"Tomorrow is the first blank page of 365 page book. Write a good one."
-Brad Paisley
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Monday, December 28, 2015
Indications That You May Need New Tires
During the hot summer months, your tires take a beating that you
may not realize. With the heat of the road coupled with long summer
trips, the wheels on your car wear out quicker than you realize. There
is a reason that fall is known as the blowout season for vehicles. You
might not realize it is time to replace the rubber, but there are
warning signs to keep you from having to deal with a flat on the side of
the road.
Low Tire Tread
One of the most obvious ways you can tell it's time to replace your wheels is the tread. Those bumps and grooves on the outside help you stay on the road during wet or icy conditions. As those wear down, and the surface becomes smoother, you will lose that traction and put yourself at risk when you are driving. If you allow the tread to get too low, the wear can cause a misalignment in the front end. You could also have problems if there is damage or if they are underinflated.
Wear on Side
Another sign it's time to replace your tires is if there is one side that has more wear than the other. If the wear is in the center, you probably are overinflating them. Those with wear on the edges are driving around on underinflated ones. However, if one side has less tread than another does, it is an indicator that there is something else wrong. You may need your car's suspension realigned. There could also be a problem with parts such as damaged springs or ball joints. The best choice is to take it to a repair shop and have someone check it out.
Cracking
Extreme weather conditions, hitting curbs, or driving through potholes can cause the rubber to crack. The damage may even look like holes in the side of the wheel itself. If you see any cracking, you should get it replaced as soon as possible. This is a blowout waiting to happen. It can also be causing a steady leak, which will result in you driving on an underinflated tire.
Warning Light
Newer cars have what is known as a pressure warning light. This indicator shows up on your dashboard and looks like a U with an exclamation mark in the middle. They are designed to warn you if you have low pressure in any of the four wheels. You can simply add air to it, but it is in your best interest to take it somewhere and have it looked at in order to determine what caused the leak in the first place.
Vibration
Yes, the road can make your car feel like you are riding on a horse instead of in an automobile. However, that's different from the vibration of bad tires. Usually, you can feel it in the steering wheel before the rest of the car. Because it could mean more than just worn out rubber, you should have a mechanic check it to make sure your suspension and shocks are OK.
Low Tire Tread
One of the most obvious ways you can tell it's time to replace your wheels is the tread. Those bumps and grooves on the outside help you stay on the road during wet or icy conditions. As those wear down, and the surface becomes smoother, you will lose that traction and put yourself at risk when you are driving. If you allow the tread to get too low, the wear can cause a misalignment in the front end. You could also have problems if there is damage or if they are underinflated.
Wear on Side
Another sign it's time to replace your tires is if there is one side that has more wear than the other. If the wear is in the center, you probably are overinflating them. Those with wear on the edges are driving around on underinflated ones. However, if one side has less tread than another does, it is an indicator that there is something else wrong. You may need your car's suspension realigned. There could also be a problem with parts such as damaged springs or ball joints. The best choice is to take it to a repair shop and have someone check it out.
Cracking
Extreme weather conditions, hitting curbs, or driving through potholes can cause the rubber to crack. The damage may even look like holes in the side of the wheel itself. If you see any cracking, you should get it replaced as soon as possible. This is a blowout waiting to happen. It can also be causing a steady leak, which will result in you driving on an underinflated tire.
Warning Light
Newer cars have what is known as a pressure warning light. This indicator shows up on your dashboard and looks like a U with an exclamation mark in the middle. They are designed to warn you if you have low pressure in any of the four wheels. You can simply add air to it, but it is in your best interest to take it somewhere and have it looked at in order to determine what caused the leak in the first place.
Vibration
Yes, the road can make your car feel like you are riding on a horse instead of in an automobile. However, that's different from the vibration of bad tires. Usually, you can feel it in the steering wheel before the rest of the car. Because it could mean more than just worn out rubber, you should have a mechanic check it to make sure your suspension and shocks are OK.
To learn more about their cars' tires, Fresno, CA residents can go to http://www.raysblackstonetire.com/tires/.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Ford Tests Autonomous Driving
Ford's autonomous vehicle virtual test drive project and full autonomous vehicle testing at Mcity.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Five Tips For Choosing Auto Body Shops
As if getting in a car accident weren't bad enough, finding a
reputable repair shop may prove challenging. There are many factors
drivers must consider, including price, experience, and quality of work.
