By Ken Marlborough
Specialty auto repair refers to the repair and servicing of specialty autos and specific auto parts. Specialty auto repair centers take special care to provide you with genuine factory parts. Specialty auto repair technicians are highly skilled and experienced and they can pin point the problem of the automobile. Whatever model of luxury car or foreign car you are driving, there are repair centers specializing in those very models.
Specialty auto repair centers offer special dealer alternative maintenance and service packages. Some of them give extended warranties services for their clients. They even undertake heavy engine and transmission repair and replacement if needed. Some of these dealers have their own websites from which you can download special auto repair discount coupons.
There are specialty auto repair centers that repair and service specific auto parts such as the brakes, engines, air conditioning, mufflers, and radiators. They also take care of wheel alignments, transmissions and paintless dent repair. Replacement of windshield or window is also included in specialty repair.
Specialty auto repair is regarded as a business with reputation and significant advertising budgets. For specialty auto repair, technicians need a trade certificate, which could be as automotive service, auto body, heavy equipment or recreation service technician.
Specialty auto repair has several benefits. Standard jobs such as lubrication, oil filter, and oil change charges are less compared to general repair. These types of services have retail outlets and the service hours ideally match the timings of customers. Specific fluids, light bulbs and other critical parts are readily available in such shops. Specialty repair shops make use of computers to maintain complete and detailed information.
The disadvantage of going to a specialty auto repair shop is that they have a high sales pitch, they might urge you to do more and more work.
Auto Repair provides detailed information on Auto Repair, Auto Glass Repair, Online Auto Repair, Auto Body Repair and more. Auto Repair is affiliated with Discount Auto Parts.
Auto Repair Manual
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Chilton Manuals and Repair Guides
By Jason Miller
Almost anyone who has ever worked on a car for any length of time has immediately realized the benefit of having a Chilton Manual on hand. Chilton repair manuals have the longest history of any repair guide in the automotive industry, and they have both earned and maintained their well-deserved reputation by providing both car owners and professional mechanics alike the most comprehensive information available on specific vehicles.
Regardless of whether your passion for cars tends toward to the classic or runs fast toward the high performance, a Chilton Manual is an absolute must if you plan to be working on your own vehicle. In fact, newer cars are almost impossible to work on-and equally unsafe in certain instances-without the advanced electrical diagrams found only in a Chilton repair manual.
The Chilton Publishing Company originated in 1922 as a publishing house for automotive periodicals. Over the years, their publishing expanded to include other industries, earning a reputation as the premier authority on mechanical information and repair.
The company has always prided itself on accuracy and reliability, and the trust their manuals have instilled in both laymen and professionals accounts for the wide demand of Chilton repair manuals throughout the automotive world. A Chilton Manual focuses on a specific line of cars during a set range of years (e.g. Buick Regal/Century 1975-1987). It covers all parts in the car, explaining size, feature, and function.
This level of detail proves invaluable when something small on the car malfunctions, and the owner decides to purchase a replacement and install it at home. Without the specifics available through a Chilton repair manual, this would be virtually impossible. Furthermore, beginning mechanics find Chilton repair manuals useful as learning tools because they actually explain the cause and effect relationships of the automobile's mechanical systems.
For the newcomer to home auto repair, the step-by-step instructions and the detailed diagrams and photographs teach the repair process as much as they assist in its completion. It goes without saying as well that high school auto shop teachers use Chilton repair manuals more than they do their auto repair textbooks, and they train their students in how to use the manual both for safety purposes and for knowledge of the craft.
Almost everyone who associates daily with automobiles either has on hand or frequently uses a Chilton repair manual. Classic car enthusiasts rely upon them for both parts and assembly instructions vital to the restoration process. Owners of older vehicles simply cannot rely upon anything other than a Chilton repair manual simply because the typical service chain keeps pace with newer automotive models and often tells the proud owner of a vintage car to take it to a special shop or buy a new car.
As we mentioned earlier, students and first-time mechanics use Chilton repair manuals for everything from learning how to change the oil, replace spark plugs and check manifold intake systems, and troubleshoot electrical problems by using a Chilton manual's electrical wiring diagrams essential to understanding today's integration of computer technology into the modern vehicle.
In fact, vehicle owners doing any type of electrical work on their vehicle need to strongly consider using Chilton as their guide, as much of today's sophisticated technology can actually pose a danger even to a mechanic skilled in traditional automotive repair but unfamiliar in new wiring and computer hardware. With a Chilton repair manual, even a professional can learn and grow as technology continues to evolve.
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. - Automotive Tools
Almost anyone who has ever worked on a car for any length of time has immediately realized the benefit of having a Chilton Manual on hand. Chilton repair manuals have the longest history of any repair guide in the automotive industry, and they have both earned and maintained their well-deserved reputation by providing both car owners and professional mechanics alike the most comprehensive information available on specific vehicles.
Regardless of whether your passion for cars tends toward to the classic or runs fast toward the high performance, a Chilton Manual is an absolute must if you plan to be working on your own vehicle. In fact, newer cars are almost impossible to work on-and equally unsafe in certain instances-without the advanced electrical diagrams found only in a Chilton repair manual.
The Chilton Publishing Company originated in 1922 as a publishing house for automotive periodicals. Over the years, their publishing expanded to include other industries, earning a reputation as the premier authority on mechanical information and repair.
The company has always prided itself on accuracy and reliability, and the trust their manuals have instilled in both laymen and professionals accounts for the wide demand of Chilton repair manuals throughout the automotive world. A Chilton Manual focuses on a specific line of cars during a set range of years (e.g. Buick Regal/Century 1975-1987). It covers all parts in the car, explaining size, feature, and function.
This level of detail proves invaluable when something small on the car malfunctions, and the owner decides to purchase a replacement and install it at home. Without the specifics available through a Chilton repair manual, this would be virtually impossible. Furthermore, beginning mechanics find Chilton repair manuals useful as learning tools because they actually explain the cause and effect relationships of the automobile's mechanical systems.
For the newcomer to home auto repair, the step-by-step instructions and the detailed diagrams and photographs teach the repair process as much as they assist in its completion. It goes without saying as well that high school auto shop teachers use Chilton repair manuals more than they do their auto repair textbooks, and they train their students in how to use the manual both for safety purposes and for knowledge of the craft.
Almost everyone who associates daily with automobiles either has on hand or frequently uses a Chilton repair manual. Classic car enthusiasts rely upon them for both parts and assembly instructions vital to the restoration process. Owners of older vehicles simply cannot rely upon anything other than a Chilton repair manual simply because the typical service chain keeps pace with newer automotive models and often tells the proud owner of a vintage car to take it to a special shop or buy a new car.
As we mentioned earlier, students and first-time mechanics use Chilton repair manuals for everything from learning how to change the oil, replace spark plugs and check manifold intake systems, and troubleshoot electrical problems by using a Chilton manual's electrical wiring diagrams essential to understanding today's integration of computer technology into the modern vehicle.
In fact, vehicle owners doing any type of electrical work on their vehicle need to strongly consider using Chilton as their guide, as much of today's sophisticated technology can actually pose a danger even to a mechanic skilled in traditional automotive repair but unfamiliar in new wiring and computer hardware. With a Chilton repair manual, even a professional can learn and grow as technology continues to evolve.
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. - Automotive Tools
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Auto Repair Made Easy - 5 Life-Or-Death Questions For You AND Your Mechanic
By Drew Turnbaugh
Seasons greetings! Time to get your car winterized. But with so little information, and car care coal in almost every stocking, how will you protect yourself against auto repair frostbite? Listen up! Here are the top 5 tips from people who have been there before…
#1: Ask Yourself: Does your mechanic explain everything in language YOU understand?
Randy from Arlington Heights says he won’t authorize any work until he has a complete understanding of what’s in store: “I didn’t know much about my car and I used to think I was asking stupid questions. But I realized that I’m spending my money, and it’s their job to inform me! No question is ever stupid. In fact, if I can’t get a straight answer, I’ll just take my car elsewhere.”
#2: Ask Yourself: How Are You Being Treated?
“When a mechanic talks down to me, or treats me poorly, or won’t give me information and estimates, I just move along,” says Jen from Oak Park. “Back in the day I would politely ask for my keys and go elsewhere. Now that I’m a bit wiser, I make most of my decisions online.”
#3: Ask Your Mechanic: Are There Lower Cost Alternatives To High Dollar Repair?
Imagine being slapped with a $1200 repair bill when you’re still making payments on your car. Think it sounds far-fetched? Not at all. Rachel from Glenview found herself in that exact situation. “I still was making payments on this thing and it wasn’t until I compared notes from a few places that I found a seasonal fix to my problem. I went back in and turned an almost $1200 job into a $180 job.”
#4: Ask Your Mechanic: What Is The Top Priority?
Scott from Addison discovered how to space it out: “The work I needed had a price tag about $350 more than my car was even worth. But I didn’t have enough spending cash to just go out and grab a replacement. I hit a few shops online and found one that would work with me by focusing on the major issue and then scheduling multiple, less-costly follow ups.”
#5: Ask Your Mechanic: For A Ballpark Figure And Relevant Information
“There’s nothing wrong with asking for a general estimate over the phone or online.” Says Carla of Chicago, “Yes I understand they need to look at my car to be sure, but if the person can’t give me reasonable information and/or a ballpark price, it makes me think they’re not qualified. And if they start doing that ‘bring it in and we’ll take a look’ dance, I just head elsewhere.”
Always remember: in almost every instance, clear communication and education are the #1 ways for you to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous repair shops. When in doubt always ask questions. And with the availability of online tools, you should compare quotes and notes on local Service Professionals before you find yourself living an auto repair nightmare.
Drew Turnbaugh is a communications expert and founder of IanAuto.com. IanAuto is a free website allowing drivers, for the first time ever, to submit online service requests and receive repair quotes from live, local mechanics. IanAuto currently services the greater Chicago and Rockford Illinois metro areas.
Seasons greetings! Time to get your car winterized. But with so little information, and car care coal in almost every stocking, how will you protect yourself against auto repair frostbite? Listen up! Here are the top 5 tips from people who have been there before…
#1: Ask Yourself: Does your mechanic explain everything in language YOU understand?
Randy from Arlington Heights says he won’t authorize any work until he has a complete understanding of what’s in store: “I didn’t know much about my car and I used to think I was asking stupid questions. But I realized that I’m spending my money, and it’s their job to inform me! No question is ever stupid. In fact, if I can’t get a straight answer, I’ll just take my car elsewhere.”
#2: Ask Yourself: How Are You Being Treated?
“When a mechanic talks down to me, or treats me poorly, or won’t give me information and estimates, I just move along,” says Jen from Oak Park. “Back in the day I would politely ask for my keys and go elsewhere. Now that I’m a bit wiser, I make most of my decisions online.”
#3: Ask Your Mechanic: Are There Lower Cost Alternatives To High Dollar Repair?
Imagine being slapped with a $1200 repair bill when you’re still making payments on your car. Think it sounds far-fetched? Not at all. Rachel from Glenview found herself in that exact situation. “I still was making payments on this thing and it wasn’t until I compared notes from a few places that I found a seasonal fix to my problem. I went back in and turned an almost $1200 job into a $180 job.”
#4: Ask Your Mechanic: What Is The Top Priority?
Scott from Addison discovered how to space it out: “The work I needed had a price tag about $350 more than my car was even worth. But I didn’t have enough spending cash to just go out and grab a replacement. I hit a few shops online and found one that would work with me by focusing on the major issue and then scheduling multiple, less-costly follow ups.”
#5: Ask Your Mechanic: For A Ballpark Figure And Relevant Information
“There’s nothing wrong with asking for a general estimate over the phone or online.” Says Carla of Chicago, “Yes I understand they need to look at my car to be sure, but if the person can’t give me reasonable information and/or a ballpark price, it makes me think they’re not qualified. And if they start doing that ‘bring it in and we’ll take a look’ dance, I just head elsewhere.”
Always remember: in almost every instance, clear communication and education are the #1 ways for you to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous repair shops. When in doubt always ask questions. And with the availability of online tools, you should compare quotes and notes on local Service Professionals before you find yourself living an auto repair nightmare.
Drew Turnbaugh is a communications expert and founder of IanAuto.com. IanAuto is a free website allowing drivers, for the first time ever, to submit online service requests and receive repair quotes from live, local mechanics. IanAuto currently services the greater Chicago and Rockford Illinois metro areas.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Auto Repair Manuals - How To Find Them
Lets see now Terje Ellingsen says a handy resource is to get your hands on the right auto repair manual.
