Read Your Car's Owner's Manual

Read Your Car’s Owner’s
Manual

By Jason Green

Have you ever saw a light on your car’s
gauge display and wondered just what the heck that light meant? Today’s cars
are highly tuned, technically advanced machines. How are you suppose to know
what some light that you have never seen before is trying to tell you? Well the
answer should be painfully obvious, but most car owners seem to overlook the
best resource available to them to answer a question like this, the car’s
owner’s manual! That’s right, the owner’s manual. This beautiful book holds a
plethora of information!

I recommend reading the whole thing,
but if you are looking for a specific item or bit of advice, then turn to the
index. Most questions that you may have about your car can be easily found
using this tool as a quick guide to what page of your owner’s manual to turn to
for the answer to your question. As for
the question to “what is that light?” there it is, on page 34… “Instrument
Panel”! If the indicator light refers to
a serious issue the owner’s manual will even refer you to where to service your
car, usually the dealership (of course), unless not feasible given your
location at the time.

Categories vary in the owner’s
manual. Common sections include…

-Vehicle Maintenance (Oil Changes/Other Fluid Changes/&
Filter Changes)

-Audio System (Radio/CD/Satellite)

-Door Locks (Power/Remote/Manual)

-Instrument Panel (Check Engine Light/Other Indicators
Lights/Gauges)

-Climate Control (Heating/Air Conditioning)

-Airbags & Seat Belts

-Specifications (Fuel Type/Oil Type)

-Emergency Roadside (Spare Tire Location/& Towing)

And many more items are highlighted in
the index. Unlike the randomly picked
items above, the items in the index will be listed alphabetically for quick
reference. Chances are if you have a
question about your car, the answer will be here.

Indicator lights in particular are a
good idea to look up in the owner’s manual.
Did you know an illuminated airbag light may prevent the airbags from
deploying in an accident? Did you know
that if your check engine light comes on, you can first check to see if your
fuel cap is tight before taking the car in for diagnosis? This information is right there, in that book
in your glove box!

Over the years working in the
automotive service industry I have spent much of that time answering questions
over the phone and in person for people that had a question that was right
there in the owners manual. Job security
for me, but still there available to you first if read. Of course not everything can be solved with this
reference book, but you may be surprised!

Top 5 Reasons to Select an ASE Certified Mechanic to Repair Your Car

Top 5 Reasons to Select an ASE Certified Mechanic to Repair Your Car
By Ron Haugen

It’s time. Your car needs a repair and you didn’t plan for it ahead – tsk, tsk. Now you need to find a good, dependable, quality mechanic, stat! Where do you go? How do you choose? There are many ways to evaluate mechanics and compare one against another, but one key way is to select an ASE Certified Mechanic. You’ve probably heard the phrase “ASE Certified” in relation to vehicles before, but what does it mean and why is it good? It refers to the National Institute for Automobile Service Excellence. The certification has been in existence since 1972 and here’s all you need to know about why you should only select an ASE Certified Mechanic to repair your car.

1) ASE Certified mechanics have to pass a specialized exam. There are eight different specialties available for a mechanic to choose to be certified in. The specialization could be in specific areas such as: engine repair, automotive trans/transaxle, manual drive train and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical / electronic systems, heating and air conditioning, or engine performance. Now, just passing an exam doesn’t necessarily make a mechanic qualified to work on your car; however, it does show that they have been educated in the specifics of how to diagnose and repair the components contained within their chosen specialty.

2) To be ASE Certified, you can’t just pass the exam. One is also required to have at least two years of ‘relevant’ work experience. Now we’re talking! So they have to pass a test and then work in the field for at least two years before they are eligible to be certified by the ASE.

3) The ASE also has higher levels of education, seriously, for mechanics. That’s something to be impressed with in any profession. The ability to, and the subsequent decision to pursue continuing education to become a Certified Master Mechanic shows me that this mechanic both loves his craft and appreciates that it’s an ever-changing field with these fast-paced technology advancements in the auto-making industry. [A] Master Mechanic has passed all eight specialty exams!

