Cleaning Your Car In 9 Steps

Breathe in. Breathe out. Ahhhhh!!! You smell that? YES, you’re right. It’s springtime!

A season of renewal, sunshine, fun and, dare I say it—CLEANLINESS! As much fun as it’s not, this is the time of the year to get your clean on and take care of some much needed spring cleaning! So set aside an afternoon to transform your stuff from messy to tidy—and please don’t forget to include your car.

Dirty cars, trucks, vans and SUV’s need love too!

Ask yourself these questions:

1) Are you a little embarrassed when a friend jumps into the passenger seat of your car? 

2) Moms, do you hang your head low in car line?

3) What about on Friday night? Does your date step back in horror as he or she sits down in the passengers side?

4) Do you know what that strange odor is coming from underneath the seats? You know the one that’s an odd mixture of month old chicken nuggets and sweaty gym socks.

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, now is the perfect time to do something about the state of your car.

So I’m here to help! Follow my guidelines to get your car back in shape for spring . . . for the sake of your friendships . . . for your sanity in car line . . . and especially for that “hot” date you’d like to go on next weekend (even if its with your spouse). 

Think about how much better you’ll feel behind the wheel of your clean ride. Say goodbye to dirt and hello to a fun springtime in your clean and shiny car!

SPRING CAR CLEANING GUIDE:

1. Wash—Wash your vehicle using a mild soap and water. Then dry with a soft, clean chamois (or lint free towel). Don’t allow bird poop, bugs, and tree sap to damage your paint. Remove them as soon as you can because the eating away of your paint happens fast, especially with the stronger sun of spring baking down on your paint. Use a soft brush to clean wheels and NEVER use chemicals with an acid base. If your wheels are dirty, clean those first.

2. Polish & Wax—Your vehicle deserves and needs a fresh coat of wax on your car for spring. The wax serves as a protective barrier against the insects, bird droppings and tree sap that’s plentiful this time of year. And that you just spent hours cleaning off. In addition to that, wax keeps your car looking nice and shiny.

3. Replace Filters—Have your auto service center of choice (like Frank Myers Auto Maxx…HINT! HINT!) inspect your cabin air filters and engine air filters. Replace all filters if necessary. During spring these filters can become heavy with pollen, which negatively effects how your car runs.

4. Clean Screen—Clear the screen where the hood and windshield meet, directly under the wipers. Also clear out crevices in this area. You have to make sure and keep these areas free of leaves and miscellaneous debris so that they won’t absorb water, which causes rust, and which can cause sediment that will clog the evaporator drain. If you don’t, you could be facing very expensive auto repairs and no one wants those.

5. Pressure Check—Make sure your tires are set to the proper pressure because as temperatures get higher, air expands, so you may have to let air out of your tires. If you need assistance with this, Frank Myers Auto Maxx can check your tire pressure for free.

6. Interior Detail—Pull out your car mats. Vacuum carpet. Wipe down interior. Throw away garbage. Organize your trunk. If your carpet is stained, they can be cleaned at most professional auto detail centers.

7. Window Clean—Clean all the windows and mirrors (inside and out). Use a solution of ¼ cup household ammonia to 1-quart water. Apply solution with a sponge and dry with newspaper, paper towels or a soft cloth…but newspaper works best.

8. Clean Your Blades—Gently lift the blades, and wipe both sides with a soft cloth or paper towel soaked in a solution of ¼ cup household ammonia to 1-quart cold water. Dry the blades with a cloth and lower them back into place.

9. Shine Your Lights—Apply window cleaner to your headlights. Rub vigorously. If your headlights have become milky, they may need some additional TLC by a professional.

If you’ve followed steps 1 to 9 to get your car clean then you deserve a break! So take that shiny ride out to dinner. Bring a friend along. You wouldn’t want all that work to go unnoticed!!!

Happy clean trails to you! Until we meet again.

 

Source: http://www.winstonsalemusedcars.com/articles/car-cleaning-in-winston-salem/

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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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Atlantic Car Care: Why Replace Your Engine Air Filter?

Just as our bodies need clean air to function properly, your sedans engine needs clean air to operate efficiently. Let’s go egghead for a minute. For every gallon of gas we burn driving on North Carolina expressways, twenty pounds of carbon dioxide comes out the tailpipe. Question: how can a gallon of gas that weighs a little over six pounds produce twenty pounds of carbon dioxide?

The answer is that the carbon comes from the gasoline, but the oxygen comes from the air. You see, it takes about twelve thousand gallons of air to burn a gallon of gas in your engine. Clearly, your sedans needs a lot of air to keep going in Heampstead. A lot of clean air is best.

You’ve seen the pictures of people in Japan wearing face masks. They want some kind of filter to keep unwanted pollution and germs out of their lungs. Well, your sedans also works better when its internals are clean. When your sedans air filter’s dirty, it simply can’t trap any more dirt, so the pollutants just pass through into your air intake system. From there it can clog your fuel injectors and even get into the motor itself. Not surprisingly, burning dust and pollen in your sedans engine does you no good.

So, we’re talking potential damage for Wilmington drivers. But another big thing is wasted fuel. Your sedans engine management computer tries to mix the correct amount of air in with the fuel. If the filter’s clogged, there isn’t enough air for the optimal fuel to air mix and that really messes with fuel efficiency.

In fact, replacing a dirty air filter at Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington can improve your fuel economy by up to ten percent. At today’s Heampstead fuel prices, you should be able to pay for a new air filter before your next oil change.

The verdict: When your sedans engine air filter needs to be replaced; it needs to be replaced. How often depends entirely on the level of air pollution where you drive in North Carolina. A simple visual inspection at Atlantic Car Care will tell you when you need a new engine air filter.

When you look at the air filter on your furnace at home and see it’s all clogged up with dust and dirt, you don’t hesitate to replace it. When your Atlantic Car Care service advisor shows you your nasty engine air filter, you now know why you should go ahead and replace it.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/maintenance/atlantic-car-care-why-replace-your-engine-air-filter

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Professional Fuel System Cleaning

Getting enough fuel to your engine is very important for performance, fuel economy and safety. In order to accomplish this, your fuel system needs to be clean.

Today’s production cars have fuel injectors, rather than a carburetor. The injectors need to be cleaned from time to time in order to deliver the fuel with the correct pressure, spray pattern and volume.

