Posts Tagged ‘Cars’

Finding a Good Auto Mechanic

Thursday, March 4th, 2010


Let’s talk about when you should look for a mechanic, and when you should just use the service shop at the car dealer. In general, most cars that are still under warranty should be looked at by the dealer shop if there’s any mechanical problem with the car. One of the main reasons for this is that the warranty on the car is frequently void if anyone other than an authorized shop does any kind of repair on the car. This sometimes includes even maintenance that you may want to do yourself. So if you have a new car, or even a secondhand car that has an existing warranty, make sure that you read the warranty and find out what to can be done to maintain your car outside of the dealer’s service shop. Generally if you like to do some regularly scheduled maintenance yourself, the warranty will remain in effect if you use dealer approved parts for the maintenance. If you plan on doing this, make sure you keep receipts for everything so that you can prove that you actually did the work. Also, several car dealerships will also offer bonuses like free oil change for a year, or other benefits. In general, make sure that you are fully aware of what benefits the dealership offers, and also what maintenance can be done outside of their shop.

Generally, a dealership service department is often regarded as more expensive than an independent mechanic. One way to test this out is to have some regular maintenance done at the dealer service department. For example, ask them to do an oil change, and remain in the area so that you can watch how they’re doing it and what’s been done. As you are waiting, watch the service department and pay attention to how the mechanics are treating the other cars that are presently being worked on. If other customers are waiting for their cars, ask them about their experiences with this service department. Ask the hourly shop for the service department, and also ask what certification training programs the service department has for its mechanics. Also, many times larger cities have a number of comments on the Internet about various mechanic shops in the area, and these include dealer service departments. Use Google to find these comments for your city.

For someone with an older car, finding a good dependable mechanic is oftentimes a long process. Check for certifications, such as ASE, and again, take your car in for minor service and watch how it’s done, if possible. One of the best ways to find a good general mechanic is by word-of-mouth, including Internet word-of-mouth on various shops in your area. For people with older classic cars, one good way is simply finding other cars of similar make and model in parking lots, and starting up a conversation with the owner of that car. For people with more current cars, asking questions of coworkers, of neighbors, or your local church will often give you some leads towards a good mechanic.

Reevaluate your choice periodically. Whenever anyone brings up a car repair on some work that you have had done, listen to their comments on the cost of the repair, and how quickly their mechanic shop carried it out. Also, follow up after a time to see how well the repair has been maintained. It make take a few trials at different shops to find a good, trustworthy mechanic, but it is worth the effort.

By: Brenda Williams

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Back Up Auto Sensor

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010


The best solution for protecting your car when reversing is to install a back up auto sensor. By adding an infra red sensor to your rear bumper, you will be able to keep track of anything that is behind your car. By knowing what is hidden behind your car when you are going backwards, you will be able to avoid any accidental bumps that will cause damage to your vehicle.

It is almost impossible to see the details of everything behind your car when you are reversing. Thanks to the limited field of view provided by your mirror, and the shape of the rear of your car, seeing small or low objects such as the front of other cars, docks, and even small children can be extremely difficult.

If you cannot see objects, or are unaware of what is behind your car, you run the risk of bumping into it and either causing damage to your vehicle, or injury to any person who is behind you. This is where a back up auto sensor comes into play. These sensors act as your eyes, and work to detect any objects behind your car, and provide you with a warning before you hit them to prevent damage or injury.

Typically, a back up auto sensor takes the form of row of sensors across the rear bumper of your car connected to a warning device inside the car to let you know when you get too close to an object.

When reversing in a car, it is all too easy to be unaware of any small objects behind the car. If you have children, you will no doubt have had at least one scare when the kids have run out from behind the car when you are reversing. Just imagine if you had not been lucky. By having a back up auto sensor fixed to the rear of your car, you will give yourself peace of mind that you are not putting the lives of loved ones at risk.

Most sensors use an ultrasonic field that echoes off any objects in the way of your vehicle as you reverse, and then provide audible feedback to warn you as you close in on the object that is in your way. Basic back up auto sensors simply combine an alarm with the sensors to warn you, but more advanced models also include a visible display to give you an indication of how close you are getting to any static objects.

Fitting a back up auto sensor to your car can be a very straightforward process. All you need to do is fix the sensors to the rear of your car, and then connect it to the power supply and the internal warning device, whether this is an alarm, or a display screen.

