Taking your vehicle to get worked on can be intimidating, especially if you’re not familiar with the lingo associated with vehicle maintenance and repair. However, next to your home, your vehicle is most likely the second most expensive investment you’ll make, so it’s important to make sure you leave it in the right hands when something goes awry. “Some customers are afraid to ask questions because they feel intimidated by technicians,” says Bob Arlotta, NAPA 2008 Technician of the Year. “But it’s your right as a customer to ask as many questions as you want. Any auto care center not willing to answer your questions is probably not a good choice for your vehicle maintenance needs.” Whether you need a problem fixed immediately or are simply searching for an auto care center that can perform routine maintenance, there are a number of important questions that all vehicle owners should ask before turning their keys over to an automotive technician: 1. Are you ASE certified? A common indication of quality service is a certificate of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE’s mission is to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service through the testing and certification of repair and service professionals. Arlotta recommends checking with your local repair shop to ensure the establishment and its technicians are in fact endorsed with an ASE certificate. This certificate confirms the quality of work you can expect from the facility is high. If no ASE certificate has been awarded, it’s probably a good idea to take your vehicle elsewhere. 2. What payment policies and guarantees do you offer? Before approving any work to be done, it’s important to ask about the facility’s labor rates, warranties and payment policies. Auto care centers willing to provide this information up front, in writing, traditionally produce high-quality work because they know they’re accountable for it. Also, before letting a technician inspect your vehicle, it’s important to find out the cost involved. Not all auto care centers provide free estimates, and you don’t want to be stuck paying a costly inspection fee you didn’t approve beforehand. 3. What is your used parts policy? Some garages have been known to pass off used parts as new to unsuspecting vehicle owners. To ensure you’re getting what you paid for, Arlotta recommends asking the facility about its used parts policy before having any work done on your vehicle. Does the garage use used parts? Can you request they only use new parts? Can you see the parts before they are installed on your vehicle? 4. Do you have a list of references I can contact? To really find out about the facility’s service record, it doesn’t hurt to request a list of references who have frequented the shop before. They’ll be able to provide an overview of their experience with the technicians and how satisfied they were with the work that was completed. If the facility cannot provide you with a list of references, Arlotta suggests asking friends, neighbors and family members if they have frequented the facility before. 5. Can I receive a written explanation of what work was completed on my vehicle? Requesting a detailed breakdown of what repairs were done on your vehicle not only helps you maintain pristine records but also keeps the auto care center accountable for the work they completed. According to Arlotta, these records are extremely important, especially when warranties are involved. News source: NAPA Auto Care

Hints From The Crew Chief: IF you use cheap anti freeze be sure to check the strength before installing it have had numerous reports of it being diluted. If you are using a reputable brand no need to worry. That time of year to lube the locks on your vehicle if you have a remote unlock they are rarely used and it is frustrating to find them frozen when the remote dies. Take you rig to a good carwash (going to cost you a few bucks) and have it cleaned mainly the undercarriage road chemicals can do number on your vehicle. Mine always seems to run quieter and better after I do this. Check your tire pressure mine always seem to look fine but upon testing are sometimes as much as 10 lbs down on pressure. I blame this on aluminum rims as the fronts are always lower I assume from the twisting when steering. Check your furnace filter and buy a carbon dioxide tester. I know this is a car site but I think this is important enough to mention. My neighbors who live in a fairly new house recently had their lives saved by a tester.

Buying your car parts online is not a bad idea. Buying them from a fraudulent site is. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of auto parts dealers parading their wares on the Web. Deciding on the most reliable source for your car parts is a crucial thing. Here are a few tips on how to buy discount auto parts online:Conduct a background checkAlways look for signs of professionalism and expertise before subscribing to online car part dealer’s services. It never hurts to spend a few minutes googling for background information on the dealer. If there is a phone number indicated in the site, call it. Also, feel free to inquire about the sites at the Better Business Bureau. Every region (supposedly) has one.Knowledge is PowerWhen buying car parts, it is important that you are familiar with the device. Not knowing anything about the part would probably make the search, not only longer, but futile as well. Also, the internet is flooded with small time auto parts dealer that don’t know the difference between a radiator cap and a distributor cap.Another sure sign of an online import auto parts dealer’s reliability is how much information they include about the product. Also, always look for warranty information. Remember, knowledge about the product reflect the integrity of the site.Credit is good, reallyOnline dealers that accept checks and cash are rare. However, your credit card should do the trick. One advantage of purchasing thru credit card is that there is such a thing as fraud protection. Some credit card companies even improve on the fraud incident coverage mandated by law. Paypal is another good payment option, as this method also offers fraud protection. Conversely, online buyers should be warned that it is not advisable to use a debit card, especially for the first transaction. News source: Auto Mechanics

