Means Testing And Credit Counseling In Bankruptcy Proceedings

Means Testing And Credit Counseling In Bankruptcy Proceedings

Are you contemplating filing for bankruptcy in the state of Arizona? Then try to think a few essential things over first. Filing for bankruptcy shouldn’t be done haphazardly. It’s something that requires serious thought and planning as well. Usually, a person who is suffering severe and almost irreversible financial difficulties is one who should properly contemplate bankruptcy proceedings. But if you still have enough assets to cover your debts, then there may still be other better options for you to consider. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you should talk things out with a licensed bankruptcy lawyer in the state before actually going for it.

An experienced bankruptcy lawyer in Arizona will most likely require you to first undergo the means test and mandatory credit counseling before he will consider filing your bankruptcy petition. Why is this so? Stemming from the 2005 Reform Laws, these requirements were incorporated to the United States Bankruptcy Code in order to prevent abuses on the system. In the past, filing for bankruptcy was resorted to by more than just a few individuals to just frivolously avoid their financial obligations. This opened the doors to abuse which is why these tests were introduced as amendments to the existing legislation.

Essentially, the means test is for the purpose of evaluating the present income of the person as well as his remaining assets, assuming any are still left. The result of such assessment will determine whether he can file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or if he has no choice but to pursue a Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can only be filed if after undergoing the means test, the individual is found to be with very minimal to no assets left to cover his outstanding debts to his creditors. Your current income will also be calculated and reviewed accordingly to see if it can still be sufficient enough to meet your outstanding financial obligations.

As for the mandatory credit counseling, this lays down several crucial requirements for you to fulfill before you can file your petition. By the very term “mandatory,” failure to meet such requirements would lead to the dismissal of your petition by the bankruptcy courts. These requirements include:

• Meeting with an approved credit counselor for a 90-minute session within 6 months before filing your bankruptcy petition;
• Completing money management classes before your debts will be discharged; and
• Developing a debt repayment schedule in case you’re filing under Chapter 13

Failure to undergo the means test or to fulfill any of the requirements for mandatory credit counseling will most likely lead the courts to dismiss your petition and at times, with prejudice as well. Thus, you have to be very prudent and discuss your bankruptcy plans thoroughly with a bankruptcy attorney in Arizona to make sure that you’re literally doing the right thing. Consult with your bankruptcy attorney today and put your financial burdens to rest for good.

Bankruptcy Lawyers in Arizona

Source: http://www.windshieldreplacementphoenix.org/news/means-testing-and-credit-counseling-in-bankruptcy-proceedings/520/

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Car Maintenance Coming into Spring

We are moving in to spring weather which means rainy weather, spring break trips, and another perfect time to check over your vehicle.

With the change in weather you want to make sure you are prepared

Fresh Wiper blades
Making sure your cooling system is working
Oil Change if needed
and any supplies needed if stranded

Before heading out on any long spring break trips you should get an over all inspection All Tech Auto Repair Does free 35 point inspections. When ever you are going to be taking a long trip you want to check for:

Properly maintained and inflated tires
you have a properly inflated spare tire, jack, tire iron
your coolant is non corrosive
your brakes are in good condition
you have completed recommended service for mileage
all components of your car are working properly
and an emergency kit

As Spring approaches All Tech Auto Repair is prepared to take care of all your car needs and keep your car running in good condition for all your spring adventures.

The post Car Maintenance Coming into Spring appeared first on Nampa Auto Repair & Oil Change Specialist: All Tech Auto Repair.

Source: http://www.alltechautorepair.net/car-maintenance-coming-into-spring/

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Lexington Gets Spate of Auto Glass Vandalisms

Lexington is the latest place to be struck by the auto glass vandals.  According to police, no fewer than a dozen cars had their auto glass vandalized last week, all along a single drive.  The cars on Summerhill Drive suffered from broken windows and not windshields, further indicating the purely mischief-making nature of the prank.  People are suspecting that it is a single group that is responsible for the vandalism, considering that the incidents have all the indications of a series of vandalism caused by pranksters doing a malicious drive-by with a tool such as a pellet gun or a BB gun, two of the most favored instruments for vandals of car windows.

The auto glass vandalism are not new to this area, it seems.  At least one of the victims or owners of the vandalized cars, Nell Demaree, alleged that she had suffered a like vandalism before, after parking her car in the same location.  Residents of the area are troubled, fearing that the vandals shall continue to make the rounds of the location and make even more trouble for car owners.

Similar incidents have been breaking out all over the country and even abroad, although the vast majority of the auto glass break-ins this season have been ones suspected to be motivated by an intent to burgle.  The perpetrators do not always make off with something, of course, as some seem less discerning than others, but they do manage to steal something in most cases.  The usual items targeted are devices that are typically left in cars, such as GPS devices, sat nav units, and even mobile handsets forgotten by the owner in the seat of the car.  Other typical items that such car burglars look for would be packages from the mall, shopping bags, handbags, laptop bags, and similar items that may be left in any of the seats of the vehicle.  The usual recommendation in such cases is for car owners to simply take care not to leave anything tempting in their cars, and thus avoid presenting too much temptation to thieves.

