All posts in Auto Repair

Top 4 Tips for Finding Replacement Parts for Your Truck

by Anica Oaks on 2014/09/24 in Auto Maintenance, Auto Repair, Auto Restoration with Comments Off on Top 4 Tips for Finding Replacement Parts for Your Truck

Nothing halts your plans faster than when your truck breaks down. Often older trucks are extremely difficult to find quality replacement parts for. If this is a problem you have not experienced yet, you are in for quite a lot of hassle and run around if you do not know where to turn to get the right parts. To avoid being hung out to dry, let us talk about some possible ways you can find the right truck parts to get your truck up and running again.

1. Searching Your Local Area

Often you can find parts for your truck by searching online ads in your local area. The great thing about online ads is that the sellers do not always want to charge you an arm and a leg for the part you are looking for. In some cases, they do not even want money for the part at all. Many online local ad sellers are just as happy to barter for other items you might have laying around the house that they either want or need for their own purposes. In a lot of cases, the part you are looking for has been taking up room in someone’s garage, and the person has been trying to get their garage space back. This can potentially give you a lot of room to negotiate for a low price.

2. Specialty Orders

Hunting around online, you might find websites that have been in business for a while, helping people locate hard to find parts for their trucks and industrial vehicles. Specialty shops like 99 Truck Parts & Industrial Equipment Ltd. make it easy to order parts you need online, both new and used. If these online businesses do not have the item in stock, they will likely know how to get the item or explain to you how you can find it, since dealing in hard to find truck parts is their forte.

3. Government Auctions

Another way to potentially run across replacement truck parts is by checking out a local government auction in your area. The government regularly makes information about these auctions available to the average citizen through online websites, such as USgovernmentauctions.net. Government auctions can be a great place for the truck enthusiast who needs or wants to find trucks to cannibalize or scavenge parts from.

4. The Boneyard

Every day people have their old car or truck towed off to the boneyard. A lot of times, these are wrecked vehicles, and they are good for little more than to salvage parts out of them. Sometimes this can be a roll of the dice looking for replacement parts in the boneyard, but it can also often be a good place to check, if all else fails—especially if the part you are looking for is not too uncommon.

 

Now that you have some idea where to look to find that replacement truck part you’ve been looking for, it’s time to make some calls and get that truck of yours up and running again. With a little effort and by showing off your mechanical abilities, you’ll have that truck purring like new in no time at all, allowing you to get back to those plans that were temporarily put on hold.

Automobile-Wildlife Collisions: The Danger, Costly Damage, and Prevention

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/22 in Auto Repair with Comments Off on Automobile-Wildlife Collisions: The Danger, Costly Damage, and Prevention

Too many auto accidents happen on roads where wild animals roam. The costs vary from a single $2,000 repair to a $100,000 medical bill. Protect your car and yourself by learning more about automobile-wildlife collisions. Learn about the problems that you could face and the ways to prevent these accidents.

There are certain dangers that occur when your car collides with animals in the wild. Wildlife can be life threatening in 2 ways:

  1. Deer and moose can weigh hundreds or even thousands of pounds. That is a LOT of weight. A collision with one of these big mammals can result in hundreds of pounds shooting through the through the windshield and into the driver. Often times, this results in fatality. In many cases, glass from the windshield can cause injury to the driver and passengers.
  2. The biggest danger with animals on the road is when a driver tries to avoid hitting the animal. An over adjustment in your driving will result in loss of control of the vehicle. Too many people have rolled their car in a swerving attempt to dodge some small creature on the road.

As for your vehicle, D & T Body Shop, Inc. informs that there are a  wide range of damages that can affect your vehicle after an accident with wildlife. Obviously, body damage is the most common damage associated with wildlife collision. Some other common damages that occur to the vehicle are windshield damage, radiator damage, vehicle misalignment, and a damaged undercarriage. If you run over a big enough animal, the casing that protects the belly of your vehicle can jar loose. I had this happen and the undercarriage dragged on the road for months after wards.

