Auto Repair Service Chicago - 3 Easy Ways To Know Your Oil

If you need auto repair service, Chicago you should start with knowing your oil. When you drive, the heat from your engine breaks down the oil which is used as a lubricant for the moving parts. When this happens, it becomes less effective and several bad things may start happening.

The purpose of this slippery stuff is not only to lubricate your engine, but also to trap dirt and any other potentially destructive floaters which could cause major damage. But like all good things, your oil's ability to protect and serve will come to an end.

Without the protection of clean lubrication, parts of your engine rub together and begin to wear out. This will not only decrease the lifespan of your car, but it will become very, very costly to repair and replace.

Changing your vehicle's oil is one of the most simple and important things you can do if you want to save money on auto repair service, Chicago. And just to put your mind at rest: this is not expensive.

Most manufacturers recommend you change your oil and filter every 3,000 - 5,000 miles. However, it is always a good idea to consult your owner's manual for more detailed information.

Auto Repair Service Chicago Tip #1 - Do Not Over Fill!

Never overfill your vehicle's engine. If you put too much in, the crankshaft can actually come in contact with it. This is bad. Because the crankshaft is turning at several thousand revolutions per minute, it will cause the stuff to froth.

Having this happen is a lot like the situation created if grandmother made her famous spaghetti sauce by stirring the pot at the speed of sound. The walls and ceiling would get quite a treat, but the family would go hungry.

If you are low on oil, you can add any grade you like, though we advise you to use the grade recommended in your owner's manual. If you regularly run low, be sure to mention it to your auto repair service professional.

Running low frequently could be a leak or you may be buring oil. Both of these can be signs of major problems down the road if you don't get it looked at.

At some point, every engine starts to burn oil. It's best to get into the habit of checking the dipstick from time to time, and you just might avoid having your engine melt down one day.

Auto Repair Service Chicago Tip #2 - Change Oil More Frequently If...

• You have jackrabbit starts, heavy acceleration, or high speed driving


• You live where the climate is extremely hot or cold


• You often drive on dirt roads


• Your engine is old and burns oil


• You frequently carry heavy loads

Auto Repair Service Chicago Tip #3 - Checking Your Oil is Simple

1: With your vehicle parked on a level surface, remove the oil dipstick.

2: Clean it off using a paper towel or old rag, and then reinsert it.

3: Remove it again, and check the oil level.

The dipstick shows the oil level; the MIN marking means your at the minimum operating level and is a quart low. Ideally, it should be right at the full mark. If it's at or below the add mark, that means you are a quart low and should add a quart. If it's between the two marks, you can add part of a quart to bring it up to full.

Auto Mechanic School - Keep Your Customers Coming Back

The economy these days has a lot of demands. The medical field, for example, demands more research on the different possible diseases threatening human health. The field of architecture, in the other hand, demands new innovative designs for a more unique approach on housing.

However, the field of mechanical science is not an exception. This field also has a lot of demands that are not yet met. But the main demand by almost each and every one of the customers is repair.

They always need car mechanics and technicians most especially now that vehicles are part of the daily cycle of human business and even their private lives. Vehicles prove to be an important invention that could be utilized by owners to help them get to their desired destinations as quickly as possible.

Now, there are many damages in many different autos that can be as complicated as they can be. Some auto mechanics and technicians do things to repair them but the fix never last long since they really are not sure what the source of the problem is. This is why an auto mechanic school teaches their students the most common and even the rare problems that the common vehicle may encounter.

Picking the right auto mechanic school is crucial since not all schools offer the same quality of education. Definitely, choosing the best auto mechanic school will give you the boost over many other auto mechanics and technicians. With this, learning the best things about auto repairs will boost your confidence that you, as an auto mechanic, will absolutely satisfy your patrons and loyal customers. Being knowledgeable with vehicles is also the way to gain those loyal customers and patrons.

The good thing about being able to study in a good auto mechanic school is that an employer who owns a well-known auto shop can either hire you, or you could also start your own auto shop and make your way to make it big. You should love vehicles in the first place before entering in an auto mechanic school so that you never get tired of what you are doing.

The world surely has a lot of demands and we don't get to meet all of them right away. Jobs are really important and it's almost like a natural instinct for survival, and the job you do will be your source of living for the years to come.

Whether you start your own auto shop or be hired by an employer, your goal in this field is the same, satisfy your customers so they keep on coming back.

Auto Glass and Windshield Replacement Versus Repair

There are all sorts of events that can damage a car windshield. Some, like a poorly aimed ball from a neighborhood kid or a piece of gravel that hits the glass on a busy road, are fairly innocuous, albeit unfortunate. Others, like vandalism or a fender bender, can often be more serious and dangerous. Whatever the cause or the severity, a damaged windshield is nothing to be trifled with. When it comes to broken, chipped, or cracked automotive glass, it's important to get a professional on the job so that he or she can determine the appropriate course of action and complete a windshield replacement or repair as needed. That way, you can get back on the road with confidence as soon as possible.

Incurring damage to your windshield is unfortunate, but the good news is that a total replacement job isn't always necessary. Auto glass professionals can often perform windshield repairs, especially if the damage to your glass is small and contained. This type of repair works best for small chips or cracks to the glass. To complete the repair, an auto glass professional will clean the area so that the surface is prepped and ready, then apply an epoxy resin that will fill in the chip or crack in question. This resin creates a bond between the parts that were broken as well as filling in any gaps. When it sets and dries, though, this material is clear and smooth, and so becomes an almost invisible part of the whole glass's surface. It's extremely important to call an auto glass repair expert and get this type of repair done if you have any damage to your windshield. You need to fix even the smallest nicks as soon as possible so that they don't have a chance to expand and get worse, possibly requiring total windshield replacement.

Getting a full replacement windshield is obviously a different procedure from getting your windshield repaired. If the damage to your windshield is either too severe or is in a location where a repair won't be a viable long-term solution, your auto glass pro will wholly replace your existing glass with a new piece. This can feel like a daunting prospect, especially in terms of cost, and it might be tempting to simply live with the damage to your windshield if it's still mostly intact. However, this is a poor course of action for many reasons. First of all, a damaged windshield makes your car exponentially more vulnerable to both the elements and to vandalism and other crime. Secondly, damaged windshield glass can impede your visibility and creates risk for further damage to your car and injury to vehicle occupants if you were to get into an accident. With modern techniques and tools, replacing your windshield glass does not have to be a huge ordeal. Your local auto glass expert can remove the old glass and install the new in a very short time. Before work starts, make sure that the replacement glass is the correct type. Most reputable auto glass pros will offer OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) glass that will exactly match the make and model of your car. Once the replacement is complete, you'll be ready to get back on the road behind the wheel of a safe and secure vehicle.

If you have a damaged windshield, call your local auto glass professional as soon as possible so that you can get the appropriate type of work done. These experts can perform windshield replacements or repairs quickly and efficiently so that you can once again have a fully functioning vehicle.

Auto Dent Repair - An Affordable Solution

Traditional auto body repair always meant that you were going to be paying for much more than just fixing the dent. You would also pay for a lot of labor hours that are spent physically pounding out the dent as well as the cost of repainting it. Even worse, the end result often wasn't very satisfying on the eyes or the wallet.

With the growing popularity of paintless dent repair, you can receive all of benefits of traditional auto body repair without the serious drawbacks. It will take much less time, often less than hour and is much less expensive.

If you were to walk into an auto dent repair garage that specializes in paintless dent repair, you will immediately see the proof for yourself. Many of them have before and after pictures to give you an idea of what they can do for you.

Paintless auto dent repair also offers a very high success rate when compared to traditional patch jobs. It is important to choose someone who has been trained in paintless dent repair because it requires specially fabricated tools and techniques that would prove very difficult for someone who is learning-by-doing.

In fact, this process is so effective, it is often the recommended treatment by car dealers and insurance companies. However, it is important to keep in mind that paintless auto dent repair cannot fix every dent, although it fixes most.

Paintless dent repair can fix almost every size of dent, however this is not a good choice if the paint has been scratched or broken, because it will not fix the paint. It is perfect for panels that have not had any previous work and is commonly used on vehicles that have been made from 1990 to current.

It is a less expensive option that can be completed by a specialist in a fraction of the time than traditional auto body repair.

Do You Have a Broken Glass Sculpture, Vase Or Bowl?

Searching For An Experienced Glass Restoration and Repair Expert? Find The Right Restoration And Repair Service And Breathe Life Into That Broken Object.

Do you have a sculpture, bowl, stemware, or other piece of glassware that has become damaged? If so, you may be surprised to learn that you don't have to toss your glass object away. You can have it repaired, and often times for less than the cost of replacing it.

With the help of an experienced glass repair or restoration expert, it is possible to restore most pieces to their original beauty. Not only will this allow you to continue to enjoy pieces that may be important to you or hold special meaning, it can also save you money on replacement costs. You might be surprised at how much today's replacement cost might be!

Although there can be times when replacing an item is far less expensive than hiring a professional glass repair or restoration service to repair them, costs to repair prized or valuable objects are typically less than replacement costs.

Perhaps your glassware is not actually broken or chipped, but just cloudy? A restoration expert can help clear up cloudy glass that develops over time. You can enjoy crystal clear glass once again. This means your antique pieces and family heirlooms can once again be as beautiful as the day they were first purchased.

Although some repair services choose to specialize in repairing only certain types of items, many will work on virtually anything made of glass...

