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Archive for the ‘Honda Safety’ Category

2013 Honda Civic achieves highest safety ratings among all small cars

Friday, May 17th, 2013

Our favorite small car, the Honda Civic is leading the small car segment in terms of safety ratings. The Civic received the highest possible rating from both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2013 Honda Civic sedan achieved the top 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA for their New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The sedan and coupe also earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, including the top GOOD score in their new small overlap frontal collision test, making the Civic the first and only small car to receive this distinction.

“Car shoppers cannot find a small car with higher overall safety ratings than the 2013 Honda Civic,” said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. “Safety ratings leadership across product lines is a fundamental part of not only our strategic business plan, but also out philosophy as a company.”

This recent achievement puts Honda in an incredible place in the automotive marketplace. It is the only auto manufacturer with every single one of its tested model year 2013 vehicles earning a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

Tags: 2013 civic coupe, 2013 civic sedan, 2013 Honda Civic, honda civic austin tx
Posted in Awards & Accolades, Honda Civic, Honda in the News, Honda Models, Honda Safety, Honda Vehicles | Comments Off

Why wheel locks are important: A safety lesson from a dealership in Georgetown TX

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

As you might have heard over the weekend, 192 wheels and tires were stolen from 48 new cars at a Georgetown TX dealer. The theft is valued at a loss of $100,000 for the dealership and police have no information on potential suspects. You can read the news articles here and here.

Why would a group of people (we’re assuming it’s a group of people because the theft was too big for one person to do alone) steal the wheels and tires from 48 new cars? Well, we know there’s a big market for “cheap” wheels and the price of tires has risen dramatically with the increase of petroleum price. But the more important question is HOW did these people achieve this? And, if they were able to do this to 48 cars in a few hours without anyone noticing, how vulnerable am I that this could happen to me?

Although there’s no app for that, there is a solution: wheel locks. Wheel locks protect your wheels and tires from getting stolen. As you know, wheels don’t have alarm systems and they can’t be tracked – once they’re gone, there’s no way of recovering them. Wheel locks prevent this from happening by locking your wheels and tires in place and serving as a security sign (like security system signs on front yards). It also protects you from having to spend $600 on a new set of tires.

At Howdy Honda, we put wheel locks on every vehicle – we want to protect you from having to spend a significant amount of money on new tires and protect ourselves from being in a situation like the dealer in Georgetown. So while wheel locks might seem like added “stuff;” there is a real, useful and smart reason why we do it: safety. It’s much better to spend a little bit extra now, than have to unnecessarily spend 5x, 6x, 7x more on a new set of tires later.

And just like any other Honda accessory, the factory wheel locks are made with a superior quality alloy (which is better than what you’ll find in Pep Boys or any other automotive shop) and they are covered for 3-years/36k miles.

Honda factory wheel locks cost about $60 here at Howdy and you can stop by the dealership to buy them or order Honda parts online.

Tags: dealership georgetown tx, georgetown tx dealer, honda wheel locks, why wheel locks are important
Posted in Car Accessories, Honda Safety, Honda Vehicles, Howdy Honda News, Tips and Tricks | Comments Off

How to identify break problems on Honda vehicles

Friday, May 10th, 2013

Brakes are an incredibly important part of your Honda vehicle. Please make sure yours are working smoothly to ensure the safety of every passenger.

Brake Squeal and Wear Indicator

On Honda cars, all four brakes have audible brake wear indicators. So when your brake pads need replacing, you will hear a distinctive metallic “screeching” sound when you apply the brakes. If you do not have the brake pads replaced, they will begin screeching all the time. Do note that your brakes may sometimes squeak or squeal when you apply them lightly; don’t confuse this with the brake wear indicators. The brakes will make a very audible “screeching” noise.

Low Brake Fluid & Flushing the Brake Fluid

If your brake fluid is low, it may be leaking or brakes could be worn.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs moisture. When that moisture finds its way into the braking system, it can corrode metal and seals. Flushing the system with new fluid removes the condensation before extensive damage occurs.

When you’re flushing the system, always use Honda Heavy Brake Fluid DOT 3. If this specific fluid is unavailable, only use DOT 3 or DOT 4 from a sealed container. However, only use these as a temporary solution. The use of any non-Honda brake fluid can cause corrosion and may decrease the life of your brakes.

Honda Genuine Brake Pads

Honda Genuine Brake Rotors function the best with Honda Genuine Brake Pads. Particularly since Honda brake pads are tested extensively on Honda vehicles in the most extreme situations and environments.

