Category: Automotive

Keep Your Car In Shape By Taking It To A Good Auto Repair Facility

You need to take good care of your car just like you would your body. A car needs special maintenance to keep it moving as well as to increase its lifespan. A vehicle is also an important asset; therefore, taking care of it will save you a lot of money that you would otherwise spend at a car mechanic. You will only need to deal with minor repairs at minimal costs if you use these tips to keep your car in top condition.

1. Check (and change) the oil

Oil is a crucial element in your car and it can’t move without it. A mechanic should regularly check your car’s oil and change it every 3,000-5,000 miles. Some oil manufacturers state that their oil lasts 10,000 miles. However, it is advisable to use the same oil without exceeding 5,000 miles. This will help maximize the reliability and efficacy of the engine for a long time.

2. Keep the interior clean

Cleaning and vacuuming the interior of your car keeps it in good shape. A neat looking interior also makes it marketable when it comes to selling. When inside the vehicle, you can be notified of any problems via a diagnostics cable. Ensure your VCDs are intact to alert you of any issue with specific parts of your car.

3. Replace the brakes

Most modern cars have braking systems made in a way that makes them easy to be replaced periodically. This makes the car maintain maximum braking efficiency. You have to be keen to notice any issue with your car brakes that require immediate checkup, as failed brakes can cause serious injuries.

4. Don’t wait to repair

It’s essential to learn about your car’s maintenance and repair basics. This will help you explain issues to your mechanic without being taken advantage of. Waiting to repair your car can lead to severe damage which could be even more costly than the original repair. When buying a car, you need to create a budget with an estimated cost of what you might spend on repairs and maintenance. Check the prices for spare parts or repair costs before you take your car to the shop.

5. Search for reputable mechanics

Chances are high that you will look for a competent doctor when you are sick. Similarly, you should treat your car the same way. Searching for a reputable, experienced, and trustworthy auto technician will help keep your car in good working condition. Therefore, search for dealerships that sell the specific car or an all-inclusive car shop directory. You can also get referrals from friends for a genuine auto repair expert.

Have cooling systems flushed and change coolants

Engine oil isn’t the only type of oil in your car that needs to be checked at regular intervals.While they don’t need to be checked and changed nearly as often, transmission and differential oils should be changed at specific times as well. A general rule of thumb is to change your transmission fluids every 30,000 miles, but you should consult your owner’s manual to see what is recommended for your make and model.

If you have a front-wheel drive vehicle, there is no need to change differential fluid. Why? Because in front-wheel drives, the differential is located in the front and shares fluid with your transmission. In rear-wheel drives, the differential oil is located in the back, while four-wheel drives have three differentials – one in the front, one in the center, and one in the back. This differential oil should be changed at the same intervals as the transmission oil.

Change transmission and differential oils

If you’re having regular maintenance done to your car, particularly oil changes every 3,000 miles, maintaining your cooling system is easy to do. Start by checking your coolant every other time it is time to change the oil, or at least twice per year.

While it may be a good idea to check your coolants a couple of times a year, that doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be changed that often. In fact, it’s often sufficient to have it changed once every 2-3 years, or 24,000, to 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you drive in extremely hot temperatures, you may need to change your fluid more often, perhaps even as often as once a year. The build-up of corrosion and other deposits can be prevented by using a mixture of half coolant and half distilled water. This should be done once every year and will keep your cooling system in good working order for miles to come.

Check the Tires’ Air Pressure

Newer cars have a tire-pressure warning light to let you know that your tires are low on air, but older cars do not. In any case, it’s best to purchase a tire-pressure gauge at an auto-parts store for a few dollars and check your tire pressures to make sure they’re set correctly. Here’s what you need to know:

• A sticker on the driver’s door pillar lists the proper inflation pressure for when the tires are cold (meaning that you haven’t yet driven on them that day).
• If you set the pressures after you’ve been driving for a while (more than a few miles), they should be raised by three pounds per square inch, as tires warm up and pressures rise when they are driven on.
• Check your tire pressures once a month for a couple of months. If the pressures remain steady, you can check them quarterly, as you know the tires are holding air.

Advantages of Having Your Vehicle Serviced Regularly

Having your vehicle serviced regularly comes with many advantages to the vehicle, and you, the driver. Some of these advantages include:

Increases Driver Safety

No matter how well you can drive your vehicle, the safety of you and those around you relies heavily on how good the condition of your car is. Letting the condition of your car deteriorate over time increase your risk of an accident by fifty percent. A simple check of your tires, oil, and brake fluid can help to keep you and others on the road safe at all times.

Enhances Fuel Economy and Boosts Performance

These days, with the increase in fuel prices, it’s important to get the most out of your vehicle when driving. Having a regular vehicle service can mean the difference between a fuel guzzler and how efficient your vehicle can be. When a vehicle has been serviced, drivers have noted a ten to fifteen percent enhancement in their fuel economy. Not only that, but their vehicle’s performance also exceeded expectations.

