Learn How to Fix Auto Body Damage

So much education has moved to the Internet! Now it is possible to learn something as complex as auto body repair, detailing, painting, resetting safety devices, and thoroughly estimating such a job before you begin. Nearly everyone is going to get body damage on their car or truck some time within its useful life. That damage cuts down your car's resale value and can be a real nuisance.

Much of that damage never gets repaired because as often as possible, people do not report less than severe damage to the insurance company and assume it would cost too much otherwise to get the damage fixed. That makes a huge market for those who do painting or paintless dent repair. That might mean there are likely job openings in your area, or it might also be taken to mean there is a large market for someone to enter.

Either way, before you go to either one, what if you got the education first? Better yet, get training. You know the difference between education and training, right? Consider this quote: "Hey mom, we have had sex education all week. Tomorrow we start training." Do you know the difference now?

How do we solve the problem of lack of hands-on training? If you have a friend that has one of those pesky dents or a place paint is scraped off, he or she might like to allow you to use their car as a project for this training. It might even be better if they can put up a deposit toward the repair that enables you to get the supplies and maybe a tool or two, so you then come equipped to a possible body shop interview afterward, and can also show an example of your work. The course I am promoting also provides a printable certificate for completion of each training module.

Another method for overcoming this obstacle (hurdle?) might be asking your local body shop if you might do what you just learned to do (show certificate) on one of their cars, preferably under supervision. This has the additional benefit of the experience of the body shop employee who watches on.

Be creative. There are other ways to overcome your hurdles. This is you paying your dues.

A caveat: if you tend to react badly to harsh chemicals, flying paint vapors, strong chemical smells, or dust from sanding, please do yourself a favor and choose another profession. There are many benefits to learning how to fix auto body damage, but security from harsh chemicals is not one of them.

Finding the Right RV Body Shop Service for You

Your RV is most likely your second highest investment after your house. So knowing which repair facility to trust your investment with after a mishap, accident, or just standard aging problems can be a task at hand. So just were do you start to find the right RV body shop.

#1 Ask around to your fellow RV'ers of any good/bad repair shops that they have had personal experience with.

#2 Pick up the phone and call around to several local RV Dealers and talk to the service manager. Pick there brain on who they suggest or who they deal with for the body and painting repair needs. (keep in mind to call around to RV dealers that don't have inhouse body shops so you can truly get an unbiased opinion).

#3 Once you have a body shop or two narrowed down, call them and explain your issues, than quiz the shop on the repair process. Talking to them you should get a feel if this shop is knowledgeable enough in the repairs you need and capable of doing the job right, trust your gut feeling.

Once you think you found the right shop, take a drive over there before taking your RV there. Ask for a tour of there facility. Some key things to look for or to ask while your there are: a professionally built paint booth to which your RV paint job is done in. Since RV's are so big you will find repair shops operating without a spray booth which can cause problems with the paint as its not in a controlled environment causing improper curing, paint peeling, dirt and trash in the paint job, and so on.

Ask to look at there paint room and take a look at the paint on the shelf to see first hand what there using. Since RV's are so big they can require gallon"s" of paint. Well in the paint coatings industry there are three tiers of paints lines, High grade-mid grade-and low grade paint. The difference in price can range from $100 a gallon- $600 a gallon and a difference of the paint fading in a year or two - 10+ years without fading or peeling. While your there touring the facility take a look at jobs in progress there to get a feel for the quality.

Once you have done all this and have chosen the shop you feel like you can trust, make sure if there are parts needed for the repairs, that all parts have shown up already to the shop. Otherwise waiting for parts can prolong the time your RV will have to sit at the repair shop waiting to get repaired.

Lastly while trying to find the right RV body shop, try and stay away from car body shops. They might be a great car body shop but they usually are not equipped for RV's or the know how on repairing/refinishing some of the substrates found on RV's. Also decide right off the bat when looking for a RV body shop, if your shopping for price or quality, cause cheap and good usually don't fall together.

Auto Repairs - When to Replace Shocks

Shocks and struts do not require replacing at specific mileage intervals like other parts such as spark plugs, but they do wear out and eventually have to be replaced. You need new shocks (and/or struts) if your original shocks (or struts) are worn out, damaged or leaking. Leaking is easy enough to see (just look for oil or wetness on the outside of the shock or strut) as is damage (broken mount, badly dented housing). There are also instances where the original shocks may not be worn, damaged or leaking, but may no longer be enough for the task they are needed for. In such cases, upgrading the suspension with stronger or stiffer shock (or strut) is recommended to enhance vehicle performance.

