Do-It-Yourself Car Repairs And Car Maintenance

November 29, 2010 by  
Filed under Auto Repair Help, Featured

If you own a vehicle, there’s a great chance that a big chunk of the budget you allot for your car is for car repair and car maintenance. As you drive your vehicle daily and expose it to different elements, it experiences wear and tear. It’s important that you monitor its running condition to avoid problems. And when damage occurs, it’s also important that you do repair immediately. Despite the increasing cost of car repair, the fact is that you can still save on your car through do-it-yourself car repairs and maintenance.

DIY is a growing trend among many drivers and vehicle owners today. Although this requires some kind of knowledge in automotive, it does not only give big savings but as well as the satisfaction of truly owning your vehicle. There are basic and more advanced car maintenance and repairs that you can do. These include the following:

Cleaning, Car Washing, and Waxing

You don’t need a professional mechanic to do these for you, and you don’t need to be highly skilled in automotive to learn these basics. All you will need is to have the right cleaning and detailing materials to ensure that you will achieve your desired effect. With just a little time on your hand, you can reduce your trips to car wash and car detailing shops and you can save a lot of bucks.

Routine Fluid Changing and Refilling

Many of the systems in your car make use of different types of fluid in their operation. Other than fuel, there are oil and special water formulas that make your car work. Over time, these fluids are reduced due to evaporation or leaks, and you have to ensure that you refill them to avoid problems like overheating.

• Oil. This fluid is needed for lubricating the metal engine parts as they rub against each other. Without it, too much friction will be produced and the parts will heat up and get damaged. Over time, the oil also gets dirty and should be replaced.

• Coolant. This is a special type of water solution that circulates throughout the cooling system to absorb engine heat so that you won’t experience overheating. Regular coolant refilling is vital in keeping the engine temperature right.

• Brake Fluid. This fluid is crucial to the operation of the brakes. With not enough fluid in your system, the brakes may not work well and you may experience braking problems. Refilling your braking system should be done with caution and you must only use the right type of fluid.

Removal and Installation of Parts

Whereas many of the parts in your auto are complicated and dealing with them requires professional knowledge, there are others that are simple enough for average drivers. The addition of add-ons like spoiler, car bra, or wheel caps, for instance, can be done simply. And if you’re skilled enough, you can even do more serious part replacements when the need arises.

Yes, do-it-yourself car repairs and maintenance may take time, but the savings are all worth it. Plus, nothing beats being able to know the inner workings of your own car.

Car Repair Comparison Between Its Model And Manufacturer

November 29, 2010 by  
Filed under Auto Repair, Featured

When we buy our car, some of us choose to have a policy for repair but other may not as they would say that there is no need for them to have a car repair only if they take good care of their cars. They maybe right in some point but still, playing safe is better as we can’t avoid any circumstances and we can’t control the situation.

This is mostly the common situation that a car owner is facing whenever a car needs repair. Since there are a lot of manufacturers and models nowadays, it’s sometimes hard to locate a repair shop that specializes in every car repair. And in some point, advertisements may be confusing and sounds sweet.

A car manufacturer would always advice a car buyer to have a policy with them so it won’t be hard to have maintenance and a possible car repair whenever you needed to. But these may sound like an advertisement for us for we thought that they are only trying to sell their insurance policy. Well, this case is just a give a take relationship.

They take our money by paying extra for the repair policy and coverage but we also have the advantage to have our car repair in good hands and we can say that the repair is specialize since they are your own manufacturer. In this case, we don’t have to look around for the best repair shop thus saving our effort, time, and less frustration during damaged.

On the other hand, a business repair shop would encourage us to bring their car to them for maintenance and repair with a cheaper price. When you choose to have it that way, make it sure that the repair shop is not recycling any parts from their customers. You can make it sure by asking for a receipt every time they say that some parts must be replaced. Or another option is for you to have the parts bought yourself from any car spare stores to ensure quality of the spare and to make sure it’s new. But make it sure that you know what kind of spare you have to buy. It may vary from model to model and may not be compatible to all manufacturers.

Just be wise to choose a good option at all time. If you think you have no idea about car repair, maintenance, and other car stuffs, you better have it covered under the manufacturer’s policy so it will never be a big hassle on your part. But if you feels like you can manage the repair and you can find a reliable repair shop, then you can do the trick. Just don’t think of the money for this case.

Consider all the possibilities in the future, its not just about money, this is also about effort, time, frustration, and even savings in the future only if we choose the right decision.

A Review For Car Breakdown Plan And Coverage

November 29, 2010 by  
Filed under Auto Repair Info

For people with car, it is very important that we get car insurance for our safety. It’s not just a simple insurance that we are looking for but the cheapest yet complete coverage possible. The most common first insurance to consider is a car breakdown plan and coverage. But before we decide if we have to hook with any company, we must consider the coverage and the price of course.

By choosing the right company to deal with this car breakdown plan and coverage, we are not only making the right choice but also we are on our way in saving money. It is best that we know the maximum protection that we can get in the most reasonable price possible. Tip number one which most companies don’t cover is the pay and reclaim with Auto Aid. This kind of inclusive plan starts while driving from home and up to the roadside. They usually have a call centers where stranded drivers call for assistance.

There are some options for this coverage. In some emergency cases, a company may allow a car owner to have their car repaired at any nearest center then bring the receipt to your insurance company and claim for a refund. This process is called Auto Aid from receipt. All emergency repairs are covered by this policy. If you found a car problem while your car is in your garage, you can call them and they will visit your car for repair. But they can also bring your car in their shop if the repair will take some time.

Some car owners are not comfortable paying a flat rate. They would say that they seldom got a trouble so it would be a big disadvantage and just additional expenses. Well, if this is the case, there is a different kind of policy for you. This car breakdown plan and coverage is called comprehensive policy. This comprehensive policy means getting the full plan and coverage at no monthly rate whatsoever. The amount of payment will vary in some criteria.

Computation will consider the maker of the car, the age of the car, and the age of the car owner or the driver specifically. This kind of plan is suited for a new car with a relatively low annual mileage.

Other tip includes the call out limits and time, knowing what is included on the basic car insurance policy, and a consideration to some proven specialists. Call out limits and time is very important as car accidents have no time and no limitations. It is best that we can get aid from our insurance company every time we encounter any circumstances.

Reviewing the basic car insurance policy will also help save money as we can avoid getting a common policies from different companies. It’s unacceptable to pay double for just one service. And of course, we must also consider the length of service of an insurance company before we decide to be with them as we are looking for the stability of the company.

Know your purpose and then apply with the right choice. We can’t cut our needs but can cut our expenses. A car breakdown plan and coverage cannot be disregarded but we can choose the right policy with the total protection that we need and at the same time, we cut the cost of the policy.