How To Deal With Your Car Repair

The worst luck befalls folks like me when in need of a professional repair job. Whether I have a leak under my sink or my car needs an oil change, the repairing populous seems to look at me and see “sucker” tattooed on my forehead. Too bad for them my mama didn’t raise a fool.

Like it or not in this modern world, people still have old fashioned ideas and will try to take advantage of a girl who might not know any better. This can cost you a lot of money with unnecessary repairs. Want to save money? Here’s a few ways to keep from being taken to the cleaners.

Pay A Friend To Fix It

I, thankfully, and mechanically inclined and have a lot of mechanically inclined friends. If I can’t fix something I am almost guaranteed that one of them will know how. That being the case I can buy the part and have them make the repair for me if I am totally in the dark.

Fix It Yourself

There are simple repairs that anyone can do. If your garbage disposal is humming and then cutting off without actually grinding up the contents of your sink all you need to fix it is a wrench. It’s most likely the flywheel and you can easily loosen the nut on top. Or you can do what I do and jam a broom handle down the opening and create some leverage until the wheel loosens. It doesn’t take much to learn how to do a few simple repairs. With the help of the internet and a good parts store, like PartSelect you can do very simple repairs at a fraction of what you normally would. Why? Labor really is the most expensive part of a repair. “What if I break it more?” Unless you are cutting things, its not going to cause a problem and you aren’t going to incur a dramatic upswing in the cost of a repair.

Use Your Warranty

I save all my warranties. If the broken appliance, part, or vehicle is still under warranty, I use it. What do you do when it runs out? Buy another one. Sometimes you can pay a little extra and get an extended warranty. When the warranty on my car ran out I got AAA. This way I can drive safely knowing that if my car breaks down I will still be able to get a free tow to a shop, assuming my cell phone works.

Show Me the Problem

I can’t tell you how many times I have had a problem with an appliance and then had the repairman tell me it was going to cost me an enormous sum to fix. “Show me the problem.” Always make them show you the problem. If they can’t show you the problem and explain it to you in terms anyone can understand, don’t trust them. It’s not going to cost you extra for them to show you what’s wrong and explain the process of the fix. To look at your broken appliance should be free. If it seems simple enough they have just told you how to repair it and you can fix it yourself.

Get A Second Opinion

I have one mechanic I trust. Only one. Why? Because I know he is totally honest with me. He will take me into the shop, show me the problem, in action, and explain the repair to me thoroughly. When my transmission went he didn’t just tell me the transmission wasn’t working, he walked me back, where they had completely taken the engine out of my car and showed me the color of the fluids, parts of the engine and where they were burned, warped, or broken. I can’t tell you how many times this man has saved me hundreds on repairs I didn’t need. He is my final opinion.

What if you don’t have someone you trust that much? Get a second opinion. When you go into the repair shop, don’t tell the new man what the other guy said. Tell them the basic problem and see what he comes up with. He may give you a higher number, or a smaller, but at least you can use the process of elimination to find out what the problem is and make a better decision.

Car Repairs Which Are The Most Expensive?

Like many things today, vehicles require quite a bit of upkeep. Ignoring the little things like oil changes can leave you with a costly repair bill further down the road. To avoid this, its important to attack these problems while theyre small before they turn into major issues. Here are ten of the most costly repairs and tips on how to avoid them.

Supercharger/Turbocharger

 
Superchargers and turbochargers keep air flowing through the engine. Since they function at high speeds, theyre prone to excessive heat and damage. When they break down, it can cost $1600 to replace them. Besides that, additional repairs that are needed as a result of the malfunction can add another $700 to $3000. To help avoid problems, make sure the units have the correct amount of oil. Too much can be just as bad as not enough.

Hybrid Battery

 
The hybrid battery is usually coupled with a motor-assist battery to charge it. If you change one, you have to change both and that can cost upwards of $2700. The technology is pretty new, so it can be tough to troubleshoot any problems that may arise with the setup. Not to mention parts are scarce and there are few mechanics that service hybrid batteries. To avoid repairs, its best to use them in more mild climates, as heat and humidity can put stress on the battery.