The Model T vs. the Nano: How a revolutionary car stacks up against a potentially revolutionary car.Tata Nano:Introduced: 2008Cost: $2,500Horsepower: 33Cylinders: 2Top Speed: 60 mphMiles per gallon: 50Seats: 4-5 adultsSeatbelts: yesAirbags: noRadio: noAir conditioning: noWindshield wipers: 1Ford Model T:Introduced: 1908Cost: $850 (about $19,000 today)Horsepower: 20Cylinders: 4Top Speed: 45 mphMiles per gallon: 13 to 21Seats: 6-7 adultsSeatbelts: noAirbags: noRadio: noAir conditioning: noWindshield wipers: none

I need to preface this by saying I was an assistant manager for an auto repair shop for over 3 years. So I really do know what I’m talking about, I promise. Many lists I have seen on how to save money include changing the oil on your car yourself as a way to save money. That’s bollocks. Let me tell you why.Most auto repair shops that also do other work like brakes, tuneups, and tires use oil changes as a loss leader to get you to come to their shop for more major repairs and maintenance. The regular price for an oil change at the shop I used to work at is currently $18.90. You can often find coupons for $14.90, and occasionally they have coupons for $12.90. They are set up to do oil changes very quickly, with an oil pit down below or at least on a lift. The guys that worked the oil change bay frequently could complete an oil change in about 5 minutes most of the time. Now, even if you have several cars in front of you, that’s still pretty fast timing. If you can hit the shop when there’s nobody in front of you, you can be in and out in about 15 minutes, most of the time.Compare that to changing the oil yourself. You have to buy ramps to drive your car up on, an oil wrench, plus you have to buy the oil at about $2.50 per bottle (I’m not 100% certain on this. I haven’t bought oil by the bottle in over 7 years, but my husband who drives a car that has a slight oil leak says this is what oil costs) and an oil filter for between $6 and $10. Consider that the average car requires about 5 quarts of oil and just the oil and filter is going to run more than the coupon price.Plus, it takes time to change the oil yourself on your car. And, if you mess up and strip the threads on the oil pan bolt, it’s you that has to deal with fixing that. If the repair shop does so, they have to fix it, not you. And then you have to take the used oil for recycling- seriously, it’s more time than it’s worth.You’re not going to save money if you don’t go to the right sort of shop. The shops that do oil changes only are typically more expensive, charging between $25 and $30 for an oil change. And I have no idea what dealers charge for their oil changes, but I expect their prices are in line with the rest of their prices. That is to say, expensive. The type of shop you want to choose is the sort that does all kinds of work. Watch out for coupons that come in the mail and take your car in to try the place out.A bonus of taking your car to one of these shops for regular oil changes is you get to know the shop before you have to bring your car in for more major work. There are many unscrupulous shops out there. It drives the honest shops and auto technicians wild because people tend to assume that all shops are shady, based on the actions of a few shops. But you can get a good feel for what a shop is like based on how they handle oil changes. If they explain things carefully and tell you how seriously you need an item (I always instructed my technicians to make sure to differentiate between an item needing replaced by mileage/time vs. actual need), then you can assume they’re probably an honest shop. But if they act like everything is needing to be replaced on your car, unless everything really does need to be replaced on your car, they’re probably unscrupulous. Keep shopping around until you find a good shop, and then recommend them to your friends and family as well. Good shops get a lot of business by word of mouth.Some maintenance items that are totally worth doing yourself is the air filter, PCV valve, and, with some technical knowledge, tuneups, plug wires, and distributor caps. Air filters, especially, are ridiculously easy to replace and are overpriced in every shop I have ever been in. If we ever get a warm, non-rainy day and I remember to, I may do a tutorial on how simple it is to replace your air filter.Happy motoring! News source: Home-EC101

Do they make it easy to book an appointment?Are they courteous on the phone?Do they set up or offer alternative transportation? Do they ask the appropriate questions in order to fully understand what the problem is?When you are providing answers, does the Service Advisor listen and write it down?Does the Service Advisor try to diagnose the issue before a technician looks at the problem? The answer should “NOT” be yes.A diagnose charge should be provided before you sign the Work Order.The Service Advisor contacts you before any charges exceed what you were told.A full cost estimate is provided before any repairs are done.Ideally you should be given parts pricing options. Eg. The price for an OEM part compared to going with an aftermarket brand.Service Advisor underpromises never overpromises. Cost of repair is exactly what you were told.Most important is that the vehicle is actually repaired properly the first time. This is a good way to find out if your shop is offering you their best. Keep in mind this is an ideal situation. Personally I look for the people that offer me the best attitude. News source: MY News

