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When you travel it is helpful to make sure you have all of your maintenance done prior to the trip. I know this sounds pretty basic, but, I see a lot of people stranded because they did not check simple maintenance items before they drove off. Even if you have free towing with your insurance it still sucks to sit around waiting for a tow truck on a vacation day.

Here are a few things to always check: Air filter, oil, transmission fluid, brakes, tires. If you cannot remember when you last checked them, it is probably time to check them again. In fact, it is probably time to replace most of them before the trip. Your owners manual will give you the proper steps to check all these areas, so look it up there. Don’t have your manuals? How about a talk with your mechanic? Uh Oh! You don’t have a mechanic. That is OK. I would suggest you ask your friends who they trust and drive down to spend a few minutes with them. Any reputable shop will gladly show you how to check all this and help make sure you don’t have problems on your vacation. Depending on where you live, private shops will charge $40 to $120.00 per hour. The oil check etc. should be free but expect to pay for labor and parts that need to be replaced. Continue reading ‘Avoid Roadside Emergencies With a Few Simple Steps’ »

If you have a flat tire while driving your car, come to a stop as quickly as you can. Pull to the side of the road as far as you can without tilting the vehicle. Better yet, get off the road entirely if it’s just a few feet to get there. Be certain you are on a level area or forget the idea altogether. Put your car in gear or in park, engage emergency brake, and turn on hazard flashers. Pop the trunk if you can do so remotely (this helps passing cars to see that you are stopped). Carefully watch traffic at all times, especially as you exit the vehicle. If you have flares, lights, or cones, now is the time to set them out behind your car.

Remove the jack and spare tire from the trunk. Using the flat end of your tire iron, pop off the hubcap if there is one. Set your spare upright against the car, near your flat but aside. Now you must “break” each lug, before you do any jacking. Place the wrench onto the lugs one by one, and just barely loosen them – all you are doing is making them easier to remove later, so do not try to remove them yet. Just a slight break is all you are after for now. Watch for traffic.

Continue reading ‘How to Change a Tire’ »

MOISTURE PROBLEMS: One of the more common problems involved in headlamp repair is the problem of water getting inside of the headlight. There are several ways you can fix this. The first method is to hold a warm air blowing device in one of the bulb holes to dry everything. Sometimes this works. Sometimes you will need to reseal the outer surfaces with caulk to keep the problem from happening again. If the water is already dry, you can use a piece of wire with a piece of rag on the end of it to wipe the inside. If all else fails, you will need to take the headlight apart.

TAKING HEADLIGHTS APART: All headlamps are held together by either a hotmelt adhesive or an epoxy adhesive. If it is hotmelt, you just need to find a way to heat the hotmelt up so it will separate. This can be done with a hair dryer or a hot air gun or an even an oven. If it is epoxy, you will need to get it really hot and force a screwdriver around the outer channel. Have fun! Continue reading ‘How to Fix Headlamp Assemblies From Late Model Vehicles’ »

The windshield wiper must always be kept in good condition since it comes in handy especially during harsh weather conditions. You must always check the windshield wiper fluid levels frequently. Therefore, to check your windshield wiper fluid, you should first check the owner’s manual so as to establish where the windshield fluid reservoir if situated.

It is important to then get the correct fluid mixture that is appropriate for the car’s windshield fluid reservoir. After this, one should then prop up the hood so as to be able to check the windshield fluid reservoir. You should then locate the markings that show the fluid left in the reservoir outside the tank. Find out how much wiper fluid is remaining in the reservoir. If the windshield wiper fluid is below half, it is advisable to fill it to the required amount. Locate the cap at the top of the tank. After that, add the correct fluid mixture into the tank. You should not stop until the fluid reaches the level marked on the owner’s manual. Once this is done, you should then put the cap back and then close the hood. Always ensure that the reservoir lid is closed properly. Continue reading ‘Checking and Choosing Windshield Wiper Fluid’ »

Having trouble with your car engine and wondering how to go about replacing it? Have limited budget and want to spend it wisely? Don’t know the technical and financial aspects of buying a used auto engine? Well, in case your answer is yes then going for the used auto engine can be the most feasible option you can work on. It not only gives good return to the money spent, in terms of maintenance of the engine; but also prevents the vehicle from being declared as being a junk. Sometimes a used auto part outlives the original one.

Now, it is generally perceived that used engines are sold at cheaper prices than a brand new one as they lack quality. This is not the case. You should understand that mostly those engines which are made from recycled goods, usually become cheap when resold in the market. Continue reading ‘Used Auto Engines – Best Saving on Your Auto Parts Expense’ »

It is always recommended that you check the car’s transmission fluid at least every month or any time that the transmission is not shifting smoothly. This is important because it will help in the optimization of the performance of many components of the car. It is advisable to look up the manual so as to determine the intervals that you are required to change the fluid. Therefore to change your transmission fluid, consider the following steps.

You should start by first parking the car on a level ground. This should then be followed by starting up the engine and then the gear should be left on a neutral or park. You should then leave the engine to warm up. It is advisable to leave the engine running all through this process unless the manual states otherwise. You should then get the dipstick from the back of the engine. The dipstick resembles the engine dipstick even though it is normally shorter. Continue reading ‘How to Check Transmission Fluid’ »

You may know nothing about auto repairs but this does not mean that you can be easily scammed by mechanics and technicians who may only after your money. Even if you may not know what an alternator is, you can still be able to tell if you are given a fair estimate or not. Here are some tips on how to achieve this:

• Find out what repairs should be made to your car. Let the mechanic do his own diagnosis of the problem.

• If some parts have to be replaced, then learn the cost of replacing these parts. If the parts needed are original equipment / parts made by the car manufacturer, then you have to make sure that you do not pay more than the manufacturer’s recommended price. Take note that you can save money by using used parts instead since they have a wider price range. Continue reading ‘Auto Repair and Care Experts Present – How to Verify an Auto Repair Estimate’ »