•Vases
•Bowls
•Stemware
•Dishes
•Sculptures
•Figurines
•Trophies
•Chandeliers

Some restoration and repair providers also service top-of-the-line name-brand glass items. In this case, original replacement parts are essential, such as stems for stemware, in order to make the necessary repairs.

Before you hire a repair and restoration provider, it is in your best interest to ensure the provider has worked with similar items previously. You want to be sure the provider has the knowledge, skills, equipment and experience necessary to repair your item so it looks as good as new. A quality repair by an experienced professional can also help ensure the resulting quality and integrity of the piece is solid and long-lasting, further validating the restoration cost.

It is possible to repair that valued glass object, often times for less than the full replacement cost. An experienced repair or restoration expert can deliver the results you are looking for.

Auto Body Shops - Few Tips For Dealing With Them

It happens to all of us at one point in time. We get into an automobile collision. Hopefully, it is not too bad and we are not seriously injured. But usually the car does not fare as well and comes away with significant damage.

What is the next step? Likely, after informing the insurance company you take your vehicle to one of their "approved" vendors.

Here is what happens next. You tell the insurance company what company you choose. By this time they have already taken phones of the car and know how extensive the damage is. They have a computer system that gives them a printed estimate stating what the replacement parts and labor will be based upon a set hourly rate.

This statement is given to the body shop. It comes with a break down of what the labor and parts "should" be and the company has to usually be able to totally fix the car for that price. Keep in mind that what is printed out represents the best case scenario and doesn't allow for items on the car that was missed or problems that come up.

Now here are some things to watch out for. Local body shops are operating under very, very thin margins and the incentive to "cut corners" is huge. Getting an extra $300 off a job can really add up over the course of the month when you are talking about doing at least 3-5 vehicles every week.

Replacement Parts

Make sure the parts being used on your car are OEM parts. These are replacement auto body parts are sent directly from the car manufacturers and are designed with the same specs as the vehicle came with. Aftermarket parts can be significantly cheaper yet are not the same quality and make not hold up the same in the event of another accident.

No Realignment

The frame is usually somewhat bent when a car goes through an accident of any kind. It needs to be properly realigned. Unfortunately, because the money made off one car can be very little the propensity to skip this step is very high. Later down the road this will cause your car to not drive straight but at a tilt and your tires will wear prematurely.

Using Bondo (Fillers) Instead of Replacing the Part

Filling any damage in with bondo is not bad in itself. If you know what they are doing, they tell you, and this is what you are paying for then it is fine. The problem comes in when you think you are getting a vehicle back that is 99.9% the same as before it was wrecked and it is not. Filling a damaged part in with filler rather than replacing the expensive part is a common tactic and you want to make sure it is not done on your vehicle. All damaged parts should be replaced unless you are paying a lower price for the car to just be fixed (in the case you want the cheapest price and do not care about having a car exactly the same as before).

Keep in mind that most auto body repair shops are honest and are surviving in a tough industry. The insurance companies nickel and dime them at every turn and they are made to give them at time ridiculous discounts to get any business. Nevertheless, corners should not be cut at your expense and being watchful is just a smart way to go.

Cracked Bumper? Fix It the Smart Way

A cracked bumper is one of the most common car body repairs carried out by smart (Small to Medium Area Repair Techniques) repair operatives. Bumpers are designed to handle low impact collisions such as being hit by a shopping trolley, low speed scraping collisions with other vehicles and car park barriers and other minor impacts. Often this kind of accident results in dents, scuffs and scrapes which can be repaired quickly and easily by a mobile car body repair technician with some car body filler, primer, paint and lacquer. Sometimes however, a crack will appear and split the bumper and this has to be dealt with differently.

If a cracked bumper is not repaired or the repair is carried out with normal filler, the structural integrity of the bumper is compromised. It is essential that the bumper crack is treated and rejoined with a hard yet flexible resin. There is a specific technique used to accomplish this which should be carried out every time.

Usually the crack does not look severe, it often has the appearance of a hairline crack and it is tempting to run a little filler over it and treat that as repaired. The result of this is that the next time the bumper is put under any pressure at all, the crack will reappear and often widen. The crack must be widened, effectively worsening the damage, initially so that there is enough of a gap for the resin to fit in. A hole is drilled at each end of the crack, half on and half off the very end. This permanently stops the crack from running again. Next, a v-shaped groove must be made right down the centre of the crack, wide enough for the drill bit to make a hole without going off the edge of the crack.

A series of holes, one on each side of the crack every inch or so along the whole length of the crack need to be drilled. A strip of mesh is then placed on the inside of the bumper all along the damage - this will hold the resin in place while it hardens and can be left there afterwards. A mix of resin and hardener, specifically formulated for bumper repairs such as this, is then injected into each of the holes that have been drilled. The mesh backing provides the purchase needed to prevent the resin going straight through. The aim here is to effectively "stitch" the repair together.

After applying the resin, a body filler spreader (or ideally specialist contouring film) is used to smooth the repair on the top side of the bumper to minimise the sanding that will be required later. Care must be taken as the bumper resin can melt if sanded too vigorously. After the resin has fully hardened the bumper is structurally sound again and can be sanded, filled, primed, painted and lacquered as normal. Result - a perfect bumper repair

The Ins and Outs of Attending an Auto Mechanic School

If you're looking to receive training as a car mechanic, the best way of learning the trade fast is by attending an auto mechanic school and signing up for the programs being offered. While landing a job at an automobile shop or getting an apprenticeship can always work, you'll most likely have to wait at the bottom of the "food chain" for you to learn more complex techniques and lessons. There's also the problem of your mentors not knowing as much as you thought they did.

While enrolling in an auto mechanic school can cost some money, you can rest assured that you're getting the best education to be successful in the trade. The United States boasts of having a multitude of mechanic schools in the country, with almost each state offering quality programs you can't go wrong with.

Whether it's a course that tackles diesel engines, automobile bodies, motorcycles, marine or aviation, most schools-especially the best ones-will offer these programs to interested individuals, helping them build their profession from scratch.

To ensure that you get quality education, reputable auto mechanic schools will have a roster of professional instructors who can teach you not just the fundamentals of automobile repair and maintenance, but also how to use the latest technology and equipment of the trade.

But like all good things, attending an auto mechanic school comes with a price. Tuition is not cheap, and even if you somehow qualify for financial aid, you'll most likely have to pay a hefty sum of money to sign up for a program. But then again, this is a worthwhile investment for a better future.

By graduating from a good auto mechanic training centre, you're putting yourself in a position where employers are more likely to consider you for employment positions they might have. And if you persevered and stayed focused on learning all you can throughout the course of the program, your chances of being a successful mechanic are even higher.

Motorcycle Pinstriping - Make Your Motorcycle Stand Out

Motorcycle pinstriping is a great way to add a creative touch to your motorcycle. These pinstripe designs can be created to follow any theme and to make you bike look amazing. Pinstriping is a series of painted designs added to you motorcycle to make it unique. Pinstriping can be applied at a body shop or may be done at your own home.

Motorcycle pinstriping has been around for many years and has continued to gain popularity among motorcycle owners. Beginning in the 1950s, the popularity of vehicle pinstriping began to grow. Later individuals began to add these creative designs to their motorcycles as well. For those who enjoy showcasing, pinstriping your motorcycle is an important part of the appearance of the motorcycle which can help the bike stand out from the crowd.

When choosing a pinstripe design for your motorcycle, it is important to think of what interests you. You may either purchase a template or stencil that has the design pre-made, or you may choose to design the pinstripe freehand. Each motorcycle pinstripe is distinct and unique designs can be seen on motorcycles around the world.

The application process of the paint may be done by using a kit or at an auto body shop. Kits are available containing stencils that give you a consistent outline for the pinstripe design. These stencils are applied onto your motorcycle by using a pinstriping brush and paint. Motorcycle pinstriping is most commonly done at an auto shop where pinstripers apply the design using freehand to give a more professional look.

Another helpful method of pinstriping is the use of a pinstriping tool. By using this tool, motorcycle pinstriping can be applied more thoroughly as this tool is sure to paint the edges of the motorcycle. Also, you can easily paint a single straight line or a set of parallel lines. Whichever method is used, pinstriping should be carefully applied to add a custom touch to your cycle.

Motorcycle pinstriping comes with many great benefits. You, as the designer, are able to decide what type of pinstripe you would like and also get to choose the colors that will appear. Pinstriping your motorcycle is a great way to customize your bike and show your style through the intricate artwork. Although pinstriping can result in amazing results, you must be sure that the application of the design is carefully applied to ensure that the artwork is neat and organized. By taking an interest in motorcycle pinstriping you will soon begin to gain an appreciation for each individual design.

Car Repair Prices: Further Evidence that 98% of ALL Repair Shops are Abusing Industry Guidelines

According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is estimated that automotive service consumers are scammed tens of billions of dollars every year. Repair shops--dealerships, local shops, and franchises--are repeatedly at the top of consumer complaint lists every year. Multiple undercover investigations have caught repair centers red-handed ripping people off. Government agencies across the nation warn against service center repair scams. Consumer advocate groups constantly provide tips and suggestions to avoid getting ripped-off. Service industry insiders continually step forward to expose service industry abuses. Study after study reveals that service centers are manipulating industry guidelines. There's a real problem! Yet, there are still skeptics.

The above comments are sweeping strikes against an industry so vital to the community. Yet even these known facts don't take into account the unknown. Ripping people off in the automotive service industry is so ingrained in the business design and culture it's considered normal. In other words, before one even begins to uncover excessive charges, this self-regulating industry hasn't just stacked the deck, it has built and entire house of cards.