But when exactly a shock or strut needs to be replaced is a bit challenging to say. Since the damping characteristics of shocks and struts depreciate gradually over time, the decline in drive control often passes unobserved. So by the time you think you need new shocks or struts; it is usually past the point when they ought to have been replaced. When these parts wear out over time they can cause a rattle or a thump noise because the strut is coming in contact with the body of the vehicle since this sustaining mount has disintegrated and is not cushioning the strut anymore.

Another way to determine whether or not you need new shocks or struts is to consider how your vehicle has been managing and riding lately. Does it bounce excessively when driving on rough roads or when hitting a bump? Does the nose dip when braking? Does the body sway excessively when cornering? Does the suspension bottom out when carrying extra passengers or weight?

There is also a simple test that can be performed to determine when your shocks need to be replaced. It is called a "bounce test". A "bounce test" is a sure means of checking the dampening capability of shocks and struts. This easy bounce test is just that, bouncing on the front of the vehicle and watching to find out how many times the vehicle bounces up and down before the bouncing stops. Too much bouncing indicates worn struts and shocks. Basically, what you need to do is bounce the car up and down using your body weight a couple of times. When you discontinue bouncing and free the car, it should level off after one stroke. After releasing the vehicle, it ought to bounce one time and should come back to a level spot. If the suspension continues to gyrate more than one or two times subsequent to rocking and releasing the bumper or body, your shocks or struts are practically telling you they are old and need to be replaced.

So that is how to tell when automotive shock absorbers should be replaced. Shocks and struts are generally replaced in pairs; though this is not very necessary if only one shock or strut is leaking or has suffered damage at a low mileage.

Shocks are a popular do-it-yourself item on most vehicles because they are easy to replace. But struts are not. Most struts require a fair amount of suspension dis-assembly and the wheels are usually realigned after replacing a strut. For this reason, it is more advisable to let a professional replace your struts. Make sure they take a test drive with you and hear the same sound you do. This is to ensure the work order you sign states the complaint properly not just "replace struts" so that if the noise is still present after the repairs you can use it to state what your original complaint was.

Car Repair Loans - Do They Exist?

Car repairs are expensive. While the initial cost of a car might not be that much, bringing that same car to the mechanic can easily empty your bank account. Hundreds of people lose money every day due to a car that doesn't work properly. If you rely upon your car to get to work, to pick up your children, and to simply get around town, you know how important your vehicle really is. But, what can you do if you just can't afford to pay for those pricey car repairs?

Have you considered applying for a car repair loan? That's right - car repair loans do exist. These loans are reserved exclusively for those that cannot pay for car repairs up front. While traditional lenders might provide loans to those with stellar credit, these lenders hardly every approve any kind of loan for those with poor credit. If your credit report isn't something that you are proud of, you can take solace in knowing that there are private lenders out there that will approve a car repair loan for you - no matter what your credit report might look like.

How does this type of loan work? While customary lenders will base your loan entirely upon your credit history, other private lenders will base a loan only upon your assets. This means that your bad credit report doesn't matter at all. All you need to have is some form of steady income, a car that's less than eight years old, car insurance, and a clear car title. Car repair loans through bad credit lenders are the easiest and most efficient way to fix your vehicle. Car owners with no credit, bad credit, and a history of bankruptcy can gain a specific car repair loan. This type of loan is also perfect for truck drivers.

Car repairs might cost a lot, but repairing a large truck is another kind of expense altogether. If your rig needs major alterations, don't skip another day of work. There are lots of loads out there that you might be missing out on if your truck doesn't work properly. Still, finding the money to repair a large truck might seem like an impossible feat. If you are stuck in this situation, you should know that car repair loans can apply to you as well - regardless of your credit history.

You'll also be happy to know that paying back this kind of loan is also easily attainable. Monthly payments will always be well within your budget, and you'll find those repayment terms easy to follow. Why should your credit report prevent you from getting where you need to go? It shouldn't. Instead, apply for your car repair loan online right now. Within moments, you should be approved for that loan that you so desperately need. Why put your life on hold due to car repairs? Instead of trying to scrape together the money for those large car or truck repairs, sign up for an Auto Title Loan... and get your life back in motion.

Car Maintenance Costs - The Real Story...

If you walked into your local car dealer and requested a 30,000-mile maintenance service, is it safe to assume that the dealer will follow manufacturer guidelines when servicing your car? Should the dealer "only" follow manufacturer guidelines? Can they bend the guidelines...?

Here's a recent and very common scenario that occurred at a local Toyota dealership....

A service customer called the dealer to schedule the manufacturer's recommended 30,000-mile service for his 2005 4-Cylinder Camry. However, the dealer added several services NOT included in the guidelines.

The additional services included a coolant flush (drain and refill), automatic transmission service (drain and refill), and a power steering fluid change.