But because most folks know next to nothing about collision work, a
little advice often goes a long way. With that in mind, here are five
simple tips you can use to find reliable body shops in your area.
1. Ask Around
Any company can advertise, but when it comes to collision repair, word-of-mouth is far more important. Because everybody remembers the time they got in a car accident, asking people you know to recommend body shops is often the best way to find a dependable service provider. Because we are in the Internet Era, many customers go online to search for a service provider. Although they will be strangers, reading posts from customers on review sites is the electronic equivalent of asking around. Another auspicious sign that the shop takes pride in its work is if the owner is involved in it's daily operation. As a general rule, when a business is family owned, employees tend to go the extra mile, since its often their name on the sign out front.
2. Consider Labor Costs
Because mechanics charge similar prices for replacement parts, labor costs generally have the biggest effect on the final bill. Depending on the facility's location and the experience of its staff, per-hour labor fees can range wildly. It is actually not at all uncommon for body shops that have multiple locations to charge different labor fees at each of their branches. Although higher labor charges may be justified if the provider does excellent work on difficult jobs, it probably isn't worth paying twice as much for labor if your vehicle has a damaged fender, bumper, or some other minor repair job.
3. Bigger Isn't Always Better
The reason smaller auto body shops often charge lower fees than larger ones is that they have a lot less overhead. When you stop at a family-owned repair center, for example, odds are the owner fills several essential positions. He or she may work as the manager, foreman, and chief mechanic all at the same time. But at a larger facility, each of those positions may be held by a different employee. The inevitable result is higher payroll and overhead costs that lead to higher labor rates to offset those fees.
4. Get Several Estimates
As elementary as it may seem, many drivers fail to get more than one price estimate for repair work. More often than not, they do this because they want to get the whole thing over and done with. But when it comes a major accident, you could save hundreds, even thousands of dollars if you compare prices.
5. Ask About The Warranty
Although a one-year warranty is considered standard, not all auto body shops offer it. As such, it is important to ask about the warranty and what it covers before you agree to anything. At the bare minimum, a warranty for bodywork should cover all repairs and should come in written form. It is not enough to simply take the owner or manager's word that they will fix any problem you might have should something go wrong.
Use these simple tips to find reputable collision repair centers in your neck of the woods. For information on Kalamazoo body shops visit http://www.petersenautobody.com/.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ace_Abbey/851844
1. Ask Around
Any company can advertise, but when it comes to collision repair, word-of-mouth is far more important. Because everybody remembers the time they got in a car accident, asking people you know to recommend body shops is often the best way to find a dependable service provider. Because we are in the Internet Era, many customers go online to search for a service provider. Although they will be strangers, reading posts from customers on review sites is the electronic equivalent of asking around. Another auspicious sign that the shop takes pride in its work is if the owner is involved in it's daily operation. As a general rule, when a business is family owned, employees tend to go the extra mile, since its often their name on the sign out front.
2. Consider Labor Costs
Because mechanics charge similar prices for replacement parts, labor costs generally have the biggest effect on the final bill. Depending on the facility's location and the experience of its staff, per-hour labor fees can range wildly. It is actually not at all uncommon for body shops that have multiple locations to charge different labor fees at each of their branches. Although higher labor charges may be justified if the provider does excellent work on difficult jobs, it probably isn't worth paying twice as much for labor if your vehicle has a damaged fender, bumper, or some other minor repair job.
3. Bigger Isn't Always Better
The reason smaller auto body shops often charge lower fees than larger ones is that they have a lot less overhead. When you stop at a family-owned repair center, for example, odds are the owner fills several essential positions. He or she may work as the manager, foreman, and chief mechanic all at the same time. But at a larger facility, each of those positions may be held by a different employee. The inevitable result is higher payroll and overhead costs that lead to higher labor rates to offset those fees.
4. Get Several Estimates
As elementary as it may seem, many drivers fail to get more than one price estimate for repair work. More often than not, they do this because they want to get the whole thing over and done with. But when it comes a major accident, you could save hundreds, even thousands of dollars if you compare prices.
5. Ask About The Warranty
Although a one-year warranty is considered standard, not all auto body shops offer it. As such, it is important to ask about the warranty and what it covers before you agree to anything. At the bare minimum, a warranty for bodywork should cover all repairs and should come in written form. It is not enough to simply take the owner or manager's word that they will fix any problem you might have should something go wrong.