He also suggests if you need to get something done quickly, to get an online downloadable manual. This is the fastest and cheapest solution.
Get online and find your high quality vehicle repair manual. Whatever make your car is there is a repair manual online just a few clicks away.
These repair manuals not only have repair information, but also have updated technical service information as well some of them even include their approximate business hours.
He says that this information is invaluable if you decide you need to take your vehicle into a mechanic after all. It should give you a good idea how much repairs may cost.
He also states that these website will charge a small fee for their services but are worth the money, for what you get back in return.
To read all what Terje Ellingsen has written in his article, click this link:
Auto Repair Manuals. If you would like to comment on this info. Please do.
He also suggests if you need to get something done quickly, to get an online downloadable manual. This is the fastest and cheapest solution.
Get online and find your high quality vehicle repair manual. Whatever make your car is there is a repair manual online just a few clicks away.
These repair manuals not only have repair information, but also have updated technical service information as well some of them even include their approximate business hours.
He says that this information is invaluable if you decide you need to take your vehicle into a mechanic after all. It should give you a good idea how much repairs may cost.
He also states that these website will charge a small fee for their services but are worth the money, for what you get back in return.
To read all what Terje Ellingsen has written in his article, click this link:
Auto Repair Manuals. If you would like to comment on this info. Please do.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Auto Repair Manuals
By Terje Ellingsen
If you are an amateur auto mechanic who loves to dig in the car engines until the wee hours while most people are under their blankets, entails the spirit of the "do-it-yourself" -doer and are not afraid to get grease on your hands or if you are in an emergency situation, a very handy resource is the availability of the right auto repair manuals.
There are two types of car repair manuals:
Online downloadable manuals
Printed manuals
Online Manuals
The best thing about online manuals are that whatever manual you'll need for whichever car brand, it is only a few mouse clicks away; you can load it down from the internet in no time.
If the time is a significant factor for you, for instance if you are in a situation that requiers repair information immeadeatlY and your knowledge about the specific problem is limited, the fastest and cheapest solution is to go online to find high quility vehicle repair manuals.
Some of these manuals include not only repair information, but also updated technical service information and some of them even include aproximate business hours. This is valuable info if you decide to take your car to a mechanic: You'll know in advance how much you could expect to pay for the repair. Most of these websites charge a minor fee for their service, but compared to what you'll get back, it is worth it.
Good vehichle repair manual sites also features updated diagnostic and maintenance information. Their manuals are Original Service Manuals Written by the manufacturers and contains the original workshop repair descriptions. Therefore many professional auto technicians are using quality downloadable manuals. .
Good manuals contain thousands of pages of diagrams and all the necessary detailed information for the specific vehicle and car part repair.
Printed manuals
I have chosen to make a breif review of three of the best printed motorcar fixing manuals available on the market today. If you chose these instead of the online alternative, expect some time for shipping and handling.
Bentley
the target is the experienced mechanic, and is considered by many experts as the hands-down best reference.
probably the most detailed car repair book available
Unfortunately, Bentley focuses on European models mostly, not US models.
Factory
The target for these service manuals are factory certified mechanics, and unfortunately not amateurs
may require access to special tools only available to authorized mechanics.
Chilton
Simple step-by-step procedures, easy-to-follow standard format their targeted audience is the average, general backyard mechanic
focusing on maintenance and basic repairs
containing lots of sequential photographs and graphics to simplify maintenance and thus make the job easy and fun.
new cars are treated with thorough attention. Older cars however, get lumped together and the instructions for these are a little more generalized.
Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com Terje gives advice and helps people with automotive issues like auto repair help and car fix manuals
If you are an amateur auto mechanic who loves to dig in the car engines until the wee hours while most people are under their blankets, entails the spirit of the "do-it-yourself" -doer and are not afraid to get grease on your hands or if you are in an emergency situation, a very handy resource is the availability of the right auto repair manuals.
There are two types of car repair manuals:
Online downloadable manuals
Printed manuals
Online Manuals
The best thing about online manuals are that whatever manual you'll need for whichever car brand, it is only a few mouse clicks away; you can load it down from the internet in no time.
If the time is a significant factor for you, for instance if you are in a situation that requiers repair information immeadeatlY and your knowledge about the specific problem is limited, the fastest and cheapest solution is to go online to find high quility vehicle repair manuals.
Some of these manuals include not only repair information, but also updated technical service information and some of them even include aproximate business hours. This is valuable info if you decide to take your car to a mechanic: You'll know in advance how much you could expect to pay for the repair. Most of these websites charge a minor fee for their service, but compared to what you'll get back, it is worth it.
Good vehichle repair manual sites also features updated diagnostic and maintenance information. Their manuals are Original Service Manuals Written by the manufacturers and contains the original workshop repair descriptions. Therefore many professional auto technicians are using quality downloadable manuals. .
Good manuals contain thousands of pages of diagrams and all the necessary detailed information for the specific vehicle and car part repair.
Printed manuals
I have chosen to make a breif review of three of the best printed motorcar fixing manuals available on the market today. If you chose these instead of the online alternative, expect some time for shipping and handling.
Bentley
the target is the experienced mechanic, and is considered by many experts as the hands-down best reference.
probably the most detailed car repair book available
Unfortunately, Bentley focuses on European models mostly, not US models.
Factory
The target for these service manuals are factory certified mechanics, and unfortunately not amateurs
may require access to special tools only available to authorized mechanics.
Chilton
Simple step-by-step procedures, easy-to-follow standard format their targeted audience is the average, general backyard mechanic
focusing on maintenance and basic repairs
containing lots of sequential photographs and graphics to simplify maintenance and thus make the job easy and fun.
new cars are treated with thorough attention. Older cars however, get lumped together and the instructions for these are a little more generalized.
Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com Terje gives advice and helps people with automotive issues like auto repair help and car fix manuals
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Which Auto Collision Center Should I Use
By Terry Fitzroy
Next to your home, your car is the second largest investment you will make. You spend a great deal of time choosing that right car. And then in minutes you suddenly find yourself with a car that's been damaged in an automobile accident. As a result the same common question continuously gets asked "Which auto collision center should I use"?
And it's a very good question. Vehicles aren't cheap, and with such a big investment you want to be certain that the repair is done right and since you have the right to choose who will fix your car it's time to start shopping around. What ever you do, don't let your insurance company try to bully you into using whom they want.
Different auto collision centers will have different rates, different practices, and different ways of filling out their auto repair estimate, which means you need to be alert as to how they are quoting their work. What looks like the cheapest quote may not be once you take everything into account. The auto collision center has to work with your insurance company to put things right and get you back on the road as soon as possible.
Here are just a few things to find out about. That way you can compare each of the auto collision centers on a level playing field.
What are the hours of operation and do they work with your schedule? Do they have a drop off service or a late pickup service?
Is there a guaranteed delivery date to have your car repairs completed?
Do they offer a loaner vehicle to drive while your vehicle is being repaired?
How long do they warranty their work for? Is there a lifetime guarantee and if so is it on paint?
Repairs? Labor?
What is the qualifications of the craftsman in the auto collision center?
How long has the company been in business?
What type of equipment do they have for repairs? Do they offer state of the art equipment?
Do they guarantee color match?
Do they utilize laser measuring?
Where are the centers located?
What's it going to cost?
Before you do anything, if it is at all possible it's a good idea to drop by, see the facilities, and get a quote. There are more than 35,000 auto body repair shops across the country, which can make it a bit confusing to choose. Use the tools at your disposal. The internet is an excellent resource, and having your list of questions answered can help you make the right choice.
The average auto repair takes two weeks so make sure you have made alternative arrangements with a rental car. You should also make sure you are happy with their commitment to customer satisfaction and remember you can always check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure the company has a good reputation.
Which auto collision center should you use? The choice is still yours but these tips should help you find the best facility for your repairs.
Terry Fitzroy is a professional auto repair writer, and reports on utah collision repair, utah auto repair.
Next to your home, your car is the second largest investment you will make. You spend a great deal of time choosing that right car. And then in minutes you suddenly find yourself with a car that's been damaged in an automobile accident. As a result the same common question continuously gets asked "Which auto collision center should I use"?
And it's a very good question. Vehicles aren't cheap, and with such a big investment you want to be certain that the repair is done right and since you have the right to choose who will fix your car it's time to start shopping around. What ever you do, don't let your insurance company try to bully you into using whom they want.
Different auto collision centers will have different rates, different practices, and different ways of filling out their auto repair estimate, which means you need to be alert as to how they are quoting their work. What looks like the cheapest quote may not be once you take everything into account. The auto collision center has to work with your insurance company to put things right and get you back on the road as soon as possible.
Here are just a few things to find out about. That way you can compare each of the auto collision centers on a level playing field.
What are the hours of operation and do they work with your schedule? Do they have a drop off service or a late pickup service?
Is there a guaranteed delivery date to have your car repairs completed?
Do they offer a loaner vehicle to drive while your vehicle is being repaired?
How long do they warranty their work for? Is there a lifetime guarantee and if so is it on paint?
Repairs? Labor?
What is the qualifications of the craftsman in the auto collision center?
How long has the company been in business?
What type of equipment do they have for repairs? Do they offer state of the art equipment?
Do they guarantee color match?
Do they utilize laser measuring?
Where are the centers located?
What's it going to cost?
Before you do anything, if it is at all possible it's a good idea to drop by, see the facilities, and get a quote. There are more than 35,000 auto body repair shops across the country, which can make it a bit confusing to choose. Use the tools at your disposal. The internet is an excellent resource, and having your list of questions answered can help you make the right choice.
The average auto repair takes two weeks so make sure you have made alternative arrangements with a rental car. You should also make sure you are happy with their commitment to customer satisfaction and remember you can always check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure the company has a good reputation.
Which auto collision center should you use? The choice is still yours but these tips should help you find the best facility for your repairs.
Terry Fitzroy is a professional auto repair writer, and reports on utah collision repair, utah auto repair.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Car Maintenance 101
By Czarina Adams
Break system, tune-ups, performance mufflers, and transmission repairs. Cars are valuable enough, both representing luxury and necessity. What’s more is after having spent a lot of your hard-earned money, maintaining its good condition is difficult without having it constantly serviced. And when it comes to that precious car, you cant just go anywhere to have it fixed. Product and maintenance should go hand in hand. And a good auto shop company is just what you need to get the job done… and get it done right.
If you love your car you wouldn’t just take it to any old garage. And if dealerships are too expensive for you then you just have to settle for an auto repair shop that’s enough to work on your car without compromising the work of the service.
Of course there are auto repair shops that go beyond the call of duty in terms of fixing and providing for your car. What are the qualities you need to consider before you entrust your valued vehicle into the hands of another?
First, of course, is reputation. A well-known auto shop speaks for itself when we’re talking about good service. It’s great when their usual clients speak well of them, but its better if their competitors respect them as well. Some town repair shops usually rely on each other when there is a car problem they can’t seem to fix. Imagine having your car in the hands of the best repairmen in town, known not just through their clientele but as well as the competition.
Fully furnished and well-maintained facilities is another obvious quality. Having the capacity to handle tough jobs on your car, using top-of-the-line machinery shows, not just the shop’s capacity but also its commitment to delivering quality service through advanced equipment.
Clientele is another factor. The number and variety of vehicles an auto repair shop attends to speaks well of its capacity to attend to different classes of vehicles. It tells of how well it can accommodate, with a great deal of expertise, even the unique specifications of your car.
Lastly, don’t forget to consider customer service. Your car is not the ultimate client but you of course. A shop that looks after your best interest and attends to your comfort in as much as it does your vehicle is a plus factor.
Being particular about how your vehicle is taken care of is every car owner’s right. Whether it’s just for comfort and style or for practicality and function, either way, it’s about getting what you need for something well used and well earned.
For more information, visit this site on performance mufflers and auto repair shops
Czarina Adams is a web copywriter associated with a factory muffler and auto repair shop in Chicago, Illinois.
Break system, tune-ups, performance mufflers, and transmission repairs. Cars are valuable enough, both representing luxury and necessity. What’s more is after having spent a lot of your hard-earned money, maintaining its good condition is difficult without having it constantly serviced. And when it comes to that precious car, you cant just go anywhere to have it fixed. Product and maintenance should go hand in hand. And a good auto shop company is just what you need to get the job done… and get it done right.
If you love your car you wouldn’t just take it to any old garage. And if dealerships are too expensive for you then you just have to settle for an auto repair shop that’s enough to work on your car without compromising the work of the service.
