Finding The Best Qualified Auto Mechanic - App Needed

Finding a good auto mechanic is very difficult, and often if you go to the car dealership where you bought your car their rates are simply too high, and they end up selling you all sorts of things you didn't want. No, not all auto dealerships are like that, but they are in business to make money, and the car dealerships maintenance department generally runs a separate business model from the sales department.

Yes, they feed off of each other but they are definitely in business to make money, and just because they made a lot of money off of you when you bought your car, doesn't mean they're going to give you a good deal on the maintenance as you move forward. Of course, when it comes to auto mechanics in your local area not all of them are totally reputable, and many have said that they completely take advantage of women customers who may not understand the inner workings of their own vehicle.

Now then, what we need is an iPhone app, or a smart phone app which will help individuals find the best qualified auto mechanic in their area. Now then, the other day I mentioned this at our think tank, and we tried to devise a way where the application would not get gamed by those who run such businesses or their friends voting them into the top spot. In other words it had to be actual customers from the maintenance facility that did the voting.

Although we didn't come up with a solution for this right away, I had thought about it later, and my concept would be this: people can now pay for things using their ATM through their smart phone or tablet computer. At the point at which someone pays for their maintenance at the local auto mechanic they would be able to vote as long as they spent more than $500. They would later be able to change their vote within the next two weeks in case the car broke down again and it was the same problem, and they had to take it back.

For instance if they voted five stars and they were happy when they picked up their cars, but then it broke again later, they could re-vote one time. This would prevent anyone from gaming the system, and provide a fair assessment of each local auto mechanic based on their merits, and how they served real customers. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think about it. There should be an app for that.

Top 10 Things to Look For in a Trusted Auto Mechanic

Choosing a mechanic can be stressful since you want to make sure that you choose someone who will give you good work at an honest price. A trusted auto mechanic is an asset, but how can you tell if you can really trust your mechanic? Here are 10 things to look for when evaluating whether a mechanic is worthy of your trust (and your repeat business.)

1: Certification. A trusted auto mechanic should at the very least have Auto Service Excellence (ASE) accreditation, and may have manufacturer-specific accreditation as well. Look for accreditation certificates and logos when visiting the mechanic.

2: Recommendations. One sign of an auto mechanic that you can trust is the recommendation of friends and family. Other sources you can check for recommendations are your local Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau.

3: Written Estimates. Good mechanics are generally willing to offer you an estimate in writing at no charge. If the mechanic you choose is unwilling to do so or wants to charge you for the estimate, they are much more likely to try and pad your bill when they actually work on your car.

4: Doing Necessary Work. A trusted auto mechanic should only do work to your car that is necessary, and even then will consult you before doing anything more than the work you asked for. Beware of mechanics who do additional work without asking you beforehand.

5: Explanations. A good mechanic will explain what the problem is and try to make sure that you understand. Ask questions if you need to; your mechanic should answer them to ensure your understanding before proceeding with the work your car needs.

6: Price. You don't want to pay too much for the work that is done on your car, but at the same time you want to ensure that the work is done right. Trusted mechanics may not always have the lowest prices for their services, but they also shouldn't have the highest.

7: Source of Specialty Repairs. Some repairs such as transmission work are often subcontracted to specialty shops. Many trusted auto mechanics will tell customers if their car will be sent to another shop during the course of repairs, but if it isn't mentioned you should ask. This way you will know whether the same mechanics will be working on your car through the whole process, or if part of the work will be completed by someone else.

8: Choices. A good auto mechanic will offer you choices when your car is being worked on. These choices often include alternate parts so that you can choose the option that best fits your budget. After repairs are done, they should also offer you the option to keep the old parts... this will let you inspect them and see if the replacement was truly necessary.

9: Referrals. The best auto mechanics will offer referrals to other shops if they can't meet your needs. This shows that they care about their customers, since they're willing to lose the sale if it means that the customer is better taken care of.

10: Warranties. Not every auto mechanic offers warranties on their work, but a number of mechanics do offer some sort of guarantee. These "shop warranties" ensure that the work they do on your car is done right; if it isn't, they will generally fix it at no additional cost to you.

Body Kits - Car Mods For Everyone

Body kits are the most common ways to mod cars by serious auto enthusiasts. They are customized parts of a car's exterior that can be fitted to improve the car's working while giving it the killer looks. Ever wanted a sports car? Surely, you would've thought it was impossible for you to afford one. But the good news is - all you need is a good custom body kit!

Almost all aspects of a car's external appearance can be modified with body kits. They can be separate parts or whole packages for a complete makeover.

Body kits are of special interest to racing enthusiasts. Every part of a car's exterior can be modified to give it an edge. While the individual improvements are not very big, it is the collective result that turns a meek family car into a mean racing machine.

