Privacy Auto Glass on Cinderella’s New Carriage by Maybach

The luxury automotive manufacturer, Maybach, has just submitted its entry for the 2011 LA Auto Show Design Challenge, putting forth a recreation of the classic Berline carriage into an updated version of Cinderella’s enchanted pumpkin.  Among other things, the Maybach Berline is going to be fitted with oversized moulded auto glass panels for the gull-wing doors, a virtual chauffeur centre, and retractable stairs: Cinderella’s ideal fairytale experience, in other words.

The first thing that pops into your head when you see the Maybach Berline is simply awe.  The whole thing is gorgeous, and with the huge auto glass doors, looks like something that has popped straight out of a futuristic film.  This is in keeping with the theme of the contest: the LA Auto Show Design Challenge is basically a competition for various automakers to see which one can design the next “dream car” for Hollywood.

The Berline is in good standing in the competition.  Equipped with only the most luxurious amenities and provided with a teleoperation system that saves occupants of the car from having to deal with the (often intrusive) presence of a driver, the car is perfect for several dozen movie plots that are all takeoffs on the original Cinderella story.  Auto enthusiasts, especially those who loved the Mercedes-Benz GL Class, should also find another type of perfection in the car’s lines, as its futuristic look is not without references to some of the most popular cars of old.

The interiors are particularly attractive in the Maybach Berline.  One can practically envision all types of film sequences playing out in it due to the tête-à-tête positions of occupants—a return to the old horse-drawn carriages back in the day.

The Berline is going to be in stiff competition, though: also participating in the event are Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Hyundai, and Honda.  Mercedes-Benz, which collaborated with Maybach in the creation of the Berline, is actually putting forth two entries from two separate branches, one from N. America and Germany.  The former is going to be fielding the Mercedes Silver Arrow, the latter the Smart 341 Parkour.  Subaru is going to be submitting the Subaru Horizon, designed by its team in Tokyo.  Hyundai is submitting the Stratus Sprinter, a car conceptualised for a vampire movie, and Honda is submitting the Honda Intelligent Horse, a futuristic concept car with striking lines and unusual wheels.

The concept cars all feature some sort of tweak or new technology, whether it is in the type of auto glass used or the very functionalities of the vehicle.  The winner of the LA Auto Show Design Challenge this year is going to be announced on the 17^th of this month, and car enthusiasts (as well as film-lovers) are already speculating heavily on which vehicle design shall take the prize.

Windshield Replacement Phoenix

Source: http://www.windshieldreplacementphoenix.org/news/privacy-auto-glass-on-cinderellas-new-carriage-by-maybach/371/

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Ethics of Automotive Repair in Wilmington

We’re going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair. It seems like news outlets really like hit-and-run reporting; they hit everyone from groceries stores to retail to physicians. And the Wilmington automotive service and repair industry hasn’t been given a pass either.

Unfortunately, every profession in Wilmington has some bad actors that hurt the reputation of everyone else. On the automotive side, industry associations and professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards.

Yet some people remain uncomfortable with Wilmington automotive service and repair. It may start with the fact that our vehicles are a big investment and we rely on them for so much in our lives. That alone guarantees our attention. And how well we understand the recommendations really impacts our comfort level.

If we understand what’s recommended and the benefits of taking care of the work – and the pitfalls of putting it off – we’ll have more trust in the recommendation. So communication is key. It’s like going to the doctor; If she’s using medical jargon and takes a lot of basic medical knowledge for granted, we have a hard time following her train of thought. It can be like that with your Wilmington service advisor too. He’s so familiar with all things automotive, he may forget you don’t know a PCV from an EGT.

If you don’t understand what your doctor’s talking about: ask some questions. If you don’t understand what your Wilmington automotive advisor’s talking about: ask some questions.

Let’s go back to those ethical standards; when we hear a repair recommendation, we always ask ourselves, “Is this really necessary?” Well, here’s the industry standard:

If a technician tells you that a repair or replacement is required it must meet the following criteria:

1. The part no longer performs its intended purpose
2. The part does not meet a design specification
3. The part is missing

For example, it you take your car in for a grinding noise when you step on the brakes, you may just think you need new brake pads. After the inspection, the technician at Atlantic Car Care says that you have a cracked rotor and need to replace it.

If you tried to get him to simply put new pads on, he would say that if you didn’t want to replace the rotor; Atlantic Car Care would ethically have to refuse the repair.

To just put pads on a cracked rotor would have been very wrong. The brakes could’ve failed at anytime and needed to be repaired – not just have a band-aid slapped on them.