According to the manufacturer, the coolant does not need to be replaced until 100,000 miles. The automatic transmission fluid can last until 120,000 miles. And there is no specific maintenance interval for the power steering fluid.

Now, before we throw the dealer under the bus, which, don't get me wrong, is always a blast to do, is there any legitimacy in recommending these extra services? Are there any circumstances where one may want to consider performing a coolant or transmission service 70,000 to 90,000 miles sooner than recommended by the manufacturer of the car? If we assume that we're not driving the vehicle beyond its limits, such as racing, off-road, or a high-speed police chase, the answer is no - not in this case.

There are times, however, when it is OK to venture outside manufacturer guidelines. The conditions include, but are not limited to: maintenance neglect, abuse, vehicle age, poor manufacturer design, and poor quality of fuel.

While each of the exceptions above are fun to explore, we should highlight fuel quality concerns. Poor gas quality often leads to carbon build up, which can be remedied by a professional fuel injection service. Aside from this fuel cleaning service (which no manufacturer recommends during regular maintenance), there is no service outside of the manufacturer guidelines that offers any real or lasting benefit.

So how can a dealer recommend services outside of the guidelines set by the manufacturer of the product that they sell and service?

The answer is that car dealerships (the majority anyway) are independent of the manufacturer. In other words, they're not bound to adhere to set guidelines. In fact, many dealers create there own maintenance schedules. This creative practice is increasing as manufacturers continue to extend maintenance services, stripping dealers of there usual high and comfortable profit margins.

Interestingly, in terms of service, a manufacturer and a dealer are in opposition of one another. Manufacturer's set vehicle maintenance schedules to keep vehicles maintained according to their standards; however, one of those standards is "low cost." Low maintenance costs net a positive image to the manufacturer. The service center in a dealership on the other hand, wants cars to be as "high cost" as possible to maintain.

Despite all this, there is another possibility worth exploring in this dealer versus manufacturer scenario. Given that the client called the dealer it's likely that he spoke with an untrained and under-qualified customer service representative. The representative may have misled the client, providing outdated maintenance recommendations, as the older Toyota's did in fact require the coolant and transmission services mentioned above.

In larger dealerships, telephones are usually answered by Call Centers. This is a group of people who know little about cars, but are generally pleasant on the phone. Call Center representatives are famous for providing misinformation and miss-reading a detailed automotive service menu, such as a 30,000-mile service on a 2005 4-Cylinder Camry. In other words, one of these representatives may have listed services which are NOT actually part of the service. This happens every day! Few notice...who actually remembers anything after: the service includes and oil and filter change, check fluids, belts, hoses, replace the air filter, set tire pressures....blah, blah, blah...

The owner of the Camry was quoted $450 - which - if the dealer was actually going to perform all that it stated, and the car actually needed it - would actually be a good deal.

The real and fair price according to manufacturer guidelines for a 30,000-mile service on a 2005 4-Cylinder Toyota Camry is $272.03 @ $100 per hour. To see the break down of FAIR charges visit: http://www.repairtrust.com/auto_repair_estimate_toyota_camry_4cyl_auto_2005_30k_serv.html

The service includes the following:

Inspections:

• Inspect ball joints and dust covers


• Inspect brake hoses/lines


• Inspect brakes, pads/discs/runout


• Inspect and test traction control


• Inspect CV joints and boots


• Inspect coolant


• Inspect automatic transmission fluid


• Inspect differential fluid (A/T trans)


• Inspect radiator/hoses


• Inspect steering system


• Inspect exhaust


• Inspect fuel system/lines/hoses/gas cap/induction system

The only items that actually get or require replacement:

• Engine oil and filter


• Cabin filter


• Air filter


• Transmission fluid (manual transmissions only)

Other services:

• Reset maintenance reminder light


• Rotate tires


• Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis

The frequency of manipulating the guidelines with extra services is astounding. And it's only one tactic of hundreds. Stretching pre-determined guidelines expands across all makes, models - foreign and domestic, and occurs at dealers, local shops and franchises. It occurs because the automotive service industry has zero accountability in any tangible sense.

Thus the service customer has no true advocate, information, or resources in which to turn, that can provide sound, fair, and reasonable prices and advice. For this reason alone, rests the creation of RepairTrust.

Auto Repair Shops Take Notice

The automobile service industry is on the move once again. Recent statistics show that the industry is increasing at the same rate as the economy. Many factors have contributed to this increase including the fact that the service industry is directly correlated to the automotive aftermarket industry which is nearing $150 Billion in 2006. Also, even though the number or repair shops in recent years have been declining, the number and frequency of repairs is on the rise. This is mostly contributed to the fact that the average life span of a car in 2005 jumped to 9 years as opposed to 6.5 in 1990. In addition, automobiles' increasing electronics ensure that more malfunctions need to be assessed.

