Local Search Marketing Helps Auto Repair Shops Increase Business

Increase revenue and generate more sales for your automotive repair business using... Local Search Marketing and Customer Financing.

Here are 4 easy methods that are successfully used by auto repair shops.

Increase revenue and use these simple techniques to have your shop recognized as "one of the best in your area" within weeks. Here's an inexpensive and very effective way to increase exposure to locals.

Most local consumers are looking for a repair shop that is "one of the best in their area".

Who wants to drive for miles to a mechanic that they feel is good when there is one right in their neighborhood?

Let people know that you are one of the best and chances are they will give you a try now it's up to you to keep them coming back by "proving" that you are what you say.

The secret is in how you let them know. It has to be powerful and believable in order to be effective.

First, it's important to understand how - do - "local" consumers find you? Seems like a fairly simple question.

Are they looking for your ads in phone books and coupons in newspapers?

If so, remember these three words, I will be repeating them often. Local Search Marketing.

Question:

• When was the last time you used the phone book instead of - or before searching the Internet?

97% of consumers use the Internet to research products or services in their "local" area!

• If a "local consumer" does a Bing, Google or Yahoo search for your specialty, (by typing keywords that people normally use to find "your" specialty into the search box) will your website show up on page one? On the second page? How about the third?

Here is a fact; most Internet searchers will not look further than page two. So, if your website is somewhere in the maze of "national and local" websites on page 50 the chances are that potential customer will not find your website.

90% of those consumers use search results as compared to 48% using yellow pages. In addition, most of those will make a "buying decision" based on their Internet search results.

Now I know if you do have a website - you probably spent a small fortune to get it "developed",

BUT... IS IT BRINGING YOU NEW BUSINESS?

Local Search Marketing, here is the first step to using search marketing to increase revenue for your shop.

1. To increase revenue one of the most effective and "affordable" ways to get "local" consumers to find your website is improve your website's "local" search ranking. I'm not talking about some expensive "pay-per-click" deal that will cost a fortune. I know it sounds simple but this actually involves a "process" that can get your website positioned on page one or two of local Internet search results. Local Search Marketing and Search Engine Optimization are going to be the key. Increase revenues by using this simple strategy and a company that specializes in achieving prominent placement of websites in local searches you should see results in weeks. But we suggest you go further than that, to help, you can also get working capital loans for advertising. But here's a great place to start!

GET YOUR FREE LISTING in City Directory On Line Business Directory provides an easy to use business directory without intrusive advertising. City Directory On Line is the only patent pending, simple to use, local city online business directory of its kind. And it's ALREADY ranked and placed on page one of Google search. It's quick, it's easy and it's a free listing.

In addition to getting better placement we recommend a full blown "testimonial page" with some of your best customers sharing their positive experiences. People love to see their testimonials in newspapers, on the Internet or almost anywhere, so let your customers know that their testimonial will be on your site.

What this does is "validates" your shop, not that you need it but for this method it will help. Remember, most consumers make their buying decisions based on their Internet search results. So when they find your site we want your happy customers to also tell a great story about your shop. But there's more!!!!

2. When trying to increase revenue the one thing I find to be most troubling to customers is the "perception" that many mechanics are not completely honest people. The truth is most mechanics are honest but when a customer has a bad experience with a mechanic that they "think" ripped them off, they can't wait to share that experience with anyone within earshot. So what I have found is that when a mechanic or auto shop is able to establish a reputation as an honest shop the word of mouth advertising results in an almost immediate uptick in new customers. Why? Simple, everyone is looking for a mechanic they can trust, and people like to "brag" that they have a great mechanic. Increased revenue is obviously the result.

Local search marketing has been used as a very simple but effective method of helping mechanics who want to promote their shop to "local" consumers. Contact us below and ask for details. This method will help you get local customers that are searching the Internet for good mechanics in their area. And remember, word of mouth combined with good, effective advertising are a key to getting them into your shop, what you do next is important to keeping them and having them spread the word about you.

3. We all know that working on autos is NOT the cleanest job. I've been in shops where customers will bring in cars that have never had soap and water anywhere near it. So you know already that the engine has never been cleaned - and there is oil and grime, - OK you get the picture. But with as much grease and grime as there is in this business, the busiest shops usually seem to be the ones with a fresh and clean reception and waiting area. But this is very important: The restrooms are always the cleanest! Why? Research shows that in most "two-car" families more women bring in cars for repairs. It could be because many have small children and they may be home more and available to "bring the car in for service. So keeping the waiting area and restroom neat and clean could make a world of difference.

Many customers just feel that a clean shop is a better shop, whether that is in fact true or not is not important. What is important is that the customer feels that it is. Now, think about the impact that will have when you "PROMOTE" - on your website - that your shop has impeccably clean waiting area and restrooms.

Short-term working capital loans can help shops change their entire "image" for customers by helping the owners finance the remodeling or furnishing of the customer waiting area and restrooms. The loans are funded within 5 days and were based on the shops "future VISA/MasterCard sales". The increased revenue allowed the loan to be repaid in the 6 to 12 month term of the finance agreement. When you consider the ROI of the borrowed money it truly is a "no brainer" to use the funds to improve the business and generate more sales.

4. Provide Customer Financing. There are many different ways and programs available. What you want is a program that allows you to get your money without waiting 30/60 or 90 days for payment. There is a program where your shop receives payment in 3 days with NO RECOURSE and you can offer your customers 90 NO CREDIT CHECK and NO INTEREST financing with instant approvals.

According to the most recent statistics many consumers in "today's tough economy" are financially unable to pay "immediately" for and emergency. Their credit cards are maxed or FICO is low so borrowing money is often not an option. That emergency could be anything from an unexpected $1500-$3000 auto repair to a medical or pet emergency. And even those driving expensive luxury automobiles could very well be having slow business or other financial issues, so don't assume they won't benefit from 90 CUSTOMER FINANCING also.

Car Total Loss - Determining And Settling The Value Of Your Car!

What is the car total loss process? Once you are in an
accident, the insurance company must inspect the vehicle and determine whether
the damage was substantial enough to declare a complete loss.

Most insurance companies will want to inspect the vehicles
themselves. In most accidents, insurance companies have approved body shops
write estimates and they eventually issue payment based on that estimate.
However, when there is a potential for a car total loss, most insurance
companies want their insurance adjuster to inspect the vehicle.

The reason for this is the conflict of interest that arises
from the arrangement between the insurance company and the body shop. Body shops
are in the business of fixing cars. They have a vested interest in quoting the
repairs so the car can be fixed and not declare it a car total loss.

For all practical purposes this means that you will be
waiting longer. Usually it takes two to three business days for the body shop to
issue a repair estimate. If the claim adjuster or the field representative has
to inspect and write their own estimate, then you will be waiting three to five
more days to get to the location of your car.

Before the adjuster comes out, she/he will submit all
pertinent information about your car (year, make, model, and mileage) to a third
party company. This company usually is CCC
Information Services Group, Inc. CCC will do a preliminary report to
determine what the value of your car is so the adjuster knows what the insurance
company would be looking to if there is a total loss.

Depending on your state law and the specific insurance
company, there will be a car total loss when the insurance company believes that
the cost to fix the car reaches 70%, 80%, or even 90% of its total value. It is
always a good idea to ask the adjuster what is the threshold they use to
determine a total loss.

When the vehicle is being estimated by the car total loss
adjuster, this individual will be looking at the condition of the vehicle. They
will note how "clean" the vehicle is, what is the exact mileage, and what
equipment and options the car has. All of this information will be reflected in
the final evaluation of the vehicle.

The adjuster will then submit the inspection report again
to CCC. CCC will send a final report showing comparative prices for the vehicles
in your local market. They will establish what the fair market value of the car
is and what a fair offer of settlement would be. For more information on how to
dispute this report visit:
http://www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com/car-total-loss-2.html.

Next, the adjuster must determine who the lien holder of
the vehicle is. If you have a car loan, the insurance adjuster must get that
information so they can contact the bank to determine how much is owed. There
are different requirements insurance companies must follow. If the insurance
company you are dealing with is your own (you are claiming the car total loss
against your own insurance company) then they will be bound by the terms of the
policy, which 99% of the time requires them to pay the bank first. If you are
making a total loss against someone else's insurance company (the person that
hit you), then this requirement does not exist (there is no actual policy to be
bound by).

If you have a loan, then the insurance adjuster will
request from the bank a Letter of Guarantee. This letter is an agreement between
the bank and the insurance company that for the payment of x amount, the bank
will release the title of the car to the insurance company directly. This
process usually takes four to five days.

If the amount you owe for the car is less than what the
insurance company will pay for the car total loss, then the insurance company
will pay the loan amount and then issue you a second check directly. If the loan
amount is higher than what the car total loss offer, then you will be upside
down your loan. You will be required to continue making payments even though the
car title will be transferred to the insurance company.

Once you receive payment for your loss, you will be able to
go out and get another car. For more information the total loss process and how
to protect your interest, visit:
http://www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com

Most Frequent Auto Repairs

There is one call that every auto owner hates to get, that is the call when your mechanic tells you that he found a major problem with your car. You only brought it in for an oil change! According to auto repair shops the top ten most frequent car repairs are:

1) Brake system

2) Oil change/lube

3) Cool system (radiator)

4) Ignition

5) Suspension

6) Fuel system

7) Electrical system

8) Transmission

9) Air conditioning

10) Exhaust

There are ways to keep your repair costs down. One of the easiest and best ways is preventative maintenance. Regularly schedule trips to your mechanic or service station can save you lots of money from future problems. Most cars have manufacturer's maintenance schedules or you can ask your mechanic if they have their own.