The bulk of auto repair scams go unnoticed (in spite of the tens of billions already recognized scammed from service clients yearly). Few understand the service industry's pricing guidelines and accountability structures, much less its scams and tactics. Service customers have no idea if they were charged fairly or not. Most customers leave actually thanking their service representative when they should be questioning the bill!

Service centers are quick to protest, shouting, "We're honest and fair." Yet, when questioned on their billing practices they don't know, follow, or even understand established guidelines.

If they don't know the rules, then how are they playing the game? The answer is simple: they make the rules up based on loose interpretations of industry guidelines. Loose interpretations allow for a plethora of pricing abuses. Is it any wonder every state has warnings about car repair scams--including Alaska!

In the process of developing a solution to end price-gouging, RepairTrust has stated that 98% of ALL repair shops are ripping people off in one form or another. During these studies, estimations actually pointed to 100% of service centers price-gouging. However, we allowed for a margin of error and reduced this to 98%.

In light of the ever-increasing evidence of repair scams and pricing abuses, RepairTrust may reconsider the margin of error!

How to Buy Car Tires

In order to be able to buy car tires one must familiarize themselves with some basic information about tires, and how to choose the proper tires for your car. Although many tire shops can give you proper advice on tires and which will be best for you, it is still important for you yourself to know about tires, in order to save time, to go in knowing what you want, and to avoid getting lied to when you do buy the tires.

Basics of How to Buy Car Tires

One of the first things to distinguish different tires is their size, and type. The dimensions of tires are usually written on the sidewall of every automobiles tire. An example of this code will be "P225/60/16 95H M+S." One of the most important things in replacing tires is finding the correct size to buy. The tire size is indicated by the3 sets of numbers indicating its width, aspect ratio of sidewall compared to width, and diameter of the rim.

Type, Speed Rating and Load Index of Car Tires

The type of tire is indicated sometimes by either a P or LT meaning passenger (P) or a light-truck (LT) tire. The next set of alphanumeric code (e.g 95H) is the load rating and speed rating. These numbers and letters indicate the tires ability to dissipate heat at high speeds, and the load carrying capacity. The final set of number indicates the purpose of tire. For example M+S is all season tires. These basics are very important to know when buying car tires.

In order to get the best performance and fuel economy is recommended to use the manufacturers recommended tire size and dimensions. The manufacturer of your vehicle will usually have this number on a sticker in your inside panel of the driver door or the gas tank door.

Buy Car Tires Based on Treadwear

To determine the wear and tear time you should look for the tires UTQG or Uniform tire Quality Grading. This will tell you the tread wear, the temperature resistance, and traction of the tire. The UTQG rating of wear and tear is a numerical rating system and an alphabetical grading system like A to C is for temperature, and AA to C is for traction.

You Can Buy Car Tires that are Technologically Advanced

Many manufacturers have technologically advanced tires that make your driving experience more comfortable, and slightly safer, consider these when you buy car tires for more of an edge to your driving experience. One of the most popular types of technologically advanced tires is run-flat tires. Run-flat tires are designed tough to withstand punctures, and flattening out when a nail or tear affects it. These tires have a tough sidewall and it keeps it from deflecting. Some run flats have different ranges you can drive on them while flat; one of the best systems is the PAX system which can take you up to 125 miles at 55mph.

Read Reviews Before You Buy Car Tires

Before you purchase any car tires, you should look up the brand and model, including all the extra technology that it comes with and read reviews about it. Personal experience can really give you better understanding about what others think about this, and also professional reviews can sometimes be better than any of the research and studying you can do on your own.

Take Safety Precautions When Repairing Your Automobile

Every year, thousands of ordinary citizens are hurt--some seriously--because they failed to follow established safety procedures when repairing cars or light trucks. Their injuries all come under the "preventable" heading. Safety precautions include the following:

1. Always place a sturdy jack stand under the frame of a car that you have raised using a bumper jack or a scissors jack. The jacks cannot be trusted, and the vehicle may fall unexpectedly, and with no warning.

2. Once you have a jack stand in place, block the opposite (and diagonal) wheel to prevent the car from rolling. That is, if you are changing the right-front tire, place blocks (sometimes called chocks) on both sides of the left-rear tire. The blocks that I prefer are pieces of 4x4 posts, about one foot long each.

3. Use only quality tools, even on the simplest of repairs. Cheap tools will fail, crack or slip on the nut or bolt you are attempting to turn. Auto-repair shops and larger hardware stores carry tools that have a lifetime guarantee. Cheap tools lack such a guarantee. Additionally, if you are using sockets that attach to ratcheting wrenches, use 6-point sockets rather than 12-point sockets for a better grip on the nuts and bolts.

4. Don't wear jewelry of any kind when working on a motor vehicle. Set aside rings, watches, necklaces, etc., before attempting any repairs. Gold rings are especially dangerous because they conduct electricity. If your ring finger ever gets between the positive post on the battery and any other metal part on the vehicle, 400 amperes of current will flow through the ring, causing serious damage to your fingers and hand. Metal watch bands can also cause harmful short circuits.

5. Choose your work clothes carefully. Never lean over a running engine if you are wearing a necktie, for it takes just an instant for a moving belt or pulley to catch on the tie and yank you into the engine area. Also, do not wear shirts with shirttails hanging out for the same reason. Always button your cuffs if you are wearing a long-sleeve shirt.

6. If doing electrical work of any kind, always disconnect the negative battery cable from its post to prevent accidental short circuits. Additionally, if you must remove the battery for any reason, always disconnect the negative cable before you disconnect the positive cable. Reason: If you use a metal wrench on a positive cable connection (negative cable still attached), and the wrench inadvertently comes in contact with any other metal part in the engine area, you will have an immediate short circuit. You do not run that risk if you disconnect the negative cable first.

7. Wear clear protective glasses if you are using power or impact tools on a motor vehicle. That is the only way to protect your eyes from chips of metal or other foreign objects that a power drill or an impact wrench may cause.

8. Finally, think what you are doing at all times. Know what the next step must be. Remember, a motor vehicle is nothing but a big, dumb machine that is never to be trusted. If something can go wrong, it probably will go wrong. Stay safe.

The author is an ASE-certified automotive repair technician.

Automotive Spray Paint Guns

Automotive spray paint guns can be used for many different things such as painting a wall or your house, but mostly they are used in the automotive industry for car painting.

Automotive spray paint guns can cost as little as 100 dollars, but professional spray paint guns may cost more than 500 dollars, so before you buy it make sure for what kind of purposes you plan to use it. If you might want use it just once, for repainting your car, than better solution would be to go in an auto body shop and let the professionals to do the job. In that case you would spend (if you are looking for ordinary paint job) almost the same amount of money as the average cost of paint job is about from 300 to 500 dollars and you won't lose your time with painting on your own. But in the opposite case, when you plan to do multiple car paint jobs and maybe planning to become a professional amateur painter or even more, than you really should buy a spray gun as it is one of the most important tools for car painting.

For automotive painting beginners perfect gun is high volume, low pressure spray gun, called HVLP in short. It is efficient, less dangerous to your health and less dangerous for the environment in the comparison to others. Next, you will have to choose between siphon-feed and gravity-feed. Siphon-feed spray guns store their paint supply beneath the nozzle while gravity-feed spray guns do just the opposite as they store their paint supply above the nozzle. Gravity feed airbrushes have some advantages over the siphon feed airbrushes as they spray smoother, primarily because they don't rely on air pressure to get paint to the needle. They use almost all the paint, because there is never any left in the bottom of the container and in the end the design makes it easier for us to maneuver in tight places.

When you are choosing a spray gun another important step to do is to choose the tip size. Tips range from about 1.3 mm to 2.0 mm. The larger the tip, the heavier the paint it is designed for. If you are on a budget, you will probably go for a spray gun with a single tip. Then you will have to choose a thing called an air compressor. Take one that meets the requirements of your spray gun. Obviously, you will need to factor in air compressor specs when you are choosing your spray gun. Spray guns are rated by cubic feet per minute (CFM) at a given psi. Choose a gun that does not demand excessive CFM or psi, so you won't have to buy a world-class air compressor just to keep up with it.

This is the majority of things that you have to know when you are choosing a spraying technology for car painting.

Auto Repair Shops For Luxury Cars

In today's day and age, new cars are very complicated. Most everything on your luxury automobile is ran electronically, and things can get very confusing when something on your car decides to break. It is best to seek out someone who specializes in high end cars to look into what is wrong with your car, to ensure you are getting the problem fixed properly. Gone are the days of the backyard garage, or working on your car yourself. The complications of the new luxury cars of today need a certified, trained professional to properly maintain and fix them.

Having your luxury car fixed can also be very costly and some shops that don't have extensive knowledge when it comes to problems that may arise. You also really want to get your car fixed right. It would make no sense to go get your car improperly fixed, just to have it break again a month later. You should be very careful when it comes to car repair, and really research out auto repair shops to ensure they are reputable, and priced fairly. It is very easy to get ripped off from inexperienced auto repair shops, and the quality of work is just not up to par for your luxury car needs.

With all the new technology and features coming out in cars today, it is amazing that anyone knows how to fix them. People go to school and learn everything there is to know about your specific model car, and take pride in knowing that. Having a certified mechanic for your certain luxury make can make a world of difference when it comes to finding out a problem, and of course fixing the problem that is found.

