wall street is about to go down. Govt. bails it out. Now, the banks that got bailed out will help bail out Detroit. Its a cycle.

So, definitely a good news for car consumer, car industry, chrysler, ford, and the federal government!

“These developments couldn’t come at a better time for Mr. Obama. His administration is heading into a tough midterm election. The government recently reduced its economic growth numbers for all of last year. Detroit’s nascent revival lets the president say he’s made tough economic decisions that are beginning to produce results.”

USA today reports that Obama is on his second trip to Michigan in a month, and this trip, the White House hopes, will highlight the progress Chrysler and General Motors have made (and jobs created) since their government-supported bankruptcies and rebirths last year. Obama landed at the Detroit airport around 11 a.m., and is heading to Chrysler’s Jefferson North plant in Detroit and then to General Motor’s plant in Hamtramck, Mich.

If you would like any car consumer help, car consumer news or lemon law help, contact news@letterchamp.com for any information

The reason for the astronomical price? The dealer claimed that there were no other suppliers. While researching Jocelyn’s case, the LetterChamp discovered that the car dealership neglected to give her the $600 core deposit for a tire that had been replaced a year earlier. Letterchamp car consumer helpline worked with the car manufacturer to make sure that Jocelyn received the deposit she was entitled to. This added bonus saved Jocelyn a grand total of $2,000.

The LetterChamp handled this case and proved to the corporate representative that the car manufacturer was at fault. Letterchamp car consumer helpline was also able to get Lois a free paint job to protect her dream car.

Letterchamp is a consumer watchdog firm for your a defective car. Whether you have received inadequate service from your car dealer or would like help with refund for your engine, or braking system –

GET HELP WITH YOUR DEFECTIVE CAR, OUT OF WARRANTY ISSUES NOW!!!

We spend so much money on our car, and spend a lot of time traveling to work. Sometimes, we get stuck with a defective car and a bunch of problems like air conditioning problems, electrical problems, brake problems, defective anti lock braking system, cooling problems, car overheats, transmission problems, suspension problems, shock absorbers replacement, engine problems, engine trouble, defective engine and even transmission problems.

Here’s another testimonial:

Lois was excited about driving her brand new dream car. However, this feeling dwindled after she noticed that the paint was cracking after owning the car for only a year. Everyone at the dealership ignored her concerns about the defective paint job.

Car overheating is a common problem that may happen in any car or truck be it Toyota, Chevrolet, Fiat or Honda!

The reason could be a thermostat malfunction, radiator not functioning, a possible leak in the Air conditioning, or a broken fan. We will talk about how to repair your car when any of these conditions arise.

An automobile’s cooling arrangement is actually a collection of components that blow coolant through the engine to absorb heat, and circulating this air around the coolant. If any part of the the component stops working, it is not good news either for you or your steaming engine.

Lets first understand WHY a car overheats or the A/C doesnt function.

1. Stuck Theromostat leads to Car Overheating:

According to statistics, the number one cause for a car overheating is a stuck thermostat, broken thermostat, or defective thermostat. It can stick or freeze in the closed position blocking the flow of coolant to your engine. You can check if your thermostat is not open or stuck is to feel the upper radiator hose. Once the engine warms up, it should start functioning. If it does not warm, the thermostat is probably not opening.

2. Leak in Car’s Air Conditioning

A leak in your cars air conditioning can also cause the cooling to be ineffective. If your vehicle is loosing coolant there will not be enough left in the vehicle to keep it cool. This is easy to diagnose as the radiator will be low on fluid and there will probably be a pool of coolant on the floor of your garage. Look for leaks in the most common places like around hoses and around the welds of your radiator. If you can not find the leak you might need to take it to a shop to have the cooling system pressure tested.

3. Car overheats due to broken water pump

A faulty water pump can also cause the car to overheat. The water pump is a vital part of your cooling system since it is responsible for circulating coolant through your engine. With a faulty water pump your vehicle will not run for more than a few minutes without overheating.

4. Car doesnt cool due to defective cooling fan

The fourth cause of overheating is a bad cooling fan. There are two types of fans, electric and mechanical. The electric fan should come on automatically once the vehicle reaches operating temperature or when the A/C is turned on. If it doesn’t you should have it replaced. The mechanical fan will run all of the time but has a clutch which makes it turn faster when the engine heats up. With the car turned off the fan should not turn too easily especially when the vehicle is warm. You can also check for signs of leakage from the fan clutch. If you see any problems have it replaced.

5. Radiator Issues

The fifth cause of overheating I will talk about is a clogged radiator. Over time the radiator can accumulate deposits of rust and debris. This is especially true if radiator fluid has not been flushed on a regular basis. If you suspect a clogged radiator you should take it to a shop to have it professionally cleaned.

Those are some of the most common cause for car overheating. Dont forget, Car overheating can cause a great deal of damage to your vehicle, adding to expensive repair bills. If you have had bad service from your car dealer, you can also contact Bureau of Automotive Repair.

For consumer help for broken cars, car dealership issues, you can also contact Letterchamp Car Consumer Helpline.

Car AC not working

If you are an Apple boy or girl, like me – then you won’t travel without your iphone, ipad, ipod or macbook anywhere. However, I ask you to think again. The famous customer service that has made Apple the number one name in US and Europe is infamous in India.

The number of stores, customer service centers of Apple in India can be counted on one hand for starters.