Being aware of your car is important as well. Keep your eyes ears and nose open. You can visually check your car yourself. Checking all your fluids and making sure they are topped is an easy thing to do. You can inspect your tires for wear and to see if they require rotation. Do you see oil, water or break fluid under the car?

Be aware of how the car sounds. Does it sound loud while driving. Do you hear squeaks while breaking. Do you hear squealing when you turn? Do you smell fumes or smoke or burning wires? Being diligent can help keep repair coasts down.

When you do have to repair or service, make sure you ask for a written estimate ahead of time. Make sure that the mechanic will ask your approval before any repairs are made. So what they suggest and what may prevent future problems. Finding a good mechanic should be done before you need repairs done. But if you are having your car maintained regularly this should not be a problem. Make sure you are using a competent and professional mechanic for your repair work and servicing. Cheap price does not mean good work. As they say you get what you pay for. Check to see if the mechanic uses new or used parts in the repairs. Make sure the shop is clean and orderly as well.

Some problems are foreseeable and can be prevented, other problems cannot. Having a trustworthy mechanic in mind before anything happens can save a lot of headaches. As cars get older wear and tear does take its toll and repairs will be necessary at some point. Just take care and be aware.

Visit ttp://www.carinsurance.com for a Car Insurance Quote in your State

Increase Efficiency With Auto Lifts

The specialty of auto lifts is that they empower the lifting of your vehicle for commercial or personal purposes. With the passage of time, new developments have been made in the field of innovative technology to increase efficiency, save time and save resources for the dealerships that are looking forward to improve vehicle check ins, improve the performance of technicians and finally reduce waste matter. These days, a number of automobile lift companies are coming up in Langley which are eco friendly and save time to a great extent. The best thing is that you can now complement technology with various kinds of advisory tools for maximum output.

The optimization of car storage is facilitated through the efficient means of operation which enhance the walk-around results while at the same time ensuring that customers can achieve the best results faster. In fact, there are new connectivity tools appearing in the market which aim to help technicians diagnose the different kinds of problems and resolve them. The automotive lifting devices have started using materials that are eco friendly and non hazardous hydraulic oils as a means of their operation.

There are a number of providers in Langley that offer customers the highest quality of products including garage equipments such as garage floors, car lifts, balancers and tire changers, car furniture and neon signs at extremely affordable rates for your home or shop. The best quality of devices is used at the best rates. There are also cheaper products which are available if you are eyeing your budget. If you want to stop at nothing short of the best, you can get that as well. The demand for car storage facilities and lifts is increasing more than ever before because people are using their cars longer and getting them repaired.

The growing trend of having car repairs instead of car trading or leasing has led to an expansion of the industry that specializes in auto lifts. This is precisely because of the fact that here, the repairs for minor mistakes are not expensive and do not amount to purchasing a new car all over again. People have become more conscious of car maintenance and use less costly lube service locations which use automotive lifts, instead of the more expensive dealerships and service centers. Hence, with the various car lifting services available, you are always sure to find a suitable product based on your needs and budgetary requirements.

Reading Vehicle Identification VIN Numbers on Autos

VIN or Vehicle Identification Numbers for cars, trucks and automobiles. Just what are they, how do I find them and why are they important?

VIN numbers are like a social insurance number for your automobile product. Each auto produced has an identification number assigned to it - a unique number to that vehicle. When you purchase your automobile product either new or used - the number on your bill must correspond to that stated VIN number. Otherwise you have the entirely wrong auto. Something or someone else. It has been known where administrative staff or perhaps the salesperson at a dealership made a mistake or was lazy. Voila years later collision, accident and health insurance could be denied by the auto insurance company if the VIN on the insurance form and registration does not match the VIN on the dash of the automotive vehicle.

Where and how can ascertain the proper VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) for your vehicle? Usually it can be found stamped on a plate in clear view attached to the left side of the dashboard, just inside the windshield on the bottom driver's side.

Sometimes the windscreen at the bottom may be a bit dirty or even the glass is hard to read through. Other times the bottom number may have slid just a tad under the dash so it is hard to read. Regardless either read the VIN properly to your satisfaction or take your car or truck to professional mechanic, body shop or service department of an auto dealership.

These unique VIN registration numbers have other purposes and benefits to you as well as an automobile owner. For repairs mechanics may need to refer to the VIN to identify model type for replacement parts. Stolen cars are usually identified by the VIN.

The VIN identifies the car for warranty coverage and as well it allows the auto manufacturer to identify vehicles and track you down in the event of an auto model recall - to inform you of work that should or must be done to your vehicle to keep it safe to operate on the road. Lastly even the automobile manufacturer themselves and their marketing and sales departments have good use for these VIN registration numbers allowing them to track specific vehicles and their sales and transfers across sales regions and even into other sales jurisdictions and different countries.

All in all it is a wise idea to know where you VIN can be read on your vehicle, to mark it down and ensure that it matches and corresponds to your vehicle sales invoice, registration and auto insurance registration papers and auto insurance policy coverage.

Find a Favorite Auto Repair Shop

Everyone should have a favorite auto repair shop they are familiar and comfortable with. Everyone has a dentist they go to for checkups. Everyone has a family doctor, or should have a family doctor; they go to for medical problems. Men have a certain barber they like to go to for haircuts. And the same can be said for women and their hair needs. The list goes on and on. So why do so many people not have an automotive shop they trust?

When our car breaks down, and we do not have a favorite service location, we go into panic mode. We are so dependent on our cars; our first thought is how I will get to work tomorrow. Our second thought is what is wrong with my car, where will I take it, how much will it cost, and how long it will take to get repaired. Without that favorite service shop, we search online for a place to take or have our car towed to. We call the shop and describe what the car is doing, or not doing. They say we need to take a look, and we are booked until next week. Now what do I do?

One of the reasons they may be booked up until next week is they are taking care of their repeat customers. Customers who come in and have their oil changed routinely, who have all their car service needs done at one automotive service center. You get no special treatment because they do not know you. You just go to the bottom of the list. And good auto repair shops are busy. It probably is a long list that you are at the bottom of.

To correct this problem, start having your oil changed at a local automotive shop. Yes, it may cost a few dollars more than one of the oil change franchises, but you can start establishing a relationship with an auto repair shop. Wouldn't you rather test out a repair shop with an oil change, than say a transmission repair? If you are not treated right, try a different shop next time. Keep changing until you find one you like.

To find a good auto repair shop, you start with your small auto maintenance needs first. Keep visiting the same shop and establish a relationship with them. Recommend them to your family and friends. Then, the next time you have an emergency car repair, you should go to the top of the list.

Test Drive Tips - Exterior

Body

Do the body panels align neatly (especially the hood and trunk door)? Is the gap between the panels equal on either side of the car? Place your finger between two body parts. Do this at the same point, but on the other side of the car. The gaps between the panels should be equal for all points. Is not the case, then the vehicle could have a bent frame as a result of an accident.

Is the hood on one side lower than the other? This may be because the hood supports are not properly adjusted. This is not a problem and can easily be fixed.

Check the panels / doors for color differences. A color difference indicates a replacement or repair. The colors red and black have a tendency to fade in sunlight.

If the whole was car repainted, is could be revealed in the engine compartment. Are the body parts spotless but is the car a couple of years old? Or do the body parts shine much more than under the hood or in the boot? Then the car probably has had a new coat of paint.

Check for irregularities. If you're at the front or rear of the car, look along the car to see if there are small dents. These can be seen as distortions in the reflection. If the paint is not smooth in one place, then this could be a place where there has been some damage. Dents as large as a coin can be restored by a panel beater. Dents that are not thoroughly repaired are often filled with polyester resin or fibreglass paste. Tap the surface, or go along it with a magnet. Know whether the panel is made of steel, not plastic, fibreglass or aluminum. If there are places where the magnet will not adhere, then in all likelihood, the panel has been repaired. Ask the owner why the part has been repainted?

Look for damage around the locks due to theft. Check whether the door locks have been replaced recently. Check for signs of paint on the locks due to repainting.

Car manufactures line the interior of the trunk with carpet. Especially the floor of the trunk. Lift the carpet and look for condensation, corrosion, welded panels and color differences relative to the body. This may indicate improper repair of the rear of the vehicle after an accident.

Look under the car to see the state of the bottom plates. Due to road salt, these can rust and corrode. Other places to check for rust:

• bottom of doors


• wheel wells (front and rear, difficult corners, especially at the shock mounts)


• bottom of hatch


• bottom of windshield


• blisters in the paint (rust from the inside)


• under the floor mats


• headlight rims


• lock mechanism


• inside of rain gutter


• around gas cap

Tires

A visual check of the tires starts at the side of the tire. If the sides are too convex, the tire is not inflated enough. This is also indicated by uneven wear of the tire profile. The outer edges of the tire may be worn while the middle may look as new. If the air pressure is too high, the tire shows predominant wear in the middle of the contact surface. Both cases are not good. Ask the seller at what pressure the tires should be inflated to.

