I was in the middle of a busy intersection waiting to turn left. There was an opening so I started to turn and that’s when my car died. I couldn’t believe it. I tried restarting it but nothing happened. Even worse, it was just starting to get dark and I was afraid the oncoming cars wouldn’t see me. There is some good news to this story. The road sloped downhill so I coasted through the intersection without getting wiped out by oncoming traffic.

The car rolled down the incline and on the right had side was a plaza, so I turned into it, aiming for a parking space that it had just enough momentum to do. Trying the ignition again proved useless as there was no contact and it would not start.

After contacting three different mechanics which gave me three completely different solutions, I was just confused. The three scenarios were: the starter went out, the alternator would need to be replaced and the third was just to rebuild the entire engine. As you can see, each of these were unrelated and would have very different price estimates.

I did some research on Google to find out what the problem could possibly be. I found that the make and model of the car that I had been driving was notorious for just stopping as it did for me. The part was a computerized one and the vehicle part had been recalled. I was quite lucky to be in a place where I could get out of harms way rapidly.

Now, what can a person do to avoid something like this happening to them? I’ve come up with a few tips:

* Before purchasing a vehicle – take some time and research the particular model you are interested in. Find out the good, the bad and the ugly before putting down your money. You can do a lot of this on your computer.

* Spend some time finding a reliable mechanic. Ask your family and friends for referrals and ask questions of the mechanic. Once you feel comfortable and feel like you can trust him, you can relax. You won’t be confused anymore with three different answers.

* Now that you have your own personal mechanic you will be able to schedule routine maintenance and hopefully not have any negative surprises like I did. By staying with one shop, they will get to know your vehicle and you’ll be able to schedule repairs when it’s convenient for you.

Driving your vehicle should be enjoyable and safe whether it’s local driving or a road trip.

Looking to find the best deal on vehicle maintenance, then visit www.yoursite.com to find the best advice on reliable mechanic shop for you.

Problems like these can be affected by several factors:

* Price of gas rising

* Changing to a different gas station

* Filling up during the warm part of the day

* Your vehicle needs a tune up

There are some thing you can do which will get your car more miles per gallon. They won’t exactly lower the price of gas, but some things are remediable and some are not.

Did you know that if you get gas from only one station, you can get more miles per gallon? This is because you are always putting the same fuel formula into the car, and it runs better on what it is used to. Racing car drivers find a fuel formula that works for their car and they stick to it – forever. The car runs smoother. If you are traveling and have to stop at different stations, it will help to use the same brand of gas.

Sometimes it cannot be avoided and you absolutely need to get gas during the hottest part of the day. If you can at all avoid doing that, you will get more gasoline if you get it at the coolest part of the day. Gas is denser during the cold part of the day, therefore you will get more for your money.

A vehicle tune up means getting all the fluids changed in your car – this gets rid of grit and waste that has accumulated in the motor, and eliminates this waste so it will not harm the motor. A tune up also includes new filters, new spark plugs and whatever else needs to be done to keep the engine running smoothly. If you get the vehicle tuned up every few months, you can save a bundle on car repair bills, and because the engine runs more efficiently, you can get more miles per gallon.

Want to find out more about the rising cost of fuel, then visit 3A Automotive Service’s site on how to choose the best methods to save money at the gas pump for your needs.

Regular maintenance can make a car last longer. It may seem like extra work to get maintenance done on your car when it is running just fine. But here is a story that shows what can happen when maintenance is neglected.

Last summer his radiator was leaking. To save a few bucks he kept putting water into the radiator and didn’t buy anti-freeze. The weather was in the 90′s so why bother with the extra expense of anti-freeze? Then he fixed the hole in the radiator, and the water no longer leaked out and he forgot all about it.

It rarely freezes where he lives. Once in a while in the winter it will get down to freezing for a night or two, but not enough to freeze all that water in the radiator. Except this year the temperature went down to 15 degrees and did not rise above freezing for five days. Unusual, but it happens. You can guess what happened to the radiator. All that water froze, the radiator cracked, and he had to have a whole new radiator installed.

