Car Care With a Few Simple Household Items

Everyone has their own tried and true car care tips, but it's never too late to learn a few more. With an internet full of car care advice, I've collected some of the more ingenious, frequently overlooked tips that will hopefully keep you out of the auto repair shop until you really need it.

The name of the game really is preventative maintenance. Using basic household items, and a little bit of knowledge, you can make a few simple changes to your car care routine that will keep parts lasting longer, and make maintenance and cleaning far easier.

• Cooking Spray - If I told you that cooking spray could cut down on time and money for cleaning jobs you wouldn't believe it, right? Well the truth is that a bottle of cooking spray can be used as a cleaner for removing unsightly brake residue off of tires and the car's underside. This will do wonders for keeping your car's breaks healthy and increase their longevity. Also a good coat of cooking spray on the car's grille after you finish cleaning it will make wiping away the inevitably returning grim even easier.

• Oil Changes - To perform your own oil change you really only need a wrench, a funnel, and something to drip the oil into. Professional auto repair shops will always be available for a quick oil change at any time of the year though. Keep the oil in your car fresh and your engine will reap huge rewards in term of longevity and fuel efficiency. Also, always remember if you're performing the oil change yourself, to store the used product in a sturdy container and take it to be recycled at the local oil recycling center.

• Maintain Wiper Blades - Wiper blades are an essential aspect of vision while driving, despite being often ignored. Repeated use can wear away a blade, putting your windshield (and thus your vision) at the mercy of the elements. Most auto manufacturers suggest changing your wiper blades once every 6-12 months. Well, I have a trick for making the lifespan of your wiper blades last into the later portion of that cycle. Vigorously rubbing a slightly worn wiper blade with sandpaper will add traction to its rubber and make it hug the windshield and control more moisture.

• Unconventional Wash - Much of brake and tire damage comes from built up dirt and grime on the underside of your car, especially when built up from a long winter of little maintenance. Getting a good wash on the underside of your car while you're de-winterizing it in the spring can prepare for a cheaper trip to the auto repair shop. Many mechanics feature early spring brake specials and tire specials, and cleaning the underside of your car before you go in can make the visit go more smoothly and keep the maintenance costs low. For a cheap clean simply hook up a inexpensive lawn sprinkler system under your car and turn it on. Move it around a few times and let it run for a solid rinse under your car. Car care really can be that easy.

Job Description of an Auto Mechanic

Prior to training for an auto mechanic, it's important for you to understand the job outline, the needs plus the abilities necessary to become a mechanic.

Job descriptions vary based on what you are looking to focus on however the general outline for the majority mechanics follows.

To inspect, to keep up, and to fix and overhaul automobiles and trucks that run on a selection of fuels such as gasoline, electricity or alternative sources of fuel.

Mechanics work a number of jobs from performing simple car routine maintenance for instance oil changes to diagnosing more technical problems for instance automobile computer failures.

What You Should know Before you start Training
The responsibilities of automobile technicians evolve as car technology grows more sophisticated. Lately the job has become saturated with technology so folks stepping into the field should be at ease with understanding and ultizing new solutions to finish the job. This greater sophistication of automobiles demands mechanics with much more training than ever.

Mechanics face many different tools in the shops when taking care of cars. You must understand that you will be around large and dangerous equipment which requires adequate training to operate safely and properly. Following are some risks of the job:

Malfunctioning lifts or jacks
Slippery/greasy floor
Moving cars
Lifting weighty things in difficult poses may lead to back problems or hernias
Burns, cuts, punctures may be a consequence of improper use of shop tools

In addition to utilizing traditional hand tools, today's mechanics must be skilled in using computerized tools and with making use of electronic diagnosing equipment. This increased responsibility requires more technical training.

As a mechanic you're going to be mostly working indoors in well lit and well ventilated areas that can cause some shops to become noisy and drafty. Be prepared that your work place will be greasy and dirty due to the nature of the work.

Many car mechanics work either for a dealership or for an independent car repair business. Such independent businesses might be single shops that serve their local area or worldwide chains of repair shops and parts retailers. Some mechanics are working for firms that use fleets of vehicles within their operations, such as a local municipality, or car and truck rental agency.

Depending on the place you find yourself working, there exists a possibility of evening and weekend work. Some shops remain open on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also have to work more that 40 hours a week in an effort to fulfill customer service requirements.

Lastly, an effective car or truck mechanic should really be a natural problem solver. Planning is a essential part of the work and mechanics often use critical thinking skills to fix car issues. The better the planning process goes the better the end result will be.

More About Windshield Repair and Replacement Experts

Any kind of chip, crack or breaks in a car's windshield is a hassle. And we need to acquire a professional assistance of a leading auto glass expert to avoid any kind of risk further. But, there are a lot more services for which it will be an ideal solution to go to an auto service expert.

Through this article, we will come to know more about the kind of services that a professional auto service expert offer nowadays. Please go through this article to know about auto service options like windshield corrosion abatement, rear view mirror repairs, wind noise remediation and much more.

Windshield corrosion abatement
One of the major additional services available with leading experts is the windshield corrosion abatement. The kind of service is meant to remove the rust found on the vehicle's pinch weld as the removal of rust is important to bond the new glass by repairing the corroded part.

The process starts from removing the corrosion from the surface followed by using a body primer to treat the seals of bare metal.

Leaks and wind noise remediation
Another useful service is to treat the water leaks and noise remediation. According to experts, the factor like corrosion, body repairs and any kind of accident can cause water leaks and finally excessive noise problems in vehicle. And such kind of leaks or noise problems can cause more problems to car's interior and other electronic parts. Here, the experts fix water leaks and noise problems and that too without making any kind of replacements.

Stone chip repair
One can acquire professional assistance of a leading auto service expert for stone chip repairs also. The kind of service is available to treat the glass fracture by injecting a quality and clear acrylic resin. This helps in bonding the glass to diminish the visibility of damage up to a larger extent. The best thing about the service kind is that it only takes 15 to 30 minutes.

Mobile service
One of the best facts about experienced service experts is that they offer professional mobile service. The service is ideal for those individuals who do not have enough time to take their cars to the center. Here, the experts send their certified and skilled technicians to the client's address so that different kinds of auto glass needs including windshield repair and replacements can be done easily and in a very affordable manner.

Hence, from the above discussions, it can be said that professional auto glass repair experts are ideal for diverse auto glass needs.

Do I Need Car Repair Insurance for Used Cars

Used car repair insurance is an absolute necessity for anyone who has an older car. Some people think that as long as you take good care of your car, that there's no point to getting a policy to cover it. Unfortunately these people often find that even after keeping up with maintenance appointments, oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections, their old car needs repairs sooner or later. That's where insurance comes in.

While some people choose not to get a policy, others know it is the wise thing to do. It is a worthwhile process to get a quote, read over the terms, and decide on the coverage that is right for you.

Why a Used Car Repair Insurance Policy is Important

Without a policy, you run the risk of having to pay excessive repair costs when the time comes to get things replaced or fixed. This happens after your initial car warranty ran out, when such bills are no longer helped by the special protection offered by the maker or dealership. Most used cars fit into this category after 30 to 90 days. Some never come with such a warranty or only include limited coverage.

Extending the coverage helps to protect your finances and car. With lower costs, you can more easily afford any mishaps that occur throughout the life of your car. It also protects your car by allowing for repairs to be done in a more timely manner than may have otherwise been possible without a policy. The longer you wait for repairs to be done, the worse of a situation you may be faced with down the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are some common questions that people seeking used car repair insurance are wondering. This FAQ section will help you get some of the answers you need, as soon as possible. You will discover whether or not you are a good candidate for a policy, as well as how much it might cost you. There are also answers regarding how much is covered and what kind of discounts may be found.

Do I Need a Policy?

Honestly, anyone with a used car needs to consider getting car repair insurance. Policies are for people who take their automobile and finances seriously. Without coverage, you face potential consequences. If you are unable to pay in full for necessary repairs, you may be out of luck when you don't have the ability to file a claim. That's why it's important to get coverage sooner rather than later.

How Much Does Used Car Repair Insurance Cost?

Costs escalate according to a number of factors. Your specific costs can usually be more accurately determined by getting a price quote. Since coverage takes care of potential situations like needing an engine overhaul or new transmission, you can expect insurance costs and deductibles to reflect potentially expensive repair scenarios.

You may also be faced with hidden taxes, surcharges, claim fees, and processing fees. It's important to read over the full list of terms of a policy before you agree to a particular one. This will give you a good idea of the exact costs you may be faced with in the future.

Is it Easy to Find Discounts for Insurance?

Sometimes you can find discounts on car insurance. It helps to know the right places to look. Since costs can be high for some individuals, it may be worth your time to browse around for the best deals. Our website can help you find the prices that are right for you.

What is Covered by a Policy?

Auto body repair costs are covered by an insurance policy for used cars. This is done according to the assessor's estimate of the total repair cost. According to the specific terms of your coverage, the car is required to be returned to you in the same condition as it was before the repairs were needed. The type of your insurance policy coverage is going to determined what is covered.

You now should have a good idea of the most common questions asked with regards to insurance and how it can help you in the future. Hopefully with this information in your hands, you are now more comfortable with the idea of used car repair insurance and how it can help you.