Prepare Your Vehicle First, make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter driving. AAA offers the following tips for motorists departing on winter road trips: Have the battery and charging system tested. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather. Have the brakes checked to ensure they work properly and apply smoothly, which helps prevent the wheels from locking on slick surfaces. Make sure the tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can be dangerous, and may suffer damage. Remember, the air pressure in your tires will decrease 1-2 psi for every 10 degree drop in outside temperature. Use the tire size recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer for best snow traction. Overly wide tires tend to float on top of the snow, reducing grip. Make sure the engine coolant provides anti-freeze protection down to the lowest temperatures you are likely to encounter; -30 degrees F/-34 degrees C is a good guideline. Visibility is critical in adverse weather conditions, so replace worn windshield wipers that streak, and be sure the washer reservoir is filled with a winter solvent that will not freeze. Keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to minimize condensation buildup that can lead to gas line freeze-up. If the fuel in your area does not already contain alcohol, use a gas line “dryer” additive periodically to absorb moisture. Carry a winter driving kit for use in the event of an emergency. The kit should include a small bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter), a small snow shovel, a snow brush, traction mats, a flashlight with new batteries, window washer solvent, an ice scraper, a cloth or roll of paper towels, jumper cables, a blanket, warning devices (flares or triangles), drinking water and extra clothes. Program your radio for AM 530 or 1610 stations, as you may see signs referencing those frequencies for important traffic advisories. Carry a cellular phone and car charger. Program the phone with important numbers including a reliable roadside service provider that will be able to assist you during inclement weather if you have signed up in advance, such as AAA emergency road service (800-AAA-HELP or your local AAA club number). You can visit a local, reliable auto repair facility for assistance in preparing your vehicle for winter driving. If you are not familiar with facilities in your area or unsure of how to identify a reliable and professional facility, AAA can assist with a listing of AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities that have met and maintained high professional standards. A free listing of AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities is available by visit the automotive page of AAA.com. Plan Your Trip If your plans include travel out of the local area, plan ahead by getting up-to-date, accurate maps and routing information in advance. Make sure your maps include seasonal road closures and provide routing information on main roads over secondary routes since heavily traveled roads are more likely to be cleared or treated first during storms. You can get the latest AAA maps and a TripTik routing from your local AAA office. Alternatively, you can create and print your own routing using the TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com. Drive With Caution When taking to the road during winter weather, remember to drive with caution to help maintain your safety as well as that of passengers, fellow motorists and roadside workers. AAA recommends the following tips for winter driving: Before starting out in snowy weather, take time to remove the snow from the entire car so it doesn’t blow onto your windshield or the windshields of other drivers. Make sure your mirrors and lights are clean as well. Drive with your low-beam headlights illuminated. When the roads are icy, slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination. Even better, delay your trip, stop early for the day, or take an extended break from driving. Using an online service such as the TripTik Travel Planner at AAA.com can help you find restaurants and lodgings along your route. Allow sufficient room for maintenance vehicles and plows, stay at least 15 car lengths (200 feet) back and, if you need to pass, go to the other vehicle’s left. Watch for icy surfaces on bridges, even when the rest of the road seems to be in good condition. If you get stuck in snow, straighten the wheel and accelerate slowly. Add sand or cat litter under the drive wheels to help avoid spinning the tires. If your tires lose traction, continue to look and steer in the direction you want to go. If the drive wheels start to spin or slide while going up a hill, ease off the accelerator slightly and then gently resume speed. Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra seconds to react. When changing lanes, avoid cutting in front of trucks, which need more time and distance than passenger vehicles to stop. Don’t use cruise control in precipitation and freezing temperatures. Remember that four-wheel drive helps you to get going quicker, but it won’t help you stop any faster. Apply constant, firm pressure to the pedal with anti-lock brakes.

