Category Archives: Automotive Resource Guide

Understanding Your Vehicle

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By Brenda Williams

Do you know that there are some people who don’t even know how to change their own tire on their vehicle? When you first purchase a car or even before that; when you first have the opportunity to drive a car, you should first make sure that you know how everything on the vehicle works. For example, right before I was scheduled to sign up for driver’s education lessons at my high school, my father took me out to the driveway and walked me through how everything worked on his car (since I was more than likely going to be borrowing his vehicle at some future point).

Today, I am grateful for that impromptu lesson all of those years ago. Even though his tires were completely fine, he still stood there and, in the hot summer sun, made me go through the entire process of changing a tire. This was, perhaps, one of the most important things that I could know about a vehicle because a couple of years later when I had my first car and was away at college during my frehsman year, I somehow got three flats over the course of that first year. I remember having to get on my hands and knees in the cold, 32 degree weather so that I could change my tire, put the spare on and drive my vehicle over to the mechanic so that he could address the flat tire.

There are many people who were surprised that I knew how to change a flat tire and that I had done it more than once during my freshman year of college. Where I had changed a flat, other young women (and some young men) would have called Triple A or someone else to come and help them. I even got a flat tire once when I was renting a rental car while my personal vehicle was in the shop for maintenance! Talk about bad luck with tires! Just a couple of years ago, I had just purchased a brand new Jeep, and one day while I was driving the twenty minutes it took to get to work, I noticed that my car seemed to be acting strangely. I had checked my tires before I left, and the tires had been fine…but still it felt as if I was almost dragging a dead body behind me. When I got to work, I hopped out of my vehicle, and walked around the back to get my police gear out for work. That’s when I noticed that both of my back tires were completely flat.

As a result of all of my tire woes, today I am extremely parnoid about tires. Before I get into my vehicle, I almost always do a quick check of all my tires. I occasionally keep an eye on the tread as well, as tread wear can affect what kind of gas mileage your vehicle gets. The tread in your tires can also be the cause of vehicular accidents as your tires have nothing left to grip the roads with, causing your vehicle to have difficulty when attempting to stop your car.

About the Author: Auto Shipping Car Transport

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What to Look For When You Are Buying a Used Vehicle

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By G Jenkins

If you’re buying a used car, you can never predict whether your bargain is going to be a good or a bad one. Despite the repeated promises made at the time of purchase, there is always a chance that you’re caught in a bad deal. However, like every other purchase, there are always ways to find out if you’re being cheated.

The following are a few things that you’ve got to take note of when you’re buying a used car. Some of the more important things to do include:

• One sure way of knowing whether you’re being handed a bad car is trying to read the mannerisms of the owner. The owner of a bad vehicle will avoid answering your direct questions or will hide certain details regarding the vehicle. On the other hand, if the seller is direct and friendly, it is a sign that the vehicle it a good one. However, going simply by the personality of the person is not enough, because there are some glib talkers who can manage to sell you a bad car by hiding its faults with ease. So you have to take a few more steps to ensure that you’re making a good buy.

• The next precaution you should take before finally buying it is checking whether all the main parts and systems are in great condition. Everything has to be checked, right from the scratches of the body, to the air conditioning system. You must also check the windows, the stereo systems and the gears. Don’t hesitate to conduct a thorough check, you’re buying the car, after all, so you have every right to play the radio or switch on the air conditioning to see if they work.

• A good idea would be to look at the paint of the car carefully to see if it’s been repainted or comes off at places. Sometimes, damaged cars are totally rebuilt after an accident and then resold. A good way to check if this is the case with the car you’re eyeing is by looking at the gas tank. If there are traces of re-coloring or scratches in that area, the car has surely been repainted. It is better not to buy the vehicle because it’s bound to run into problems later.

• Getting a warranty for the car is also another way of ensuring that you’re buying a good vehicle. If you can get a one month warranty, it will give you enough time to test the capabilities of the car. If your car repeats any of its older problems during that period, you can easily take it back and refund the money. This is also a good way of knowing if the car is good. The dealers who will back their cars and give you a warranty are generally selling good cars; whereas, if the dealer refuses a warranty, it may mean that the car is damaged.