Prevent your car from colliding with wildlife by following a few tips. The most important tip is to drive slowly, especially in areas where animals are known to wander onto the road. Watch out for forests where animals pop out suddenly. Reducing your speed will reduce the dollar bills on your repairs. In addition, nighttime driving is very dangerous. Always use the bright settings on the headlights if you plan to drive at night.

If you find that you are headed for a collision with wild life, don’t swerve to miss the animal. For your life’s sake, it is better that you hit the animal than roll your vehicle. The proper course of action is to slow the vehicle as much as possible and try to slightly adjust your angle to hit less of the animal, but not enough to leave the road.

Stay informed about the dangers of driving into a wildlife area. Whether you drive by a forest or jungle, the chances of a collision increase. Colliding with wildlife will cost you thousands of dollars in damages or cost you a life. Follow good driving tips like driving slowly, switching on headlights and watching out for herds of animals. They are not going to pay for your car repairs or medical bills, so interact with wildlife properly.

This article was written with information from D & T Body Shop, Inc. who regularly handles many different vehicles damaged in wildlife collisions.

How To Tell If Your Whole Engine Needs To Be Replaced

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/07 in Auto Repair with Comments Off on How To Tell If Your Whole Engine Needs To Be Replaced

Due to today’s economic landscape, buying a brand new car can put a major dent into a driver’s monthly budget. If your current vehicle is in relatively good condition, the best approach is to keep it running for as long as possible. In the event that your engine is on its last leg, you can have your motor rebuilt or replaced for a very reasonable price. Here are some of the signs that your whole engine needs to be replaced.

Constant Blue Smoke

The presence of exhaust smoke warrants an immediate red flag. Upon first cranking your vehicle in the morning, you may notice a puff of bluish-colored smoke coming out of the tailpipe. This usually indicates a set of worn valve seals, which can be repaired by an experienced mechanic. However, a vehicle that constantly spews blue smoke is an entirely different story. The cylinders inside the engine are probably worn beyond repair, so the engine will be burning a significant amount of motor oil.

Knocking Noises

If you consistently hear a knocking sound from the engine, you should stop driving your vehicle until you get engine inspected. If you are lucky, the knocking sound may stem from a loose spark plug that needs to be re-tightened. Low octane is also a common cause of knocking. If you consistently hear a knocking sound during acceleration, a bearing inside the engine may have failed. If your engine has a lot of miles on it, you will be better off just replacing the engine.

Low Engine Compression

Low engine compression can cause a number of problems including a loss of power and difficulty in starting the engine. If you notice that the performance of your vehicle has suddenly declined, ask a repair shop to check the compression in each engine cylinder.

Severely Overheated Engine

According to Gulftech Engines Inc., a company that specializes in rebuilt engines in Houston, overheating the engine is one of the most common causes of premature engine failure. If the engine is not cooled down in a timely manner, the cylinder head can suffer permanent damage. A warped cylinder head is a complex auto repair that requires a very experienced mechanic.

The engine is definitely the most important component on your vehicle. The good news is that replacing it can give your old ride a new lease on life. The extra money can be used to to pay your rent or mortgage.

Savannah Coulsen is a freelance  writer. She lives in Raleigh. Savannah loves to read and write and she hopes to write a novel someday. Savannah also loves learning and is a self-proclaimed health guru. Savannah got information for this article from Gulftech Engines Inc., a company that specializes in rebuilt engines in Houston.

Shop Talk – 5 Tips for When You are Fixing Your Vehicle

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/04/24 in Auto Repair with Comments Off on Shop Talk – 5 Tips for When You are Fixing Your Vehicle

Are you pretty handy in the garage? Fixing your own vehicle is the number one way to reduce the cost of automobile ownership. If you have the means to go about this project you should consider doing it right. Shop labor is expensive, while your own labor is as free as your time. If you have the ability and means to repair your own vehicle here are five suggestions to consider as you undertake this feat.

Safety First

Before you get to work, make sure you have the equipment for a safe repair. If you’re working under the car, you need to keep the car from rolling. You can buy blocks made for this, or use large pieces of wood. Next, if the car needs to be jacked up, use jack stands—don’t trust a hydraulic jack to hold a car while you’re under it. Finally, if you’ll be working with solvents or other chemicals, make sure your work area is well ventilated. Working on a car can be very dangerous and should be done with care.