PRLEAP.COM) San Francisco, CA – December 3, 2007 FairBenjamin (www.fairbenjamin.com), similar to a blue book for car repair, today opened its online price database to a nationwide audience. FairBenjamin gives motorists peace of mind that the prices charged by their local mechanic for parts and labor, are in a word– fair. FairBenjamin provides the most comprehensive repair estimates — ranging from brakes to motor replacement — for free to the general public. Because of the growing complexities under the hood of the modern car, many Americans feel disadvantaged when discussing car repair with a repair shop. When the family car has mechanical problems, it is a challenge to find the most appropriate and qualified technician at a fair price. “Sometimes even good cars behave badly, so we’ve also made preliminary diagnoses available in a way that is simple, and actually kind of fun,” says Benjamin Picard, founder of FairBenjamin. “Just answer a couple questions online, and voilà, problem diagnosed, fair repair estimate given in real-time, and introduction to great mechanic made! And you’re likely going to save a significant amount of time and money by connecting with the right mechanic first.” Need a second opinion? Connect with other consumers who own the same car at FairBenjamin, ask for a referral from other local car owners, share repair experiences and even prices. Picard continued “FairBenjamin is geared to the family car and community driven. Unbiased, transparent, and freely flowing repair information is our strength.” About FairBenjamin FairBenjamin is your trusted friend for car repair. FairBenjamin was founded in 2007 to give motorists peace of mind and access to great mechanics. The FairBenjamin service is US patent pending. For more information on the company, investor inquires, or to receive a fair repair estimate, visit [url”>www.fairbenjamin.com. News source: PR Leap

Now comes the shady part of brake services. As I mentioned in the intro, brakes have become a commodity – everyone does them. Every Val-Pack or Advo that comes to my house has coupons in it for brake services. They are advertised everywhere and it is always deceptive. Call a few auto repair shops and ask about brake prices and you will never get an apples to apples comparison. Most people don’t even know how to compare or what questions to ask. Many shops, knowing that people are calling around to get the best deal, will never quote a price over the phone but encourage you to come in for the free brake inspection.So, let me give you a few examples of brake specials and what you get for it. There is a national chain that advertises brakes for $89.99, pads and labor. If you read the small print and can read between the lines, this price is for what is commonly referred to in the industry as a “pad slap.” A quick mechanic can “slap” pads on the front wheels and have you driving out in about 20 minutes. First of all, a quality brake pad is going to cost the shop between $29 to $45. When you add wages and other overhead, some shops will actually lose money on this job. Therefore, a much cheaper pad is used. In fact, the fine print says that the price is for organic or NAO (non-asbestos organic) pads. Two problems here. First of all, most vehicles do not call for organic pads. When you come in for your brake job you will be told that this price does not apply to you because the manufacturer calls for semi-metallic, or even ceramic pads. Second, if you are adamant about using the organic pads, they will wear down your rotors like crazy. Besides, these pads are almost guaranteed to make noise, its just part of their nature. They also create a lot of brake dust – not nice for pretty rims.Moving on, this brake service normally does not include resurfacing the rotors or drums. Some say that resurfacing is not necessary if the rotor or drum is smooth. However, that rotor is married to the surface of the pad. There are fine imperfections created between the two that must be removed. Our belief is that a rotor or drum should be resurfaced every time pads or shoes are replaced to improve contact. Not doing so will result in faster and more uneven pad wear.Additionally, this quick pad slap may result in the mechanic not lubricating or adjusting any of the hardware. This is more likely than not, due to the nature of the service being offered, and we see it all the time in our shop with stuck caliper pins.Also, this service does not include a fluid flush to remove contaminants from the brake system.Lastly, the disclaimer: “applies to most vehicles.” This is important. This service will not apply to a 4×4 vehicle or trucks with dual wheels in the rear. There are certain Accords and Civics, for example, that have a “trapped rotor” requiring extensive labor to remove the rotor. The offer probably will not apply to luxury vehicles, especially German cars on which it is difficult to find aftermarket brake pads. Be prepared for the worst when responding to these coupons. The service advisor may begin with a high estimate to give him room to come down substantially in price and still get your business. It is a terrible way to do business, I think.Therefore, I normally call this type of service a “bait and switch.” You are lured by the cheap brake job (and it is cheap) and will normally be upsold and offered an estimate two to three times the coupon amount. If you are calling around, use the information you have learned in the previous posts and ask the right questions to make sure you are making a good comparison. Even better, find a shop that you trust so that you never have to worry about a diagnosis or an estimate.When you ask for a phone estimate, make sure the advisor knows the year, make, and model of your vehicle, and if it is 4×4 as well. Be wary of any shop giving you phone estimates without asking you this critical information.Good questions to ask when getting an estimate:Is the price per axle, or all four wheels? What brand and line of brake pads are you using? Does the price include resurfacing rotors/drums? Does the price include a fluid flush? What kind of warranty do you offer on parts and labor? News source: Fix My Car