Now, it’s not only for this reason that Genuine Honda Brake Pads effectively help prevent premature disc wear and minimize noise. They’re also precisely engineered with state-of-the-art materials that produce superior performance, proper wear, long life, and are specifically designed to dampen noise and reduce vibrations.

Honda Genuine Brake Rotors

Brake rotors are vital to dissipating the heat that comes from the pads every time you use the brakes. Genuine Honda Brake Rotors are built to take that heat time for lasting performance and reliability. They’re made with the optimum mix of materials and compounds to safely withstand long periods of wear and to help prevent overheating and warping.

If your brakes show any of these signs, please contact our Honda Service Center in Austin by calling 512-443-4300.

Tags: Honda brake wear indicators, Honda break fluid, Honda break pads, Honda breaks, Honda genuine break rotors
Posted in Honda Safety, Honda Vehicles, Howdy Honda Safety Tips, Service Department, Vehicle Maintenance | Comments Off

NHTSA Releases New SafeCar App

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the government agency under the US Department of Transportation in charge of carrying out safety programs for traffic and vehicle safety, just announced the release of their SafeCar app for smartphones.

The new app provides the safety ratings of vehicles, but the real kick of the app is that it allows you to register your vehicle and receive recall and safety notifications (were your car involved in one). Besides that, it lets you file vehicle complaints with the NHTSA, get directions to the nearest child-seat inspection station and read NHTSA headlines.

The app is free and, although only currently available for the iOS platform (iPhone, iPad, iPod), the agency is working on developing the Android version.

Tags: honda safety recalls, NHTSA app
Posted in Honda Safety, New Honda Cars, Technological breakthroughs | Comments Off

Eleven 2013 Honda models named Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS

Friday, January 18th, 2013

If safety is what you’re looking for in your new car, you can bet you have it in a 2013 Honda. In fact, you can actually take your pick among the lineup of eleven 2013 Honda models because they all passed the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests with the highest possible ratings.

The completely redesigned 2013 Honda Accord (sedan and coupe) took the crown among all earning a TOP SAFETY PICK+ by passing the new small overlap frontal crash test which now has more aggressive and stringent guidelines. This test replicates what happens when the front corner of a car crashes with another vehicle or an object (tree, utility pole, etc.). And the new Accord is one of the first vehicles ever to earn this safety rating.

If you’re looking for something that the Accord doesn’t offer, do not worry because the 2013 Civic Sedan, 2013 Fit, 2013 Crosstour, 2013 CR-V, 2013 CR-Z, 2013 Insight, 2013 Pilot, 2013 Odyssey and 2013 Ridgeline were also named TOP SAFETY PICK by the IIHS. All of the models earned the top rating of GOOD in the four rating areas tested.

Honda has a long history of engineering advanced safety technology and designs into their products. This commitment stems from their goal to be a company that society wants to exist. We’ve made this commitment as well. Although we can’t manufacture vehicles, we CAN and DO try our absolute hardest to be the Honda dealer in Austin that the city wants to exist. I hope you can help us achieve this goal (in your safe Honda, of course).

UPDATE: The redesigned 2013 Honda Civic (both sedan and coupe models) have earned the Top Safety Pick+ recognition as well! This is the first small car in the US to achieve the enhanced safety pick status, making Honda the only automaker to offer four different vehicles with Top Safety Pick+ marks.

Tags: 2013 honda accord austin, 2013 honda austin, 2013 honda civic austin, 2013 Top Safety Pick, IIHS Top Safety Pick 2013
Posted in Awards & Accolades, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda CR-Z, Honda Fit, Honda in the News, Honda Models, Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Honda Ridgeline, Honda Safety, Honda Vehicles | Comments Off

What you ought to know about replacing your Honda’s tires

Sunday, January 6th, 2013

Rarely will an accident require you to replace all four tires. Usually, only one or two tires will have to be replaced, if any at all.

When you have to replace a tire, especially when you’re not going to be replacing the full set, you have to make sure you are getting the exact replacement in order to ensure your vehicle handles properly. This means that you no only have to get the same manufacturer, size, and model, but most importantly, the same vehicle manufacturer’s part number. Using any new or used tire will cause a miss-match that will result in less than optimal performance.

Honda works very closely with several tire manufacturers to produce an original equipment (OE) tire that optimizes the handling characteristics of your specific Honda. To do this, OE tires are engineered differently with stiffer casing, reinforced sidewall and tread design tuned for better handling. OE Honda tires are specifically designed for noise reduction, optimal handling, fuel economy, weather adaptability, and tire life.

