Friday, July 31, 2015

The Importance of Collision Repair Services for Your Fleet Vehicles


Fleet vehicles are groups of trucks or automobiles that are leased or owned by a business. They are often used for delivering goods or to travel to clients. Wear and tear on these vehicles is quite common. When an accident occurs, it is important that you find a reputable and experienced collision repair service that can restore your vehicle and get it back in service as soon as possible.

Many businesses depend heavily on their fleet. Service industries are especially reliant on their branded vehicles to get them where they need to go to serve their customers. With so much driving, it is inevitable that an accident will occur. Even minor accidents can cause serious damage to your vehicle. Often, you will not realize how damaged your vehicle is until a professional inspects it.

If the damage is minor or simply cosmetic, you may be tempted to keep the vehicle active in your fleet. However, it is important to consider the impact that this can have on the overall image of your company. Your fleet vehicles receive a lot of exposure as they travel from place to place. In many cases, this may be the first impression a potential customer has of your business. You want to do everything you can to present yourself as a professional company. Driving around in a damaged or dented vehicle does not project the image you desire.

When the damage from an accident is more severe, you may be unable to drive the vehicle safely. This means that your vehicle is out of service until it can be repaired and restored to its original condition. Dealings with insurance companies can delay the process even further. When your fleet vehicles are out of service, you are potentially losing business. Your vehicles are just as important as any other type of equipment you may have.

We've all heard that old saying, "Time is money." This statement is especially true when you are stuck waiting for your vehicle to be fixed and repainted after a collision or accident. When choosing a local auto collision repair shop, be sure that you are working with professionals who will work to get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.

Not all auto body shops are the same. Do not let your insurance company pressure you into using a shop simply because it has the lowest price. Be sure that you are working with a company that you feel comfortable with, not necessarily the cheapest. Ask them about their qualifications, certifications, and experience. They should make before and after photos available to you for inspection. Check online and with your local Better Business Bureau to find out if there are complaints against the shop.

It is important that all repairs to your fleet vehicles are done correctly the first time. Business owners cannot afford to have unreliable vehicles in their fleet. Plus, you want to be sure that all of drivers are operating a safe automobile or truck as they make service calls to your customers.

Just like all of your business equipment, your fleet needs to be in top condition for maximum results. When an accident happens, be sure that a top-rated collision repair shop in your area repairs your vehicles quickly and professionally.

Craig Pelton is the owner of Worldwide Auto Body, a full-service auto paint and collision repair center located in Kernersville, NC.
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Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Cars That Guzzle Oil | Consumer Reports



Newer cars shouldn't need added oil between changes. But Consumer Reports' analysis of 500,000 newer cars finds several popular models are burning oil.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Accident Repair: Things To Do Before Taking The Car To A Body Shop



People from different parts of the world, drive some vehicle or the other. No matter you drive a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler; you can always meet with road accidents. The number of cars on the road is increasing each day. This is a reason why so many accidents occur today. If your car meets with an accident (on the road), you need to look for a trustworthy auto repair shop.

When it comes to accident repair, looking for a nice auto repair shop is necessary. But, if you want to find a reliable professional, you must take certain things into consideration.

Client testimonials or referrals

Ask your friends, relatives or neighbours to see if they have suggestions. The referral system comes pretty handy while looking for reliable bodywork mechanic. Reputed body shops always offer a quality service to service their clients. So, client referrals and recommendations are extremely beneficial for finding a quality professional. If your friend or relative feels intent with a body shop, then you can certainly rely on its service quality.

You can also check a company's customer feedbacks. This will certainly give you a good idea about the company's credentials. You can check the company reputation on Google Places. If you find any complaints or negative feedbacks, always verify them with the business bureaus. Rival companies may always post negative feedbacks about a company to damage their credentials. So, you should always checks the feedbacks with the business bureaus.

Get in touch with your insurance company

Speak to your insurance company before choosing an auto repair shop. Even though many insurance companies have a list of suppliers, you do not have any obligation to take your car to these body shops. Before picking an auto garage, always make sure that they offer warranty on all their services.

Checking the body shop environment

Check whether the body shop is environment friendly or not. All reputed garages have a good working environment. So, checking the environment will certainly help you judge the body shop's credentials. Paint booths must include exhaust devices to hold the paint particles and apply them correctly.

Body shops and their services

No matter if you need a minor collision repair or a major structural spoilage, you should always look for a body shop specializing in different services. Always check their skills before offering them the contract.