New Trend In Using Waterborne Paint For Auto Body Repair

Car paints are mostly used for auto body repair. And it is known that most paints are solvent based. But the fact that solvents can escape into the air means that they also contribute to air pollution. In fact, the majority of such organic solvents impose great damage to the environment.

And today, higher air quality standards demand the use of water-based paint for auto body repair uses. This demand will soon be a standard.

About couple of years ago, two of California's largest air quality management districts imposed emissions regulations and required the use of water based paints. And as expected, this trend instigated new legislations that aim the reduction of harmful emissions from the automotive finishing and refinishing sectors, at least in California.

Essentially, one of the most infamous regulation changes that automotive refinishing industry in Southern California has dealt with was the lowering of the limits of VOCs found in products used to paint cars.

VOC actually stands for "volatile organic compounds". These are solvents and other compounds contribute to pollution. Typical VOCs consist of the solvents in paints, adhesives and inks. However, VOCs are not just limited to paint supplies as plastics release VOCs as well when they age. And these chemicals are alleged to react with gases in the atmosphere that contribute to smog, pollution, and toxic death.

This is understandably why there's a pressing call for the use of water-based paint for automotive painting today. As you know, water is not organic and while it evaporates as well into the air, it is not a VOC.

With tighter regulations set by California Air Resources Board, there was a reformulation to switch solvent-based paint to waterborne. This step would allow refinishers to meet the new environment-friendly standards. Nowadays, finding solvent based materials becomes more and more difficult.

However, there are some considerations to remember in using waterborne paint for auto body repair. Although there are some available waterborne primers, generally you still have to use traditional, solvent-based primer. As a result, colors tend to dry to a dull satin finish. You will have to clear it to achieve the shine you want.

Also, before spraying the clearcoat, it is important to have enough airflow across the panel. When using a water-based paint, you need to allow the paint to dry fully as it dries differently from solvent-based paint. You see, solvent based system requires lesser time to dry up than water-based paint as it evaporates much faster. However, the continued use of such hazardous compounds will in turn speed up the damages in the environment.

Down the line, the convenience offered by solvent-based products may not be convenient for the environment.

Insurance Claim Tips for Auto Glass Repair or Windshield Replacement

Accidents or damage to a vehicle's windshield happen from time to time, and when that happens, it is essential to be aware and know the information of your car insurance to see how it can be paid for. Windshield claims, which fall under the area of comprehensive auto insurance, deals with damage to the windshield in the form of chips, cracks, or severely damaged windshields. If the driver carries comprehensive insurance (liability coverage only covers the cost of other vehicles/persons), the person is able to file a claim to entirely cover or partially cover the cost of a repair or replacement. This has to do with the deductible, and varies from policy to policy, and from state to state.

Before a claim is filed, however, it is important to consider a couple of things. First, you should identify what your insurance deductible is, and second, an auto glass quote should be obtained to see how much the cost of the repair is. These things need to consider in that the number of claims can sometimes elevate the customer's premium. Here is an example: Let's say that your auto glass deductible is $300, and after you obtain an auto glass quote to fix your windshield the total was $330. It is here that you will have to decide that filing a claim, in which the insurance company would pay $30, is worth having a claim on your auto insurance history.

It is very important, as well, to be proactive in regard to your auto glass, for in a majority of cases the insurance companies will pay for the entire fix of a chip or crack to the windshield, which saves on having to do a full windshield replacement. This is something to check with your insurance agent, as it can save a lot of money in your pocketbook.

If you decide to file a claim it is best to file as soon as possible. Once the claim is filed it is then advised to check with your insurance agent, who will educate you on your policy, your deductible, and will give you a network of auto glass companies that can be used under your car insurance policy. The auto glass company is then contacted, and many provide customer service that includes all the dealings and paperwork with the insurance company, for the convenience of the customer.

Your vehicle's windshield will be repaired or replaced, the insurance will be taken care of, and you'll be able to quickly get back on the road.

Choosing The Right Service Advisor For Your Auto Repair Shop

There are two key ingredients to a successful auto repair shop; great customers and great employees. And the most important employee that you can hire is the Service Advisor. "Think of the service advisor as the quarterback; your entire team and business is built around the person in this position," report industry leading auto repair shop experts.

The service advisor is not the receptionist or the front desk position at your auto repair shop. Rather, they are the manager of the repair shop. They are the one responsible for selling services, making your customers feel comfortable and ensuring that your shop is profitable.

Though the service advisor should be educated in auto repair, his passion should be sales. The right service advisor will determine how many hours you work, where you vacation, the type of car you drive and the size of your home. If you have the right person, he or she can help your business grow quickly.

Knowing what to look for will help you choose the right person. During the interview, ask the candidate what he is currently selling each week, the amount of his average ticket and what gross profit margin he is generating at his current job. If this is in line with your business plan, then you've got the right candidate. If not, move on to another candidate. The more people you interview, the better you will become at finding the best employees.

Choose people who can describe the benefits of the repair to your customers, rather than the step-by-step process of how it's done - most auto customers do not want to hear the particulars and details of how to fix brakes but they do want to be sure that they are spending their money wisely on a service that is actually needed.

As the owner, you are the leader of the team and responsible for helping your employees excel. With the right motivation, you can take employees to new levels of service. This means making sure your employees are thoroughly trained and just as passionate about the customers as you are.

It is important for the service advisor to understand what works best in sales for your customers. Sales techniques are changing because the consumer is changing. You want the employee to be pumped up every day about selling your shop, and to believe that you provide the best customer experience.

That means you, as the owner, must stay on top of changing business patterns and sales techniques. Choose a service advisor who is self-driven and wants to be the tops in his field and encourage him to keep learning. Remember, having a professional Service Advisor determines how well your business will grow. The Service Advisor is a key position in any auto repair shop, and if you choose the right person, will make a lasting positive impression with your customers.

Not All Collision Repair Shops Offer Certified Quality

When a person sees a car repair shop or garage, he or she might imagine it to be a mom-and-pop business operated by an old geezer with oily hands. But you may be surprised to learn that collision repair shops are a thriving business in the automotive services industry and in fact are even a growth sector. In some cases, what started as a full-service shop that offered mechanical, electrical/electronic and body and painting services have ended up as service shops concentrating on body repair and painting.

With millions of cars on the road, it is inevitable that fender benders and crashes occur, and this translates to a source of steady business for collision repair and auto body shops. Look up local directory listings or do a search online and you will find dozens of companies offering repair and repainting services. A car owner can also choose to go to the car dealer where the car was bought, but dealer services can be overpriced and not necessarily of the best quality when it comes to collision repair and repainting. When comparing auto body repair shops, look for one that is well-equipped and has a knowledgeable and friendly staff. A car's looks are important to any car owner and like-minded individuals who treat your car like it was theirs is an excellent sign that your car will be taken car of properly. Of course, word of mouth is one of the best advertisements but if you're new to an area, shops with certified technicians are your best bet in ensuring quality work.

A well-equipped shop can handle just about any sort of collision damage, except of course when critical safety structures are compromised, in which case it is better to have the insurance company declare the car as a total loss. Shops with ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) or similarly certified technicians will be able to ascertain with a high degree of confidence what types of collision damage are repairable and which are not. Bear in mind that most of today's cars use a combination of steel alloys and heat treatments to produce a vehicle structure that is light for promoting efficiency, yet strong enough to meet crash safety standards. Unknowing repairmen will sometimes just cut off the damaged portions of a structure and weld in hand-formed steel sheets. In the wrong area, the car may look repaired but will in fact be severely weakened structurally. Which is why when your car is involved in a big crash, you have to make sure that the shop you bring your car to have the necessary expertise in collision repair to properly evaluate vehicular structural damage. Automobile Service Excellence certification helps ensure that the people you are talking to about the repair of your car have undergone the correct training to bring your car up to spec.

Tips To Hire An Auto Body Repair Shop

The need for auto body repair shop is much more than any other repair shop. Since the demand for such efficient auto body repair shops is high, it is evident that there are many companies which offer such services. As a common man, it becomes really tough to choose a car body shop which shall offer the best of services at the most affordable rates. Thus, you need to take a very smart decision and make the most of the deals when you are choosing such a shop. Here are some easy tips which shall help you to choose a car body shop:

• Try to find out about the experience of the body shop company and the kind of services the shop offers to its clients. This shall help you to understand if such a shop shall be suitable for your needs and if you will actually benefit by using the services of such a shop.


• If you stay in Huntington Beach, you shall be flooded with options and in such a case it really becomes very difficult to choose a company of your preference. If you have several options and you find it extremely complex, it is best to take help from your friends and relatives who have already hired the services of such a shop. Any leading Huntington Beach auto body shop shall have an online presence and in such a case it shall be very easy for you to judge the shop because you will be able to view happy customer reviews and testimonials. Huntington Beach auto body shop online portals are the best ways to learn about a company.


• Try to find out about the special features of the body shops. There are many shops which specialize in car collisions or others which specialize in car body paint. In such a case it becomes very easy for you to choose a company of your choice, because it is evident that when a company specializes in a particular service, it is surely going to offer such services much better than others. Hence, suppose you are looking just for body painting services, it is best to hire a body and paint shop which shall make it very convenient to choose a property of your choice.