Now, looking at something not so serious, the technician may suggest repair or replacement if:

1. The part is close to the end of its useful life – just above discard specifications or likely to fail soon
2. To address a customer need or request – like for better ride or increased performance
3. To comply with maintenance recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer
4. Based on the technician’s informed experience

Of course, the technician has the burden of making ethical recommendations and properly educating their customers. For the customer, if you are uncomfortable with a recommendation, ask some questions. More information is always a good thing.

Source: http://www.atlanticcarcare.com/service-standards/ethics-of-automotive-repair-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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Frank Myers Auto Presents: Do You Have Lucky Charms?

by Tracy E. Myers/Owner of Frank Myers Auto Maxx in Winston Salem, NC

Last week I was sitting at my kitchen table eating a bowl of Lucky Charms. If you’ve never enjoyed a bowl, they ARE magically delicious and not so nutritious. Regardless, the sugar gets me charged up before a super busy day of helping people at Frank Myers Auto Maxx.

As I stared down at those little marshmallow shapes, I started thinking about St. Patty’s Day, the “Luck of the Irish” and the green fun that would be taking place in a few days.

It also got me thinking about how some of my friends live and die by their personal lucky charms. In fact, I know one grown man who won’t go bowling without his lucky socks, EVER, but he’ll remain nameless of course. You know who you are, friend.

What about you? Do you have a lucky charm? Perhaps a rabbit foot or a four leaf clover?

Whatever the answer, most of us want more good luck to come our way so I say, let’s tip the scales in our favor!

Here are two things you can do right now to attract good luck into your life, without a charm or a bowl of cereal at your side . . .

HOW TO ATTRACT GOOD LUCK:

Know What You Want

Being focused on a goal is the first step to achieving it. So if you want good things to happen to you, you have to clearly know what those things are. Our mind is a powerful tool. People underestimate the power of the mind to make things happen. You can attract what you believe you will get. So go ahead and take some time to determine what you want; before long, you will be surprised at how lucky you are!

Fill Your Mind & Body With Positive Input

Successful people (aka lucky people) continually seek out knowledge and ways to improve themselves. Be very purposeful with how you spend your time. Read. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Cut down on negative influences and watch how fast this positive input transforms your everyday life.

Lucky people are also healthy people. So take charge of your health and mental state now. Sleep more, eat less, smile, expect to have a good day, and believe that good things are on their way to you.

As a side note, I would probably have better luck with my health later in life if I ate an apple a day instead of Lucky Charms cereal.

Interesting Factoid:

“The percentage of Lucky Charms consumers who are adults has risen to 45%, said Greg Pearson, the brand’s marketing manager. As a result, the brand posted its best volume year ever in fiscal 2012, according to General Mills. Overall, Lucky Charms is now the seventh-largest cold cereal brand, with sales up 5.64% to $252.6 million in the 52 weeks ending Oct. 7, outpacing category-wide growth of 0.83%.”

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.winstonsalemusedcars.com/articles/lucky-charms/

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Back To School Safety Tips / Recomendaciones De Seguridad Para Este Regreso A Clases

En este regreso a clases muchos se quedan en la ciudad como otros que salen a otras ciudades donde se encuentra su Universidad. En Robert’s Auto Repair, nosotros queremos que tu o tus hijos tengan un buen regreso a clases y lleguen a salvo a su destino. Por que la seguridad viene primero, que mejor día que este para que traigas tu auto a nuestras manos. Aquí podremos brindarle los servicios y reparaciones necesarias antes de tu partida con el excelente equipo de técnicos y mecánicos que tenemos.

Si por algún motivo tu vas a ser la persona conduciendo en tu regreso a clase, te ofrecemos los siguientes tips para tu seguridad:

1. Asegúrate de que vayas debajo del límitete de velocidad
Muchas veces cuando uno ya lleva horas manejando, es fácil ponerse en un estado automático al ir conduciendo y exceder los límites de velocidad. Es importante ir checando frecuentemente la velocidad que llevamos, pues esto previene que pierdas el control del volante con cualquier distracción o imprevisto en la carretera. Esto especialmente en una zona donde hay muchas curvas o el acotamiento existente es limitado.

2. No maneje cansado
Una de las causas más vistas en choques o accidentes en la carretera es el conducir cansado.Por que el cansancio puede alentar tus reflejos y muchas veces te puede llegar a dormir mientras manejar. Por esto, siendo esta una de las causas más comunes de los accidentes en carretera, es preferible parar en el camino a tomar una breve siesta que exponerse a ser causa o víctima de algún accidente.