Evaluating the infrastructural facilities

Make sure that the garage has proper licences and certifications. Certified garages always have access to the best mechanics and tools. So, they always come up with a quality accident repair service.

Meeting with a road accident is immensely stressful. But, a trustworthy crash repair mechanic will certainly offer with a relaxed and stress-free feeling.

Daniela Scott writes for Bowles Garage, one of the premier centres for accident repair in Hitchin. With their quality engine diagnostics in Hitchin, identifying an auto problem is no longer that difficult.
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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

2015 Performance Coupe Challenge



There’s a small group of cars that are as at home on the track as on the daily commute and they won’t break the bank. Our goal here was to test three of them against each other -- on the street and on the track -- and find out which one carried the day. The BMW is an established contender, but the other two are new.

The contenders:

• 2015 BMW M4
• 2016 Cadillac ATS-V
• 2015 Lexus RC F

We put the three coupes through a week’s worth of testing. Here’s how they finished.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Everything You Need to Know About Auto Collision Estimation


Being in an auto collision is never a fun experience. Even if no one is injured, it can still be a stressful and annoying situation. It can also be costly. Auto repairs are expensive and getting more expensive every year. We want our cars fixed right, but we also want to get the best deal. To ensure you know the basics of what goes on when you take your care to a body shop for repairs, here is a brief checklist of what collision repair specialists do.

The initial step of auto collision repairs is inspection. A auto collision specialist is trained to recognize the extent of the damage and the type and amount of repairs to get the vehicle back on the road again. Auto repair specialists use both learned theoretical knowledge with practical experience to repair the car correctly. When you bring your car in (or it is towed in), here is what they do in the inspection process:

  • Use their intimate knowledge of the car's structure to evaluate and understand any core structural damage.
  • Find out and determine the car's history so old damage can be differentiated from the new damage.
  • Determine the point and intensity of impact to ensure less obvious areas of damage are detected.
  • Check the steel components of the body to determine welding and replacement needs.
  • Check all plastic components, such as door panels, for damage.
  • Determine if there has been any damage to the mechanical systems.
  • Determine if the suspension system has been damaged.
  • Analyze and determine the painting needs.

The second part of the process is the estimation. The following steps will be followed during this part of the repair process:

  • Check parts availability and pricing for all parts that need to be replaced.
  • Determine the total amount of labor hours needed to repair, replace, and paint.
  • Prepare a complete documentation for all repairs, parts, and costs for the customer.
  • Thoroughly explain all procedures, repairs, and estimates to the customer.
  • If there are repairs which may have more than one possible solution, explain the various options to the customer.
  • If some repairs will be done at a different location (some mechanical or suspension repairs may be done elsewhere), the reasons for this should be explained completely to the customer.

The auto body specialist should display a thorough knowledge of all repairs, and should take the time to answer any questions you may have. If the customer service seems poor, you may want to move on to the next body shop. You want your repairs done correctly, for a reasonable price, on time, and with a smile!

Jennifer Greenfield is a writer in auto body repair business. For more information on Final Finish Collision Centers, visit finalfinishcc.com at http://www.finalfinishcc.com.
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Thursday, July 16, 2015

Inspecting Your Car Before a Long Trip


Before making a long summer trip, you need to make sure that your vehicle is in perfect running condition. For this purpose, you may just need to first make a short trip to a car inspection station as professionals will check your car in detail and you will be all set to hit the road without any roadblocks.

Car inspection usually requires several things. Following are some of the key aspects of a vehicle inspection process:

Are there are Any Major Works Required?

Primarily you need to get your car inspected for any major repairs that you might have been ignoring for some time. It is suggested to get this done at least a month in advance at a car inspection station in your area. This will give you enough time to monitor any issues that may arise after the servicing or repair.

Checking Your Auto's Coolant

Next, comes checking and maintaining your car's coolant, which is a mixture of antifreeze and water. Coolant is required to prevent overheating. At the same time, your vehicle needs to have the right amount of antifreeze if your destination has much lower temperatures than where you live.

Checking the Tires

A long journey is the ideal time to know whether or not your car needs new tires or not. A reputed car inspection station will always give you the best advice on this. Many have ASE certified technicians, who can provide quality service and share great maintenance tips at the same time. Getting your tires checked from a professional is specifically important on long journeys as high speeds can lead to blowing off your tire if it is not in a good condition. While the health of your tires is being gauged, make sure that your spare tire is also handy as emergencies may pop up any time.