• Do not forget to check out the rates offered by such companies. It is better to choose any Huntington Beach Body paint shop after making a comparison of its features and prices, so that you can make a right choice. Discounts are often offered to customers to attract them and to gain a competitive advantage over others.

No matter which type of company you choose, it is always recommended that you make a choice as per your requirements and not just by checking the services offered by the company. Any car body shop might offer you a gamut of services but you may not be in need of all such service - hence it is important that you make a comparison of the services and its pricing before picking a car body shop as per your choice.

Auto Body Shop - Avoid Getting Cheated

Everyone who owns a car will most likely need to visit an auto body shop at some point in their lives. Since many everyday people are not familiar with automotive repair, it can be tempting for some providers of this service to be less than truthful with their customers to make extra money. It is not uncommon to hear stories on the news about a repair place scamming customers and tricking them out of hundreds or thousands of dollars, so it is crucial to educate yourself and be wary of any location you go to.

You can narrow down your choice of an auto body shop by referring to the list of approved providers your car insurance has decided on. After that, try to find friends or family who have been to one of the shops listed to find out if they provide quality work. You can also check the Better Business Bureau or look for online reviews to see what kind of reputation the place has. The best way to be sure of a garage's work is to research other customer's experiences rather than simply taking the word of the shop.

It is an added bonus if the provider you go to is part of an organization that encourages attentive care and ethical treatment of customers. Also check to see if the employees are certified to do body work, instead of just being mechanics who dabble in car repair. Sometimes it is better to have the auto body shop do their own estimate of the damage, rather than waiting for a representative from the insurance company to come out and look it over.

If the auto body shop does not look professional and you only see them working on low quality cars, chances are they do not make enough money to provide higher quality parts and service. Check if they have worked on your make and model often and carry the parts needed to service it. If you opt for generic parts to save money, make sure they are certified by the Certified Automotive Parts Association. After the repairs are finished, thoroughly look over your vehicle to make sure everything works and nothing was accidentally damaged in the process of fixing something else.

When you find yourself needing car repair, try to choose a reputable and honest provider who has experience working with your particular car model. Ask for a breakdown of all charges to find out exactly what your money is going towards in order to prevent being overcharged. Do not let yourself become another victim by trusting the first place you go.

Automobile Windshield Crack and Chip Repair

Automobile windshields perform certain tasks, one of which is protecting us from objects thrown up by other automobiles and trucks, or sometimes just from the bugs.When most rocks or other objects hit the windshield they either bounce off with no damage, or bugs may splatter the windshield and can be cleaned with soap and water. Then there are those times when a rock or other object smacks your windshield hard and cracks the windshield.

Some objects hit so hard that the windshield breaks out meaning the chip has a crack that goes all the way across the windshield sometimes in several directions, when this occurs windshield replacement is required. Other times the rock puts a small chip or nick in the windshield without cracking it lest not to the naked eye, but when examined under magnification almost all windshield chips have small cracks leading away from the point of impact.

These small chips are the ones that we forget about or neglect until something happens like the windshield wiper blades don't last very long or they always leave a streak, or a small crack, now visible leading away from that small rock chip forgotten so long ago or worse yet it just cracks out all of the sudden. Repair is now in order but with difficulties for the repairman. These neglected chips or cracks have been exposed to the elements, rain and dirt being the worst for repair. When water enters this type of break it is dirty water and dirt is drawn into the break. So now we have dirt and water in the crack this makes repair more complicated.

Have you ever tried to glue something together that is dirty and wet, not an easy task if not impossible and poor quality repairs will be the result. To remove water from a cracked windshield the cracked area must be put under a vacuum and the windshield must be heated in the cracked area to vaporize the water to be vacuumed out. Dirt must be flushed out using injection and extraction processes with certain chemicals repeated over and over again before a quality repair can be preformed.

Now here is the key word with windshield repair "QUALITY". Quality windshield repair takes time you can't rush this process. Some windshields crack on the first impact, usually a star break, an impact area with cracks leading away from the break or a Bull's-Eye type break some with cracks, some without visible cracks. Most of these types of breaks can be easily repaired. If the crack is longer than six inches replacement should be considered or if the crack has been neglected for a long period of time repairs will be more difficult.

The automobile windshield repair quality goal is 80% improvement from before the repair was preformed. High quality windshield repair technicians will perform 90% + improvement most times. Almost all cracked out windshields could have been repaired but were neglected and over time the windshield cracks out. We have all seen the windshields with a Bull's-Eye or Star break with a long crack leading away from the impact point going across the whole windshield, most of these were small rock cracks or chips that were neglected and have cracked out over time and windshield replacement is now required costing hundreds of dollars when repair would have been under $60.00 save yourself the time and trouble of replacement and repair those cracked or chipped windshields right away don't wait to see if it is going to crack further before you repair it trust me it will. A quality repair is the number one goal.

Welder Repair - Equipment List

There are thousands of Repair Centers throughout North America that Service and Repair Welders. This equipment is used by Hobbyists, Farmers, and Industry professionals for both Hand and Automation applications. The Welders can be generally classified as being Transformer based, Transformer based with SCR switching, Chopper or Inverter based. High end products such as Engine Driven Welders, Synergic MIG Welders, and Plasma Welders fall into these same general categories.

Eventually, this equipment will fail and require repair. Large organizations take on in-house repairs but the majority of work occurs in privately run small businesses. Efficient Welder Service and Repair requires that the Repair Centers have a full range of Test Equipment and Welding Accessories. The following list outlines a good starting point for procurement of this Equipment:

1. Primary AC Power (Mains): 115V, 208/230V Single and 3 Phase, 460V 3 Phase.

These Voltages are used to encompass various input power requirements for multiple Welder configurations. Not all Welders run off the same Primary AC Voltage. A Welder must be tested at the same voltage as it is being used in the field. Any Welder that is capable of 460V operation must be tested at this voltage. Any Bus voltage balance problems will be noticeable only at the higher AC input voltage.

2. DVM (Digital Volt Meter) and Analog Meter.

A DVM provides great precision for all measurements. Ensure that your DVM has a Diode Test position, and is capable of measuring Capacitance. These are important features to have. An Analog Meter is also useful. It can provide a good indication of Power Supply ripple on a DC Supply through judgment of Meter needle stability.

3. Battery powered DSO (Digital Storage Oscilloscope).

Mains powered Oscilloscopes have grounded Alligator clips on the Oscilloscope Probes. I.e. the BNC outer is electrically connected to Mains ground. This can cause signal shorts when a measurement is being carried out. To avoid this problem a Mains Isolation Transformer and/or Isolated Probes will need to be used. Battery powered DSO's do not have this issue. Equipment portability is also important in a Workshop environment.

4. IGBT & MOSFET Tester or Component Analyzer.

Tests the functionality of IGBT and MOSFET switching components when a gating signal is applied. A Component Analyzer provides additional analysis of the D.U.T (Device-Under-Test) and alleviates the requirement for the Technician to know the configuration of the component leads.

5. SCR Component Analyzer.

Tests the functionality of SCR's with an applied gating signal. A Component Analyzer provides additional analysis of the D.U.T (Device-Under-Test) and alleviates the requirement for the Technician to know the configuration of the component leads.

6. Stator Winding Analyzer.

Tests the Stator Windings on Engine Driven Welders. Analyzes the windings to determine issues with continuity, and shorted turns. Can be used on both single phase and 3 phase output windings.

7. Capacitance Meter.

Invaluable for measuring the capacitance of Excitation Capacitors in Engine Driven Welders, and other equipment. Some DVM's do not include a Capacitance range.

8. ESR Meter.

Used to measure the Effective Series Resistance of Capacitors. Capacitor failures can occur at the lead bonding point. This problem can not be seen with a Capacitance Meter, but can account for internal losses. Provides a different perspective on Capacitor fault analysis.

9. AC / DC Current Clamp Meter, capable of measuring up to 1000 Amps.

Allows accurate measurement of Primary AC Power (Mains) Input current, Welder output current and Wirefeeder Motor current. Provides confirmation of Welder calibration.

10. Load Bank (Active or Passive).

Dissipates Weld output current at rates determined by adjustable resistance settings. Used to validate output current capabilities and for Burn-in testing. Active Load banks can provide variable output characteristics in real time.

11. Hi-Pot Tester or Insulation Tester.

Used to test for High Voltage leakage conditions (typically to ground).

12. Soldering Iron.

Weller makes some great offerings. Look for Soldering Stations with ESD safe housings. Having the right tips for the job is important.

13. Air Compressor. Up to 120 psi and 600 SCFH.

For general cleaning- Metal dust, and debris. Also used for Plasma Cutter operation.

14. Cylinder gases (Argon, Ar/CO2 75/25).

For Weld testing of units after Repair/Functional Test.

15. Assorted Hand tools.

Screwdrivers, Socket wrenches, Wrenches, Pliers, Hammers, Allen keys etc.

16. Torque Driver.

Most screws and bolts need to be torqued correctly to the Manufacturers specification. This is extremely important where thermal conductivity properties are important. IGBT's, MOSFET's and Hockey Puck SCR's must be correctly torqued to their Heatsink assembly.

17. Flow meter for torch testing.

Used to check gas flow rates through the torch. Important for Plasma Welding and MIG applications.