You can buy fuel system cleaners that you just pour into your gas tank that can help maintain an already clean fuel system, but can’t do a major cleaning. For that, you need to see Aero Auto Repair. They have the tools and chemicals to do the job right. Aero Auto Repair can remove particles, gum and varnish from your fuel system and get those injectors running cleanly and efficiently.

You’ll find Aero Auto Repair at 9756 Aero Drive in San Diego, California 92123. Or just give us a call at 858-467-9999 to schedule an appointment.

You’ll enjoy more power, better gas mileage and reduced exhaust emissions. The cleaners also help prevent rust and corrosion in your fuel system and lubricate vital engine parts.

And, as with all maintenance, it can help prevent costly repairs that can happen because you didn’t take preventative steps. Check with your service technician at Aero Auto Repair and see when your car is scheduled for a fuel system cleaning.

Related Posts:

• Fuel Injectors
• Fuel Injectors
• Fuel Injector Cleaning In Claremont, La Mesa, and Miramar
• 10 Overlooked Services In San Diego
• What To Do After You Buy a Used Vehicle in San Diego

Source: http://www.myaeroauto.com/professional-fuel-system-cleaning/

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Brake Service: What’s Stopping You?

Vehicle brakes are vital to your safety when driving. What signs indicate that they're wearing out and you need to schedule a brake service? For those who suffer a daily commute through heavy traffic, your vehicle's braking system can bring thousands of pounds of metal, plastic and empty Starbucks cups to a stop hundreds of times before you get to work. It goes without saying that these pieces wear out, but they do so slowly, meaning you may not notice they need attention until it's too late.

Source: http://www.excelautoandtire.com/tips-blog/brake-service-whats-stopping-you

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How To Maintain The Life Of My Auto Body Paint Job

You had an accident.  You brought your car to your closest Grand Sport Auto Body.  We  just repaired your car. Now you have a fresh coat of paint for your car and it looks beautiful. It sparkles in the sun and the light glistens off of it. Things are going great until you feel a moment of panic as you think about taking it out on the street, in the city, or heaven forbid, down a dirt road. How long will that beautiful shine last?  Well, you can maintain that gorgeous bright look that your car has through a course of careful maintenance. A good auto body paint job can last much longer than expected if you take good care of it.  Here’s some pointers for making that gorgeous paint job last:

Wash Your Car Regularly

Ideally, you should wash your car every week. This is especially important if you live near a beach or in an area where the roads are salted during the winter. The salt will quickly corrode your new paint job if it’s allowed to sit untended.  Taking it to a car wash and using a pressure washer to remove a lot of the grime will avoid scratches from a brush. If you’re washing it at home,  be sure to use a mitt made of cotton or microfiber. Choosing the correct cleaner is important as well. It should be pH balanced and should not contain detergents, which can strip the wax from your vehicle. The cleaner should also contain a conditioner to keep up the shine and a lubricant to ensure that you don’t scratch your car while washing it. Rinse your wash mitt regularly in a bucket of clean water to remove any grime that can get caught in it and scratch your paint.

Make Sure You Dry

Don’t skip the drying. Your work is not done just because the car is clean. If you do not adequately dry your car after washing it, water spots can form leaving behind mineral deposits. A sheepskin chamois or paint safe drying towels work best. Materials such as polyester or microfiber can scratch the paint while drying it. If after washing and drying your vehicle, you still see residue, use a clay bar to remove it. Insects, bird poop or tree sap may still be clinging to your car and a clay bar should remove these. The clay will come with a lubricant which is to be sprayed over the area first to protect it. You can then slide the clay over the necessary areas and it should take hold of the remaining contaminates, lifting them off your paint.  Below is a video on how to clay your car.

Use Wax

Waxing your vehicle is the most important part of maintaining your auto body paint job. The wax will restore that beautiful shine to your car and will protect the paint. Wax helps to prevent oxidation by protecting the oils in the paint. To best maintain your car’s paint, you should wax every two to three months. If you live in a harsher climate, you may want to wax every month. If you’re unsure whether or not your car needs to be waxed, watch how the water sits on your vehicle when you wash it. If the water forms beads on the surface of the car, then your wax is in good shape. If the water creates sheets rather than beads, you’ll know it’s time to break out the wax.

Protect Your Car From the Elements

The more your car is exposed to inclement weather and the sun as well as birds and insects, the faster the paint will dull and corrode. Park your vehicle in a garage whenever possible, or if a garage is not available to you, try to find some kind of shelter or shade under which to park. Prolonged exposure to the sun can be especially detrimental to your auto body paint job.

A new paint job can provide years of enjoyment and pride in your car. It takes time and effort to maintain but you’ll find the time well-spent when you see how your car gleams and stands out from the rest when you pull into a parking lot. You may even come to enjoy the routine of washing and waxing.

 

The post How To Maintain The Life Of My Auto Body Paint Job appeared first on Grand Sport Auto Body.

Source: http://www.grandsportautobody.com/blog/how-to-maintain-the-life-of-my-auto-body-paint-job/

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Frank Myers Auto Warns Consumers Of Flood Cars In North Carolina

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK47URPnNOo

Around 230,000 vehicles were damaged by Hurricane Sandy’s rain and flood waters in late October. Now the National Dealers Association has warned car dealerships that some of those vehicles have been re-conditioned in order to be sold in other states, including North Carolina.

Tracy Myers, owner of Frank Myers Auto Maxx in Winston Salem, said he won’t be buying any water-damaged Sandy cars.

“If we get that car we’re not going to sell it. We advise any consumer to never buy a flood car,” Myers said.

If you’re in the market, Myers said there are some things you need to check out on a car to make sure it’s not water-damaged.

For the car’s interior, water lines are often hard to get rid of, and may still be visible even with repeated washing.

In the trunk, detailers often miss the spare tire well, which can become rusted if a heavy amount of water is in the trunk.

Under the hood, untreated bolts and screws will also show rust, despite a dealer’s best efforts. All of these examples should be red flags, Myers said.

Then there are the things you can’t see.

Robert Thomas, Director of Service at Frank Myers Auto Maxx, said water can damage the car’s on-board computer, which can cause the diagnostic system to malfunction.