3. Revisa que tu carro este en buenas condiciones para salir a carretera
Darle los servicios necesarios a tu carro también es una buena forma de prevenir accidentes en la carretera. Es importante que las llantas, los fluidos, las luces intermitentes y de freno, y el aceite de motor estén en buen estado. Muchas veces el origen de un accidente puede una pequeña falla en tu auto por la falta de atención a los pequeños detalles.

Háblanos para hacer cita para que choquemos tu automóvil para brindarle los servicios necesarios para tu bienestar. No importa si vas a salir a carretera o si vas a estar en la ciudad, ven ahora para que puedas tener un buen comienzo en este regreso a clases.

Mecánicos (831) 373 – 1534
Body Shop (831) 373 – 1535
234 Ramona Avenue, Monterey, CA

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/back-to-school-safety-tips-recomendaciones-de-seguridad-para-este-regreso-a-clases/

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Avoid A Brake Replacement: Follow the Road to Safety!

In 2006, the US Bureau of Transit conducted a study showing that there were 250,844,644 registered passenger vehicles in the US. Of this total, approximately 125,000,000 were crowding our roads. This means that today there are more vehicles than ever. If your brakes are not stopping your vehicle at your command, your safety, as well as your passengers and other motorists, is at risk. Just an inch or two in stopping distance could mean the difference between a little scare or a major fender bender. Therefore, it's critical that regular preventative vehicle maintenance, including a quality brake service, is not neglected.

Source: http://www.excelautoandtire.com/tips-blog/avoid-a-brake-replacement-follow-the-road-to-safety

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History of Uncle Frank/Part 3 – The Football Star

Uncle Frank – The Football Star

The year: 1922. The score: 13-13, with only fifteen seconds to go in the fourth quarter of the NFL’s first championship game, between the Chicago Bears and the Canton Bulldogs. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Uncle Frank streaked across the field like a souped-up Model T, carrying the ball 52 yards across the goal line and scoring the game-winning touchdown for Canton in an unforgettable scoring “drive.”

During the post-game celebration after the game, Uncle Frank declared that all of his teammates were responsible for the win – and gifted them all with mint condition 1925 Buick touring cars. Uncle Frank went on to become NFL commissioner and create many innovations in the sport – including the first trade!

About Uncle Frank

Uncle Frank has lived many lives and has many stories to share. He currently resides in Winston Salem, NC where he spends his days as the Frank Myers Auto Maxx Mascot.

Be sure to read History of Uncle Frank/Part 2 – Uncle Frank The Frontiersman and check back for future editions later.

* Uncle Frank Sez: “All content in The History Of Uncle Frank is a mixture of parody, poor satire, and/or (very) lame humor. It is for entertainment purposes only.”

Source: http://www.winstonsalemusedcars.com/articles/uncle-frank-history-part-3/

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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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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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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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Auto Detailing at Robert’s Auto Repair / Detallado automotriz en Robert’s Auto Repair

El lavado y detallado de su automóvil es algo esencial para el cuidado e imagen de su automóvil. Por eso, en Robert’s Auto Repair, nosotros nos hacemos cargo de brindarle el mejor servicio a su carro a un precio que se acomode a su presupuesto. Ofrecemos un servicio completo de lavado, el paquete de “protección pagada” y cuidado de llantas y vistas. Para los que quieren un buen lavado de asientos y aspirado de interior, estos servicios también están a su disposición.

Hay muchos que quieren que su carro se vea como nuevo otra vez. Si usted es uno de ellos, le recomendamos nuestro mas pedido detallado de pintura exterior. Contamos con un excelente equipo de tecnología que nos permite quitar todos esos rasguños y manchas de sol, de abolladuras y de lavadas anteriores.

Como anteriormente lo han hecho muchos de nuestros clientes, ¡usted se sorprenderá con el Nuevo-look de su auto! Puede estar seguro de que usted y su auto se van a encontrar al personal más amable y con más experiencia de Monterey.

Sabemos que su carro es algo que usted quiere que contribuya a su imagen. Por eso, dejaremos su automóvil como si estuviera recién salido de la agencia. Háblenos para hacer cita para el lavado y detallado de su auto, lo atenderemos con mucho gusto.

Mecánicos (831) 373 – 1534
Body Shop (831) 373 – 1535
234 Ramona Avenue, Monterey, CA

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/auto-detailing-at-roberts-auto-repair-detallado-automotriz-en-roberts-auto-repair/

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Vehicle Safety Recalls

Need to know about important safety recalls for your vehicle?

Visit Cars.com’s Vehicle Safety Recall Tool and select your vehicle’s year, make and model and learn about important safety bulletins for your vehicle.