Use these simple tips to find reputable collision repair centers in your neck of the woods. For information on Kalamazoo body shops visit http://www.petersenautobody.com/.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Convertible Car Seats: Make The Move Sooner Rather Than Later | Consumer Reports
Based on new testing, Consumer Reports recommends you move children into a rear-facing convertible seat by their first birthday, even if they haven't outgrown their infant seat.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Hunter Engineering Company Story - Full Version
The story of Hunter Engineering Company, founded in 1946 by Lee Hunter. Jr.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Safety Awards Go to 61 Models for 2016 - IIHS News
Small overlap crash protection, front crash prevention key to 2016 awards; 48 models earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, 13 earn TOP SAFETY PICK
ARLINGTON, Va. — Nearly 50 vehicles meet tougher criteria for 2016 to take home the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, earning good ratings in all five IIHS crashworthiness evaluations and an advanced or higher rating for front crash prevention. An additional 13 models qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Why Car Repair Should Be Left To The Professionals
In today's society, DIY projects have become a necessity for
many. This is also often applied to car repair. Some people think that
because they have knowledge of cars and their working components, many
of what they consider easy projects can be done in their home garage.
However, a lot of these projects aren't nearly as easy as they may seem.
Clutch
Fixing a clutch. Simple enough, right? It seems to be. However, most people don't realize that fixing a clutch is more complicated and can be a delicate procedure. The biggest hurdle one would find is that many times it involves dropping the engine. This is not something that most can do in their garage.
Recharging the A/C
Every automotive store carries A/C recharging kits. If they do that, then it must be something a novice could do, right? Wrong. Not even counting the added complications of Freon, there is so much more to it. Working with the A/C system involves very high, specific pressure, specialized tubing, and odd components - most of these allusively buried in the dashboard or tied into an incomprehensible computer - not to mention many other things related to the first law of thermodynamics. If that word is not recognizable, you more than likely have no business even being in there.
Working around or on the airbag
Though thankfully this particular area rarely needs to be worked on or around, it is still a good idea to know what the possible outcomes could be. The most important thing to think about if working on or around this area - including any close by panels - is that there is a significantly sized explosive charge tucked away in there. Does 'explosive charge' sound a lot like a bomb? It should, because that is essentially what it is. Definitely make sure that someone with training in that particular area works on that part of your car. A hand being blown off isn't worth the extra money saved by doing it ones-self. It is guaranteed that the hospital bill for that would be significantly more expensive than just having a professional do it for you.
Rebuilding a differential
Anytime someone is messing around with gears it can lead to disaster. It takes a delicate, sensitive touch. Differentials are even trickier. If the gears are even slightly off, your car will sound like it has been taken over by a disgruntled poltergeist. Not to mention that in a very short time, the teeth will completely wear out and disintegrate. The contact patch between the gears has to be so carefully aligned that it is mathematically perfect.
Even the seemingly simplest of jobs are so involved that many times doing your own car repair can cost more than taking it to the shop. A car repair technician can do the job right the first time and save lots of time and energy.
Clutch
Fixing a clutch. Simple enough, right? It seems to be. However, most people don't realize that fixing a clutch is more complicated and can be a delicate procedure. The biggest hurdle one would find is that many times it involves dropping the engine. This is not something that most can do in their garage.
Recharging the A/C
Every automotive store carries A/C recharging kits. If they do that, then it must be something a novice could do, right? Wrong. Not even counting the added complications of Freon, there is so much more to it. Working with the A/C system involves very high, specific pressure, specialized tubing, and odd components - most of these allusively buried in the dashboard or tied into an incomprehensible computer - not to mention many other things related to the first law of thermodynamics. If that word is not recognizable, you more than likely have no business even being in there.
Working around or on the airbag
Though thankfully this particular area rarely needs to be worked on or around, it is still a good idea to know what the possible outcomes could be. The most important thing to think about if working on or around this area - including any close by panels - is that there is a significantly sized explosive charge tucked away in there. Does 'explosive charge' sound a lot like a bomb? It should, because that is essentially what it is. Definitely make sure that someone with training in that particular area works on that part of your car. A hand being blown off isn't worth the extra money saved by doing it ones-self. It is guaranteed that the hospital bill for that would be significantly more expensive than just having a professional do it for you.