“It’s impossible to completely dry a car’s electrical components if it’s been submerged,” Thomas said.

Myers advised all buyers to get a complete vehicle history report, which would disclose if a car had ever been flooded. “All reputable car dealerships will give consumers a complete vehicle history report, such as Auto Check from Experian, for free.”

Failing to disclose damage to a vehicle is a misdemeanor in North Carolina, and it can also leave someone convicted of the offense open to civil action.

Source: http://www.winstonsalemusedcars.com/articles/nc-flood-cars/

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What kind of warranty does your shop have?

All Tech Auto Repair believes in standing behind our work. With most of our repairs we offer a life time warranty.All Major work carries a life time warranty the only items that we can’t offer a life time warranty on is maintenance items. Any repair that we have done if it comes back with an issue we try to get you in ASAP so we can correct it and get you back on the road. All Tech Auto Repair wants you to place your confidence in us which is why we make this guarantee.

The post What kind of warranty does your shop have? appeared first on Nampa Auto Repair & Oil Change Specialist: All Tech Auto Repair.

Source: http://www.alltechautorepair.net/what-kind-of-warranty-does-your-shop-have/

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Custom Wheels and Tires For Your Wilmington Ride

It seems like everywhere you go in the Wilmington area you see custom wheels. Big trucks, little cars, mini-vans – it doesn’t matter, motorists are expressing themselves with custom wheels. Some North Carolina motorists want smaller tires and wheels – some want larger – and some want them enormous. So where do you start if you want new wheels? We suggest you start with your budget. We know, that sounds so practical. But if the look you’re after goes beyond just new tires and wheels and enters into the world of suspension modifications, you need to be prepared for the additional cost.

Let’s start with something easy – you want to give your ride a unique look and the stock wheel size is just right for you. One of the concerns you will have is that the new wheels have the same offset as your sedans factory wheels.

First, what is offset? The wheel bolts onto the hub on the sedans’s axle. The distance from the inside edge of the wheel to the point at which it bolts on, is the offset. If the new wheel has a different offset from the factory, the tires may rub on the inside or outside of the wheel well. That could lead to catastrophic tire failure.

Your tire and wheel professional at Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington can help you find the right size wheel – or install adapters to make your new wheels fit. All you have to do is pick from the hundreds of styles available.

Atlantic Car Care
21 New Bern Street
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
9107941390

So, what if you want to upsize? Well, if it is just bigger wheels you want, but you want to keep the same overall tire diameter, that’s pretty easy. The same offset concerns apply. You need to know that the tires will likely be a little bit wider than the originals and could rub when you make sharp turns. Your tire professional at Atlantic Car Care will help you avoid this.

It is also important to keep the same overall tire diameter because changing the rolling diameter can mess with your sedans anti-lock brakes and stability control systems. Are you starting to see why you want to consult with your tire and wheel expert at Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington? Is “super-size me” your motto? If it is, you are going to have to lift your vehicle to make room for those huge tires. A mild lift doesn’t require extensive modifications. An extreme lift means a lot of new hardware under the vehicle. It also means a lot of stock electronic systems need to be recalibrated to the new tire size. For example, your speedometer and odometer will give false readings if they aren’t recalibrated. (You don’t want to risk getting speeding tickets on North Carolina expressways because your speedometer shows a lower-than-actual speed.)

You should also be aware of possible performance issues. Bigger tires and wheels weigh more. North Carolina automotive experts refer to this as unsprung weight because it isn’t held up by your sedans suspension system. Increased unsprung weight affects performance in different ways than an equivalent amount of groceries or little soccer players in the sedans passenger compartment. Acceleration is negatively affected. Stopping distances may also be increased – sometimes significantly. If you want really big tires and wheels, you might need to upgrade your brakes to compensate.

Heading the other direction, some motorists like to run smaller than standard wheels and lower the suspension. All of the same fitment issues still apply as well as calibration issues. Don’t think that sedans suspension modifications are a bad thing. Many systems actually improve ride, function and performance over the stock set-up.

Regardless of your budget, you want your sedans to continue to do all the things you need it to do. Some of those show cars and trucks you see on TV look fantastic, but have been modified in ways that may not suit your needs. For example, if you put large rims on your SUV with low profile tires, you may be in for busted rims if you go off-roading a lot around Wilmington. There just isn’t enough sidewall to absorb the impact of thumping over rocks.

Some motorists stuff the largest tires and wheels possible in their vehicles but have to severely restrict suspension travel so that the tires aren’t rubbing all day. That can lead to a very harsh ride. Again, talk with your Atlantic Car Care wheel professional about all of these things: how you drive in Wilmington, what look you are going for, your budget and what compromises you are willing to make.

At the end of the day, you’re going to be rollin’ out of there with one sweet ride.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/tires-and-wheels/custom-wheels-and-tires-for-your-wilmington-ride

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Why People In Wilmington Hesitate to Get their Vehicle Serviced

A recent report stated that over 80 percent of the vehicles on our Wilmington North Carolina roads have one or more service or repair that’s needed, but hasn’t been taken care of. Now that’s a lot of undone service. That translates into something over 160 million vehicles in the U.S. alone. Some of the neglected items are minor. Others are serious safety concerns.

There are several reasons why we hesitate to take care of recommended services; especially services that our Wilmington North Carolina automotive advisor recommends when we’re in for something else, like an oil change.

The first issue boils down to comfort with car care. We don’t always feel we know enough to make good decisions. Some of that can be attributed to the fact that vehicles are so reliable these days. They almost become an appliance. Of course you love your sedans, but if you don’t have to worry about it breaking down all the time, you’re not forced to think as much about preventive maintenance.

Perhaps your dad knew a lot about cars and always made sure they were taken care of. He was very comfortable dealing with his local Wilmington North Carolina service advisor. People who don’t know as much about cars hesitate to ask questions because they don’t want to look ignorant.

It’s human nature. But, there’s so much to know in this world, we can’t all be experts in everything. So we specialize. It’s very important to ask questions of any specialist, whether it’s your doctor, financial advisor or your automotive technician in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Your auto technician at Atlantic Car Care wants your questions. We want you to understand the recommendation and why it needs to be done.

That brings us to the next issue; people say that they don’t always know if they really need the service or if they are just being sold something.