Buy a Repair Manual

Although you may have done hundreds of car repairs, it’s always a good idea to buy either the service manual for your car or one of the reputable third-party manuals. With a manual, you can read through the repair process before starting and prepare for more complicated procedures. Many repairs are similar between vehicles, but they’re not exactly the same and so buying the manual can make a huge difference.

Stay Organized

Have a few plastic containers around to hold the bolts, nuts and other small parts you collect when repairing your vehicle. You can even buy magnetic trays to hold metal parts so you won’t lose them if a container is knocked over. Pull all the tools you’ll need out of your toolbox before you start, you might lose your concentration and make a mistake if you stop in the middle of a repair to locate a specific tool.

Don’t Take Shortcuts and Use the Correct Tools

Taking shortcuts can damage parts on your car, even you can even hurt yourself. If a repair procedure says you need to remove a part a certain way, follow it. If you try to force parts out you can damage them or other parts of the car. If you don’t have the specialized tool for a certain repair, check the local auto parts stores—they’ll often lend or rent you the right tool for the job.

Know When to Take the Repair to a Professional

If you have a well-stocked garage full of tools, a manual and mechanical aptitude you can repair many things on your car. But, if you’re not confident about a certain repair, take it to a professional. They have diagnostic equipment and can even purchase parts online from older vehicles like some Subaru SVX parts for a cheaper alternative to buying brand new parts.

With these tips in mind you can be sure to save some money and feel a sense of satisfaction after managing the repairs by yourself. If done correctly, this method can be a great hobby and passion as it is for many people.

DIY Mechanic: How to Save Money on Auto Repairs By Doing Them Yourself

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/04/14 in Auto Repair with Comments Off on DIY Mechanic: How to Save Money on Auto Repairs By Doing Them Yourself

Saving money on auto repairs by doing them yourself is not terribly difficult. Parts are the least expensive portion of any auto repair equation. More than half the price you pay at a repair shop is in labor. Furthermore, there is a wealth of information and tutorials on the web to help you do just about anything on your car. All it takes is some tools and the willingness to get your hands dirty. The following are some easy repairs that often cost a small fortune at a shop.

1.Air Filters

These are the items that lube shops often try to sell with an oil change and the reason is that they are cheap and easy to replace, even for a lube tech. In most cars, the air filter is in a conspicuously large box in the engine compartment. It is usually held down with a combination of latches and bolts. Simply remove these, remove the filter and put in a new one.

2.Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are right on the front of the engine, one for each cylinder. On a 4-cylinder car, they will be right in a row, on 6 and 8 cylinder cars, they will be divided evenly. One important extra tool you will need for this job is a gap gauge to measure the gap and create a gap if you buy adjustable plugs.

3.Brakes

Brake pads are relatively easy to replace and often cost quite a lot at a repair shop. Rotors are more difficult and may be the culprit if you hear a grinding sound with your brakes. However, the standard squeaking just means the pads are worn.

4.Transmission Fluid Replacement

This is an important job for cars with automatic transmissions. It is also potentially safer to do this yourself as shops often do transmission flushes, which can actually damage the system, especially if they have never previously been done on the car. This job is similar to an oil change in that you drain the old fluid, replace the filter and then replace the fluid. Auto parts stores carry replacement pieces for leaking transmission systems, and can help you find a solution.

5.Belts and Hoses

These are fairly easy to identify for replacement. Hoses appear worn or cracked and belts may squeak or also appear worn. Simply remove the parts and replace them with new ones. Items you are likely to need to replace include drive belts, radiator hoses and serpentine belts.

Diagnosing car problems is generally more difficult than fixing them. If you have a new car, you may want to invest in a code reader. There are many easy car repairs you can do yourself instead of talking to mechanic that will save you both time and money.

Anita is a freelance writer from Denver and often writes about home, auto, family and business. She enjoys traveling with her family when she isn’t writing. Informational credit to Highway Auto Parts.

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