Qualities to Look for in an Auto Mechanic

Your mechanic can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It all depends on the steps you take in hiring him. When there is a car problem, the first person you call is your mechanic. If he is a good mechanic, he will get you back on the road within a few hours without straining your finances. Do you want a technician you can count on? If yes, you have to ensure he possesses all the following qualities.  

Great customer service

To get the best services, you have to work with someone who is willing to listen to your needs and explain the problem to you in detail. Such a mechanic is the one with the best customer service skills. He will put you at ease during repairs and diagnosis of your car. Simply put, a service provider with strong communication skills will give you the much deserved peace of mind. You can be assured there will be no surprises.

Great diagnostic skills

A mechanic is only as good as his diagnostic skills. You don’t want someone who will replace the wrong component and charge you for it. A great service provider should be able to identify problems quickly and find a lasting solution. He should also be familiar with the diagnostic resources and make extensive use of them.

Problem solving skills

Auto mechanics deal with problem after problem on a daily basis. To be a dependable service provider, the person you hire must have great problem solving skills to identify problems and suggest the best solutions. He should be a fast thinker.

Great work ethics

If he lacks proper work ethics, he will be burden to you. Such a mechanic will use substandard components, send you exaggerated invoices and even fail to complete the work on the stipulated time. It is for this reason that you should only work with auto mechanics with a proven track record of delivering reliable services.

Up-to-date equipment

Vehicles are evolving continually. Modern day vehicles come with an onboard computer that controls practically everything. If the technician lacks the right tools, he might end up misdiagnosing your vehicle and even causing more damage. To be able to diagnose problems and address a range of problems with ease, the mechanic must have the latest tools so as to best serve the customers.

Certified

You don’t want to take your car to just any mechanic that your friends recommend. You need someone who is certified to work on your model of car. Being certified shows a sense of ambition and motivation on the part of the mechanic. Certification will also show that the service provider is up-to-date on the latest techniques and technologies.

The aforementioned qualities are essential in a mechanic. They are what guarantee you will get the best services at the end of the day. All in all, you should always follow your instincts. You want to work with someone you can trust not someone that will rob you the peace of mind.

Posted by: Crawfordville Auto http://crawfordvilleauto.com 

What You Must Know About Auto Repair

Don't feel helpless when dealing with your car's need for repairs. Your knowledge about how to
deal with repairs protects that big investment you have in your car. This article will guide you
through all you need to know about auto repair.

Do you have a hard time starting your car? Your battery probably needs to be recharged or
replaced. You need to check the state of charge of your battery. You can use a hydrometer or a
voltmeter depending on the type of battery you have. If you have been regularly recharging your
battery, it might be time for a new one.

Check the transmission fluid every two to three months. Let your engine run and open the hood of
your car. Use the transmission dipstick to check the fluid levels. If there is not enough fluid in
your transmission you probably have a leak somewhere in your system. It is best to take the car to
a mechanic so he can locate the leak.

It is important to maintain the level of your brake fluid. The brake fluid compartment is usually
close to the engine and should be checked regularly. Make sure the compartment is two third full
and add more brake fluid if you need to. There might be a leak in your system if you often need to
add more brake fluid.

You don't always have to take your car to the shop when there is an issue. There are a few things
that you can fix easily yourself. If you feel confident, you can get on the Internet and research
to discover the problem. If it's easy, you can repair the problem yourself, and save money too.

Be sure to read your owner's manual to find out what kinds of fluids (oil, brake fluid,
transmission fluid, steering fluid) your car needs and to learn how to check and top these off
yourself. Keep a few bottles of each fluid in the trunk of your car in case of emergencies.

To save a trip to the auto repair shop, you should take a look at your owner's manual. Here, you
may find hints or perhaps answers to questions you may have about your vehicle. It can be quite
helpful to know the size of your engine or its configuration, which is usually found in the
manual.

Always ask about the certification and the insurance of a mechanic before letting them fix your
car. If something goes wrong, the mechanic's insurance will cover damages and usually provides you
with a car you can drive until yours is fixed. A mechanic who is not certified does not have an
insurance either.

Just like at the doctor, you can get a second opinion before agreeing to costly repairs. A
reputable shop should not be padding the bill, but it does not hurt to see what another
professional thinks about the situation. If you are still nervous, the dealer is always an option.
It will be more expensive, but they tend to someone checking over their shoulder more often.

