DeLimit Your Car Repair and Services by Following These Simple Guidelines

Maintaining good performance during the life of your vehicle does take a little diligence and work, but it pays off in the long run when you have a vehicle with fewer repairs and expenses over time. While you cannot avoid all potential problems and even the best vehicles will need maintenance at some point, you can effectively limit the car repairs and services by following a few guidelines and responding to potential trouble points early on.

The first step is reducing the number of car repairs and services, at least in terms of cost, is a relatively easy one. Its understanding what is covered under your warranty and what is not. Generally speaking, if you have a new vehicle and it's under warranty this means that you are generally responsible for all repairs to the parts of the vehicle that experience the most wear, most notably the tires, oil changes, brake pads and the like. Knowing what you are responsible for certainly limits to a significant extent what you have to keep your eye on in terms of keeping your car in good condition.

Fluids: This generally consists of the oil, transmission and radiator fluids. If you can keep these fluids at normal levels, you can avoid many potential problems which create car repairs and services. Check the fluids on a regular basis, such as once per month or when you notice a leak or wet patch below the engine of the vehicle. Sometimes a wet patch, such as radiator fluid, may be a one-time release of excess fluids under pressure which is normal. However, your vehicle should not be leaking oil or transmission fluid and this is a time to have it checked by a mechanic before something major happens.

Tires: Keep your tires properly inflated and have them rotated on a regular basis. When you get an oil change have them rotate the tires as well. This way, they can wear more evenly and create fewer "weak" spots on the tire which can lead to a potential blow-out. If you notice the tread of one tire becoming very thin, you should replace that tire and one other in order to keep proper balance.

Lube: Having the axles lubed regularly can help prevent rust from accumulating and creating potential weak points in the structure of the vehicle.

Transmission & Radiator Fluid: You should have your transmission and radiator fluids flushed on a regular basis according to the manufacturer's recommendations. What this does is flush out any build up that might cause a potentially serious situation in your car's engine.

Of course, proper prevention of car repairs and services does not mean running to your mechanic every time you hear a knock or ping sound, but it does mean that if you notice something significant in the performance of your vehicle, the taking the proper action of car repairs or services should be warranted as soon as possible since catching potential problems early can save you plenty of money later on.

When To File An Auto Insurance Claim

When is it Better Not to Tell Your Auto Insurance Company?:

To File or Not to File, That is the Question: A few year's ago, my wife got into a minor accident in a parking lot. There was no damage to our car, but the other vehicle had about $900 in damages. The accident was our fault and we filed with our insurance company. Although this was the first accident we had filed for in over 10 years, our monthly insurance premium increased by about $10 about 8 months after the accident. I complained to the auto insurance company, but was told that I had submitted a claim above $800, so an increase was mandatory.

Although the policy of don't ask, don't tell seemed like a good idea for the military, should it be the same with auto insurance company? As you see, telling can lead to bigger premiums. In my case it wasn't too big, but it's the principal of the issue (no claims for 10 years and then this?). There are times when you just pay for damages on your own, but what's the threshold for paying on your own and filing a claim? What do you NOT tell your auto insurance company?

If you want your door repainted every time someone bangs into it, that is your right, but be prepared for your auto insurance company to raise your rates. Depending on how many and for what dollar amount your claims are for, your policy may not even be renewed at the next renewal period. Just like your homeowner's insurance, each time you call in a claim, it will go on your transferable record. Believe it not, auto insurance companies hire hundreds of gossipy aunts just to share news with each other. It's a fact, they do share information about each other's clients. Bottomline, you can no longer switch companies to avoid being charged for a comprehensive claim. If you let your auto insurance lapse for nonpayment, you will be stuck with high-risk insurance for three years. Does this sound like a problem? It could be, but, for now, most body shops won't contact your auto insurance company if you take your car in to be fixed on your own.