At the heart, it speaks to trust. Do you trust your Wilmington service center and your service advisor? Trust has to be earned and that takes time and experience. But you can shortcut the process when you realize that most of the recommendations are based on manufacturer’s maintenance schedules.

In other words, “you don’t have to trust me, you can trust your owner’s manual”.

Your Wilmington service center has computer databases that contain the manufacturer’s recommendations for almost all vehicles, so they don’t need to rummage through your glove box to look for your owner’s manual to know what to do.

Basically, the engineers who designed the car say “here’s when you need to have it serviced”. That’s who makes the recommendation, not the technician. He’s just reminding you.

Now you do need to trust your Wilmington technician’s experience and judgment from time to time. When he inspects your vehicle, he may find problems or concerns. He will explain things so that you can prioritize the concern and make a good decision about whether or not to have something done.

That brings us to the third issue; money. Often the concern is about spending the money to take care of a recommended service. Our money has many places it needs to go. And we have another list of places we want it to go. Auto maintenance isn’t usually on either of those lists.

Look, everyone who works at Atlantic Car Care has a family budget, too. They can relate. Maybe a little look behind the scenes would be helpful.

Service centers like Atlantic Car Care invest heavily in training, diagnostic equipment and tools so that they can make repairs and perform services as efficiently as possible. And like any other business, they have labor costs, insurance, rent, utilities, shop and office supplies, taxes and so on.

We work hard to make sure that we diagnose the problem correctly and fix it right the first time. That’s the only way we can maintain our reputation and remain in business. If we’re not satisfying our customers and providing a good value, you won’t come back and the service center won’t be around for long.

When there is a real budget concern, your Wilmington service center can help you prioritize the work that needs to be done and come up with a plan for taking care of it that works within your budget.

Let’s say you have a serious problem with your brakes. That’s a safety concern so a technician can’t ethically say, well, let’s put that off for a couple of months. What they can do is take care of the brakes now and address the cabin air filter or transmission service next month.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/inspection/why-people-in-wilmington-hesitate-to-get-their-vehicle-serviced

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Convenience in Auto Repair

All Tech Auto Repair is all about our customers and what we can do to help them out. From our scheduling to our pick up and delivery service we are trying our best to look out for our customers.

We want to provide you with the best experience possible with us, so we will go the extra mile for your convenience. Our shop offers a pick up and delivery service to our customers in the area, we will come pick up your vehicle from home or work, complete your service or repair, and deliver it back to you. We also provide our loaner car to customers that will be with out their car for a few days or if we are working on their only vehicle. These are both services that we offer free to our customers.

To assist our customers further we know that people have busy lives and we would like to contact you with your best form of contact be it fax, phone, email or text. We have these options for you so that we can contact you get your approval and get your car back to you as soon as possible. We have accommodations for people to wait in our office for services such as oil changes so that if you do not have the availability to leave your car we have a place for you to wait comfortably while we service your vehicle.
Our goal is to get you in and out efficiently. We want to fix your car correctly in the quickest time. All Tech Auto Repair knows how important our customers cars are to them so with our system we have the techs doing the inspections while our office is making an estimate for your so that we can call you with an estimate and get your repairs done as soon as possible.

Our Warranty- we provide our customers with a life time warranty for most repairs. We stand by our repairs and if any issues arise with a repair that we have done we will get you right back in and take care of that for you. We take pride in our customers and will do our best for you.
We send our reminders of any services or repairs that your vehicle is due for based on mileage or previous inspection preformed by our mechanics. These provide you with the information that your car may need some repair so you can be aware and prepared. On all our invoices that we give customers there is a list of any recommended repairs that you may not have completed at this time so that you know what additionally needs to be done with your car. We want our customers to be informed and aware of anything that their vehicle may need so we can keep their running in optimum condition.

Let us know how we are doing we would love the feedback and we encourage reviews so that we know what we are doing right and what we can improve on so we make your experience convenient and positive.

The post Convenience in Auto Repair appeared first on Nampa Auto Repair & Oil Change Specialist: All Tech Auto Repair.

Source: http://www.alltechautorepair.net/convenience-in-auto-repair/

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Air Conditioning season is approaching

The sun is shining and the weather is starting to warm up. Before you know it summer will be here and everyone will be using their A/C. All Tech Auto Repair offers an A/C service as well as A/C repairs and inspections.
Here is a little information to better understand the cooling system in your car.
The compressor is a pump that moves refrigerant through your car’s air conditioning system. The refrigerant is carried by hoses and pipes from one component to another. Compressor designs vary, but they all essentially work the same way.

The compressor is belt-driven by the engine through an electromagnetic clutch (although some hybrid vehicles use an electric motor to operate the compressor). The clutch allows the compressor to disengage when the A/C is switched off, or at times during A/C system operation when compressor function is not called for. The clutch usually receives its electrical signal from a component called a relay, which in turn, receives its activation signal, in most cases, from the fuel injection or engine control computer.

Besides pumping the refrigerant, the compressor has another job; at a certain point in the system, it raises the pressure of the refrigerant from low to high, and as the refrigerant’s pressure goes up, so does its temperature. Raising the refrigerant’s pressure and temperature enables it to release the passenger compartment heat it absorbed while inside the evaporator. The heat release process takes place in the next component to be discussed, the condenser.

The compressor can somewhat be compared to the water pump in an engine cooling system:

* The water pump circulates the engine coolant throughout the system. The coolant absorbs heat from the engine, and the water pump moves it to the radiator where it releases the heat to the atmosphere. It also circulates hot coolant through the heater core to warm the interior of the vehicle.

* The compressor circulates the refrigerant through the system. The refrigerant absorbs the heat inside the vehicle while passing through the evaporator. The refrigerant is then passed on to the condenser, where it gives up the heat to the atmosphere.

The post Air Conditioning season is approaching appeared first on Nampa Auto Repair & Oil Change Specialist: All Tech Auto Repair.

Source: http://www.alltechautorepair.net/air-conditioning-season-is-approaching/

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Custom Wheels and Tires For Your Wilmington Ride

It seems like everywhere you go in the Wilmington area you see custom wheels. Big trucks, little cars, mini-vans – it doesn’t matter, motorists are expressing themselves with custom wheels. Some North Carolina motorists want smaller tires and wheels – some want larger – and some want them enormous. So where do you start if you want new wheels? We suggest you start with your budget. We know, that sounds so practical. But if the look you’re after goes beyond just new tires and wheels and enters into the world of suspension modifications, you need to be prepared for the additional cost.