Extends Your Cars Lifespan

These days, not everyone has the opportunity to replace their vehicle. Another advantage of having your vehicle regularly serviced and maintained is that it will extend the life of your vehicle greatly. This is why many manufacturers have warranties which state that all vehicles must be serviced, for the warranty to be effective. It’s important, however, to remember that, when having your car serviced, it needs to be serviced by a trained professional, and that the work carried out on the vehicle needs to be in accordance with the guidelines that have been set in place by the manufacturer.

Improves Selling Price

Regular maintenance of your vehicle will also help to ensure that you can sell your vehicle at a higher price, if needed. Buyers like vehicles that are well maintained and will generally pay a little more for a well-cared for vehicle. If you plan to sell your car at a later date, it’s important to keep this in mind if you want the best price for your used car.

Saves Unnecessary Costs

Servicing your vehicle regularly can help to reduce the risk of having to pay for preventable and unnecessary costs. For example, if the oil level isn’t checked, and it becomes low, it can cause the motor to seize up. This means the motor is no longer viable, resulting in a replacement motor which can cost you from $3000 and up, depending on the vehicle you own. Compare this to a small regular servicing, which could cost you a couple hundred dollars; it’s no wonder many people are opting for the regular service.

Tips for Good Auto Repair Service

Dog-ear your owner’s manual.

Yes, it’s your car’s bible! Knowing where to find information quickly can help in identifying causes when trouble arises. You may even be able to avoid a trip to the auto mechanic in the first place if you discover that your “problem” stemmed from not understanding your car’s controls. Beyond knowing the make and model of your vehicle, it also helps to have the specific trim level on hand for the service technician, as that often identifies the engine size and configuration, transmission and other included features that vary across the model line. Be aware of your exterior paint and interior color codes in case body or upholstery repair is necessary. Keep your vehicle identification number (VIN) available, as this code will likely be required when scheduling service.

Keep your records in order, and take them with you.

Have records available on everything you do to maintain your car — and keep them in the car if possible. Well-kept records can be instrumental in correctly diagnosing a vehicle problem the first time. Incomplete records can lead to redundant auto repairs that waste your time and money. A vehicle with a well-documented repair service history also tells your mechanic that you value first-rate work at the recommended intervals, and have done your part to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape.

Is the technician trained on your specific vehicle make?

Cars and trucks today are extremely complex machines, and their unique characteristics vary heavily from brand to brand. Making certain that your technician has obtained the proper training for your specific vehicle is crucial since special tools and procedures — many of which are not easily available to the “average” auto mechanic — are required to correctly service your auto.

Is the service technician A.S.E.-certified?

Twice annually, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offers auto service industry professionals the chance to become A.S.E.-certified. By passing a written test and having at least two years of work experience in auto repair service, auto mechanics earn A.S.E. certification, placing them among the top practitioners in the industry. Inquiring about A.S.E. credentials is important, as the designation better ensures the competence of your prospective car mechanic.

How big of tires can I put on my truck without lifting it?

Will Bigger Tires Lift My Truck?

Yes, bigger tires will lift your truck because bigger tires are higher and the truck axle connects at a higher point in the air onto the wheel. With this in mind, if you fit tires that are two inches bigger than your current tires and then use a leveling kit to raise the front up 1 or 2 inches, you’ll have an extra 3 or 4 inches of height in the driver’s seat.

What Size Tire Can I Put On My Truck With A Leveling Kit?

In most cases, a level kit is only going to lift the front of your truck up by about 1 to 1.5 inches. This helps a lot when going from a 31” tire to a 33” but won’t help much more than that. A combination of a leveling kit and one or two other methods mentioned above can give you enough room to use even bigger tires but you will have to double-check the measurements before making the purchase.

Most tire dealerships will give you the opportunity to check how the wheel fits before making the purchase. Then you can turn the wheels fully to the left and right to see where they make contact with the wheel well of your truck. Depending on how much contact they make you can choose the appropriate combination of techniques above to fit the tires properly without using a lift kit.

Advantages Of Bigger Tires

• One of the main advantages of bigger tires is the increased ground clearance to get over obstacles easier and to conquer off-road territor.
• Bigger tires increase the overall height of your truck and give you a better view of the road ahead.
• Fitting bigger tires to your truck will improve your towing stability because your bigger tires have a larger contact area with the road.
• Bigger tires are better for off-road handling and traction because there is more tire making contact with the ground.
• Bigger tires have more stopping power on the road and off the road. For emergency stops.
• A bigger tire wears down slower than a smaller tire because there’s more rubber to connect with the road.