The Lexington incidents, though, have not had any burglaries associated with them, which indicates pure vandalism at work.  This does not make it any less grave, of course: the owners of the cars still end up losing something, even if insurance does pay for the auto glass repair in most cases.  Still, the trouble of having to bring the car to the shop and wait for the broken window to be replaced is something to be considered.  Meanwhile, police are looking for clues and allege that although the incidents must have happened at any time from 1 to 5 in the morning, there should be some witnesses still.  Police urge any people with useful information to come forward and tell their story.

Source: http://www.windshieldreplacementphoenix.org/laws/lexington-gets-spate-of-auto-glass-vandalisms/464/

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Save Gas this Summer!

As gas prices continue to startlingly increase in America, summer road trips may seem completely out of the question. However, here are several tricks to help you conserve your fuel so that you can still enjoy an action-packed summer vacation.

It is important to avoid excess braking and accelerating. Instead, try to predict when the light will turn red, coast to stop, and then slowly accelerate again.  In general, rapid braking and accelerating will waste more fuel.

When on the freeway, use cruise control to keep your car at a consistent speed.  Statistics have concluded that using cruise control can conserve your fuel economy by 10%.

Before leaving your house use mapping sites, like Google Maps and MapQuest, to plan your trip. Mapping sites will allow you to compute the most the efficient route to and from each location.

Maintaining proper air pressure in your tires can also benefit your fuel economy. Lower air pressure results in rolling resistance so it is important to check your tire pressure weekly and replace flat tires as soon as possible. Robert’s Auto Repair provides quality tire service and can quickly repair any issue that may arise.

With these fuel conservation tips, hopefully, the rising gas prices will not put a damper on your summer vacation.

To schedule an appointment, call Robert’s Auto Repair today.

Mechanical — 831-373-1534

Body Shop — 831-373-1535

 

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/save-gas-this-summer/

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The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Car Leasing

When people are searching for a new car they often think that buying is the only option, this is not true. Car leasing can be a great choice to drive away in a brand new car. The current economic climate has resulted in more people looking for deals and wanting to get more for their money. Car leasing can be a cost effective way of driving a brand new vehicle.

Like with most things car leasing has its critics and some believe that buying a car is the better option. In all fairness buying a car can also be a good choice as it has a few advantages. If you have an amount of money saved away and you can buy a car outright then you are in a good position. Others may have to go down the financing route which can be very costly in the long run. Also you will have all the maintenance costs such as servicing and an MOT to deal with. The main benefit to buying is that you own the car and can do any changes to it that you like. Also this gives you the ability to sell the car in the future in order to have some money towards a new one.

The advantages of car leasing:

1. You can drive quality cars such as Nissan car leasing clickhere, which you may have not been able to afford to buy. This means you will be driving a top of the range car with affordable monthly payments.
2. All the car maintenance will be taken care of including the MOT and service. This can be a massive saving over the year. It is always important to check that maintenance is included in the car leasing offers.
3. Car leasing often comes with low down payments and low monthly costs. This makes your payments easy to manage and there won’t be any nasty surprises that could arise with unexpected car bills.
4. The best thing about car leasing is you could be constantly driving a brand new car for the rest of your life. Once your car lease runs out you can take it back and replace it for a new one. Some leasing companies even give you the opportunity to buy.

Disadvantages of car leasing:

1. One disadvantage is that you have a mileage cap. This will be negotiated when you discuss the lease deal.
2. You don’t own the car which for some people is the main reason that they wouldn’t lease.
3. You will be tied into a contract and if your circumstances change this can be difficult to get out of.
4. For most people it is the unknown factor that puts them off leasing. Many people are cautious about leasing as they don’t know much about it. It is always important to do as much research as possible. Some people think it may be expensive with having insurance costs as well. But you can lease cars with insurance clickhere.

So there you have it the advantages and disadvantages of car leasing. It is important to look at your personal situation and work out if leasing is right for you.

Source: http://www.autoscraze.com/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-car-leasing.html

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Fuel Saving Tip: Tire Pressure Saves Fuel In Claremont

Under-inflated tires waste gas for lots of folks in the Claremont area. Think how hard it is to walk in sand – you just have to work harder because of the resistance. When your tires don’t have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased and it simply takes more gas to get from San Diego to Claremont.

Always check your tire pressure when you gas up at one of our local Claremont service stations. If they’re low – even just a little bit – bring them up to proper pressure. There’s a sticker on the inside of your driver’s door that gives the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.

And don’t rely on your tire pressure monitoring system to alert you to when you need more air. The TPMS system is set to warn you when pressure drops twenty percent below recommendations. That’s severely under inflated and you needed more air a long time ago. And if you have a slow leak – get it fixed right away at Aero Auto Repair.

Get some air and save some gas.