18. Coolant Conductivity Meter.

Used to test the conductivity of coolant that is used in Plasma Welding Systems. If the coolant becomes conductive this can cause the Plasma Welding Torch to become shorted. This causes permanent damage.

19. Wireless or Cell phone.

Allows the Technician to communicate to Technical Support staff (Manufacturers representatives) while troubleshooting the Welder.

20. Wirefeeder.

Used for Weld testing MIG (CV) Welders.

21. Assorted Stingers, MIG torches, TIG torches, Leads.

Most Welding Power Supplies don't come in with accessories, unless requested. These need to be available in different configurations for Weld testing the product.

22. Loading Dock with Fork Lift or Hoist.

Used to move heavy equipment in and out of the workshop.

23. Computer (Desk Top or Laptop) with Internet access.

Used to access Manufacturers sites for support inquiries, and downloading of Service Manuals. Also, preparation of Word documents, Database access etc.

24. ESD prevention materials and equipment.

Suitable lengths and quantities of Static Dissipative Matting, Wrist Straps, Foot Straps, Cords, Bonding Points, etc for setting up an EPA (ESD Protected Area). This designated area will be used for replacement of electronic components and PCA's (Printed Circuit Assemblies).

When You May Need Auto Repair Insurance

Buying a new or new-to-you vehicle is full of fun and exciting decisions. If it's a brand new car or truck, maybe you get to pick out the color and interior comfort features. If it's a used car or truck, maybe you get to bargain on the price and choose where you want to buy to get the best deal. However, before you enjoy your new car or truck, you will also have to make important decisions about insurance. Most of us are familiar with collision and comprehensive insurance coverage, but few realize that auto repair insurance can also protect us from costly bills at our local garage.

Similar to other types of home or life insurance, auto repair insurance is flexible and can be fully customized to meet your needs. You decide your monthly contribution and pick a bumper-to-bumper package with policies and coverage that fits your needs. This type of insurance is often especially important for those of us that like to drive older vehicles. You can extend the life of your car or truck with regularly scheduled maintenance appointments that ensure everything is running smoothly. Auto repair insurance can help cover those costly bills before they add up and break the bank.

As is true with most things in life, you get what you pay for. There are conservative and cheap insurance plans available, but you can't expect them to cover all types of repairs. These smaller packages are usually only good for common and pre-determined repairs. If something happens outside of those limits, you are stuck with the full bill. Conversely, very comprehensive and expensive plans may not be ideal for individuals that have new cars or trucks. These are often covered by the manufacturer's warranty for a certain period of time, so paying extra just doesn't make any sense.

Discuss auto repair insurance with a broker near you today to learn more about this type of comprehensive financial coverage that helps you get the most life out of your vehicle for the smallest investment. In the end, a small short-term investment can help you save lots of money in the long-run. By choosing the plan that is right for you and your vehicle, you virtually guarantee savings on emergency repairs and regular maintenance tasks. By taking the time to find a personalized policy that fits your needs, you will make sure you aren't overspending up front and will enjoy the savings for months on end.

Auto Glass Repair Can Help Keep You Safe and Save You Money

Cracked or broken glass can be a major safety hazard. Getting it repaired right away can help save drivers a lot of money and ensure their safety on the road.

While you may think that the chip or crack in your windshield or side windows is not something to be concerned over, it's actually a major safety concern that could end up causing you personal injury. Even a small chip can threaten the structural integrity of your car windows, and the smallest bump in the road could lead to a shattered windshield. If you want to protect yourself, your passengers, and others on the road, then getting repairs for chipped or broken glass is in your best interest.

To best ensure your safety, you should seek repairs for your vehicle at the first opportunity. If you put off getting repairs for even a few days, a change in temperature or an unforeseen fender bender can cause your auto glass to break. In such cases, the glass will likely be far beyond repair, and you'll have to spend a much more significant amount of money getting the glass replaced. The sooner you act, the sooner you can guarantee your safety and keep more money in your wallet.

Not only is a broken or chipped windshield in danger of cracking, but it may also prevent you from seeing the road in front of you clearly. If you aren't able to get a good view of the vehicles around you or pedestrians near the road, then you could easily be involved in an automobile accident. Fortunately, speedy repairs to your auto glass will ensure that you (and others!) are not put in such danger, and you can rest easy while you're behind the wheel.

Where to Get Repairs

Fortunately, most repairs can be completed in a short amount of time, and there are a great number of auto glass specialists out there that can help you. Depending on the size of the chip or crack, an auto glass repair shop may be able to fix your glass in as little as a few hours. In some cases, you may be able to perform windshield repair on your own. There are several high-quality DIY windshield repair kits out there, but they don't work for all chips and cracks, so you'll need to be careful when choosing one. If you're not confident enough to attempt car window repair on your own, then you should consult a professional. Many auto glass shops offer mobile services, so you don't have to risk driving anywhere to get your auto glass fixed.

Whether you decide to attempt car window repair on your own or take your problem to a professional, it's important that you always take damage to your auto glass seriously. Dealing with any cracks or chips at the first opportunity is your best chance of avoiding injury, and it's also the best way to save money. Repairs are much less costly than replacement, so keep this in mind the next time you experience any damage to your auto glass.

Keep Your Car Running in Tip-Top Shape And Avoid Unnecessary Auto Body Repair Costs

With the recession dilemma, many people don't have the extra budget to buy a new car when something goes wrong with their existing one. And auto body repair costs can also rather be expensive. For these reasons, it makes a lot of sense to know how to take really good care of your car.

Here are some basic car maintenance tips that will ensure your car keeps running in tip top shape for a long period of time:

Change the oil regularly. Habitual oil change will most probably help extend the life of your vehicle. It is also an essential step before you head out on long road trips. Clean oil does not only keep your car running but contributes to better gas mileage as well.

Always check your brake pads for wear. More often than not, it is only when people hear grinding noise coming from their breaks that they realize that it's time to do something. Well, this is when it's actually too late. At this point frequently, you would need rotors and rotors cost more than brake pads.

Clean your car engine. Consult your mechanic on the proper ways to keep your car engine area clean. Many auto engine repairs could actually be avoided just by having a clean engine. You see, the layer of grime can cause engine overheat. And an overheated engine tends to break much faster.

Keep your tires properly inflated. Ensure that your tires are at the correct pressure at all times - neither over nor under inflated. And as recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy, keeping your tires at the correct pressure may help improve gasoline mileage. Not to mention that proper air pressure is vital for safe and optimum driving performance.

Watch your driving. Vehicle experts advise that there are little but critical things you can do while driving that will help maintain your car in good shape. First, be gentle and avoid accelerating too fast or breaking too hard.

Secondly, to avoid future auto body repair costs, warm up your car on cold days before driving. And third, do not take short, particularly trips under 10 minutes. Such short drives can be hard on your engine as it can never get up to its optimal operating temperature.

Use quality gasoline and avoid running on empty. As brought about by the struggling economy, many consumers have switched to low-quality gasoline. However, gasoline with lower quality leaves behind carbon deposits, which in turn reduce gas mileage.

And running your car on empty is also not advisable, as gasoline sediments settle at the bottom of the tank. And if the gas level runs really low, your car will actually use the dirtiest gasoline in its gas tank.

It's often easy to take a car for granted, however, understand that in order to save your car and wallet in the long run, you need to take good care of your car starting today.

Why Act on Windshield Replacement?

Windshields play an essential part in automobiles but a lot of drivers are not aware of this fact. Windshields will serve as structural shield and support for the roofs of automobiles. In addition, windshields will protect drivers and the passengers as well from wind and other elements. Because they play such essential tasks, they must be constructed well and there must not be any room for error during the process of manufacturing. Manufacturers must guarantee the quality of the products before they are going to install them to the automobiles.

On the other hand, hundreds of people pass away every year due to car accidents since they were thrown away from their automobiles. Sadly, a lot of people do not recognize the risks and dangers a simple nick or crack on their windshields can cause. It must not take busted glass across the whole windshield in order to get your attention on your car. When it comes to the repair of auto glass, it is very essential to take the right precautions.

At times, repair is good enough but if the break done is very serious, then, simple repair is out of question. In such cases, windshield replacement will be the best bet. Whether you will admit it or not, windshield replacement is necessary if there is a break which is lesser than three inches. At times, these cracks begin as little as the tip of a needle which can be caused by mechanical stress, temperature deviation and rocks. But regardless of the reasons behind the scratch or crack, it is very important to act on windshield replacements before it will be too late. As mentioned earlier, windshields are there to shelter you from any object flying on the air. Therefore, waiting for too long to replace faulty windshields might actually become a troublesome element of the automobile. More than 12,000 fatalities every year come from individuals who are being thrown away from their cars.

In order to minimize such accidents caused by broken auto glass, windshield replacement is needed. Take enough time in order to shop around to locate reputable service and know the windshield replacement cost. Make sure that the manufacturer have good replacement safety standard and can deliver the service that is worth the cost. Make sure that the quality of the glass is good enough to shelter you from any form of debris falling into your car. It will also be helpful if you are going to contact a technician to find out what kind of services that is good for your car.