The industry has always had a problem connecting with its customers. Recent surveys in years past have shown that Repair Shops on average overcharge their customers by 20%. In addition, the industry is highly fragmented with four basic types of repair facilities: Independent repair shops, gas service stations, Dealer-owned facilities, and Chain Stores. Also, there are over 80,000 repair shops nationwide giving consumers a wide variety of options. Internet search engines show that over 700,000 people search for auto repair every month and have limited results.

Most repair shops have little to no internet presence. If they do, they lack the notoriety that most search engines require to register them on consumers' search results pages. Therefore, the industry that is growing successfully isn't even connecting with the fastest growing sector of their market: Internet Consumers. Well, there is a solution.

This is the end of generic phonebook listings and the launch of a unique website; http://www.mechanicadvisor.com. This site bodes to be the future of online auto repair research. MechanicAdvisor.com was developed by auto repair enthusiasts. Their site was inspired by their constant frustration in automobile repair as they moved to Boston, MA which was also when they left their local mechanic at home.
The site offers a wide variety of services to consumers as well as auto repair professionals. Visitors are capable of finding, researching, and reviewing auto repair specialists in their area based on their location (Zip Code). They offer tips, links, and directions to shops. They also offer Auto Professionals the opportunity to use their site for free for 3 months to experience the benefits.

Their objective is to have customers' review and post recommendations on their site. Also, they seek to provide auto repair specialists with an online presence that will generate their business as the World Wide Web becomes an increasing avenue of auto repair research. In July of 2006, there were over 700,000 internet searches for "Auto repair" research (Network Solutions). However, MechanicAdvisor.com will be the first site directly related to those searches and the only one displaying customer reviews.

Visit the Dealership Instead of a Generic Mechanic When It Is Time for Repairs

As long as cars have needed repairs, there has always been one question: Should I visit the dealership to repair my car or should I go to another mechanic? There are definitely benefits and drawbacks to both dealership repair centers and smaller mechanics, but when it comes to the livelihood of your vehicle there is very little room for error. That is why it is best to go to the dealership when it comes time for car repairs. Still not convinced? Read on to see a few reasons why it is better to go to the dealership:

They Specialize in Your Vehicle
Dealerships not only staff a competent sales team that knows the ins and outs of the vehicles that are on their showroom floor, they also staff knowledgeable mechanics that know the ins and outs of your vehicle when it needs repairs. That is the main advantage of bringing your car to a dealership for repairs, their mechanic staff specializes in your car.

The mechanics at the dealership where you bought your car don't need to research your car to figure out how to fix it, like some smaller garages may need to. Mechanics at dealerships are often trained to repair vehicles similar to yours and are familiar with the parts and repairs that your vehicle may require. They are accustomed to working with vehicles exactly the same as, or similar to, yours. This familiarity allows them to do their job quickly and efficiently; ensuring that you will be able to drive your vehicle again as soon as possible.

They Have the Tools to Get the Job Done
One reason that dealership mechanics are better equipped to fix your vehicle is they have the parts and tools necessary to complete the job on hand. This specialization ensures that your vehicle will be given the utmost attention by experts.

Often smaller mechanic garages have to order the parts that you need in order to repair your car. This means extra time you have to be without your car, or even an additional cost for ordering the part. Sometimes a mechanic that is not familiar with your type of vehicle will use a similar part to repair your car that is not compatible with your car. This can lead to even worse damages than the original ones and will ultimately cost you more money to fix. The dealership where you purchased your vehicle will almost always have the exact part your car needs and the tools to install it.

Utilize the Warranty
Often when you purchase a vehicle from a dealership it comes with a warranty. Often that dealership will repair that vehicle at little to no cost while the vehicle is under warranty - depending on the warranty you are granted at the time of purchase. If you have a vehicle under warranty you will most likely want to have it repaired at the dealership as this will result in a lower cost for repairs. Also, if you have your vehicle repaired by someone other than the dealer you could void your warranty.

If you are given a warranty when you purchase your vehicle from a dealership then it is in your best interest to utilize that warranty. Often these warranties will allow you to repair your vehicle at the dealership at little to no cost. Smaller mechanic shops and garages don't often offer these guarantees and can void the warranty that you have with a dealer, in some cases. That is why it is important to consider utilizing your dealer when it is time to have your car repaired, especially if you have a warranty with that dealer.

Smaller, more local garages can have their benefits and are often more than adequate at fixing vehicles. But dealerships have distinct advantages like specializing in repairing your type of vehicle and having the parts and tools necessary to get the repairs done. So if your car is in need of repairs consider taking it to the dealership, you'll be happy you did.