If you live in a place where it rarely freezes, remember that rarely is not never. And maintain your cooling system of your vehicle by putting anti-freeze in it at least during the winter. It could save you a lot of money and trouble.

A friend bought a great trailer 10 years ago, and towed it all over the countryside weekly – it was part of his business, and he attributed a boom in his business to his new trailer. After 10 year and over 100,000 miles of towing the trailer, he pulled into a parking lot and discovered one of his wheels on the trailer was missing. The entire wheel had fallen off somewhere down the road. There were 4 tires on the trailer, so it was not noticeable while he was driving – the trailer still stood upright. But there he was 100 miles from home, with a trailer full of merchandise on a Sunday.

The bearings in a wheel are packed in grease in order to let the bearings spin and the wheel turn without excessive friction. If the grease dries out or leaks, the bearings rub against metal and the friction that occurs in such a case can cause things to break – the bearings, the metal that they touch, and in this case the entire wheel. He had to buy not only a new tire and wheel but a new axle.

Periodically repacking bearings in new grease after a certain amount of time or miles is the standard practice to prevent such breakdowns.

If every owner knew all about car repair and maintenance, that would be ideal. But it will never happen. The second best is to find an honest and reliable mechanic who will tell you what maintenance is needed without adding extras to your bill, or doing work that isn’t needed. You can start searching for one by looking for a garage or repair shop where former customers continue to return. That will be someone you can trust, too.

Looking to find the best deal on vehicle maintenance, then visit www.3aautomotive.com to find the best advice on auto services for you.

New ionization and oxygenation equipment has been successfully integrated with existing water treatment strategies for car washes in Minnesota, Maine and Michigan since 1999. It takes no more than two hours to install this new equipment in typical 6 bay car washes. The self sacrificing copper ionization anodes and titanium/platinum oxygenation anodes along with a DC voltage controller are able to run at an annual operating cost of fifty dollars per bay per year with an estimated 30 minutes of maintenance performed 4 times per year. Typically any bag or cartridge filtration maintenance is eliminated from the car wash and weekly water testing is strongly recommended. In 2009, glass filter media in swimming pool filtration platforms with low pressure, high flow rate valves have been manufactured to help separate solids in the filtration process.

Each installed site has shown an elimination of algae build-up on the walls, in both summer and winter. Odors have also virtually been eliminated. While algae can be a source of this odor, the dirt, plant spores, soap and minerals, when run through the reclamation sump, are the major issues. This recirculation process can provide an ideal breeding ground for algae and mold. The systems major defenses against this include increasing the source water dissolved oxygen (DO) from 2.0 to 3.0ppm to approximately the 6-6.5ppm range. Moreover, a low level copper residual of .2 to .4ppm is generated and maintained throughout the system. The system is able to increase DO to required treatment levels for both hot and cold temperatures and irrespective of water pH levels. The ability to establish and hold these higher DO levels in warm water is unique to the system’s oxy/copper anode combination.

With respect to specific site maintenance, the bulk of the effort involves basic testing and cleaning. Specifically, testing of copper levels is conducted with a simple Lamotte EC 70 test kit. Quarterly cleaning of anodes is conducted in a diluted acid wash and takes less than twenty minutes. Both testing and maintenance are essential since the residual copper is responsible for the algae and mold control.

These new ionization and oxygenation reclamation water treatment systems can be added to existing water treatment configurations or they can be installed in new construction of car wash systems. Replacing bag and cartridge filters with glass filter media in swimming pool filtration platforms would help save money and decrease maintenance time and costs. These bags and cartridges are the current source of basically all the operating costs and 1/2 the maintenance time is being used to clean and replace them. New ionization and oxygenation equipment can be installed in self service or automated car washes with two, four and six bay models pre-configured and prices are between ten and twenty thousand plus installation costs.

