My Car Won’t Start, What’s Next?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If your car won’t start, you know exactly how scary that feeling is. Moreover, if you’re an enthusiast and that latest depreciated sports car won’t start, you know a level of terror that will affect everything from your car’s safety to your wallet. Thankfully, there’s a few things you can do to help your poor steed. With some simple precautions and a little mechanical know-how it’s possible to save yourself a bundle of cash.

What if your car won’t start?

Diagnosing problems on an Audi | Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert via Getty Images

I’m sure you know the feeling. It starts off as a normal day. Maybe you’re on the way to work, or going out for a Sunday drive. Then, nothing happens when you turn the key. Now, your car won’t start. What’s next? Well, first off, you’ll want to stop and cool off. I’ve damaged many an engine in anger. But that’s more life advice than consumer advice. If your ride won’t get going, the first thing you’ll want to do is give it one more shot, and only one. If it was a fluke, great, but if not the real work starts.

Having some tools laying around is always nice, as you can start diagnosing the issue yourself. It helps to start at, well, what starts. Did the lights come on? Did the engine sputter a bit before quitting? Just those two questions can help you sort out why your car won’t start. It’s always a good idea to locate both your battery and your coil packs. Knowing where those two things are can help you sort out two of the most common reasons.

Know thy car, know thyself

The engine of a Ferrari Testarossa
An engine bay can be intimidating to even the most knowledgable of car nerds | Sjoerd van der Wal via Getty Images

Generally, your car’s battery will be somewhere in the engine bay closest to the driver’s seat, or the passenger seat. Sometimes, it’ll be in the trunk. Carefully check each of the connections by moving the rubber part of the wires. Don’t go zapping yourself. If you don’t have means to check the voltage, call a tow truck. However, the next potential culprit can require a little more work.

Often, your car isn’t starting because the engine isn’t getting a spark into the cylinder to burn that gas you paid for. Your spark plugs and the coil packs that cover them are located on the top of your engine 99% of the time. Again, check those wires. It could be something is simply loose or broken in either the battery connection or your spark plugs and coil packs.

Don’t panic!

The engine bay of a Porsche 993 Carrera RS
Compact engine bays can appear even more complex | Daniel Pullen via Getty Images

Unfortunatley, odds are the issue is a little more than that. If your car won’t start and the issue isn’t immediately apparent and obvious, you’ll need a tow to a shop. More often than not, your insurance provider will cover the cost of a tow. You’ll also want to know how to choose a quality mechanic to make sure that whole no-starting thing is the only issue your car has.

RELATED: How to Choose a Quality Mechanic

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Tesla Driver Quoted $16,000 For a $700 Repair Proves a Need For Right to Repair

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Getting pretty much any car repaired at the dealership will wring a customer’s wallet dry. The model for most dealerships is such that they make thin margins on actually selling cars but make up for that in after-sales and repairs. Now, with Tesla doing direct-to-customer sales and Rivian following suit, Tesla still charges a hefty pile for basically any repair, like this guy who was quoted $16,000 to replace a battery pack that an independent shop did for $700. And here lies the reason for the fight for the right to repair without the losing warranty. 

A mechanic works on a car | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Are Tesla repairs expensive? 

According to The Drive, a Tesla model 3 leasee recently found out just how expensive Tesla Repairs can be, the hard way. The road ran over some road debris which damaged one of the battery packs. When he brought the limping Tesla to the service shop, Tesla quoted him 16 large to replace the damaged pack. 

After looking for an alternative solution online, the owner reached out to Rich Benoit and the team at Electrified Garage, who got him on the road again for just $700. Clearly, something is happening here to have such a massive price gap. 

The road debris damaged the Tesla’s cooling system by cracking the flange that attaches the coolant line to the front battery pack. Because this nipple that accepts the coolant line is molded into the battery back, Tesla told him he would have to replace the whole thing. To salt the wound, the owner’s insurance policy didn’t cover comprehensive claims from road debris, meaning he was fully on the hook for the massive repair bill. 

What is “Right to Repair” 

The term right to repair has been aimed at America’s farmers most recently. The long and short of it is that farming equipment and many other vehicles and heavy equipment have stringent rules on how an owner can repair it and still maintain a factory warranty. This basically means that the manufacturer can charge whatever they want for a repair, and most people will pay for fear of losing the warranty. 

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are going to the mat for Farmer’s right to repair their own farm equipment as they see fit. This is a more common issue for anyone who uses heavy machinery or industrial vehicles for their jobs than most regular drivers. However, the principle applies, and this Tesla repair proves there is a need in the private sector for the right to repair. 

To make matters worse, Tesla questioned the owner’s request to keep the old battery pack if Tesla did the repair. They fought him until he referenced a New Jersey customer protection act that states that customers have the right to request their replaced parts from the shop. In this case, we are talking about a part clearly worth thousands of dollars, or else Tesla wouldn’t be charging $16,000 for a replacement. 

What Tesla don’t know, won’t hurt ’em

After going back and forth with Tesla, the owner eventually went to Benoit’s and the folks at Electrified garage for the clever fix to what was a silly and problematic engineering problem in the first place. Benoit is a serious supporter of the Right to repair act and supports all owner’s rights to repair their cars or trucks however they see fit. 

Only time will tell if Tesla finds the non-OEM repair and decides to make a stink about it. So far, Tesla has repeatedly stepped into hot water with PR situations like this. However, the Tesla is still slinging EVs a mile a minute and doesn’t seem to be slowing down all that much. 

RELATED: How Does the Tesla Model 3 Hold Up After 100,000 Miles?