4) Ethics. In addition to the training and work-requirements, an ASE Certified Mechanic is held accountable to a commitment he or she has made to only engage in ethical business practices. Finally! A mechanic we can trust!

5) ASE Certified Mechanics are sought after by the most reputable dealerships and garages; why wouldn’t you demand the same level of professionalism and training that others in the industry require?

Seriously though, most mechanics are good honest citizens just trying to make a living doing something they enjoy or have always been good at. But we’ve all heard the horror stories of shysters and crooks in the auto mechanic industry, and quite frankly it’s made us gun-shy. Asking for a mechanics certifications and only choosing ASE Certified Mechanics to perform your auto repairs will save you a tremendous amount of worry and headaches down the road. It’s nice to just not have to worry about whether it’s being done right and whether you’re being treated fair. An ASE Certified Mechanic takes the stress out of car repairs.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go tohttp://www.westsideautopros.com

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Haugen

6 Steps to Finding and Selecting the Right Windshield Repair Company

By Leonard Paulsen

Looking for any type of repair service can definitely be a daunting task, and a windshield repair company is no exception.  As soon as you begin researching your options, you will notice huge differences in price.  Of course, the first question in your head is "why is there such a huge price difference?!" and "should I be worried if I go with the cheaper option?".

Well, to answer the second question first, yes and no.  If it is really a CHEAPER option, then yes.  If it is just a less expensive option, all while maintaining the same level of quality, then you may not need to worry.  So "how do I know?!"  you are probably asking.  First, and foremost, if you are looking for the least expensive, but reliable option, check to make sure that they have a business license (yes, there are many that don't).  Do they have liability insurance?  This is very important, especially since we are talking about the windshield of your car, which is a big safety concern!

Lastly, do they have a physical shop location?  Well, you may ask, is that really necessary if they are licensed and insured?  While not necessarily 100 percent necessary, it is definitely good for two reasons.  One, it shows the business is probably established enough to be able to afford a shop (which is not cheap), and even more importantly, you have somewhere to go if something is wrong with the repair afterwards!

Okay, so you have picked a few windshield repair shops that meet those three criteria, but there are still big differences.  Why?  At this point there are three more areas to evaluate.  The first two are direct impact on necessary overhead.  Number one is the size of the building that they have, and the location.  Obviously, a large, 30,000 sq/ft building has a way larger overhead, than say a 4-5k sq/ft shop.  Number two is, what is the brand of windshield that they will be installing.  Just like anything, there are premium brands, and less expensive brands.  Just keep in mind, that while there are some benefits to premium glass, the less expensive versions still meet safety requirements, and all glass will break if struck by a hard object.

The third item to look at before you choose a windshield replacement company, is their reviews.  Always check to see what other customers have had to say.  More importantly, recent reviews.  Employees can turnover in shops, just like any business, and there may have been hiccups in the past, but make sure that current reviews look good.  If you see something questionable, ask what type of guarantee they give.  If they are even half reputable, they should offer a lifetime warranty on the actual work performed.

So, what have we determined through these steps?  The first three allowed us to determine how legit each option was, as well as ensure that there is someone to hold accountable for their work.  The second three, allowed us to determine whether cost differences were from a company just having higher overhead (while offering the same product and service).  If you can find a reliable company, with good reviews, and offering you a product that satisfies you, by all means, go with that option.

Being that safety is a huge concern here though, I strongly urge you to not just go with the cheapest option, just because it is the cheapest.  Many people do, and while some are happy, many are frustrated and regretful afterwards.  But this doesn't mean you have to use the most expensive option either.  Just follow these steps while doing your research, and you will greatly increase your chances of getting a great deal, as well as great service!

Pro Tip:  Also make sure to ask companies about price matching, especially the local businesses (not franchise).

While we all hope that we will never have the need for a windshield repair service, the fact is that most of us will.  Follow these steps, and happy searching!

Article Source:  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leonard_Paulsen