In the past, many people have been put off purchasing a parking sensor for the rear of their car, because they thing that having the sensor devices on their bumper spoils the lines of their car, and is a little unsightly, but this is no longer the case.

To address these concerns, many manufacturers have now started to offer more discreet back up auto sensors which are concealed around the license plates at the back of the car. These are just as effective as the other models, but are less obvious on the back of your car.

You can choose from back up auto sensors that offer a simple audible alarm that beeps at an increasing rate as you close in on objects, through to much more advanced models that include a screen to display the exact distance to objects to make it completely clear to you just how close to something you are getting.

The latest versions can be integrated into the car more completely than ever, and include the possibility of having an LCD display as part of your existing rear view mirror that shows you the distance in either feet or metres.

If you want to make it simpler to park, reduce the risk of bumping into static objects when you are reversing, or protect other people when you are going backwards, fitting a back up auto sensor to the rear of your car will offer you the kind of warning that you need. The expense of bumping into someone else’s car can be quite high, and for a fraction of that cost, you can protect your self and keep your vehicle looking great.



By: Cooper Miller

About the Author:
Jason has been in the construction equipment and industrial sales business for over 10 years. He owns and operates Red Hill Supply to better serve the automotive and industrial industries. – Air Compressors.



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How to Help Diagnose Your Automobile Problems

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010


If you go to a doctor you don’t just say “my body hurts”. Of course not, you would be more specific.

How about going to your bank and say “there’s a problem with my money”. They will look at you as though you had two heads.

If you take your automobile to a repair shop and say “my car doesn’t run right”, what are they supposed to do with that lack of information?

I guess by now everyone should have gotten what I am driving at. If you want something corrected you must give as much detailed information as possible to expedite the matter as quickly as possible. No where is it more important to be specific about a problem than in today’s complex automobiles. The better one can explain the problem the better your chances are of getting them corrected the first time and not wasting money on misunderstandings. Most people are in too much of a hurry and just scribble a quick note when dropping their cars off for repairs and not even taking the time to talk to the technician or service writer. Bad mistake! This leads to poor communications and the necessity for several phone conversations that may end up being misunderstood. To make the problem easier to understand, follow some of these guidelines.

Don’t say “my car will not start”

Specify; Does it crank but not start

Does it just click or buzz when turning the key

Is it just dead with nothing happening?

Forget about that “it won’t turn over” statement, it is most often misunderstood as to what symptom this pertains to.

Don’t say “my car shakes”

Specify; Does the steering wheel shake at high or low speeds, does the steering wheel shake when stepping on the brakes, is it the steering wheel shaking or does the whole car vibrate.

Don’t say “my car stalls or quits”

Specify; Does it stall after starting, does it stall coming to a stop, does it stall at idle, or does the engine just quit while cruising or accelerating.

Don’t say “my air conditioner or heater doesn’t work”

Specify; is the air conditioner blowing warm, or the heater blowing cold. Many times people say their ac or heater is not working when they really meant the blower motor was not working. Again be specific.

Don’t say “my car has a strange noise”

Specify; the noise is a rattle, rumble, squeal, knock, vibration, ticking, and so forth. Specify; this noise is coming from the front, right or left. Rear, right or left. At highway speeds, or coming to a stop. Only happens during a full moon or total eclipse (just kidding). You get the picture.

I could go on and on but by now you can see how important the right information can be towards a speedy diagnose and save you some money by not having misunderstood symptoms worked on. Did I mention “Specify”?



By: guenter hohmann

About the Author:

I have been an auto technician for 40 years and would like to share some of my knowledge. For more automotive information please visit my website at http://www.gunnysautotips.com/ and http://www.carhelpsites.com



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Make an Economical Choice – Auto Body Repair

Saturday, December 26th, 2009


The economy is something that is on everyone’s mind. We are all trying to figure out how to save money and cut costs. However it is still important that we maintain what assets we already have. One important asset to maintain is our vehicles. They cost us a lot of money, but getting a new one will cost a whole lot more. So, if something needs attention on your vehicle you should get it fixed. Since you are trying to make the best economical choice you should get auto body repair, instead of replacements. You will save a great deal of money and time!

Most of the auto body problems that people have with their cars can be repaired rather than replaced. Choosing to repair your vehicle instead of replacing auto body parts will save you a lot of money and you car will still look great. Repairing your car’s auto body will also save you time since many repairs can be done in a few hours or less than a few days.