Let’s start with something easy – you want to give your ride a unique look and the stock wheel size is just right for you. One of the concerns you will have is that the new wheels have the same offset as your sedans factory wheels.

First, what is offset? The wheel bolts onto the hub on the sedans’s axle. The distance from the inside edge of the wheel to the point at which it bolts on, is the offset. If the new wheel has a different offset from the factory, the tires may rub on the inside or outside of the wheel well. That could lead to catastrophic tire failure.

Your tire and wheel professional at Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington can help you find the right size wheel – or install adapters to make your new wheels fit. All you have to do is pick from the hundreds of styles available.

Atlantic Car Care
21 New Bern Street
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
9107941390

So, what if you want to upsize? Well, if it is just bigger wheels you want, but you want to keep the same overall tire diameter, that’s pretty easy. The same offset concerns apply. You need to know that the tires will likely be a little bit wider than the originals and could rub when you make sharp turns. Your tire professional at Atlantic Car Care will help you avoid this.

It is also important to keep the same overall tire diameter because changing the rolling diameter can mess with your sedans anti-lock brakes and stability control systems. Are you starting to see why you want to consult with your tire and wheel expert at Atlantic Car Care in Wilmington? Is “super-size me” your motto? If it is, you are going to have to lift your vehicle to make room for those huge tires. A mild lift doesn’t require extensive modifications. An extreme lift means a lot of new hardware under the vehicle. It also means a lot of stock electronic systems need to be recalibrated to the new tire size. For example, your speedometer and odometer will give false readings if they aren’t recalibrated. (You don’t want to risk getting speeding tickets on North Carolina expressways because your speedometer shows a lower-than-actual speed.)

You should also be aware of possible performance issues. Bigger tires and wheels weigh more. North Carolina automotive experts refer to this as unsprung weight because it isn’t held up by your sedans suspension system. Increased unsprung weight affects performance in different ways than an equivalent amount of groceries or little soccer players in the sedans passenger compartment. Acceleration is negatively affected. Stopping distances may also be increased – sometimes significantly. If you want really big tires and wheels, you might need to upgrade your brakes to compensate.

Heading the other direction, some motorists like to run smaller than standard wheels and lower the suspension. All of the same fitment issues still apply as well as calibration issues. Don’t think that sedans suspension modifications are a bad thing. Many systems actually improve ride, function and performance over the stock set-up.

Regardless of your budget, you want your sedans to continue to do all the things you need it to do. Some of those show cars and trucks you see on TV look fantastic, but have been modified in ways that may not suit your needs. For example, if you put large rims on your SUV with low profile tires, you may be in for busted rims if you go off-roading a lot around Wilmington. There just isn’t enough sidewall to absorb the impact of thumping over rocks.

Some motorists stuff the largest tires and wheels possible in their vehicles but have to severely restrict suspension travel so that the tires aren’t rubbing all day. That can lead to a very harsh ride. Again, talk with your Atlantic Car Care wheel professional about all of these things: how you drive in Wilmington, what look you are going for, your budget and what compromises you are willing to make.

At the end of the day, you’re going to be rollin’ out of there with one sweet ride.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/tires-and-wheels/custom-wheels-and-tires-for-your-wilmington-ride

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Our Fuel-Cell Future

SOUTH WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT—Unlike sausage, it actually is a good idea to see pasta being made. I am wearing a chef’s apron, a hair net and a beard net, and I’m on the main floor of Carla’s Pasta. Started as a mom-and-pop business (well, mostly a “mom” business) in 1968, today it occupies 66,000 square feet, employs more than 150 people, and supplies 20,000 restaurants in New England alone with, among many other things, gnocchi, ravioli and pre-cooked pasta sheets.

You actually do want to see pasta being made! Here’s cheese ravioli on its way to a restaurant near you.
(Jim Motavalli photo)

Sergio Squatrito and his company’s $2 million investment:
A zero-emission fuel cell. (Jim Motavalli photo)

You haven’t lived until you’ve seen little green-and-white striped raviolis rolling down a conveyer belt, dropping into chilled water, then proceeding down the line to final bagging and boxing. Our tour was conducted by the genial Sergio Squatrito, vice president for operations and founder Carla’s son. He’s also a big supporter of Car Talk, a major supporter of renewable energy, offers vegan manicotti, and was extremely interested in my test car, a Chevy Volt. If he buys one, he’d park it next to his vintage ’69 Fiat 500.

Carla’s Pasta has just taken a big step—today, a solid percentage of its electricity comes from the 300-kilowatt fuel cell that sits on a concrete pad adjacent to the linguini works. Squatrito took us into the boiler room and showed us one of two big hot water/building heating units he was able to shut down because the natural gas-fired fuel cell has been on the job for the last month.

Fuel cells aren’t cheap, especially on the scale that can run commercial businesses. The 300-kw unit is relatively small, but it cost more than $2 million, which Carla’s paid for with a state development authority bridge loan and a $750,000 grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.

Fuel cells certainly aren’t new—they were invented in the mid-19th century, and Apollo moon missions took them into orbit. Essentially, they’re little chemical factories that turn hydrogen into electricity and water. You can use them in electric cars in place of a battery, and automakers have been building very expensive test cars for decades. But costs have plummeted as the technology has improved, and that’s why Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Daimler are all promising to deliver commercial fuel-cell vehicles by 2015.

It may not look like it now, but fuel-cell cars could be a big deal. Tom Sullivan of Lumber Liquidators is trying to build a “hydrogen highway” on the east coast, and the California network is evolving (despite Arnold Schwarzenegger’s efforts being derailed by budget cuts). And now, in an interesting development, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which polices air quality in a challenged state, last week voted unanimously for a big ramp-up of its clean car program. The plan envisions 500,000 “zero emission” cars by 2025, a category that includes large numbers of fuel-cell vehicles as well as battery electrics. In one CARB scenario, there would be 163,300 fuel-cell cars in California by 2025. But will there be fueling stations (a cool $1-$2 million each) around the state when the cars start to roll out?

