Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Auto Repair Loans - Finance Your Car Repairs


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

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

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

Where To Get A Loan

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

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

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

Some Tips to Take Care of Your Car


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monday, August 26, 2013

The Battery In My Car Keeps Doing Down and I Have to Jump Start My Car


Reader Question: I have a new battery in my car, but something keeps draining the battery down and I have to keep jump starting my car. What else could be wrong with my car besides the battery?

If your new battery is going down "draining" and you have to continually jump start the battery to get the engine to start it is probably one of these problems:

o Alternator is not recharging the battery - alternator is faulty and needs to be repaired or replaced

o There is a "drain" on the battery, like something is left on.....dome light, radio, trunk light, etc. OR there is some kind of electrical item that is sucking battery power that you are unaware is running...like, a radio amplifier, an electric seat motor, electric antenna motor etc.

o A wiring problem, the electricity the alternator IS generating is not getting back to the battery, a broken "ground" wire on the back of the alternator or a faulty battery cable or battery cable end or just a loose or dirty battery cable could be the problem.

o Fuse problem, depending on what kind of car this is, some vehicles have an alternator fuse, either under the dash inside the car with the rest of the fuses or under the hood in the larger fuse and relay panel on some newer cars.

Bottom line: To properly diagnose a charging system problem, you must check all components on the vehicle. Your mechanic can test the battery "load", the alternator "output", and check for a voltage "draw" or something draining the battery with the engine and key off.

Auto Glass Repair - Sometimes Better Than a Replacement


You've been driving down the road and wham, a rock flies across and cracks your windshield. Now you have a huge gash or crack right down the middle. The longer you leave it the bigger those cracks can get. At that point you need to find someone to perform auto glass repair. It is a pretty simple procedure which is usually covered by most insurance companies. Many of the companies that perform such a service will meet you at your work or your home to perform the job for you.

Most of the auto glass repair procedures only take about thirty minutes or less to perform for you, that is if it is only a simple rock chip or small crack that isn't much bigger than a quarter. If your crack is much bigger than that it might take longer than thirty minutes to complete the task.

Many insurance companies will waive your deduction if you are willing to simply have auto glass repair performed versus replacing your entire windshield. If the crack or chip in your windshield is less than three inches in length or less you're car is a prime candidate for this type of service.

Now it's time to decide on who will be performing your auto glass repair. You need to consider what type of service you want. Do you need someone who comes to you or can you take it to them without any major crimps in your schedule? Are they reliable? Are they so busy that you'll have to wait weeks to have the window repaired or will you be able to get it fixed in a timely manner? All of these are of course extremely important questions.

You should look for a company who is willing to give you a free estimate on the work. If they can't tell you how much it's going to cost or charges you to tell you how much it's going to cost then they are not worth doing business with. You need someone who will work with your insurance and preferably someone who will fill out the paper work for you, making it much simpler on your part.

Do your research to ensure that you find company that is not going to rip you off to do a little auto glass repair. You need to find a certified company that backs their work with a guarantee, and having good consumer ratings is not a bad idea either.

Green Auto Careers 101: Smog-Busting Vehicle Emissions Inspectors


When you were a child, you played with toy trucks and cars, but along the shore of a treasured lake long frequented by your family. When you got your driver's license, you couldn't wait to take your first solo road trip: to participate in a shoreline cleanup project. You love nothing more than rolling down the windows and belting out the words to your favourite song on an empty stretch of highway, except for maybe turning the soil in your organic backyard garden and dreaming of the coming harvest. Is there any way to balance your love of wheels with your concern for the environment? In a word, yes. Today's auto technician training can prepare you for an environmentally minded automotive career of the future: vehicle emissions inspector.

If you are interested in automotive careers, but are searching for auto careers that reflect the values you hold dearest, consider taking auto technician training to become a vehicle emissions inspector.

This is one of the auto careers for which demand is expected to rise. Many provincial and state governments are bringing in legislation requiring cars to pass emission tests before drivers renew their registration or license plates. These programs are meant to improve human and environmental health by reducing the emissions that contribute to climate change. Emissions inspection is one of the automotive careers that help fight smog.

Wondering how the emissions test is actually performed? Qualified graduates of auto technician training first perform a visual check of the vehicle to look for such issues as:


  • missing gas caps

  • a smoking tailpipe

Gas caps are also inspected to make sure that they don't allow any vapours to seep out.

The other stages of the test depend on the type of vehicle:


  • full-time all-wheel drive

  • diesel

  • 1991 and older vehicles

  • 1992 and newer vehicles

Some vehicles are tested on something called a vehicle test stand. Other names for the stand used by those in auto careers include:


  • emission dyno

  • dynamometer

The vehicle test stand is essentially a treadmill that graduates of emissions auto technician training use to simulate actual driving conditions.