Insights Into EV And Hybrid Repair

Without doubt the Toyota Prius is the most successful hybrid car at the moment, and with millions now on the road, auto body repair shops can only ignore Prius and other electric car repair at their peril. All established car manufacturers, European, American and Japanese alike, now have hybrid or electric vehicles included in their product lines. It doesn't take a master technician to realize that these vehicles have new technologies in them that auto body repair and service shops need to study in order to effect proper repair.

As befits their core technology, shops need to learn about the electrical systems of the hybrids and EVs for proper electric car repair. With electric and hybrid cars, two different electrical systems exist. One is the traditional 12-volt system which powers the lights and other electrical accessories of the car. The other is a high voltage system that has the potential of electrocuting any worker who is ignorant of how to discharge or disconnect the system in order for it to be worked on. Mechanics and auto body repair technicians need to know how to properly prepare these vehicles before beginning any work for their own safety and the safety of the work environment.

Apart from the knowledge needed about an electric vehicle's electrical system, auto body repair shops need to be also updated with regard to the steels currently being used by automobile manufacturers not only for their hybrid cars but also for the fossil-fueled counterparts. The Toyota Prius, for example, was designed with the most up-to-date crash and safety standards in mind. Using high strength steel to manufacture certain safety-critical structural features, the Prius passes offset deformable barrier tests as well as dynamic side impact tests with flying colors. Other tests it has undergone and passed include full-frontal collision, rollover and rear moving barrier. In order to pass all these tests, Toyota has designed into the Prius a high integrity passenger cell with deformable and energy-absorbing crash structures front and rear.

As with other makes and vehicles on the market, this use of high-strength and alloyed steels has, simply put, made the job of auto body repair shops harder with regard to electric car repair. But for forward-thinking managers, these new technologies represent an opportunity to gain an edge over the competition. Becoming known as a shop that is second to none in repairing vehicles with the newest technologies opens up new avenues for marketing their services.

Auto Repair Estimates and Car Repair Prices - The Real Information to Avoid Car Repair Scams

Worrying whether or not you were overcharged for your car repair is an awful feeling. There's tons of advice on how to avoid getting ripped-off, but few discuss the actual car repair prices. We really need to look at the charges on a car repair estimate or auto repair invoice to determine if we're paying too much.

The focus needs to shift from giving outdated and ineffective advice to addressing the specific charges. Are they legitimate charges? Can they be justified by industry guidelines?

Now car repair estimates can be confusing. So let's break it down to get a better idea if your auto repair shop is billing you appropriately.

First, a glossary of terms is in order, as the auto industry has a language of its own...

Aftermarket Parts: parts not made by or for the manufacturer.

MSRP: Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer. Manufacturer approved parts designed specifically for your vehicle.

TSBs: Technical Service Bulletins. Notes and instructions provided by the manufacturer for known and specific concerns (they are not recalls).

Flat Fees: services such as alignments that don't get broken down into parts, tax, labor

Miscellaneous Charges: these can include, but are not limited to shop supplies - rags, chemicals, hazardous waste disposal fees, waste oil ...etc.

Labor Rate: a repair center's hourly charge to service your vehicle

Labor Time: the amount of time or hours determined that it will take to fix your vehicle

Labor Description: the step-by-step written details of repairs and/or services

Ok, let's look at the Anatomy of an Auto Repair Estimate:

There are six basic components to a car repair estimate

1) Customer/Vehicle Information

2) Parts

3) Labor

4) Miscellaneous Charges

5) Flat Fees

6) Summary of Charges

Customer and Vehicle Information
Using a generic "top down" style estimate, the top portion simply contains your personal information and your vehicle's specifics: year, make, model, mileage...etc, as well as your request or concern.

We also want find the shop's labor rate. The labor rate is critical in determining if you paid too much. Most repair centers don't list the labor rate. We'll discuss why shortly.

Auto Parts
Parts are listed usually with a brief description, as well as the quantity, and the price. There are three types of parts: OEM (parts made by or for a manufacturer). These are the parts installed by a dealer, although many local shops use OEM parts too.

Aftermarket parts are non OEM parts, and there are various degrees of quality, depending on the brand and where they're made - China versus USA, for example.

Then there are Used parts purchased from a salvage yard.

To determine if you paid too much for parts, first find out what type of parts are being used. With OEM parts, you don't want to pay more than MSRP, although most people do without realizing it. Premium aftermarket parts are similarly priced across brands, although beware not to pay more than MSRP, which again, many folks do. Used parts prices are all over the place, so pick the price in the middle.

Auto Repair Labor

Labor is billed in tenths. So 1.0 equals 1 hour. 1.5 equals an hour and a half.
Labor rates range from $60 to $100 per hour at local repair shops and $80 to $140 per hour at the dealer level. Labor times are based off established industry guidelines, which are frequently abused.

If you don't see the shop's labor rate posted on the car repair invoice, ask your service center for the rate. Repair shops can manipulate the labor rate (among other things) with a labor matrix. Matrix pricing is a complicated and ethically questionable practice discussed at length in RepairTrust literature. What you need to know is that you can pay as high as $150 per hour rather than the posted labor rate of $105 per hour.

Thus, you'll want to multiply the number of hours billed (which is also often not posted) by the shop's labor rate to determine if you've been charged accordingly.

Most labor descriptions are poorly written and difficult to understand. So ask questions.

Here's a "clear" labor description for a 30,000 mile service on a Toyota Camry.

Performed 30,000 mile service per customer request, and in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. Changed oil and filter, installed new air filter, cabin filter and performed all necessary tests, checks, and procedures, including road test (miles 30,123 - 30,125). Performed lubrication services and confirmed proper vehicle operation. Set tire pressures, and checked fluids, belts and hoses. Note: vehicle is pulling slightly left. Needs alignment

Miscellaneous Charges

The bulk of your car repair invoice will be parts and labor, but we can't forget about Miscellaneous Charges. These charges can include, but are not limited to, shop supplies - rags, chemicals, hazardous waste, disposal fees, waste oil ...etc. The latter of these may be billed out separately in a summary at the bottom of your repair invoice.

Very few of these "extras" are actually used during regular repairs. Miscellaneous charges are calculated off the amount of labor hours billed, not the amount of miscellaneous items used.

Flat Fees

Flat fees can be another very tricky area. Flat fees are services, such as an alignment, which don't get broken down into parts, tax and labor. This makes it difficult to determine the real and fair price. On the plus side, most flat fees are competitively priced.

Be warned however, another term for Flat Fee is called Menu Selling. In other words, you might see Tune Up: $99.99 or Transmission Flush: $89.99. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations only, not a dealer's or repair shop's menu.

For an interesting read on this topic, click
car maintenance costs

Summary of Charges

The last part of an auto repair estimate is the summary of charges. It's usually found in the bottom right hand corner of the invoice. Check it against the charges above to ensure that it all adds up mathematically, as well as logically.

This basic estimate outline may differ from your particular invoice, which may have other categories such as "Sublet" or "HazMat."

A sublet charge is added when your auto repair shop uses another vender to fix or repair your car, such as a glass company that replaces your windshield.

A HazMat charge may include waste oil or other disposal fees. Just make sure that the charges are warranted, as again, they too are often calculated off the labor time rather than actual need.

In sum, understanding the "actual" charges, asking the right questions, and breaking down your auto repair costs is the best way to avoid paying excessive car repair prices.

Auto Body Repair: Services To Improve Your Vehicle Performance

Auto repair service is something that you cannot avoid if you are a vehicle owner. The need for these services comes along with the vehicle, which you cannot run away from at any cost. Over the time, vehicles start facing problems in running or face any damage, which is something you need to take care of, if you expect smooth performance from your vehicle on the road. Your vehicle can be a part of any road accident that can leave cracks, bumps and scratches on the body of your vehicle and make its condition worse than ever before. It is something that no one can predict. Your vehicle can have a minor damages that only affect its looks or a major damages that can affect its overall body and structure.

When struck in any such condition, it is very important to take your vehicle to a reliable auto body repair center located nearby your place and avail custom auto body repair services. This way, you can keep alive the looks and integrity of your vehicle. Remember that having your own car is yet considered as a status symbol in society. If you are a vehicle owner, then understanding the importance of auto body repair services and how it can help in improving your vehicle overall performance and looks is something you must learn. Giving your automobile a regular repair service can no doubt help in enhancing its performance and also increases its long serving life.

You can save your hard earn money and valuable time by offering a fast and quality auto body repair services for your vehicle. Such service provider holds expertise in their respective domain and drive hard to give the best auto repair services for your automobile. They make sure to return your automobile in safe and smooth running condition by replacing all the damaged parts with the new one. Your's and your vehicle safety is their prime concern. Keeping their concern in the forefront, they ensure reliability of your automobile through their excellent auto body and parts repair services.

There are several reasons that can cause damage to your vehicle's body. Road accidents are the most common reasons that can affect your automobile integrity as well as looks. So, you need to be careful while driving on the road and keep taking your vehicle to a dependable auto body repair center on a regular interval to ensure its fast speed and smooth performance. Give your vehicle the best auto repair services that include body painting, dent repairing, towing scheduling, restoring original looks and many others. In addition, it also includes some advance services like frame repair, body repair, hail damage repairs, bumper repair, etc. All these services can give new life to your vehicle for sure.