Steps to take to determine what to do

If you have some dents you want fixed, and you aren't sure whether to file a claim or not, first take it to a body shop and see what it would cost. If it is less than or slightly more than your deductible, pay for the repairs yourself. Some experts say that you can save a lot on auto insurance by simply raising
your collision and comprehensive deductibles. This will lower your monthly premiums. In the best of worlds, you would sock the savings into your own special savings account to accumulate for the time you will need it.

WARNING! WARNING! DANGER! DANGER! - When to report

If you have an accident with another vehicle, immediately report it to the police AND your auto insurance company. Even if it seems no one is hurt, if you don't file, the odds are good that the other guy will. And, if his is the only story on file, guess which one will be believed several months down the road!

Any time two vehicles are involved, you can bet that one is going to file an auto insurance claim. Be sure your report is filed first. Get the names and addresses of any witnesses to back you up. Note time and day, road conditions, exact description of the damage to both cars. You'd be amazed at how hitting someone on the right front bumper can cause damage to the rear of a car, if you don't have the damage noted.

There are times when not reporting a minor incident is a good idea. If the damage is less than your deductible, you won't get anything anyway - except a ding on your auto insurance report. But if another vehicle, or worse, damage to someone else's property has been done, then immediately report it.

Car Repair - Top 10 Tips to Get Your Car Fixed Right

It can be quite difficult to get your car fixed right the first time. Car dealerships and auto repair centers lack qualified technicians. Their systems of operation are inefficient, and their knowledge base and training is usually behind the curve. Moreover, at a car dealership, the person with whom you're discussing technical problems (the service advisor) usually has little "in-depth" experience with cars and thus cannot accurately translate your particular issue to the mechanic. This leads to the frustration, confusion, and disappointment we so often experience with car repair. Here's what you can do...

While one option is to find another car dealership or repair shop, it's often not an option. Here's how you can work better with your repair center so they understand your concern and can fix your automobile right. Let's use the example of a vehicle with an intermittent stalling condition. Intermittent issues are very difficult to diagnose for even an experienced technician. In fact, some won't even bother to investigate until the stall occurs more frequently. While I appreciate this position, having fixed cars for 20 years, it makes for a horrendous service experience, and often dangerous driving conditions for you - a stall in the middle of traffic or an intersection or on the highway puts lives at risk.

With intermittent car issues, many repair shops will simply state they can't reproduce the problem, and that their hands are tied. They'll say things like, there are no stored trouble codes in your vehicle's computer system, or that they have road tested the vehicle and found no problem. This indeed is often the case. However, it leaves you with nothing. Try the following:

1) When you schedule your appointment, request that the shop foreman and/or senior technician (or team leader) be the one to diagnose the condition.

2) Think about exactly when the condition occurs (e.g., in the rain, on the highway at 60MPH, when you take a turn...etc). You can relay this to the service advisor in a story, rather than technical terms - tech talk is their job. You can say, "every other day, when driving to work on a very bumpy road at approximately 30MPH my car intermittently shuts off"...etc)

3) Request that you go for a ride with the service advisor, technician, or service manager so that you can show them exactly what's happening.

4) If your car's condition is very intermittent, authorize your service center to have the shop foreman drive the vehicle home overnight, if necessary.

5) Ask if there are any recalls and/or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) related to your symptoms. The mechanics should do this, but they often ignore this step.

6) Have a car dealership address difficult repairs. They are (arguably) the best equipped, and have access to the most accurate and current information and knowledge base.

7) If necessary, ask for the service manager to escalate your concern to the manufacturer representative. These reps have access to the best of the best technicians.

8) Schedule an appointment with the service manager to let him know what's going on so he can pay extra attention and ensure the right people are working on your car.

9) Make sure that everything that is done (e.g., diagnostic tests, computer scans...etc) is documented with results so that there is a point of reference if diagnostics get more involved, or you have to take it somewhere else.