A well designed set of improvements include front hood and grill, bumpers, spoilers and roof scoops. It is a pity that most people go for the customizations just for the sake of looks. A wrong set of modifications can leave a car's aerodynamics crippled, reducing fuel efficiency by up to 20-30%. It can also lead to increased strain on the car body. And of course, a wrong set of modifications can leave your car looking like a punk.

Bumpers are used to increase the down force on the car to keep it to the ground when traveling at high speeds. If not properly installed, they can cause the car to flip at dangerous speeds. Low bumpers also give the car a mean look that is instantly noticed. A combination of good front and rear bumpers, along with side skirts is a great way to increase a car's aerodynamics. By reducing the amount of air that goes to the car's belly, a lot of unnecessary drag can be avoided.

Modified grills and hoods that come with auto body kits improve the air flow into the car's front end, with the engine and other important parts in it. This keeps the engine from getting over heated, thus ensuring optimal performance. They also give the car a rich look like a Rolls Royce or a limo. A grill with a fake logo can go a great way to make your car look cooler in today's brand-conscious world.

Body kits can be purchased from any local auto repair shops and showrooms. Many companies also come with factory fitted modifications that ensure perfect fit. The painted graphics on the modifications can be chosen by the car owner to get that dream car! Several themed graphics packs are available with body kits. Body kits are the way to go for adding style to your car. It instantly gives your car the look of a sports vehicle that is not to be messed with.

A good auto body kit can take you from being a gaper to a gape-e! So go on and try to find one that suits your pocket and car. And start living the cool life!

Windshield Repair - Is Your Car Windshield as Safe as you Think?

Do you really know how safe your windshield is? If you have a new car, it was made with the safest windshield available. But once an auto glass shop replaces the original windshield in the aftermarket, all bets are off. Unfortunately, owners of windshields that need to be replaced are rarely given much choice with regards to quality.

Vehicle owners usually do not have much of any choice when their windshields are damaged. This is true, despite lip service paid to safety and consumer protection laws that provide freedom of choice. Insurance claims are typically referred to glass networks. Most networks own their own glass shops and have a financial interest in performing the work themselves. As there are no State or Federal laws that govern the safety or quality of windshields that are replaced on cars once they are on the road (just new vehicles), it's a crapshoot whether the work performed meets safety standards.

Ascertaining the quality of the glass and security of the installation is a problem for most motorists who are not experts in glass repair. Even though all insurance companies are contractually obligated to policyholders to restore their vehicles to pre-damaged condition, most consumers would seldom know if any substandard materials or procedures were used on their vehicle.

Because a properly functioning windshield can help save lives in an accident, the consumer is well advised to keep it in tip top condition. It is as important to repair windshield glass that is even slightly damaged: stars, scratches, small cracks, and holes. Windshield repair in [http://lasertargeted.com/glassrepair/windshield-repair-works.html] a timely manner will not only eliminate unsightly flaws, preventing further spread, but it will also enable you to keep the factory installed windshield, which safer, more secure, and leak-proof. It is always better to keep the original windshield when possible.

Sadly, most glass networks choose to replace windshields rather than refer drivers to windshield repair shops like NOVUS. That is because there is not much profit in glass repair for those huge networks. But if the consumer insists on fast, convenient, and inexpensive repair, the insurance company will have to respond to those demands. Most insurance companies these days not only cover the cost of the windshield repairs, they also waive applicable deductibles.

NOVUS technicians are required to regularly undergo advanced windshield repair workshops to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques, tools and processes in the industry. These skilled repair staff perform 30-minute windshield repairs at the consumer's home or workplace. Most European auto manufacturers prefer NOVUS.

NOVUS is responsible for the repair of cracks, holes and scratches in over 23 million car and truck windshields each year for not only individual motorists, but government agencies, fleets, and corporations. The windshield repair/replacement company continues to grow its network of franchisees throughout the United States, Latin America, and around the world. The franchise opportunity offers easy entry, low cost, comprehensive factory training, proprietary products and techniques, and extensive franchisee support. There are more than 2,600 NOVUS franchisees and dealers in operation globally.

Windshield Repair and Replacement

In the event of an accident, the windshield of your vehicle is just as important as the seat belts, airbags, and other safety features of your vehicle. Windshields are specially constructed to provide support and integrity to the vehicle's passenger compartment, and to prevent as much injury as possible to the occupants. For this reason, it is important to make sure that your windshield is structurally sound and not compromised in any way.

How are windshields made?

Windshields are constructed from laminated glass. This laminated glass is composed of two or more layers of glass, with a thin plastic sheet in between. This transparent sheet of plastic is actually called polyvinyl butyrate, or PVB, and is fused between the layers of glass in an adhesion process which utilizes pressure and heat to bind the layers together.

The PVB film keeps the glass from shattering in the event of an accident. On impact, most of the glass is kept from entering the vehicle's cabin, and can even act as a retainer to keep objects, including you, inside the vehicle.