Disadvantages Of Bigger Tires

• Bigger tires will increase your fuel consumption because of the extra weight and traction.
• Bigger tires will decrease your acceleration and overall speed.
• Increased tire size can wear out your transmission and drivetrain quicker. Your transmission and drivetrain are going to be working harder to rotate those big wheels and so it is recommended that you regear your system to accommodate the new tire size.
• Your speedometer and odometer will give you lower figures compared to your actual speed and distance. This is because the speedometer displays your speed based on how fast your wheels are rotating. Bigger tires cover more distance in one rotation than stock tires but the speedometer just keeps checking for full rotations and works out the speed and distance based on the stock standard size tire.
• Bigger tires are more expensive.
• The bigger the tires, the more braking power required, wearing your brakes down quicker than normal.
• In most cases, you‘ll need to modify your truck to accommodate bigger tires.

Let’s take a closer look at a few ways in which you can put bigger tires on your truck without a lift being required.

Adjusting The Torsion Keys

This may be the easiest way to fit bigger tires onto your truck. You can adjust your stock torsion keys if your truck uses a bar suspension system, most 4WD trucks do. It is not recommended that you adjust the stock torsion keys too much as you can ruin the feeling of your ride and mess up your suspension system in the long run. So while adjusting the torsion keys is a quick and easy fix, never adjust the keys to their maximum. Aftermarket torsion keys can be adjusted to raise your truck about 1 to 1.5 inches higher which can help for bigger tires if you haven’t got a lift or leveling kit installed.

Pro-Tip: Don’t crank your stock torsion keys up to their limit, you won’t have any down travel past the adjusted fixed height which will cause low ride quality. This can also cause damage to the rest of your suspension.

Fitting Wheel Spacers

Wheel spacers can save you from lifting your truck if you’re getting bigger tires for it. Wheel spacers will position your wheels further away from your truck to eliminate rubbing of the tires against the wheel wells. Whenever fitting wheel spacers, you must have the suspension checked to make sure it’s not under too much stress caused by the new angles created by the wheel spacers. In a lot of instances a combination of wheel spacers and an off-road bumper will allow for bigger tires without lifting the truck.

Fender Rolling

You can put bigger tires onto your truck without a lift required if you get your fenders “rolled” Fender rolling is the process of bending your truck’s inner lip above the tire from an L shape to a V shape with special tools and heating. This will allow more space for your bigger tires to be able to move around without rubbing against the wheel wells.

Cutting/Trimming The Fenders

Cutting away part of your wheel wells can be quick, easy, and neatly done. It can also turn into hours upon hours of painstaking effort and turn out to be a mess. If you ever plan on cutting and trimming away your truck, make sure not to cut away pieces of the body that are connected together like pinch welds or spot welds. Your truck will fall apart if you accidentally cut away pieces of material that are welded onto each other. Rather try to cut relief cuts into them and bang them down with a hammer to make extra room. Always mark out where you plan to cut your truck body and mentally go through the procedure from beginning to end before starting the cut.

Using Leveling Kits

Leveling kits lift your truck up in the front to level out the height with the back of the truck, hence the name leveling kit. The front tires of your truck are the ones that need additional space to move around while turning left and right which makes leveling kits ideal for accommodating bigger tires. Leveling kits are usually able to add around 2 inches of height to the front of your truck. This is one of the most popular ways of making some extra space to fit bigger tires onto your truck without using a lift kit. Leveling kits aren’t very expensive compared to lift kits and they’re quick and easy to install. Raising the front of your truck will decrease the fuel efficiency because of the aerodynamics being changed negatively.

Body-Lifts

Before trucks and 4x4s had independent suspension systems and integrated coil-over struts, body-lifts were a popular way to add as much as 3 inches of ride height. The advantage of a body-lift is that it doesn’t affect the vehicle’s suspension and provides enough ride height to fit tires that are 2 or 3 inches taller than the original tires (typically a 32- to 33-inch tire). Body-lifts are popular because they are inexpensive, ranging from $110 to $600. Depending on the truck’s make and model, they can provide more ride height than leveling kits alone.

Body-lifts use urethane blocks that are stacked on top of the factory body mounts to raise the body above the frame. Because a wider gap is formed between the truck’s body and frame, the bumpers and some components of the vehicle also need to be altered. This is accomplished with heavy-duty bumper brackets and spacers that are typically included in the kit. In addition, the steering shaft must be extended. Because of this, many truck owners look for kits that include a high-quality CNC machined steering extension as well as Gap Guards that fit in the vehicle’s wheel wells and hide the space between the frame and body.

Body Lift Kit Bumper Brackets

Body-lifts also require readjusting the height of the factory bumpers. This Performance Accessories kit has bolt-on bumper brackets on this 2009 Nissan Titan.

Body-lifts typically take six to eight hours to install, depending on the vehicle, but the overall effect provides plenty of wheel and tire clearance for most popular tire upgrades. Furthermore, they don’t affect the factory ride or cause any warranty issues with your vehicle.