Scheduled Maintenance

Many car owners often neglect the importance of scheduled maintenance. However, they need to keep in mind that this is what keeps vehicles in perfect condition. It also ensures safety and saves expenses in the long run. So, just a week before your journey, check if your car is due for any maintenance.

When heading out for a long trip, getting your car inspected from a reputed automotive service center beforehand is always a good idea. This is important for you and your family's safety that shows immense responsibility towards your loved ones.

Aaron Cranford is an automotive service consultant and has been in the automotive industry for the past 15 years. He enjoys writing informative blogs, articles, and reviews about the automotive industry and helping people online so they can get the right automotive repair service. Visit at http://www.concourseautomotive.com
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Monday, July 13, 2015

Six Signs You Might Need A Professional Axle Repair


The drive axle of a vehicle is the shaft responsible for turning a vehicle's tires. The engine delivers rotational force to the wheels through the shaft. Because of this, any sort of problem you might have will need to be addressed quickly, otherwise the problem could become much worse. Typically, drive shafts do not suddenly fail, but instead, they gradually worsen. Catching a problem early can prevent costly repairs in the future. Before your car becomes inoperable, there are some telltale signs that you might be in need of axle repair.

Clicking or Crunching

You will hear this sign around your wheels when you are cornering. The sound will be something like a clicking until you straighten up the wheel. More specifically, this is likely a sign of a bad CV joint. That is much cheaper and easier to fix than the axle itself. There is no way of knowing the difference until you go to a mechanic. If it is a CV joint, you might not notice any symptoms while driving other than the noise. If it is a bad axle, driving problems are sure to follow, so it is important to see a mechanic as soon as possible.

2. Shaking

This can consist of shaking throughout the entire car or just in the steering wheel. It will be much more noticeable than the clicking noise and will likely follow it. This means that if you are experiencing vibrations in your steering wheel, the problem is likely worsening.

Much like the clicking noise, this could be an indicator of a CV joint problem as well. If it only happens while cornering, that is probably the case. Driving when in need of axle repair feels like driving with wheels that are no longer round.

3. Squeaking

This is more common at lower speeds. At highway speeds, this often turns into full-blown shaking. With a minor bend in your axle, the brake rotors will likely rub against the brake pads with every rotation. This often sounds like a whining or a squeaking.

4. Visible Wobble

This will require a second party. You might not notice any driving symptoms, but someone who is watching you drive might notice the tires wobbling.

5. Brake Trouble

When your axle is bent, your tires and brake rotors will likely be misaligned. This means that they will not be making strong, consistent contact with the brake pads for steady braking. If you notice new inconsistency or sensitivity with your brakes, you might need axle repair.

6. Problems Turning

These are slightly different from the clicking sound you might hear. As the problem progresses, you might notice that you are actually having problems physically turning your vehicle. The tires might hesitate after you turn the wheel. You might feel resistance when you try to make tight turns such as U-turns or navigating into a parking space.

To learn more about their options for axle repair, Staten Island residents should visit http://gibraltartransmissions.com/services/other-services/.
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Friday, July 10, 2015

Automotive Services: The Importance of Proper Wheel Alignment


After gas and insurance, tires are often the single greatest expense of owning an automobile. Even a safe driver who observes the rules of the road must replace them from time to time. According to the experts, the average set of wheels lasts around 40,000 miles. Since the average American motorist drives about 12,000 miles a year, they must replace all four tires every three to four years.

Annual Expense

Depending on the size, brand, and performance quality, tires can range in price from $50-$200 each. If replaced as a set, as recommended, the average driver would have to shell out $200-$800 each time. That's about $60-$230 a year! Fortunately, there are inexpensive automotive services that can greatly extend the life of your tires.

What Is Wheel Alignment?

In spite of its name, wheel alignment has little to do with the rubber that hits the road. A trained mechanic will actually work on your car's suspension system during this common automotive services procedure. His objective is to adjust the angles of the tires so that they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. This helps ensure that they make full and complete contact with the road.

The Benefits

Because tires are designed to distribute stress evenly, poor alignment invariably results in increased wear to one particular part of the tread. When ignored, the problem almost always results in premature replacement. As we mentioned, this can cost a pretty penny. Alignment helps you avoid unnecessary waste for a fraction of the price. It also helps improve driving performance, fuel economy, and driving safety.