CARB thought of that, and added a provision that requires oil companies (from BP, Chevron and Shell to Exxon Mobil) to install hydrogen fueling at gas stations as certain levels of on-the-road fuel-cell vehicles are achieved. It’s a good thing, because right now Los Angeles has only two stations, and Daimler (for one) has cars stuck in parking lots waiting for a larger infrastructure. But the oil companies aren’t happy. At the CARB hearing, Cathy Reheis-Boyd, president of the Western States Petroleum Association trade group, threatened legal action over the provision. “We strongly oppose the clean fuels outlet requirement,” she said.

Daimler’s B-Class F-Cell hydrogen car: Piling up in Los Angeles. (Daimler photo)

Stationary cells have already developed into a strong market. I also visited FuelCellEnergy, which made the Carla’s Pasta unit, in nearby Torrington. It’s a full-scale manufacturing plant, with 500 employees, loading docks, a staff cafeteria, and signs boasting of accident-free work days—exactly the kind of thing that President Obama wants to see “in-sourced” in America and not exported abroad. FCE, in business since 1969 and in commercial production since 2003, now has 180 megawatts worth of fuel cells installed or in backlog. They’ve generated 900 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.

One FCE plant in California is operated by Gil’s Onions, which sells the vegetable in fresh, pre-sliced form. This operation left a lot of outer skins as waste and because decomposing matter gives off methane, Gil’s was running into air-permitting problems in the state (which has the toughest regulations in the country).

FCE’s Kurt Goddard explained to me that fuel cells are a great zero-emission power solution for cities, because a) they don’t take up much space (even a big one needs only approximately a tennis court) or b) run afoul of any clean air laws. There’s one in downtown Los Angeles, where a nuke, a coal plant, or even a natural gas operation would not be welcome. They’re also incredibly quiet. I stood in the control room of the Carla’s Pasta cell and there wasn’t much more than a minor electronic hum. I was told by Chip Bottone, FCE’s CEO, “Clean, efficient and reliable fuel cell power generation offers our clients a cost-effective path to address their power needs and environmental stewardship simultaneously.” A two-fer, as it were.

Some of these plants are really, really big. FCE specializes in one megawatt units (with approximately the generating capacity of a large wind turbine), but some installations have multiple units and give power plants a run for their money. South Korea is a big supporter of fuel cells, and it recently put in an 11.2-megawatt unit, a record. Universities are big supporters of on-campus fuel cells, and the largest U.S. installation is an FCE cell that is part of a clean energy micro grid at the University of California, San Diego, and it’s 2.8 megawatts.

Goddard and John Sprainitis gave me a tour of FCE’s Torrington plant. There were a lot of workers rushing around on forklifts. In fact, it looked not unlike the pasta factory. My favorite room was final assembly, where a unit was approaching completion, with its enormous weatherproof cover hovering on a lift and waiting to be dropped in place.

Making hydrogen fuel cells in Connecticut, at FuelCellEnergy. (Jim Motavalli photo)

Yes, in many cases these plants (some of which are 30 feet high and weigh 120,000 pounds) are shipped, via truck, as complete units. But overseas locations such as South Korea often get fuel cells in kit form—I saw one boxed up for a steel mill, and it wouldn’t make economic sense to send a big steel structure to a steel mill.

Hydrogen is no longer a future fuel. The Oregon-based ClearEdge just announced a $500 million deal to sell 50 megawatts worth of fuel cell power plants to the Austrian company Güssing Renewable Energy GmbH by 2020. That’s foreign capital flowing into the United States from a clean energy investment. What’s not to like?

Here’s a video look at Carla’s Pasta and its brand-new fuel cell:
http://courant.vid.trb.com/player/PaperVideoTest.swf

Read the full article on CarTalk.com

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/02/01/our-fuel-cell-future/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=our-fuel-cell-future

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Click and Clack Winter Driving Rules

This time of year requires special attention when you’re out on the road. Why? Changing conditions from ice, snow and slush can quickly alter your ability to control your car, and to stop before, say, hitting a bridge abutment. As Tom and Ray say,

Do everything slowly and gently. Remember, in the snow, the tires are always just barely grabbing the road. Accelerate slowly and gently, turn slowly and gently, and brake slowly and gently. To do this, you have to anticipate turns and stops. That means what? Going slowly and leaving and leaving plenty of distance between you and other cars. Rapid movements lead to skids and loss of control. Drive as if there were eggs on the bottoms of your feet – step on the gas and the brake pedals so gently that you don’t break the eggshell.

It’s good advice. One thing you might not realize, is that you can safely practice your winter driving, just by finding a large, wintry parking lot. Here’s their suggested route to building up your winter driving confidence:

If you’re nervous about driving in winter, consider spending some time practicing. Go to an empty parking lot and try sending the car into a little skid on purpose. Slam on the brakes, then practice turning into the skid and see what happens – and practice until you’re comfortable regaining control of the car. Doing this in a large, empty parking lot (preferably without light poles) allows you the luxury of skidding without ending up flat on your back, looking up into the eyes of seven different EMTs. The more comfortable you are maintaining control and regaining control, the better a winter driver you’ll be. Oh, and one more thing. 

Those are just a few of their tips for these wintry months. You can check out their full list of 18 tips, and share yours, right here.

P.S. And while you’re there– let the folks at Car Talk know if you’ve ever used a snow traction device, like chains. They’re gathering reviews from other Car Talk visitors, right now.

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/02/07/click-and-clack-winter-driving-rules/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=click-and-clack-winter-driving-rules

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The Car Talk Guide to Jump Starting your Vehicle

Download the Car Talk Guide here!

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2011/12/06/the-car-talk-guide-to-jump-starting-your-vehicle/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-car-talk-guide-to-jump-starting-your-vehicle

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Tips for Purchasing your Next Vehicle

Summer is known for being car buying season, and if you need to purchase a new vehicle, it is important to be prepared before arriving at the car dealership. Here are a few tips to make sure the process of purchasing your next vehicle runs smoothly.

