Technorati Tags: auto repair, Car repair, car servicing

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Technorati Tags: auto maintenance, auto repair, Car maintenance, Car repair

Very good advice here from Eric Hill. Remember if you are doing your own repairs,,,,Safety First

Barry Newton

How to Repair Your Own Car

By Eric Hill

When it comes to repairing your own car, you need the ultimate manual before starting to touch anything - the car repair guide. While the leaflets and books prepared for you by the manufacturer of your car seems all you need, it really doesn’t tell there what you are supposed to do if your brake is loose or if the horn doesn’t seem to work. Problems like these are not user-repairable, it seems. That means you need to take your car to the repair shop. And sending your car for repair is good as several hundred dollar’s worth of cash. With today’s dwindling economy, you don’t want to spend another dollar on something you can do yourself, right?

If you want to repair your car, you have to first find a good book that would teach you what you need to know. Get something that you can easily understand. Determine the level of your knowledge about cars and start from there. How well do you know anything about cars anyway? Are you a beginner in car repair? Is this the first time you’re going to take a look at the insides of your car? Or have you done a couple of minor repairs here and there before?

To get the guide you need, you have to first know the make, year, and model of your car. It would take a whole book to describe how to repair each and every part of your car. So expect to find a book that solely talks about your car’s model and nothing else.

When you do get hold of the car repair guide you’re looking for, make sure to read it thoroughly before you start digging your car’s engine. It pays to know everything head on instead of groping for the manual right in the middle of the repair job. You don’t have to read the whole book. Just the section that pertains to the problem of your car would do.

However, don’t assume that the car repair guide in your hand is the be-all and end-all of all car problems. Car problems are much like sickness. It requires thorough diagnosis to be able to fix the problem effectively. This is why you need to get a book that’s a perfect match to your expertise level. You want something that you can easily understand.

Get car repair guides from the internet or from local bookstores. If you can leaf through the pages of the manual or book that you’re going to buy, that’s better. By doing so, you can be sure that you are getting exactly what you need. Keep in mind that you’re going to repair your own car. You don’t want to do something wrong that could otherwise ruin your vehicle.

If your time allows it, it is best that you enroll in a car repair school that can help you greatly in broadening your knowledge about cars. This is perfect for people who want to be car hobbyists. There are many schools that are offering car related courses today. They can certainly help you repair, upgrade, and even build your own car from scratch.

PacificNissan - used cars dealer from San Diego, offering also quality car repair services in San Diego.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Hill
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Repair-Your-Own-Car&id=1412813

(I don’t know about the area you live in but in the UK but in Scotland all these manauals are sealed to prevent you loooking inside. However, most maunuals will cover the sort of repairs we are we recommend on this site.) BN

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Technorati Tags: auto repair, auto repair manuals, Car repair

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Technorati Tags: auto maintenance, Car maintenance, Wax car

I am looking for a Toyota Dealer for car maintenance. Should I go to the dealer where I bought it? Is there a place I can look up customer evaluations? I live in the south San Francisco bay area.

Start with the better Bus. Bureau and get a recommendation.

Ask other Toyota car owners you see whenever you are driving around town.

If you have warranty work go back to where you bought it.

good luck

I went to Tire Kingdom recently and they tried to persuade me to get a tire alignment as part of my car's maintenance. But it handles just fine and I don't really have any problems with the steering. The tires themselves are okay, too. Were they just trying to scam me or are tire alignments really a preventative maintenance procedure?

alignment can be required if you have knocked the wheel on a kerb or somethin, cause then they wear on one side and you end up paying for a new one,

if the handling is ok and the wear is even then you dont need to get it done, certainly not required as a part of an ordinary service

: )

This is always a controversial question and as usual there are 2 sides to the argument. Have a read at this.

Auto Repair Facilities - Dealership Or Independent?

By M. S. Davidson

Automotive service and repair is something we all have to do or have done. But just like the old saying, “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover,” the same goes for a lot of independent repair facilities and dealerships. I’m not suggesting that one is better than the other, but that there is good and bad in both. Finding the right one should keep your vehicle in excellent mechanical condition without breaking the bank.