10) Be nice. The car industry is a very negative environment. If you can be calm, pleasant, but firm, you'll be a breath of fresh air and get results.

Chevy Blazer Auto Repair

Chevy Blazer is one of the respected vehicles around the world. Chevy Blazer along with S-15 Jimmy were appreciated for their good performance and low maintenance cost. Chevy Blazer is a medium sized SUV that was introduced by General Motors in 1983. The S-series vehicles were superb, but Chevy Blazer was a hit for its own reasons such as excellent mileage and other special qualities. Basically, Blazer is designed with tough and highly reliable Chevy Blazer parts. Chevy Blazer auto repair is not a major problem because Blazer is designed in such a manner that it requires minimum or no maintenance.

The most durable Chevy Blazer parts are ideal and long lasting. Though reliable, as an owner of Chevy Blazer you need to give special attention in maintenance department. The first step in Chevy Blazer auto repair includes regular checking with care. You are really lucky enough because Chevrolet has reputation of more than hundred years of providing trusted cars. The Chevy Blazer parts have definitely carried this trust forward and have promised to provide you with a vehicle that is trust worthy.

The Chevy Blazer auto repair manual is the best way of starting your journey with Chevy Blazer. The manual will provide you with step-by-step directions in any critical condition. Many on-line sites are offering this manual at the cost of very few dollars. The manual is hit and appreciated by many Blazer lover fans around the world. It is not always that major problem is the cause of breakdown of your car. It is possible to repair a car on your own if you have guidance and knowledge of the make of your car. The Chevy Blazer auto repair manual can provide you with all such details and save lot of dollars in the future.

The Chevy Blazer auto repair has become as easy as driving your car. The manual can definitely help you with guidance from simple to complex problems. You can easily understand the real problem of your Blazer car. Many minor things such as over heating, starting problems, fluid maintenance, changing your motor oil, break fail, oil leakages, battery maintenance, tier maintenance, rust problems, etc can be easily solved with Chevy Blazer auto repair manual.

I do not want to state that you can solve the major problems on your own. A specialist is the right person in major breakdowns. Still, you need to keep a close watch on him. Sometimes he can easily deceive you by replacing the improper part in your car. This can lead to more trouble in future. You need to assure that the affected part is properly replaced with unique Cherry Blazer part. Even if you are not an expert, you can easily locate it by reading Chevy Blazer auto repair manual.

The Chevy Blazer auto repair manual is a complete guide of your beautiful car. Minor repairs, maintenance, and service will no longer depend on professionals. You can easily do it on your own and enjoy the best performance of your Chevy Blazer car.

Female Technicians In Auto Body Repair A Welcome Development

Two recent news articles recently spotlighted the fact that despite stereotypes and appearances, the auto body repair business is not the exclusive domain of men. To be sure, women have been present in the auto repair business for decades but more often than not, this was in the administrative side of the business. These two women, one a teenager and the other quite a bit older, literally know the nuts and bolts of the business.

The first article noted the achievement of a teenage female technician who won a state auto body repair skills championship competition, besting a field dominated by males. In so doing, the native of Wisconsin won for herself $10,000 dollars plus a few more grants and scholarships as a result of her success. Her performance at the state championship automatically won her a slot at the national SkillsUSA championship in Kansas City. Here, she finished 10th against more than 40 male competitors. This additional achievement earned her recognition from the Women's Industry Network, an association which seeks to enhance women's roles in the collision repair industry through education and the sharing of resources. But despite these affimations of her repair skills, she is not set on her career path because of the prejudices she has encountered along the way.

In the other news release, a 5-decade old auto body repair business run by the 58-year old daughter of the shop founder was cited for its achievements through the year. Gaining recognition for the quality of its work and the professionalism of its personnel, this particular repair shop does not make a distinction between hiring male and female technicians. Skill and attitude are what counts for this CEO, not gender. And this attitude has manifested itself in the consistent quality of its work. But an innovative touch is having the female employees wear pinks shirts. Aside from proudly displaying the presence of female technicians in the shop, this female auto body repair shop owner has found that women customers feel more at ease about seeing, and talking to, women who treat them as equals.