Transmission

 
The transmission is what uses the engine power to make the wheels move. This aspect of the vehicle is often overlooked and if the transmission fails, youre not going anywhere. Replacement often costs around $3600. Fortunately, many automakers are aware of the weaknesses in their transmissions, so if you keep an eye on your vehicles service bulletins, youll know when to go in for a check and maybe get some free transmission maintenance.

Injection Pump

 
The injection pump transports fuel to the engine cylinders. Its pretty common for them to clog up, and the range of repair costs varies greatly. A pump for a Honda might only be a couple hundred dollars and simple to change. But for SUVs and trucks, the cost can be almost $3000 because of all the work involved to replace it. Regular changing of the fuel filters should keep the injection pump from clogging.

Cylinder Head + Spark Plugs

 
Although they are not expensive, faulty spark plugs can cause misfiring, and if its ignored, it creates excessive heat in the cylinder. A flashing check engine light is an indicator of this and it means there is damage being done to the engine. The damaged parts usually include the cylinder or catalytic converter, a cost of around $3500. Its best to have this issue fixed as soon as possible to avoid costly repairs.

Catalytic Converter

 
This part detoxifies emissions from the exhaust. Theyre usually built to last for about twenty years and give off plenty of indicators before they give out (such as misfires and broken oxygen sensors). When the converter goes kaput, the price tag can run up to $2700. And thats because of the parts, not the labor. Catalytic converters contain three precious metals rhodium, platinum, and palladium.

Hybrid Inverter

 
As hybrids are fairly new, its difficult to find parts when they go bad. Inverters dont malfunction often, but when they do, it can cost $4000 to replace it at best, $7400 at worst. Unfortunately, its difficult to prevent inverter failure outside of keeping tabs on the check engine light.

Camshaft

 
Camshafts are the parts that control the engine valves and manages the air intake. Normal wear and tear is usually the reason these parts fail. Keeping up maintenance by changing the oil and adjusting the valves can help prolong the life of the camshaft. Replacement can be costly, mostly for labor, running from $1500 to $3100.

Torque Converter

 
This is the hydraulic coupling, similar to a clutch, between the transmission and the engine. If it overheats, it can start to leak and warp the parts. This can be dangerous, as it can prevent you from stopping your car in the worse-case scenario. Replacement can cost $1800, so dont rev your engine when your foot is on the break to help avoid overheating.

Cylinder

 
Cylinder failure is one of the most costly repairs needed in a vehicle. This is mostly because of the labor involved, as the engine has to be disassembled to get to it. This can put a pretty big dent in your checkbook around $8000 so many drivers simply scrap the vehicle for a different one. Thankfully, cylinders dont fail often, and usually only because of prolonged neglect.

How To Make Your Car Last Longer

Car is an expensive investment and once we have bought our dream car we want it to last long in best condition. If you do the best for your car it returns your favor by giving the best mileage and driving pleasure.

The car’s manual is the best guide to get the tips to maintain the car’s performance. One should totally adhere to all the recommendation mentioned in the manual during the break-in period. Break in period is the initial 1500 km where the speed limit should be around 55mph. Keep the engine rpm below 3000 for first few hours of driving. Also, don’t keep your car idle for long periods during break-in. This affects the engine in long run.

Cars have now become a reflection of your personal choices and one can guess your personality by just looking at your car. You would not want your car to get punctured in the middle of the road when you are dropping off your kid for her first dance show. Here we have compiled some tips for the maintenance of different parts of the car.

Engine

1. Don’t accelerate the engine during start up. This deteriorates the engine performance.
2. At red light shift to neutral gear and use handbrake. This allows the engine to breathe for a while.
3. For initial few minutes don’t accelerate too much.
4. Avoid sudden jerks, breaks and acceleration while driving. This protects the drive train of engine.
5. While slowing down use gears to downshift, and not breaks to save wear and tear of breaking system.
6. Visit service station regularly for oil changes, coolant and brake fluid. Learn how to check them at home; this will save your trips to service centers.
7. In case any repairs are to be done, get quotations from at least 2-3 places. Sometimes too cheap prices might indicate inferior parts and no training of mechanic.
8. Routine maintenance decreases the need to visit mechanic.