Related Posts:

• San Diego Safety Systems: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Tire Maintenance In Miramar
• Fuel Saving Tip: Car Weight And Your California Driving
• Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down Around San Diego

Source: http://www.myaeroauto.com/fuel-saving-tip-tire-pressure-saves-fuel-in-claremont/

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Maintenance Free Myth

Sometimes we hear people say, “What’s up with all this maintenance stuff? Modern cars just don’t break down.” While it is true that today’s cars and trucks are extremely reliable, they are also becoming increasingly complicated and use more exotic materials than ever before. All that complexity demands higher tolerances for everything. For example, most folks don’t realize how high tech automotive fluids have become. Fluids like, engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid.

Did you know that a modern engine would not run for more than a few months using motor oil formulas from 30 years ago? Today’s automotive fluids contain a much higher percentage of additives to protect your vehicle’s components from premature wear and corrosion. Time and miles march on for all of our cars. Please don’t think we’re using scare tactics to get you to take care of your maintenance – but here are some personal stories from AutoNetTV staff members to emphasize the importance of getting things done when they are due. Names are withheld to avoid embarrassment to those who should know better. Even though they should know better, it usually comes down to real life: time and budget. But they are tales of a stitch in time saves nine.

The first comes from a staffer who bought a used pick-up truck for his son. The oil was clean and all the fluids were topped off. A short time later, the truck overheated on the highway and shut down. The repair shop diagnosed the problem: the radiator pan was corroded and dumped the coolant. Even though the coolant level was correct, it was clear that the coolant had never been exchanged – just topped off from time to time. While this kept the engine cool, all of the anti-corrosion additives had worn out; the coolant became acidic and ate through the radiator pan. The cost: hundred of dollars and four days in the shop. This demonstrates the need to get your coolant exchanged on schedule.

Another story involves the true cost of skipping an annual inspection. Our staffer took his SUV in for the North Carolina safety inspection to renew his registration. At the inspection station, he learned that the law had changed and that his newer rig only required an inspection every two years. He was very happy to save the $45 bucks. The problem was, his rear brake pads were very worn. Two months later, it was bad enough that he could hear the grind – over the radio, DVD player and the kids. He took it in to get the bad news. Both of the rear brake rotors were damaged. The left one could be resurfaced. The right had to be replaced. So saving a few bucks on his safety inspection turned into an extra $500 over what brake pad replacement would have been. Moral of the story: don’t skip your annual inspections. The irony is that many Wilmington service centers would have done a brake inspection for free.

Next: a teenage daughter and a curb. Daddy’s little princess smacked a curb when she turned into a shopping center and popped the tire. The problem came when Dad didn’t get an alignment. The impact was hard enough to ruin the tire – so it was hard enough wreck the alignment. But instead of an alignment after the first tire, Papa ended up buying a second tire a few months later – and then an alignment.

Situation: son and wife with cars from the same manufacturer with essentially the same engine. Our staffer checked the son’s maintenance schedule and saw that it needed a timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles/145,000 km. He had it done – it cost several hundred dollars. His wife’s car had about 60,000 miles/97,000 km, so it should be ok for a while. Right? Wrong. The problem was that the wife had the turbo charged version. Its belt was scheduled for replacement at 60,000 mi/97,000 km. At 63,000 mi./101,000 km, the belt snapped on the interstate. The valves all crashed down into the cylinders at high speed and the entire head was shredded and had to be replaced. The cost: several thousand dollars. Does he wish he had checked the maintenance schedule? You bet he does – every time he passes a big-screen TV.

We’re talking about taking care of little things before they become big things. And when you take care of the little things, your car runs better and is more economical to operate. Remember to save those maintenance records. It’ll show potential buyers that you’ve taken care of your vehicle and it will help you get a better price. Or when you buy a used car, check those records. If there aren’t any, assume that the maintenance hasn’t been done and take it to your Burgaw or Leland service center for an inspection. Take care of unperformed maintenance sooner rather than later.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/maintenance/maintenance-free-myth

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Staying On Track In 2013

Happy NEW Year…Almost! 

WOW! How did February get here so soon? It seems as if we just celebrated New Years Eve and now Valentines Day is already upon us. However, it’s still early enough into 2013 to claim this as a “new year” and there’s something invigorating about it. A fresh start. A blank page. The chance to make a change. The opportunity to make this year better than the last. Kind of like the first day of school all over again.

With all the holiday decorations put away, the house feels renewed. Around the dealership, people seem to be on a mission. Everyone has things they want to accomplish and I’m no different.

I’ve got big goals for 2013! One big goal is helping even more people get out of cars they hate this year. Another goal is to be healthier. The older I get, the more I realize the truth to the statement, “Health Is Wealth.” Which didn’t stop me from overindulging this holiday season. So here I go again, the sugar has gone away and fruits and vegetables are here to stay! I’m eating better, even if my attempts at poetry continue to fail.

But enough about me.

What are your goals? I encourage you to figure out what you want to achieve this year and then write down your plans. It’s important to write your goals down so that you won’t forget them.

Make time to review your goals each month so you can keep focused on what you want to get done in 2013. Sadly less than half of people who make goals and resolutions fulfill them. Break the chain and be victorious. Make sure that you’ve set goals that motivate you. Don’t set too many either. Focus on a few things that are the most important to you.

It’s also important not to rush your goal setting. Take the time you need to create goals that mean something to you so that are spending your time achieving things that really matter to you!