ECOsmarte is the World leader in Chemical Free Water Technology. ECOsmarte’s systems with Residual Bacteria Control have roots in NASA.

Luckily there are preventative steps that we can take which will lessen the chances of needing to call for help. One way is to make a check list of routine vehicle maintenance and keep on top of car repairs and preventive care. This is not a foolproof plan but can help lessen the chances of something catastrophic occurring.

Always have an extra key on hand. Try not to get locked out of your car. Don’t rely on those magnetic boxes which are way outdated. Keep a spare in you wallet or bag. Some companies will make small plastic keys that you can keep in your wallet for opening your locked car. These are so handy and work great!

A few times a year inspect your car batteries. Make sure the battery is secure in it’s holder and that there is no corrosion around the battery posts (the + and -). Try to move the cables that are connected to the battery. If they move they need to be tightened. If they are look corroded it might be time to have them cleaned or get new ones.

Don’t drive on an almost empty gas tank. We have all pushed that needle all the way down to empty. Don’t get stuck on the road at night in the rain or snow or in a place with which you are unfamiliar because you thought you could go just a little bit longer. I like to refill at about one eight of a tank. Of course there are times I go past that but I never let the needle line up with the line for E -that is just not a very good idea to say the last

Did you know the five most common reasons for a breakdown. The Automotive Service Excellence compiled the following list: * Leaking of Gas: Gas evaporates and its trapped in a canister until you start your engine. If there is a leak the check engine light will come on. Sometimes this is just a loose gas cap, but never assume. If in doubt it might be a good idea to visit a professional mechanic. * Malfunctioning Batteries: Inspect your battery and have it replaced every three years or as recommended by the manufacturer. * Overheating: Check to make sure that your engine gets cooled appropriately * Flat tires and blowouts: The right pressure will prevent blowouts and flat tires * Engine surge or hesitation: Dirty air filters, high heat and humidity are among the culprits. You car needs oxygen to run just like you. Anything that blocks or impedes the intake of oxygen is detrimental and harmful to your engine.

If you car ever does stop running on the road, pull over as far to the right as you can and if you are on the freeway try to get off. Also make sure to have a kit in your car on hand for such emergency. This should consist of : * 8′ booster cables * Flashlight * Shop rags * Wet wipes (to clean up) * Foam pad to kneel on * Rain poncho * Flares or reflective triangle(s) * Duct tape

Take good care and more than likely you won’t ever have to make use of these items. However, it’s still to keep it in the trunk of your car just in case, because it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Written by Jacqueline Star: Used Car Dealer Plano, Used Cars Carrollton

Everyone loves the freedom that comes with car ownership. Owning and maintaining a car in Canada involves a number of expenses. There are a number of measures one has to take in order to keep a vehicle on Canadian roads. Failure to meet all government mandates regarding car maintenance can result in fines or seizure of the vehicle.

No matter what province you live in, you have to abide by the Provincial Ministry of Transport’s vehicle regulations. When you buy a car, you are responsible for securing and paying for the following: registering and renewing the vehicle, obtaining and making sure your driver’s license is up-to-date. You also have to secure the transfer of ownership, vehicle inspection stickers, administrative fees or handling taxes, and acquiring the appropriate vehicle insurance. All of these details are expenses that you will incur on top of the purchase price of the car. It is important to consider these expenses when you purchase the car.

If you are short on money, you may want to consider purchasing a used vehicle. As well, it is important to be aware of the fact that it is the law that all cars must be registered with the provincial motor vehicle licensing agency where you live, and must be insured. You should always keep your license, registration, insurance papers, and vehicle permit in the glove department of the car. Car insurance can be expensive, but it is the law, and will protect you and your car if you are in an accident.

Annual expenses that you will normally incur when maintaining a car include:

If you lease a car you will have to make lease payments. Fuel expenses Motor oil and other fluids Car insurance Maintenance and repairs Replacement of parts such as a muffler, battery, alternatoretc.