You can also get a second check done on the car through another agency to know for sure that it is in perfect condition. This can cost you anything from 20 to 50 bucks, but you will be aware of the true condition of the car. A second testing also means that you will know of any existing problems, and also about the impending ones, if there are any. In the end, you can make a better decision on whether you’re being charged a decent price for the car.

About the Author: For more car care and repair tips, head to the Auto Experts at: http://www.autoexpertscolumbus.com and check out the specials in their free newsletter issues while you’re there!

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A Strange Vehicle Indeed

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By Brenda Williams

If you happen to be visiting or live in North Carolina, you may possibly pass a car on the road that resembles the cockpit of an airplane without the airplane. By all means remain calm; you have not passed the remaining wreckage of an airplane. You really haven’t passed a car either. If you by chance glance through the window, you will notice that this unusual vehicle has handlebars like a motorcycle instead of a steering wheel. So it isn’t a car. But it looks like a car so it really can’t be a motorcycle. But what is it? You have just passed a Peraves Ecomobile!

As gas prices sky rocket from high to astronomical and a wavering economy reduces discretionary income the public is searching for ways to save money. This plus pressure from environmentalists to go green is motivating companies to seek alternatives to the gas hogs of the past and present.

And they are trying to do this without sacrificing the speed and power Americans are fond of. The American public wants an automobile that can reach high speeds, go from 0 to 60mph in seconds and still get 20 or more miles to a gallon of gas. So the challenge is to offer low fuel consumption while maintaining speed and acceleration. The Ecomobile is one response to the challenge.

The Ecomobile is manufactured by the Swiss company Peraves. Although it does use fossil fuels it has a low rate of fuel consumption. The Ecomobile is also available in the United States. It is distributed in the United States by a dealership located in North Carolina.

The Ecomobile is a combination automobile/motorcycle, or a modified motorcycle with an automobile body. The wheelbase resembles a large bicycle with training wheels, while the body looks like the cockpit section of an airplane.

The Ecomobile is powered by a rear-mounted liquid cooled in line 4 cylinder BMW K series motorcycle engine that can achieve a top speed in excess of 155 mph. And it can accelerate from 0 to 100 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds. It produces 130 HP @8750 RPM.

The body is made of Composite-Monocoque manufactured from Kevlar and glass-weave bonded by Araldite Epoxy resin. It is reinforced by roll-and crash-protection-bars. The engine mount and steering head are in argon arc-welded aircraft-grade steel. It is equipped with aircraft-grade-steel supporting roll-axles.

The body has a gull wing door with integrated sunroof opening to the left. There is a baggage compartment in the rear.

This unusual vehicle weighs 1,014.1 pounds and is about 12 feet long by almost 4 feet wide. It is approximately 5 feet high.

Instead of a steering wheel, it is operated by motorcycle-type-handlebars with extended functions. The auxiliary brake lever and twist throttle are located on the right handlebar. The brakes are operated by the right pedal.

Interior amenities include two-color car style leather seats equipped with automatic safety belts. It has soundproof velour padding and black noise suppressing carpets. There is a self-locking baggage compartment cover complete with an integrated headrest.

Other comforts feature a heating and ventilation system with a three-stage blower, mirror defogging, seat heating and full air-conditioning. It has a Becker Mexico RDS audio system and GPS is available as an option. A CD player is another option.

Every effort has been made to make the body function and look like an automobile while the vehicle operates like a motorcycle.

About the Author: Car Shipping Jacksonville

Jacksonville Auto Transport

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Vehicle Security

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By Brenda Williams

The most important part of owning a vehicle is making sure the vehicle is always secure. All newly manufactured vehicles come equipped with locks on the doors, child safety locks and a handheld security feature. The locks on the doors usually lock automatically when the car is shifted from park to either drive or reverse. They usually unlock when the car is put into park mode. Child safety locks prevent the children from opening the back door(s) when the car is in motion or even when it is standing still. The doors can only be opened from the outside when unlocked. This helps parents emotionally; knowing that their child cannot open the door if they are goofing off in the backseat.