One thing that can guarantee your success is to find a way to track your progress, whether that is through a real person or a virtual assistant.

So if you can find a partner to help keep you on track, great! If not, I put together a list of virtual resources for you to make tracking more efficient.

Lifetick.com

Lifetick is web-based software that brings together goal setting and achievement through an intuitive and easy-to-understand process. Like a personal goal trainer, this tool helps you gain perspective, stay on top of tasks, measure performance and manage your goals on the go. Accessible from smartphones, with a mobile Web version. Free trial version. Uses SMART methodology.

ToodleDo

ToodleDo allows you to set multiple goals and associate your tasks with those goals. It’s convenient because you can create an action plan or at least a set of tasks that will help you achieve your goal. Both web version and mobile apps are available.

Joe’s Goals

Joe’s Goals is a free daily goal or habit tracking web tool with a simple and pleasant interface. You can create multiple goals and check off each day you accomplish them. A daily score helps you stay motivated, and you can also share your progress with others. Ease of use and simplicity are this tool’s key strengths.

MyGoalPlanner.com

MyGoalManager.com is a goal planning and organization tool that gives you everything you need to be your most organized and productive, even when mobile. The system helps you maintain better organization, craft detailed action plans, prioritize and more.

43 Things

43 Things is a social goal-making site that helps you create your list of goals, set reminders about your resolutions, and connect with others who have similar goals. The community aspect of 43 Things is what makes it shine: you can get inspiration for new goals and adopt others’ ideas, send and receive “cheers” for supporting resolutions, add comments and progress updates (the site connects to your Facebook account) and more with the free service.

TheCoveyCommunity

The Covey Community is an online community built upon the principles of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It’s a support system with the sole purpose of helping people achieve the most important things in their lives. Features include a goal wizard, goal-setting programs, daily progress tracking and journals.

Declare-It

Declare-It is an online application that helps you easily create, track and be held accountable for your goals. It focuses on seven different areas of achievement to help you develop better habits and achieve your goals. It includes a built-in accountability system.

GetGoaling

Get Goaling is an online tool to help you set goals, plan actions and make progress. It is simple to set goals and track them to completion with the included goal setting tools and tracking options.

GoalEnforcer

GoalEnforcer is a visual goal planning software that can help you plan, get focused and accomplish goals. You can set and rearrange a goals by dragging and dropping virtual objects. It includes color coding, status reports, and progress chart features for goal tracking.

GoalPro

GoalPro is goal setting software that lets you create, categorize and simplify goals. It includes action processes, performance tracking, reporting and daily journals to help keep you on track.

GoalScape

Goalscape goal setting software provides a unique visual display to help you identify, develop and communicate the key elements of any complex challenge, including overall structure, relative importance, and progress tracking. The tool lets you break down your challenge into manageable parts and track your progress.

GoalsOnTrack

An online goal setting tool to help you create SMART goals, track progress, manage goal-oriented tasks, plan daily activities, keep a journal, review reports and more. Best for anyone looking for a full-featured goal planning/achievement system. Offers a 60 day money back guarantee.

AchievePlanner.com

Achieve Planner is time management and life planning software for Windows that helps you get organized, get focused, and make better use of your time. You can work with multiple projects and goals without feeling overwhelmed, plan your time for maximum productivity, and feel more focused and productive while you work toward your goals.

Goalmigo

Free goal setting and tracking site. Fun source of motivation. Participate in the community. Give and hare some inspiration.

Don’t Break The Chain

Don’t Break The Chain is a simple calendar designed with the Jerry Seinfeld motivation technique in mind. Don’t Break the Chain! has the simplest of interfaces and can be integrated with iGoogle and Google Chrome. Best for completing a single goal in a quick and visual way.

StickK

If you’re the kind of person who really needs more motivation, StickK may be the Web tool for you. The site gives you an option to commit money to the goal. Then if you don’t achieve it, StickK will send your money to a friend, charity, or an organization you don’t like (as a further incentive to make sure you achieve your goal). StickK says that your chances of success when you put actual money on the line increase up to 3X.

Wow, that’s a lot of choices. Perhaps your first goal should be to decide on one of my recommendations. Until next time…

About The Author

Tracy Myers is the owner of Frank Myers Auto Maxx. He is also an award-winning small business marketing & branding solutions specialist, car dealership owner, best-selling author, speaker, business coach and entrepreneur. He is commonly referred to as The Nation’s Premier Automotive Solutions Provider while Best-Selling author and legendary speaker Brian Tracy called him “a visionary… a Walt Disney for a new generation.”

He is also a Certified Master Dealer and was the youngest ever recipient of the National Quality Dealer of the Year award by the NIADA, which is the highest obtainable honor in the used car industry. His car dealership, Frank Myers Auto Maxx, was recently recognized as the number one Small Business in NC by Business Leader Magazine, one of the Top 3 dealerships to work for in the country by The Dealer Business Journal, one of the Top 15 Independent Automotive Retailers in the United States by Auto Dealer Monthly Magazine and one of the fastest growing privately owned small businesses in America by Inc. magazine.