Howdy Honda is equipped to provide you with the proper replacement tires for your Honda in Austin TX, or the proper information for you to secure the correct tire.

Tags: honda tires, honda tires austin, tires for honda in austin tx
Posted in Car Accessories, Honda Efficiency, Honda Models, Honda Safety, Honda Vehicles, Service Department | Comments Off

7 Reasons why you should insist on Honda Genuine Parts for your Honda

Saturday, January 5th, 2013

Whenever you need to replace a part on your Honda, a Genuine Honda part is the best choice. No matter what anyone else tells you, Genuine Honda parts will give you peace of mind for the following reasons:

1. Fit: Before assembly, all body parts look similar. However, once installed you might see a noticeable difference in the way the part fits. Non-Honda Genuine parts can leave unpleasant gaps between body panels, a sure sign a repair was made which can reduce your car’s value. On the contrary, a gap that is too small can make body panels rub together compromising the paint and making it easier for rust spots to appear.

2. Finish: Generally, “finish” refers to the paint job. Genuine Honda parts are treated with a special primer process that helps fight corrosion and promotes pain adhesion for the best possible finish.

3. Design: Honda designs its parts, both those that come with the car originally and replacement parts, with safety in mind. Many of these parts come with crush zones that allow the part to bend and crumple like an accordion, absorbing the energy of an impact, rather than transferring it into the cabin (where you and your passengers are).

4. Quality: As you know, what makes a Honda is the quality and engineering that goes into each and every part and system – all working in harmony so that your vehicle provides you with exceptional performance, safety, durability and value.

5. Safety: In the event of an accident, a Honda that was repaired with Honda Genuine parts is more likely to provide the level of safety and security that Honda built into the car. Genuine parts are Honda-designed and factory built for your specific Honda so crush zones will be able to absorb the impact.

6. Structural Integrity: All body components of a vehicle contribute to its structural integrity. Even things like windshields and doors help keep the structural integrity in a collision or roll-over. Each Honda Genuine part is designed to deliver the structural performance characteristics necessary to provide a safe and efficient vehicle.

7. Resale Value: Honda vehicles are known for their high resale value. When you use Genuine Honda parts, you are helping your car look new and helping it maintain its high value when you trade-in or sell.

You can order and purchase Genuine Honda parts in Austin TX here, at Howdy Honda.

Tags: genuine honda parts austin tx, honda oem parts, honda parts austin, original honda parts
Posted in Car Accessories, Honda Safety, Honda Vehicles, Service Department | Comments Off

IIHS rates child booster seats for safety

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

Keep your precious cargo safe.

You may know that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests vehicles for safety. These ratings can go a long way to improving sales for vehicles getting top ratings. But did you know that the institute also rates child booster seats for safety? The IIHS recently evaluated 91 different seats for 2012, listing 47 of them as “Best Bets.”

Booster seats are for children who have outgrown their child-safety seats but aren’t yet big enough to sit in a regular car seat. Because of this, the category covers a wide range of children. When testing, the IIHS uses a test dummy that represents an average 6-year-old. The institute then fits the lap and shoulder belts on the child and seat as would be done on a real child.

The IIHS gave out rankings for “Best Bet,” “Good Bet,” and “Check Fit” with the last ranking meaning that the seat may work for some but not all children. There actually were also two seats that were not recommended by the IIHS at all.

The IIHS “Best Bet” booster seats are:

Britax Frontier 85
Britax Frontier 85 SICT
Britax Parkway SGL (high-back mode)
BubbleBum
Chicco KeyFit Strada (high-back mode)
Clek Oobr (high-back mode)
Cosco Pronto (high-back mode)
Diono Monterey (high-back mode)
Diono RadianR100
Diono RadianR120
Diono RadianRXT
Eddie Bauer Auto Booster (high-back mode)
Evenflo Big Kid Amp
Evenflo Big Kid Amp High Back (backless mode)
Evenflo Big Kid Sport (backless mode)
Evenflo Maestro Evenflo Secure Kid LX/DLX
Evenflo Symphony 65 e3
Ferrari Dreamway SP (high-back mode)
Graco Argos 70 (high-back mode)
Graco Backless TurboBooster Graco Nautilus (high-back mode)
Graco TurboBooster (high-back and backless modes)
Graco TurboBooster Colorz Graco
TurboBooster Elite (high-back and backless modes)
Graco TurboBooster Safety Surround (high-back and backless modes)
Harmony Carpooler
Harmony Cruz Youth Booster
Harmony Dreamtime Booster (high-back and backless mode)
Harmony Olympian
Harmony V6 Highback Booster (high-back and backless modes)
Harmony Youth Booster Seat
Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro
Kiddy World Plus
Kids Embrace Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR (high-back mode)
Recaro ProBooster
Recaro ProSport
Recaro Vivo
Safety 1st Boost Air Protect (high-back mode)
Safety 1st S1 Rumi Air/Essential Air
The First Years Pathway B570