A flexible attitude is vital when it comes to purchasing cars. It is important to consider car brands that you may not initially like, and then arrive at the dealership prepared to compromise on the color, make, or model of a vehicle.  It is also helpful to research outgoing models. A car company is most likely promoting a newer model and looking to get rid of older models. Along with older models, the price of winter cars also decreases, and it is the perfect time to purchase a larger vehicle, such as a truck of SUV.

We hope, with these car-buying tips, you are able to purchase a vehicle best suitable for your budget and lifestyle!

If you need us to inspect a used vehicle you are interested in buying, call today to schedule an appointment.

Mechanical — 831-373-1534

Body Shop — 831-373-1535

 

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/tips-for-purchasing-your-next-vehicle/

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What kind of warranty does your shop have?

All Tech Auto Repair believes in standing behind our work. With most of our repairs we offer a life time warranty.All Major work carries a life time warranty the only items that we can’t offer a life time warranty on is maintenance items. Any repair that we have done if it comes back with an issue we try to get you in ASAP so we can correct it and get you back on the road. All Tech Auto Repair wants you to place your confidence in us which is why we make this guarantee.

The post What kind of warranty does your shop have? appeared first on Nampa Auto Repair & Oil Change Specialist: All Tech Auto Repair.

Source: http://www.alltechautorepair.net/what-kind-of-warranty-does-your-shop-have/

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Consumer Warning: Are Damaged Vehicles Allegedly Being Fixed & Sold In North Carolina?

Should North Carolina used car shoppers be on the lookout for vehicles which have been wrecked, repaired and then offered for sale? That is the question being asked by Tracy Myers, owner of Frank Myers Auto Maxx in Winston Salem, NC.

“I was approached by a customer who informed me that the Mustang he purchased from my dealership had been wrecked but fixed before he bought it,” stated Myers. “When I asked him where he was getting this shocking information from, he said that a local DMV official had told him. Since this was the first I was hearing of it, I needed to make sure it was a legitimate concern.”

 

As the facts unfolded, it seems that the story had some merit. Here is what was discovered by Myers and the DMV:

1) Frank Myers Auto Maxx purchased 5 vehicles from another dealer with “clean” titles, meaning they were not branded as salvaged.

2) The original selling dealer bought these vehicles out of state at an insurance auction. The titles were still “clean” at this point.

3) All 5 vehicles had Certified vehicle history reports.

4) The 5 vehicles in question were sold to used car buyers by Frank Myers Auto Maxx.

5) After the vehicles were purchased, the titles were sent to NC DMV and all 5 came back “clean”.

The mystery here is how these vehicles were allegedly wrecked and repaired without the damage showing up on the vehicles titles or vehicle history reports. “We’re still trying to figure some of this out ourselves. I’ve been in the automotive industry my entire life and have never seen anything like this before”, said Myers.

The good news is that Myers insisted on offering his customers a resolution. “While I feel like I was also a victim, offering our customers a resolution was number one on our priority list. We got new cars for 3 of the customers while customer number 4 decided to keep his. We are still in negotiations with customer number 5 and expect to have her happy in the next few days. It IS unfortunate that this happened but, thanks to the DMV, it was discovered early which allowed us to act fast.”

What about the chances of this happening again in the future? “There’s always a chance”, said Myers. “However, we’ve worked hand in hand with DMV and they’ve agreed to personally inspect and sign off on any vehicle(s). This is not only a great way to protect the dealership but also our customers.”

A reliable source, which chose to remain anonymous, said that “Not taking anything away from their customers but Frank Myers Auto Maxx was certainly a victim here. They could have, and had the right to, fight something in court that wasn’t their fault. Luckily, they took the high road and decided to do the right thing by their customers. That was a stand up thing to do and they should be commended.”

 

Source: http://www.winstonsalemusedcars.com/used-cars/damaged-vehicles-in-nc/

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Summer Is The Perfect Time To Show Off Your Vehicle

Summer is the perfect time to show off your vehicle, and the first step to having your car looking its best is to come to Robert’s Auto Repair for a full detail service.

At our 26,000 square foot facility, we can make sure your vehicle is looking brand new again by using clay, wax, and a complete microbuff on your exterior paint.  Your vehicle will once again have a new-car shine perfect for any of your summer plans.

Robert’s Auto Repair also provides full service hand washes that can get rid of any spring or winter debris left on your vehicle. With both exterior and interior cleaning services available, you can leave Robert’s Auto Repair with your vehicle in pristine condition.

Call today to schedule an appointment at our 26,000 square foot facility, located at 234 Ramona Avenue, Monterey, CA 93940.

Mechanical — 831-373-1534

Body Shop — 831-373-1535

 

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/summer-is-the-perfect-time-to-show-off-your-vehicle/

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Subaru, Mazda Rise, Ford Crashes, in Consumer Reports’ Automaker Report Card

Park a spot on the “Automaker Report Card”. Much like school report cards, automobile manufacturers get one based on consumer opinion. The list is being published in “Consumer Reports” magazine. Highlighting the latest automaker rankings in best and worst used cars and used car reliability for cars manufactured from 2006-2012. Where did your favorite automaker make it on this list?

(Overall score out of 100)

1.    Subaru (75)
2.    Mazda (74)
3.    Toyota (73)
4.    Honda (72)
5.    Nissan (67)
6.    Volvo (64)
7.    Hyundai (63)
8.    BMW (63)
9.    Volkswagen (62)
10.  Ford (60)
11.  Mercedes-Benz (58)
12.  General Motors (56)
13.  Chrysler (51)

Subaru in the first place spot, holding this spot for the first time with only six models out.  All of the most popular Japanese brand cars take the top 5 spots, with Mazda making significant improvement moving from seventh the last time the report has ran all the way to second place. Kudos Mazda!  Honda was in first place now falls to third place, mainly for the poor reviews on the redesigned Civic and Odyssey models. Unfortunately, General Motors and Chrysler remain on the bad side of the report, despite Chrysler’s reliability improvement to “average”.

Read the full Car Talk article here.

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/03/20/subaru-mazda-rise-ford-crashes-in-consumer-reports-automaker-report-card/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=subaru-mazda-rise-ford-crashes-in-consumer-reports-automaker-report-card

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How Can I Find The Best Car Paint Shop Around?