A Perfect Blend of Good Customer Service, Trust and Faith - Auto Body Garage

The contemporary times have various avenues for those who are interested in buying fancy cars which are designed to work on the principles of technology, speed and sense of freedom thus alluring the most of the younger generation. The youngsters always like speed and style and the automobile engineers very well understand and exploit this fact formulating new and faster vehicles which are just bewitching in appearance and are sure to impact the minds of the observer. The automobile industry has become more consumer specific and targets on making vehicles which not only suits the pocket but also proves to be a good investment in terms of comfort and luxury for the client. Since these vehicles are more technology equipped they would also need good servicing from time to time and in case of any damage a well quipped auto body garage.

It is comparatively easy to decide and buy a vehicle according to your fancy and the budget but it is equally imperative to choose a good auto shop in case of Auto accident repair so that your car remains in the best of the condition without any serious damage. There are various points that you need to keep in mind while choosing the perfect auto shop because it is not just about handing down your car and money to them it is about handing down your memories and aspirations attached to that vehicle when you first bought it to your house. The Auto shop should be the best in the Automobile body work and provide quality service making sure that the repair is of international standard and redeems the vehicle form all its problems at once thereby saving the customers money and precious time. The well certified technicians at the auto shop should not leave any scope for any kind of mishap or untoward incident and preserve the vehicle with its true essence and charm.

Any vehicle in a kind investment on the part of the consumer who might be investing all his life savings in buying that car and therefore it is imperative that he finds a good auto shop to take care it. Between the customer and auto body shop the relationship is more of trust and faith and needs to be carefully dealt with from both the sides. A customer may not be aware of the technicalities but then still he trusts the judgment and experience of the technician and therefore it is the moral duty of the auto body shop to live up to that faith and trust.

Finding the Right European Auto Mechanic in Your Area

When owners of a foreign automobile needs auto repairs, it is different for than repairs for American vehicles. A quality repair shop for a Mini Cooper won't be found on every corner so it is necessary to shop around. This goes for those that are restoring their Mercedes as well as general maintenance.

Foreign cars are one of the most popular cars in America because they have proven to be well-made as well as elegant and sporty. Such as the Mini Cooper which is gaining popularity all across America. Others popular cars are the Audi, BMW and Mercedes. When it comes to choosing a European car, there are many factors that a consumer should consider.

Many cars from overseas are known for their gas mileage the world over and their performance with road handling such as staying level going around corners. The Mercedes are known for great reliability, however, prior to purchasing one, a prospective owner would be wise to seek out a reputable European auto repair shop. While these and the Mini Cooper are known to be good, long lasting cars, it's best to be prepared in case of a break down.

There are some models of all European cars that have a reputation of breaking down more often and the costs of repairs can be exceedingly high. A good rule of thumb when considering the purchase of a European car is the more costly the automobile, the more costly the repairs are likely to be. When looking at buying a foreign car have a reputable auto repair shop check the vehicle over to make certain of the condition.

European auto manufacturers have stricter standards in regards to emissions than cars manufactured in the United States. As such, they are considered to be friendlier for the environment as well as better on gas mileage. Cars such as Volvo and Mercedes are two of the best European vehicles when it comes to better emissions and gas mileage.

Even if you find the best Auto Repair shop in your area, it is reassuring to know that they have a strong history of reliability. European cars such as the Mini Cooper are usually known for low maintenance and little fuss. They have quick start and quick stopping power, keeping the passengers comfortable and safe. European cars are known for handling well on the ice and in the snow too.

European cars such as the Mercedes Benz are also well known for the safety features they have. With many features built in as standard equipment where American cars they are upgrades at additional costs. In addition to airbags and shatter proof windshields, European cars are made from stronger metals and have stronger, tougher bumpers. When shopping for such cars, you should check through all the safety features before deciding which one to purchase.

As with any car purchase, European cars depreciate as well, just not as quickly. Some models of the Mercedes will hold their value longer than others. By purchasing a one of these cars, they may cost more, but one that holds it value higher and longer, it is almost like putting money in the bank.

Pros and Cons of Run Flat Tyres

These days we are all looking to save money in whatever we do and nothing is truer than when it comes to looking after your motor vehicle. Regular car servicing is the only sure-fire way we know to keep our vehicles in good shape because it means reliability and reduced costs for expensive problems which can emerge if the vehicle is not properly maintained.

One of the more recent innovations from some prestige car manufacturers has been the installation of run flat tyres on some model vehicles. Basically, a run flat tyre gives the owner the flexibility of driving after the tyre has been punctured without any effect on driving capacity and affording you sufficient time to visit the service station to have repairs completed.

The trouble is, experiences with the tyres can tell a far different story and here we are going to look at the pros and cons of using run flat tyres.

First of all the pros.

• If you are driving your vehicle at high speed on the freeway and suffer a blowout it can be an extremely dangerous situation. But if you have run flat tyres fitted the vehicle will maintain its stands and you will be able to drive safely for at least 100 km or more to a service station where you can have the tyre repaired.


• Having a run flat tyre eliminates the need for carrying spares and this not only decreases costs when it comes to tyre replacement but also gives you more room for luggage etc.


• Technology is improving all the time and subsequent purchases of run flat tyres may mean extra savings as the driving distance and longevity improves.

Now, the cons. Driver experience has exposed many weaknesses when it comes to run flat tyres here are a few.

• Many drivers have found that after suffering a blowout and travelling 50 or so kilometres to a service station, they are faced with the possibility of having to replace the entire tyre as repairs are difficult to effect.


• Driving on a run flat tyre for about 100 km, as recommended by the manufacturers, may result in damage to the wheel rim meaning the wheel has to be replaced as well as the tyre. This makes the tyre excessively expensive and has been roundly criticised by many motoring associations.


• Some drivers have reported that the limited driving distance once the tyre has suffered a blowout is insufficient to get them to a service station where they can have repairs made. This means the car has to be towed.


• The expense alone can make the fitting of run flat tyres an expensive option in itself. With a shortened lifespan of around 20,000 to 40,000 km this has resulted in a huge expense for drivers for very little benefit.

As you can see it will be a difficult decision when it comes to deciding whether you should have run flat tyres fitted on your next vehicle. People believe car service and repairs are expensive enough, but run flat tyres may add to motor vehicle maintenance costs so you need to be careful before you make a decision.

Auto Repair and Its Inevitability Even on a Properly Maintained Machine

If you own a car then chances are your mind occasionally drifts towards the idea of auto repair. We've all had this happen and it's something that weighs heavily on every car owner. Some of us keep the thought at the back of our minds while others keep it at the forefront. Regardless of where you keep the thought it's important to understand that every car will need it eventually.

When people think of auto repair they typically think of an accident or massive amounts of repair procedures running up to several thousands of dollars. This isn't the case in all actuality as most cars never require major surgery unless something important breaks. Unfortunately most cars will need to have repair of some sorts performed on them during their lifetime regardless of if you take good care of them or not.

Properly maintaining your vehicle is essential but even the best maintained vehicle will still degrade, albeit more slowly than normal. Shocks wear out, mufflers break down, controls arms degrade, and other various important parts simply age with use like our bodies. The likelihood of you having to repair these components is mainly tied with the age of your car, how long you own it, and if it is in an accident.

Typically, the average components on a machine will wear out between 60 and 100 thousand miles. These parts are easily changeable and are not a major repair operation. The large components in your vehicle such as the engine block or the radiator have a very long lifespan. Provided they are built to proper specification, made with good quality materials, and properly maintained these parts can last up to 300 thousand miles or more.

This mileage marker is something that most cars do not see however as society is turning towards a more disposable attitude. Technological advancements are the key points in the average person's decision to upgrade to a newer, faster, and more efficient vehicle. However, there are still a few of us who are considered "Lifers" amongst the auto community.

Lifers are people who buy a vehicle and stick with it through thick and thin. Most of them keep their machines in working order for years to come and even show them off at car shows. Others focus purely on keeping their machines in working condition for everyday activities. Regardless most people that fit this category wouldn't trade or get rid of their car unless it fell apart at the seams.

Unfortunately, regardless of whether you use your car for two years and trade it or keep it for life you will need to have work performed on it. With that in mind it's important to find a mechanic you can trust before you need extensive use. If you don't trust the mechanic who's changing your oil why would you trust him to change an axle or a control arm? By taking a preventative step and finding a loyal trustworthy mechanic you can ensure that when you need major work done it will get done in a timely cost effective manner.

Auto repair is a constant companion that every car owner has to live with. Despite the stigma associated with it it doesn't have to be a bad thing. Most major repairs can be caught before hand when their still small by a skilled mechanic and taking your machine in for regular checkups can save you money. Remember to find a reputable mechanic before taking your machine in for any kind of work.

Electrical Repairs Demystified - How to Troubleshoot Your Vehicle Charging System

Vehicle charging systems haven't changed much over the last few decades. But with the increasing complexity of the modern automobile, along with the addition of many aftermarket accessories such as cell phones, DVD players, high-power audio systems, alarms etc., the role of the charging system is now more important than ever.

The charging system on your vehicle can be thought of as a small power plant which does exactly what its name implies - charges and maintains a good state of charge on the battery. The charging system will normally consist of two major components: An Alternator which actually supplies the necessary electrical current in order to charge the battery, and a Voltage Regulator. The latter insures that the system does not overcharge the battery, and that the correct system voltage is maintained. Most vehicles produced within the last 20-30 years use a voltage regulator which is an integral part of the alternator itself. This article assumes that your vehicle uses this type of alternator.

