FALCONER AUTO REPAIR

Are you all about recycling? Do you save your newspapers and soda cans and send them to the recycler? Do you drop off your old clothes to thrift stores? Have you ever thought about what happens to your automobile at the end of its useful life? The automobile recycling industry has been thriving for over a seventy-five years. Though it may not seem like a tree hugger’s dream, auto recycling helps our planet. The parts in your car today will come in handy when it comes to making your children’s cars in the future. Now, you may be thinking, “But technology will be so advanced by the time my two year-old is driving.” That is true, but car recycling will proceed along with it. Did you know?1. Automobiles are the most recycled product in the world. Every year, ov ... read more

How much did you pay for your last car? The national average cost for a new auto today is $33,560. If you have $30k to spend, you’ll have a broad array of nice cars to choose from. What if you double it to $67,120? Then you’ll be able to shop around in the big ticket brands such as BMW and Mercedes Benz. But how many times would you need to multiply it for the most expensive car in the world? How much would that be? A cool $4,850,000. So now that we know the price tag, let’s talk about the costliest automobile in the world and why it justifies such a price tag. Koenigsegg is a Swedish auto maker that specializes in supercars that are immensely fast and amazingly luxurious. As an example of the extravagance ... read more

When a son or daughter gets their driver's license, it can be one of the most nerve-racking milestones in a parent’s life. Safety Features Protect Brand-new Drivers With technological advances in safety, carmakers help give parents a little more peace of mind when their teenagers are behind the wheel. Companies like Kia, Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Audi, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz have equipped their vehicles with a lot of new safety features. These include electronic stability control, back-up cameras, navigation, crash detection, and lane departure warning. Parents can now monitor the driving habits of brand-new teen motorists even if they are not in the automobile with them. These systems send an alert when the driver exceeds a pre-set speed limit. They are GPS-equipped so they can notify the parent when the vehicle travels outside a defined geographic area. They also signal when there is a mechanical problem or the vehicle needs routine maintenance. And so ... read more

The auto industry is integrating more and more technology into our cars every year. But this doesn't mean that there aren't great low-tech solutions to car problems. A good example is theft protection. A simple, analog gadget just might be the tool you need to keep your automobile from falling into the hands of vehicle thieves. Tire Locks When you think of tire locks, you probably associate them with the dreaded "boot" used by police to immobilize illegally parked cars. You definitely don't want to see one on your car, it really ruins your day! But if you want to deter a criminal, tire locks can be your best friend. They are economical and easy to attach. While using wheel locks every time you park your automobile might be a bit overkill, many auto owners utilize them if they park on the street overnigh ... read more

Millennials do things their own way—and in some aspects of life—different than any generation before. Millennials have had an impact on just about every market you can think of. Of course, the automotive industry is also responding to the Gen Y car buyer. Let’s explore some of the major trends. Ready to Buy Ten years ago, many thought that millennials wouldn't embrace car buying in large numbers. It's true that some find it easier to pick up their phone, open up an app, and get a taxi right to their location. There was also the notion that this tech-savvy group won their freedom and autonomy from their cell phone instead of from owning a car as previous generations had done. At the top of the recession, millennial automobile sales were very low, but that was true for all age groups. Now that we ... read more

What does my exhaust system do? 1. Transfer the gases from your motor out of the engine compartment to cool your engine and protect the passenger compartment from toxins. 2. Mute engine noises. 3. Reduce harmful emissions by converting carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons into oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. How does a muffler work? A muffler is manufactured with many chambers and tubes. When highly pressurized gases are forced into the muffler, they lose energy. The sound vibrations also cancel one another out as they bump around the maze of baffles and tubes. Do I need to do routine exhaust system service? Yes. Check your owner's manual for exhaust service guidelines or call I-86 Truck & Auto Repair at 716-665-2501. A service technician will counsel you on appropriate service intervals. ... read more

It's not just your imagination that you pull out your debit card several times a month for a car-related expense. Have you ever added up how much it costs to own a vehicle? First off, there's the purchase price and taxes. For most motorists, the dollar amount for their car is second only to the cost of their home. Many individuals finance their automobile, so the initial purchase expense continues monthly for as many as 72 months.  You fork over cash every time you fill the tank. In most states, you have to pay a registration fee every year. Car insurance rates can take a big chunk of the family budget (especially if you have teenagers who are driving). There are amounts for scheduled maintenance and repair. This includes oil changes, new tires, brake service—and everything else. Always remember, however, that failing to bring your automobile in for scheduled auto maintenanc ... read more

In 1930, the radio became a standard feature in American cars. For many decades, the radio was the only gadget that could really qualify as an "infotainment system." But today there are a variety of these bells and whistles in automobiles at every price point. Infotainment systems are the non-critical features in your vehicle that assist with communication and navigation (the "info" part) and help keep auto owners and passengers entertained (the "tainment" part). Today we will look at some of the most popular features. Global Positioning System For decades, car travel navigation required a paper map and passenger to read it. (This method has no doubt triggered its share of marital discord.) Now our vehicles connect to satellites in space to tell us where we are and help us find our destination ... read more

Did you know that Nevada issued the first self-driving car license in 2012? This occurred eight years after the first Darpa Grand Challenge for autonomous cars was held. Not one of the vehicles were able to complete the course at that time. In less than a decade, carmakers went from a convention that displayed some not-ready-for-prime-time "robot cars" to legal, licensed self-driving cars on the road. How did they do it? How were they able to develop automobiles that didn't need drivers? Google, the company that received that initial self-driving license, has used numerous technologies to make autonomous driving possible. Video cameras, lasers, and radar sensors are some of the gadgets you will find on these cars. But the most important part of an autonomous auto is the database. This information has been ... read more

Buying your first car is a big deal for a newly-licensed teenage driver. It's also a big deal for the parents, but usually, their excitement is tempered with great deal of concern. Are you a parent planning to buy a car for your new teen driver? Are you a teen planning to purchase your first car? Here are some important things to consider. 1. Safety According to the CDC, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in our country. You may suppose that a tank-like 4x4 would best protect an inexperienced driver. Yes, occupants of a large vehicle fare better in a collision. But experts also warn that powerful motors can make an adolescent more likely to speed. Also, some larger vehicles are harder to handle or more liable to roll over—so keep those things in mind. Most of us don't have unlimited funds f ... read more