Most companies might prefer to arrive to you and they may offer higher price tag yet if they can offer safety standard then it will be worth it. If you are thinking of the price tag, there is a windshield replacement insurance where you can take advantage of. You just have to know what are the needed requirements for the insurance given in your locality. Having windshield replacement insurance will not only help you financially but will ensure that you get standard quality of service.

The Importance Of Proper Sealing In Windshield Replacement

One crucial safety aspect that many drivers disregard is the regular windshield inspection. Assessing your auto glass for damage every now and then is essential, and at the smallest sign of damage, you should take the matter into the hands of a professional from a reputable glass company. The windshield is one of the most vital parts of your vehicle, as it provides structural support that prevents the roof from caving in when an accident happens, and in the same time it protects you against external factors, such as dust, rocks, wind, rain and debris. Performing a windshield replacement at the right time is extremely important if you do not want to compromise the integrity of your auto glass. This is because even the smaller cracks can pose safety issues if left unrepaired, which is a pity considering that they can be taken care of in less than half an hour at any auto glass or window replacement company.

The price quote is just one of the factors that you should keep in mind when picking an auto glass company to take your vehicle to. Consumers should make sure they only work with reputable dealers with extensive windshield servicing experience, who only use original equipment manufacturer glass. The process of windshield replacement can impact auto safety if the auto glass does not fit snugly and is leaking. Reliable dealers and repair experts should also offer an installation warranty. Do not forget that an auto glass leak can generate severe consequences for both the driver and the passengers. More than hat, loose glass is always more susceptible to various kinds of damage, and it may also fail to satisfy the structural needs. Leaks allow humidity and water to permeate your car, leading to interior mold and upholstery damage. Excess water can also cause your windows to ice up or fog, leading to dangerous vision problems.

When choosing an auto glass replacement or repair company, you should pick one that has expert installers, and uses proper adhesives, sealants, and high quality glass. Windshield leaks may lead to annoying drafts or high pitched whistling while driving, which is quite distracting to any driver. Any windshield replacement that does not meet the standards has to be corrected, and you can do so by exercising your warranty options. Consider that even the most experienced technicians are prone to making mistakes, but that does not mean that you should accept inferior work that poses real safety concerns aside from the cosmetic issues.

Scion XB Parts and Accessories - A Wide Range of Exterior and Interior Auto Parts

Scion XB Parts offers auto parts for all types of vehicles - belonging to different companies and having different models. These parts can be divided widely into two groups; interior and exterior accessories or parts. In case, you are looking for these auto parts for your car, this brief article will provide guidance for what types of useful parts you may find at the stores.

Exterior Parts

Car Cover: Car covers are extremely important to keep your cars safe and protected. These covers are available in various colors and sizes to cater all needs. Made of parachute material, this can be purchased according to the exact size of your vehicle. Protect your vehicle against sunlight, rain and snow by covering it with this amazing accessory.

Spoilers: Used for decoration and other purposes, these are attached to your car's trunk.

Rims: An important auto part, these can be found in a large variety of sizes and shapes to suit your needs and car built. Made of stainless steel and aluminum, they are custom manufactured for every specific car.

Mirrors: Left and right side mirrors of various shapes and sizes are available.

Glass: Rear, front and side glass is an important auto part and if your car glass is damaged, get it repaired or buy a new one to avoid greater damage.

Interior Parts

Floor Mats: They help keeping your car clean. Pick the ones that are sizable and easy to wash.

Car Seats: Available in leather and other materials, these car seats make the look of your interior new and elegant.

Steering and Steering Cover: Steering is an essential part while the steering cover can enhance the beauty of your car's interior.

Body Repair Shops And Environmental Regulations

Let's face it. Complying with national and local environmental regulations is now a facet of business that cannot be ignored. Apart from complying with the myriad business regulations that accompany any business, we now have environmental regulations to worry about.

One of the EPA's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations at Area Sources rules requires that all spray painting be done in a spray booth, with special spray guns and techniques to reduce overspray, and other measures to prevent the release of any solvent mist. According to the agency, this and other rules were drafted to protect workers from toxic materials. If your auto body repair shop is part of a large chain, then you are most likely in compliance, as these large companies make it a corporate policy to be compliant with government regulations. The challenge for the EPA and local environmental departments is how to help ensure that smaller, possibly family-owned auto body repair shops are compliant after informing them of existing rules.

These smaller auto body repair shops may be unwilling or unable to comply with environmental regulations. As it is, they are already being crowded by the large chains whose franchisees invest large sums in their business and market aggressively. These smaller shops may simply not have enough money to comply with what could possibly be a huge investment in equipment. Then there would be the old-timers who are ignorant of the effects of toxic materials to themselves and the environment. But any auto body repair shop, large or small, that does stripping and painting needs to be a part of the effort to clean up the environment.

If your auto body repair shop has not bothered with updating itself on the latest environmental regulations, it would be best to start now, rather than have an inspector come into your premises and write up several pages worth of infractions your shop may have. If you're serious about the business, you'll have to comply anyway so best to do it now rather than later.

Basically, you need to ensure that:

1. Hazardous and flammable chemicals and substances are stored and used properly.


2. Used oils from vehicles and equipment are collected and disposed of properly.


3. Workers are briefed and informed about the hazards and risks to health that these materials represent.

The internet has dozens of resources that will help an auto body repair shop make a determination on which critical areas to address in terms of environmental regulations. Apart from being a necessity in today's business climate, customers will appreciate the fact that you concern yourself with how your business impacts the environment.

How to Choose a Body Shop

Accidents can cause extreme damage to a car. A parked car hit from the side may need a replaced door and a fender bender may force the owner to buy a new bumper. If an accident harms the body of your car you will want to put your precious possession in safe hands. This means finding a shop that will leave your car looking great when it leaves their parking lot.

Considerations in Choosing Your Body Shop

Since many people need body work done on their car, many people in your area will know the best places to go. Therefore, speaking to your family and friends about who they trust can impact your decision. They may also have a good idea about the approximate prices of different locations.

An irresponsible or inexperienced body repairman may leave your car worse off. You don't want your bumper to fall off in the middle of the road.

Luckily we have websites like Yelp! to help us out in searching for auto shop reviews. People who write comments on these websites typically care a great deal about the quality of service they received. Another good source of reviews can come from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This a local organization that will contain information on a business's customer satisfaction.

Some body shops have qualifications that set them apart from the competition. Many areas give awards to shops that have consistently provided exceptional service.

Insurance companies may have preferred body shops. Taking your car to these shops is typically a safe bet. Since the insurance company is most likely partially responsible for the bills, they want to ensure you're getting good service.

Foundational Marketing Practices For an Auto Body Shop

When owning a small business, the owner has to keep in mind that a successful marketing strategy hinges on individual customer experience. As advanced as our technology has become, and as advanced as our business practices have become, nothing has exceeded the primacy of the old phrase, "The customer is always right." Even if the customer is wrong, they're still right. In fact, with Internet technology, customers have the ability to spread the word about a bad experience much easier these days, with tools like blogs, community forums, social networking sites, and a whole bunch of others. For example, popular Internet blogger, Randy Cassingham, wrote a blog entry titled "Dell Hell" and it destroyed Dell's credibility and profits for the remainder of the year. On the other hand, a customer that walks away having loved the service received is your absolute best marketing tool, especially for local small businesses like auto body shops. Every customer that walks through your door represents 5 or even 10 more potential jobs for your business. When it comes to marketing, making the customers you have happy is one of the best ways you can generate more leads.

The idea that the customer is always right suggests a mentality about the business: customers are top priority. The mentality that every customer you have is the top priority in everything you do can pay huge dividends as you go about marketing your business. I say this because marketing is about getting customers to believe you're the best person for the job they need done. That requires getting the word out and using different tools at your disposal to make that happen. But all the tools in the world won't help a business succeed if they don't care about their customers. You just can't have a good marketing strategy for your business if you don't have a satisfied customer. Or to say it in another way...you simply can't market a brand successfully that sucks to the customers you've had. Its that simple. This is true even more so for a business that relies on local residents. There isn't a single gadget in the Internet world that will replace your services as the foundational tool for bringing you more business. Keeping these things in mind as the "Auto Body Marketing" blog moves forward to provide new ways to maximize your shop's exposure, here are some things to take note of. A business that builds around the "Customers First" strategy requires at least two practices: providing quality customer service and quality work.

Providing Quality Customer Service

Providing quality customer service is important because of how it can impact the impression your customer has as they're leaving your business. We're not suggesting you whistle around your shop so gleefully that you seem like all is perfect in your world (that's just annoying and unrealistic). We're suggesting that you focus on creating an environment for your customer that leaves a lasting positive impression on them. You know whats best for your business, so we're not going to tell you to reformat everything you do at your shop. We're simply recommending that you do you what it takes to make your customers believe that the work they just gave you is important to you and you want them to come back. Keep that principle in mind and tailor your shop practices around it. Build a waiting room if you can and keep it clean, provide transportation for customers if they need it, have coffee available to all walk-ins, or any other small thing that you think a customer would find valuable. Focus on creating the impression that they're experience with your business is your top priority. John Webb of CSi Complete says in his Body Shop Business article that auto shops should shift away from viewing customers just as transactions and focus on building relationships with customers for the sake of long-term loyalty. This is big for marketing your business because if you can manage to develop an impression in their mind as they walk away that says, "They did great work and I'm never again going to another body shop other than the one I just went to," then you just earned their business the next time they need repairs. Even better is that you just established a marketing partner. Every time someone close to them needs repairs, then recommendations to your business will come easy to them.