If your vehicle is showing symptoms such as dim lighting, "dragging" during engine starts, or frequent dead batteries, then the charging system may be at fault. Although it may seem obvious, the first item to test is the battery itself. A defective battery in an otherwise healthy electrical system can cause any of the above mentioned symptoms. Testing the battery is a simple procedure, and can performed quickly by most auto parts stores, repair shops, dealers, and even some large department stores. You can also perform the test yourself if you have access to a Battery Load Tester, a device which is made for the purpose. The load tester works by placing a specific amount of electrical load on the battery for a specific amount of time while monitoring the available battery voltage. The battery should be fully charged before the test in order to insure accurate test results.

Assuming that the battery is known to be good, then the next item to check is the battery terminals - the actual points at which the battery is connected into the electrical system. It is very important that these connections are clean and tight. This simple thing is often overlooked as a source of trouble, and is also a frequent cause of such trouble. Visually inspect the terminals, and clean and/or tighten them if needed. To clean, use a small, stiff wire brush or a terminal cleaner which is made for the purpose. You can buy these at nearly any auto supply store, and most hardware stores. You will also need an appropriate sized wrench with which to remove the battery terminals. Important: Always disconnect the negative (-) battery terminal first, and reconnect it last. This will help to keep from shorting the battery while connecting or disconnecting the terminals and possibly causing damage and/or personal injury.

If the battery terminals are clean and tight, then the next item to check is drive belt tension. If the belt which drives the alternator is too loose, then the alternator will not produce enough electrical current to keep up with demand. Many modern vehicles utilize a single belt which drives the alternator and other accessories. This system usually also has an automatic belt tensioner which always maintains correct tension and is not adjustable. If your vehicle uses a wide, multigrooved or so-called "Serpentine" belt to drive the alternator, then it likely also has an automatic tensioning device.

If your vehicle does not use an automatic tensioning device, then check belt tension as follows: With the engine turned off, grasp the belt at a convenient point about 8 to 10 inches from the alternator pulley. Move the belt slowly up and down. The belt should not move more than about 1/2 inch. If the belt seems to be excessively loose, then of course it will require tightening and/or replacement.

If belt tension is correct, then the next item to check is the alternator itself. You now have two choices - you can test the alternator yourself with a simple test using a voltmeter, or you can have the test performed by a professional. If you choose to do the test yourself, then you will need a DC voltmeter, or a multimeter. Such a unit can be purchased at most auto supply stores, hardware stores, department stores, home improvement stores, etc.

The test procedure is quite simple. Set the meter to read DC volts, and set the correct range if needed. Some meters will select the correct range automatically. Nearly all meters will come with instructions on how to set them to read DC volts. Next, connect the meter across the vehicle battery, positive (+) to positive (+) and negative (-) to negative (-).

With the engine running at a moderate idle - say 1200 to 1500 RPM, the meter should read approximately 13.8 to 14.8 volts and be steady. If the reading is substantially outside these figures and all other items mentioned have been tested and verified good, then the alternator is likely defective.

By having done the simple tests which are outlined in this article and further isolating the cause of your charging system trouble, you can often save money at the repair shop by specifying which part(s) need to be repaired or replaced.

Local Repair Shop And Dealers Overcharge Regularly

Been in the auto repair business for 25 years and to my amazement there are a lot of shops that plain old overcharge! The key to car repair is by research, especially if you are trying to save a buck. I have been a mechanic in San Diego for 25 years and let me tell you from experience that a little research and perseverance can and will save you money.

Why? Auto parts charge way to much from one auto parts to another you can save up to 100% sounds unbelievable its not though Napa must be the most expensive auto parts yet they are the busiest. The best place to shop for retail shoppers is Autozone the prices are very competitive and not bad parts most of there parts come with a lifetime warranty. The best part of it is you can get any part warranted in almost any state.

My suggestion would be to call 2-4 shops and compare there prices and also ask them if they charge by the the job or the hour. Another thing you can do is ask them where they purchase there parts and check the prices of the parts, because Auto Shops on average charge any where from 25% to 100% more for the parts than what they pay for them. Always make sure the auto shop puts the price in writing also they are known to change the price once the automobile is in there shop.

Just do a little research and you can save your self lots of money.

How to Get Bumper Scrapes and Scuffs Repaired Without Replacing a Car's Plastic Bumper

Traditional Repair Options

In the past, most bumper repair options offered either a complete removal of the existing bumper or a do-it-yourself touch-up paint kit that left telltale marks of a scrape or scratch. Neither of these options is ideal for individuals seeking to maintain their cars without breaking the bank. Considering typical costs of $600 to $1,000 for a new bumper and matching paint, each scratch can quickly become too expensive to repair. Do-it-yourself auto paint kits offer a more inexpensive solution, but one that ultimately lowers the value of your car.

Paint Touch Up and Plastic Bumper Repair

Fortunately, today's car, truck, and SUV owners have the option of plastic bumper repair, which offers a relatively inexpensive alternative to bumper replacement. Instead of removing the bumper and installing a new one, plastic bumper repair relies on carefully matched auto paint and other materials to give the appearance that your car has never been touched.

Making the Right Choice

Although plastic bumper repair is an ideal choice for car owners facing scratches and scrapes of all sizes, it is important to take the time to find a reputable company to do the work. Companies that fail to offer a quality guarantee or who refuse to offer estimates for their work might not be the most reliable source of bumper repair.

The good news is if you live in Silicon Valley or the Bay Area, you have an excellent mobile service available through Dings Plus. With proven experience and trained professionals, you'll soon have your car looking like new again - and at a fraction of the cost of an entirely new bumper.

Buy Cheap Tyres Without Sacrificing Quality

We all want a bargain, but we also want to know that the product we are buying is of good quality for the money we are paying. Tyres are no exception to this, but buying cheap car tyres does not need to be the same as buying poor quality tyres. By shopping around for the best price, you can often find deals on mid-range or even premium car tyres that will save you money both in the short term (low price!) and the long term (by lasting you much longer).

The EU tyre labels that will be mandatory from November will help you to see the quality of the tyre at a glance by showing you how they perform at wet braking, rolling resistance and exterior noise. However, this should just be the start of your research as you will not always be braking in the wet, and sometimes you might even want to go around corners! Both handling and dry braking will also be important factors, and there are also many other aspects of performance and safety that the tyre manufacturers test their tyres for, so use the internet to look at the quality of the tyres more closely. Once you have found a brand that delivers the performance you want, and you know which model you want, it is time to shop around!

The internet comes into its own when we're talking about shopping for the best prices; there are so many websites available to help you with this, and nowadays, even your average search engine will bring up some prices if you search for the product. So have a look around to see if you can find a cheaper price than your local dealer. Remember to take into consideration fitting costs and disposal of old tyres, as well as inconvenience to yourself if you have to go to a specific garage. It is no use finding cheap as chips tyres that you have to drive for 50 miles and use up loads of fuel to get fitted!

Once you have a few prices, you can make a few phone calls, as often a tyre fitting service will price match with a competitor. This is why it makes sense to call the most convenient tyre fitting service first. You may find that a mobile tyre fitter can offer the best prices due to lower overheads. Replacing tyres may be a necessity, but by spending a little time shopping around, you can get great quality tyres at cheap tyre prices!

The Importance of Properly Masking a Car For Primer

The repair areas has been repaired and finish sanded with 150 grit sandpaper, feathered edged and the panel prepped for primer. Now it is time to get some primer on the repair area. This article is going to discuss how to prevent primer from damaging the areas that you do not want primer to get on.

Take Time To Save Time The purpose of masking is to prevent primer over spray from getting on the areas it is not attended to be. With the types of primers used today, it is necessary to take all measures to ensure over spray does not get onto the unintended surfaces. First, the two-part epoxy and urethane primers are very difficult to remove. Back when we used to use lacquer primer, all of the over spray could be cleaned with a little it of thinner on a rag. However, today's catalyzed primers do not wipe off. Once the primer is dried on the surface, you can rub with thinner all day long without getting it all of the way off. The second reason is that these primers carry a long distance. Again, with the old lacquer primer, if it traveled more than 12" it would be dust by the time it landed on the surface. However, the primers of today can travel the full length of the vehicle and still stick to the painted surface, glass, moldings, etc. With this said, more care should be taken to properly mask a vehicle for primer. The extra time spent properly masking a repair area for primer will save you a lot of time rubbing, sanding and buffing to remove unnecessary overspray.

No More No Less You need to be certain to primer everything that needs to be primed. That is any metal, filler, or scratches made by the 150 grit sanding. However, there is no need to prime anything else. For example, if you have a 6" diameter repair area, there is not need to primer entire or even half of the panel. This is something that I have noticed some students tend to do. You only need to prime the repaired area. The spray will slightly exceed the repair area, but try to keep it as small as possible. Another thing to remember is to keep primer out of areas that is does not need to be. For example, molding edges and jambs. There is nothing sloppier than to open a car door after it has been completed and see primer overspray. Or see primer on the edge of a molding. The reason this happens is because many time when masking for primer, the person masking thinks, well, this is just for priming and rushes through the masking process. Then when masking to paint, more care and attention to detail is taken. You may not have paint on the unwanted areas, but you have primer, which looks even worse than the paint would have. So be certain to take as much pride to mask the vehicle for priming as you do for getting it ready for paint.