Poor alignment can also be quite dangerous. The reason? Because when wheels are uneven, the vehicle tends to pull to one side. This can make handling your vehicle on a rocky surface particularly challenging since you will be fighting the steering wheel and the road at the same time. It is also a fact that drivers have actually lost control of vehicles on sharp turns when their alignment was terribly out of whack. Last but not least, the lack of a solid base often causes vibrations at top speeds that make driving uncomfortable for all occupants. There may even be an increase in road noise because of vibrations that enter the cabin near affected areas.

The Costs

The good news is that alignment is a fairly straightforward procedure any experienced mechanic can complete. It is not nearly as expensive or as time-consuming as brake or engine work. Most mechanics will only charge $50-$70 for a complete alignment job. As we saw earlier, that's nothing compared to the price you'd pay for four new tires.

An alignment, one of the most affordable automotive services, can save you big money on tires and repair costs.

When considering automotive services, NJ residents visit Metro Honda. Learn more at http://www.mymetrohonda.com/car-service-jersey-city-nj.
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Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Do I Need A New Muffler?


It's not difficult to know if your muffler needs replacement, generally your car will be louder than normal. Mufflers are not repairable, they wear out, rust out or sustain damage and replacement is your only alternative.

Where should I take my car for a new muffler?

A few decades ago there were muffler shops all over town. Mufflers are better engineered and last longer than they used to, which has led to a decrease in the number of muffler shops across the nation. There are still plenty of places to get your muffler replaced.

Muffler shops still exist because not every auto repair shop is equipped to replace mufflers. Most mufflers need to be cut off and the new muffler welded in place. In addition to welding, muffler repair shops have tube bending equipment to custom bend a new exhaust pipe from your engine to your tailpipe if needed.

Some general auto repair shops will be equipped to replace your muffler. If you suspect you do need a new muffler, ask your mechanic if this is a service they perform. There are literally thousands upon thousands of muffler shops in the United States.

Choosing a muffler

Generally speaking, car mufflers usually don't go out while the vehicle is still under warranty. They last quite a bit longer. When it does come time to replace your muffler you have many choices. You can take your car to the new car dealer to get the exact replacement part for your vehicle, but be prepared to pay more than you would at a muffler specialty shop or a general auto repair shop.

You need not replace your muffler with the exact part number from the Ford dealer or Toyota dealer. Replacement mufflers are designed to replace the original mufflers from the vehicle manufacturers no matter what year, make and model of car you have.

There are also a wide variety of brands of mufflers, some are engineered to let the engine breath better giving you a boost in horsepower. Consult with the repair shop performing the repair to see which mufflers are available for your specific vehicle. Keep in mind, the muffler is part of the emissions system, you don't want to void your factory warranty or do anything to keep your vehicle from passing a smog check or emissions testing in the future.

Catalytic Converters

The catalytic converter is an integral component of your exhaust system. Its function is to convert toxic gases into less toxic gases before emitting them from your exhaust pipe.

Catalytic converters do fail. One of the most common failures is clogging. When the converter becomes clogged, you may find that your vehicle does not accelerate as well. If the fuel system cannot release burned fuel, it cannot take in as much fuel to burn.

If the converter rusts, you will also have a noisier exhaust system and may smell fumes in the car's interior. The converter is normally located just under the divider behind the front seats.

Don't try to diagnose a bad catalytic converter. Most often your car will have drivability problems that lead to diagnosis of a bad converter. Many times you will find out when your vehicle does not pass emissions testing or an annual smog check.

Some catalytic converters are bolted on and some are welded on from the factory. Either way a quality repair shop can replace the catalytic converter for you.

Muffler repair components

Pipes leading to a muffler, from your catalytic converter often rust out and need replacement. Tailpipes will sometimes rust the muffler connection. Hangers also break. If your exhaust system is lower than normal, or dragging under your vehicle, you probably need new hangers. This is usually a low cost repair, but should be performed quickly. Dragging exhaust system components will damage them. The metal can also produce sparks that might start a fire.

You can extend the life of your exhaust system by ensuring that you drive far enough during wet or cold weather to heat up and dry the exhaust system. If you only drive a few miles every day your exhaust components may actually wear out quickly. When you first start your vehicle in cold or wet weather, moisture forms inside the pipes. If the moisture is not removed by heating the exhaust system, the pipes will rust prematurely.

For a complete list of muffler shops in your area, visit http://www.autorepairconnect.com
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