Tracy has been featured in publications such as Forbes, USA Today and Success Magazine, been profiled on The Biography Channel and The History Channel, written for Fast Company, been a guest business correspondent for the FOX News Network plus he’s appeared on NBC, ABC and CBS affiliates across the country. His inspirational stories and strategies for success have given him the opportunity to share the stage with the likes of Jack Canfield, Zig Ziglar (Author of See You At The Top), James Malinchak (Star of ABC’s The Secret Millionaire), Brian Tracy, Bob Burg (Co-Author of The Go-Giver), Tom Hopkins and Neil Strauss (Author of The Game & Co-Author of The Dirt with Motley Crue)…just to name a few.

Tracy is recognized as one of the top thought-leaders in the business world and has authored or co-authored 7 best-selling books alongside Brian Tracy (Author of Eat That Frog), Jack Canfield (Author of The Secret, Creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series), Tom Hopkins (Author of How To Master The Art Of Selling) and many others, including the breakthrough #1 hit YOU Are The Brand, Stupid!. He was also featured in the Emmy nominated film “Car Men”, which won 5 Telly Awards, and is an Executive Producer of the film “Esperanza”.

As the founder of his own coaching & consulting program, Tracy teaches ambitious professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners how to get noticed, gain instant credibility, make millions and dominate their competition by building their expert brand.

Tracy spends his spare time with charities that are close to his heart and has made his home in Lewisville, NC with his wife Lorna and their two children, Presley and Maddie.

Source: http://www.winstonsalemusedcars.com/articles/happy-new-year-2013/

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Maintenance Free Myth

Sometimes we hear people say, “What’s up with all this maintenance stuff? Modern cars just don’t break down.” While it is true that today’s cars and trucks are extremely reliable, they are also becoming increasingly complicated and use more exotic materials than ever before. All that complexity demands higher tolerances for everything. For example, most folks don’t realize how high tech automotive fluids have become. Fluids like, engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid.

Did you know that a modern engine would not run for more than a few months using motor oil formulas from 30 years ago? Today’s automotive fluids contain a much higher percentage of additives to protect your vehicle’s components from premature wear and corrosion. Time and miles march on for all of our cars. Please don’t think we’re using scare tactics to get you to take care of your maintenance – but here are some personal stories from AutoNetTV staff members to emphasize the importance of getting things done when they are due. Names are withheld to avoid embarrassment to those who should know better. Even though they should know better, it usually comes down to real life: time and budget. But they are tales of a stitch in time saves nine.

The first comes from a staffer who bought a used pick-up truck for his son. The oil was clean and all the fluids were topped off. A short time later, the truck overheated on the highway and shut down. The repair shop diagnosed the problem: the radiator pan was corroded and dumped the coolant. Even though the coolant level was correct, it was clear that the coolant had never been exchanged – just topped off from time to time. While this kept the engine cool, all of the anti-corrosion additives had worn out; the coolant became acidic and ate through the radiator pan. The cost: hundred of dollars and four days in the shop. This demonstrates the need to get your coolant exchanged on schedule.

Another story involves the true cost of skipping an annual inspection. Our staffer took his SUV in for the North Carolina safety inspection to renew his registration. At the inspection station, he learned that the law had changed and that his newer rig only required an inspection every two years. He was very happy to save the $45 bucks. The problem was, his rear brake pads were very worn. Two months later, it was bad enough that he could hear the grind – over the radio, DVD player and the kids. He took it in to get the bad news. Both of the rear brake rotors were damaged. The left one could be resurfaced. The right had to be replaced. So saving a few bucks on his safety inspection turned into an extra $500 over what brake pad replacement would have been. Moral of the story: don’t skip your annual inspections. The irony is that many Wilmington service centers would have done a brake inspection for free.

Next: a teenage daughter and a curb. Daddy’s little princess smacked a curb when she turned into a shopping center and popped the tire. The problem came when Dad didn’t get an alignment. The impact was hard enough to ruin the tire – so it was hard enough wreck the alignment. But instead of an alignment after the first tire, Papa ended up buying a second tire a few months later – and then an alignment.

Situation: son and wife with cars from the same manufacturer with essentially the same engine. Our staffer checked the son’s maintenance schedule and saw that it needed a timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles/145,000 km. He had it done – it cost several hundred dollars. His wife’s car had about 60,000 miles/97,000 km, so it should be ok for a while. Right? Wrong. The problem was that the wife had the turbo charged version. Its belt was scheduled for replacement at 60,000 mi/97,000 km. At 63,000 mi./101,000 km, the belt snapped on the interstate. The valves all crashed down into the cylinders at high speed and the entire head was shredded and had to be replaced. The cost: several thousand dollars. Does he wish he had checked the maintenance schedule? You bet he does – every time he passes a big-screen TV.

We’re talking about taking care of little things before they become big things. And when you take care of the little things, your car runs better and is more economical to operate. Remember to save those maintenance records. It’ll show potential buyers that you’ve taken care of your vehicle and it will help you get a better price. Or when you buy a used car, check those records. If there aren’t any, assume that the maintenance hasn’t been done and take it to your Burgaw or Leland service center for an inspection. Take care of unperformed maintenance sooner rather than later.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/maintenance/maintenance-free-myth

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Oil Change Facts: Saving the Environment!

