About Me

Talking About Automotive Maintenance

Hi there, my name is Nancy. Welcome to my site about automotive maintenance. My car has lasted for more than 10 years without any major problems due to the strict maintenance schedule I follow. Vehicle maintenance includes oil changes, tune ups, tire rotations, alignments and a host of other important services. These services protect the vehicle’s components from excessive wear and unexpected failure. I will use this site to explore all of the different maintenance procedures and schedules available. I hope you can use the information on my site to keep your vehicle in great shape over the years. Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.

Talking About Automotive Maintenance

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Tips For Saving The Most Money When Your Vehicle Needs Body Work
If you have a vehicle that is in need of body work, you might start to get a little concerned about the amount of money it will cost you. To help you save as much cash as possible, you will want to check out the following tips. Make A Deal On The Labor Costs If you have a skill or a trade that could be useful to the owner of the auto body shop, you may be able to work out a deal.

Different Tactics For Preventing Your Cargo Trailer From Being Broken Into
Whether you've rented or bought a cargo trailer (from an outlet such as TRSC) to haul your possessions, the last thing you need is to have it broken into when it's parked in your driveway or anywhere else that members of the public can come across it. While keeping the cargo trailer locked at all times can discourage some would-be thieves, the reality is that someone only needs to cut through the lock to gain access to whatever you have inside.

Stay Safe On The Road By Checking Your Tires Regularly
That small patch of rubber on your tires that grips the asphalt keeps you on the road safely. When your tires lose traction, braking and cornering can become hazardous actions. Make it a habit to check the tread on your tires regularly. When it's time for new tires, get to an auto service center quickly. Here is what you need to know about how your tires keep you safe and when it's time for replacements.

Spring Checkup For Your Toyota Camry
It's important that you take care of your car after a long winter. The extreme cold, bad road conditions, and salt will all wreak havoc on your car. That's why it's important to bring your car in and have it serviced. Some of the minor things you can do yourself, such as clean away stuck on salt, but other aspects require a skilled mechanic. Here are the important areas to look at.

How To Use A Fiberglass Patch
Fiberglass is common material on auto bodies, especially the bumper. Fiberglass is strategically put on car bumpers because it is a material that is pretty easy to repair and patch. All the inevitable bumps and bruises can be fixed, even if your aren't an auto body specialist. You can get simple patch kits that include just about everything you need to repair a small hole in your bumper. This article explains what these patch kits include and how to best use them on holes on your car bumper.

3 Tips For The Towing Service That You Need
Any time that you want to move a vehicle from one point to another when it won't start, the best thing to do is reach out to a towing company that will assist you. Since you are trusting your vehicle with a professional towing company, you need to be sure that they are the best contractors that you can hire. You must also learn a good bit about the towing process to make sure that you are aware and prepared.

Driving In The Rain
Even if you are a good driver, navigating in the rain can be a dangerous proposition. You may save your most careful driving for snow and ice-covered roads, but rain-slick surfaces can be just as dangerous, especially because you tend to underestimate its effect. You can make your rainy day trips safer by adopting certain behaviors and acquiring certain products. Driving Behavior Many drivers mistakenly think that wet roads are no big deal and fail to reduce their speed enough as a result.

Did You Get In A Collision But Aren't Sure Of The Damage? How To Save And Decide If You Need To Make A Claim
You hit a deer or another large animal and you can see the body damage to the car, but you aren't sure if there is mechanical damage, what should you do? You want to take the vehicle to a shop where it can get a mechanical and auto body estimate. You can't always see what damage there is from the outside, or know what repairs are needed. You can get an estimate and consider the following to see if you need to make an insurance claim to pay for everything.

Answering Two Questions About Common Auto Problems
Driving is a fairly routine task for most individuals, but these trips can quickly take a turn for the worse if the car starts to experience some problems. Sadly, there are many drivers that lack a basic understanding about some of the more common issues that a car might encounter. If you have a poor understanding about car issues, having the following questions answered may help you to be better prepared when some common problems affect your vehicle.