Of course there are auto repair shops that go beyond the call of duty in terms of fixing and providing for your car. What are the qualities you need to consider before you entrust your valued vehicle into the hands of another?
First, of course, is reputation. A well-known auto shop speaks for itself when we’re talking about good service. It’s great when their usual clients speak well of them, but its better if their competitors respect them as well. Some town repair shops usually rely on each other when there is a car problem they can’t seem to fix. Imagine having your car in the hands of the best repairmen in town, known not just through their clientele but as well as the competition.
Fully furnished and well-maintained facilities is another obvious quality. Having the capacity to handle tough jobs on your car, using top-of-the-line machinery shows, not just the shop’s capacity but also its commitment to delivering quality service through advanced equipment.
Clientele is another factor. The number and variety of vehicles an auto repair shop attends to speaks well of its capacity to attend to different classes of vehicles. It tells of how well it can accommodate, with a great deal of expertise, even the unique specifications of your car.
Lastly, don’t forget to consider customer service. Your car is not the ultimate client but you of course. A shop that looks after your best interest and attends to your comfort in as much as it does your vehicle is a plus factor.
Being particular about how your vehicle is taken care of is every car owner’s right. Whether it’s just for comfort and style or for practicality and function, either way, it’s about getting what you need for something well used and well earned.
For more information, visit this site on performance mufflers and auto repair shops
Czarina Adams is a web copywriter associated with a factory muffler and auto repair shop in Chicago, Illinois.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Auto Repair Tips
3 Quick Auto Repair Tips
By James C
Maintaining your car is a very important job. A well maintained car will last longer, perform better and get better gas mileage. Learn some quick tips to help you easily maintain your car.
1. Change the oil every 3000 miles or 3 months. This is the most important thing you can do to protect your car. If you cannot change it that often have your mechanic change your oil with synthetic oil. It lasts much longer and will allow you to go longer between oil changes.
2. Have your brakes checked as soon as they begin to squeal. If you replace them as soon as they become worn you will save your vehicle any further damage. If brake pads wear down too much they can damage your rotors or drums.
3. When your radiator reservoir becomes low add premixed antifreeze. You can now buy antifreeze premixed to the correct 50/50 ratio. It might seem like you are wasting money by paying for water but it will save you time and ensure that your vehicle receives the correct ratio of antifreeze to water. The right balance is important to protect your engine and provide proper cooling.
That's it for now. Remember a well maintained car will save you money in countless ways so take the time to take care of your car.
The author operates a website on finding an auto repair mechanic. Learn about auto repair and auto mechanics in your city.
Auto Repair Tips
By James C
Maintaining your car is a very important job. A well maintained car will last longer, perform better and get better gas mileage. Learn some quick tips to help you easily maintain your car.
1. Change the oil every 3000 miles or 3 months. This is the most important thing you can do to protect your car. If you cannot change it that often have your mechanic change your oil with synthetic oil. It lasts much longer and will allow you to go longer between oil changes.
2. Have your brakes checked as soon as they begin to squeal. If you replace them as soon as they become worn you will save your vehicle any further damage. If brake pads wear down too much they can damage your rotors or drums.
3. When your radiator reservoir becomes low add premixed antifreeze. You can now buy antifreeze premixed to the correct 50/50 ratio. It might seem like you are wasting money by paying for water but it will save you time and ensure that your vehicle receives the correct ratio of antifreeze to water. The right balance is important to protect your engine and provide proper cooling.
That's it for now. Remember a well maintained car will save you money in countless ways so take the time to take care of your car.
The author operates a website on finding an auto repair mechanic. Learn about auto repair and auto mechanics in your city.
Auto Repair Tips
Monday, August 13, 2007
Auto Repair Insurance
Auto Repair Insurance: Extended Warranties — Myths And Facts
by: Theodore Olson
How much insurance does one need? You have the big four: home, health, life, and car insurance. Then there’s a second category, which starts getting a little hazy with credit card insurance, purchase protection plans, fraud insurance and more. Extended warranties, also called extended service contracts, or extended service policies fall into the mist of this second category.
Extended warranties are supposed to pay (in full or in part) for specified repairs for a specific period of time after the expiration of the factory warranty. They can be a great value. They can also be a significant waste of money. It gets quite foggy in the details. What exactly is covered? How long? How much? Are there hidden charges?
There are numerous extended warranty companies and an even wider variety of warranty packages available: silver, gold, platinum, platinum-plus, and a host of other confidence-building words. What’s the best plan, and are extended service contracts worth the money? Extended warranties, like life insurance policies, are a numbers game. They’re a gamble. You pay $2500-$4500 for a 2 year, 100,000-mile protection plan and hope that you get at least that back in warranty repairs. The provider on the other hand, hopes to pay out less than it insured.
There are three major types of plan providers: The manufacturer, the dealership/third party, and third party providers. Each one has its assets and liabilities (discussed ahead).
What exactly is covered in an extended service plan? As mentioned above, what’s covered depends on the package purchased. Some plans only cover the power train: the mechanical components of the engine, transmission, and rear-end. Others cover the power train plus some electrical components. Still others cover electrical, advanced electrical, and computer components. Some only cover what’s listed in the contract. This is called a “Stated” or “Named” contract. This means that if it’s not stated, it’s not covered. Some cover bumper-to-bumper, similar to a manufacturer warranty, except trim pieces, upholstery, exterior components, cosmetic items, and a number of other exclusions.
Never before has the adage, “The devil’s in the details,” been so applicable.
Manufacturer Extended Plans:
Extended service plans from the manufacturer are the best in terms of coverage, convenience, and quality. Coverage is similar to the warranty while the vehicle was under its original factory warranty—with similar exclusions stated above. The billing is direct, meaning you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket, except for a deductible, if applicable. Quality is great too, as an extended warranty from the manufacturer will only use factory parts. They also have money, so there’s less risk of bankruptcy.
The down side of manufacturer extended service plans is that they are not cheap. These plans are generally the most expensive, require low mileage standards, and necessitate servicing your vehicle at a dealer for coverage.
Dealership/Third Party Plans:
Extended warranties from a dealership are actually from a third party insurer. These providers are “generally” reputable, but not always. However, if there is an issue (such as the warranty provider filing chapter 11, which is quite frequent in the extended service contract business), the dealer “may” step in to cover any repairs that would have been covered under the defunct plan. Also, claims are easier: billing is direct because the dealership has a working relationship with the provider, and there is usually agreement on price.
Some dealers set up their own “internal extended warranty,” which is honored by the selling dealer. This is rare, and should not be confused with a manufacturer warranty. Important: extended warranties are often passed off as “manufacturer” warranties. They’re not. This is a sales trick. Also be aware that there is a significant mark up, as the dealership is merely acting as the middle man. Lastly, extended warranty companies often go bankrupt without warning.
Third Party Plans:
These plans are called third party plans because they are outside the responsibility of the manufacturer and the service center performing the repairs (unless there’s a working relationship with a repair shop as stated above).
There are hundreds of extended service contract companies. Some have good reputations, some don’t. Third party plans are frequently sold by used car dealers. You may also receive an official looking notification in the mail stating that your warranty is expiring, and directing you to call an 800 number ASAP. This is a marketing tactic by an independent warranty provider. Despite the “official” appearance of the postcard or envelope, it’s not from the manufacturer. Manufacturers do not send out reminders about warranty expirations.
Given the wide-variety of third party plans there are numerous red flags.
1) Claims: Extended warranty companies will be quick to tell you that filing claims is easy, and that the service center gets paid immediately via a credit card. Thus, there’s no out-of-pocket expense for you. However, the warranty company can’t dictate a service center’s policies. Some service centers will only accept payment from the repair customer. Thus the burden is on the repair customer to fill out the forms, contact their warranty company, and await reimbursement via check, which can take 2-8 weeks.
It is the service center’s responsibility to contact the extended warranty company to let them know what’s wrong with the vehicle and to check coverage. This process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 20 days, sometimes more, depending on the degree of repairs and especially the amount. (See $1000 and Adjusters ahead)
Service centers and extended warranty companies frequently battle over the “fair” price of repairs. Many repair shops no longer negotiate, and just state the price, leaving the contract holder (i.e., the service customer) responsible for the difference.
2) Rentals: Rental coverage is a great benefit. However, there are fixed rates and time limits. In other words, the warranty company is not going to pay to have you drive a Mercedes-Benz, even if you drive a Benz. Rental allowances range from $25 to $35 per day. Also, rental coverage is based on the number of hours it takes to repair the vehicle, NOT how long your car has been at the shop.
3) $1000 and Adjusters: Repairs that approach $1000, or that require a significant amount of work, will be cause for the warranty company to call in an adjuster to confirm the diagnosis. This will delay the repairs by a minimum of 24-48 hours. It may cost you additional money when an adjuster is involved. You may be charged to have your vehicle pulled back into the shop for inspection, as well as for the time spent with the adjuster.
4) Tear-down Charges: In many cases, an extended warranty company will require that a particular component be taken apart for inspection to determine if the repair is indeed needed and covered. This puts the service customer in a very awkward position. The customer will have to authorize potentially hundreds of dollars of tear-down expense in the hopes that the repair is covered. If it’s not, the customer is out the hundreds in tear-down PLUS the actual repair. This does happen!
Common Myths:
1) "Extended warranties cover maintenance services and brake work."
No. Extended warranty plans do not cover maintenance or wearable items. Brake pads and rotors are wearable parts. Maintenance such as coolant, brake and transmission flushes, tune-ups, services, oil changes, bulbs, wipers, and more are not covered.
2) "They told me it’s bumper-to-bumper, so it covers everything right?"
Wrong. Not even a factory warranty covers everything. When pitching the sale for the extended warranty, one is very often lead to believe that he or she will have nothing to worry about. This is just not true on so many levels. For example, if your bumper falls off it’s not covered.
3) "I don’t have to pay anything, right?"
Wrong. Despite the claims of 100% coverage, there are many factors involved. The labor rates, labor hours, diagnostic times, parts prices, and machine work are just a few items that often conflict with a service center’s policies. Some extended contracts only pay a maximum of $55 per hour, and only allow one half hour for diagnostic time. This is generally unacceptable to the service center, as labor rates have skyrocketed to over $100 per hour at many dealerships, and average $75 at local shops. Moreover, with the complexity of today’s vehicles, diagnostic time is at a premium. The customer pays the difference.
4) "If I have an expensive problem, I can just purchase an extended service contract."
It’s unethical, but it’s an option many attempt. However, most service contracts have a minimum time requirement before the first claim can be filed: usually three months. Also, many contracts require that your vehicle be inspected by a service center to check for pre-existing conditions—just like life insurance.
5) "My contract lasts up to 100,000 miles."
Only if the time limit doesn’t run out first. All extended warranty plans have a time limit. For example, a typical contract will state that the vehicle is covered for two years or 100,000 miles, which ever comes first. During the sales pitch, however, the emphasis will be on the 100,000 miles, not the time.
6) "If my car breaks, it gets fixed like new."
Actually, depending on the contract, an extended warranty company can insist on installing remanufactured or even used parts.
Items commonly not covered by extended warranties:
• Any component with a pre-existing condition
• Any component related to a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB)
• Many components that has been updated by the manufacturer
• Extra components necessary “due to manufacturer updates” to complete the repair
• Trim pieces: molding, cup holders, dashboard, console, body parts, glass
• Many accessories: radios, DVD players, TVs
• Many expensive electronics: climate control units, navigation assemblies
Service contract positives:
Some service contracts are transferable, and may thus increase the resale value of a vehicle. Many come with trip interruption reimbursement, towing and 24-hour road side. Some plans can also be financed, or have E-Z Pay Plans. Others offer a money-back guarantee.
What should you do?
You’ll get lots of advice about doing the research, comparing plans, and reading the fine print. This is all sound advice. But what about doing the math?
Let’s say a plan costs $2500 for 2 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. To break even you’ll need a minimum of $1250 per year in covered repairs, excluding regular maintenance. Remember covered is the vital word here.
Another way to break it down is to anticipate having to pay $104.17 per month over the next two years in “covered” repairs. Do you want to take that bet?
What could happen?
You could double your money or more in repair work. You could conceivably get a new engine and transmission (or used ones anyway). You could also easily spend $2500 for a service contract, and still have to pay another $2500 for repairs, which for a variety of reasons, were not covered under your plan. Now you’re out $5000.
Alternatively, you could keep the initial $2500. In many ways all an extended warranty does is prepay for repairs. You could stick the money in the bank and collect interest. Then you could withdraw the money for repairs as needed.