You can also come in to Howdy Honda and try out your seats in a new Honda in Austin. That way you can see how the whole family will fit.

Tags: best booster seats, new honda austin tx
Posted in Honda Safety, Howdy Honda Safety Tips | Comments Off

Honda looks to increase safety on the roads by studying driver behavior

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

Distracted driving has reached an unhealthy level in the United States. Whether it is from talking on the phone, texting, or other reasons, studies have found that distracted driving has led to a large number of accidents in the past several years. Honda just announced a partnership with Ohio State University to develop a Driving Simulator Laboratory. The purpose of the partnership is to support advanced research into distracted driving issues and driver behavior that affects safety on the roads.

The laboratory will be delving deep into driver behavior by monitoring a number of variables. Biometric sensors will measure factors like heart rate, eye movement, blood pressure, galvanic skin response, respiration, heart and blink rates, among others. These will allow experts to better understand what is actually going on with a person’s overall body and state of mind while driving.

“This is something of a different approach to understanding, at a deeper level, the driver’s state and how people interact with the vehicle,” said Honda R&D Americas Chief Engineer Steven Feit.

This study goes beyond previous efforts in the field by looking at the psychological and cognitive aspects of what a driver is going through while actually driving. The hope is that this will one day be able to lead to more attentive drivers and ultimately less accidents being attributed to distracted driving.

Tags: distracted driving, driver behavior research, Honda
Posted in Honda in the News, Honda Safety, Honda Technology, Technological breakthroughs | Comments Off

Cell phones and gas stations: A fatal attraction?

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

Let’s travel back a decade or so when “forward emails” were popular. We all received them; from the one that warns that if you don’t forward the email to at least 10 friends in the next 60 seconds some horrible person is going to knock on your door and kill you, to the less threatening but equally terrifying one about the man who used his cell phone while pumping gas and everything exploded. Don’t you just miss those emails? Well, today I am here to debunk this last piece of gem: is it really dangerous to use a cell phone while pumping gas?

Short answer: NO!

History: The whole debacle started around 1999-2002 with an email claiming to be from Shell Oil that warned readers about the dangers of using a cell phone while at a gas station. The email recounted a few cases of men bursting into flames because they picked up their mobile phone when pumping gas. Want to know something interesting? No media news outlet ever reported of these incidents. Want to know something even more interesting? Shell Oil released a statement denying their involvement in such email. Interesting.

So how did this misconception spread? Well, besides the fact that we all love a good urban legend, people would rather be safe than make the evening news so gas stations did their part to place signs and perpetuated the myth. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), and The American Petroleum Institute have all stated that there is absolutely no evidence that mobile phones cause explosions or accidents at gas stations. Even after initial reports place blame on cell phone use for fires at gas stations, subsequent investigations always conclude that the initial reports were erroneous. In fact, even the masters of myth-debunking, Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters, have proven this myth to be false.

So there you have it, you can be at ease when pumping gas because your phone will not act as a portable bomb. Now static electricity is another story…

If you want to read lengthy explanations of this post with good sources, visit: http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp & http://truthandmyth.blogspot.com/2006/03/facts-about-cell-phones-and-fires-at.html

Posted in Honda Safety, Tips and Tricks, Vehicle Efficiency | Comments Off

Howdy Honda Blog

Archive for the ‘Honda Safety’ Category

2013 Honda Civic achieves highest safety ratings among all small cars

Why wheel locks are important: A safety lesson from a dealership in Georgetown TX

How to identify break problems on Honda vehicles

NHTSA Releases New SafeCar App

Eleven 2013 Honda models named Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS

What you ought to know about replacing your Honda’s tires

7 Reasons why you should insist on Honda Genuine Parts for your Honda

IIHS rates child booster seats for safety

Honda looks to increase safety on the roads by studying driver behavior

Cell phones and gas stations: A fatal attraction?

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