Auto Glass Repair

Modern windshields can contain a plethora of features and technologies within the windshield proper. Some of these features commonly include heating mechanisms, sensors, tints, coatings, and radio antennas. They may even contain more sophisticated features including heads-up-displays (HUD) and satellite uplinks. With these kinds of features, it is not hard to understand why windshields can be expensive. This is also why windshield repair is a common solution to cracked, scratched, and damaged windshields.

During a windshield repair, the technician uses a specially formulated resin, injecting it into the damaged area of the glass. The resin is then cured, restoring the windshield's integrity, and polished to restore the clarity of the glass.

Auto Glass Replacement

13-14 million windshields are replaced annually in the United States, most commonly caused by flying debris, vandalism, and collisions. It is important to realize that windshield replacement is a complicated, challenging process that should only be performed by properly trained professionals.

Replaced windshields must be perfectly positioned and installed as to not compromise the integrity of the vehicle's cab. The windshield provides essential support to the passenger compartment in the event of an accident, especially in rollovers. Think of the windshield as the keystone of an arch.

Auto Glass Service

Whether needing repair or replacement, it is vital to hire a qualified professional to perform the required task that is needed. All newly manufactured vehicles are required to comply with standing FMV safety standards for auto glass before being sold in the United States. The same guidelines do not apply to replacement windshields. National Glass Association (NGA) certified technicians should provide an installation that is comparable to these standards upon request.

Car Repair - What's Behind a Guarantee?

There's a company advertising that they can provide auto repair customers peace of mind with a guarantee. If you're not happy, they'll set things straight. The fine print of the guarantee reveals a very different message, however.

To be clear, I have no personal gripe with this particular company. Their commercial just happened to show someone typing in "auto repair" into the search bar. Intrigued, I decided to investigate. The TV ad shows images of helpful car repair people such as a tow truck driver, as well as happy consumers - grateful because they've finally found someone they can trust. In essence, they're telling us that we don't have to worry if we select one of the service providers listed with them. Unfortunately, this type of protection is just not possible.

The actual terms and conditions behind the guarantee reveal that the program will do very little. It states that it makes no representations or guarantees. In other words, it's not any kind of binding car warranty.

What's interesting is that the commercial goes out of its way to suggest that they will relieve all our worries, but they do not pre-screen or review ANY of the companies that participate in the program. While there is a modest reimbursement if you have an issue, you must prove it was negligence on your time and at your expense.

 There's nothing wrong with aggressive marketing - but it has to be backed up. It has to have substance. Many auto repair companies cross the line by overpromising and under-delivering. When things sound too good to be true, it's because they very often are. When it comes to car repair and guarantees, we can't be too careful. Read the fine print.

Effective Windshield Chip Repair

Every single time that you are driving your automobile, small rocks and pebbles are being thrown against it. Sometimes these are flung up by your own wheels and at others, debris is thrown back by other vehicles zooming past. Many times, such road debris hits your windshield and leaves scratches and marks. If the pebbles or debris flung against your auto glass are slightly bigger or sharp, they could cause chips on your windshield. Timely windshield chip repair keeps your car's glass in usable condition for a longer time and prevents the damage from worsening until the windshield cracks.

DIY Chip Repair

It is not necessary for you to take your car down to a garage to have every chip repaired. The smaller ones can be handled right at home by you. There are any number of auto glass repair kits available in the market today and these typically come with detailed instructions on how you can carry out your windshield chip repair perfectly without professional help. In fact, minor chips that are smaller than 3- 4 inches across can be rectified so effectively that there is no sign of the damage left behind.

If you are using such a DIY kit, take the time to read through all of the instructions in detail well before you start the job. In many cases, simple things, such as, repairing the chip when your car is standing in the hot sun, may reduce its effectiveness. The heat makes the resin harden too quickly and this leaves a visible mark where you have used the DIY kit to repair a chip.

Timely Repair

A stitch in time definitely does save nine when it comes to windshield chip repair. Letting a small chip go uncared for, allows it to expand until it can turn into a fairly long crack. Remember that cracks take more time, more skill and also more money to fix when compared with chips. Sometimes the crack may simply be too big to be rectified effectively. If it falls right in your visibility zone, then you may need to have your entire windshield replaced so that your driving safety isn't compromised. Take the time to check for chips and similar damage to your windshield during your regular auto maintenance checks and rectify small chips immediately to avoid having to spend much more later.

When to Call in the Professionals

Although you can get small chips repaired on your own, it is also very important to know when you are out of your league. Call in the professionals when the chip is considerably large and it seems to be spreading. Damage control needs to be done quickly and effectively at this point to keep the chip from growing into a crack. A skilled technician will be able to patch up the chip and, in the process, ensure that it never spreads again.

A chip that is right over the driving area and obstructs your visibility is also one that you should leave to professionals if you have never carried out chip repair before. After all, this is not an area of the windshield that you want to try your windshield chip repair skills on for the very first time!