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10 of the Best Motorcycle Rides in Pennsylvania

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It’s motorcycle season, and millions of Americans hit the road to experience life on two wheels. Here are 10 of the best routes to take if your motorcycle adventures have you exploring the great state of Pennsylvania. Based on motorcycle enthusiasts’ recommendations, these rides will offer unique experiences and the most scenic views.

1. Clarion countryside

Motorcycle riders | Getty Images

See quaint farms, charming small towns, and incredible foliage through Cook Forest State Park with a motorcycle ride through the Clarion countryside. This tour is highly recommended by VisitPa.com and might include sightings of hawks and eagles along the Allegheny River bend.

2. PA Route 6

Highlight PA Route 6 for your motorcycle journey if you really want to take in the best the state has to offer, according to Yahoo! Grab a slice at Joey’s Pizza in Milford before exploring the breathtaking views at the New York border.

3. Groundhog Loop

You can’t explore PA without seeing Punxsutawney Phil, the iconic Groundhog Day legend. This 107-mile trek will take you by the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center and DuBois Harley Davidson. The scenery is extraordinary for nearly every mile of this popular motorcycle ride.

4. PA Route 340 to see Amish living

If you need smooth roads and want to take in the Amish country, drive the 41 miles of PA Route 340. This is a relaxing ride with incredible views of the Pennsylvania landscape, according to Riders Share. Stop for quick Amish tours and shopping along the way. Just be mindful of horse droppings along your route.

5. U.S. Route 30 along Chambersburg to Breezewood

Explore the farmlands of western Franklin County on this motorcycle ride. Before leaving Chambersburg, stop at the star that marks the historic spot where General McCausland ordered the town be burned. It’s the only Northern city burned during the Civil War. And heading up PA Route 75 North will lead you to the best milkshakes from the Milky Way diner.

6. Elk Country’s 127-mile loop

See five PA counties and five state parks driving this incredible route on two wheels. What some call the ultimate “drive-it-to-believe-it” experience, this route is well-mapped by VisitPAGo.com. See area wildlife along the way, including a glimpse of the largest Elk herd in the northeastern U.S.

7. Marienville’s Fantastic Forests

If your motorcycle ride needs to include shady forests and sparkling waterways, a trip through the Fantastic Forests is a must-see. This 82-mile adventure will take you through Cook Forest State Park and the Allegheny National Forest. It’s a truly scenic and beautiful ride!

8. The ‘Big Valley’ via Route 655

Fall is typically the best time to experience Route 655 through the “Big Valley” of the Kishacoquillas Valley. But summer motorcycle rides through Armagh can be just as stunning to see. There are plenty of small-town shops along the way as you take in the majestic views of the PA mountain backdrops.

9. Highway to the Stars

Also known as Route 44 through Coudersport, the Highway to the Stars is an official designation by the International Dark Sky Association and far superior to anything in Hollywood, according to VisitPa.com. The sky views along this route through Cherry Springs State Park are phenomenal.

10. Delaware River along 32 North

Start this motorcycle ride in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and follow the tree-lined roadways for a 50-mile trip along the Delaware River. This scenic route is perfect for those one-day trips. Explore shops and antiques in Narrowsville and Portland, PA along the way or drive through for a beautifully refreshing ride.

Before you head out this summer, check out some of these highly recommended motorcycle routes through Pennsylvania. From unique shopping to countryside experiences, your two-wheel adventures will be truly incredible. 

RELATED: Are ATVs Allowed In National Parks?

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“Flying Cars in Cities By End of Decade”- Hyundai Euro CEO

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Are we getting closer to that Jetsons future? The one like in the Fifth-Element with flying cars and stacked corridors of fantastical flying machines? We may actually be on the cusp, especially if you listen to Hyundai CEO for European operations Michael Cole. 

Partnered with Uber, he expects flying taxis before 2030 according to Dezeen. “We think that by the latter part of this decade certainly,” Cole told the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders conference. “Urban air mobility will offer a great opportunity to free up congestion in cities, to help with emissions, whether that’s intra-city mobility in the air or whether it’s even between cities.”

Flying cars, robotics, and future infrastructure projects are Hyundai’s charge

An AirCar flies high in the sky | Klein Vision

Hyundai is putting a lot of development money into flying cars, robotics, and future infrastructure projects. All of those functions are necessary for the future of mobility according to Hyundai. “It’s part of our future solution of offering innovative, smart mobility solutions,” says Cole.

Last year Hyundai showed off a model of a flying car at the 2020 CES Show in Las Vegas. It falls into the category of Hyundai’s Urban Air Mobility direction. The force of this push centers around its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL). 

Lightweight materials and seating for five are just two of the features of the short-flight aircraft. It is meant to hop short distances from one city to the next as a commuter vehicle. That is the main push for assimilating travelers and eVTOLs into society.

Germany’s Lilium and even Boeing are developing passenger drones

Airspeeder flying race car side view
Airspeeder flying car | Alauda

Other companies like Germany’s Lilium are experimenting with manned eVTOLs right now. Even Boeing is planning for a self-piloted passenger drone. Its first running prototype was finished in 2019, so the company is one of the numerous groups moving efforts forward on the leading edge of this technology. 

Lilium is even more enthusiastic about what is being developed, saying it expects its flying car to be in service by 2025. It will be an all-electric air taxi service flying in multiple cities. And Uber is launching Uber Air as early as 2023. 

Are flying cars the answer to gridlock and overcrowding?

Airspeeder flying race car rear 3/4 view
Airspeeder flying car | Alauda

Whether you call these a variation of a helicopter or a revolution, for society to get around congested cities in the 21st century, we need something like this. Gridlock and overcrowding aren’t going away. In spite of the added highways, freeways, and better designs of more modern byways.

While it may seem fantastical, we’re in the midst of a seachange in transportation. The future is almost here. 

RELATED: AirCar Has “Turned Science Fiction Into a Reality”

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