Look And Listen: Simple Steps To Keep Your Car In Tiptop Shape
If this is your first car, you might not be familiar with all the preventative maintenance it will need. Unfortunately, that can shorten the life of your car. Preventative maintenance can help reduce the chance of unexpected breakdowns. Your owner's manual will provide you with all the details you'll need to schedule your maintenance appointments, including how often the oil should be changed. In addition to the owner's manual, there are a few things you can do to monitor your cars performance.

3 Things To Do Before You Take Your Car Into An Auto Body Repair Service To Be Fixed
If you get in some type of automobile accident or otherwise damage the body of your car, then it is a good idea to take it into an auto body repair shop, like Acheson Auto Body and Service Center West. They will be able to fix the body of your car and getting it looking as good as new once again. However, before you take your car into an auto body repair shop, there are a few things that you should do.

3 Things You Need To Get Approved From A Buy Here Pay Here Dealer
Getting turned down for an auto loan can be depressing. You start wondering if there are any other options available for you to get the vehicle of your dreams. Have no fear; there is an option available to help you drive away in the vehicle you want with terms that are going to work for you. Before going in to a buy here pay here dealer, you want to make sure you have a few things on hand to ensure you get approved for your loan and drive away with the vehicle you want.

Common Transmission Problems In Vehicles With Automatic Transmission And How They Are Repaired
Transmissions are a very vital part of a car or truck's engine. Without the transmission, your vehicle could not get moving, and when you are on the highway, the vehicle would drag slowly because it would have no additional gears to help it move. The following information will discuss common issues with automatic transmissions and how these issues are repaired. The Planetary Gearset Is Defunct The planetary gearset is the part of an automatic transmission that controls the gear ratios.

Car Maintenance: 3 Mistakes Every Car Owner Should Avoid
Vehicles need preventative maintenance in order to stay in good working condition and continue getting you from point A to point B and back safely. Maintenance schedules will vary from vehicle to vehicle and from lifestyle to lifestyle, but most of the actual maintenance tasks are the same. Here are three mistakes that new and old car owners alike tend to make that can lead to problems with their vehicle:

What You Need To Know If You Are Considering A Hot Shot Service For Hauling Your Car To Your New Home
When you are planning a move out of state and plan to drive the moving truck yourself, you might run into a problem figuring out how to get your own car to the new place. Luckily, companies that provide hot shot services can haul your car to your new home right away. If you are considering this kind of service for your car, here are some things you'll have to find out before signing a contract.

In A Wreck And Car Dented Up? You May Have More Than Just Body Damage
If you are in a wreck and your car is dented up more than just with a little dent in the bumper, you need to get it checked before you start driving your car again.  Contact your insurance company first, then call a tow truck to take your car to an auto body shop or mechanic instead of driving it there yourself. Your insurance may cover this charge for you so make sure you ask.

The Case For Leaving Hydraulic Repair To The Professionals
In many cases, making repairs on your own is a good way to save money and familiarize yourself with your equipment. However, the first rule of any do-it-yourselfer should be: know your limits. In the case of hydraulic repair, you can hurt yourself and/or damage your equipment by trying to make repairs that you are not qualified to make. Knowing what the risks are will help you to make the right choice.

Looking At Buying A Used Transmission? Here's 3 Things To Consider
Your vehicle has a number of different components that work together and keep you on the road. When one of those components starts going out on you, it can be frustrating to say the least. At that point, you are stuck trying to figure out whether you should go with a new component or a used one. When that component is something like your transmission, you have to consider the following three things before making a final decision.

Three Things That Suggest You Need To Visit A Brake Shop
When it comes to knowing when it's time to have your brakes replaced or repaired, it's not easy to try to base this need off the distance you've driven. Unlike scheduling regular oil changes, for example, your brake wear is largely tied to the manner in which you drive. As such, it's important to be able to identify the sometimes subtle signs that tell you it's time to visit your local brake shop for brake repair.

Spend A Lot Of Time On The Road? Make Sure You Have A Portable Air Compressor In The Trunk!
Do you spend a lot of time on the road for work or pleasure? If so, one of the tools that you should have in your trunk is a portable air compressor. This is a quick explanation of why you need one (and how to pick the right one out). How important is proper tire inflation? Your tires need to be in good condition and properly inflated in order for you to be safe on the road.

