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Summer Maintenance For Your Car 4 Key Items To Check

August 26th, 2010 No comments

A lot of people worry about the condition of their vehicles, especially as they continue to rack up miles on their engines. When summer arrives, they wonder whether their cars can tolerate grueling road trips while providing a comfortable, reliable ride. As a form of insurance, many drivers take their vehicles to their local mechanics to have a complete checkup performed. Much of the work your mechanic will do can be avoided by taking a few maintenance steps of your own.

This article will provide an overview of the items you can inspect to make sure your car is prepared for the warm months. The following details are easier to check than you may imagine.

1 – Check Your Hoses And Belts

Your car’s hoses deteriorate with time. Moreover, the deterioration usually begins from the inside, and works its way outward. Not only are the hoses made of rubber (which decays with age), but they’re exposed to an enormous amount of heat while your car is running. After tens of thousands of miles, the rubber becomes less flexible, and eventually, brittle. Cracks will form as the rubber splits.

Belts, too, deteriorate with time. As you drive, they rotate constantly over a series of pulleys, bending to conform to the shape dictated by the rotation. This activity generates heat, which slowly causes the rubber to become less flexible (similar to hoses). After hundreds of thousands of rotations, the belts become brittle, and either fray or break.

The deterioration of your hoses and belts is relatively easy to see. Pop your vehicle’s hood and take a look. If you notice cracking in the hoses, replace them. If a belt appears to be on the verge of breaking, have it replaced.

2 – Check Your Battery’s Voltage

Your battery should last four or five years, unless something is wrong with your vehicle’s charging system. When it is brand new, it can hold its voltage well. This means your car’s alternator doesn’t need to work as hard to recharge it. As the battery ages, however, it becomes steadily less capable of holding its charge, placing an increasing strain on your alternator.

Let your vehicle sit overnight. The following morning, with the engine off, connect a voltage meter to the terminals, and take a reading. If the voltage is between 12.5 and 12.8, your battery is fine. If not, you may need a replacement.

3 – Check All Of The Fluids

Most people realize they need to change the oil in order to keep their engines in good working condition. A lack of oil deprives your engine of lubrication, which leads to overheating and damage. A lot of drivers, however, neglect to check their transmission fluid. It is just as important as the oil in your engine.

While you’re checking the oil and transmission fluid, take the opportunity to inspect the fluid level for your brakes and power steering. These rarely need to be replenished, but if there’s a leak, now is the time to identify and resolve it.

4 – Check Your Tires For Pressure, Wear, And Damage

Your tires should be filled with the recommended psi listed in your owner’s manual. You should already be in the habit of checking the pressure once every few weeks. Replenish it if needed. More problematic is uneven wear and damage. If you notice the former, it usually indicates a misalignment. Rotating your tires will help. So, too, will buying a new set. But until the misalignment is resolved, your tires will continue to wear more quickly than they should.

Tire damage should be fixed as soon as possible since it represents a potential safety issue. When damaged tires are under stress, they can blow out, causing you to lose control of your vehicle. If you notice raised areas along the sidewall, small gashes, or treads that are separating, buy a replacement tire.

Getting your car road-ready for the summer doesn’t require much time (unless major repairs are necessary). It’s mostly a matter of checking a few key items as part of your regular preventative maintenance.

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Categories: Automotive

Where To Look For Wheel And Tire Discount Package Specials

August 26th, 2010 No comments

When you need new wheels on your vehicle, you can find wheel and tire discount package specials La Habra CA. You just need to know where to look.

You will find that you Sunday newspaper is stuffed with flyers announcing sales. Often these are only occurring at certain locations and for a limited time. So, you need to read them carefully and only go to those stores advertised. If you visit those stores before the sale ends, you can take advantage of the savings.

The internet is also a great way to locate savings. You can use a search engine to find coupons and other specials. Just search for coupons for the types of tires and wheels you will be purchasing. You could find sales events there that were not listed in the newspaper. And if you find coupons, make sure you use them before the indicated expiration date.

You may find super deals that include four tires for the price of three. Or if a wheel is no longer going to be carried at a store, they may put a super sale price on it. You can save fifty percent, or even seventy-five percent, and it may even depend on the time of the year.

Holiday sales may begin in November and run through New Years Day. Labor Day sales will be in the beginning of September. And you may even find special sales during the beginning of summer, too.

Some stores will charge you for the installation of the tires and wheels. Others have that service for free. There are also auto parts stores and mechanics that will recommend an alignment with new wheels. This is an important part of your maintenance plan for your vehicle. But sometimes they do not have the equipment to properly align your new wheels. In this case, they will send you to another store. If they are acting as a broker, this could cost you more. It might be wise to see that a store can install and align your tires all at the same time, and in the same place.

You should be able to find wheel and tire discount package specials La Habra CA, because there is so much competition. Just drive down a main road that has many mechanics. They might have balloons and banners up advertising their specials of the day.

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Categories: Automotive

4 Ways To Increase Automotive Performance

August 26th, 2010 No comments

In these days of high gasoline prices, it may seem ridiculous to consider ways to increase your car’s performance as they are almost always associated with increased fuel consumption. However, there are four ways to increase performance that do not have to negatively impact your gas mileage. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

1. Reusable Air Filters. Landfills are stuffed with items we use once and then throw out. Auto air filters are one such item and through the life of a car you can go through 6-12 of them with no problem. For approximately three times the price, washable and reusable air filters are a great alternative. When you purchase one it likely will be the last air filter your car will ever need. Reusable air filters enable you to gain slight increases in horsepower and acceleration as well as to impact the environment in a positive way.

2. Performance Chips. All new cars are operated by a computer chip that tells how much torque and horsepower can be displaced. Performance chips or recalibrations of your current chip can produce significant increases in horsepower and torque for your vehicle.

3. Performance Exhaust Systems. Cat-back or “catalyst-back exhaust systems” are a great way to free up trapped torque and to unleash horsepower. Keeping all the important emissions parts in place, a cat-back system incorporates large width exhaust pipes and low restriction performance mufflers into your car thereby lowering exhaust back pressure. A side benefit is the really awesome sound emitting from the exhaust system.

4. Cold Air Intake. A cold air intake is an under the hood mod that helps to reduce the temperature of the air entering the car for the sole purpose of increasing the power of the engine. Side benefits include enhancements to the appearance of the engine bay as this part can be attractive and colorful; the sound the unit makes is also appealing.

Costs for each of these performance enhancements can vary greatly. Shopping online with a trusted wholesaler is one of the best ways to find top quality parts at the lowest possible prices. By doing the work yourself, you can save a bundle and enjoy the fruits of your labor in no time.

This article brought to you by best 7 passenger vehicle in conjunction with Car Rental Adelaide

Categories: Automotive