You should now realize that improving your auto repair approach can save you time and money. The
information in this piece should give you the confidence you need to tackle auto repair questions.
Keep these tips in mind to get the results you need.


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Posted By: Crawfordville Auto http://crawfordvilleauto.com

Can You Trust Your Auto Repair Technician?

You can never be at peace if you take your car to an auto shop which you don’t trust. Your auto mechanic should be someone who is honest and very professional in their dealings. But finding someone you can trust to repair your most valuable investment can be a daunting task. To help you determine if you got the right auto mechanic, we will go through a list of things that professional auto shops do. If you don’t experience this kind of service in your local auto shop, it’s time to start looking for a replacement.

1.     Offers your old parts back

This may seem funny but it’s always important to ask for your old parts so that you can confirm that they were indeed replaced. Some untrusted auto mechanics will insist on a replacement when the parts didn’t need to be replaced in the first place. Asking for your parts back will help you to ensure you’ve gotten your money’s worth.

2.     Doesn’t charge two labor costs

Some mechanics charge two labor costs if they fix several things in your car. This is absolutely wrong. A good auto shop will have a price for the total job done so you won’t have to pay for any services twice. Get quotes from several auto shops in your area and then compare to see who offers the most reasonable rates.

3.     Do your homework

It’s always important to get a second opinion whenever you have a serious auto issue that requires costly repairs. You should start by consulting your dealer. In many cases, faulty parts can be covered by your warranty and repaired free of charge by your dealer. So before you rush to the auto shop and spend so much money on repairs, you better check with the dealer. Additionally, compare the cost of getting the same repair in other auto shops if you feel like the prices they just quoted were too high. But also remember that it’s important for the repairs to be done by the best auto shop.

4.     Get quality auto parts

Any auto parts that are being installed in your car should be genuine. Only a credible auto repair shop will offer genuine parts. You’ll know by the price they charge customers and the kind of service they have to offer. Most auto mechanics will consult the client before replacing any vehicle parts just to let them know the kind of items they will be replacing.

5.     Proper customer service

A reliable auto technician will always be ready to offer you the very best customer service. Whether you need some questions answered about the state of your car or you just want some clearance on the charges and labor costs, the auto technicians should always be glad to help. Talk to your auto shop beforehand to have any issues addressed. If you experience any form of poor customer service then it’s time to move on to the next auto repair technician.

Posted By: Crawfordville Auto http://crawfordvilleauto.com 

Brake Fluid is Vital to Your Vehicle

Automobiles are wonderful machines that ease the process of transportation. Being able to get from point A to point B is very important to our daily existences. Being able to safely stop at our final destinations is another important aspect of transportation that we take for granted. There are some simple and effective brake repair and maintenance methods that you or a hired professional can perform to ensure that you can safely stop your vehicle when the time comes. Let's take a look at the most popular method of brake repair, as well as some warning signs that you may want to know.

Bleeding

Your car's wheels are stopped by a series of restraints and pads. There are lines filled with fluid that transfer pressure from the controlling mechanism to the pads on the wheels, effectively stopping the automobile. These lines need to be bled every one to two years to ensure that air does not get in them. If too much air enters your lines, you can experience complete failure of your car's restraint system. Vacuums and one-way bleeder valves are available for purchase at your local auto store, so you can accomplish this job by yourself. You can also bleed your lines with a friend. This is known as the pump and hold method. One person must pump the car's restraint pedal and hold it down. The other person needs to be underneath the car to release the valves and release the fluid and any air that may have gotten in.

Signs to Look Out For

- Worn out pads can cause you serious problems with stopping. Most automobiles have a restraint system that is similar to a ten-speed bicycle. There are padded discs that clamp the tires and slow the car, eventually bringing it to a complete stop. After these pads have been used healthily, they begin to wear down and become less effective at stopping your car. Luckily, you can see your pads from outside your vehicle. Take a look at your pads, and if they are less than a quarter of an inch thick, you should change them.

- Strange sounds are often an indicator that your pads could use a change. A high-pitched whining sound that occurs when you apply pressure to your restraint pedal generally indicates that your pads are getting thin. This sound also occurs when you have wet brakes. If it just rained, you should look at your pads for yourself before you freak out. A harsh grinding sound means you need brake repair. This indicates that you have little or no pads left and should bring your car in for maintenance as soon as possible.