Interiors

1. Vacuum and sponge the car’s interior every time you wash the car.
2. Clean the vinyl surface with mild detergent and water and then wipe off with sponge.
3. Keep the dashboard clean with a soft damp cloth. Be extra careful while cleaning the gauges since too many scratches makes it difficult to see in light.
4. Spray the fabric protectant on car seats and carpets to make it easy for future cleaning. Also, they become stain resistant.
5. Place a towel under baby seat. Occasionally, there can be a food spill or liquids, towel will prevent those stains.
6. Use rubber protectant to safe guard the weather-stripping of doors and windows. If there is any leakage or rain water seeps in the car, repair or replace it immediately

Exteriors

1. Wash and wax the car thoroughly to protect the finish.
2. Make sure there is enough water in windscreen wash reservoir. Wiper blades need to be changed every 6 months to protect any scratches on the windscreen.
3. Clean the wiper blades daily with a soft cotton cloth
4. It’s best to clean your car on a warm day, as it will need to dry quickly.
5. At least once in a while use pressure wash. This helps in cleaning the out of reach areas. Any dirt can start causing corrosion and will erode the paint.

Fuel

1. While driving on highway keep all windows closed, this saves gallons of fuel.
2. First switch on the engine, let it warm and then use air condition in car.
3. If your car has cruise control, use it to save 10-15%fuel.
4. Sudden acceleration and brakes waste lot of fuel, avoid it. Maintain a constant and steady speed.
5. Under-inflated tires will increase the consumption of fuel.
6. Fill up the tank early morning since fuel density is highest at colder temperatures.
7. Don’t fill up where you see the pump’s storage tanks are being refilled. It stirs the sedimentation thus impurities settle in the tank.

Tires

1. Proper air pressure in tires is bare necessity for perfectly maintained cars. Underinflated tires increases fuel consumption and cause excessive heat that can lead to frequent tire puncture.
2. Regular wheel alignment is necessary for increasing the life of tires. It also gives a pleasure while driving since there will be no screeching sound while taking a turn.
3. Avoid potholes, flying over speed bumpers to increase the life of tires
4. Rotation of tires is necessary to ensure they are wearing off evenly.
5. Don’t ignore the spare wheel. Sometimes when needed, they would be underinflated leading to puncture.
6. Check all the hubcaps and wheel covers are properly installed. If they are loose, they can fall off while driving.
7. As per your car manual get the anti-brake system serviced. Any damage, if noticed, initially can be repaired instead of waiting and get the whole ABS system replaced.

Whether you are man or woman of any age, you can find lot of material to study about your car maintenance. Lots of magazines, videos and books are available in market or on internet. Grab them and take very well care of your car.

Six Ways to Keep A New Car New For Longer

If youve recently experienced that new car smell for the first time, you are probably going to be wondering how to make it last. Unfortunately that new car smell is just as fleeting as your first love, it will soon be but a memory. Other aspects of your new car however, such as how it looks and how it performs, can easily be preserved with just a little bit of care.

And while that little bit of care should only take you a few minutes/dollars at a time, it could easily save you thousands in the long run, when your car remains reliable for longer. Although there are a number of different ways to keep a new car new for longer, here are the six tips that I have personally found to be highly effective.

1. Take it Easy for the First Thousand Miles

If youve had your new car for a while now, its probably too late for this advice, but if your car is fresh off the forecourt, go easy on the thing. Most experts agree that a cars engine is by far at its most fragile during the first thousand miles, therefore dont do anything that could put it under serious pressure. Switch it off rather than staying idle when you are in traffic and try to not to go over fifty miles an hour.

2. Stick to High Quality Petrol

Many drivers think they are incredibly clever when they save money by purchasing low quality petrol but over time, doing so can wreak havoc on a cars engine. Discount petrol chains can offer such low prices because the petrol that they sell is dated. Why is this a problem? Because dated fuel tends to contain quite a bit of sludge and as you can imagine, sludge is the last thing that you want to be putting into your engine.

3. Check Your Car Whenever You Fill Up

As well as treating your car to only the best quality petrol, you should try to get into the habit of spending two minutes checking out your car every time you fill up.

• Check your tire pressure.
• Take a quick glance at the engine.
• Rub a damp cloth over the battery.
• Check the water level.

If you happen to notice a small problem before it becomes a big one, these simple steps alone could save you hundreds of dollars in repairs.