Another consideration that’s rarely discussed is the cause of the problems. Many car repairs problems are the result of wear and tear, neglected maintenance, physical damage, or acts of God—such as flood damage. None of this is covered. The gamble only covers failed components.
If the vehicle you’re driving does cost $2500 to $4500 in repairs due to outright failed components, is it a vehicle you even want to consider keeping? A vehicle that needs this kind of repair work due to mechanical, electrical, or computer failures may not be worth it. The $2500-$4500 would be better spent on an upgrade to a quality vehicle rather than insuring a lemon.
There’s no question that auto repair is expensive, and even quality cars break from time to time. But do they breakdown to the tune of $2500-$4500? That’s a hefty bet on a “possibility.”
Terence O’Hara from the Washington Post makes an excellent assessment about extended warranties in general. He writes:
…extended warranties play upon a basic human trait to avoid loss, even if it means sacrificing a possible future gain…the gain is all the other things of value that a consumer could buy with the money that was spent on a warranty
What’s the best plan?
Money in your bank account!
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry. RepairTrust Fair http://www.repairtrust.com/
Auto Repair Insurance
by: Theodore Olson
How much insurance does one need? You have the big four: home, health, life, and car insurance. Then there’s a second category, which starts getting a little hazy with credit card insurance, purchase protection plans, fraud insurance and more. Extended warranties, also called extended service contracts, or extended service policies fall into the mist of this second category.
Extended warranties are supposed to pay (in full or in part) for specified repairs for a specific period of time after the expiration of the factory warranty. They can be a great value. They can also be a significant waste of money. It gets quite foggy in the details. What exactly is covered? How long? How much? Are there hidden charges?
There are numerous extended warranty companies and an even wider variety of warranty packages available: silver, gold, platinum, platinum-plus, and a host of other confidence-building words. What’s the best plan, and are extended service contracts worth the money? Extended warranties, like life insurance policies, are a numbers game. They’re a gamble. You pay $2500-$4500 for a 2 year, 100,000-mile protection plan and hope that you get at least that back in warranty repairs. The provider on the other hand, hopes to pay out less than it insured.
There are three major types of plan providers: The manufacturer, the dealership/third party, and third party providers. Each one has its assets and liabilities (discussed ahead).
What exactly is covered in an extended service plan? As mentioned above, what’s covered depends on the package purchased. Some plans only cover the power train: the mechanical components of the engine, transmission, and rear-end. Others cover the power train plus some electrical components. Still others cover electrical, advanced electrical, and computer components. Some only cover what’s listed in the contract. This is called a “Stated” or “Named” contract. This means that if it’s not stated, it’s not covered. Some cover bumper-to-bumper, similar to a manufacturer warranty, except trim pieces, upholstery, exterior components, cosmetic items, and a number of other exclusions.
Never before has the adage, “The devil’s in the details,” been so applicable.
Manufacturer Extended Plans:
Extended service plans from the manufacturer are the best in terms of coverage, convenience, and quality. Coverage is similar to the warranty while the vehicle was under its original factory warranty—with similar exclusions stated above. The billing is direct, meaning you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket, except for a deductible, if applicable. Quality is great too, as an extended warranty from the manufacturer will only use factory parts. They also have money, so there’s less risk of bankruptcy.
The down side of manufacturer extended service plans is that they are not cheap. These plans are generally the most expensive, require low mileage standards, and necessitate servicing your vehicle at a dealer for coverage.
Dealership/Third Party Plans:
Extended warranties from a dealership are actually from a third party insurer. These providers are “generally” reputable, but not always. However, if there is an issue (such as the warranty provider filing chapter 11, which is quite frequent in the extended service contract business), the dealer “may” step in to cover any repairs that would have been covered under the defunct plan. Also, claims are easier: billing is direct because the dealership has a working relationship with the provider, and there is usually agreement on price.
Some dealers set up their own “internal extended warranty,” which is honored by the selling dealer. This is rare, and should not be confused with a manufacturer warranty. Important: extended warranties are often passed off as “manufacturer” warranties. They’re not. This is a sales trick. Also be aware that there is a significant mark up, as the dealership is merely acting as the middle man. Lastly, extended warranty companies often go bankrupt without warning.
Third Party Plans:
These plans are called third party plans because they are outside the responsibility of the manufacturer and the service center performing the repairs (unless there’s a working relationship with a repair shop as stated above).
There are hundreds of extended service contract companies. Some have good reputations, some don’t. Third party plans are frequently sold by used car dealers. You may also receive an official looking notification in the mail stating that your warranty is expiring, and directing you to call an 800 number ASAP. This is a marketing tactic by an independent warranty provider. Despite the “official” appearance of the postcard or envelope, it’s not from the manufacturer. Manufacturers do not send out reminders about warranty expirations.
Given the wide-variety of third party plans there are numerous red flags.
1) Claims: Extended warranty companies will be quick to tell you that filing claims is easy, and that the service center gets paid immediately via a credit card. Thus, there’s no out-of-pocket expense for you. However, the warranty company can’t dictate a service center’s policies. Some service centers will only accept payment from the repair customer. Thus the burden is on the repair customer to fill out the forms, contact their warranty company, and await reimbursement via check, which can take 2-8 weeks.
It is the service center’s responsibility to contact the extended warranty company to let them know what’s wrong with the vehicle and to check coverage. This process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 20 days, sometimes more, depending on the degree of repairs and especially the amount. (See $1000 and Adjusters ahead)
Service centers and extended warranty companies frequently battle over the “fair” price of repairs. Many repair shops no longer negotiate, and just state the price, leaving the contract holder (i.e., the service customer) responsible for the difference.
2) Rentals: Rental coverage is a great benefit. However, there are fixed rates and time limits. In other words, the warranty company is not going to pay to have you drive a Mercedes-Benz, even if you drive a Benz. Rental allowances range from $25 to $35 per day. Also, rental coverage is based on the number of hours it takes to repair the vehicle, NOT how long your car has been at the shop.
3) $1000 and Adjusters: Repairs that approach $1000, or that require a significant amount of work, will be cause for the warranty company to call in an adjuster to confirm the diagnosis. This will delay the repairs by a minimum of 24-48 hours. It may cost you additional money when an adjuster is involved. You may be charged to have your vehicle pulled back into the shop for inspection, as well as for the time spent with the adjuster.
4) Tear-down Charges: In many cases, an extended warranty company will require that a particular component be taken apart for inspection to determine if the repair is indeed needed and covered. This puts the service customer in a very awkward position. The customer will have to authorize potentially hundreds of dollars of tear-down expense in the hopes that the repair is covered. If it’s not, the customer is out the hundreds in tear-down PLUS the actual repair. This does happen!
Common Myths:
1) "Extended warranties cover maintenance services and brake work."
No. Extended warranty plans do not cover maintenance or wearable items. Brake pads and rotors are wearable parts. Maintenance such as coolant, brake and transmission flushes, tune-ups, services, oil changes, bulbs, wipers, and more are not covered.
2) "They told me it’s bumper-to-bumper, so it covers everything right?"
Wrong. Not even a factory warranty covers everything. When pitching the sale for the extended warranty, one is very often lead to believe that he or she will have nothing to worry about. This is just not true on so many levels. For example, if your bumper falls off it’s not covered.
3) "I don’t have to pay anything, right?"
Wrong. Despite the claims of 100% coverage, there are many factors involved. The labor rates, labor hours, diagnostic times, parts prices, and machine work are just a few items that often conflict with a service center’s policies. Some extended contracts only pay a maximum of $55 per hour, and only allow one half hour for diagnostic time. This is generally unacceptable to the service center, as labor rates have skyrocketed to over $100 per hour at many dealerships, and average $75 at local shops. Moreover, with the complexity of today’s vehicles, diagnostic time is at a premium. The customer pays the difference.
4) "If I have an expensive problem, I can just purchase an extended service contract."
It’s unethical, but it’s an option many attempt. However, most service contracts have a minimum time requirement before the first claim can be filed: usually three months. Also, many contracts require that your vehicle be inspected by a service center to check for pre-existing conditions—just like life insurance.
5) "My contract lasts up to 100,000 miles."
Only if the time limit doesn’t run out first. All extended warranty plans have a time limit. For example, a typical contract will state that the vehicle is covered for two years or 100,000 miles, which ever comes first. During the sales pitch, however, the emphasis will be on the 100,000 miles, not the time.
6) "If my car breaks, it gets fixed like new."
Actually, depending on the contract, an extended warranty company can insist on installing remanufactured or even used parts.
Items commonly not covered by extended warranties:
• Any component with a pre-existing condition
• Any component related to a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB)
• Many components that has been updated by the manufacturer
• Extra components necessary “due to manufacturer updates” to complete the repair
• Trim pieces: molding, cup holders, dashboard, console, body parts, glass
• Many accessories: radios, DVD players, TVs
• Many expensive electronics: climate control units, navigation assemblies
Service contract positives:
Some service contracts are transferable, and may thus increase the resale value of a vehicle. Many come with trip interruption reimbursement, towing and 24-hour road side. Some plans can also be financed, or have E-Z Pay Plans. Others offer a money-back guarantee.
What should you do?
You’ll get lots of advice about doing the research, comparing plans, and reading the fine print. This is all sound advice. But what about doing the math?
Let’s say a plan costs $2500 for 2 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. To break even you’ll need a minimum of $1250 per year in covered repairs, excluding regular maintenance. Remember covered is the vital word here.
Another way to break it down is to anticipate having to pay $104.17 per month over the next two years in “covered” repairs. Do you want to take that bet?
What could happen?
You could double your money or more in repair work. You could conceivably get a new engine and transmission (or used ones anyway). You could also easily spend $2500 for a service contract, and still have to pay another $2500 for repairs, which for a variety of reasons, were not covered under your plan. Now you’re out $5000.
Alternatively, you could keep the initial $2500. In many ways all an extended warranty does is prepay for repairs. You could stick the money in the bank and collect interest. Then you could withdraw the money for repairs as needed.
Another consideration that’s rarely discussed is the cause of the problems. Many car repairs problems are the result of wear and tear, neglected maintenance, physical damage, or acts of God—such as flood damage. None of this is covered. The gamble only covers failed components.
If the vehicle you’re driving does cost $2500 to $4500 in repairs due to outright failed components, is it a vehicle you even want to consider keeping? A vehicle that needs this kind of repair work due to mechanical, electrical, or computer failures may not be worth it. The $2500-$4500 would be better spent on an upgrade to a quality vehicle rather than insuring a lemon.
There’s no question that auto repair is expensive, and even quality cars break from time to time. But do they breakdown to the tune of $2500-$4500? That’s a hefty bet on a “possibility.”
Terence O’Hara from the Washington Post makes an excellent assessment about extended warranties in general. He writes:
…extended warranties play upon a basic human trait to avoid loss, even if it means sacrificing a possible future gain…the gain is all the other things of value that a consumer could buy with the money that was spent on a warranty
What’s the best plan?
Money in your bank account!
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry. RepairTrust Fair http://www.repairtrust.com/
Auto Repair Insurance
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Used Auto Buying Tips
by mike2373
Sooner or later all of us face with the need of purchasing new or used autos. Therefore, I would like to offer your attention some tips on purchasing used autos and avoiding having to deal with multiple technical problems later on. first of all, when you decide to buy a used auto, you should determine whether you are going on the 'hunt' for one on your own or you are going to resort to autos' dealer assistance. Next, when you have selected or have been offered several autos make sure they do not have any body rust problems.
For, such problems are really hard and not worth dealing with, unless it is a rarity car you are looking for. Now, most used autos represent excellent and affordable deals. However, cheap does not always mean good, because besides the technical problems of the used autos you may have to deal with the problem of getting new replacement parts for them.
Used Auto Buying Tips
Thus, it would be better to avoid purchasing any used car without checking first if you can find replacement parts for it. Otherwise, you will simply end up with a piece of junk standing in your back yard. Another important tip on closing a good used car deal is getting all the documents, repair and maintenance papers from the previous owner.
Such record repair history will help you to determine used autos' technical condition. Besides, you should never go for buying any used autos without getting them first through thorough technical check up. Consult your technician before making a purchase and it will save you much time and trouble later on. Those were some tips on purchasing used autos. Hope they would be helpful to you.