One of the repairs that can be resolved on your vehicles auto body quite quickly is bumper repair. Unfortunately bumper repair is a very common repair. This is due to the fact that there are a ton of cars on the road and especially in parking lots. Most bumper incidents occurs while parking or in a parking lot. Another problem is that many people feel that it is ok to tap your bumper while parking. If your bumper is in need of repair an auto reconditioning shop can help. Usually they can get your bumper looking great in just a matter of a few hours. Some shops even offer to come to you which make this service even more convenient. It will also save you money repairing it than replacing your bumper.

Another repair that can be taken care of easily is dents and dings. Most auto body shops use a system called paintless dent removal. This is the service you want for your car. It is nearly impossible to not get any dents or dings in your vehicle, most are not even your fault, but they can really hurt the look of your car and the paint. Paintless dent removal gets the dents and dings out by massaging the dents from inside the panels with reflective sources, rods and other special tools. The end result is a vehicle with no dents or dings and no evidence that there ever were dents and dings. This service can also be performed in usually less than a few hours. Also there are no fillers or other materials used so it will not compromise the original finish and it will save you a lot of money.

Another concern is the windshield. If your windshield has any cracks or chips in it you can easily get that fixed. And you should get it fixed immediately since it is very unsafe. Also if you wait you will have to get it replaced which will not be an easy fix. This repair can be done very quickly and sometimes an auto body shop will come to you.

These are just a few examples of auto body repairs that can save you money down the road.

By: Samantha Mccartney

About the Author:
If your car is in need of auto reconditioning start looking for a qualified professional to handle your concerns. Look for an auto body professional to take care of your ride from paintless dent removal to fixing the major auto body repairs.



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Car Maintenance – Prevention Is Still The Best Measure

Sunday, December 20th, 2009


Like everything else that is worth keeping in perfect working condition, you should take preventive measures when it comes to car maintenance. More often than not, people take their cars to the mechanic only when there is something horribly wrong with the ride (i.e. when the engine isnt working anymore or when a small fire has started somewhere under the hood.) These are extreme cases, of course, but it does illustrate clearly how ignoring simple cues can lead to lot of headache for you.

People often cite costliness as the primary reason why they do not take their cars to the local mechanic on a regular basis. However, the simple task of taking your car for a yearly check-up and tune-up can actually save you a bundle in the long run. If you really want to keep a steady eye on your car maintenance expenses, you may want to patronize the services of a mechanic that you can explicitly trust not to rip you off. If you do not know anyone, you might ask a friend or relative to refer someone trustworthy.

Also, by simply taking account the minor changes in your car like a small rattling sound when you start the engine or a slower reaction to turns – and taking your ride immediately to the expert, you may avoid further and more expensive complications.

On your own, you can perform basic car maintenance that leans towards preventive measures:

If you want to keep your car looking exactly like it did when you first bought it, you need to wash your ride regularly, religiously even. You do not even have to buy those really expensive car soaps; there are less costly brands out there that work just as well. Detergent usually found around the house may be used if you are in a pinch, but you must remember that some of these can be harsh to your paint job, so use sparingly. A little waxing once in a while helps keep paint corrosion at bay. If you are extremely pressed for time, we highly recommend that you head on out to the car wash for professional service.

An oil leak (or any pool of liquid, for that matter) on your garage floor is an indication that something is amiss. This may seem like an innocuous thing, but this can actually lead to a whole lot of (expensive) complications in the future. Brake fluid leaks are especially dangerous since with all probability, you would need to brake sometime while using your car. An oil leak, on the other hand, is an indication that your engine is clogged, and if this problem is not resolved quickly, you will be seeing a lot more trips to the mechanic. You can check for leaks by simply parking your car in the same exact spot every night. Any pool of liquid underneath your car should be your cue to take your car to the mechanic.

As for your car engine, you can use a dry cloth to wipe away visible oil spatters or dirt. Never hose down your car engine, because water can get into the electrical connections, which may make everything go hay-wire. Every once in a while, check to see if the oil spatters and dirt reappear; if they do, it would be best to head on out to the local mechanic.

By: Marvin Arceo

About the Author:
Looking for cars for sale in UK, visit us at UK used cars for sale. Post your cars for sale and/or search for cars that you’re looking for to buy. No registration cost, everything is free.



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