If you can see scrapes on the profile of the tires of the driving axel there's been lots of slipping in corners. The owner has a very sporty driving style.

Assess the tire tread. For the MOT the minimum is 1.6 mm profile, but safety wise at least 2 mm. The thickness of the profile is easy to measure using a match on which millimeter marks are drawn. Check the profile across the whole width of the tire. Where there is a noticeable difference in wear between inside and outside of the tire there is a misalignment. In case the owner claims that the tires have recently been aligned, while the tires clearly show signs of wear, beware! Under no circumstances buy a car that is aligned with worn tires.

Make sure the tires are not dry and cracking. Don't forget the spare! Replacing tires will set you back about $500.

Check the rims. Pieces off the rims mean careless driving and a lot of contact with the pavement. The question is then whether the tires are properly balanced. You can feel this during the test drive. Vibration in the steering wheel could mean that the tires are degraded or poorly fitted.

A dirty, black rim is not really a concern. The black stuff is from the disc brake padding. Alloy wheels on an axle with drum brakes give virtually no dirty wheels, as the powder from the wearing of the brakes remains in the drum. Note that brake dust causes corrosion of chrome rims and will require maintenance.

Feel inside the wheel well for sand and mud. This retains moisture and causes rust.

Under the hood

The engine is the heart of the vehicle and should be carefully examined. Before you start the vehicle, open the hood and examine the general condition of the engine. There should be no oil on the engine. Check the side and underside. Also examine where engine parts are joined together.

Look for an oil slick on the street or driveway where the car is parked. Many owners wash dirty engines with a high pressure hose using degreaser or warm water. If the engine is the only clean part of the vehicle this calls for more attention to what you can not see. Check if the engine is still cold (you would want to start a cold engine to detect starting problems).

Oil

The internal engine components are dependent on oil to keep functioning. Check the level and color of the oil. Twist the oil filler cap off and look on the inside. If there is a cream-colored substance on the inside it means that cooling water has entered the oil system from leaking gaskets. Forget about the purchase! If the oil smells burnt, this is also a sign of problems in the engine.

The dipstick is usually recognizable by its bright color. Check the level and color of the oil. New oil is light in color. Older oil is darker. Oil generally turns dark fairly quickly. Black oil requires a change. If the oil has recently been changed but is still pretty dark then this is a sign of wear in the engine. Check the oil level again after the test drive to see if excessive oil is being used.

Battery

The battery has a lifespan of about three years. Ask when it has been replaced and check this by looking for a sticker with a date. The battery is almost always in the engine compartment. Other places include the trunk and under the back seat.

Timing belt

This is an essential part of the engine. Amongst other functions, this belt drives many important pumps. It is difficult to determine whether it needs replacement. In general it needs replacement between 60 to 90 thousand miles. This depends on the brand and model of the car. If it is not clear when it has been replaced, it is best to replace it.

V-belts

This is the transmission between the engine, alternator and starter motor. Check tension and condition. Worn belts should be replaced.

Radiator

Unscrew the radiator cap and have a look at the liquid. Make sure that the engine is cold. Otherwise you could burn yourself due to the considerable pressure of the hot water. Pink and green coloration indicates good maintenance by use of liquid coolant from the store. Water however, indicates that the reservoir is filled just to be filled.

There should be no traces of oil. This indicates leaking engine gaskets.

Rubber hoses

Check for hairline cracks. Small cracks will grow and will end up costing you money. Broken hoses under the hood could cause a breakdown or even engine damage. Do you see cracks? Then the part has to be replaced soon.

Suspension

Shocks do more than just provide a smooth ride. They are an integral part of a finely tuned suspension that is designed to keep the vehicle stable and predictable during cornering. They maximize tire grip during both driving and braking. They protect the vehicle from hard jolts and dampen out bumps and road irregularities that might adversely affect vehicle dynamics.

Is the car level from front to rear? When not level, this could be a sign of worn springs. This is especially important in the case of pneumatic suspension because of the costly parts involved. To check the shock absorbers, place your foot on the front bumper, rear bumper or on the hitch ball if present, and bounce the car up and down a couple of times. Shock absorbers and struts that allow more than one or two gyrations after rocking the bumper up and down and letting go have reached the end of their lifetime and should be replaced. Check the shock absorbers for leaks.

A better impression of the condition of the shocks is acquired by driving the car. You can recognize bad shocks while driving by pitching of the vehicle after a long bump and a bouncing motion after a brief bump. Assess the overall comfort and stability while driving. The vehicle must not be jumpy and / or feel unstable. In corners, the vehicle should not lean too much.

Windows

Many vehicle manufacturers engrave the Vehicle Identification Number into the front or rear windscreen. The VIN is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. Check that it is the original engraving and that is in mint condition. Damage or erasure is a sign that the vehicle may be stolen. On the registration papers is stated where the VIN number is stamped in the frame. Check if it corresponds.

On most car windows there is a small triangle printed from the manufacturer. Under the serial number is a small point with a number. This is the year of manufacture of the window. With popular car models this figure represents the model year. For example a 7 would indicate a model from 1997. If one window has an alternative number it may mean that the window has been replaced due chip or crack damage (windshield) or burglary (side window). If the windshield and side window have a different number from the rest of the windows, this could mean that the car has had a collision. Due to damage the windows have been replaced.

Raise the rubber window seal slightly and check for signs of paint on it. This may mean that the car has received its second paint coat.

Exhaust

Check the exhaust for rust and loose bolts. When the engine is started, listen from outside the car to the exhaust. Seal the exhaust of the running engine a few seconds with your hand or shoe. A hissing sound indicates a leak. Be sure that it can be welded, as a new exhaust is painful to your wallet.

Wipe your finger in the exhaust pipe to check the formation of soot. Very dark deposits in the tailpipe indicate an incomplete combustion due to too rich a fuel mixture. Also check for black deposits near the exhaust on the bumper, body and tail lights. This indicates an above average oil consumption.

Convertible

PVC and soft top convertibles must be very well inspected for holes, cracks and leaks. Close the roof and turn the windows up. Look from the inside out. Light points indicate holes in the material. You could also hose the care down at the car wash. Choose the option without wax or shampoo. Suppose the roof is a sieve, then at least the interior cleaned! Avoid this!

Convertible tops last about eight years. Check that the cover is not in contact with the frame which could cause damage. If you can see scratches on the rear window, visibility will be bad. Also a crease in the window could hinder the view. The crease can be prevented by placing a towel in the fold, so the window can not be compressed.

Auto Repair Industry Facts and Stats Report

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a fantastic resource to find the latest data and information about any industry that large enough to be a unit of analysis. One of these is the automotive service technician industry, which contains and is made up of those who work in auto repair. This service is massively essential to the economy of the United States as it is the only industry that repairs the vehicles that other industry employees use to get to and from the workplace. It also repairs and maintains the vehicles that are used to transport goods and services throughout the United States, from coast to coast.

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the auto repair industry is projected to grow at 17% over a range of a 10-year period. This is slightly faster than average, though with the constant yearly stream of new automobiles that are introduced to the marketplace this year, this growth rate is rather normal. The industry currently employs around 723,400 people throughout the country that make an average of $17.21 per hour, or $35,790 per year. While union membership and wages can skew the numbers, these are the average wages of those that operate in this industry. As inflation increases and more customers are likely to enter the industry over the next ten years, wages are likely to increase along this trendline.

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics note that many of these workers operate in uncomfortable positions with sometimes dangerous tools and equipment, the industry has made great strides in making the workplace safe for those workers. New innovations in protective gear continue to make the workplace safe for auto repair technicians and their managers in these environments. While the BLS also noted that most employees have a high school degree or equivalent, most hiring customers and their employees prefer technicians who have underwent a degree program or certification course in a specialized field. Those who belong to Unions often find convenience and cost efficient programs that they can attend while working in this field. Nevertheless, attending school while working and maintaining a family continues to be one of the most major challenges for the American worker.

Because this industry is projected to grow by nearly one-fifth of its 2010 size by the year 2020, many of these employees are attempting to certify themselves in detailed and specialized fields to maintain a competitive edge over others. This not only ensures that their wages are likely to increase, but that their knowledge helps to maintain vehicles to the benefit of an increasing amount of customers the industry will serve. As more employees are eager to gain this certification, more schools and community college trade programs are being formed to supply this demand. Those who work in this field who have the time and energy to attend a certificate program will likely have a competitive edge over new employees entering the industry.

Secrets of the Auto Dealer's Service Shop

The parts and systems under the hood of your car will eventually wear out. For example, your alternator might die, your transmission will begin shifting hard, and your engine may start to misfire. When your vehicle needs repairs or replacement parts, it's tempting to drive to the dealership. After all, they're the experts. The problem is, the service department at the dealer rarely has the best interests of their customers in mind. For them, the priority is profit.

Below, you'll learn how maintenance, repairs, and replacement parts at the dealership are part of a system that contributes significant profit to the bottom line. I'll explain the role of the "front man" (or, service advisor) and describe the process by which he or she upsells customers. We'll also take a look at some of the jobs they recommend that may be unnecessary.

Beware The Commissioned Salesperson

When you drive up to the service bay, the first person to welcome you is the one who writes the tickets. His uniform may seem similar to those worn by the mechanics, but this person does not work on the vehicles. His (or her) job is to sell.