4. Always Wash Your Car During Winter

If you live in an area where the Winters are not exactly sunny, chances are you dont bother to wash your car during that time of year. After all, whats the point in washing a car if its just going to get covered in mud on the way home? Skipping the car wash for a few months is actually a very bad idea however. When you get your car washed, any hard debris that has accumulated is washed off before it can do any damage. Therefore regardless of the weather, make sure you get your car washed at least once a fortnight.

5. Never Put Off Replacing Your Tires

Everyone knows that performing regular tire checks and replacing them whenever necessary is important for both fuel consumption and general road safety. Many people seem to forget however that its also important for the overall health of your car. Driving with bad tires can cause serious damage to your engine, your suspension, and your transmission. Therefore, never put off getting them changed.

6. Stick to Your Cars Maintenance Schedule

When it comes to performing maintenance on your car, there are two steps to doing it right.

• The first step is to stick to the schedule. When you buy a new car, it generally comes complete with a little booklet telling you what should be checked at each mileage milestone. Dont ignore it.

The second step is to find a great mechanic and go to him every time. Not only will doing so ensure that you are never overcharged, it also means that you know your car is getting a proper work over every time you hand it in.

Vehicle Maintenance Guide

If you have taken an automotive course in school or when getting your license, then the chances are that you have already been given an adequate guide to perform vehicle maintenance with. Every precision machine with moving parts will require periodical maintenance; a car in particular will need a special kind of care. Taking time to maintenance your car will help it run smoothly for years to come.

Vehicle maintenance should be fairly straightforward for experienced car owners to perform. Many schools and licensing agencies will also have had courses on vehicle maintenance as part of a compulsory learning course, too. For car owners who have not taken these courses, reading through your cars manuals, or a simple search on a search engine can help you find a good vehicle maintenance guide to get started.

Getting Started

More obsessive-compulsive drivers may check everything on their car before even starting up the engine for a short trip across town. Drivers can take a cue from these kinds of people by keeping a checklist of the parts of the car that will need maintenance sooner or later. A checklist can also include the necessary safety gear and procedures before getting your car on the road, too.
 

You may need some basic tools before getting started on your vehicle maintenance:

• Wrenches – This can include different kinds of wrenches used for different parts of the car. You can have a tire wench to remove the wheels of the car, a set of socket wrenches with replaceable heads to service parts of the engine, among others.
• Screwdrivers – Some parts of the car, like the door panels and other internal parts, may be held to the car by screws instead of bolts. A good set of screwdrivers can make in-depth work in the interior of the car much easier.
• An Open Container – Changing the oil of a car can be messy business, especially when it leaks from under the car. When changing the oil of your car, keep a spare can or another container with an open lid handy to make liquid management much easier.
• Tire Jack – This tool can be useful for vehicle maintenance both in the garage and on the road. Compact tire jacks which can easily be stored in the trunk of a car without taking up much space exist on the market today. You may opt to get a larger one for your garage in order to perform vehicle maintenance.
• Tire Pressure Gauge – Common tire pressure gauges can be found at gas stations, or mounted to the walls of auto shops. Nowadays, tire pressure gauges are now about the same size of a mobile phone, allowing drivers to keep one in their glove compartment to be used nearly anywhere. This can be a good tool to have for a vehicle maintenance session.
• A Loose Cloth or Rag – Your car can be home to all kinds of dirt, grease, loose oil, and other things that can make your hands dirty. Keep a rag around to wipe off the dirt from both the car and your hands from time to time. Pack some gloves too, if you want to keep your hands both clean and safe.
• Pliers – A set of pliers can be good for performing maintenance on your car battery, in order to minimize the risk of electric shock.