To help drivers understand the impact that an oil change has not only on their vehicle, but also to keep our environment pollution free, here are a few questions and answers relating to oil changes.

Do you stick to the 3,000 mile rule when it comes to your vehicle's oil changes?

Source: http://www.excelautoandtire.com/tips-blog/oil-change-facts-saving-the-environment

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Enjoy a Tinge of the Seventies with the 2013 Dodge Challenger

A retro themed car, the 2013 Dodge Challenger (as seen on Kayser Chrysler)oozes charm of the seventies. It is a beautiful ‘Mopar’ classic. The most remarkable characteristics of the car are its flat hood and the decklid. It provides absolute comfort and can easily be called as one of the smoothest available coupe.  It has abundant options when it comes to infotainment gear. The car has tried to maintain its originality as a muscle car. The car will appeal to everyone in spite of the age group. It has a stylish and classy design.

The front is long which is in according to the classic retro style and is combined with flat sheet metal. You can get the car in vibrant colors. You can also opt for a Ram air hood and functional air ducts. The interiors of the car are strikingly different and modern. LCD touch screen and pistol grip-shifter adorn the interiors.

If you are looking for a car in a decent price range then the Challenger SE can be the model for you. It has a 3.6 liter V-6 engine which gives 305 horsepower and comes with five speed automatic transmission. The steering may feel a little light to you.  If you buy the Challenger Rallye Redline model then you will get steering wheel paddle shifters and also a sport mode. The most powerful of this lot is the SRT8 which a 6.4 liter engine that gives 470 horsepower. You can choose between manual or automatic transmission. This model also offers adaptive suspension which can be tuned with normal or sports mode.

The Challenger definitely is one of the toughest muscle cars. It also looks huge though it is not as heavy as it seems. The challenger can proudly proclaim being the only muscle coupe that provides seating for five passengers. The trunk is around 16 feet which means the space is not at all cramped. Safety highlights include a driver knee airbags, blind spot monitors, Bluetooth and also a rearview camera. Buying the base model will fetch you automatic climate control, cruise control, power driver’s seat, power windows, mirrors, CD player, trip computer, keyless entry and exit. A SXT model will make your ride more comfortable with replacing the seats with Nappa leather seats, heated front seats, fog lamps and park assist. The top models come along with incredible features like amazing Boston Acoustics sound system, HID headlamps, navigation system, wireless internet and a data dongle.

 

 

Source: http://www.autoscraze.com/enjoy-a-tinge-of-the-seventies-with-the-2013-dodge-challenger.html

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Oil Change Facts: Saving the Environment!

To help drivers understand the impact that an oil change has not only on their vehicle, but also to keep our environment pollution free, here are a few questions and answers relating to oil changes.

Do you stick to the 3,000 mile rule when it comes to your vehicle's oil changes?

Source: http://www.excelautoandtire.com/tips-blog/oil-change-facts-saving-the-environment

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35 Point Inspections

All Tech Auto Repair does a free 35 point inspection before you purchase a vehicle. There is a list of things that are checked to make sure you are getting a great vehicle. If there is anything that comes up in the inspection we also provide you with an estimate of the repairs, as well as printing out a reliability report.

35 Point inspection
□ On Lift:
□ Tire Condition:
□ Fluid Leaks:
□ Exhaust:
□ Shocks/Struts
□ Steering Linkage:
□ Ball Joints:
□ Axles:
□ Wheel Bearings:
□ Other:

□ Oil level:
□ Test Drive:
□ Seat Belt(s):
□ Lube Sticker
□ Starts & Idles Smooth:
□ Wiper/Washer Operation:
□ Horn Operation:
□ Interior Lights & Controls:
□ Windows:
□ CHECK ENGINE Light/Maintenance Lights:
□ Gauges:
□ Turn Signals:
□ Acceleration:
□ Steering:
□ Braking:
□ Noises:
□ Transmission Shifting/Clutch:
□ Heater/A/C Operation:
□ Other

□ Under Hood:
□ Fluid Levels /Leaks:
□ Oil:
□ Coolant:
□ Transmission:
□ Power Steering:
□ Brake:
□ Washer:
□ Belts:
□ Hoses:
□ Battery:
□ Noise:
□ Other:

The post 35 Point Inspections appeared first on Nampa Auto Repair & Oil Change Specialist: All Tech Auto Repair.

Source: http://www.alltechautorepair.net/pre-purchase-inspection/

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Tips for Teen Driving

With the school year finally coming to a close, many teenagers are already beginning to plan their summer vacation. Either it being driving to a summer job or embarking on a summer road trip, the roads will be packed with busy teenage drivers. Yet, teenagers and their parents should proceed with caution: summer also has the highest percentage of accidents caused by young drivers.