So which one would you choose? Dealership service or local repair shops? Keep in mind that all dealerships are not the same, and that goes for local shops as well. You should be able to find quality service at both locations; however, some things to consider :

Who is working on my car? Get to know the person or people that service and repair your automobile. This usually isn’t a problem at most local shops, but a lot of dealerships have a service writer to greet you and you may not get the chance to talk with the mechanic. That’s almost like going to the doctor and being treated by the nurse without seeing or speaking to the doctor.

Reputation Ask around while your out shopping or at the post office. See what others say about an establishment and how long they have been serving the community. This may not be necessary if your are not new to the area or from near by, but it still may be some interesting info.

Shop Resources and Cleanliness Ask questions to find out if updated equipment and resources are available to your specific repair needs. It’s not a crime to not know everything, but it’s not good if you don’t have the resources to find the correct answer. Shop cleanliness should not be the main deciding factor, but if the time is taken to be neat and tidy, then the extra time may be taken not to overlook simple items while your intake is laying on the bench.

Overhauls and High Mileage Autos Some dealerships and other shops don’t work on vehicles with high mileage. So make sure you find a well rounded shop that can meet all your needs, regardless of what you drive.

Parts and Labor Ask for an estimate for the repairs that you may need and check for O.E.M. (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts to be installed. Labor rates can vary from $60.00 to $120.00 per labor hour and on up depending on geographic location and vehicle. You can research local rates and repair costs, but hopefully that gut feeling was right when you thought you found the place to trust with your vehicle, and all passengers within it.

article by Scott Davidson

http://www.davidsonautopro.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M._S._Davidson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Auto-Repair-Facilities—Dealership-Or-Independent?&id=1278086

My view:

I went to a dealership as long as my warranty was still valid as they can use this as an excuse to make you warranty null and void.  I used to work for Ford an up until recently thisws their attitude.  If you had work done by a non Ford dealership on say your coil then the coil would not be under warranty.  You would have to go back to the mechanic who did the job.Using independant garages is a lot cheaper, so as soon as my warranty ran out I started to use them. 

A word of caution though.  Independant garages may not have the modern computer equpment needed for your particular make of vehilce.  Therefore, the repair or mainetenance may not be up to the standard of the dealership.  But you pays your money, you make your choice. 

Speak to you soon.

Technorati Tags: Dealership, Independant garage

By Craig Wilson

Like death and taxes, car repairs are an unavoidable part of life and with the costs involved in keeping a car in good shape increasing all the time it is important to know the best strategies for avoiding unnecessary expenses. Some of these savings can be made simply by following maintenance schedules for your vehicle but more importantly knowing how to deal with the repairer when it comes time for a visit to the repair shop.

From being a self employed motor mechanic for the last six years of my life and hearing tales of woe from vehicle owners on an almost daily basis I can comfortably say that there are more dishonest shop owners in our industry than we would care to admit. Unfortunately when the consumer is totally uneducated to the way these repair shops work they are often taken for a ride, simply because they have no choice but to believe what they are being told by the repairer.

The key here is knowledge. Arming yourself even with the most basic information about how your vehicle works and what to look for in a repairer has the potential to save you thousands of dollars on your repair bills. Many repairers will take your lack of knowledge about your motor vehicle as an invitation to fill your head with stories of additional repairs need to be carried out and why these repairs need to be done immediately when this simply may not be the case.

Quite a few workshops also employ tactics that encourage you to take your car in for a discount service that may seem great value on the outside but often times it is merely a way to get your car in their workshop so they can up sell you on a host of other ‘necessary’ repairs. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for making a living from the service you provide but how can you be sure that what you are being told is the absolute truth?

Sure there are honest mechanics and workshop owners out there and if you have been lucky enough to find one I suggest you treat them like gold. If they value your business and their reputation I am sure they will treat you just as good however if you have not been so lucky now is the time to educate yourself and start saving your hard earned dollars instead of lining the pockets of these not-so-honest operators.