Providing Quality Work

Providing quality work is very important in generating that positive impression in your customer's mind. You want them to walk away with the mindset that your the best on the block at what you do. Creating an environment that's focused on the customer helps generate that mindset, but ultimately, they're coming to you for services on their vehicle. Provide good work by implementing good practices in the shop. Again, you know what's best for your business, and we don't think we know more about your business than you do. But build everyday practices around the strategy of "Customers First." David William's article in Body Shop Business shared a story regarding Fred Haas Collision Center in a suburb of Houston. He says that when they were struggling and shops around them were closing, rather then cutting guys to stay afloat financially, he started adding guys to the payroll. Doing that allowed his employees to pay closer attention to customers and their repairs, thus making customers the top priority. Now, I understand that Fred Haas was a dealership that had a ton more resources, but take note of the mindset. They had a business strategy that was focused on the customer and tailored shop practices around that to make their work more quality for their customer. Ultimately that translated into more success as more customers kept coming in.

Make the Customer First

We say all these things to help initiate some thought about your shop. Are you having a hard time getting jobs through the door? If so, take a magnifying glass to your shop's practices and see how you can improve. Ask yourself questions for the sake of improvement. Ask questions such as: what are some internal alterations we can make to gain an edge over our competition? How can we make our potential customers think we're the best there is? What can I do to my shop to make customers feel more comfortable coming to me for their business rather than someone else? How can the work I do for them give them the impression that our work is the best there is? Ask yourself these questions and work to make your business "Customer First" oriented. We're not promising business will start pouring in after all this, but this is a good foundation to build your marketing strategy around, and that's what "Auto Body Marketing" is set up to talk about. We'll show you some tools in this blog on how to maximize your shop's exposure. But again, you can't successfully market a business that customers don't want to return to.

How to Improve Your Automobile With Automotive Electrical Supplies

For many people buying a car is one of the biggest purchases they will ever make, second only to the family home. If you have parted with some well earned cash to invest in a motor vehicle then you will want to make sure that it is well maintained to ensure your safety, the safety of others and the longevity of your automobile. While many people are conscious of the importance of regular servicing in order to keep the engine running smoothly they may not be aware of the significance of a cars electrical system. There are many automotive electrical supplies required to run a vehicle efficiently and gaining an insight into these components will place you in a better position to maintain and improve your motor vehicle.

Sometimes when people buy a car, their budget may not be able to accommodate the many extra features available at the time of the initial purchase and while it is often recommended that extras are fitted to a vehicle at the time of manufacture, for many these may not be an option. Others may enjoy the challenge of buying an older car and restoring it to better than its original state. Looking into the range of automotive electrical supplies available for your vehicle may allow you to make ongoing improvements to your car as your budget allows.

One of the best places to begin looking into the range of products available for your cars electrical system is the internet. Here you will have access to manufacturers and suppliers of these parts and will gain a good insight into what is available, their function and how they can improve your vehicle. From here you can start planning how you can enhance your vehicle in order to maximise its safety and performance.

When dealing with a car's electronics it is of great importance that such work carried out is done by a mechanic who is qualified in this field. Just as you would not entrust your home's electrics to anyone but a fully licensed electrician you should never carry out automotive electrical work yourself or contract anyone other than a certified auto electrician to do the work for you. Auto electricians are specialised in the area of vehicle electronics and have a thorough knowledge of the automotive electrical supplies required for a particular job and have access to suppliers of these parts. In addition to this, if you get work done on your cars electrical system by a specialist in this area and something goes wrong you will be able to take advantage of any warranties that may apply to these parts which would otherwise be void if they are not fitted by an approved mechanic.

There are many ways you can improve your cars performance and if you are passionate about your vehicle then you may wish to look into the range of automotive electrical products available. You may well be surprised by how much you can actually enhance your automobile.

Quality Auto Glass Repair Shops

It is not possible to detect and correct every problem of vehicle by self. Windshield or other glass replacements cannot be done without taking help of a professional auto glass shop.

Numerous auto shops are available in the market which has been serving customers with advanced automotive glass repair and replacement services. Support of quality auto shop is needed for several reasons like:

Full-service feature
Most of auto service providers offer full-service of repair as well as replacement. Under this service, they correct problems of several vehicles like cars, vans, trucks, SUVs and several other recreational & commercial vehicles.

Skilled technicians
Modern service providers come featured with team of skilled technicians who are government-certified. And such technicians are capable to detect and resolve the problem quickly and easily. They are also capable to detect any minor or major automobile problems to solve them quickly.

Wide services
Most of shops offer different services under windshield replacement. Chief services include cleaning of vehicle completely, windshield wiper services and much more.

Other services
It has been found that auto shops present these days provide several other services apart from windshield replacement or any other. Some of such services include correcting of rock chip, replacement of auto mirror, window tinting and several other services for both residential as well as commercial sectors.

Thus, it can be said here that support of professional automobile shops is required to correct several problems of vehicle under one roof which includes any kind of replacement of automobile parts from minor to major one.

Do-It-Yourself Car Paint Touch Up

It is essential to keep your car in great condition if you wish to hold onto the resale value and overall appeal. The easiest way to keep your car looking great is to keep the paintwork in top condition. Prevention is always the easiest course but no matter how careful we are with our cars, they will no doubt end up with the odd scratch or two somewhere along the way.

To prevent your car from paint damage make sure you wash and wax it regularly with a good quality product. It is important to use car wash rather than usual detergent as the residual film left on the paintwork may eat away over time causing areas that are vulnerable to further damage. Always keep your car in the garage or undercover to protect the paint.

If you do find yourself with some scratches or chips in your paintwork don't worry, an easy and cost effective do-it-yourself car paint touch up kit will solve the problem in no time. It is important to touch up the damaged or affected areas as soon as they appear so that they don't develop into much larger and more expensive issues later on. Touching up the paint early on can be done with perfect color matching and will cost a fraction of the price of a major repair.

Matching the color of the paint should be easy; most models identify the cars color code on a sticker located on the inside of the door. If this sticker is not found on your vehicle or is too difficult to read, the paint manufacturer will still be able to match the colour based on the cars make, model and year.

Always ensure that you order more paint than you need, a good basis is 10-20% more than your original estimate, this way you won't get stuck half way through a touch up with not enough paint to go around. You should also apply at least two coats of touch up paint to ensure that the repair is long lasting and durable.

Once you have touched up all of the paint chips and scratches on your car, ensure that you maintain good preventative measures such as careful driving, regular washing and storing your car in a shaded area to keep your car looking in top shape all year round. Using a do-it-yourself car paint touch up kit is a sure fire way to improve the overall value and resale price of your car.

Repairs That Go Wrong

There are two main ways to have a car body repair carried out, by a smart repair service or the use of a body shop. There are differences between the two mainly that the smart repair service is mobile and cheaper than the static equivalent body shop.

If carried out by professional personnel both services can provide fantastic repairs on most types of damage. But if care is not taken and the job is rushed the repair finish can suffer as a result.

If you have some form of damage on your car and need a repair it's always best to research your preferred repair service before you go ahead and book in with them, for instance get references from previous jobs and view there before and after photos on their web site. Some repair services might not have websites or photos of previous work carried out, it's these that generally offer cheaper prices for jobs, and that's usually for a reason.

Experience and training is the most important aspect you should look for when you are looking at repair services, for if they as a business have been running for a fair few years then they must be good at what they do for if not they would have gone bust. A Smart Repair service relies on a good customer base both private and trade so check if they services garages and if so get some references from them.

Now you know what to look for in a repair service you will next need to have some basic knowledge of car body repair finishes, so that when you receive the car back you have a good idea whether the repair is of a good standard or not.

Many things can go wrong when a car body repair is carried out and can be costly for the repair service to re-fix, so most will try and disguise the problem or even just leave it, hoping that you won't notice. Below are a few things you should look out for on your completed repair.

1. Orange peel occurs when the lacquer layer is applied at the wrong pressure and distance from the work surface. It can easily be fixed by rubbing the lacquer back and re polishing it. Some services will leave the orange peel effect at corners and edges fearing that they might rub through the top coat. If left the repair can have a distorted finish so if you see the orange peel effect ask for it to be removed.


2. When you check your finished repair check the colour match, see if it's the same as your original paint work. If the car is within 3 years of age there will be no colour difference, if the car is older than you might get a slight colour change. Usually the repair service will blend in the paint over additional panels so there is no major difference. So check, and if you see a big difference get them to do it again.


3. If the repair service sprays over an area of the work surface that is not been cleaned properly the lacquer will separate on impact and leave fish eye like marks on the affected areas. This is easily caused when care has not been. To fix this would require the areas to be rubbed back, cleaned and resprayed.


4. If the service has used substandard lacquer then you will notice by the repair finish looking slightly duller than the rest of the paint work, if this is the case with yours you should demand they repaint it with a better quality of lacquer.

If you car on return has none of the above defects then you have done your research perfectly. If not and you have problems like the ones above demand to have it fixed before you pass over any form of payment.

