Posted by admin on July 23, 2010 under Uncategorized | 
Even if you are the most careful driver on the planet, accidents may be unavoidable. Other drivers, weather conditions and unfamiliar roads can all contribute to accidents. It may not even be your fault. But accidents happen. When the time comes that you do need to have repairs done on the body of your vehicle, it is important to find the best body shop in your area. By finding the right body shop, you will be able to rest assured that once the work is complete there will be no sign that you were ever in an accident. The following are a couple tips on how to find the best body shop.
When your vehicle is still in driving condition:
The first thing to do is to find a good shop is to get some estimates. This means driving to some of the most reputable shops in your area and asking for an estimate. Make sure to get estimates from at least three shops so that you can compare the overall price, repair time and service of each body shop. Your insurance company will require this in the case of an accident, but you should still do so if you are paying for the repairs or upgrades yourself. The body shops will not charge you to provide an estimate.
This is the real start of your search for the best body shop. You can begin by comparing the quality and type of quoted materials in each estimate. You may find that an estimate that is a lot cheaper actually lists materials that are of a lower quality. This is a poor choice of both estimate and body shop. Make sure you know where the replacement parts are coming from as some shops will use junk-yard parts instead of new factory-made parts.
Finding a body shop for a vehicle that you are not able to drive:
In most cases where your vehicle is not able to be driven you will have an insurance quote and a repairs list. You can simply take your list to local body shops for a quote, or even fax the list to a number of body shops.
Always check with the body shop as to whether they will source their parts from the junk-yard or straight from the manufacturer. If your vehicle needs to be repainted, ensure you ask whether the estimate includes repainting just a spot or the entire panel. In some cases matching paint colors may be challenging.
Also make sure to consider:
Body shop repairs can be pretty expensive depending on the extent of the damage which makes the body shop you choose a major investment. Make sure to call the Better Business Bureau and or the local Chamber of Commerce before making your final decision. If there have been recorded complaints you probably need to reconsider your choice.
Price is not the sole factor in choosing the best body shop to repair your vehicle. You will need to consider the quality of the repair as well, and this is represented in the body shop’s reputation, delivery time and the quality of their replacement parts. The best body shop will be the one who has a proven high-reputation for quality workmanship, offered at a reasonable completed price and a reasonable length of repair time.
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The function of belts in an automobile is to connect and drive two shafts to the motion of a rotary. This is done by using a series of pulleys. The motion of the rotary is where or how the engine gets its power to various accessories that are mounted to the engine. These accessories are vital to the operation of the vehicle like pumps, exhaust fans and air compressors.
Identifying different belts:
Designed to fit into a groove shaped like a V, V-belts provide high-traction power. The Poly-V belt is also designed to provide a high-traction form of power, but is flat on the outside with multiple V-shaped grooves on the inside. The V-Link belt is similar to the above V-belts, but is open-ended and does not need meal clamps. The V-Link belt is used only when other belts cannot reach or fit. They have a small load capacity and are costly items.
Flat belts function well at high speeds despite the lack of traction and their tendency to slip. They are much lighter in weight than other belts. Unlike other drive belts, the Timing belt operates without friction and does not have teeth. This is one of the most important types of belt. It also has a much smaller power capacity in comparison with other belts.
What do drive belts do?
Drive belts are simply used to drive components of the vehicle. A vehicle with a broken belt can be rendered completely immobile although the belts themselves are quite inexpensive. If the belt driving a particular component breaks, that component will almost instantly stop working. A component like the pump that pumps the water through the system of the vehicle functions by the use of a drive belt. If the belt breaks the pump will stop working almost instantly and the water it takes to keep the engine cooled will stop and then the engine overheats. The serpentine belt functions the same way as a drive belt, however it connects a number of different components. If a serpentine belt breaks, multiple parts of the engine stop working.
What makes drive belts break?
Drive belts are made of inexpensive rubber. Wear and tear is a normal part of use. Over time the rubber of the drive belt may harden, dry out, or even crack. This compromises the strength of the belt and causes it to break.
Is it difficult to replace a drive belt?
Some belts are pretty easy to replace if you have a basic knowledge of the vehicle’s engine and its components. On the other hand, serpentine belts are harder to replace and should be left for a professional. Most professional mechanics recommend that the serpentine belt be changed every thirty-five thousand miles. These belts can last up to sixty thousand miles as can the timing belts.
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Posted by admin on July 22, 2010 under Uncategorized |
For most people in America, a dependable mode of transportation is a must. Regardless of the availability of public transport, nothing is more convenient that owning your own vehicle. Owing a vehicle and knowing that every time you need to travel your car will function correctly means maintenance and repairs are extremely important. Finding the best auto shop in your area is then also very important but can be a little confusing considering most areas offer many, many choices.
Simple tips for choosing the best auto repair shop:
Asking around is usually the first place to begin. There is nothing better than the recommendation of a trusted friend, family member or even co-worker who uses a repair shop and is a satisfied customer. Much as you would when searching for any other business, try to build a full picture of the shop’s business ethics. The Better Business Bureau can help with this by advising if there are any negatives against the auto repair shop.
A good auto repair shop should also have a well presented reception area with good lighting and up-to-date equipment. Always check the mechanic’s certification, which should be on display. This certification shows that the mechanics are licensed for business in your area. You will also want to check that the mechanic’s certification covers the manufacturer of your vehicle. Certification reading ASE should be the bare minimum on display.
Always check that the mechanic or auto repair shop has experience in working with vehicles of the same make and model as yours. Likewise, always make sure that the mechanic working on your vehicle is proficient with the specific auto system being worked on, such as brakes or electricals, rather than just a basic mechanic.