Rebuilding a differential
Anytime someone is messing around with gears it can lead to disaster. It takes a delicate, sensitive touch. Differentials are even trickier. If the gears are even slightly off, your car will sound like it has been taken over by a disgruntled poltergeist. Not to mention that in a very short time, the teeth will completely wear out and disintegrate. The contact patch between the gears has to be so carefully aligned that it is mathematically perfect.
Even the seemingly simplest of jobs are so involved that many times doing your own car repair can cost more than taking it to the shop. A car repair technician can do the job right the first time and save lots of time and energy.
For more information on car repair, Hershey, PA residents can go to http://www.certifiedpreownedofhershey.com/Body-Shop.
Friday, December 4, 2015
How to Choose a Collision Repair Shop
Everybody hates accidents and also vehicles too. When your car
gets damaged in an accident it might be quite exhausting for you to face
the consequences. You will have to find the right body shop to repair
the damages caused and at the same time claim the amount from your
insurance company. Finding the right body shop to repair the damages
caused to your car can be a daunting task. To ease your worries, I am
presenting you some factors that you must consider while choosing a
collision repair shop. Apart from the time taken to repair your car, you
must consider the price affordability and the quality of service. You
should also find out the number of years of experience the collision repair shop has, the type of cars repaired by them, guarantee, provision of supplementary services etc.
Asking For Referrals:
If you wish to avail the services of competent body shop the best thing to do is to ask your relatives or friends for referrals. Your co-workers or friends might be able to recommend you a shop that has previously delivered good service to them. You can also Google out for names of body shops and also go through user reviews. If there are a number of positive reviews then you can give a chance to that specific body shop.
Price Assessment
Price is definitely important point to consider whether you are paying for the services or the insurance company. Before you proceed with a specific shop, you must take price estimates from various shops offering repair service. When you have the estimate from various shops, it becomes easy for you to decide the body shop you wish to go for. However, you must be wary that you don't go for a collision body shop that offers cheap price for low quality service. Compare each section of estimate to know how much has been allocated for parts, labor and other expenses.
Labor Cost:
The biggest item on a collision repair shop's estimate is labor costs. It reflects the amount paid by the shop owner both to his workers in the shop and also as overheads. If the shop is located in a posh location and there is huge office staff that works for the shop you might need to pay higher than what you would have to pay otherwise.
There is also a possibility that you might be charged more hours for the same service. Shops usually refer to manual of standard hours to estimate how many hours a specific job SHOULD take. Some shops itemize various components in order to confuse the consumer. The best thing to do is compare estimates.
If you have no recommendations on collision repair shop then you can consider other factors such as the time for which your car will be in the shop for service, the number of years of experience, the auto body technology used by them, number of clients they have etc.
Asking For Referrals:
If you wish to avail the services of competent body shop the best thing to do is to ask your relatives or friends for referrals. Your co-workers or friends might be able to recommend you a shop that has previously delivered good service to them. You can also Google out for names of body shops and also go through user reviews. If there are a number of positive reviews then you can give a chance to that specific body shop.
Price Assessment
Price is definitely important point to consider whether you are paying for the services or the insurance company. Before you proceed with a specific shop, you must take price estimates from various shops offering repair service. When you have the estimate from various shops, it becomes easy for you to decide the body shop you wish to go for. However, you must be wary that you don't go for a collision body shop that offers cheap price for low quality service. Compare each section of estimate to know how much has been allocated for parts, labor and other expenses.
Labor Cost:
The biggest item on a collision repair shop's estimate is labor costs. It reflects the amount paid by the shop owner both to his workers in the shop and also as overheads. If the shop is located in a posh location and there is huge office staff that works for the shop you might need to pay higher than what you would have to pay otherwise.
There is also a possibility that you might be charged more hours for the same service. Shops usually refer to manual of standard hours to estimate how many hours a specific job SHOULD take. Some shops itemize various components in order to confuse the consumer. The best thing to do is compare estimates.
If you have no recommendations on collision repair shop then you can consider other factors such as the time for which your car will be in the shop for service, the number of years of experience, the auto body technology used by them, number of clients they have etc.
Exclusive Collision Center is one of the best Collision Repair Shop. We provide all type of auto body work.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
7 Cars That Owners Regret Buying | Consumer Reports
In our owner satisfaction survey, we asked people if they were happy enough with their car to buy that model again. These seven cars are the models from each category that gave people the biggest feelings of buyer's remorse.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)