While a car is on the test stand, the vehicle emissions inspector inserts a sample probe or exhaust collection device into its tailpipe. This probe is connected to a computer, which measures for such smog-forming pollutants as:


  • nitrogen oxides

  • carbon monoxide

  • hydrocarbons

The emissions inspector drives the car following a prescribed cycle of acceleration, while tracking performance on a video screen. The test can take as little as four minutes.

There is also a test called the "curb idle" test, which simulates congested city traffic (e.g., idling during a traffic jam), testing the car at low speed and again as it idles. Some cars are also submitted to something called the two-speed idle test.

Interested in emissions-inspection auto careers? Look for auto technician training at a local college that offers classes in emissions testing, and prepare now for one of the environmentally friendly automotive careers of the future.

How Water Expands The Crack in Chipped Windshields


The extreme weather conditions of Winter can be damaging to a chipped windshield. Winter and Summer can be the worst time of the year for those chipped and cracked windshields. The winter weather can be brutal on windows with cracks, most of us do not realize how the structural integrity of the windshield may be jeopardized. You may have a small nick or chip and put off repairing your windshield then time goes on and winter brings rain and freezing temperatures frosting up your windshield. Using hot water or the defroster to get rid of the frost on the window can cause the crack to expand and promote further cracking that may cause expensive replacement of your windshield. Water entering a crack through a chipped, cracked or nicked windshield can be a real problem, and the compaction of getting the water and moisture out is a very challenging task if not done properly, but is very essential in able to repair the windshield correctly.

After water enters a cracked windshield it is very difficult to remove and almost impossible to repair properly if not removed before repair. To remove the moisture from the cracked windshield a vacuum must be applied to the chipped or cracked area of the windshield. Sometimes drilling the chipped or cracked area is necessary to remove air and moisture. The windshield must be heated in the chipped or cracked area usually by using a heat lamp allowing the water to be vaporized and the water vapor can be removed under a vacuum before repair.

We all know what happens to water when it freezes. What happens to the water that entered your cracked windshield when it's below 32 degrees or colder? It freezes and expands, now what do you think is going to happen to that small chip and or crack? Most cracked out windshields started as small rock chip or crack and ignored until it's to late to repair. Do you now need a new windshield because that small chip has a crack that spread across the windshield?

This is what can happen when winter rains allow water to enter your cracked windshield, and winters cold temperatures freeze the water that is now inside your windshield, which can and will lead to costly replacement of the windshield. The constant temperature changes also cause the windshield glass to expand and contract helping small cracks or star breaks to expand, when this happens it can cause the windshield to crack all the way to the edge, if not promptly and properly repaired by a windshield repair technician.

So in conclusion it comes to our attention that winter is the time to have your windshield repaired right away before moisture penetrates the windshield and winters freezing temperatures cause expansion, further damage and cause the windshield to crack out.

Auto Repair Financing - For Shop Owners


On Friday, how many of those "hang-around" cars do you have sitting in your parking lot that have been waiting for the customer to pay?

How many jobs did not get collected this week because the customer could not come up with the money?

Few of our customers expect a transmission or major engine failure.

"I didn't budget for this."

"Cash is tight. I really can't afford to fix my car right now."

"I think I am going to just buy another car."

"Let me talk to my wife."

Some shops hear this almost every day. Sometimes the customer is too proud to say it and never shows back up.

If you are a transmission repair shop, how do we keep more of these customers from going the "used transmission" or "used engine" route or going to a car dealer to trade in their vehicle?

Several ways:

  • Provide better financing programs for customers.

  • Provide finance programs that are not based on high credit scores.

  • Provide no credit check financing.

Each car on your lot has a story. The longer it sits there, the longer the story gets! But the bottom line is that you have a car taking up parking space and the money is not in your bank.

You can try getting them approved through ARC90 with no credit check. Customer needs:

  • Steady income (paystub)

  • Valid checking account. No overdrafts (bank statement).

  • 25% down (check)

If approved, you can get advanced up to $1500 or $2500 on the job. It's free to try and is very easy for both you and your customer.

How easy? Simply call your customer and have them bring you a paystub, their last checking account statement, a check and their ID for an approval.

If approved, you tack on 9% to the bill, customer pays 25% down, you have the ability to get funded $1500 or $2500, and you are good to go.

The customer will make weekly or bi-weekly payments for 6 months on the balance direct to the finance company. If your job price exceeds the advance, you will get funded the rest as the customer pays.

Plus you can get more customers. If a customer in your area comes to RepairFinancing.com looking for no credit check car repair financing, we will refer them your way! Ask about our referral program.

The Numbers and Costs:

  • No signup fee, waived for auto repair/transmission repair shops.

  • No monthly fee

  • No monthly minimums

  • No equipment to buy

  • They take 9%. Build it into your price

ARC90 can take the hassles of post-dated checks and collection nightmares away--while you can get funded in advance on certain approvals.