In both these cases, early exposure to auto body fabrication and an atmosphere of being close to cars would have made both these women comfortable in the industry. At a time when the auto repair industry is complaining of a declining labor force in the sector, seeing female technicians as equally capable professionals in the auto body repair industry is a breath of fresh air.

Good Enough Doesn't Cut It In Auto Body Repair

With employers having free and easy access to cheap yet skilled foreign labor, cheap robotics, cheap software, cheap automation and cheap talent, is it any wonder that the U.S. jobs market is not recovering as the nation's business and political leaders want it to? A classic example of this dilemma is when President Obama asked Steve Jobs what it would take to bring iPhone manufacturing back to the U.S. Jobs' answer was simple, "They're not coming back."

Managers or owners of auto body repair shops may think that this matter doesn't concern them, and it's true that the loss of manufacturing jobs doesn't directly concern them. But the situation above was cited because the loss of manufacturing jobs resulted from average and relatively expensive labor competing with equally skilled (or even better) labor able to do work for much less. In the auto body repair industry where customers can't really opt for overseas workers, there may be an attitude of traditional skills and work attitudes being good enough for quality repair work.

Auto body repair shop owners who take pride in quality repair work would feel slighted if their work was described as average. When automobile manufacturers are increasing their quality while fighting off competitors, shop owners are practically in the same situation. There are a lot more collision and auto body repair shops these days, with varying degrees of workmanship. Even if one has the most up-to-date equipment, diagnostic tools and software aids, quality repair work comes down to how a repaired vehicle looks and drives when it leaves the shop. This is where the skill and dedication of the shop's technicians come to the fore. But as a shop owner or manager, do you take efforts to maintain a competitive edge for your business? Do you provide opportunities for your employees to improve their skills? Organizations like the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) have training programs that will give your employees the edge they need to compete in the business. And with automakers certifying specific shops to ensure that their products undergo quality repair work, there is a need for shops to step up their game in order to be certified by automobile manufacturers.

Increasingly, this trend is being the route taken even by domestic manufacturers in order to ensure that their vehicles which need auto body repair receive quality repair work. With sophisticated sensors, electronics and new materials and manufacturing techniques a part of today's cars, collision repair shops that are content with being just average will soon find themselves below average.

Skilled Mechanic Wage Study Review

Well what is a good mechanic worth these days? You cannot place a value on them simply as labor units as they teach in management school, they are worth more than money. So why not treat them with respect and dignity and pay them what they are worth, we believe that the national averages are too low. There is a partial report on the Automotive and Trucking Sector from the Fed's Beige Book, June 2002.

I do not concur with all these numbers, but this is an average and a good indication of some since of reality. Certainly the numbers are incorrect for North Eastern US, Houston, Dallas, Denver, LA, PHX, Seattle, Atlanta, Detroit, and Minneapolis. The report states that Government Mechanics for Diesel Engines average wage is $17.93 per hour, auto $16.90. For parts companies where knowledge is key since parts are parts is $15.48 diesel, $16.87 auto. Repair Stations Diesel $14.74, auto repair shops $12.35. Trucking and Delivery $14.50 diesel, auto $12.15.

School Districts averages $14.60, auto $11.80, great? Our most precious commodity and the future of this nation, our kids? The low end of the mechanic scale is schools? Ouch.

Well the Oil Change Quick Lube is even less. Labor to start at Jiffy Lube is $6.75 in some locations. We can guarantee you if you want to reduce turnover at your Oil Change Facility, you will have to pay more than that. Some oil change companies claim a 60% turnover per year, which is only a tad better than a fast food restaurant.

Even at ten dollars per hour in suburban areas, you are barely getting by for the quality help your customers deserve.

Think about it.