- Pulling to the left or the right when you apply pressure to your restraint pedal is a sure sign of a caliber problem. When one of these parts gets stuck, it does not effectively stop the tire it operates on. This creates the pulling sensation that you feel behind the wheel. If this occurs in your vehicle, you should bring it in for maintenance before the problem worsens.

Brake repair is just as important as any other standard vehicle maintenance. It is a vital function that should not be overlooked. The consequences of doing so could be tragic.

Livonia, MI residents head to Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center at Bill Brown Ford when they're in need of brake repair. Learn more at http://www.quicklanelivonia.com/.

Posted By: Crawfordville Auto & Tire http://crawfordvilleauto.com

7 Auto Repairs that should be done by a Professional

7 Auto Repairs that should be done by a Professional

When there’s something wrong with your car, it’s easy to be tempted to repair it on your own. But before you go ahead and cause more damage, you need to read this first. Here are 7 auto repairs that are best handled by an auto shop. They’ll always do it better- and much faster than you ever will.

• Air conditioning issues: Your car’s air conditioning system can fail unexpectedly and the last thing you want to do is try to repair it on your own. This system involves the use of various components and tubing that makes it quite sensitive. Make a wrong move and you’ll have to get it replaced completely.
• Gas tanks and air bags: There are certain areas of your car that you shouldn’t be messing with. If you are trying to do any repairs around the steering wheel or dash panel, remember there are airbags somewhere there and they can explode anytime causing significant injury. Keep off the gas tank too.
• Windshield replacement: Yes, there is a lot of DIY information going on how to replace a damaged windshield. But this is not a job you want to handle on your own. First, you don’t have the manpower to handle a huge piece of glass and secondly, you lack the skill to install it with the required precision. Contact your local glass specialists when you need to replace the windshield.
• Wheel balancing: Wheel balancing should be done at the auto repair shop because it will be done right using dedicated equipment and training. The same goes for tire balancing. This is not something you can manage to do correctly in your garage. It requires special equipment and skill. If done wrong, you’ll be risking your life driving that car.
• Body repairs: If your car’s body has been severely damaged, the next thing you should do is to take it to the auto shop, if it hasn’t been written off. Bodywork is very demanding and no one can handle it without the required skill and equipment. You need to find someone who has the experience in working on bodywork in order to make it look right.
• Electrical issues: When the electrical components on your car are experiencing issues, it’s best to have a professional check them out. Sometimes even basic wiring can be very dangerous. Electrical wires on vehicles are complex and rigorous so they need to be done by an expert.
• Replacing a clutch: Perhaps it may not be one of the toughest auto repair jobs but it’s best done by a professional. Sometimes you’ll have to remove the engine in order to change the clutch and ensure it is positioned perfectly. This is not something you want to do on your own. The heavy lifting will require some muscle and the positioning also needs some level of skill.

Before you begin any car repairs, remember that it’s always wise to consult an auto expert you trust and remember you can’t manage without professional assistance.

Posted By: Crawfordville Auto http://crawfordvilleauto.com

Wheel Alignment And Tire Balancing: Why Are They Important?

Tire balancing and wheel alignment are some of the most common auto repair services offered by technicians. When you buy new car tires, you may consider performing a wheel alignment. Having an alignment done can save you a lot of costs in the long run.

The importance of wheel alignment

Having a wheel alignment done will help to significantly increase the life of your new tires. During the wheel alignment, the steering and suspension of your vehicle is going to be adjusted in order to ensure that the tires don't wear out overtime. Alignment is also important because it ensures the car handles corners smoothly.

Wheel alignment is needed overtime because as you drive, your car's steering and suspension systems are pushed causing the ball & socket joints, bushings and other mechanical links to wear out. This makes the alignment deflect from the factory specifications. If nothing is done to improve the alignment, your car will have poor cornering and handling which also makes the tires wear out.

There are basically 3 types of wheel alignment angles: camber, toe and caster. The camber angle measures whether the top of the tire is tilting outward or inward due to worn ball joints or severely worn out wheel bearings. The toe angle affects the car's tires and steering wheel. If the angle is in or out too far, your tires will begin to wear out quickly and the steering wheel will look crooked. The caster angle is what is responsible for the steering wheel returning to its original position when you make a turn.

Importance of tire balancing

You'll need tire balancing as soon as you buy the new tires. This process is performed to ensure that all the tires balance with wheel weights to facilitate smooth rolling of the tire. When there's an imbalance, the steering wheel will rock back and forth as you drive especially when you reach a certain speed.