If there is something wrong with your car, the ticket writer will listen to your description of the problem. He'll also be thinking about other work he can recommend while your car is in the shop. If you're visiting the dealership for scheduled maintenance (e.g. oil change), he will begin to suggest specific work that is "dealer recommended."

The trouble is that the "dealer recommended" mileage intervals are lower (much lower) than those suggested in your owner's manual. For example, your manual might recommend changing the spark plugs every 50,000 miles; your dealership might suggest changing them every 25,000 miles.

This happens with a number of maintenance items. The reason the service advisor pushes them is because he earns a commission for the work.

The Upsell

Suppose you visit the dealer to have your transmission fluid changed. Most dealerships have a process that begins with asking how many miles are on your odometer. Whatever that number happens to be (i.e. 18,000, 37,000, etc.), the ticket writer will have a list of "dealer recommended" services. This is the upsell.

For example, suppose your odometer reads 37,000. You can expect the service advisor to recommend specific items that should be done before you reach 40,000. These items rarely involve major repairs, such as fixing an exhaust valve. Instead, they focus on services, such as oil changes, transmission fluid changes, filters, and brake jobs. The dealer's margins are much wider on these services.

Are Your Brakes Really Worn?

Brake jobs, including resurfacing the rotors, contributes a substantial amount of profit to the dealership's bottom line. The pads on your brakes have wear indicators. When they wear down to the point they need to be replaced, you'll hear a loud squeal. This noise is produced by the metal wear indicator making contact on the metal of the rotor.

Dealerships will often recommend that you have your brake pads replaced long before the job is necessary (i.e. long before the squeal). They'll also suggest having the rotors resurfaced, even when doing so will cause unnecessary wear. Again, profit is usually the motivator. You're better off waiting until you hear squealing from the pads or grinding from the rotors.

Check Your Owner's Manual

So, if you're unable to place your trust in the dealership's recommendations, how can you determine what maintenance items need to be addressed. The best approach is to refer to your owner's manual. It will list each item that should be checked, and when to check them. Unfortunately, millions of people rarely, if ever, refer to their manuals. This leads to unnecessary - and costly - maintenance, repairs, and replacement parts.

Unless a problem has already surfaced, refer to the service schedule in your owner's manual to decide what services your car needs. You'll save money and time while becoming better informed about your vehicle.

Auto Repair Prevent Disaster Maintain Your Cooling System

One area of auto service that is often neglected is the vehicle's cooling system and this neglect can lead to disastrous consequences. There are a couple of reasons why the proper service and maintenance of the cooling system is so important. The first reason is the fact that cars today tend to be engineered "on the edge" with very little margin. This is especially true of the cooling system. In an effort to lighten the weight of a car, make them more energy efficient, and increase gas mileage, everything is smaller. Cooling systems today hold about half of the coolant that cars did many years ago. Modern radiators are also much smaller and light weight, so there is much less room for error. In the old days cars could have as much as half of the radiator plugged and still operate fine, but that's not the case today. In fact with some cars today, if they get as little as one quart low on coolant they can overheat. Everything has to be perfect for the system to operate correctly.

Another problem is the trend toward extended life coolants. All of the manufacturers today, in an effort to be more environmentally friendly, are installing extended life coolants that presumably don't need to be replaced as often. In fact some manufacturers don't recommend changing these coolants for up to 150,000 miles. This may work fine in the laboratory but it doesn't work so well in the real world. In normal operation, coolants tend to get acidic over time. When this happens and you have an acidic fluid in a cooling system it begins to set up a process called "electrolysis" that can do a lot of damage to your engine and other parts. One of the first components that can be damaged by this process is the heater cores. These units have the thinnest metal in a car. Repairing and or replacing a heater core can be very expensive, just ask one of your friends who has had to have this repair done. And if this component has been affected, chances are that other components are degraded as well. The main radiator in your vehicle can also be damaged because of an acidic coolant. Replacing a radiator in a car is also an expensive repair. Head gaskets are another area that can be adversely affected by this process. In the case of a head gasket, the electrolysis eats away at the aluminum surface of the cylinder head which ruins the sealing surface. Once this happens the gasket can no longer maintain the seal and it blows. If this happens there will be an expensive repair job in store. Even the cooling system hoses can be eaten away by the electrolysis problem. A hose may look perfectly fine from the outside, but the interior surface can be eroded, and if a hose blows it can also lead to a major repair.

While the manufacturers don't recommend changing the coolant for 150,000 miles, a good auto repair shop will have the ability to test the coolant for acidity level. If it is out of tolerance it can be flushed and changed before it becomes a problem. This service is much, much less expensive than repairing a blown head gasket. Make sure that your mechanic checks the acidity level of your coolant when you are having routine auto service or tune up performed on your vehicle. It just takes a minute to stick a test strip into the coolant and your mechanic can show you the results. This simple test could save you a lot of money.

Return Your Leased Car Scratch and Rock Chip Free With Paint Touch-Up

Paint Touch Up 101

Touching up paint on a vehicle's body is simple, really. For a fraction of the cost that a traditional auto body shop or local car dealership will charge, you can get easy paint touch-up and return the car scratch-free.

Read your lease agreement carefully to see if the type of scratches or dents they will charge for are listed. The average for most car lease companies is two inches or more. If you're not sure how long your scratches are, take a tape measure and see if the scratches in question are longer than two inches. If they are, call your local car dent removal facility to set up an appointment.

Many dent removal and paint touch up companies offer free lease return inspections. This can help you determine exactly how much damage your vehicle has as well as an estimate on what a traditional auto body shop or local car dealership would charge for the damage compared to the cost of paint touch-up. From that point, you can decide if it's worth it to touch up the paint on your leased vehicle - and 9 times out of 10, it will be.

What to Expect

The process of paint touch-up is easy. First, find a reputable mobile paint and bumper repair company in your area. You should be able to get free estimates either online or in person.

Once you schedule your appointment, you will walk with the technician around your car so you can both note the scratches that need touching up. He may see some that you were unaware of, and you might have additional concerns to address. The paint technician will then match the exact color of your paint using a software program and apply the paint to the chipped door edges, paint scratches, or rock chips. It takes just a few minutes to dry, so in less time than it takes you to eat a good meal, you can get in, get out, and get on with your life.

Online Repair Manuals For Cars

I'm sure we all remember when we were kids, and your dad had that backyard mechanic who took care of everything on the family vehicle. These were the golden years in automotive repair, when anybody with a wrench could fix just about anything on their cars. Today is a different story entirely. Just about every single part on the vehicles these days, is tied to some type of electronic or computer component. This means that you need extremely sophisticated equipment to even begin diagnosing your car or truck. With all of these rapid advancements, it's essential to have up to date and reliable repair information. For this i personally turn to online repair manuals for cars.

Online repair manuals are similar to the traditional car repair manuals you would find in your local auto parts stores. The main difference between the two is the fact that the online versions are available anywhere you have an internet connection. There are also quite a few benefits you will receive when you choose repair manuals online over traditional manuals.

Recall Information

I'm sure we are all familiar with the recent attention being paid to recalls in the US. Recalls can be something extremely simple and trivial, but also can correct serious safety flaws in your vehicle. Having owned numerous vehicles with recalls on them, I know that you aren't always notified when a recall is put on your vehicle. With access to the specific recalls on your car or truck, you can be assured that your car is in safe working order.

Technical Service Bulletins

Technical service bulletins are somewhat a secret in the automotive repair industry. Sometimes referred to as TSB's, they are great resources for information when you are diagnosing a problem in your vehicle. Basically what they are is common problems that the dealership service centers have seen with a particular vehicle, but not considered worthy of receiving a recall. Manufacturers keep this information as close to the vest as possible, as they point out some pretty common problems in the design of a vehicle. Having access to this information gives you the insight into your car just like the dealer would have.

Scheduled Maintenance Intervals

Maintaining your vehicle is one of the most important factors in determining how long it will last. Regularly changing the fluids and replacing any worn out parts goes a long way in making your car last. The fluids and parts, as well as the intervals they need to be changed, vary between different cars. With online repair manuals for cars, you can see exactly what is recommended to be changed or replaced on your car or truck at specific mileage intervals.

Online repair manuals for cars are one of the best investments you can make when it comes to automotive repair. It's essential that you have the correct information, and online repair manuals provide more than enough.

Renault Clio 4 - More Mature And Sensible Than Ever

Renault Clio 4 - More Mature And Sensible Than Ever

The Clio dCi 90 is most likely to be the best selling model in the new Renault Clio line up. This new car gets the latest version of Renault's tried and tested, 1.5 litre turbodiesel dCi engines. It comes with more torque, lower CO2 emissions and better economy than ever before. The 1.5 l direct injection engine churns out 89bhp at 4000rpm and 162lb at 1750rpm. CO2 emissions are down by 16g/km to 90g/km and the economy has increased too, which now stands at 83.1mpg.

That's an improvement of 12.5mpg over the Clio3. Renault is not going to stop here with producing efficient engines and next year will see an 'ECO' version of the engine, which will produce the same power and torque but will give class leading economy and CO2 figures of 88.3 mpg and 83g/km. These figures will be achieved without any electrical assistance. A 7in touch screen infotainment system with sat-nav comes as standard and it is a very good package overall. The diesel engine used in the Clio 4 has always impressed with its drivability.