Campbell Hausfeld Air Compressors For Every Job

Compressed air is excellent for powering tools that are stronger and more energy efficient than electric tools, ranging from sanders and grinders in the garage when you are refurbishing a classic car, to nail guns and caulkers when finishing a newly built house or improving one in the process of renovation. Campbell Hausfeld air compressors recognize the diversity of uses that pneumatic power can be put to with the wide range of sizes, configurations, and power sources that empower everyone from the home hobbyist to the commercial framer or auto body worker with the hard-working tools they need to get the job done.

The smallest air compressors produced by Campbell Hausfeld are pancake style machines whose air tanks are wide, flattened disc shapes. This makes it easier to offer oil-free motors on these models, making them cleaner to use in potentially pristine environments (such as a freshly laid hardwood flooring) as well as freeing you from a greasy, time-consuming maintenance task on a device that you are probably only using now and then anyway.

The 1-gallon FP2028 is the most diminutive of the air compressors, and is used mostly for such jobs as blowing dust and debris from your workbench, running a pneumatic stapler, or doing fine paintwork with an airbrush. The FP2028 weighs only 12.7 pounds and can be carried with the handgrip on top of the mechanism. The 4-gallon version, model number FP2080, is the next size up at 32.5 pounds, and can handle heavier tasks, such as brad nailing, finishing nails, heavy duty staples, and tire inflation.

The tank size on Campbell Hausfeld air compressors ranges up to 120 gallons and the horsepower rating of the motor runs as high as 15 hp for the largest machines. Needless to say, many of the largest compressors are made to be stationary, placed somewhere that they will see regular use, such as in an auto body repair shop, a furniture factory, or a heavy equipment repair depot.

There are still plenty of intermediate size compressors from this company that are portable to some extent and can be used by everyone from home handymen to carpenters and those running a large farm, who need to build structures frequently, repair tractors and other equipment, and carry out demanding maintenance on buildings and fences. Pneumatic power can easily handle tougher jobs if the right compressor and tools are brought to bear on the problem.

One very popular model is the Campbell Hausfeld 13 gallon Direct Drive Air Compressor, a 1.7 horsepower machine that runs off ordinary household current yet musters 3 cubic feet per minute at 90 psi. This sturdy 69 pound compressor rolls on two wheels, pulled by a heavy metal rod handle, and holds enough air so that it can run some of the more rigorous pneumatic tool attachments, such as sanders or paint guns.

The variety of Campbell Hausfeld air compressors assures you of being able to find a device that matches your workload, the size and nature of your products, and the amount of air pressure that you need to get the task done well. From small hobby uses to commercial production and every stage in between, this company provides you with options that will give you ample pneumatic power without the expensive overkill caused by getting a machine that is too big for your needs.

Work-Life Balance for Students of Mechanic Training: It's Possible!

Your college years are the perfect time to set about creating the life you want. It is a time to establish routines, determine priorities and set realistic goals.

Take care of yourself

Make sure that when you graduate prospective employers and clients see the healthiest "you" possible:

- hit the gym in the evenings after school

- bring a healthy, homemade lunch to eat in between your mechanic courses

- take care to prevent injury from repetitive movements - ask the teachers at your auto technician training school to share their tips for avoiding carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain

- form a team with your buddies at mechanic training school - once-a-week Ultimate Frisbee or shinny can help you stay in shape and ensure that you all stay in touch long after your mechanic courses are over

- establish a relationship with a trusted general practitioner

- find a dentist

Friends

Auto technician training is demanding, but don't let it take you away from your friends. Reserve Friday or Saturday nights for your old friends. Sometimes taking a break to refresh ourselves actually helps us advance in our studies faster.

Mechanic training can also be a wonderful time to meet new people. Reach out to your fellow auto technician training students. It may well turn out that they have similar interests to yours.

Hobbies

Don't forget about your hobbies just because mechanic training is demanding. Your hobbies, like your friends, can be what sustains you throughout your career when the going gets tough.

Giving back

While you are pursuing auto technician training is an excellent opportunity to explore volunteer options in your community. Have you considered using your mechanic training to:

- mentor a youth at risk

- help an elderly neighbour maintain their car

- help community organizations sell, pick up or transport donated vehicles

Volunteering can imbue life after mechanic training with meaning.

Plan for the future

Where do you want to be one year after auto technician training?

Five years after auto technician training?

Ten years after?

Set priorities

Figure out what is most important to you right now:

- finding a life partner

- buying a home

- travelling the world

- being near family and friends

- making money

- taking it easy

Your priorities will determine the type of workplace you seek out, whether:

- a pre-existing family owned business

- your own garage

- a major corporation

- an auto technician training school like the one you currently attend

Work-life balance is difficult to achieve. It takes commitment and practice, which is why it is recommended that mechanic training students begin to take positive action while still pursuing mechanic courses.

Countering the Rising Costs of Google AdWords for Transmission Repair

To Transmission Shop Owner,

Today we will talk about ways to counter the rising costs of Google AdWords when marketing transmission repair.

If you have been using AdWords to drive customers for the last couple years you will already know: The cost-per-click has went UP for transmission keywords.

•In 2006 it averaged 30 cents per click.
•In most areas, it is now over $2 per click.
•In some areas, it is as high as $4 per click.

If it takes an average 20 clicks to generate 1 good lead (5% average conversion from a click to a lead), you can see how expensive it is getting.

The bad part? As the Google cost rises, the results do not improve. You are still going to get the same quality of leads, no mater how much you pay for them.

Why Did This Happen?

One reason? Google sent free $100 AdWords coupons to every business in the US. Since their pay-per-click system is based on an auction, the more shops, scammers and marketing companies they could get to bid on keywords like "transmission" and "transmission repair" caused the price to continue going higher.

As everyone battles for top position, the price continues to go up. Ultimately, this makes Google more money for delivering the exact same results.

Ways to Counter Rising Costs

Here are some simple ways to counter the rising cost of AdWords and get more from your budget:

Put your phone number in your ad. This is a simple trick that can increase your phone leads. You can get some additional calls without people clicking on your ad and costing you money.

Negative keywords. Very important. Make sure you are not bidding on wasteful keywords by using negative keywords in your campaign. For example, most shops bid on the keyword "transmission". But, if you do not deal with used transmissions, you may be surprised that the phrase "used transmission" can STILL make your ad come up in searches, because the phrase "used transmission" still contains the word "transmission"! I have a whole list of negatives I used in each client campaign, including "used", "motorcycle", "semi", "lawnmower", etc. All of these words spend $2-$4 for a click, and Google loves it.

If you hired an outside pay-per-click management company to handle your online advertising, be sure they understand the transmission industry. Some do. But many of these companies have no clue about the transmission business, and their keyword lists may include lots of things you do not want--and NO negative keywords. The reason there are so many complaints about marketing companies? Most of them have a "we service all industries, nationally" shotgun approach. They throw together an ad, some keywords, start the campaign, and no results.

Marketing companies who specialize in the transmission industry have a laser-guided missile approach. They already know what worked before, what is working now, and what will not work.

Write an ad that sets your shop apart from your competition. Look at competitor ads and make sure yours is different.

Use MSN Adcenter to advertise on Bing and Yahoo. Clicks here are generally cheaper due to less competition. You can now advertise on both in one system.

The process to set up an account is the same as AdWords. Being on Bing is more important than you think: Many computer users use Bing because it is their default start page. You are missing this large group of people entirely if you only use Google AdWords.

Work leads after-hours and on weekends. Many people work 2nd/3rd shift and go online outside normal business hours, but they still need transmission service. If you do not have time to do it, give your manager an incentive to do it. First and best gets the job, especially after hours and weekends. If you cannot work leads after-hours and weekends, you will probably want to shut off your advertising during those times if you are currently running your ads 24/7. Only run AdWords during your business hours to save $$.

If you cannot always get to the phone at the shop and miss calls, have your Internet leads go to a dedicated cell-phone that always gets answered. If you miss a call on the shop phone that came from your AdWords campaign, you may have just spent $50 for a dropped lead. Another method is to use a service that rings to multiple people if the first is busy, like a hunt group. Services such as Kall8 offer these types of lines.

Geographical settings should be realistic. If you cannot service a 50 mile radius of your entire metro area, adjust your campaign for just the area you typically service.

Other Ideas

In the end, the whole point of advertising online is generating leads, then working those leads as best you can.

If people who need your services click your ad--but do not call or do not fill out your contact form, that bill from AdWords on your credit card statement is just you helping pay for a Google executive's corporate jet.

If you are frustrated with online marketing, have a pro optimize your AdWords/Adcenter campaign and use a third-party lead generation technique. This is where I come in. Demo is always free. If I cannot at least double your leads within a week, without costing you any more advertising $$, then I should not call myself a consultant!

Use Text Message: This is coming in a future article but I will give you a preview on a cutting-edge text message marketing technique for transmission repair that WORKS:

1. Collect every phone number from every lead you generate during the week.

2. Use a text message program (like EZ Texting) to send a follow-up text the following week asking them if they still need help with their car.

3. Do a follow-up text every month to all leads in your pipeline.

If you do not think texting will get you a couple extra customers towed in every month...

You will be pleasantly surprised when you find out it does.