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/02/01/vehicle-safety-recalls/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vehicle-safety-recalls

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History of Uncle Frank/Part 3 – The Football Star

Uncle Frank – The Football Star

The year: 1922. The score: 13-13, with only fifteen seconds to go in the fourth quarter of the NFL’s first championship game, between the Chicago Bears and the Canton Bulldogs. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Uncle Frank streaked across the field like a souped-up Model T, carrying the ball 52 yards across the goal line and scoring the game-winning touchdown for Canton in an unforgettable scoring “drive.”

During the post-game celebration after the game, Uncle Frank declared that all of his teammates were responsible for the win – and gifted them all with mint condition 1925 Buick touring cars. Uncle Frank went on to become NFL commissioner and create many innovations in the sport – including the first trade!

About Uncle Frank

Uncle Frank has lived many lives and has many stories to share. He currently resides in Winston Salem, NC where he spends his days as the Frank Myers Auto Maxx Mascot.

Be sure to read History of Uncle Frank/Part 2 – Uncle Frank The Frontiersman and check back for future editions later.

* Uncle Frank Sez: “All content in The History Of Uncle Frank is a mixture of parody, poor satire, and/or (very) lame humor. It is for entertainment purposes only.”

Source: http://www.winstonsalemusedcars.com/articles/uncle-frank-history-part-3/

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Car Maintenace Check List

All Tech Auto Repair preforms a 35 point inspection when you bring your car into us. We keep record of everything your car may need and have it listed as a recommendation on your invoice. We want to keep your vehicle running in top preforming shape for you.

CHECK EACH MONTH
* oil level — add oil if low and check for leaks
* hoses — replace if bulging, rotten, or brittle
* belts — replace if worn, frayed, or glazed
* tire pressure — add air if low
* coolant or antifreeze — add more if low
* air filter — replace if dirty
* inspect tires for leaks, damage, bulges, or uneven wear

CHECK EVERY 3 MONTHS
Included in all oil changes preformed at All Tech Auto Repair

* oil and oil filter — change every 3,000 miles
* windshield washer fluid — add fluid if low
* battery and power steering fluid — add fluid if low
* brake fluid — add fluid if low
* transmission fluid — add fluid if low
* battery terminals and cables — clean if corroded

CHECK EVERY 6 MONTHS

* wiper blades — replace if worn, brittle, or smeary
* make sure headlights, brake lights, and turn signals work
* make sure horn works properly
* inspect brakes for wear and tear or “slippage”
* make sure spare tire is fully inflated
* inspect exhaust system for rust, damage, or loose parts
* inspect shock absorbers for oil seepage or wear

Copyright 2000-2009 Ramona Creel

The post Car Maintenace Check List appeared first on Nampa Auto Repair & Oil Change Specialist: All Tech Auto Repair.

Source: http://www.alltechautorepair.net/car-maintenace-check-list/

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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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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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How to Protect Auto Glass and Avoid a Windshield Replacement in Winter

Winter is a tough time, not just for the farming folk but also for urban dwellers, what with the many problems it brings for cars.  Winter usually sees businesses in vehicle repair, such as auto glass repair businesses and car repair shops, getting an abrupt increase in the number of customers for windshield replacement jobs and front-end restoration after a gruesome run-in with the elements.  There are some protective measures you can take, though, especially where your windshield is concerned.  Following the steps described below can help you avoid that costly windshield replacement.

The first step to avoiding windshield replacement is putting your car in a safe place.  Obviously, a garage is the best place for parking your car in winter—or just about any time of year—but if that is not available, you should at least try to park it up your driveway or at a location where it is unlikely to have a run-in with some overzealous wielder of the snow thrower.  The snow thrower is a major culprit when it comes to cracked windshields, so try to put your car out of harm’s way.  The same goes for tall bushes, areas where snow tends to pile up, and trees: make sure your car is not parked in a location where the snow accumulated in these areas might fall on it and crack your windshield due to the sudden weight.

Another option for keeping your car protected is to look for a tarp cover for it.  There are car covers and windshield covers being sold on the market that just make use of easy-to-handle straps.  You can set these over your car’s auto glass and keep the frost from getting to it that way.  There is a caveat, though: if you are expecting serious snowfall, you should probably go with another preventative option.  This is because if enough snow piles up on the cover, it might be another headache to have to deal with, given that its heft shall make it difficult to remove.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to prevent nasty cracks from snow leading to windshield replacement work is to use frost-preventing solutions.  There are actually quite a number of these on the market now, and some of them even need only be applied about once a month or so for your car’s auto glass to naturally repel (think “easy to slide off” instead of “bouncing off” here) H2O.  The downside to this is that it can get quite costly, as these are not exactly cheap.  Still, if you factor in the fact that the price of a windshield replacement nowadays can go from $300 to $1000 for luxury vehicles, a $15 or $20 bottle of anti-ice formula hardly seems that costly.