Clio 4 engine feels punchier then ever and it feels quicker than the acclaimed 0-62mph time of 11.9sec. It goes up to 2000rpm on the motorway. Clio also comes in a 0.9 lire three cylinder petrol engine. The 0.9 litre is engine with fun and character and the 1.5 l diesel engine is more mature and sensible engine. You notice it from the way it handles. Renault's Clio 4 should be on top of your supermini shopping list as its initial range gives you a very clear choice: fun with litre three-cylinder petrol and drivability with the 1.5 diesel.

Both the cars offer a funky interior and characterful looks. The decision comes down to how many miles you are going to clock up as the diesel costs an extra 瞿1100. The new Renault Clio dCi Dynamique has a price tag of 瞿15,095 and a top speed of 112mph. The kerb weight is 1134 kg. Clio 4 is more economical than its predecessor and gives 83.1mpg. It comes with a 5-spd manual gearbox. The CO2 emission figure of 90g/km makes it a leading player in its class. Renault Clio is good fun if a little simple. It controls and handles well. It will feel slightly rigid on British roads. The Clio for sure is more agile and sporty than the Polo, stylish than the Fiesta and less boring than a Kia Rio.

Tools Needed For DIY Auto Repair

Owning your own car is a proud American tradition that has become a rite of passage for men and women alike. Of course, maintaining and repairing your own car is another important part of that same rite of passage and many even find deep satisfaction - as well as even deeper savings - by learning to do their own maintenance and repairs.

Some are intimidated by working on a car, but the truth is most maintenance can be simply and easily performed with a relatively basic set of tools and bit of determination. The tools on this list will allow you to perform 90% of tasks associated with do-it-yourself auto maintenance and repair:

Socket set

A decent socket set will save you countless hours of struggle and frustration. You don't have to break the bank, but be sure to get a standard set for your American car and a metric set for your foreign car.

Box wrench set

Box wrenches are the ones with a closed end and an open end. They're incredibly handy for bolts that can't be reached easily with a socket.

Screwdriver set

You'll need screwdrivers to remove all kinds of parts like a fan cowling, mud flap, or door panel. Be sure to get a set with both slotted and Philip's head variations.

Oil filter wrench

This is easy to overlook, but changing your own oil is one of the best ways to save money maintaining your car, and doing it without an oil filter wrench is ridiculously difficult.

Jack and jackstands

When you're under 2 tons of steel changing the oil, having a hydraulic jack to lift it and four solid jack stands holding it securely in place makes all the difference.

Mini crowbar and mini sledge

You'll be surprised how often you need a crowbar to leverage a pulley while you change a belt, or how often that sledge will help you loosen a rusted bolt.

Torque wrench

There are bolts on your car that need to be tightened to a certain level of torque. A torque wrench, which when set properly, literally breaks away at the right torque. Besides, you'll look cool using it.

Wire brush, utility knife, and pressure gauge

These are for small maintenance tasks such as cleaning your battery terminals, cutting hoses, and checking tire pressure regularly.

Auto Body Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)

Your Situation

We have all been there. Miss-judged the size of a parking space and subsequently dented your car, come back from shopping center to find a dent. Or maybe somebody has pulled out on you and dented the side of the vehicle. Whatever the situation, the resulting dents and dings to the bodywork are a pain and they need sorting, quickly. Most importantly, you want them fixed cheaply and without affecting your insurance premium.

Well this is where Auto Body Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) specialists come in with their handy Mobile dent repair services. But what exactly is (PDR)?

Auto Body Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is essentially the removal of dents from a vehicle body where the paint is not damaged, whoever this type of repair is also a great way to save money even with damaged paintwork. There are several methods, but a popular choice involves the use of special rods and picks. The rods and picks are used to literally massage the dent from inside of the body panel. An alternative PDR method is the application of glue to the outside of the body panel. The glue then allows for the dents to be pulled out. Mobile Auto Body Paintless Dent Removal is always the best value when you consider your alternative.

Can I do it myself?

PDR for short takes many years to perfect and an amateur repair could cause more harm than good to your vehicle. With Auto Body Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) it is important to ensure that the original paint finish is kept in tact and fillers and paint are not required. Therefore the dent technician needs to know exactly what they are doing!

Training can be found in all levels of paintless dent repair from the beginner to the more advanced PDR technician. Great careers can be made all over the nation and around the world and the earning can be great. To find out more about your local Mobile Auto Body Paintless Dent Repair service or PDR Training, just Google the correct keywords and you will be on your way to saving a lot of money by getting shot of those horrible car dents and dings that De-value you vehicle so much. Or better still why not think about training in this sort after car dent repair service and make a long term career for yourself.

So remember... The next time you see nasty looking car dents or dings in you pride and joy, think about calling a Mobile Auto Body Paintless Dent Removal service before claiming on your insurance! Most often, it's cheaper than paying your insurance excess.

How to Deal With a Dent on Your Car

Cars are easy to get dented. You may feel lucky if you escaped from an accident and only got some dents on your car. But the next question is how to deal with those dents? It's obvious that take your car to the body shop is not a wise option, because it costs not only your money, but also your time. Therefore, it will be better if you could find out the way to handle it yourself. Here are some ways to get your car looking good.

First of all, measure the damage. Most dents may be popped or tapped out, supplied it's not draped up or creased the steel. In most cases, you could notify, simply by looking at the dent carefully. Could you notice any kind of bumps or ripples in the metal which appears like it was been partly folded? Otherwise, next you should be able to work this dent away from your automobile quickly (please note that, if the steel is draped up or creased, quite often it is much more reasonable to purchase that panel and replace it, rather than try to fight the dent).

For perfect results, before getting down to major work, you might like to wash this portion of your car to make sure there's nothing to interfere with the gear and enable for any good seal, should you choose to use a suction method to push the dents from the automobile. Ideally, you will need to clear the panel a great 4"-6" about the dent in all directions. Dry completely.

One of the most effective to take out a dent involves a product that nearly people have in our homes - a common plunger. Applying the plunger on the dent, depress in the slow and steady trend until all air has fled from and you've got a tight seal amongst the panel and the rubber head from the plunger. Occasionally, it helps to find the plunger head a bit moist, in order to create a great seal. Once sure you have that, take a solid grasp over the plunger and, utilizing a stable pull; softly put the dent back out of the steel. In this way your works ideal with panels, where it's tough to tap dents away.

The tapping method is another procedure for taking away a dent and is usually most effectively achieved on large, flat surfaces, just like your hood, the cover, or even the trunk area of your auto. In this, you'll need a rubber mallet, a block of real wood, and also an old hand towel. How big is your block of wood is actually depending on the dimensions of the dent and the region that you have to work with however, usually, easiest to utilize a block that can be pleasantly gripped and held in one hand.

Wrap the towel around the block if you are intending to do this wherever that is visual. This can decrease the chance of scratches in your paint or to the interior lining of your car. If you're never doing the job in one of these regions and you prefer not to use it, the towel is not needed.

Taking the block, lightly place it against the steel on the opposite side of your panel from your dent and start tapping it with the rubber mallet. The block will assist you to distribute and even out the force from the mallet blows, stopping it from departing marks in the steel when you slowly tap the dent out and restore your vehicle to its ex - brilliance. The key to this method is to take your time and not to hurry it, and when you hit the wood, be sure you hit the flat working surface, rather than the side, preserving the power of your hits spread out, rather than driving the edge of the block into the metal.

For more critical dents, a lot of auto repair shops bring car dent repair equipments that use hot glues or suction tools; otherwise you may consider taking your car into a store that specializes in paint-free dent removals. Offered that there's no crimp in the paint, they could generally take your dent out for you and can do this while you wait, at reasonable cost. If your car's dent includes a crease or rippling, you will need to bring it to an auto body repair center, in order to fix the damage.

Car Emergency Equipment: Must Haves for All Seasons

Emergencies arrive without notice at the most surprising time and in unexpected places. Imagine yourself driving in a desolate area at 1:00 am and suddenly something went wrong, driving and handling your car seems difficult and your tire just exploded. You also remember that the last house you passed by was almost more than 10 kilometers away. In this situation, preparedness is the only way out.

Having a roadside emergency kit can take you out from being stuck for a long time and even save your life. Either short or especially long distance driving, your vehicle must have some stuffs to help you in emergency situations. However, not all people carry an emergency kit and truth is, most actually don't have one kept in their trunks. To come prepared for any emergency that might happen along your way, keep the items on this list as part of your emergency roadside kit.

1. Cash instead of credit cards or ATMs will be a lot of help as not all places have ATM machines and stores that accept credit cards.


2. Bottles of water, for drinking and repair purposes. Water will definitely help during engine overheating and when your battery water runs out.


3. Ready to eat food like crackers, peanut butter, oatmeal, granola bars or other energy food. Don't include foods that spoils easily as you wouldn't know when an emergency would happen.