Before letting your teenager out on the road, it is essential to inform your son or daughter about the importance of driving safely. Below are a few tips to ensure that your teenager safely reaches their destination:

1. Minimize Distractions
It is tempting to turn on the radio or reach for your cell phone, but caution your teenage driver that it can only take a second for an inexperienced driver to lose control of their vehicle.

2. Practice Defensive Driving
It is especially important for your son or daughter to be constantly anticipating and preparing for any situation that may occur.

3. Plan Your Trip Ahead of Time
Decide and discuss on the safest way for your teenager to reach their destination. It may be necessary to help them decide on alternate routes and to continually remind them to follow the rules of the road.

4. Vehicle Maintenance
It is important to teach your son or daughter about the essentials of vehicle maintenance and to advise them to continually check their engine fluids, tire pressure, and electrical equipment, such as the headlights, horn, and windshield wipers.

If a problem occurs, encourage your teenager to bring their car into Robert’s Auto Repair for an inspection. If qualifying repairs are completed on your son or daughter’s car, we can guarantee them for the next 24 months or 24,000 miles, or what we call the Peace of Mind Warranty.

We hope you are able to start your summer off with a feeling of peace of mind, both towards your teenage driver and the maintenance of your vehicle. At Robert’s Auto Repair, peace of mind is guaranteed.

Call today to schedule an appointment at Robert’s Auto Repair!
Mechanical — 831-373-1534
Body Shop — 831-373-1535

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/tips-for-teen-driving/

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What Is An Insurance Company Approved Auto Body Shop?

 

 

Your Right to Choose

You have the right as a consumer to choose any auto body shop for your repairs; however, insurance companies have their approved shops that they prefer.   Insurance companies work with only select few “approved” shops. These particular shops are known for excellent service, craftsmanship and customer service.  The insurance companies are very particular as to who they allow to be approved shops working with their customers. The reason for this is that your insurance company has staked their reputation on these shops, so if the mechanics working at our shops don’t do a good job of repairing your car, then that reflects badly on your insurance company AND us.  We definitely don’t want that to happen, so we do it right.  This is the reason nearly all the top insurance companies out there recommend Grand Sport as their approved auto body shop.

We offer lifetime guarantee on all our collision repairs.  By selecting our shop that your insurance company recommends, you’ll have not only OUR guarantee but your insurance company’s guarantee as well.   That’s a double whamy!

Working Hand-in-Hand with Your Insurance Company

Something else you’ll want to think about with a preferred auto body shop is that your insurance agent will be the one to talk with the shop throughout the repair process rather than you having to take time out of your busy day to come down to our shop or having to call us.  You can rest easy while all of that is handled by us and your insurance company.

Rental Car

Something else to keep in mind with a preferred auto body shop is that your insurance company should provide you with a rental vehicle while yours is in the shop, granting that the delays in repairs aren’t your fault. One example of the delay being your fault is if you don’t allow the mechanics to start working on your damaged automobile.  We take the liberty at setting your rental car up for you so when you bring your car in to get the repairs done,  you’ll leave in a rental.  It’s just one of the things we do to go above and beyond for our customers.

Grand Sport Auto Body works with some of the biggest names in the insurance industry. Give us a call to see if we’re a preferred shop through your insurance company!

866-472-4727

 

 

The post What Is An Insurance Company Approved Auto Body Shop? appeared first on Grand Sport Auto Body.

Source: http://www.grandsportautobody.com/blog/what-is-an-insurance-company-approved-auto-body-shop/

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Battery Replacement At Atlantic Car Care In Wilmington

Hello, welcome to Atlantic Car Care. Today’s focus is batteries. It seems like everything in Wilmington runs on batteries. Of course, the batteries we’re most concerned with here at Atlantic Car Care are those in our customer’s vehicles. Just like the batteries in our smoke detectors or TV remote, car batteries wear out and need to be replaced. There are a couple of things Wilmington drivers should know when looking for a new battery.

Look for two measurements that come into play: cold cranking amps and reserve capacity.

Let’s start with cold cranking amps. This can be thought of as the power output used to start a cold sedans engine. The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live in North Carolina, specifically how cold it is. (Many North Carolina motorists have first-hand experience trying to start their car on a cold winter morning.) The two factors are that the colder your sedans’s engine is, the more power it takes to turn the engine over to get it started. It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend with.

The other factor is that the chemical reaction in the battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient when the temperature dips. At Atlantic Car Care, we consult the table shown below. Let’s say it’s eighty degrees Fahrenheit in Wilmington. At that temperature, 100% of the battery’s power is available. At freezing, only 65% of battery power is available, but it requires 155% as much power to start the engine as it did at eighty degrees.

As you can see from the chart, the colder it gets, more power’s needed, but the available power drops.

Percent of Power Available	Celsius	Fahrenheit	Power Required
100	27	80	100
65	0	32	155
40	-22	0	210
25	-32	20	350

So if you live where it’s cold in North Carolina, you need a battery with more cold cranking amps than you do where it’s moderate or hot. The battery that originally came with your sedans was based on averages. At Atlantic Car Care, we like to remind Wilmington motorists that they should always get at least as many cold cranking amps as their manufacturers recommend, but may want to upgrade if they live where it gets real cold.