About the Author
My Mobile Auto
Sooner or later all of us face with the need of purchasing new or used autos. Therefore, I would like to offer your attention some tips on purchasing used autos and avoiding having to deal with multiple technical problems later on. first of all, when you decide to buy a used auto, you should determine whether you are going on the 'hunt' for one on your own or you are going to resort to autos' dealer assistance. Next, when you have selected or have been offered several autos make sure they do not have any body rust problems.
For, such problems are really hard and not worth dealing with, unless it is a rarity car you are looking for. Now, most used autos represent excellent and affordable deals. However, cheap does not always mean good, because besides the technical problems of the used autos you may have to deal with the problem of getting new replacement parts for them.
Used Auto Buying Tips
Thus, it would be better to avoid purchasing any used car without checking first if you can find replacement parts for it. Otherwise, you will simply end up with a piece of junk standing in your back yard. Another important tip on closing a good used car deal is getting all the documents, repair and maintenance papers from the previous owner.
Such record repair history will help you to determine used autos' technical condition. Besides, you should never go for buying any used autos without getting them first through thorough technical check up. Consult your technician before making a purchase and it will save you much time and trouble later on. Those were some tips on purchasing used autos. Hope they would be helpful to you.
About the Author
My Mobile Auto
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Auto Repair Guides
Auto Repair Guides
By Ken Marlborough
Auto repair guides explain the maintenance, repair, and cleaning of automotive supplies. These are guides meant for home users as well as professionals. Nowadays, these are available in electronic versions, and there are many software packages available to diagnose and fix automotive problems.
Major companies in this industry such as Ford, Mercedes, Chevrolet, and Volkswagen provide electronic auto repair guides so that even amateur users can learn a lot about auto repair. Auto repair guides usually tell you how repairs are done on all major parts of an automobile including the brake system, cooling system, electrical system, engine system, A/C-heat system, body and exterior, exhaust system, fuel system, steering and suspension system, and drive train.
A number of good online auto repair guides are provided free on selected websites. These sites provide useful articles and FAQs that enable you to learn the techniques of auto repair step by step.
Lots of auto repair guides tell you how to do simple auto repair jobs at home.
They also help you find quality used auto parts. Lots of auto repair guides also give you advice on auto repair shops in major cities. Auto repair guides also provide information on auto insurance, car rentals, driving schools and car washes. They help you learn more about automotive maintenance, car accessories and car audio systems.
At the most basic level, general auto repair guides walk you through some of the most basic maintenance and repair processes that are common to all vehicles. If you are new to auto repair, these may help you a lot. Auto repair guides also tell you how to choose a repair shop and how to choose a technician. They provide you with an idea about repair charges and preventive maintenance too. You can learn a lot about protecting your auto repair investment from these guides.
By Ken Marlborough
Auto repair guides explain the maintenance, repair, and cleaning of automotive supplies. These are guides meant for home users as well as professionals. Nowadays, these are available in electronic versions, and there are many software packages available to diagnose and fix automotive problems.
Major companies in this industry such as Ford, Mercedes, Chevrolet, and Volkswagen provide electronic auto repair guides so that even amateur users can learn a lot about auto repair. Auto repair guides usually tell you how repairs are done on all major parts of an automobile including the brake system, cooling system, electrical system, engine system, A/C-heat system, body and exterior, exhaust system, fuel system, steering and suspension system, and drive train.
A number of good online auto repair guides are provided free on selected websites. These sites provide useful articles and FAQs that enable you to learn the techniques of auto repair step by step.
Lots of auto repair guides tell you how to do simple auto repair jobs at home.
They also help you find quality used auto parts. Lots of auto repair guides also give you advice on auto repair shops in major cities. Auto repair guides also provide information on auto insurance, car rentals, driving schools and car washes. They help you learn more about automotive maintenance, car accessories and car audio systems.
At the most basic level, general auto repair guides walk you through some of the most basic maintenance and repair processes that are common to all vehicles. If you are new to auto repair, these may help you a lot. Auto repair guides also tell you how to choose a repair shop and how to choose a technician. They provide you with an idea about repair charges and preventive maintenance too. You can learn a lot about protecting your auto repair investment from these guides.
Auto Repair provides detailed information on Auto Repair, Auto Glass Repair, Online Auto Repair, Auto Body Repair and more. Auto Repair is affiliated with Discount Auto Parts.
Auto Repair Guides
Car Repair
Car Repair 101
By: Simon Harris
The more you notice about your vehicle, the more likely you'll be able to head off repair problems. Yep- even if you're mechanically challenged. You can detect many common vehicle problems by using your eyes and nose.
“See No Evil”
Is there a little stain or a drop of fluid under your vehicle? It may mean absolutely nothing. But you do want to check the wet spots immediately - just to make sure.
What color is the fluid under your car? Yellowish green, pretty blue or neon orange colors indicate an overheated engine or an antifreeze leak caused by a bad hose, water pump or leaking radiator. Not good. I remember the yellowish green ooze from my Chevette as the tow truck took it away to its final resting place. Get to a repair shop while you still can!
A dark brown or black oily fluid means the engine is leaking oil. A bad seal or gasket could cause the leak. This is how my first car met its demise.
A red oily looking spot indicates a transmission or power-steering fluid leak. Also, not good.
A puddle of clear water usually isn't a cause for concern. It may be normal condensation from your vehicle's air conditioner. Whew!
“Smell no Evil”
Take a whiff, and you may detect your vehicle's problem.
Do you smell burned toast? This odor often signals an electrical short and burning insulation. Have someone come look at your car. Don't drive it anywhere until the problem is diagnosed.
How about the smell of rotten eggs? This usually indicates a problem in the catalytic converter. Get to a repair shop! Pheee-yew!
A thick sharp odor usually means burning oil. Look for the sign of a leak. This problem needs to be addressed immediately if having transportation is important to you. You may also notice a bluish smoke coming from your vehicle. Ask me how I know. Ahh… memories.
The smell of gas after a failed start may mean the engine is flooded. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the odor continues, there may be a leak in the fuel system - a potentially dangerous problem that needs immediate attention.
A chemical odor may mean overheated brakes or clutch. Check the parking brake. Stop and let the brakes cool after repeated hard braking. Light smoke coming from a wheel indicates a stuck brake. Call a tow truck.
Do you notice a sweet odor? This may indicate a coolant leak. Watch your temperature gauge and warning light and drive to a repair shop. Now, if you see steam from under the hood, stop and pull over. If you keep driving an overheated vehicle, your engine will be seriously damaged. Call a tow truck.
The basic rule of smell is that if you do notice an unusual odor - get to a mechanic or get one to come to you. Pretty simple!
A little extra attention to what’s coming out of your car or truck could save you the cost of a new vehicle payment! Keep those eyes and that nose on the job!
About the Author:This article provided courtesy of http://www.car-leasing-guide.com
Car Repair
By: Simon Harris
The more you notice about your vehicle, the more likely you'll be able to head off repair problems. Yep- even if you're mechanically challenged. You can detect many common vehicle problems by using your eyes and nose.
“See No Evil”
Is there a little stain or a drop of fluid under your vehicle? It may mean absolutely nothing. But you do want to check the wet spots immediately - just to make sure.
What color is the fluid under your car? Yellowish green, pretty blue or neon orange colors indicate an overheated engine or an antifreeze leak caused by a bad hose, water pump or leaking radiator. Not good. I remember the yellowish green ooze from my Chevette as the tow truck took it away to its final resting place. Get to a repair shop while you still can!
A dark brown or black oily fluid means the engine is leaking oil. A bad seal or gasket could cause the leak. This is how my first car met its demise.
A red oily looking spot indicates a transmission or power-steering fluid leak. Also, not good.
A puddle of clear water usually isn't a cause for concern. It may be normal condensation from your vehicle's air conditioner. Whew!
“Smell no Evil”
Take a whiff, and you may detect your vehicle's problem.
Do you smell burned toast? This odor often signals an electrical short and burning insulation. Have someone come look at your car. Don't drive it anywhere until the problem is diagnosed.
How about the smell of rotten eggs? This usually indicates a problem in the catalytic converter. Get to a repair shop! Pheee-yew!
A thick sharp odor usually means burning oil. Look for the sign of a leak. This problem needs to be addressed immediately if having transportation is important to you. You may also notice a bluish smoke coming from your vehicle. Ask me how I know. Ahh… memories.
The smell of gas after a failed start may mean the engine is flooded. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the odor continues, there may be a leak in the fuel system - a potentially dangerous problem that needs immediate attention.
A chemical odor may mean overheated brakes or clutch. Check the parking brake. Stop and let the brakes cool after repeated hard braking. Light smoke coming from a wheel indicates a stuck brake. Call a tow truck.
Do you notice a sweet odor? This may indicate a coolant leak. Watch your temperature gauge and warning light and drive to a repair shop. Now, if you see steam from under the hood, stop and pull over. If you keep driving an overheated vehicle, your engine will be seriously damaged. Call a tow truck.
The basic rule of smell is that if you do notice an unusual odor - get to a mechanic or get one to come to you. Pretty simple!
A little extra attention to what’s coming out of your car or truck could save you the cost of a new vehicle payment! Keep those eyes and that nose on the job!
About the Author:This article provided courtesy of http://www.car-leasing-guide.com
Car Repair
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Repair Your Car
How To Choose A Body Shop To Repair Your Car
By: Mark Freeman
Having been involved in an accident when my truck was only three months old, and then having re-painting done while restoring a ten year old vehicle, I've had some experience with body repair shops.
There are different types of body shops out there as we're all not looking for the same quality of work. The first rule I'll give you is that you get what you pay for. If you want to pay $599.00 to have your entire car painted, that's fine. It may be a huge improvement over how your car looked initially, but it wouldn't have suited me in either case mentioned above. I wanted that three month old truck to look like it looked the day I purchased it, and the paint on the hood of that ten year old sports car had to match the rest of the car perfectly.
The best way to find a body repair shop is the probably the same way you found your auto mechanic, word of mouth. Talk with friends and work associates, ask your mechanic. Talk to your neighbors and get their opinions. Everyone knows someone who's had a good, or bad experience. Listen when people talk about their cars and experiences they've had. I called the dealership where I had purchased my truck for a referral.
When you think that you've narrowed it down to a particular shop, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged. Remember that you may find they have a few, but no business can keep everyone happy. Talk with the shop manager if you have any questions or concerns.
Take a look around the shop. Is is kept clean? It won't be sparkling clean due to the type of work, but you shouldn't see dust and filth and chemicals spilled on floors.
Ask to see their work. They should have before and after pictures of their work and will also have cars they are currently working on. Do they have letters of recommendation? A lot of business keep letters from happy customers.
Do they give any type of warranty? Some body shops offer a limited warranty.
Finally, use your gut. How are they interacting with you? Are they taking the time to answer your questions completely or do they seem put off by them? If they seem put off, it's time to look elsewhere.
About the Author:This article courtesy of http://www.bmw-monster.com/
Repair Your Car
By: Mark Freeman
Having been involved in an accident when my truck was only three months old, and then having re-painting done while restoring a ten year old vehicle, I've had some experience with body repair shops.
There are different types of body shops out there as we're all not looking for the same quality of work. The first rule I'll give you is that you get what you pay for. If you want to pay $599.00 to have your entire car painted, that's fine. It may be a huge improvement over how your car looked initially, but it wouldn't have suited me in either case mentioned above. I wanted that three month old truck to look like it looked the day I purchased it, and the paint on the hood of that ten year old sports car had to match the rest of the car perfectly.
The best way to find a body repair shop is the probably the same way you found your auto mechanic, word of mouth. Talk with friends and work associates, ask your mechanic. Talk to your neighbors and get their opinions. Everyone knows someone who's had a good, or bad experience. Listen when people talk about their cars and experiences they've had. I called the dealership where I had purchased my truck for a referral.
When you think that you've narrowed it down to a particular shop, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged. Remember that you may find they have a few, but no business can keep everyone happy. Talk with the shop manager if you have any questions or concerns.
Take a look around the shop. Is is kept clean? It won't be sparkling clean due to the type of work, but you shouldn't see dust and filth and chemicals spilled on floors.
Ask to see their work. They should have before and after pictures of their work and will also have cars they are currently working on. Do they have letters of recommendation? A lot of business keep letters from happy customers.
Do they give any type of warranty? Some body shops offer a limited warranty.
Finally, use your gut. How are they interacting with you? Are they taking the time to answer your questions completely or do they seem put off by them? If they seem put off, it's time to look elsewhere.