4. First aid kit with some medicines like aspirin and Tylenol, bandages, scissors, gauzes, hot and cold compresses, burn cream, and antibiotic ointments


5. Extra blanket for those living in cold places and during cold season.


6. Extra clothes so you won't have to wear one you're wearing for the whole time you got stranded.


7. Flash light and spare batteries to help you properly repair your vehicle when it's dark.


8. Battery Powered Radio for updates in cases where there is a typhoon or other calamity.


9. Knife, preferably a Swiss army knife can do more other than simple cutting and slicing.


10. For drivers who always bring their kids along, diapers, toys, and other children's necessity


11. Jumper cables, preferably 12-foot in length to help when you drain your battery because of turning on the lights or your other car features.


12. Spare tire and jack can help you get back to the road if your problem is damaged or flat tire.


13. Spare fuses will help restore your lights on after a blown fuse.


14. Duct tape can temporarily fix many things like broken hoses, windshield wiper, windows, and act as temporary cover to some tanks, and many others.


15. Headlamp or tail light for extensive travels to replace lights that might go out during the lengthy travel. In construction, LED lights live longer than halogen ones.


16. Basic tool kit with pliers, screw drivers, hammer, wrenches, and a socket set fitting your car


17. A set of flares will help you alert other drivers that your vehicle has broken down. It might help prevent accidents and will save your life and the life of the passengers in vehicles that may come across yours.


18. Pocket warmers or small propane burners for snowy places or during winter season.


19. A gallon of antifreeze is a must especially if its winter. Low level of coolant can cause severe engine damage so it's best to always have a refill on hand.


20. Rain Coat, umbrella, and other rain gear will help you not to get sick when get off the car when it's raining or when the winter wind is blowing.

You may find this list filled with so much stuff to bring, but you surely can put everything in a nylon bag or at least in a plastic container. Your trunk is big enough to keep your only way out of roadside emergencies.

How Much Will it Cost Me in Replacing My Car Window?

Technology has made a big impact when we talk about repairing. Especially long and huge cracks in your window, they can repair it in a way that nobody will ever know that a part of the car was damaged or broken. But sometimes, we should also take a look at car window replacement most especially if the part of the car which is supposed to be fixed has already been repaired many times and a restoration of the damaged portion is no longer possible.

Changing your car window can be pricey. Not only do you pay for the window, but also for the time of a professional glass company to set it up. If you have tools in replacing a car window, you can actually do it by yourself.

Expenses to replace your auto window largely depends upon the degree of damage. Minor cracks or chips do not entail replacing the entire car window. The repair work may cause you anywhere around USD 20 for in-store service and USD 55 for mobile service, per chip. Be ready to shell another USD 20 for every additional piece of glass that you have broken. The length of the crack is the determinant on how much you need to pay for the repair and it varies from one specialist to the other. A crack of up to 12 inches may cost you about USD 50 - USD 59, while cost for a longer crack is about USD 59 - USD 69. Usually, it is suggested that you replace the car window, if you have a crack that is longer than 24 inches. It is impossible to repair something as long as that without compromising on the safety.

In addition, you can try getting the auto window replacement on Internet. It might be a bit cheaper actually. As in the previous case, you have to provide the essential information and you'll get the car window replacement that you need.

Search the yellow pages to find the companies that do business in car window replacement. Dial a few companies and ask them for the quotes. By visiting their websites, you can easily get the quotes right away. Don't forget to ask for their service charges and other billings. Select the company that suits you the best and fix an appointment with them. Make sure you are having all the requisite information at hand. Fix a suitable time with them so that they can come to your home or office for replacement of the window.

Why Power Steering Is a Must!

Power steering is not just a convenience, it is also a great way to save gas. You already know that power steering makes it far easier to make turns in your car. However, a steering system also removes weight from your car by reducing the weight of your car. Power steering can be a great gas saver, but only if you maintain your steering system properly. Luckily, maintaining your steering system is a very easy thing to do at home. Taking care of your power steering system will not only save money on gas, it will also reduce your repair bills in the long run.

Your power steering system requires that you maintain the proper fluid levels at their optimum levels at all times. If you over fill the fluid, you create excess pressure in your steering mechanism which decreases horsepower and increases that likelihood that you will damage your power steering pump. If levels are too low, you create friction drag in your steering mechanism which also decreases horsepower and could lead to damaging your power steering pump.

You can have a mechanic check the fluid level next time you take you car for a tune up or oil change, or you can do it yourself at home. There are many different types of steering fluids on the market, with many claiming to have different chemical compositions that make them more effective than other brands. The best way to choose the right power steering fluid for your vehicle is to consult the owner's manual that came with your vehicle to see what it recommends. If you can't find that information, try contacting the car manufacturer to ask what they recommend. A final option is to consult your local auto repair shop and ask what the best fluid for your vehicle is.

To change the fluid, you will need to look at your owner's manual to determine where the fluid should be added. Never put fluid into your car unless you are certain that you know where it goes. This can lead to damage to the engine that is so severe you will spend thousands to fix it. However, once you know where to add fluid, it is as simple as adding fluid, then checking the level. This simple step will save you money on repairs and improve gas mileage. If you ever notice that your vehicle is leaking fluid, you need to address this right away to prevent further damage to your car. This is a situation that will require help from a mechanic, so be sure to take your car to the shop right away if you see leaking fluid.

Maintaining your power steering fluid is just one of many ways to save money at the pump. Ensuring that your engine is tuned up and all the fluid levels are correct will improve your gas mileage, as will filling your tires to the proper air level. If you drive often, installing a fuel saving device can save you hundreds of dollars each year. Also, make sure to purchase the fuel recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer to get the most out of your vehicle. Good maintenance doesn't just save you money on gas, it can prevent you from spending on unnecessary repairs.

How Can I Keep My Car Looking New?

The purchase of a car is a major investment, and like all investments we all must ensure that we take care of it. Everyone wishes to do whatever they can to make their car not only last as long as it can but also make it look like it is new for years to come.

Keeping your car looking new will require that you keep it clean inside and out. To limit the possibility of spills and getting stains upon your seats you may wish to limit the practice of eating in your car. This will lessen the possibility of stains left by food that has dropped, or a drink that has been knocked over but will also keep the odour of food out. The use of car seat covers will help keep any accidentally spilled foods from getting on the original seats. Keep your car clean of rubbish and debris, and do not use it for extra storage.

At least once a week you will want to wash your car, giving it a good bath and taking care to clean out the wheel wells, this will help clean away that debris from wet roads that can start the rusting process. While cleaning the outside of the car is important, it is equally important that you clean the inside, making sure to wipe down the dashboard and any other surfaces which are not made of cloth. Vacuum the floorboards and use floor mats, in the winter this will help to keep melted snow from your carpet to prevent rotting.

Once every two years you should invest in professional detailing of your car, which many times will include buffing your car, to help get rid of the scratches that you have gotten over the years. During this time you can have your seats and carpets deep cleaned which will help prolong their life. Using window tinting and a dashboard shield will help keep the sun out which is known for causing cracked dashboards and fading on all surfaces.

Keeping your car out of the weathers elements helps prolong the paint of your car. If you can't put your car in a garage, any place that offers a cover from the weather will help. Protect your seats with car seat covers to prevent the original fabric from becoming worn from use. Even night-time dew is damaging to any car as well as rain, snow and fog. The moisture from all if left on your car will have a damaging effect to the cars paint over time.

Prolonging the life of your car requires that you spend time each week to ensure that your investment is top shape. You will want to make sure to do tune ups, oil changes and tire rotations regularly. Make repairs from any problems immediately to prevent any secondary problems from arising. If you are in an accent or your car sustains any damage, seek the professional help from a body shop and have the damage repaired immediately. When a car is cared for and maintained properly you can prolong the car and its looks up to 10 years.

A Spring Maintenance and Auto Repair Checklist

The auto repair that your vehicle needs may not just be based on the sounds you hear. In fact, if you are like most people, you don't think twice about getting your oil changed or checking your tires. You have things to do, and your schedule is often too packed to worry about additional things. When it comes to maintaining your vehicle though, there are several things you need to do. This spring, be sure that you are taking every step possible to ensure that your vehicle is able to run its best all summer long.

Basic Maintenance

Have you pulled out the auto repair and owner's manual yet to find out how often you should get the oil changed? Do you know when you should change each of the filters? Perhaps you haven't thought about having the car lubed in a long time. All of this adds up to potentially big risks for the vehicle. You should have this done once every three months or more often in most cases.

Those Problems You Put Off

You have a check engine light on in your vehicle. You know that you need to do something about it, but you really have not had the time to get it done. This is the perfect time to take the vehicle in for a engine performance and evaluation. You will want the technicians to perform a diagnostic test to determine what steps you need to take to maintain your vehicle. The longer the engine is not functioning at an optimal level, the more likely it will be for your vehicle to have long-term problems. This can affect gas usage, too.

Other Services

What other services do you need to have done to maintain your car? The following auto repair is often considered a must for most vehicles. During the spring, you should have your air conditioning system checked to ensure that it is working properly. You should also have the braking system visually inspected and tested, especially with wet roads in your future. Your transmission may also need service. You may need to have the suspension, steering, and differential inspected and maintained as the manufacturer suggests. You should also consider having the electrical system, tires, windshield wipers, and the lights checked. Taking the time to have this done will reduce risks to your vehicle.

Auto repair is not something to put off. If you know that your vehicle has a problem, get it taken care of right away. If your vehicle has not had all of the required maintenance, it is time to keep that in mind as well. Don't put off getting the help your car needs now.