One other security option that comes with most new and used vehicles is the handheld security device to unlock and lock the car from a distance. It is called a key fob. The key fob also has a panic button on it to set off the car alarm if someone is suspiciously near the car or if someone is following the driver and it feels suspicious or unsafe. The key fob can also have buttons on it to open a sliding door on a minivan or the trunk of the car. Some key fobs also have a remote start up button to start the engine of the vehicle without being in the car. Those are separate from normal key fobs and cost more for installation.

Not everyone who owns a car feels safe enough with the security features that come with the car so they decide to purchase security features on their own. Many drivers purchase a security feature called “The Club.” “The Club” is a metal club that hooks onto the steering wheel, making it immovable. This is in the event that a thief tries to steal the car. They won’t be able to operate the steering wheel since “The Club” has made it immovable.

Other security features are the use of On-Star, which can be installed in most new vehicles, from the General Motors family. On-Star provides directions, accident assistance and vehicle tracking features if the car is stolen. On-Star also offers a door unlocking feature for drivers that have locked themselves out of their vehicle. All On-Star call centers are open and operable 24 hours a day for all of their services.

Security features in vehicles today are also offered in the trunk. Most new vehicles have a trunk release button inside the trunk in the horrific event that someone is placed in the trunk during a carjacking or other violent attack. This enables the person to open the trunk from the inside so their air flow does not disappear and they can exit the vehicle when it comes to a stop.

All of these features are not offered on every vehicle, nor do they come standard on all vehicles. Most of them do come standard; such as the panic button on the key fob, the child safety locks and door locks. “The Club” can be purchased at any retail store and On-Star is installed in certain General Motors models.

About the Author: New Auto Transport

Dealership Car Shipping

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3M Clear Bra: What Can it Do For Your Vehicle?

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By Samantha McCartney

There are so many aftermarket things that you can buy and install on your vehicle today. With so many things to choose from it is not always easy deciding which options to choose for your vehicle. You should choose upgrades that will make your vehicle look better and protect it from damage. Many people are curious about the 3M clear bra, they want to know what it can really do for their vehicle. There are many benefits to adding the 3M clear bra upgrade to your vehicle, find out what the 3M clean bra can do for your vehicle.

The 3M clear bra is a protective film placed on the front bumper, grill, headlights, hood, fenders and side mirrors. The protective film is made from a urethane laminate. It is designed to protect your vehicle appearance and value. It is a clear film so it is very hard to notice that you even have anything on your vehicle. Don’t worry getting the 3M clear bra installed on your vehicle will not alter the original finish of your vehicle and it will not harm the paint under it either!

The 3M clear bra is designed to protect your car from getting those little nicks and small damages to the front of your car that many times occurs from rocks kicking up from the road while you are driving. If unprotected those little nicks will need paint touch up, which is not something all car owners want to do or have time to do as they occur.

The 3M clear bra also protects the paint on your vehicle. The areas that it covers the bumper, grill, headlights, hood, fenders, and side mirrors are all prone to getting hit with tons of bugs. As those bugs splatter against your car they are spreading your guts as well, which are harmful to your vehicles paint. It will break down the paint and cause damage.

The 3M clear bra also makes cleaning your vehicle easier. Since we all know about those areas being prone to collecting bugs, we know that those bugs are hard to get off. So, the 3M clear bra not only keeps the bug guts off your paint, but also makes it easier to wash the bugs off.

3M clear bra is a better choice than the traditional leather or vinyl bras that were used in the past. Those traditional bras are big, bulky and don’t look very good on vehicles. They also trap water under them and sometimes cause more damage than they do good.

Getting the 3M clear bra for your vehicle is a great choice if you want to keep your vehicles looking good and protect it from any damage. If you can protect it, why not? Also, getting the 3M clear bra installed is easy to do. You need to find a qualified auto body shop that offers the service and you are on your way to an upgraded and protected vehicle. The choice is clear, get 3M clear bra today!

About the Author: If your car is in need of auto reconditioning start looking for a qualified professional to handle your concerns. Look for an auto body professional to take care of your ride from 3M clear bra to fixing the major auto body repairs.

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