Over time, these costs can add up. Fortunately, there are measures that you can take that will lower costs. With the cost of fuel so high, you may want to purchase a car that has high mileage. Have your vehicle serviced on a regular basis as it will reduce the incidents of parts breaking. Make sure you have your oil changed frequently. Before winter, get an undercoating to protect the car from damaging road salt. Keep the exterior of the car washed, waxed, and free of scratches and dents. Don’t drive the car too much. Also, you should replace old and worn out tires and rotate the tires regularly. Your tires will last longer if you keep them inflated and aligned.

A used car can save a driver a lot of money. Insurance will be cheaper and the taxes you pay will be less than if you bought a new car. There is a good chance that there will not be any parts warranties so you have take replacement part costs into consideration.

Once you purchase a car, you have made a serious investment that requires regular care. By understanding all the expenses that are involved with maintaining your vehicle, you will have an easier time finding ways to cut costs.

Getting an oil change for your vehicle is one of the single most important things you can do for your vehicle. Staying on top of it is the difference between a vehicle running horrible after five years and a vehicle running like new after ten years.

Think about how human bodies rely on water. It lubricates us, keeps us cool internally and externally, and carries nutrients to the body and toxins out of the body.

What makes your vehicle actually go is a series of timed explosions meant to make pistons inside cylinder walls go up and down rapidly. When I say rapidly I am talking about thousands of times per minute. Imagine two files rubbing against one another just a couple of times per minute. Both wear out really fast. This is what would happen to your vehicle if not for motor oil. It serves as a barrier.

Can you imagine that heat caused by the pistons going up and down and all those explosions. Its massive! If not for the motor oil in your car than your engine would quickly overheat and blow several gaskets in several seconds. Motor oil is specifically designed to hold and transfer heat inside your engine.

Engines create a lot of sludge. The higher performance the engine usually the more sludge it creates due to higher heat. A crucial component of any motor oil is cleaning this sludge from your engine and suspending them. The oil is taken to the oil filter where sludge and particles are trapped.

Getting an oil change is every accessible and inexpensive in the almost any place these days. There is a quick lube by every major mall or traffic center. The most your typical oil change costs is $30-$40 depending on where you live. Your oil goes through a lot and needs to be replaced at regular intervals to keep your vehicle safe and running smooth. Whatever you spend on oil changes is nothing compared to the cost of a new engine or a new car.

There may even be a mobile oil change service available where you live. Most people do not know about them but they are becoming quite popular in certain areas. All you have to do is call them up and make an appointment. You can be at your office and have the service done. You will really do yourself a favor staying away from the cheapest oil changes you can find. Oftentimes those bottom of the barrel prices are just to bait you in and customers end up leaving with a several hundred dollar repair bill.

Stay on top of your oil changes. It will keep your vehicle running like new. Motor oil is the lifeblood of any engine and far too many people go thousands of miles past their vehicle’s proper interval. Its best to go 3,000 miles for any gas engine and 5,000 for diesels. Doing this will make sure you get a lot of good years out of your very expensive investment.

A great question that vehicle owners ask on a regular basis. But to make this little game of hide and seek as frustration free as possible, we’re going to point you to 3 simple areas. Your car, your owners manual, and, even if you’ve found it by that point, a great online resource to not only find the factory plug for your car, but every other spark plug available.

If I had my way, there would be a sticker under the hood of all my vehicles that lists the OE part numbers of every major component – light bulbs and paint color included. While we’re at it, a handy mechanic that lives under there and performs daily maintenance would be nice too. But as long as we don’t live in a perfect world, we have to go hunting for this stuff.

Some vehicle manufacturers have kindly put the OE spark plug part number, yes, on a sticker even, under the hood, complete with recommended gap setting. But, if you’re in the same boat as me, and 90% of the rest of the world, your next stop is the owner’s manual. Don’t have the owner’s manual? I’ve got one more fabulous resource for you – and this one, you’re going to love!