About the Author:This article courtesy of http://www.bmw-monster.com/
Repair Your Car
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Car Repair Scams
Car Repair Scams: Why Traditional Scam Prevention Tips Will Cost You A Fortune
by: Theodore Olson
The advice is all the same for auto repair scam prevention. You’ll be told to find an ASE certified shop. Ask around. Check out several different repair facilities first. Are they clean and neat? Do they provide written estimates? Check with the BBB. Is it AAA certified? Some will even advise to “ask for the parts back.”
Traditional tips and suggestions merely put a band-aid over an infected, gaping sore. Strong antibiotics are required to address the root source of the problems in the repair industry. To provide repair customers with the above advice is like sending a soldier into combat dressed in a pink tutu. We have to stop scratching at the surface.
There has not been any “new” advice in decades. More importantly, no one has answered why car repair scams have reached an estimated 40 billion dollars per year. Moreover, why is there still no solution to stop car repair scams?
The first hurdle to conquer is the perception of the frequency of auto repair scams. Many folks just don’t believe that car repair fraud is all that bad. Some even argue that the vast majority of repair shops do an honest day’s work, and that a few bad apples are making the rest look like crooks.
This is an interesting argument, and raises a number of questions.
1) If it is only a few "bad apples,” where are they hiding the 40 billion?
2) If most repair shops are honest, why does every state warn against car repair scams?
3) Why are auto repair shops at the top of consumer complaint lists every single year, in every state?
This is even expanding across the continents. For example, just last week Australia listed car repair scams at number 4 on their top 10 consumer complaint list.
The perception of frequency gets distorted because there are a number of levels to repair scams. There are the blatant rip-offs covered in the news. For a great video visit “Repair Scams Caught on Video” @ www.repairtrust.com. Then there are the common scams such as exorbitant prices and estimates, and aggressive scare tactics to get service customers to perform services. These occur every day.
The repair scams uncovered by RepairTrust not only found the tactics listed above and more, but a powerful undercurrent of scamming at the foundation of the automotive service industry.
In reality, most car repair scams go unnoticed by the service consumer. Service customers just have no idea that they were ripped-off. This under-the-radar scamming occurs in dealerships, local shops, and franchises. Affiliation with ASE, AAA, BBB, NADA makes no difference.
An ASE patch on a technician’s arm, or an AAA or BBB sticker on the door of a service center means absolutely nothing in terms of a scam-free facility. Word of mouth recommendations can be just as devastating, as even shops that “seem” honest aren’t.
Check out "Car Repair Prices: There Are No Honest Mechanics" @ Isnare or RepairTrust for further discussion on this. Also, for NEW and FREE scam prevention tips visit the Car Repair Scam Articles @ RepairTrust.
Traditional tips are ineffective in today’s service industry. Service facilities have found new and ingenious ways of ripping people off. In truth, many of the old tips and suggestions have actually become weapons allowing service centers to indulge in car repair scams more than ever.
The car repair playing field must be leveled. Service customers need solid answers, and they need to be equipped with information, understanding, tools, and an insider’s view of the who, what, when, where, why, and how of price-gouging.
Navigating the dim underworld of today’s service centers with outdated information will cost a fortune.
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry. RepairTrust Making Sense of http://www.repairtrust.com/.
Car Repair Scams
by: Theodore Olson
The advice is all the same for auto repair scam prevention. You’ll be told to find an ASE certified shop. Ask around. Check out several different repair facilities first. Are they clean and neat? Do they provide written estimates? Check with the BBB. Is it AAA certified? Some will even advise to “ask for the parts back.”
Traditional tips and suggestions merely put a band-aid over an infected, gaping sore. Strong antibiotics are required to address the root source of the problems in the repair industry. To provide repair customers with the above advice is like sending a soldier into combat dressed in a pink tutu. We have to stop scratching at the surface.
There has not been any “new” advice in decades. More importantly, no one has answered why car repair scams have reached an estimated 40 billion dollars per year. Moreover, why is there still no solution to stop car repair scams?
The first hurdle to conquer is the perception of the frequency of auto repair scams. Many folks just don’t believe that car repair fraud is all that bad. Some even argue that the vast majority of repair shops do an honest day’s work, and that a few bad apples are making the rest look like crooks.
This is an interesting argument, and raises a number of questions.
1) If it is only a few "bad apples,” where are they hiding the 40 billion?
2) If most repair shops are honest, why does every state warn against car repair scams?
3) Why are auto repair shops at the top of consumer complaint lists every single year, in every state?
This is even expanding across the continents. For example, just last week Australia listed car repair scams at number 4 on their top 10 consumer complaint list.
The perception of frequency gets distorted because there are a number of levels to repair scams. There are the blatant rip-offs covered in the news. For a great video visit “Repair Scams Caught on Video” @ www.repairtrust.com. Then there are the common scams such as exorbitant prices and estimates, and aggressive scare tactics to get service customers to perform services. These occur every day.
The repair scams uncovered by RepairTrust not only found the tactics listed above and more, but a powerful undercurrent of scamming at the foundation of the automotive service industry.
In reality, most car repair scams go unnoticed by the service consumer. Service customers just have no idea that they were ripped-off. This under-the-radar scamming occurs in dealerships, local shops, and franchises. Affiliation with ASE, AAA, BBB, NADA makes no difference.
An ASE patch on a technician’s arm, or an AAA or BBB sticker on the door of a service center means absolutely nothing in terms of a scam-free facility. Word of mouth recommendations can be just as devastating, as even shops that “seem” honest aren’t.
Check out "Car Repair Prices: There Are No Honest Mechanics" @ Isnare or RepairTrust for further discussion on this. Also, for NEW and FREE scam prevention tips visit the Car Repair Scam Articles @ RepairTrust.
Traditional tips are ineffective in today’s service industry. Service facilities have found new and ingenious ways of ripping people off. In truth, many of the old tips and suggestions have actually become weapons allowing service centers to indulge in car repair scams more than ever.
The car repair playing field must be leveled. Service customers need solid answers, and they need to be equipped with information, understanding, tools, and an insider’s view of the who, what, when, where, why, and how of price-gouging.
Navigating the dim underworld of today’s service centers with outdated information will cost a fortune.
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry. RepairTrust Making Sense of http://www.repairtrust.com/.
Car Repair Scams
Monday, August 6, 2007
Auto Repair
Auto Repair: The Top Ten Mistakes Made By Your Mechanic
by: Theodore Olson
Number One:
Not confirming the concern. Confirming a repair concern is a basic diagnostic principle frequently overlooked. To fix a problem, the first thing one must do is recognize it.
Number Two:
Insufficient Road Testing. The importance of a thorough road test (even for an oil change) is well documented in automotive training manuals. Yet, many technicians consider driving the vehicle into the shop good enough.
Number Three:
Misdiagnosing. For the above reasons and a multitude of others, your vehicle is misdiagnosed more often than not. Mechanics will spend hours chasing the wrong problem, wasting your time and money.
Number Four:
Throwing parts at a problem. To compensate for lack of skills, mechanics often just throw parts at the problem in the hope of getting lucky. It’s common to hear mechanics say I replaced this, this, this, and that, and the problem’s still not fixed. This goes right back to mistake number one: confirm the problem with diagnostics, then proceed.
Number Five:
Not addressing primary concerns first. Technicians often spend an inordinate amount of time looking for easy sells that will fatten their paychecks. There’s nothing wrong with this provided there’s no charge for the inspection, it doesn’t conflict with your time, and the upsell suggestions are valid (they’re frequently not). However, this type of free inspection and the subsequent upselling too often overshadows the primary concern. So…what’s wrong with my car?
Number Six:
Overconfidence. Too often unqualified technicians get in over their heads. Rather than defer to a more experienced technician or facility, they often keep going and do more harm. How’s it go…The road to hell is paved with good intentions?
Number Seven:
Taking shortcuts. In the ongoing effort to beat the clock, technicians will create a host of problems: breaking parts, snapping bolts, short circuiting sensitive electronics. Refer to Auto Repair: How Can They Screw Up an Oil Change for a great discussion.
Number Eight:
Poor Repairs. Whether through incompetence or laziness, mechanics frequently don’t do repairs correctly. It’s often sloppy work. Forgotten bolts, parts not lined up correctly, or components not re-installed properly are common. It gets worse with computer repairs: incorrect software programming, coding, and resynchronization protocols are just a few.
Number Nine:
Not confirming repairs. After a repair is complete, it’s important to re-check to ensure that the problem is indeed fixed. Too often parts are thrown in and the car is pulled out only to pull in another victim.
Number Ten:
Making a mess. If the above nine mistakes weren’t bad enough, there are now greasy fingerprints on the hood and steering wheel, and two big greasy boot marks on the carpet.
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry. Visit RepairTrust TAKE CONTROL of http://www.repairtrust.com/
by: Theodore Olson
Number One:
Not confirming the concern. Confirming a repair concern is a basic diagnostic principle frequently overlooked. To fix a problem, the first thing one must do is recognize it.
Number Two:
Insufficient Road Testing. The importance of a thorough road test (even for an oil change) is well documented in automotive training manuals. Yet, many technicians consider driving the vehicle into the shop good enough.
Number Three:
Misdiagnosing. For the above reasons and a multitude of others, your vehicle is misdiagnosed more often than not. Mechanics will spend hours chasing the wrong problem, wasting your time and money.
Number Four:
Throwing parts at a problem. To compensate for lack of skills, mechanics often just throw parts at the problem in the hope of getting lucky. It’s common to hear mechanics say I replaced this, this, this, and that, and the problem’s still not fixed. This goes right back to mistake number one: confirm the problem with diagnostics, then proceed.
Number Five:
Not addressing primary concerns first. Technicians often spend an inordinate amount of time looking for easy sells that will fatten their paychecks. There’s nothing wrong with this provided there’s no charge for the inspection, it doesn’t conflict with your time, and the upsell suggestions are valid (they’re frequently not). However, this type of free inspection and the subsequent upselling too often overshadows the primary concern. So…what’s wrong with my car?
Number Six:
Overconfidence. Too often unqualified technicians get in over their heads. Rather than defer to a more experienced technician or facility, they often keep going and do more harm. How’s it go…The road to hell is paved with good intentions?
Number Seven:
Taking shortcuts. In the ongoing effort to beat the clock, technicians will create a host of problems: breaking parts, snapping bolts, short circuiting sensitive electronics. Refer to Auto Repair: How Can They Screw Up an Oil Change for a great discussion.
Number Eight:
Poor Repairs. Whether through incompetence or laziness, mechanics frequently don’t do repairs correctly. It’s often sloppy work. Forgotten bolts, parts not lined up correctly, or components not re-installed properly are common. It gets worse with computer repairs: incorrect software programming, coding, and resynchronization protocols are just a few.
Number Nine:
Not confirming repairs. After a repair is complete, it’s important to re-check to ensure that the problem is indeed fixed. Too often parts are thrown in and the car is pulled out only to pull in another victim.
Number Ten:
Making a mess. If the above nine mistakes weren’t bad enough, there are now greasy fingerprints on the hood and steering wheel, and two big greasy boot marks on the carpet.
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry. Visit RepairTrust TAKE CONTROL of http://www.repairtrust.com/
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Car Repair Prices
Car Repair Prices: Why Your Oil Change Is Never “Just An Oil Change”
by: Theodore Olson
For a repair shop, there is little profit in the $29.95 oil change. By the time a shop pays its technician, pays for the oil, the filter, and the hazardous waste disposal fees, there’s no money left.
This low profit margin is worsened by the extremely competitive “Quick Lube” business, which forces local repair shops to refrain from raising prices, despite rising costs.
This all begs the question: If oil change specials, which range from $15.95 to $29.95, clearly produce very low profits, then why do so many service facilities advertise oil change specials?
The answer is actually very simple: It gets you in the door. Service centers know that once they have your vehicle, they can sell you additional work.
Suggesting additional work is called upselling, and it’s a primary profit tactic of every service facility.
Here’s a typical example. You drop your vehicle off for “just an oil change.” Upon completion your service representative smiles and proudly states, “We noticed that your air filter was dirty; so we popped in a new one.” You may think "Great; what wonderful service!”
What really occurred is that you were casually upsold an air filter. It probably wasn’t needed; it certainly wasn’t replaced according to any factory recommendation, and you were definitely overcharged for what was most likely a poorly-fitting, aftermarket, inferior air filter.
Here’s a real-life example that occurred recently. This particular vehicle had 54,000 miles on it, and was dropped off at a local shop for “just an oil change.” Upon paying the bill, the customer was handed an estimate for $199 to replace his air filter and top radiator hose.
Shocked at the price, he called me.
