According to Federal Reserve statistics from the 2010 Census, about 67% of American debt is tied up in non-revolving loans like student loans and auto loans. The average new car loan is about $27,600! That’s a pretty big chunk of change, which is why many Americans are finding it better to take out loans on used cars if they can’t keep their own running for longer.

If you’re one of the people going to find a used car instead of a new one, there are some things you need to know about financing your car. It can be a little more difficult to get a used car loan for a couple of reasons. For one thing, you may not want to go through a dealership, as you might with a new car, because you may want to buy a used car that doesn’t come off of a dealer’s lot. It’s not necessarily a great idea to get dealer financing in any case, even on a new car, but it is the simplest, least-hassle option.

Also, getting a used car loan can be a little tougher because banks need to be careful about the used cars they allow their customers to buy. If you can’t pay your loan, the bank needs to ensure that it can recoup at least some of its money on the loan by selling the car, so most banks won’t write a loan for cars that are past a certain age.

These top five tips will help you get the best financing possible for a used car:

<!–[if !supportLists]–>1. <!–[endif]–>Clean up your credit first. It takes a little time, but cleaning up your credit before applying for a car loan is a good idea. Even small mistakes can make a big difference, and you’ll get a much better loan deal if you have better credit even by a few points.

The quickest way to clean up your credit is to clear up any mistakes on your credit report that might be counting against you and to pay down revolving debt – like credit cards – so that you’re sitting with a 50% or less balance compared with your credit limit on all of your accounts. It’s worth taking a couple of months to do this before applying for a used car loan, since you can get a bigger loan and better rates with better credit!

2. Get pre-approval for a loan. Buying a used car is a little like buying a house. It’s a good idea to know how much you have available to spend before you go shopping. Otherwise you risk falling in love with a car you just can’t afford!

Check out three or four different lenders, and apply at roughly the same time. Why? Because every lender will inquire about your credit. If they do it within a few days, it will only count as one inquiry on your credit report. This is a good thing, since more inquiries on your credit report will actually knock your credit score down!

Once you’ve checked out a few different lenders, see who will give you the best deal. Remember, a slightly lower loan with a better interest rate may be in your interest, even if you have to settle for a car with a few more miles or a few less features! The better interest rate will save you a ton over time!

<!–[if !supportLists]–>3. <!–[endif]–>Avoid the dealership if possible. If you have good credit, you can get loan pre-approval from a bank, which allows you to shop with private individuals for your next car. This is much better because you’re probably going to get a lower price. Don’t worry about not getting a car that’s “certified pre-owned.” Just shell out a couple hundred bucks to take the car you’re interested in to a mechanic for an all-over systems check, and don’t buy if you’re at all uncomfortable with the seller. There are plenty of people out there trying to sell cars right now, so you’ve got lots of options to choose from.

Dealers will give you higher-rate financing, and even if it knocks a bit off the sticker tag, you’ll still pay more than if you bought from an individual. You do need good credit to get a bank loan, though, so if you need to buy a car before you can really clean up your credit, check with a dealer to see what kinds of deals you might be able to get.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>4. <!–[endif]–>Save up a down payment. If you can save up more than 10% down on your used car, you can probably get a car loan even if you don’t have excellent credit. Saving up 50% or more of the purchase price of your car will almost guarantee you a car loan with a decent rate unless your credit is just totally shot.

Again, taking the time to take this step will help you get a better rate on your car, so it can be worth your time to put down as much as you can on your new-to-you car.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>5. <!–[endif]–>Get a shorter-term loan. Your used car may not last as long as a newer model, and you’ll certainly take out less money than you would if you were buying a new car. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to look at shorter term loans, even if your monthly rate will be a little higher. Instead of a five or six year loan, look at two or three year options.

Asking for a shorter term loan will often get you a better interest rate, too, and you’ll be able to save a lot of money on interest this way. For instance, let’s say you’re looking at a $15,000 loan for a slightly used car. On a 5 year loan with 7% interest, you’ll pay $297.02 per month and will pay $2,821.08 in interest. Take that same interest rate and apply it to a 3 year loan, and here’s what you get: a $463.16 monthly payment and just $1,673.63 paid in interest over the life of the loan.