Due Dilegence 101 Or What You Do Not Know Can Kill You! - Part 1

Introduction:

This article is written as a general discussion on the subject of "Due Diligence". It is for informational purposes and not intended to be a definitive guideline for your exact situation. You should consult the appropriate professionals with regard to your specific transaction or situation. Further, this article is in no way advocating, suggesting or implying that anyone engages in any type fraudulent activities whatsoever. These are simply the things a buyer should be aware of when doing due diligence in buyer a business.

Due Diligence Defined:

The phrase is composed of two words. "Due" which the dictionary defines as "Proper or Adequate" and Diligence, which is defined as "Degree of care or caution expected of a person. Especially as a party to an agreement." Caution: is the watchword in this definition.

Financial Statements - What to look for:

Add Backs:
If you bought the business through a business broker you should have received the business financial statement with a separate worksheet showing adjustments to those statements. These adjustments show the owner's benefits received from the business besides the profit and salary he receives. These can also be defined as personal expenses that need to be added back to the profit. Depreciation, incomes taxes, interest expense are add backs that are not personal. Personal includes such things as family auto expenses, owner life insurance, owner health insurance, business entertainment that was not really spent on clients, business trips not really for business, home office expenses, family cellular phones and much much more.

Make the seller show you the details on some or all of these expenses to verify that they are really personal and not actually business expenses that shouldn't be added back to profit. Spend time asking detailed questions with the general ledger in front of you. Go through individual charges and what they mean, until you fully understand what is being added back and why.

Inventory:

Inventory of resale merchandise must be checked for two reasons. One is you have to pay for it. Be careful, you do not want to buy merchandise that is old, worthless and not saleable anymore. Only pay for current marketable product. The price you are suppose to te pay for the inventory is the seller's cost. The price for old slow inventory is negotiable. Always spot check the price and count the merchandise listed on the inventory list. Do people put down that there is three of an item when there are only two? Of course, especially when they think no one is going to be checking them out. Comparing prices from purchase invoices is how you check prices. You cannot check every item against the actual cost but you can do 5% of the items. Pick at random, not by any suggestion made by the seller or others. If you do not understand how marketable the inventory is that you are buying, hire an expert, from that industry. Your broker should be able to help you in finding someone. Do not be cheap, and think you do not need to spend the money on an expert adviser. I will take a lunch bet that they will pay for them selves many times over.

The second reason for checking inventory is that if a seller doesn't take inventory at least yearly and adjust his inventory value in his accounting records, accurately, the profit figure you are receiving will not be accurate. As a rule, the higher cost of goods sold, the lower the profit. Some business owners reduce the inventory value on the books, intentionally, to a lower value so as to make the business show a higher cost of goods sold, which then creates a smaller taxable profit. If they do this year after year, the profit may or may not be accurate for the current year. It might take a CPA to figure this one out for you, if you do not have a background in retail.

Equipment value:

Next thing to check on the financials is the real, current value of the equipment you are buying with the business. The balance sheet might, if it shows all the equipment the company owns, give you the cost of the equipment when it was purchased. If you are buying assets rather than cash flow, the equipment valuation becomes more important. No one wants to overpay for used equipment. Also check that the equipment works and is actually being used rather than sitting behind the building with other junk.

Cash Sales:

If all income is being reported, check sales volume activities that you have observed against the daily records during your "Due Diligence" to see if the volume corresponds to what was reported last year in the same month. If you see income of $500 per day but the seller shows sales of $1,000 per day, you need to find out why. Some smart buyers sit in the business all day, watch the sales and observe the activities of the staff. This works if the seller is not putting on a full fledge production fraud for you the buyer.

Fraud:

How does a seller defraud a buyer on current sales activity levels? Sellers who keep poor records or no records, many times, suggest the buyer doing a 15-day visual inspection. This helps but it is very dangerous to rely solely on physical inspections alone because the seller can still defraud the buyer. Here is the most famous of the stories I have heard over the years.

Seller owns a dry cleaner. The buyer and seller have opened escrow and the deal is subject to a 15-day physical observation period. The seller doesn't want the buyer to find out that business volume is very slow. The seller tells all his friends to bring their dry cleaning in to the shop for a two-week period, at no charge. They bring in the clothing, get it cleaned, pick it up and pay for it. Later the business owner meets the customers and reimburses all of them for the cost of their dry cleaning. The day after escrow closes all that business traffic stops. Think it never happens? The same is true of restaurants. Seller tells all his friends to bring all of their friends in for a free meal. Customers pay the bill and some time later or at home, the business owner reimburses all the customers for the cost of their meals.

Actual time sellers spends working:

Determine how many hours the seller really works. You are buying an income stream based on a known number of hours of work. Make sure the seller isn't working 80 hours and telling you he is only working 40 hours, per week. I had an absentee fast food owner tell the buyers and me that he worked part time - 5 hours per week. Closer inspection showed he was working 25 hours per week. One auto repair seller, we'll call him Bob, said he never was at the business, because he had a second full time job. Inspection found he was working 30 hours a week (4 plus hours every night, and 8 hours on Saturdays).

Find out what job functions the seller does:

Get a list of functions that the seller does. Is one of them bookkeeping? Sometimes the wife does the books part time and this is never said. Again you may find the owner does the bookkeeping, at home, every night, for an extra hour. In an auto repair shop, you may find the owner is doing auto body repair work, personally, on Saturdays, which is work that you, as a buyer, will never be able to duplicate. You need to be sure you know how to do every job function that the seller does or learn them. The time to find out what technical knowledge you need to have to take over the business is when you are doing your investigation, not the day after escrow closes.

Verification of things that are not on the Financial Statements:

It is a common occurrence that businesses do not record all of their income on their financial statements. Yes, this is true. Many people do not, in fact, report the truth on their tax returns. In fact, when I am talking about small retail or service businesses that deal with the public directly, I find it is over 90%. "Will the people with an honest set of books, please leave the auditorium. There are two golf carts outside waiting to chauffer you home. You do not need to hear this."

The balance of this article will discuss how a buyer might do their "Due Diligence" for different types of businesses. These types of businesses include Restaurants, auto repair shops; real estate services contractors, non-real estate repair/ services, and retail stores.

Restaurants- Non-Franchise:

Restaurants compose over 25% of all businesses for sale. This is not because they all go broke, as the SBA reports. It is because 28% of all retail businesses are food service or food sales. It is the largest segment of the consumer market. Because it is a retail consumer business, it deals in 33% cash. Every independent-non-franchise food service business I have been into shows zero profit on the books. Some even go overboard and show a tax loss. It is because they do simple tax planning that does not require an MBA degree to figure out. If the business doesn't show all of its cash, or any of its cash, the expenses will equal the reported income. This alone makes it attractive to many buyers. We will not discuss the moral issues of this attitude; it is what it is. What we have to discuss is how do you, the buyer, can prove that the business is making a profit? And if it is, how much?

Restaurants come in two categories. 1. Fast food-counter sales. 2. Sit down. Fast food restaurants have computerized cash registers that record the sales into its computer, which has a memory. This memory has daily totals going back to the beginning of the computer's history. Most owners close out their cash registers at the end of the day and print out the tape of each day's activities. This does not automatically wipe out the information for the day. The computer does, I am told, have a delete button on it allowing the owner to wipe out the full memory in the computer, in the event of an audit. I have also been told, but do not believe, that an electrical blackout can wipe out the memory in the computer and that is why one seller said he couldn't give me access to this information.

If we are talking about a sit down restaurant sales information, you can use the daily order ticket, which are then imputed into the computer. This gives 3 sources: tickets, computer and daily tape totals.

When this information is not available, for any reason, an experienced restaurant consultant can tell you the sales activities just by inspecting the restaurant and counting the number of customers eating at 4 key times in a day, and on several key days per week. Then the consultant can figures out what the average sales ticket amount is. With this information like magic the consultant knows the gross sales figure, for the year.

A double check procedure for restaurant consultants is to then look at the food purchases and its costs and can confirm that it matches the actual sales figures. One consultant that was hired to review a Johnny Rocket restaurant for $7,000 did the audit and put together a marketing program for the buyer. The marketing program included delivery and catering. Both of which do not normally show up on the computerized cash register.

Restaurants - Franchise:

You would imagine that franchise restaurants records would be very accurate because the franchise company gets a percentage of the gross income. The bigger ones connect up to the individual franchise and know what is happening faster then the owner. As stated above, the only sales that can be made and not declared to the computer are catering or delivery orders, which could be done without ringing them up.

Some franchises do not hook up to the individual franchise computers and do not do audits regularly. This allows the franchise to report reduced income to the company and the IRS. In case either comes to audit, they press the delete button on the computer. If you as a buyer can get access to the computer you know the numbers are correct even if they are not complete. It is impossible for the staff or the owner to change the computer records. The information can only be deleted. Again catering and take out may not be on the computer. Theft from employees can only be in the form of 1. Employees that give free food to friends. 2. Employees not ringing up an order, which is difficult when businesses put up signs saying, "If you do not get a receipt, your order is free."

Some sellers are so paranoid of the IRS, they are not willing to show anyone their private records or computer tapes for fear that the buyer could be an IRS agent. My personal opinion, and what I advice sellers to do, is to get their books legal and honest and hire themselves a top notch CPA, like Donald Trump, and use every legal trick in the book. Martha Stewart didn't go to jail for inside trading. They got her on lying. There are legal ways to avoid taxes so that fraud is not necessary. If you cannot find a good accountant, I will recommend one.