1. Roadside Emergency KitJC PenneyIf you’re in charge of auto maintenance in your household, there’s no excuse for being without a proper emergency kit. Every vehicle should have one, but you don’t need to spend a bundle to get the peace of mind that comes with having the tools you need to get out of a jam. This kit includes a swivel head flashlight with stand, booster cables, air compressor, pair of cotton gloves to keep it clean, a tire gauge, hose tape and a four-socket wrench. Even the case is useful with the reflective safety triangle. Safety first! Just $30.00!Buy It Now! 2. Open End Wrench Settylertools.comAnyone attempting to perform their own auto repairs or maintenance needs a proper set of open end wrenches. This set from Craftsman is the perfect starter set. Your home mechanic can use these to get their tool kit started. Since they’re Craftsman tools, you can exchange them at any Sears store if one of them ever breaks. I’ve had Craftsman wrenches for decades that look almost new. Comes with both metric and SAE wrenches.3. Screwdriver Settylertools.comNo tool kit is even a start before it contains a selection of screwdrivers. We all have a few oddball screwdrivers around the house, but to get into auto repair and maintenance you’ll need a good selection of sizes and types made by a company you can trust. Craftsman has the screwdriver pretty much figured out. And with Craftsman, you’re protected for life. If (when) you break the tip off one of the drivers, you can trade it for a new one at any Sears. This starter set of 8 screwdrivers is available for a killer price – less than $15! Don’t wait until it’s too late, buy this set for your home mechanic today. 4. Fluorescent Work Lightamazon.comThe fluorescent shop light changed the way professional mechanics operate. They are bright, cool, and very durable. Since they don’t get hot, fluorescent work lights don’t pose a fire hazard. I have yet to see an LED work light that comes even close to doing the job. Every mechanic needs a work light for seeing into the recesses of the engine bay or underneath the car. This light features a 25-foot cord and even has a built in plug, so it doubles as an extension cord for your official shop daiquiri mixer.5. Mechanics Tool Boxtylertools.comThat lame orange tool box in the garage won’t do anymore. If there’s a serious mechanic in the house, there should be a serious tool box. If you’re not ready for the $5000 Snap-On stack yet, this affordable Stack-On tool box is great. It’s plastic for light weight, but has metal reinforcements in the bottom and at the handle, where it counts. Plus the diamond plate front says, “I’m changing my oil, and I mean business.” 6. The Bone-ster Creeperamazon.comThe creeper is nothing new. It’s easier to roll underneath a car than to slither. But the creeper hasn’t changed much in decades. That is, until Pegasus introduced the Bone-ster. Sure, it performs the same function as the rest, but the comfort level is beyond compare! If you need to creep, and I think you do need to creep, you should be lying in this comfortable bone to do it. Super durable and easy to use, the Bone-ster is the real deal. American made so you know it will last. 7. Torque Wrenchtylertools.comIf you’re planning to do any auto repairs, you’ll need a torque wrench. Without a torque wrench, you risk damaging your car’s expensive parts. Every shop has one. This Craftsman torque wrench features a dial type torque setting. The rod type may seem like a good deal since they’re around half the price, but they are a serious pain to use, and much less precise than the dial handle type. It’s easy to say you’ll get a torque wrench later, but one overtightened bolt will change your mind. Buy one today, for sure.8. OBDII Code Scannertooltopia.comCars today are as much computer as steel. To properly diagnose and troubleshoot you need to be able to read the trouble codes (DTCs) your car saves. If your Check Engine light is on, you need a code reader to get to the source of the problem. This unit will give you an instant readout from any OBD-II equipped vehicle (post 1996). Besides providing the codes, this reader can reset the Check Engine light. Very handy.9. Hex Wrench SetToolsPlusThanks to their high torque capabilities, the hex bolt is commonly found in automobiles. Also known as the Allen bolt, these are used on everything from the starter to the gear shift knob. This means every tool box should have a set of hex wrenches. This t-handle set is ergonomic and allows for lots of strength when twisting off tough bolts. It even comes with an easy to reference display case. Another tool box essential! 10. Ratchet Wrench and Socket Settylertools.comThe ratchet is the backbone of any mechanic’s tool arsenal. You’ll find yourself reaching for your ratchet wrench and sockets more often than any other tool in the box. That’s why it’s so important to have a set on hand. This Craftsman set is the perfect starter kit, with both 3/8″ and 1/4″ drive sockets, a driver, a 1/4″ adapter and an organized case. Nobody doing auto repair and maintenance can get by without the ratchet. Give somebody the jump on their tool kit. News source: Auto Repair About