Check out this cool tool at SparkPlugs.com – use the vehicle lookup to find your car. What magically appears in front of you is every spark plug available for your car by NGK, Denso, Bosch, Autolite, Champion, E3, Splitfire and Pulstar, complete with recommended gap settings. There will likely be some plugs that say something along the lines of “OE manufacturer or OE type”. If you know the brand of the original plugs in your car, just find that brands plug with that handy label. Those are the stock plugs. All other plugs with that label are the stock equivalent in other brands.

Want more information on any of those plugs? Simply roll over the part number and the plug specs and image pop up on the left hand side. Click on the “more info” button and even more details come up. Looking for higher performance or gas mileage? After talking with some mechanics and spark plug techs we’ve learned 2 things.

#1- Never go down in quality. If the stock plugs on your vehicle are higher quality than standard nickel plugs, the vehicle manufacturer likely chose them for a reason. Some manufacturers are starting to see the advantages of using ‘high performance’ plugs. Others have had the spark plug manufacturer make that particular spark plug for your specific engine. Downgrading to a cheaper/inferior plug, though cheaper, could actually lower your engine’s performance, possibly even causing engine damage.

#2- Upgrading your plugs CAN increase your performance. Studies have shown that using this newer technology, such as iridium and fine wire plugs, can actually increase a vehicles gas mileage, horsepower and performance.

How can you tell what would be an upgrade vs. a downgrade? According to SparkPlugs.com, the list of available plugs is categorized according to a variety of factors that affect a plugs performance, resulting in a “super, premium, and ultimate” sort of ranking, with the best plugs starting at the top. With the information they’ve provided, it helps consumers like us to find the best quality at the best price, and allow our babies to keep pluggin along (no pun intended). Happy Tuning!

Acceptable car servicing is important if one expects to enjoy a quality car performance over the long haul. As the cost of purchasing a vehicle continues to increase, paying attention to good car service maintenance will permit extensive car ownership. As the years go by, this longer ownership period will help decrease the costs of car loan payments and interest charges. It’s imperative to realize how to locate a worthy car servicing shop, as well as how to avoid getting suckered by crooked repair shops.

When trying to locate a worthy car service repair location, be sure to understand a few time-tested considerations on the area. First of all, don’t procrastinate to find a stand up car servicing location until one is in fact needed. The most terrible thing is to have an accident and then be stuck going to the nearest repair place. Friends and family are a great method to be introduced to a possible repair shop. If they’ve gotten excellent repairs, it’s a good chance the repair shop delivers the equal service to every last one of their regulars. Before formulating a final choice, though, be resolved to ask for a few more references and then inquire of those folks about their experiences.

Correct car servicing requires knowledge of a few basic maintenance guidelines. Costly car service repairs can be avoided by following a maintenance schedule. Be certain to test the oil level at least once a week. Let the automobile run for about thirty seconds, shut off, and then pass the time for about two minutes or so. Then pull out the oil dipstick, wipe it spotless, reinsert it, and then pull it out once more. This will register a correct determination of the oil level.

There are various car service time intervals to be aware of. A few important ones are as follows: at every 3000 miles or 3 months, change the oil. Spark plugs should be changed every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Every 6,000 miles or so, rotate the tires. It used to be normal for a timing belt could be changed every 60,000 miles, but today some have varying intervals and owner’s manuals should also be read. Tires should be aligned every 15,000 to 20,000 miles. Replace the fuel filter every 35,000 to 40,000 miles. Following car servicing periods such as these will help ensure that a vehicle lasts for a long time.

Owners of Volvo cars must always take notice of the above car service periods as well as checking their manuals for correct Volvo service on their car. All Volvos should be worked on at the acceptable service intervals that are discussed in Volvo Service Records booklets or at one of the various Volvo dealerships. By paying attention to all car servicing necessities under the hood and on the body, Volvo drivers can keep their cars in great condition and enjoy their driving time for a lot of years.