Number two – don’t expect cool dudes helping you out in the Apple store of Delhi or Mumbai. These Macbooks for display on stores are not even connected to the Internet. In other words, you cant ‘test’ browse an Apple in a store in India.

You have to LOOK at it and let the sales person handle it. DON’T TOUCH, if you are not here to buy – is the mantra.

I took my Mac book to India. However, due to lack of knowledge about power surges, my macbook and the macbook power adapter stopped working (after the voltage surge that happened in my office). Then, I went to the Apple Store which was unlike any Apple store I had ever been to. You cant touch, you cant play, you cant expect the salesperson to smile or help you at all.

So, this is what I found out.

Apparently, voltage surges of upto 500 volts are NORMAL in India. So, power adapters and laptops and electronic equipment from United States MUST use a stabilizer and a voltage converter from 110 to 220 volts. Or, you will end with a broken laptop or a defective power adapter.

Although the problem is universal with Toshiba, hp and Sony computers – the customer service centers are located every few blocks. Plus, these brands EDUCATE the customer and do a upsell, the same day, you buy the Toshiba adapter. Result- Toshiba and Lenovo are two of the number one laptop brands in India.

What about the world’s number one, coolest computer – Apple? Where are they in INDIA??? Nowhere. The customer service is non existent. There are virtually no customer service centers you can send your laptop for repair. It goes back to CHINA???? Or California, if the laptop is under warranty.

Did I tell you that I ended up buying another macbook power adapter for double what I would pay for in US. (I paid $160). That ALSO nearly exploded (It was sparking all the time) before I went storming in the Apple store in a big mall in New Delhi. That finally got the Apple employee’s attention. He changed it and finally told me to buy a stabilizer as well. Why couldnt he tell me this when I first came.

Hence, the words infamous Apple service in India, rather than famous!

What the airlines and airports should do in case of such an emergency made front page headlines.

With consumers getting stuck in airports, it makes me think of the ‘consumer protection’ we deserve. Many airlines did not even provide basic amenities to their stuck passengers. People were stuck without water, food, money, a place to sleep and even without medical attention for weeks!!

If that were to occur in U.S., passengers would be given more consumer protection under a new rule, that takes effect on Thursday.

This new rule will put a halt to long tarmac delays on domestic flights and provide additiona protections to the consumers who are flying.

Under the new rule, U.S. airlines operating domestic flights may not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac at large and medium hub airports for more than three hours without deplaning passengers. The only exceptions are for safety or security reasons or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations.

According to consumeraffairs.com, “U.S. carriers operating international flights departing from or arriving in the United States must specify — in advance — their own time limits for deplaning passengers, with the same exceptions applicable.

Airlines will be required to provide adequate food and potable drinking water for passengers within two hours of the aircraft being delayed on the tarmac and to maintain operable lavatories and, if necessary, provide medical attention.”

So, if a volcano were to erupt in U.S, or any other kind of airline delay, you wont be treated like an animal as European airlines saw fit to treat passengers. Be assured that you as a passenger will be given basic amenities.

Having said that, while some have said the new rule could lead to large increases in the number of canceled flights, the Department of Transportation (DOT) doesn’t expect that to be the case. “Everyone knows the rules going in — the passengers and the airlines,” LaHood said. “We expect carriers to take steps to avoid tarmac delays and cancellations by adjusting their schedules and providing timely information to passengers. A little extra planning will minimize disruptions while ensuring that passengers are not trapped aboard airplanes indefinitely.”

Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com

Consumer spending has increased for the fifth consecutive month in US, and is showing distinct signs of recovery. This has happened despite the incomes remaining flat. All this, while Treasury Department is planning to sell its ‘citi’ shares. Stocks also rose slightly celebrating the recovery of consumer spending.

According to Kamcity.com, ” Consumer spending has risen by .3% in February, this year. This is the fifth month it has done so, according to reports from the Commerce Department. The growth was especially good news, considering the snowstorms of the East Coast during the month.”

The report indicated that consumer spending remained steadfast as personal income was largely unchanged. The increase in personal spending could also point to a quicker recovery of the wider economy.

According to theepochtimes, “Nike Inc., who is also the world’s largest producer of athletic shoes, has announced that its third-quarter profit has more than doubled in March, exceeding analysts’ forecasts, as North America posted a sales increase for the first time in a year.

“Best Buy, the largest U.S. electronics retailer, reported a fourth-quarter profit in March as well, which was ahead of analysts’ predictions as the Richfield, Minnesota-based company boosted sales by slashing prices on flat-panel TVs and offering discounts during the 2009 holidays.”

While all this consumer spending despite 1o percent unemployment is putting the economy on a fast track to recovery, things are not so rosy outside the home front.

The price of US dollar dropped against the EURO. All this gave rise to foreign investors pouring money into consumer stocks.

Even though, consumer confidence is returning, it is happening with a BIG difference. The consumer of today walks in the supermarket with a list, and doesn’t overspend on things he or she doesnt need.

In a nutshell, America is getting wiser!

One great exercise tip is to walk through every row in Costco.There are some manufacturers that offer unadvertised discounts on products for a limited time.I have been able to purchase eye drops, lotion, etc. at a reduced price.Most of the discounts vary from $3.00-$10.00 per item.These specials are intermittent so you need to keep looking.I have found a lot of unadvertised specials during the slower retail months such as January and February when it is cold and damp outdoors.

As a consumer advocate, I recommend that you walk through all of the isles in Costco every time you shop there.The best part is that you are able to save money and burn the extra calories from the holiday season.