When masking off jambs, mask to the edge of the panel. There is no need to allow any primer into the jamb area. Therefore the edge of your tape should be at the edge of the panel to prevent over spray from getting into the jamb area. Now when we mask for painting, we will mask back from the edge slightly to allow a little overspray to spray onto the jamb. This eliminates noticeable lines, but for now, mask right on the edge of the panel.

Nothing Hard About It The only hard edges you should have when priming is the jamb edges. You should try to avoid all other edges if possible. Hard edges are a define no no. Let's take the same 6" inch diameter repair area and mask a 8" inch square around it. You only get primer where you want it, but now you have hard edges to feather edge out. Let's look at another approach to mask the 6" repair area. Mask all adjacent panels and anything near the repair area that you do not want primer on. Then you can go out 12" and back mask if needed. Back masking is the process of masking something and flipping the paper over creating a smoother edge. When correct, the paper will now have the bottom side of the paper facing up. For instance, if the top of the paper is blue and the bottom of the paper is white, now the white will be showing. Now that we have it back masked, we still do not need to spray primer all of the way to the paper. Try to avoid that is possible. Ideally, try not to have any edges at all. The overspray makes an easy area to sand with as little effort as possible.

If In Doubt...Cover It Over spray is something that you do not want to get on the unwanted surfaces. So must the entire car be cover? The answer is, if in doubt cover it. It only takes a few minutes to unroll plastic and cover the car. If we take the 6" inch diameter repair area and mask around in using 18" inch paper and set the gun spray gun using low pressure, you may be alright. However, just a little over spray can cause you hours of cleanup and grief. This is something that you need to get a feel for, but if in doubt, bag the car with plastic. If you're priming the entire panel, be certain to cover the entire car with plastic. A little time spent in the front end will save a lot of time in the back end.

Tell Tell Signs Masking is perceived by amateurs as being unskilled and unimportant. However, I think you will agree that best best looking paint job can look horrible if you see paint and/or primer on moldings or in jambs. The idea is to make invisible repairs. Improper masking is the easiest and fastest way to determine that a vehicle has been painted.

These tasks are hard to put in writing, but only take a minute to demonstrate so be sure to check out the free training videos. Learn more at the car paint jobs.

Car Insurance With Rental Car Reimbursement - Is It Worth It?

Whether you have car insurance or are shopping for a quote, you may not think about rental car reimbursement. Is it worth it? If you're trying to save on your auto insurance, you may not want to pay for this coverage but here's something to keep in mind.

Rental car reimbursement coverage is usually an optional add-on to your car insurance policy that will help pay for a rental car -- for a limited number of days -- while your vehicle is being repaired due to a loss. For example, the coverage may pay $20 per day for 30 days toward the cost of a rental car. The coverage typically costs a couple of dollars a month.

Depending on the time of year, the type of rental car, the rental car agency, where you live and other factors, you could end up paying anywhere from $25 to $75 per day for a rental car. Now consider how long it could take to repair your car. The body shop tells you three to five days. Four days later they call and tell you they had to backorder a special part. It will be another four to five days. You call five days later and they tell you the part won't be in for another week.

Before you know it, you've been renting a car for almost three weeks. That could add up to several hundred dollars depending on how many days you rented the car during that period. With the rental reimbursement coverage, you would be able to pay substantially less.

I went through a similar experience as above, and ended up using the rental reimbursement coverage. For me it was worth it because I really needed to get around town and didn't have a lot of extra cash.

You have to assess your needs and finances to decide if you should add this coverage or not to your auto policy. When you comparison shop for car insurance quotes, find out what the difference is with and without rental reimbursement coverage. You may just consider it worth it for the peace of mind.

Have You Been Overcharged For Repairs?

Every year there is a steady rise in the number of consumer complaints regarding paying too much or being overcharged for repairs. Some of the most common repair problems that you have to pay high prices for are your car maintenance and repairs or the repairs of major electrical equipment in the house. To avoid paying way beyond what you actually need to, you can research the market and shop around for the best quotes.

Know what you are paying for and do not accept the quotes if you find it unreasonable. When you are investing money into anything whether it is mechanical car maintenance, plumbing or electrical repairs or simple home maintenance it is important that the quote should be itemized so you know the exact amount you are paying including purchasing the parts and their labor fee.

For example if your car is getting overheated and you need to replace the thermostat on the car. If the repair shop charge you around $500 for this service, then they should have in writing how much they are charging you for the purchase of the new thermostat and the amount for labor charges for replacing the thermostat. If a new thermostat would cost you less than $60 and replacing that thermostat entails removing and fixing two bolts, you know that you are being overcharged (for labor) for a simple repair.

Get at least two to three quotes especially when the repair costs are high. Shopping around for better quotes helps you in finding not only the best price but also give you an idea about the terms and conditions put forth by various repair shops. Consult your friends and family to find out about some reliable repair shops that can give you good prices for quality and timely work.

Do not give the repair mechanic free reign. Telling him to do whatever he can to fix the car is bound to get you a huge bill in repair work. Instead try to clearly understand each and every repair problem, understand what the mechanic is doing and how much it will cost.

Ask questions to the repair shop owner and understand the actual problem that you might be facing. Doing extensive research (also called homework) before you step into a repair shop could save you a lot of hassles and not to mention a significant amount of money. Remember that not every service that you are being charged for is a rip off. Instead understand many repairs can cost quite a lot. However it is best to stay on guard, shop around for the best repair prices and avoid being overcharged for repairs.

Contacting a relevant industry body or even a dealer can help you ascertain the best price for the goods. This will help you judge if the quoted price is reasonable enough or not. Repairs for certain items like jewelry and collectibles is often difficult to price. It is a good idea to get an independent valuation in such a case.

If you too have been overcharged for repairs, or ripped off in some way and want to avoid this in the future then secure for yourself, your children and your spouse a legal life insurance plan that provide you legal help 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Not only do these plans equip you to deal with day to day legal problems, but you can be assured of being covered at all times even if it's just a simply legal question because legal help is just a phone away.

Protect Your Vehicle Against The Elements

One of the best ways to protect your vehicle from the elements is to cover it. Automobile covers will offer protection against dirt, pollution, bird poop, sun rays and tree sap. Your vehicle remains hidden from thieves, leaving them to speculate as opposed to knowing. It will also guard the vehicle against debris and dirt when parked outside.

However, covering your car could be both protective and possibly harmful. If it doesn't fit properly, it may be worse than leaving your vehicle bare. A loose one could also be excessively flapped against the body due to draughts, leaving conspicuous scratches. It is advisable to purchase one that matches your car type and model. Though the "one size fits all" types are cheaper, they may not fit properly.

Using a dirty cover could also be detrimental as well. This is because grit trapped between the cover and paint will cause scratches when being installed or removed, or when the wind moves it around. A good way to avert such problems is to use a canopy that fits properly on a clean vehicle. The best types come with a bottom locking mechanism which allows a plastic coated cable to closely hold the bottom of the vehicle to prevent wind movements.

The best way to remove a canopy is to fold it on and off the body. First place it in position without hooking under the vehicle. Take a third of the canopy on the driver's side and fold it over the roof towards the other side. Do this in such a way that leaves the fold to run along the edge of the hood, top and trunk.

You'll find that the roof takes a third while each of the sides take the remaining portion equally. Fold the passenger side third over the other section so that you have 3 layers over the entire car length. Start rolling the cover at one of the ends and proceed upwards up without moving it. Do this while walking along the vehicle. This reduces the chance of scratching the body due to movement. To install the cover, reverse this process by unrolling along the vehicle and folding down the sides.

A car cover should only be used on a clean vehicle. If it collects dirt while on the vehicle, clean it off before removing it. You should also shake it out to remove grit and dirt if it touches the ground.

Dealing With Insurance Adjusters

An insurance adjuster is the person empowered by an insurance company to investigate your claim, when you file one, and to determine how much you are entitled to receive. Not only do adjusters have to determine whether you have coverage for your claim, but they also have to work to make sure that the repair or replacement costs are reasonable. Finally, they have to communicate to you - clearly - the settlement offer and how the offer was calculated.

I find that most adjusters do a good job of knowing their coverages and knowing how to control costs. When they fall short, it's most often in one or more of the following areas:

• Communicating: Some adjusters don't explain how they arrive at the settlement, which is especially important if it's less than what you had expected. Sometimes adjusters don't tell policy holders what to do if


• repair shops or contractors won't honor the adjuster's estimate, or if there's additional damage that the adjuster missed.


• Getting an agreed price on an auto repair: Some adjusters just mail a repair estimate and a check, putting you in the awkward position of having to find a body shop to do the work for that price.


• Being reachable: Sometimes getting in contact with the adjuster is almost impossible, and you aren't given an alternative way to reach someone familiar with the claim, such as the adjuster's supervisor.

The number-one complaint I get from customers is the amount of phone tag they have to play to reach adjusters. You can eliminate most of that frustration by getting the following information the first time you contact the adjuster:

• Claim number


• Date of the accident


• Adjuster's name and phone number(s)


• Name and phone number(s) of the adjuster's supervisor

Don't hesitate to call the adjuster's supervisor if you need to reach someone right away or if you're having a problem with the adjuster.

Here are some things you can do to make your claim go more smoothly:

• Request the direct-dial phone numbers for the adjuster and the adjustor's supervisor when the adjuster first contacts you.


• Never accept payment for any auto repairs without the adjuster and your body shop agreeing to a price.


• If you can't reach the adjuster, or you aren't unhappy with her for any reason, call her supervisor.


• If you don't think the adjuster is doing a good job, call the supervisor or even the claims manager and request that she reassign your file to another adjuster. You don't have to accept poor performance.