For more information and access to one of the best resources for educating yourself against paying too much for your auto repairs please see Autofix.com.au
Craig Wilson is a trade qualified mechanic, workshop owner and the author of http://autofix.com.au, offering Free Online Auto Repair Advice, DIY Tutorials and Automotive News n Views.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Wilson
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Keep-Your-Car-Repair-Costs-To-A-Minimum&id=1106293

Good stuff   More later

Technorati Tags: auto repair, Car repair, car servicing

Have a look at this article.  It’s just a tad worrying. But read the tips below

Auto Repair Service - 3 Vital Facts You Must Know To Save Thousands

By Drew Turnbaugh

Think you’re getting quality auto repair service? What if I told you some of the biggest names in the business were out to get you on a daily basis? Since launching, we’ve been getting story after story after story about $5 oil change offers exploding into $750 - $3850 repair bills. We’ve heard about ‘new’ tires loosing tread and causing near fatal accidents. We’ve even heard of MASSIVE name shops charging people anywhere from $280 - $5200 again and again for the same botched auto repair service. How can this happen?

Most of this happens because people have just come to accept it. People have been beaten down and lied to for so long they just expect auto repair service to destroy them financially. But it does not have to be like that.

Auto Repair Service Tip #1: Shop Around… Always

But don’t just shop around for price, shop for info. When you call shops always make sure you take notes on what they’re telling you. How do you know you’re comparing apples to apples? It’s best to gather quotes from at least 3 different auto repair service locations and then check your notes. Once you have the information use a search engine to locate more specific facts. Use those facts to leverage your position.

Auto Repair Service Tip #2: Never Accept “Bring It In And We’ll Take A Look”

This phrase, and phrases like it are the mottos of the auto repair service industry. You as a consumer have the power to demand change. Mechanics can give you information over the phone… they simply choose not to.

Why do you think they always tell you to bring it in? They do this because over 89% of consumers will try to Find A Way to do business with someone once they begin the interaction. People feel guilty about saying no! And how much harder do you think it’ll be to say no once they have your car 6 feet in the air with the tires in a pile?

Auto Repair Service Tip #3: With High Dollar Jobs… Get An Advocate

An auto repair service advocate is a trained professional who you trust to give a second opinion. They can be hard to find, but they’re worth every second you spend looking. During most botched auto repair service the only way you’ll find out where and what the problem is will be to have someone who knows take a look.

Repair complexity is a double edged sword and it always cuts you twice. As cars get newer they become more advanced… as they become more advanced they become more complex… as they become more complex auto repair service professionals must receive more training. Do they? Of course. Their training is on your car when you bring it in.

Drew Turnbaugh is the founder of The International Automotive Network (IanAuto). IanAuto lets drivers shop local Quotes for Auto Repair Service. Give it a try today!

If you think this is an exageration, I can honestly say that the garage 3 streets up from me was closed down for “rogue dealing” so it must be quite common.

Technorati Tags: car repairs, car servicing, Garages

Police said on Friday that they are investigating more catalytic converter thefts, this time in St. Albans.  Converter Thefts Continue In the past month, mechanics at the Lake Street Auto Repair Shop have installed more than 35 new catalytic converters into cars that have been robbed of their old one. Police said thieves have been cutting them from parked cars for quick cash. There have been several similar incidents across Vermont and New York. Last month, New York State Police arrested a 27-year-old Swanton man, who, according to court documents, admitted to stealing converters in New York and in Vermont. Bill L’Esperance of Lake Street Auto Repair said: “Even private people that are just parking in parking lots or at park-n-rides are getting theirs stolen too, not just the big dealers.” Some dealerships in Saint Albans said that they have responded by hiring an overnight security guard and installed 24-hour security cameras.

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Source http://www.wptz.com/news/17137593/detail.html

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(See now we all have locks on our pertol caps criminals have switched their attentions to anything else that is not bolted down.� I read in a newspaper a couple of years ago that the guys who come out and tow your car away for illegal parking, took a car with a baby still in the back seat and efused to give it back ill the woman paid the penalty fine)

Technorati Tags: catalytic converter