Text message marketing is, by far, the most powerful marketing technique right now. I was a skeptic too. Until I saw it work.

Customers may avoid your calls, but they will read texts. If you want to learn the art of text message marketing, e-mail me and I will get you set up. If you want to do-it-yourself, I recommend EZ Texting which is free to sign up and test out. You can start text messaging leads at EZ Texting and see the response rate I am talking about.

Forwarding Numbers: If you are in an area with "invisible boundaries" such as bridges and state lines, or if there are separate area codes nearby, purchase a number in that other area code using an outside service such as Kall8 for only a couple dollars, then forward that number to your shop. Customers that may have not called your "other area" line, thinking you were too far away, may now call number local to them, giving you an opportunity to explain why it's worth coming the extra distance.

In Summary

To sum all of this up:

•MSN Adcenter is generally cheaper clicks than AdWords. Set up an account to advertising on Bing and Yahoo.
•Work leads after-hours and weekends to get more jobs.
•Turn off leads after-hours and weekends to save $$ if you cannot work them.
•Use a dedicated cell phone for hot Internet leads so that no leads are dropped.
•Use realistic geographical targeting.
•Negative keywords are important to add to your campaign to save $$.
•I can optimize your campaign and set up a third-party technique to double your leads. Free demo.
•Text message marketing works. E-mail me if you want tips and tricks.

Auto Repair Loans - Finance Your Car Repairs

Today we will talk about an option that has helped millions of people in their time of need, and that option is Auto Repair Loans.

Of all of those unexpected expenses that seem to arise every month, the most common of those is a car repair bill. The most frustrating part about these bills is that they can range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. That makes preparing for this inevitable expense very difficult, and often times we come up a bit short. On top of that, the price of cars seems to be rising exponentially, which means the cost to repair those cars rises just as fast. The last time I took my vehicle in for routine maintenance, I was absolutely blown away by the final price on the invoice. Keep in mind that was for routine maintenance, and the costs are even higher when there is heavy labor involved.

It's pretty clear that the costs of auto repairs can really throw a wrench into any financial plans you may have had. This is what brought me to try auto repair loans, to help alleviate some of the financial strain caused by large repair bills. Auto Repair Loans allow me to focus on the important things in life, by taking my mind off of one less expense. I don't think it's any big secret that people are struggling lately financially. The latest crisis affected even those who took great care of their assets. Millions of people are looking for some form of financial relief, and an auto repair loan is one way to do that.

Where To Get A Loan

As most of you know, there are many different forms of loans, and this is true with auto repair loans as well. Some people will opt to go with a credit card to finance their car repairs, but as you can imagine, the interest rates are sky high. This makes credit cards an option, but a very expensive option over the course of time.

You might also try getting a personal loan from your bank. This is a good idea if you have a long history with that bank, but these loans are sometimes hard to get. The reason for this is because that type of loan has a very high risk factor, so only those with a stellar credit and payment history will be approved.

Finding an auto repair loan can be difficult at first, but if you stay the course, and continue to research your lenders, I'm sure you'll find the loan that's best for you.

Some Tips to Take Care of Your Car

We all know that car is one of the things we always need in our daily life. It always helps us in everything we do. Car helps us from business to our personal uses. So we should always take good care of it. So that It won't give any problems in the future. Here are some of the tips that all of us must do to take good care of our cars.

1. First of all we should always have to remember to always check our engine, break, fluids, battery, before using our car. We usually ignore these things because of our busy life. And always forget to check out our cars before we leave. I always remember what my father always told me when it comes to car. He said that the engine is one of the important parts of the car. Checking the engine periodically help us see what's going to be a problem and will cost us much in the future. Have a full car engine check up. If you do know something about car engine then you can do it yourself. If you don't. You can hire a car mechanic. If ever try to hire someone who you do trust or someone who have a good reputation when it comes to car engine. Or you can check the car manual for some help. But be careful if you just used the car there are some part of the engine that are still hot so be cautious in checking your car engine. Check the engine oil level you got to see if the oil consumption is rapidly increasing. If so you got to go to a repair shop and have them check it out. Make sure the engine is off when checking the oil level. Then check the Transmission fluid read your manual about how to do this or have someone who is expect do this. Make sure you use the correct transmission fluid for your car. Next is the brake fluid this one is very important cause brake is really needed when driving a car. When the brake pads wear out the brake fluid level will drop slightly. But don't worry this things are normal. If your brake fluid level drops in a short period of time that's the time you got to have your brake check.

Always put brake fluid that are approved in your brakes. And always keep it covered when you don't have to fill it. And always make sure that you maintain a very high boiling point on your brake fluid. So don't expose it to air cause this fluid will absorb moisture and that will lower the boiling point. Another thing is the Power Steering fluid. Check the fluid level and it should not change more than the normal range. You have to check it for leaks too. Then check the coolant. This one is very important because this one will really affect the condition of your car. Coolant is the one who help you when your car is overheating. So you got to check it if there's any leak .Then the battery. Most battery today now offers a maintenance free meaning you can't check the water level. But this doesn't mean that we won't check it out anymore. We got to clean and dry the top of the battery and also check the terminal connection if it's clean and tight. Then next is the windshield washer solvent. These solvents are available in any auto supply store and supermarket. So you won't have any problem. Then we got to check the belts and hoses too. These things are usually done by your mechanic but just in case you have to do it on your own always remember to check it when the car is cold. Check the belt for any sign of crack and tightness.

2. The second important parts of the car are the wheel and the tires. Check the tires pressure. Tire pressures tend to rise as you drive due to heat build-up. So you should check it when they are cold. Use the manufacturers recommended tire pressures for your tires. It is advisable to rotate your tires periodically. The front tire always wear faster that the rear tires. Having an uneven tire thickness will give you uneven braking specially during rainy days. By not doing this you will end up placing two new tires at front and will still find it uneven to the tires on the rear part. Then you got to place the other two rear tires to make it all even and balance. This will cost you a lot. Don't forget to have a wheel aligning and wheel balancing check. Having a wheel that's not aligned will wear your tire easily. If your want to know if your tires are not align. First is to check each tire and look for uneven patterns. Or get a coin and put it in between each tire tread and see if there at the same length .If the tread is deeper on one side than the other that's mean you need to have a wheel alignment. Having a wheel that's not balance will give you hard time in driving with all of the vibration in the seat, steering wheel and floorboard. To know if your wheels are not balance is when one section of the tire is heavier that the other or the car vibrates at a certain speed. You got to call a mechanic to do a wheel balancing for your car. Don't forget to check the wheel lugs too. Check the lock lugs if all are tight and are not heavier than the other.

3. Check all the light of your car from the inside light, headlights to the turn signal lights and brake lights. Don't forget to check the electric wires of your car. Check if the wires are in good condition and have no crack or tear. There is one time I heard on the news about a taxi that just got on fire on the street and it's all because of the faulty electrical wiring. We don't want this to happen to us or to our car. Then check the windshield wiper. See if the blades have cracks or need to replace a new one. And then check if you need to replace the car filters. There are so many car filters that are replaceable. You can check them in your car manual. If you live in a dusty area then you should replace them frequently. Here are some of the filter u needs to check. First is the air filter this filter are use to filter the air going into an engine. You can replace this filter by yourself. Next is the fuel filter this one is found either in the engine compartment or near the gas tank. You got to let an auto mechanic to do this. Then cabin filter this filter are somewhere located under your dash they are the filter that filter the air conditioning system that clean the air before going into the passenger compartment.

4. Schedule a day of car washing. I know for some of us especially to busy people going to the car wash station are a big yes. And I know car wash provide good grooming tools for your car and will really give good clean. They have equipment and tools that will give your car a very nice and shiny clean finish. But it will be better and much cheaper to do it by yourself. Plus you will be sure that you can have the finish you will like because you do it yourself. And it's one of the fun ways to spend a day with your family and love ones. Use cleaning products that are safe for your car. Wash and clean the outer part of your car depending on how frequent you use your car. If you use it every day and always driving in a muddy and dusty road I guess you got to wash it more often. Remove the dry mud and dirt under your car and around your tires. Because they do get dusty too. A good grooming car always gives a good appearance to anyone who sees it. Then after washing don't forget to wipe it dry and check if there are any dirt that are still there. Vacuum the car seat and carpet of the car as often as you use it. Wipe the dashboard of your car because they do get dusty too.

5. Car wax is good to maintain its car paint color and shine. It always makes the car look new and it also protect the car paint from the ultra violet rays of the sun. And it didn't get wet much when it rain. How frequent you car wax your car is depend on the type of wax you use. Some waxes do last longer than the others. When waxing always makes sure the car is totally clean and feels smooth to touch. And be sure to check the entire surface for any waxy residue, check the plates, emblems, around the trim and body seems.

Taking good care of your car will give you good advantage. If you have a good maintenance with your car it will perform well and will use less gas. Plus it won't cost you more in a long run. Don't forget to drive safely and responsibly. Remember we are not the only one who will get hurt if we have an accident while driving. The people who is driving with us and the people who is on the street are all in our hands and our responsibility. So always be responsible and be careful and alert whenever we start our engine and start driving. Always remember that the car is just a machine it is our responsibility to take good care of it. I hope this few tips will help you and will be a reminder for you in maintaining your cars.