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Source: http://www.windshieldreplacementphoenix.org/auto-glass/how-to-protect-auto-glass-and-avoid-a-windshield-replacement-in-winter/487/

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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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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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4 Engine Service Tips: Prevent an expensive engine rebuild!

The words "engine rebuild" often sends vehicle owners into a panic. If there are signs that your vehicle is starting to have engine problems, make sure you have an engine service performed by a skilled and certified auto mechanic. Get it checked out before the problems escalate! But, you can help prevent a major engine rebuild by having an engine service on a regular basis as noted in your owner's manual.

To hopefully prevent an engine rebuild or repair, here are four tips to consider:

Source: http://www.excelautoandtire.com/tips-blog/4-engine-service-tips-prevent-an-expensive-engine-rebuild

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Infiniti Provided the First Look of its compact Q30 Concept prior to the World Debut at Frankfurt Auto Show

The Infiniti Q30 Concept is a compact vehicle offered to the new generation of premier customers to deliver sportiness of a coupe, comfort and space of a hatchback and driving dynamics of a strong SUV. The vehicle is scheduled to make its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show on 10th September. The Infiniti displayed the first look of the Q30 Concept ahead of its world debut. The car is very seductive and sleek and is wearing a dynamic design that reflects the elegance of a coupe and hatchback at a time. The shape and look of the Q30 concept are really challenging as it is not a coupe, a hatch and even is not a crossover but is actually a blend of three and is offered to those young buyers who are in search of a unique design without compromising on comfort and performance.

Infiniti is too confident about the blend of the dynamic design and they are sure that the Q30 concept will attract a big crowd of young buyers to its unique yet head turning design and features. The design of the Q30 concept shows the Infiniti’s vision and devotion to deliver top selves materials, new levels of dynamic design, performance and craftsmanship. The Infiniti Q30 concept open new doors for designing bolder, seductive and muscular vehicles and will create an environment of tough competition in the segment of new premiums.

Source: http://www.autoscraze.com/infiniti-provided-the-first-look-of-its-compact-q30-concept-prior-to-the-world-debut-at-frankfurt-auto-show.html

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Get Ready For Monterey Car Week: August 12-18, 2013

With Monterey Car Week just around the corner, Robert’s Auto Repair wants to help you plan ahead for exciting week. Here are a few events that will be held during the week:

Concours on the Avenue

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Location:  Ocean Avenue, Carmel-By-The-Sea

Admission:  Free

Monterey Car Week’s 5th Annual Rally

Wednesday, August 14, 2013 Time to Be Announced

Location:  To Be Announced

Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance Presented by Rolex

Thursday, August 15, 2013

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

Friday, August 16, 2013:  10:00 am – 4:00 pm

8000 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel CA 93923

19th Annual Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally

Friday, August 16, 2013 –  Time:  To be announced

Lighthouse and Forest Ave.

Pacific Grove

Cars and Coffee

Hosted by The Pebble Beach Sports Car Club

Saturday, August 17, 2013  8:00 am to 10:00 pm

Del Monte Shopping Center

1410 Del Monte Center

Monterey, CA

This is a free event for participants and spectators.

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Sunday, August 18, 2013

General Admission Tickets are $225 in advance and $275 on day of show.

If you are having any problems with your vehicle, or you wish to spruce it up for Auto Week, bring your vehicle into Robert’s Auto Repair so that you can enjoy a stress free week of auto shows.

Call today to schedule an appointment.

Mechanical — 831-373-1534

Body Shop — 831-373-1535

 

Source: http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/get-ready-for-monterey-car-week-august-12-18-2013/

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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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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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Check it out before you buy it

Here at All Tech Auto Repair we will preform an inspection on a new or used vehicle before you purchase it we will do the first one for free.
Lately there have been a few customers coming in with cars they have just purchased with a check engine light on or another issue, we can check all of that out before you purchase the car and let you know what kind of money you will be putting into it or if you are getting a great car. We print out reliability reports and a detailed list of anything the car needs, we will arm you with all the information you need before you buy the car. Being well informed when buying a car can help with the stress of finding the right car and prevent the headache of problems with your car just after you have purchased it.

Call us up and schedule an appointment for us to take a look at your potential vehicle.

The post Check it out before you buy it appeared first on Nampa Auto Repair & Oil Change Specialist: All Tech Auto Repair.

Source: http://www.alltechautorepair.net/check-it-out-before-you-buy-it/

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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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