If you ask someone "Are you a government employee or IRS agent?" and they lie to you; that might be considered entrapment and a good possible defense in court. But, I ask you. Is it worth the grief?

The normal action of sellers, in this situation, is to require that the buyer take the business based on the recorded records and guess as to how profitable the place really is. This is a very difficult situation for the brokers and buyers, since sellers do not price their business based on these reported numbers but base their price on the real numbers.

I hope this is of some help to you in doing due diligence on a restaurant you might be interested in buying.

Auto Repair Shops:

Auto repair shops are almost as bad as restaurants when it comes to under-declaring cash. The normal procedure for most, I have run across, is to declare only the checks and credit card charges. The cash they put into their pocket. The good thing, in doing audits is that almost every one of these owners keeps their work orders-invoices. These are kept in monthly manila folders and put into a drawer or file cabinet. They never tell you that they keep these records, but they do. They even tell me, as the broker, that all backup documents have been destroyed, but they are not. When I insist that they cannot sell their business without providing these invoices, they tell me of their existence.

With the sales invoices an audit of income becomes simple. Since the sellers keep them in a manila folder by months, you only have to pick monthly folders at random and total the actual invoices. Then compare them to what the "State Board of Equalization" report says and calculate what percentage of the total was declared. If you do this for a few months, a pattern will develop. Some sellers have even run a calculator tape of the month's activities and/or written it in a private ledger. You can check the actual invoice tapes against the private ledger records to confirm the private ledger information is correct.

Conclusion:

It is a hard life when you own your own business; you work long hours. Many people feel that is better than the alternative, which is to work for someone else, pay high taxes, never know if you will be laid off and after years of hard work, never have anything to show for it all.

If you are going to buy a business with your hard earned money, you want to make sure you get what you paid for. Many people believe it is all right to cheat the taxman but otherwise are very honest citizens. Others feel it is all right to cheap any poor sucker that comes along. Don't be a sucker, do your due diligence and get what you paid for.

Then build your new business into something you can be proud of and enjoy. While building your new business make a point to study everything you can about Tax planning, tax avoidance and reducing taxes legally. I started in College learning about the tax codes, and there are so many ways to save taxes legally, you would never believe it. You will sleep better at night, I promise you. Then 10-20 years from now when you want to sell your business, you can ask top dollar and get it. This because a buyer can do a simple due diligence and know that your business is doing exactly what your books say you are doing.

DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE and buying your own business can be a pleasant and rewarding experience!

Vehicle Maintenance - The Importance of Scheduled Maintenance to Avoid Costly Automotive Repair

The importance of scheduled maintenance:

Regularly completing scheduled maintenance items like oil changes, filter changes and tune-ups can keep your vehicle performing smoothly and getting maximum fuel efficiency.

Car maintenance is incredibly important for keeping your car in good working order. Maintaining your car regularly will not only allow your car to last longer, but it can also save you some money as well.

Many aspects of car maintenance can be done on your own, as in without the help of a mechanic.

Changing your own oil, oil filter and air filter(s) is an example of a way to save your money. Making sure your tires are properly inflated can not only help keep your car safe, but also make your car a little bit more fuel-efficient. Another part of car maintenance involves your brakes. Keeping them up to date and changing them regularly can not only make your safer, but save you some more money down the road. Car maintenance can include a variety of other simple things, such as a car wash. The paint on your car is susceptible to erosion, and other problems.

Taking the car to your mechanic is still important and should be done because there are things only a mechanic can do like tire aligning, checking the engine, etc.

Overall, car maintenance is extremely worthwhile because it will help your car make it as long as you need it to go.

Many of our customers are choosing to extend the life of their vehicles by scheduling factory recommended maintenance service on a timely basis; in addition they are having repairs made before they become major problems.

To help you keep your vehicle at its peak performance our service team has compiled a list of the top ten maintenance and repair items that you can easily and affordably perform to extend the life of your gas fueled or hybrid, car, truck or SUV.

Top Maintenance Services to Extend the Life of Your Vehicle

1) Change the Oil and Filter

Change your oil regularly to keep internal engine parts cleaner which lubricates the engine. By performing this, it catches and removes elements that are harmful to the engine. Prolonging oil changes can cause these damaging particles to create what is called "sludge" in the engine. This is the most important service you can do to extend the life of your car.

2) Change Air Filter(s) and Cabin Filter(s)

A dirty air filter prevents the necessary volume of clean air from reaching the engine which affects the emission control systems of the car; reducing air flow and causing a too rich air-fuel mixture which can foul the spark plugs. A clean air filter results in improved gas mileage, better acceleration, increased engine life, lower emissions and overall improved engine performance. Vehicles also have cabin filter(s) which are for the ventilation system. It will produce problems if it gets too plugged up with leaves and dirt.

3) Replace the Spark Plugs

Fouled spark plugs can create an engine miss-fire, rough idle and even starting problems.

4) Flush the Cooling System

A cooling system extends the life your radiator, heater and engine by flushing away dirt and rust particles that clog up the cooling system. Recommended flushing of cooling system every two years.

5) Perform Tire Maintenance

Regular tire rotation and proper inflation will increase fuel mileage and lengthen the life of the tires.

6) Change the Transmission Fluid

A transmission fluid change regularly can extend the life of the transmission. Performing a transmission service faithfully will alleviate possibility of major transmission failures.

7) Maintain the Brakes

Brake pads and shoes, if left neglected, your brakes will ultimately fail. This can cause damage to other, more expensive brake parts such as rotors, calipers and drums. Perform a yearly brake inspection to find and avoid potential problems before they become a major repair expense. Flushing your brake fluid every two years will also be a benefit.

8) Change your Fuel Filter and Fuel Injection Service

It is recommended that you change your fuel filter on a yearly basis. However, a yearly replacement really only applies to high mileage vehicles. If vehicles are used only on occasion or only drive short distances on a daily basis, then you can probably get away with a filter replacement every two or even three years. Fuel injection service extends the life expectancy of the injectors and can increase fuel mileage.

9) Replace the Timing Belt

A majority of manufacturers recommend timing belt replacement between 60,000 and 105,000 miles depending on make and model. Replacing the timing belt, before it breaks can save you a financial nightmare. If a timing belt breaks on an interface engine, you will have Bent valves, busted pistons, a cracked head, and possibly more extreme damage. This is very costly and want to avoid at all costs. If the belt fails on a non-interface engine, the engine will immediately shut down leaving you stranded. Timing Chains rarely break and will give you ample warning that they are going to fail. Also, as a rule of thumb, when replacing the belt is well worth getting your water pump replaced at the same time and less expensive due to the labor in replacing the water pump alone.

10) Perform an Annual or Seasonal Complete Vehicle Inspection

Have your vehicle inspected periodically extends the life of major components of your vehicle by diagnosing issues before they become major problems. Remember, getting your oil changed usually does not include a thorough and complete vehicle inspection.

Auto Glass Services - For Seven Auto Glass Needs

This is a competitive age where individuals have wide options for the purchase of any product or service. In the field of auto service also, we'll find a number of auto service providers, which have been serving vehicle owners successfully for years.

The question arises here, what are the services which we can expect from a professional auto service provider? Usually, seven different kinds of auto glass needs are fulfilled by experienced staff of auto garage. Such services include:

Windshield replacement

To remain protected from wind and dust particles, it is important to have windshield in a proper condition. Any crack or chip in the windscreen may lead one to face problems in vision while driving. Skilled staff of auto service providers usually takes less than one hour for windshield replacement or other auto glass repair. And sometimes, it requires two people to complete the windshield replacement task.

Back and Vent Glass

Visibility is important for safe driving and considering this, auto garage fixes the back and vent glass problem efficiently. Vent is often triangular in shape, found between front door window and windshield. The main purpose of this glass is to deliver clean fresh air into the car. And you can take help of an auto glass service provider for back and vent glass repair to keep car well-ventilated.

Windshield rock & chip Repair

Automotive windshields are usually made of laminated safety glass. Rock chip repair system of garage can seal the damages found in windshield and if any crack is found, it is needed to replace the existing windshield with a new one. Usually, up to 6 inches of cracks can be fixed by the auto garage staff and that in just 15-20 minutes.

Window Regulators

The part of car which helps in regulating the up and down motion of windows is known as window regulator. A certified master mechanic can solve this problem of vehicle owners easily.

Power window motor replacement

For Power window motor replacement, the first step of auto garage staff is to check the fuse or circuit breakers. Secondly, power is checked with the ignition key considering the on stage. Door panel is removed soon after the power checks out. In this way, auto service centre diagnose and go for the replacement of power window motor.

Side Mirrors

Side mirror is also known as wing mirror, door mirror and side-view mirror which is helpful for drivers to see areas to the side and behind the vehicle. Remote and horizontal adjustment of side mirrors by experts is done by electric means to provide adequate coverage to drivers.

Headlight Restoration

Seventh auto glass repair and replacement need for which you can hire a professional auto service center is the headlight restoration. Mechanical staff of garage can help to restore the foggy, cloudy and yellowed headlight lenses easily.