Have you been in an auto accident lately? Maybe your car, truck or SUV just needs a little sprucing up to get rid of those scratches, dings and faded spots. Getting a paint job for your vehicle is a great way to make it look new again, which is a much cheaper way to feel like you’re driving a new car than actually buying one. However, finding the right car paint shop is not always the easiest thing to do. There are dozens to choose from and they all offer different prices and services. Most of them claim to be the best shop around, as well. So what exactly should you do if you want to find the best auto paint shop?

How Long Will The Job Take

One of the first things you need to know is how long the job is going to take. Most people rely on their vehicles for so many things, so getting the job done quickly is very important. If your vehicle is getting some major work done the job will most likely take a week or more at most shops. However, if it’s a smaller job, then typically it should only take a few days. If a shop tells you it will take them a lot longer to get the job done, then they may not be prepared with the proper equipment or experience to do the job right.  Grand Sport likes to give you an accurate time frame of what to expect.  Most likely there are going to be parts that need to be ordered for your repair.  If your vehicle is safely drive-able, we like to schedule you when the parts arrive so you aren’t inconvenienced without your vehicle as we wait for parts to come in.  We make things as easy on you as possible.

What’s It Going To Cost?

Of course, getting the job done at the right price is also very important when you choose an auto paint shop. Almost everyone has to live within a budget so you have to make sure that you can afford the paint job you want.  After you’ve found that shop that’s in your price range, it is a good idea to go and visit a few them in person, with your car of course. Auto body shops need to see the vehicle in question before they can give you an exact estimate for both price and for how long it will take to do the job.  This way there’s nothing hidden, and you’ll know up front.   Grand Sport always likes to see the vehicle being repaired ahead of time.  If your vehicle is not drive-able, we would be more than happy to have our in-house tow truck driver come pick the vehicle up and bring it to the closest Grand Sport near you for your convenience.  We don’t stop there, we’ll even come out to your house for a visit if for some reason the vehicle can’t make it in to one of our shops.  That’s the extra mile we go for our customers.

Experience And Technology

The next thing to consider is what kind of experience a car paint shop has and does it use the latest and greatest technology. You can visit different shops to see if they have examples of previous jobs completed, especially ones that are similar to the work you need done. It is also a great idea to ask the shop for references so you can contact others who have already had work done at the shop previously and get a thorough review of their work. Not every shop uses the same technology in auto body repair and paint, so make sure you ask what kind of equipment and expertise a shop utilizes. You can do a little research online to see of they are up to date, after they supply you with the information.  Grand Sport only hires the best of the best in the auto pain industry.  The painters for our shops are all very well qualified and have several years experience.  Each painter continues their education with classes and seminars keeping up to date on the latest technologies and techniques in the industry.  We proudly use DuPont paint products .  DuPont revolutionized a color matching system that uses  ChromaVision along with VINdicator, together a world wide first of it’s kind computerized color matching system, allowing for the best color matching possible.

Making Your Choice

For most people, having their car look nice is important. You don’t want to leave your paint job to just anyone. So when it comes time to make your choice on a car paint shop, make sure you have done your homework. When you bring your car to Grand Sport, you will be glad you took it to us to get it right. When your car, truck or SUV is ready to roll again you can drive away in style with that shiny, fresh coat of paint sparkling wherever you go and know that it’s backed by a 100% LIFETIME GUARANTEE for the work performed.  Now THAT is making the right choice!

The post How Can I Find The Best Car Paint Shop Around? appeared first on Grand Sport Auto Body.

Source: http://www.grandsportautobody.com/blog/how-can-i-find-the-best-car-paint-shop-around/

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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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Wilmington Safety Systems: Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances can all be the result of Wilmington auto owners driving around on under-inflated tires. Admittedly, it’s hard to tell when a radial tire is under-inflated. If your manufacturer recommends 35 pounds of pressure, your sedans tire’s considered significantly under inflated at 26 pounds. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds.

New laws required auto makers to include a Tire Pressure Monitoring System – or TPMS system – in all cars and light trucks by the 2008 model year. The system has a dashboard mounted warning light that goes off if one or more of the tires falls 25% below manufacturer’s pressure recommendations.

This technology has been used by Wilmington race car drivers for years. They are able to head off problems from under inflation by closely monitoring tire pressure on the track. It’s up to your sedans’s manufacturer to determine which of many TPMS systems available they’ll use to comply with the law.

Obviously, all of this doesn’t come free for Wilmington drivers. U.S. government studies have estimated the net costs. Of course, the TPMS system itself will cost something. Maintaining the system will have a cost, replacement of worn or broken parts and tire repair cost increases.

The costs are partially offset by improved fuel efficiency and longer tire life. There’s also a potential savings in property damage avoided and fewer travel delays. The net cost is estimated to be between $27 and $100. The government predicts fewer fatal accidents. They estimate that it will cost between three and nine million dollars for every life saved.

Your safety has always been a priority at Atlantic Car Care. We want you on the road and accident free. We’ve traditionally provided things like tire rotations, snow tire mounting and flat fixes at a very low cost. We’ve been able to quickly and cheaply provide the service, and pass the low cost on to you as an expression of our good will.

That’s why we’re concerned about how you’ll perceive the changes that this new law requires. Every time a tire is changed: taken off to fix a flat, a new tire installed, a snow tire mounted; the Atlantic Car Care service technician is now going to have to deal with the TPMS system.

Even a simple tire rotation will require that the monitor be reprogrammed to the new location of each tire. When a car battery is disconnected, the TPMS system will need to be reprogrammed. TPMS sensor batteries will need to be changed and failed parts replaced.

Like all other Wilmington service centers, here at Atlantic Car Care we’ve had to purchase new scanning equipment to work with the TPMS sensors and to update expensive tire change equipment to better service wheels equipped with the new monitoring systems. Our Atlantic Car Care service technicians have been thoroughly trained on many systems and new tire-changing techniques. All of this adds up to significantly increased cost to perform what was once a very inexpensive service for you.

So when you start so see the cost of tire changes, flat repairs and rotations going up at Atlantic Car Care, please keep in mind that it’s because of government mandated safety equipment. We want to keep you safely on the road – and we’re committed to doing it at a fair price. This new safety equipment will help you avoid the most common types of vehicle failure in Wilmington, and possibly a catastrophic accident.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/tires-and-wheels/wilmington-safety-systems-tire-pressure-monitoring-system

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