When you take your car to the auto technician for tire balancing, they'll mount it on a rim and then use a machine that is designed to spin the tires and check the location of imbalance and how severe it is. Once the problem is fixed, the technician will spin the tires again using the machine to ensure the tires are properly balanced.

Tire imbalance can occur when the rubber that is used in making it wears off overtime. That is why it is important to check your tires for imbalance every 6 months and ensure they are rebalanced. Tire imbalance can cause severe accidents especially when the car is driven at fast speeds.

Tire balancing and wheel alignment can be done together. These services will help you to avoid budgeting for new tires soon. Even though they can be pretty expensive, they'll prevent serious accidents and increase the service life of your car. Just ensure you visit a well known auto repair shop and find a technician who is skilled and equipped to offer these services.

At Crawfordville Auto Care, we recommend factory maintenance once every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first during which we advise you on any minor or major engine repair work. We also carry out systematic fuel system cleaning to help you get the best of your mileage.http://crawfordvilleauto.com

Top 10 Common Automotive Defects

When we buy a new car, we often take for granted that it will work perfectly fine right off the assembly line. Unfortunately, care manufacturers often make mistakes, either through a faulty design or errors made by workers in the assembly process.

As a result, many of these design errors could cause you or others you share the road with to crash, leading to injury or death. Below is a list of some of the most common automotive defects.

1) Faulty airbags. These devices were installed to keep you safe, but can be part of the problem if not functioning correctly. Some airbags have been known to deploy while driving, obscuring the road from the driver and causing a crash. In other cases, the airbags do not properly deploy on impact, allowing significant blunt trauma to occur to the driver.

2) Faulty seat belts. Like airbags, seat belts occasionally malfunction at an opportune times and can become loose during an accident when the passenger needs them the most.

3) Faulty accelerator pedals. There have been several car manufacturers who have reported problems with the car acceleration system. The driver can be going along at normal speed and then all of the sudden the car undergoes a sudden acceleration, often causing the driver to hit the car in front of him. Sometimes the pedal literally just falls to the floor without warning.

4) Faulty tires. Tires are some of the most important components on a vehicle to insure a safe drive. A faulty tire can all of the sudden blow out in the middle of the freeway, causing the car to spiral dangerously out of control. Faulty tires can also fail to properly grip the road, especially in bad weather, due to flaws in tread design or rubber used to make it.

5) Bad brakes. Brakes are critical to the safety of your car. Some of the most serious accidents occur when the brakes fail and the driver cannot stop before slamming into another motorist or off the side of the road. Even if the brakes engage, but only partially stop the, they can result in an accident. Brakes can also engage prematurely, which can be particularly dangerous on high speed thoroughfares.

6) Faulty gas tank. A gas tank that either leaks or allows sparks access to the fuel inside can be particularly dangerous, especially during a crash. Sometimes the gas tank can even be placed improperly making it more likely to fail in the event of an accident, leading to a large explosion before the passengers have a chance to escape the car.

7) Fuel line defects. Similar to issues with the gas tank, a faulting gas line can literally be an explosive problem.

8) Flawed car design. Engineers often can fail when planning out the overall design of the car in terms of its center of mass. For example, if the car or van is too top heavy it could have a propensity to tip over when making modest turns at high speed.

9) Power steering failure. Many Americans have gotten used to how easy it is to maneuver their cars with power steering. The problem is that this ease comes with the price of being dependent on technology. If the power steering fails while you are driving, particularly if you are driving at a high speed, you could literally lose control of the car at a most inopportune time.

10) Defective electronics. It has been reported recently that certain GPS mapping systems have led drivers into hazardous conditions due to programming glitches in the GPS mapping software. Many drivers take GPS for granted and often do not expect their systems to fail or report incorrect directions. This has been known to lead some drivers into dangerous traffic circumstances.

The list above represents a list of some of the most common automotive defects consumers experience with a new car. As a result, if you plan on buying a new car it pays to pay attention to any independent consumer alerts and insist on a thorough inspection prior to trusting your loved ones lives with the vehicle.

In the event of being involved in a collision due to a defective auto part, be sure to contact a reputable car accident attorney to help protect your interests and explore your legal options.

Have you been involved in a serious auto accident?

If so, contact the car accident lawyers at Tapella & Eberspacher today for comprehensive legal advice and guidance.

Posted By: Crawfordville Auto & Tire  http://crawfordvilleauto.com