Common Causes Of Erratic Shifting In Automatic Transmissions
It can be very disconcerting when your car's automatic transmission starts to shift erratically. These problems may come on all of a sudden, or you may have noticed them get gradually worse. Even though these symptoms are alarming, it doesn't necessarily mean that you will need an expensive transmission repair. Here are some common reasons why transmissions shift harshly or erratically. Fluid and lack of maintenance: If the fluids are too low, then the transmission can't maintain the proper pressures need to change gears.

Three Subjects To Discuss When You Visit An Auto Repair Shop
Upon having your vehicle damaged in a car accident, one of your immediate priorities is to find the right repair shop that will get the job done to satisfy your requirements. Although you might feel in a hurry to get your vehicle booked in for the repair work, it's valuable to give a little time to the process of finding the right shop. The right shop is not necessarily the one that gives you the lowest price quote or is situated closest to your home; you can often make your decision easier by discussing a handful of topics with the shop representative and assessing the responses you get.

Four Truck Accessories That Can Help In The Back Country
If you enjoy long weekends in the back country camping, hiking, mountain biking, or hunting, outfitting your truck to meet the terrain is a must. Having a four wheel drive vehicle isn't enough in exceptionally rough or muddy terrain. The following accessories are just a few that can take your rig from a city commuter to a back woods king. #1: Winch A winch is one of the first things you should add if you spend any time off of paved roads.

3 Things To Remember When Buying A Used Car
When you set out to purchase a used car, it is all about experience, information and negotiation. You will be able to find a great deal on a vehicle that will keep you on the road with the greatest performance and longevity. With this in mind, take advantage of these points and use them, so that you can make the most out of your used car purchase process.  #1: Set Up A Budget Before Going Shopping

Refuting Myths About Auto Brake Problems
If your car's brakes are not working at peak efficiency, driving your vehicle can be a very dangerous task. While the brakes are among the most important safety features of a car, there are some drivers that are not knowledgeable or experienced with brake problems. This can cause them to be under the assumption that some fairly frequently held misconceptions are true. If this applies to you, it is important to make sure that you are aware of the facts behind the following couple of misconceptions.

5 Things You Must Understand About Car Maintenance
When you own a vehicle, you don't need to know all the details about how to take care of it, since you can simply have it serviced by a professional, such as 59 Auto Repair. However, there are some basics that you should know, which is going to help you ensure that you are able to keep your car running smoothly. Here are five things you must understand about car maintenance:

3 Tips For Saving Money On Auto Body Repairs
Most car owners budget at least a little money for ongoing maintenance and care of their car for things like oil changes or a new set of tires every couple of years. But if you get into a collision that leaves you with auto body damage, getting it fixed could suddenly leave you way over your expected auto budget for the year. With that in mind, there are a few tips you can try and keep in mind if you ever find yourself in this situation in order to keep your repair bill as low as possible.

Factors To Consider Before Buying A Trailer Hitch
Purchasing a hitch for a towing vehicle can be very complex. You cannot choose any hitch. The option you choose will depend on a variety of factors. Towing Capacity One of the first things you need to know before choosing a trailer hitch is knowing the towing capacity of your towing vehicle. This is typically available in your vehicle's owner's manual. If you don't have access to your manual for any reason, you can often contact the manufacturer and ask about the towing capacity of the make and model of the vehicle.

Surface Vs. Structural Rust When Buying A Used Semi-Truck
If you are thinking about buying a used semi-truck for your trucking business, you are probably looking to save money on a truck while still buying a vehicle that you and your company can rely on. It's true that buying used can be a smart idea for any business, but there are a few things that you should look out for. For example, you should always keep an eye out for rust, since it can result in expensive damage.

Avoiding Road Salt Rusting
If you live in an area where roads are treated with salt to help keep vehicles from sliding in icy conditions, you most likely enjoy the extra protection your vehicle has when driving in inclement weather, but hate the idea of the possibility of rust. Salt is known to cause rusting on a vehicle's undercarriage and body, making it necessary to take steps that will prolong the life of your vehicle if you need to drive in an area filled with salty roads.