What To Check and Service

• Oil – Checking the oil in your car can never be done too often. The oil in your car is essential to the operation of the engine, so checking and changing the oil of your car often can help your car running for the many years to come.
• Brake Fluid – Your brakes are also essential to the overall operation and safety of your car. The brake fluid levels should also be checked and changed periodically to prevent accidents and complete failure of the braking system.
• Tires – With a handy air pressure gauge, check the air levels if your tire regularly. Tires with too much or too little air pressure will shorten the lifespan of your tires, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
• Engine Coolant – Overheating your engine in the middle of the road can be as inconvenient as it is unsafe. Whether you are going on a long trip to the country or simply taking a drive to work or school, make sure your coolant level is topped up.
• Car Battery – Dirt, grime and blemishes can build up on the contacts of your car battery over time. This can affect your batterys ability to power up your car, so clean the contacts every once in a while.
• Lights – It is illegal in some places to have non-functioning brake lights or head lights. They are also critical to the safety of both you and other drivers on the road, so flick them off and on while having someone else confirm that they are indeed working.
• Belts – The belts of your car should be outright replaced if they show wear, tear, fraying ends, or cracks. Silicone or other oil-based lubricants are not recommended to maintenance the belts of your car.
• Spark Plugs – Both the wires and spark plugs should be replaced when you decide to replace your spark plugs. Part of your vehicle maintenance guide should include checking for faulty spark plugs which cause decreased fuel mileage or slow engine start-up times.

Maintaining Electric Cars

The maintenance of electric cars has been debated many a time by car enthusiasts and the commoners alike. There are different notions among the public about the same. Some think that maintaining an electric car will be a heinous task, while some argue that it is far easier than a regular petrol/diesel car. Some say that the availability of mechanics who have expertise in servicing electric cars are rarely found, while some others say that the companies themselves provide such services and hence there is no headache. All in all, this is one major issue when people consider buying a car that runs on electricity. What is the truth? Let us dig in deeper.

The major maintenance associated with electric cars is the maintenance of the battery pack. It isn’t a scary task. You’ll have to recharge the battery regularly, as you would for any other electric device. When the battery dies out, you’ll have to replace it. The other maintenance tasks to be taken care of are mostly the regular ones associated with any other car.

First of all, an electric car never turns out to be a trouble maker. The belief is that they are neat, non-messy vehicles. That isn’t a wrong notion. The engine isn’t cluttered and has fewer parts. This places everything in a well-arranged position.

Electric cars are charged using vehicle chargers. You can charge your car at home. Isn’t that an advantage when you think of having to take your non-electric car to a gas station to fill gas every time? Most of the cars can be plugged to the standard electrical outlets. The higher the outlet voltage is, the lesser the time it takes for charging. Another viable option is to charge the car using a vehicle charging station. It can be bought and kept at home. Most companies promote this option, since it is capable of a more quick and efficient charging. The vehicle charging station is designed solely for this purpose and it’ll hence provide a higher voltage. This will reduce the charging time drastically. A one-time investment for the charging station will be worth the buy.

The range that can be covered by an electric car depends on many factors like the battery pack, curb weight and so on. When the charge decreases and reaches a low level, the drive will start becoming rough. This serves as an indication that the car needs to be recharged. Gauges and similar instruments help you keep track of the energy of the vehicle.

When it comes to regular maintenance of an electric car, there isn’t much to be done. The batteries have to be checked regularly, say, once in a month. Check if the batteries need water. Also see that the connections are held tight in place. There aren’t issues that cause too much trouble. Apart from the battery pack, all the maintenance is the regular works like checking for air in the tires, proper working of the brake, clutch and suspension, etc.

If there happens to be some major trouble with your car and if it is out of your league to fix it, take it to a mechanic. In most cases, electric cars come with a good service period. If that is the case, you don’t have to worry about whether the local mechanics will know to fix the problem or not. Electric car companies have experts specialized in servicing electric cars. Even otherwise, since the number of people using electric or hybrid cars is on the rise, more mechanics next door are gaining expertise in maintaining and repairing them. In the worst case, if you are not able to find any mechanic in your neighborhood, you can call up any of the electric car companies that provide service. These companies have a fleet of mechanics trained specially for servicing these cars. This is important to them too, since they have to promote the concept of these cars and establish a strong foothold in the market. But you should realize that this task shall not be as easy as it is for your normal car. If you are not staying anywhere near a city or if you are in an area where electric cars aren’t popular at all, then you might be at risk. Just like the fact that electric cars aren’t available in every other shop out there, the mechanics won’t be found in every nook. You can also insure your car like you do for any other car. Many car dealers have growing options for buying or selling electric cars. This highlights the increasing popularity of these eco-friendly cars.

On the whole, maintaining electric cars is a manageable task. Charging the car regularly and replacing batteries can be done by any one. If you travel only short distances regularly, you can definitely think of going green. At the least, you don’t have to avoid buying one, thinking that maintaining it will be troublesome.