An additional characteristic to car servicing to be attentive to are car service repair rip-offs. A grouping of people who are often victims of this sort of fraud are the aged. One such trick takes place when an apparently caring individual flags an older person down. This crook discloses to the auto owner that it looks like the car calls for repairs. The rip-off artist then puts the car up on the jack and untightens the tire so it will appear loosened. The elderly person is swindled into giving the rip-off artist cash to mend the issue.

When transporting a vehicle in for car servicing, understand that there are some repair establishments will add unnecessary repairs to the work form in order to increase profits. Transporting the car to a different car service repair shop can help to figure out whether the added repairs are truly needed or not.

Owning a vehicle requires much more than only adding gasoline when the reservoir gets low. By being aware of the basics of car servicing, a car can be made to endure much longer than the average person realizes. Most repair shops, such as the ones located at many Volvo service locations, are made up of honest individuals. However, it’s always a great thought process to take the time to understand the car service process.

Proper car servicing is crucial if someone intends to benefit from a superior car performance over the span of many years. As the cost of buying a automobile continues to increase, paying attention to appropriate car service maintenance will allow for longer car ownership. As the years go by, this protracted ownership period will help reduce the costs of vehicle loan payments and interest charges. It’s vital to realize how to locate a quality car servicing shop, as well as how to keep away from getting scammed by crooked repair places.

When trying to locate a worthy car service repair place, be sure to understand a few time-tested points on the topic. First of all, don’t procrastinate to hit upon a stand up car servicing place until one is immediately needed. The worst thing is to suffer a mishap and then be stuck going to the nearest repair place. Family and friends are a fantastic means to be introduced to a probable repair shop. If they’ve gotten superior repairs, chances are the repair shop provides the identical service to every last one of their regulars. Before making a final choice, though, be certain to ask for a few additional references and then ask those folks about their comments.

Proper car servicing requires knowledge of a few necessary maintenance guidelines. Costly car service repairs can be kept away from by sticking to a maintenance calendar. Be vigilant and inspect the oil level at least once a week. Let the automobile idle for about thirty seconds, shut off, and then pass the time for about two minutes or so. Then yank out the oil measuring stick, wipe it off, put it back in, and then yank it out one more time. This will give a correct determination of the oil level.

There are various car service time intervals to be aware of. A few key timeframes are as follows: at every 3000 miles or 3 months, change the oil. Change the spark plugs every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Every 6,000 miles or so, rotate the tires. It used to be that a timing belt should be taken out and replaced every 60,000 miles, but today some have varying intervals and owner’s books should also be looked at. At every 15,000 to 20,000 miles, align the tires. At every 35,000 to 40,000 miles, the fuel filter should be changed. Following car servicing periods such as these will help make certain that a automobile lasts for a long time.

Purchasers of Volvo cars must always take notice of the above car service periods as well as looking at their instruction books for correct Volvo service on their auto. All Volvos should be worked on at the acceptable service intervals that are shown in Volvo Service Records booklets or at one of the various Volvo dealerships. By focusing on all car servicing necessities on the body and under the hood, Volvo drivers can keep their autos in excellent condition and enjoy their driving experience for many years.

One more characteristic to car servicing to be conscious of are car service repair cons. A grouping of people who are frequently victims of this sort of scheme are the mature. One such trick occurs when an apparently caring individual flags an aged person down. This scam artist discloses to the auto owner that it appears as if the car requires repairs. The con artist then puts the vehicle up on the jack and untightens the tire so it will appear loosened. The older human being is swindled into providing the rip-off artist funds to fix the issue.

When taking an automobile in for car servicing, recognize that some repair establishments will add falsely needed repairs to the work form in order to boost profits. Taking the auto to another car service repair place can help to figure out whether the extra repairs are truly needed or not.

Driving a car requires much more than simply adding gasoline when the reservoir gets low. By being aware of the fundamentals of car servicing, a car can be made to go on much longer than the average person realizes. Many repair shops, such as those discovered at many Volvo service places, consist of honest folks. However, it’s always an intelligent thought process to take the time to realize the car service process.