Narrowing down your choices:
We have looked at determining whether your local auto repair shop is qualified to work on your vehicle. Now there are some other considerations to take into account. Are there additional benefits to using your chosen auto repair shop? What happens should you need to leave your vehicle in the shop for a number of days? Many auto repair shops offer either a loaner car or a discounted rate with a local hire car company. This type of additional service could prove invaluable should you still need to travel to and from work while your vehicle is being repaired. Also, find out if they have convenient hours like weekends and evenings.
Is your vehicle under warranty?
Make sure you take into consideration whether your vehicle is under warranty. Always make sure that you have checked the restraints of your warranty and that the repair shop is authorized to work under those restraints.
You have chosen an auto repair shop. Now what?
You should choose your shop before you intend to have the mechanics do any work on your vehicle. If possible, have a series of small services such as brake system checks and oil changes done in order to build rapport with the auto shop. In some cases, you may be able to have safety checks and simple services done free of charge. Repairs are always more expensive than preventative care.
If, after all of this, you still have a number of valid choices, then consider any difference in pricing. As long as you are still getting quality maintenance and repair work done, saving money is an important consideration.
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Posted by admin on July 21, 2010 under Uncategorized |
When you think of automotive maintenance, your first thought is probably washing and waxing your car and the next is probably changing the oil and filter. Changing your own oil is not only easy, it is one of those tasks that is considered to be a very acceptable weekend DIY project. But do you really save money by doing it yourself?
First, let’s look at the costs involved.
In most cases, changing your own oil and filter seems to be fairly cheap. Oil itself is under two dollars per quart, and an oil filter is usually under five dollars. You will also need a number of accessories prior to getting started. A basic kit will include a drip pan, funnel and wrench. The whole process probably only takes half an hour and then to discard the filter and the old oil is a small cost usually around two dollars. The first time you change your own oil and filter you will be unlikely to save any money.
Are there any benefits to having a professional change your oil?
The cost of having your oil and filter changed will depend on a number of factors, including the garage you choose and whether you have a coupon. It can be anywhere between twenty and forty dollars. In most cases, a mechanic will perform a number of additional checks on your vehicle, such as tires and general safety, while changing your oil and filter. If you are not a mechanic this may prove to be well worth the money you spend on paying to have your oil changed. Often a mechanic can spot things before they become real problems.
When should you change your oil and filter?
There are a number of disparate views as to how often you should change your oil. For the most part mechanics recommend that you have your car serviced and oil changed every 3,000 miles. However, in the case of some newer model vehicles, manufacturers actually recommend 6,000 miles. The oil filter is not necessarily recommended to be changed with every oil change but with every other change.
Many mechanics do not consider it to be a good idea to change your oil and leave a dirty filter in your vehicle. When you leave a dirty filter in your vehicle, this leaves a full quart of old oil in your engine which will remain until the next time you change your filter. This old oil is, of course, dirty. Considering that the reason for changing your oil is to enable your vehicle to function more effectively, it is reasonable to assume that leaving a quart of dirty oil in engine is going to negatively affect your vehicle’s performance.
In fact, there is no reason not to change your oil and filter more often. By ensuring that you vehicle is running with clean oil and a clean filter, you will save money on gas consumption and also avoid potentially expensive repairs. When you look at the benefits of having a professional mechanic change your oil and oil filter on a regular basis, is there really any cost benefit in waiting 6,000 miles and then changing your own oil and filter?
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We all have radio waves coming into our homes every day in the from of TV programs and radio shows, but the beauty of CB radio is that we get to talk back, and unlike a cellphone, we don’t have to pay for the privilege.
Always meant for short range communications, CB radio has still fended off the test of time and technological innovation.
1. Licensing. Unlike other parts of the world, US cb radio users no longer need a license. Inside the US CB radio is regulated by the FCC. CB in the USA uses AM radio. The European CB Radio operates on FM frequencies.
2. Choice of ‘rigs’.CB radio sets come in three possible types. These are CB Base Station ,mobile in-vehicle units and Handheld CB Radios. Handheld CB Radio units can be very useful, but usually have more limited range than in-vehicle or base station radios, this is partly because they are lower power, and partly because they have much shorter antennae.
3. Call Signs. There are no official call signs in the USA, though there are in other countries such as the UK. US CB users are identified by self-designated ‘handles’
4. CB Radio Channels. CB useres currently have 40 standard channels in the US. Channel 9 must always be kept for emergencies and the recommendation is to keep channels on either side free so any trafiic on channel nine can be heard clearly.
5. Squelch. The squelch dial can help eliminate background noise. By turning down the squelch you can eliminate most annoying noises. You should be able to hear any station trying to break through.
6. Long Distance. CB radio communication is only consistent over relatively short ranges.
If the conditions in the ionisphere are right you can talk over hundreds or even thousands of miles. If you are speaking with someone over 150 miles away beware. It is agains US law to communicate over 150 miles on a CB radio.
7. Cb radios have other uses besides communicating from a vehicle to your home base. Base stations can be powered thourgh a DC power supply which means that in emergency situations they can run on a car battery for a week or even two, allowing you to keep in touch with local authorities during an extended power outage as happens, for example in time of hurricanes, earthquakes or floods. Though not as popular as it was at its height, CB is regaining popularity; no matter how advanced your cellphone is, it still can’t connect you with the car in front unless you know its number. CB lets you talk with other drivers as you go, so even in isolated areas you can find someone to chat to or give you useful directions.
Written by David Jay Thorson.