As you can see, waiting a bit longer to save up a larger down payment and clean up your credit can make a big difference in your ability to get the used car you want. It will help you get a better rate and make lower monthly payments, so you can afford more car. Even if you know you want a cheap car, taking a little extra time to save and pay down other debts can be good because you may have more room left in your budget than you think after car payments. Then, you can apply that extra money to save for a new car, so next time, you’ll have to finance even less!

A Closer Look At Your Vehicle’s Fuel Pump

Every fuel injection system (FIS) relies heavily on the fuel pump. Located next to - or often within - the tank, it has two jobs. First, it must make sure enough gasoline is available for the injectors. Second, it needs to generate the right level of pressure so the injectors can deliver the proper amount of gas to the engine. If something goes wrong with this part, the issue can impact your vehicle’s performance and increase its level of emissions.

In this article, we’ll explore this component in detail. We’ll look at the potential problems that can occur and how to diagnose them. I’ll also provide insight about replacing the auto part that a lot of motorists might be surprised to learn.

What Can Go Wrong?

The purpose of your car’s FIS is to provide the precise amount of gasoline for any type of conditions in which the engine is operating. This level of precision is one of the reasons the injection system replaced carburetors years ago. When the fuel pump fails to work properly, the injectors cannot add the right amount of gas to the mixture. As a result, your vehicle’s engine might run “too lean” or “too rich.” That can cause idling problems, a persistent stumble, power loss, or trouble during cold starts.

Running too lean or too rich can also lead to misfiring. When that happens, your vehicle will produce higher levels of emissions (i.e. hydrocarbons) which can potentially cause your car to fail a smog test.

Diagnosing Problems

Let’s suppose you’re noticing symptoms while driving that suggest the pump is failing. It’s possible that the issue is simply a bad connection. It’s also possible that your battery isn’t generating a sufficient charge to operate the fuel pump, so check the battery’s voltage output. If the problem is not related to a connection or a low charge coming from your battery, check the static pressure. If it doesn’t match what is listed in your owner’s manual, you’ll probably need to replace the component.

Replacing The Unit

The first thing you’ll need to do is to make sure the replacement car part is a good match for your vehicle. Just because it fits does not mean it’s appropriate. Again, look at your owner’s manual. It should list the proper specifications that your car’s fuel pump must meet. If you install a replacement that is poorly matched for your vehicle, it will work. However, you’ll probably notice performance issues.

The industry has undergone a fair amount of consolidation in recent years. As a result, a lot of fuel pumps are sold in a “one size fits all” configuration. Realize that this configuration may not meet your automaker’s standards. When the time comes to replace the part, make sure it meets original equipment (OE) specifications. That way, you can be sure that the replacement doesn’t cause your car engine to run too lean or too rich.

Due to the ever increasing prices of most all commodities, the selling of used Ford parts and other used car parts has now become widespread because the savings are tremendous and the quality remains high.

You have to be careful though or you could get taken. And that’s why one of the best places for buying used parts is the internet…when you know what to look for and the sites to trust.

The salvage yards can serve you because they offer a wide variety of used auto parts but the quality and guarantees are spotty at best.

Getting used Ford parts has always been a process treated with skepticism. People believe recycled Ford parts are unreliable and that they may konk out after only a few days or worse be dead on arrival.

But lately, companies are changing their policies and increasing the quality and testing which provides assurances to you before buying. The parts undergo thorough testing, which proves their quality and helps you rest more comfortably. These Ford parts are molded again in their new shape which makes it very difficult to identify the old ones from the new ones.

These days, the internet has become the latest tool for buying all types of products including refurbished auto parts and other types of used vehicle parts. So, for getting cheap and high-quality used auto parts, the Internet has come of age and is more than a handy option because the quality remains and you get the product shipped right to your door.