And the type of engine you have will impact the battery you need: A six-cylinder engine requires more cold cranking amps than a four. An eight cylinder needs even more. And diesel sedanss require more than a gasoline engine with the same number of cylinders.

Now on to reserve capacity: It’s a measurement of the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has at a given load. The number is more important to Wilmington motorists these days because of parasitic drain. Parasitic drain is the battery energy that’s used when the key is off in your sedans. So, the power drawn by the security system, the remote start system, even the power the computers require to maintain their memory.

Reserves are also needed when you make very short trips around Wilmington. You’re not driving long enough for the battery to recover the energy it used to start the engine. So go with the minimum recommended by your manufacturer or Atlantic Car Care and upgrade if you need more.

Talk with us at Atlantic Car Care about your options. If you need more from your battery, a larger, heavy-duty battery may be called for. At Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington, we remind our customers that it’s very important that the new battery fits your sedans: the terminals can’t be touching other parts.

Batteries are a big ticket item for most North Carolina motorists, so the warranty gives piece of mind. There’re two kinds of car battery warranties: pro-rated and free replacement. With the pro-rated, you get a credit for a portion of the battery if it fails during the warranty period. With a free replacement warranty, you get just that, a free replacement. Be sure to ask us at Atlantic Car Care about the warranty so you know what you’re getting.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/battery/battery-replacement-at-atlantic-car-care-in-wilmington

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How to Know When to Change Your Oil At Atlantic Car Care

Today in the Atlantic Car Care auto care blog, we’re going to talk about oil change intervals. It seems that as engine technology advances, recommended oil change intervals have gotten longer for Atlantic Car Care customers. High quality oil in a well-engineered sedans engine has lead to extended intervals. But it’s also lead to some confusion among Wilmington car owners.

The old mantra “change your oil every three months or three thousand miles, whichever comes first” once applied to every vehicle on Wilmington expressways. Time and miles take their toll on motor oil. But now, you could have a different oil change recommendation for every car or truck you own.

Wilmington car owners are like everybody else, they have a tendency to follow the oil change schedule of the vehicle with the longest interval. Of course, that can lead to problems. For example, recently four of the world’s largest auto makers shortened the published intervals for several of their engine models. They originally published intervals that extended out to a much as 8,000 miles.

In real world Wilmington driving, the oil started to sludge up before the recommended change interval. Oil sludge is a thick jelly-like substance. Quite literally petroleum jelly – like Vaseline. This goop was clogging sedans small engine passages so the oil wouldn’t flow to some parts of the engine. This resulted in engine damage. We see it too often at Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington.

The auto makers began to offer an extended warranty to cover sludge damage. But there was a catch: the vehicle owner had to follow a new, lower service interval, and provide proof of oil changes in order to make a warranty claim.

So here’s the bottom line: with longer oil change intervals, it’s essential to follow them closely. Back in the day of 3 months or 3,000 miles, if you went an extra month or an extra thousand miles, your oil was still fresh enough that it didn’t have time to build up much sludge.

But if your recommended interval is 6,500 miles and you go over another thousand, you’re getting into heavy sludge territory. You absolutely need to follow mileage intervals very closely. And don’t forget your severe service schedule. If you do a lot of stop and go driving in North Carolina, short trips, drive in dusty or polluted Wilmington conditions, hot or cold weather, or haul heavy loads, you’re driving in severe service conditions. Your Atlantic Car Care advisor can help you determine which schedule to follow.

So check your sedans owner’s manual or talk with your Atlantic Car Care service advisor about where and how you drive in Wilmington. Should you change your oil closer to the regular schedule, or the severe service schedule? You need to make the call.

Let me give you an example of this. Some newer sedanss have an oil change indicator. It has a sophisticated computer algorithm that tracks number of cold starts, engine temperature, RPMs, mileage, and many more variables to come up with a recommendation for when to change the oil.

Depending on driving conditions, the indicator in one test vehicle came on at anywhere from 2,500 miles to almost 7,000 miles. It’s typically just over 4,000 miles. Clearer sometimes, we’re driving easy miles that are easy on the sedans – like a long road trip. Sometimes, we’re driving hard North Carolina miles – like towing a heavy trailer or a lot of around town driving. But, usually, it’s a combination of both.

Once again, it’s up to you to make the call as to when to change your oil at Atlantic Car Care to protect your sedans engine. Another place where North Carolina car owners can go wrong is with the type of oil they use. More and more new cars are coming to Wilmington owners filled with synthetic oil. Without going into a lot of detail right now, let’s just say that synthetic oil lasts longer and is very resistant to oil sludge.

But it also costs quite a bit more, so some Wilmington people are tempted to use conventional oil for their oil changes. Now, it’s always best to use the oil recommended by your manufacturer. Check your owner’s manual see if a conventional oil alternative is allowed.

But getting back to the problem, if your sedans came from the factory with synthetic oil, the recommended oil change interval is for synthetic oil. If you use conventional oil, you can’t use the synthetic interval. You need to shorten it.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/fluids/how-to-know-when-to-change-your-oil-at-atlantic-car-care

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