• If you have an agent, don't hesitate to ask for help with any kind of problem that you're having, especially if you feel the settlement offer is too low. A good agent has the skills to negotiate, on your behalf, to improve an unfair settlement offer.

Some Known Alternator Problems

Machines that are used regularly suffer wear and tear. Same holds true for the alternator. If you drive your vehicle regularly then you need to inspect your vehicle's internal parts on a regular basis. This way you can avoid serious problems like your vehicle stopping in the middle of the road. If you are aware of alternator problems then you will know when it is time to repair or replace it. Finding a problem in vehicle is similar to a doctor finding an illness in a patient. First you need to identify the symptoms. These symptoms will tell you if the problem is with the alternator or with any other component.

Some of the alternator problems can be identified by simply observing the unit closely, while other problems can be diagnosed only by using special tools and equipments. In some cases, it may require opening the alternator. Generally, there is some abnormal noise, malfunctioning of electrical components, or drop in battery charge that indicates a problem with the alternator. If you notice any such issue then immediately try to find the fault. If the alternator problem is not rectified in time then it can damage other auto parts that are working well.

Following are some of the common alternator problems:

Worn out Belts

This is one of the easiest to identify. The belt looks worn out and it slips. It may also turn loose, affecting the performance of alternator. If the alternator is not running at the standard speed then it will not provide the right voltage. If proper voltage is not available then the battery will run out of charge.

Abnormal Sound

Some alternator problems can be identified by carefully listening when the engine is running. If within the alternator, the rotor is falling then a grinding noise can be heard. This indicates a faulty alternator. In some cases, it may require complete replacement of the alternator.

Improper voltage

This can be checked only after disconnecting the battery connection. You will also need a voltmeter to check if the alternator is producing the right voltage while running. Voltage also fluctuates depending on the acceleration and RPM. An alternator producing more than the required power can lead to battery overcharging problem. Similarly, low power generation can result in undercharging of the battery.

Bearings

If you hear unusual cracking noises then it is possible that the alternator bearings are worn out and need replacement. The noise may also indicate something loose inside the alternator body.

Diodes

The alternator actually produces AC current but the car battery and vehicle's electrical components run on DC current. Diodes are used to change the AC current into DC current. The alternator will not provide optimum power if the diodes are not functioning properly.

Internal Components Not Functioning

An alternator has many internal components like cooling fan, rotor, diode rectifier, voltage regulator, brushes, coil winding, rotor, stator, and terminals. If something is not working properly then it will result in poor power production.

By identifying these alternator problems, you can easily diagnose the unit. Sometimes, the problem is with the other components that are directly or indirectly connected to the alternator.

Few and Far Between: A Look at Women in the Mechanics Industry

We don't have to look too far back into our history books to see that women have made incredible strides in the workforce. Not even fifty years ago women were still fighting to be given fair consideration for positions traditionally held by men. Today, women represent a good portion of most employment industries, including medical, legal, financial and business. According to a census report by Statistics Canada, women made up 47.3% of the entire Canadian workforce in 2006. This percentage rose slightly to 47.5% in 2011, illustrating that women continue to hold a near equal balance as men in the workforce at large.

But when we move from a general to a more specific perspective, we will notice that gender equality does not carry into every industry. There is no denying that jobs in certain industries will be filled more by one gender than the other. For example, in 2011 women made up more than two-thirds of the entire education industry, which includes both administrator and educator positions.

However, there is an even more alarming difference in gender representation in the mechanics industry. Currently, women hold less than 2% of all mechanist positions. In fact, it isn't only in mechanics where women fall short on the employee head count. A 2011 Statistics Canada study shows that women make up 7.4% of positions held in Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations. The data is most certainly surprising, and I don't think any of us thought that this wide of a disparity continues to exist today.

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why women are so under-represented in the mechanics trade. We need to be weary of jumping to the assumption that the industry as a whole is guilty of sexism. I don't think this is the case at all. While sexism is an ongoing battle that both women and men have to face in the workforce, I don't think it makes for a sufficient explanation. There are other realities that must be considered, including the very fact that women are just not applying for these positions. Again, this does not suffice as a complete explanation, but women's preference for trades other than mechanics needs to be included in the examination of the existing gender disparities.

Lastly, women may feel somewhat inhibited to mechanics because of how male-dominated the industry has been for so long. The only way to overcome this is for women to simply apply themselves to the trade. There are trade schools across the country, and women are just as eligible to apply as men are. Further, most trade schools or vocational colleges will offer apprenticeship programs, meaning students will be working while studying, thereby increasing their chances of employment upon graduation.

One might think that the only options available would be an auto mechanic apprenticeship, however, there are many different types of mechanist jobs with corresponding apprenticeship programs. Here are just a few, complete with a snap shot of topics that are covered:

Automotive Service Educational Program

- Engines & Body Control System

- Steering & Suspension

- Driveline Auto Transaxles

- Diesel Engines and Electronics Controls

- Air Bag Systems

General Mechanist

- Benchwork Techniques

- Surface Grinding Technology

- Milling Technology

- Metallurgy

- Engineering Drawings

Truck and Coach Technician

- Engine Systems

- Electrical Systems

- Fuel Systems

- Drive Train Systems

- Brake Systems

Industrial Technician

- Machine Techy

- Workshop Techy

- Rigging & Hoisting

- Drawings & Schematics

- Welding & Fabric

We can only hope that in time women will represent a bigger percentage of the mechanics industry.

Auto Body Shop - Know More About It

An auto body shop is a business where the bodies of automobiles are repaired and maintained by mechanics and body specialists. Though many shops tend to offer similar services, many various specialties exist. Here, we will outline some of the more common terms and procedures one might find when entering one of these establishments.

Body Panel Alignment

This procedure ensures that all panels of the vehicle are of a consistent width apart, whether it's the hood, the fenders, or the doors, nothing adds to detail on a car more than perfectly fitted panels.

Color Matching

In addition to the physical replacement and manipulation of the body itself, many shops offer paint services as well. Though rather self explanatory, color matching can be a complex task depending on the situation at hand. For this reason, it is imperative one seeks out a skilled and experienced painter to make that puppy shine.

Window Regulator Installation

Many times when work is needed, it is common to have need for a new window regulator. This task ensures that the windows of the vehicle continue open and shut when desired.

Bondo

A two-part putty used in repair, Bondo is used to sculpt dented parts. This substance is typically applied to the problem area, sanded, primed, and then painted in order to correct the indentation.

Welding

A common tactic used to join metals or thermoplastics through coalescence, welding can be used via various energy sources including laser, gas flame, or friction. Welding is an essential skill for any auto mechanic.
Sanders

Sanders are used to sand down the parts of the auto that have been repaired. Power sanders are used to sand larger areas, while manual sanders are used for small and hard-to-reach spots.

Dent Pullers

It is mainly used for smaller dings and dents. Some dent pullers work with a sliding bar and a stud welder. A tiny stud is welded in the middle of the dents. The sliding bar is then pulled sharply several times until the dent pops out. Other dent pullers use a strong suction cup that is stuck to the center of the dent and pulled sharply in order to pull it out.

For many people, a career in this field is a dream. In recent years, many schools around the globe have come to being which offer programs dedicated to the study of this trade. With new and exciting advancements constantly being introduced, it is doubtful the local auto body repair shop will ever cease to exist.

The Role of an Auto Body Repair Specialist

With so many careers available today it is sometimes hard to know what each job entails. Even though we may think we know what a certain job is all about or maybe even know a little bit about it there is no way to exactly what is required of each person at their place of work. On the surface most people know a little bit about an auto body repair specialist, however most people don't know exactly what they do or have to at least know about on a daily basis. So, find out what the job of an auto body repair specialist is all about!

First of all what form of education does it take to become an auto body repair specialist? Well, usually shops require that they have a high school diploma. Although not required to those who wish to get into the auto body field could take classes in a vocational program. The best way for auto body specialist to learn and get experience is through an apprenticeship program. However, usually the way most learn is through about 4 years of experience starting from just a helper and moving up. Then most dealers or shops will require that they get a certification through a qualified program. They must also have a valid driver's license to work at an auto body shop.

Now, you want to know what they do day to day. Performs manual duties in receiving, cleaning, repairing, refinishing, and painting of damaged automotive vehicles; examines damaged vehicles and estimates cost of repair; pulls out dents; fills depressions with body fillers; refinishes and repaints auto body parts; removes and replaces hood, fender, core support, door shell, etc.; may remove upholstery, accessories, electrical and hydraulic equipment to gain access to auto body and fender; replaces windshields and repairs windshield cracks; completes minor estimates of damaged area; straightens out and/or realigns frame. They may also perform additional services like window tinting, auto detailing, or lease return inspections depending on the auto body shop they work in. They must keep up with the most current systems in repairing vehicles bodies. They also need to be able to work independently in shops. And just as important they need to know how to utilize customer service skills!

So, what are the benefits of being an auto body repair specialist? Well, their median pay was a little more than 16 dollars an hour. However highly experienced repair specialist can make up to around 28 dollars an hour. That is not a bad living. They also work about 40-48 hours a week, usually between normal working hours like 8 - 6. If they work for a repair shop they may also be able to receive medical, dental and vision insurance. They may also be offered pay time off and sick pay. Usually they receive holidays off.

If you are interested in cars, becoming an auto body repair specialist may be the job for you! You will get to make money and do what you enjoy at the same time!