So, now it becomes important to select the right site for buying and getting the parts at affordable rates.

So what are some elements you want to look for when buying:

1. Easy Buying Procedure: In today’s world every human being faces the problem of lack of time so you want it to be dead simple and fast.

2. Wide variety of Products to cover the majority of your potential customers.

3. Safest Place: It is one of the safest places to buy good quality used auto parts as well as other used parts. And look for an iron-clad guarantee so your site visitors have no hesitation entering their credit card information and hitting the buy button.

Purchasing any recycled car part in working condition is much better than spending all the money for a new Ford car or even new Ford parts at retail prices.

You would have to pay the shipping, transportation costs, and the other overhead as well as profits retailers stick in there.

This is where used parts purchased through reputed online sites are reliable and also maintenance free. And you can get more life out of the car you have already depreciated rather than throwing away good money on new cars and new parts.

With the advent of internet, refurbished car parts are bought more now than ever before. This includes both foreign and domestic.

Even with the struggles Ford is having and the car dealers are having the maintenance and parts businesses are thriving. It’s one of the bright spots for auto dealerships.

Of course, savings is the major advantage of buying recycled auto parts. New parts have much higher markups and profit margins than old. So do you want to pay for a retailers overhead?

Because online sellers operate with very low overhead, prices can be kept low and affordable for various auto parts including engines, alternators, and transmissions.

There is a big market worldwide for used auto parts.

I highly recommend purchasing used transmissions and engines because they’re reliable. Also used side panels and bumpers are other big ticket items you can save on without loss of function or looks.

Since online barriers to entry within the used auto parts business is low, many services have popped up opening a lot more choices for consumers. As well there’s lots of information you can research to guide you in making the right decision. The only thing left for you to do is read all required notices and terms and then make your choice.

Each year, cars get more complicated. They come equipped with electronics, computers, and other components that older models lack. Having said that, one of the parts that hasn’t changed much is the battery. When it dies, it should be disconnected and removed from its holding carriage. Then, it should be connected to a slow charger. That way, there’s no way for an unexpected charge to rip through your vehicle’s electronics while jumpstarting it.

Of course, car batteries usually die at the worst possible times. Slow-charging it usually isn’t a feasible option. Below, I’ll explain how to jumpstart your vehicle while making sure you don’t destroy your other parts.

Taking The Necessary Precautions

Once you have managed to convince a kind passerby to help you (having your own set of jumper cables helps), park your vehicles with the batteries positioned as closely as possible. Make sure both engines are off and your cars are not touching.  Also, check to make sure that your air conditioning unit, turn indicators, stereo, and other components are turned off.  Jump-starting batteries can send a strong current throughout your entire vehicle, damaging parts in the process.

Next, look for cracks in the shell. If you notice any, forget about jumpstarting. Cracked batteries are dangerous. Remember, the liquid inside contains sulfuric acid. If it explodes, it will injure you. Plus, batteries with cracks (especially if they’re leaking) will only hold a charge for a couple of minutes before dying again. Bottom line: you’ll need to buy a new one.

Get acquainted with your jumper cables and the poles on your battery. One will be positive and the other will be negative. They’re labeled clearly; if you’re unable to see “+” and “-” symbols, use a wire brush to clean the residual battery acid from the poles and terminals. You should clean them anyway to improve the connection.

Step By Step Instructions

To jump start your car without damaging any car parts, you need to connect your jumper cables to the terminals properly. First, attach the positive cable to the positive pole of your battery. Then, attach the other end of the positive cable to the positive pole of the other unit (the one that is not dead). Next, attach one end of the negative cable to the negative pole on the live battery. Finally, attach the remaining end of the jumper cable to any metal part of your engine. Don’t be concerned with the spark.

Start the “good” vehicle and let it idle for a few minutes. Then, start your car.  If it doesn’t roar to life, give it a few more minutes and try again. If you’re still not successful, it’s likely time to buy a replacement battery.

The process described above is simple.  But, you should follow it carefully in order to avoid damaging your car’s computer or any of the electronics.