After review, I found that the air filter suggestion was premature. It didn’t need replacement until the manufacturer’s recommended 60,000-mile service interval. The top hose was also premature. In fact, it did not need replacement at all, despite a very minor problem easily addressed during the factory maintenance schedule—at no extra cost.
Check out the aftermarket part prices quoted below (including the unnecessary radiator hose). Compare these to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the factory OEM parts (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
Local Shop Aftermarket Air Filter: $32
Manufacturer OEM Filter, MSRP: $17
Local Shop Aftermarket Top Hose: $36
Manufacturer OEM Top Hose, MSRP: $19
Notice that this local shop was doubling the price of the OEM parts with its inferior aftermarket parts.
Now, let’s look at the labor time quoted.
Local Shop Labor Time: 2.0 @ $60 per hour = $120
Manufacturer Labor Time: 0.9 @ $60 per hour = $81
Notice that the shop labor time estimate for the repairs was 2 hours. This is more than "twice" the manufacturer’s recommendations (even after calculating manufacturer times against the industry standard multiplier).
Had the local shop abided by the vehicle’s particular maintenance intervals instead of trying to make a quick buck, it should have recommended a 60,000-mile service at the next visit. This would have better served the client, saved him $199, and maintained the vehicle properly.
Instead, the service center lost a customer, forever!
What needs to be made crystal clear is that this type of price-gouging occurs every day in every type of service facility in one form or another across the automotive service industry.
This type of price-gouging is considered normal!
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) http://www.repairtrust.com/ Solutions. Ted holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry.
Car Repair Prices
by: Theodore Olson
For a repair shop, there is little profit in the $29.95 oil change. By the time a shop pays its technician, pays for the oil, the filter, and the hazardous waste disposal fees, there’s no money left.
This low profit margin is worsened by the extremely competitive “Quick Lube” business, which forces local repair shops to refrain from raising prices, despite rising costs.
This all begs the question: If oil change specials, which range from $15.95 to $29.95, clearly produce very low profits, then why do so many service facilities advertise oil change specials?
The answer is actually very simple: It gets you in the door. Service centers know that once they have your vehicle, they can sell you additional work.
Suggesting additional work is called upselling, and it’s a primary profit tactic of every service facility.
Here’s a typical example. You drop your vehicle off for “just an oil change.” Upon completion your service representative smiles and proudly states, “We noticed that your air filter was dirty; so we popped in a new one.” You may think "Great; what wonderful service!”
What really occurred is that you were casually upsold an air filter. It probably wasn’t needed; it certainly wasn’t replaced according to any factory recommendation, and you were definitely overcharged for what was most likely a poorly-fitting, aftermarket, inferior air filter.
Here’s a real-life example that occurred recently. This particular vehicle had 54,000 miles on it, and was dropped off at a local shop for “just an oil change.” Upon paying the bill, the customer was handed an estimate for $199 to replace his air filter and top radiator hose.
Shocked at the price, he called me.
After review, I found that the air filter suggestion was premature. It didn’t need replacement until the manufacturer’s recommended 60,000-mile service interval. The top hose was also premature. In fact, it did not need replacement at all, despite a very minor problem easily addressed during the factory maintenance schedule—at no extra cost.
Check out the aftermarket part prices quoted below (including the unnecessary radiator hose). Compare these to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the factory OEM parts (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
Local Shop Aftermarket Air Filter: $32
Manufacturer OEM Filter, MSRP: $17
Local Shop Aftermarket Top Hose: $36
Manufacturer OEM Top Hose, MSRP: $19
Notice that this local shop was doubling the price of the OEM parts with its inferior aftermarket parts.
Now, let’s look at the labor time quoted.
Local Shop Labor Time: 2.0 @ $60 per hour = $120
Manufacturer Labor Time: 0.9 @ $60 per hour = $81
Notice that the shop labor time estimate for the repairs was 2 hours. This is more than "twice" the manufacturer’s recommendations (even after calculating manufacturer times against the industry standard multiplier).
Had the local shop abided by the vehicle’s particular maintenance intervals instead of trying to make a quick buck, it should have recommended a 60,000-mile service at the next visit. This would have better served the client, saved him $199, and maintained the vehicle properly.
Instead, the service center lost a customer, forever!
What needs to be made crystal clear is that this type of price-gouging occurs every day in every type of service facility in one form or another across the automotive service industry.
This type of price-gouging is considered normal!
About The Author
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) http://www.repairtrust.com/ Solutions. Ted holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry.
Car Repair Prices
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Auto Body Repair
How To Find A Quality Auto Body Repair Shop
by: Aurel Radulescu
It’s unfortunate, but auto accidents occur every day all around the world. When they happen, most people aren’t prepared for the costly repairs that will ultimately follow. Whether you have recently been in an accident or if you know someone who has, selecting the right auto body repair shop will save you a lot of stress during this hectic time.
- First and foremost, take a glance around any auto body repair shop before you commit to hiring them for your repairs. Is it well lit and clean?
- The next thing to consider is whether or not the auto body repair shop has up-to-date and modern equipment. Does their equipment look as though it’s in good condition and well cared for?
- If they allow it, ask someone to give you a tour of the facility or if you can browse around on your own. For reasons of safety, some auto body repair shops will not allow a tour but others may permit a brief one providing a technician is with you.
- While inside, take a brief scan of the area to see if there are any signs, plaques or other indication of the training that the auto body technicians have undergone.
Qualifications and training are extremely important when it comes to auto body repair. If the job is done well, repairs should help the car to look brand new again. Window replacement, painting, parts replacement and other work are some of the more visible repairs that are done following an accident. If your automobile is painted, you will want to look for any small paint bubbles that may remain after the work is done. In addition, you will want to make sure that the glass is placed securely back inside the car and will not rattle or shake, which would indicate the window is loose.
It is important to inquire about the auto body repair shop’s policy if you are unhappy with the work. Will they fix it at no additional charge and how long will the extra repairs take? If you notice any problems with the body work of your automobile, tell the technician or business owner before leaving the repair shop. It is best to bring up any concerns immediately in order to confirm the problem is a result of incorrect repair work. If you do happen to notice a problem after you get the car home, call the repair shop immediately and let them know that you will be returning your automobile for additional repairs.
About The Author
Aurel Radulescu
Find more about used cars repair shops and how to find the value of used cars using KellyBlueBook or read the latest automotive news and cars reviews on http://www.AutoNews24h.com
Auto Body Repair
by: Aurel Radulescu
It’s unfortunate, but auto accidents occur every day all around the world. When they happen, most people aren’t prepared for the costly repairs that will ultimately follow. Whether you have recently been in an accident or if you know someone who has, selecting the right auto body repair shop will save you a lot of stress during this hectic time.
- First and foremost, take a glance around any auto body repair shop before you commit to hiring them for your repairs. Is it well lit and clean?
- The next thing to consider is whether or not the auto body repair shop has up-to-date and modern equipment. Does their equipment look as though it’s in good condition and well cared for?
- If they allow it, ask someone to give you a tour of the facility or if you can browse around on your own. For reasons of safety, some auto body repair shops will not allow a tour but others may permit a brief one providing a technician is with you.
- While inside, take a brief scan of the area to see if there are any signs, plaques or other indication of the training that the auto body technicians have undergone.
Qualifications and training are extremely important when it comes to auto body repair. If the job is done well, repairs should help the car to look brand new again. Window replacement, painting, parts replacement and other work are some of the more visible repairs that are done following an accident. If your automobile is painted, you will want to look for any small paint bubbles that may remain after the work is done. In addition, you will want to make sure that the glass is placed securely back inside the car and will not rattle or shake, which would indicate the window is loose.
It is important to inquire about the auto body repair shop’s policy if you are unhappy with the work. Will they fix it at no additional charge and how long will the extra repairs take? If you notice any problems with the body work of your automobile, tell the technician or business owner before leaving the repair shop. It is best to bring up any concerns immediately in order to confirm the problem is a result of incorrect repair work. If you do happen to notice a problem after you get the car home, call the repair shop immediately and let them know that you will be returning your automobile for additional repairs.
About The Author
Aurel Radulescu
Find more about used cars repair shops and how to find the value of used cars using KellyBlueBook or read the latest automotive news and cars reviews on http://www.AutoNews24h.com
Auto Body Repair
Friday, August 3, 2007
Car Motor Oil
How to Change Your Car's Motor Oil
By Stephen Bucaro
First, let's answer the question; Why should you change your own oil? Because you can save time and money. You don't have to wait in line at the service garage or quick oil change shop. For ten bucks you can get the best oil and a brand new oil filter. And, it's so easy to do that you could train a monkey to do it.
Changing your cars motor oil is a very simple three-step process: 1. Drain the old oil. 2. Replace the oil filter. 3. Add the new oil. But before we go through the steps, lets answer a few basic questions.
When should I change my oil?
Look in your cars owners manual. Most auto manufacturers recommend changing the motor oil every 6,000 miles for normal service, or every 3,000 miles for severe service. I change my oil every 6,000 miles, and my engines run like new when I trade my vehicles in with well over 100,000 miles on them. One thing that I do is change a new cars oil after the first 300 mile break-in period. Then, after that, I change the oil every 6,000 miles.
What kind of oil should I use?
You are not going to save money by using an off-brand oil because your engine will wear out sooner. Use oil that meets the American Pertroleum Institute (API) classification SL. I use Valvoline, Quaker State, Pennzoil, or Havoline brand oil. These quality oils contain additives that make them work better and longer.
If you are changing your oil just before winter, use SAE 10W30 weight oil. This number means the oil will have a thin 10 weight viscosity when the engine is cold, helping the engine to start easier, and then the oil will thicken to 30 weight viscosity when the engine warms up, protecting the engine better. If you are changing oil just before summer, use SAE 10W40 weight oil. The extra 40 weight viscosity will protect your engine better when it's hot.
What's the First Step?
First let your engine cool off. Modern engines run at close to 300 degrees (F) and hot oil will definitely give you a severe burn. You shouldn't have to jack your car up unless you have some kind of ground hugging sports car or low rider. Almost all cars have enough space underneath to reach under and change the engine oil.
Step 1: Drain the old oil.
Locate the oil drain plug and place a pan under it to catch the oil. With a box wrench, remove the oil plug.
Note for newbies: To remove the drain plug, turn it counter-clockwise.
- If you have a GM dual-overhead-cam EcoTec engine you may have a difficult time locating the drain plug on all that aluminum.
When the oil stops draining, reinstall the drain plug.
Note for newbies: To replace the drain plug turn it clockwise. Start the plug with your fingers. If it seems even slightly hard to turn, back it out! You are crossing the threads.
Step 2. Replace the oil filter.
Move your oil catch pan under the oil filter. Using an oil filter wrench to get it started, remove the oil filter. (newbies: counter-clockwise, and you will get some oil on your hand.)
- A strap type oil filter wrench is the best kind to use. A socket type oil filter tool is used with a ratchet just like a regular socket. The problem with the socket type is that it tends to get stuck on the filter. Use the socket type tool if you don't have enough clearance around the oil filter to use the strap type.
With your finger put a thin coat of oil on the new filter's gasket to make it seal better.
*! Now pay attention - here's were you can screw up royal!
With your hand, install the new oil filter. If it seems even slightly hard to turn, back it out! You are crossing the threads. Most filters have an instruction printed on them to give the filter one more turn after the gasket has made contact.
Here's what I recommend: screw the filter on until its "hand tight". Then use the oil filter wrench to snug it up another 1/8 to 1/4 turn. This is critical!
When the vehicle is running, the oil pump puts the oil under pressure. If you don't install the oil filter tight enough, the oil will come gushing out. If that happens shut down the engine immediately! Without oil, an engine will lock up within seconds.
The first time I changed my oil, I used the filter wrench to tighten the filter as tight as I could get it. Wrong! The next time I went to change my oil, I couldn't get the filter off. Luckily I had plenty of room around the filer, so I hammered a screw driver through the body of the filter and used the handle of the screw driver to turn the filter off.
Warning! Don't over-tighten the filter. Follow the instructions above carefully!
- The GM dual-overhead-cam EcoTec engine has an unusual oil filter located on top of the engine. Remove the engine air intake hose. That's the oil filter canister just to the right of, and below, the end of the open air intake tube. Use a proper size wrench to remove the canister lid. This engine uses a special filter cartridge.
Step 3. Add the new oil.
Locate the oil filler cap on the valve cover. I've seen newbies pour motor oil in everything from the master brake cylinder to the radiator cap. Make sure you have located the the oil filler cap. Remove the oil filler cap.
When pouring the oil, you would be wise to use a funnel between the oil can and the valve cover oil filler hole.
How much oil should you add? Look in your cars owner manual. Most engines have a capacity of four or five quarts. Don't overfill the crank case. When you run the engine the extra oil will be blown out through the PCV value, possibly stalling your engine.
Tip: If you don't know the oil capacity of the engine, add four quarts, then check the oil level, if it's a quart low add another quart.
Replace the oil filler cap.
Step 4. Start the Engine.
Yes, I know, I said there where only three steps. You're finished, this is not really a "step".
Start the engine and make sure the oil warning light goes off. Look under the vehicle to make sure oil is not leaking out. Turn off the engine and let it set for a minute to let the oil drain down to the crank case. Then use the dip stick to check the oil level.
How to check the oil level: Remove the dip stick, wipe it clean with a rag, reinstall the dip stick. Make sure the dip stick is in all the way or you will get a false reading. After a few seconds remove the dip stick and examine how far up the stick is covered with oil. Most dip sticks have a "full" mark printed on them.
Note: I find the best way to dispose of the old oil is to use a funnel to pore it from the collection pan into the bottles from which the new oil came. When I get a big pile of used oil bottles I bring them to the oil recycling center. Be sure to mark the used oil bottles so you don't accidentally think they are new oil.
Copyright(C)2004 Bucaro TecHelp.
Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.
About The Author
Stephen Bucaro
To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp
Car Motor Oil
By Stephen Bucaro
First, let's answer the question; Why should you change your own oil? Because you can save time and money. You don't have to wait in line at the service garage or quick oil change shop. For ten bucks you can get the best oil and a brand new oil filter. And, it's so easy to do that you could train a monkey to do it.
Changing your cars motor oil is a very simple three-step process: 1. Drain the old oil. 2. Replace the oil filter. 3. Add the new oil. But before we go through the steps, lets answer a few basic questions.
When should I change my oil?
Look in your cars owners manual. Most auto manufacturers recommend changing the motor oil every 6,000 miles for normal service, or every 3,000 miles for severe service. I change my oil every 6,000 miles, and my engines run like new when I trade my vehicles in with well over 100,000 miles on them. One thing that I do is change a new cars oil after the first 300 mile break-in period. Then, after that, I change the oil every 6,000 miles.
What kind of oil should I use?
You are not going to save money by using an off-brand oil because your engine will wear out sooner. Use oil that meets the American Pertroleum Institute (API) classification SL. I use Valvoline, Quaker State, Pennzoil, or Havoline brand oil. These quality oils contain additives that make them work better and longer.
If you are changing your oil just before winter, use SAE 10W30 weight oil. This number means the oil will have a thin 10 weight viscosity when the engine is cold, helping the engine to start easier, and then the oil will thicken to 30 weight viscosity when the engine warms up, protecting the engine better. If you are changing oil just before summer, use SAE 10W40 weight oil. The extra 40 weight viscosity will protect your engine better when it's hot.
What's the First Step?
First let your engine cool off. Modern engines run at close to 300 degrees (F) and hot oil will definitely give you a severe burn. You shouldn't have to jack your car up unless you have some kind of ground hugging sports car or low rider. Almost all cars have enough space underneath to reach under and change the engine oil.
Step 1: Drain the old oil.
Locate the oil drain plug and place a pan under it to catch the oil. With a box wrench, remove the oil plug.
Note for newbies: To remove the drain plug, turn it counter-clockwise.
- If you have a GM dual-overhead-cam EcoTec engine you may have a difficult time locating the drain plug on all that aluminum.
When the oil stops draining, reinstall the drain plug.
Note for newbies: To replace the drain plug turn it clockwise. Start the plug with your fingers. If it seems even slightly hard to turn, back it out! You are crossing the threads.
Step 2. Replace the oil filter.
Move your oil catch pan under the oil filter. Using an oil filter wrench to get it started, remove the oil filter. (newbies: counter-clockwise, and you will get some oil on your hand.)
- A strap type oil filter wrench is the best kind to use. A socket type oil filter tool is used with a ratchet just like a regular socket. The problem with the socket type is that it tends to get stuck on the filter. Use the socket type tool if you don't have enough clearance around the oil filter to use the strap type.
With your finger put a thin coat of oil on the new filter's gasket to make it seal better.
*! Now pay attention - here's were you can screw up royal!
With your hand, install the new oil filter. If it seems even slightly hard to turn, back it out! You are crossing the threads. Most filters have an instruction printed on them to give the filter one more turn after the gasket has made contact.
Here's what I recommend: screw the filter on until its "hand tight". Then use the oil filter wrench to snug it up another 1/8 to 1/4 turn. This is critical!
When the vehicle is running, the oil pump puts the oil under pressure. If you don't install the oil filter tight enough, the oil will come gushing out. If that happens shut down the engine immediately! Without oil, an engine will lock up within seconds.
The first time I changed my oil, I used the filter wrench to tighten the filter as tight as I could get it. Wrong! The next time I went to change my oil, I couldn't get the filter off. Luckily I had plenty of room around the filer, so I hammered a screw driver through the body of the filter and used the handle of the screw driver to turn the filter off.
Warning! Don't over-tighten the filter. Follow the instructions above carefully!
- The GM dual-overhead-cam EcoTec engine has an unusual oil filter located on top of the engine. Remove the engine air intake hose. That's the oil filter canister just to the right of, and below, the end of the open air intake tube. Use a proper size wrench to remove the canister lid. This engine uses a special filter cartridge.
Step 3. Add the new oil.
Locate the oil filler cap on the valve cover. I've seen newbies pour motor oil in everything from the master brake cylinder to the radiator cap. Make sure you have located the the oil filler cap. Remove the oil filler cap.
When pouring the oil, you would be wise to use a funnel between the oil can and the valve cover oil filler hole.
How much oil should you add? Look in your cars owner manual. Most engines have a capacity of four or five quarts. Don't overfill the crank case. When you run the engine the extra oil will be blown out through the PCV value, possibly stalling your engine.
Tip: If you don't know the oil capacity of the engine, add four quarts, then check the oil level, if it's a quart low add another quart.
Replace the oil filler cap.
Step 4. Start the Engine.
Yes, I know, I said there where only three steps. You're finished, this is not really a "step".
Start the engine and make sure the oil warning light goes off. Look under the vehicle to make sure oil is not leaking out. Turn off the engine and let it set for a minute to let the oil drain down to the crank case. Then use the dip stick to check the oil level.
How to check the oil level: Remove the dip stick, wipe it clean with a rag, reinstall the dip stick. Make sure the dip stick is in all the way or you will get a false reading. After a few seconds remove the dip stick and examine how far up the stick is covered with oil. Most dip sticks have a "full" mark printed on them.
Note: I find the best way to dispose of the old oil is to use a funnel to pore it from the collection pan into the bottles from which the new oil came. When I get a big pile of used oil bottles I bring them to the oil recycling center. Be sure to mark the used oil bottles so you don't accidentally think they are new oil.
Copyright(C)2004 Bucaro TecHelp.
Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.
About The Author
Stephen Bucaro
To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp
Car Motor Oil
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Free Auto Repair Manual
Find the Free Auto Repair Manual You Need Online
By Terje Ellingsen
You can easily get a free auto repair manual for whichever repair need you might have. You need an internet access and have to follow a certain procedure searching for auto repair manuals, but when you have done this procedure a few times it will be very easy to find the right instructions for do it yourself auto repair and it won't cost you a dime.
There are four types of automotive description documents that you will need to choose from when you want to do a repair;
General manuals
Diagnosis descriptions
Repair manuals
Maintenance manuals
General Manuals
In addition to some general manuals, most of these are related to the make. Here you can get step by step guidance on how to repair most of the makes in the vehicle market. Let's say you have a Honda Acura 2002 model and you want to find a manual for that make and model. What you do is perform the following search in a search engine: "free car manuals+Honda Acura+2002". Then you will have a long list of sites that provide you with all kinds of descriptions for your Honda Acure 2002 model, and you can choose what you want.
Diagnosis descriptions
Automotive diagnosis manuals can also be sub-divided by make and model. But it can also be divided by the area of the vehicle that is affected, for example engine intake problems, brake problems, cooling problems, exhaust problems, start or stall problems, transmission problems etc. Let's say you have a start problem. Your search would be "car diagnosis manual+ start problem", then you should get more than enough repair information to choose from. You can even get diagnostic trees where all options are covered for nothing.
You have probably more than one time heard some annoying noise from somewhere in your vehicle, without finding the source of it. This is one of the most kinky situations to run into because you don't know if it is a serious signal or just a small thing. Some websites gives you the opportunity to diagnose vehicle problems by the noise, sound and vibrating signals - and that is great. The sooner you find it the sooner you can fix it and then you can relax. When you search, you can describe the sound, for example "whine noise" or "shifter knocks" or "driveline vibration" plus car diagnosis manual plus eventually the make.
Repair Manuals
In addition to regular manuals you can also get very instructive and detailed descriptions in other internet document or websites like articles, etc. The natural way to sub-divide such repairs before searching, is by the area of the vehicle that is going to be repaired, for instance body repair, exhaust repair, suspension fix, interior repair and even general car repair.
You do the search the same way as above; "car repair manual (or description) + the area of repair and go through the list of resources you get.
Maintenance manuals
Though vehicle maintenance is closely related to your vehicle make and model, there are some maintenance issues that are pretty much common whether you have a Cadillac, VW or a Mercedes, for example changing oil, changing air filters, engine wash, fluid maintenance, tier maintenance etc. You can get access to maintenance descriptions by searching for the kind of maintenance plus "car maintenance manual (or description)" plus eventually your make and model.
I think you'll be amazed of the amount of automotive repair free stuff online.
Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com. Terje gives advice and helps people with automotive issues like auto repair
and online car auctions.
Free Auto Repair Manual
By Terje Ellingsen
You can easily get a free auto repair manual for whichever repair need you might have. You need an internet access and have to follow a certain procedure searching for auto repair manuals, but when you have done this procedure a few times it will be very easy to find the right instructions for do it yourself auto repair and it won't cost you a dime.
There are four types of automotive description documents that you will need to choose from when you want to do a repair;
General manuals
Diagnosis descriptions
Repair manuals
Maintenance manuals
General Manuals
In addition to some general manuals, most of these are related to the make. Here you can get step by step guidance on how to repair most of the makes in the vehicle market. Let's say you have a Honda Acura 2002 model and you want to find a manual for that make and model. What you do is perform the following search in a search engine: "free car manuals+Honda Acura+2002". Then you will have a long list of sites that provide you with all kinds of descriptions for your Honda Acure 2002 model, and you can choose what you want.
Diagnosis descriptions
Automotive diagnosis manuals can also be sub-divided by make and model. But it can also be divided by the area of the vehicle that is affected, for example engine intake problems, brake problems, cooling problems, exhaust problems, start or stall problems, transmission problems etc. Let's say you have a start problem. Your search would be "car diagnosis manual+ start problem", then you should get more than enough repair information to choose from. You can even get diagnostic trees where all options are covered for nothing.
You have probably more than one time heard some annoying noise from somewhere in your vehicle, without finding the source of it. This is one of the most kinky situations to run into because you don't know if it is a serious signal or just a small thing. Some websites gives you the opportunity to diagnose vehicle problems by the noise, sound and vibrating signals - and that is great. The sooner you find it the sooner you can fix it and then you can relax. When you search, you can describe the sound, for example "whine noise" or "shifter knocks" or "driveline vibration" plus car diagnosis manual plus eventually the make.
Repair Manuals
In addition to regular manuals you can also get very instructive and detailed descriptions in other internet document or websites like articles, etc. The natural way to sub-divide such repairs before searching, is by the area of the vehicle that is going to be repaired, for instance body repair, exhaust repair, suspension fix, interior repair and even general car repair.
You do the search the same way as above; "car repair manual (or description) + the area of repair and go through the list of resources you get.
Maintenance manuals
Though vehicle maintenance is closely related to your vehicle make and model, there are some maintenance issues that are pretty much common whether you have a Cadillac, VW or a Mercedes, for example changing oil, changing air filters, engine wash, fluid maintenance, tier maintenance etc. You can get access to maintenance descriptions by searching for the kind of maintenance plus "car maintenance manual (or description)" plus eventually your make and model.
I think you'll be amazed of the amount of automotive repair free stuff online.
Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com. Terje gives advice and helps people with automotive issues like auto repair
and online car auctions.
Free Auto Repair Manual
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