All posts in Auto Maintenance

3 Things to Do if You are in an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/12/30 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on 3 Things to Do if You are in an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist

There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with an accident you did not cause. The one thing worse than dealing with a wreck on the roadside is finding out the other motorist has no insurance. Here are three primary steps below to take if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver at fault.

Step 1: Exchange Information with the Other Motorist and All Witnesses

Calling the police to arrive at the scene is protocol, and the police will get the other driver’s information, but you need to have it too. This is the when you will learn that you have just been hit by an uninsured driver. Get as much information about the driver as you can, and write down everything about the other vehicle as the plate number, notes about damages to their vehicle and take a few pictures.

Most importantly at this stage, if there are witnesses, get their info too because it will officially be a criminal case. Driving without financial responsibility is a crime and it can get you into serious trouble. It will also depend on the severity of the accident that you have been involved in as well.

Step 2: Contact and Inform Your Insurer You Had an Accident With an Uninsured Driver

Your insurance company will not be happy to hear about the situation, but depending on your personal circumstances, there are things they will have to do for you. Hopefully, you have an uninsured protection plan for property damage and personal injury because you have paid for your insurance company’s protection no matter the circumstances. In the event you do not have this as part of your personal, then your agent will have to guide you through the next steps.

The other driver will have a difficult time. The court will likely force them to obtain special insurance to clear their license, and they will have to file for SR-22 insurance through the state or find a credible insurance company that offers SR-22 like the Great Northern Insurance Agency.

Step 3: Meet With Your Insurer and Get Your Car Taken Care Of

You are going to need to sit down face to face with your agent and get into the details about repairing your vehicle. The uninsured motorist protection plan should take care of most or all of the repairs as if the other driver had insurance and was fully covered. If you do not have this extensive protection, you will not have the coverage needed to fix your vehicle, and hopefully, the damage would be mostly cosmetic leaving a running vehicle for you. If not, then there is only one other avenue to recuperate your losses. You have to go to court.

You will be angry having to deal with all of this, but it is good to know there are options. Having special insurance is the best preemptive route, but you may have to aggressively recuperate funds by suing. Hopefully, they have something worthwhile to get to improve your situation. Just remember the steps above in the event of you collide with a financially irresponsible driver.

All You Need to Know About Auto Carpet Mats

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/12/28 in Auto Care with Comments Off on All You Need to Know About Auto Carpet Mats

Adding an auto carpet to your vehicle will go a long way in protecting it and preventing inadvertent damages because of rough footwear, dirt or carelessness of your passengers. Apart from being functional, well-chosen carpeting in your vehicle can transform its interiors and make it look luxurious, even if your car is a basic model.

With lots of functionality benefits, the many colors in which these carpets come just add to the reasons why you should consider them. After all, with the many types open to you to choose from, you will certainly not be left wanting.

Types of Auto Carpets

  • Molded carpets:
    These carpets are usually molded so that the contours of the floor pan fit exactly. There is padding included in places, and there are heel pads as well. These carpets may also come with kick panels, door panels, tail gate pieces and wheel wells. They add sound control as well as heat to the car, and are easy to install.
  • Cut and sewn carpets:
    These carpets are cut using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and they are controlled using CNC equipment to get the correct fit for your car. These have surge or vinyl bound edges and padding and heel pads. Available in ultra plush variants as well as cut pile, these auto carpets give the interior of your car a very posh look. On the other hand, there are heavy duty vinyl alternatives for taxis, cabs, SUVs, jeeps and utility vehicles.

Maintaining Your Auto Carpets

Your auto carpets can last you for a long time if you maintain them well. When carpets get threadbare or worn out, you need to replace them. Carpet replacement may seem easy but it is a lot of work. Whatever is on the carpet, such as seats, seat belt anchors, center consoles, kick plates, sill plates, rear seats, side panels as well as electrical connectors are to be removed. Next, rust or corrosion at the floor pan is to be repaired or painted so that the rust is stopped before a new auto carpet is laid.

All auto carpets are susceptible to stains. Rather than just discarding your carpet because of stubborn stains, use these tips to get rid of them.

  1. Coffee spills should be diluted immediately with cold water and should be blotted with paper towels or a clean cloth. If the stain still remains, it should be sprayed with glass cleaner and then blotted.
  2. Grease stains are removed by rubbing paint thinner on them with a cotton cloth. The stain should then be covered with salt so that the grease is absorbed, and it should then be vacuumed. An alternative is to cover it with cornmeal overnight and then vacuum it in the morning.
  3. Hairspray is used to remove pen ink stains. Salt, too, can be used to remove stains from your auto carpets.
  4. Carsickness stains should be diluted with a mixture of water and baking soda or with diluted club soda.
  5. Blood stains are easy to remove with dry laundry starch and cold water. Dry the area and brush it off.
  6. For general stains, a gallon of hot water and generous amounts of dish detergent should be used, along with a cup of white wine vinegar. Next, a bristle brush should be used to work this into the carpet fibers. It should be left for 30 minutes and then blotted with rags or dry towels.

While an auto carpet can make your vehicle look way more luxurious and classy, you need to take the right care of your carpets so that you get good value for your money. Choose the carpet that suits your needs and get it installed by a professional, and maintenance will be all that you need to worry about.

Image credit: Lexis carpet on Flickr

Car Maintenance: How To Make It As Cheap As Possible

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/12/26 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Car Maintenance: How To Make It As Cheap As Possible

One of the most important details you can cultivate on to keep your car in good condition while still saving money is familiarizing yourself with your owner’s manual. This is where you find information on the most appropriate size for the wiper blades, fluid levels, and tire sizes, among others. Maintaining your car trickles down to far less finances that could have otherwise been hefty on repairs. So, how should you make your car maintenance as cheap as possible?

Watch Fluid Levels

Your car has a unique maintenance schedule. The schedule impacts the safety and performance of your car. The easiest and cheapest way to maintain your car is by checking your fluid levels regularly. Ensure that there are correct oil levels, antifreeze, power steering fluid, brakes fluid, wiper fluid, and transmission fluid. You do not need a mechanic to ascertain this. If you wait to see the light on your dash, it might be too late and you may use tons of money on repairs.

Change Your Oil

Did you know that engines have significantly changed in the last few decades? Well, as the changes keep coming, the shorter the time required to change the oil. Normally, the average intervals of oil change should fall between three to five thousand miles. There are elements which can help in determining when the oil should be changed. For instance, conventional oil is known to have a shorter lifespan than the synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is said to reduce the consumption of fuel and carbon emissions.

Examine Your Air Filter

You don’t need mechanical knowledge to replace your air filter. Check if there is any debris or dirt in the filter. The presence of dirt and debris not only leads to high fuel consumption but also results in the dropping of your mileage by more than 10 percent. The filter is designed to prevent dust and debris from penetrating the engine cylinders.

When the filter is not replaced as indicated, there may be severe damage in the engine. A visual inspection should either reveal a darkened air filter or one filled with debris. Most manufacturers recommend changing the air filter every 12000 to 15000 miles no matter the condition of the filter. Closely examine your manual to get guidelines on how to change the filter and also get the right numbers for it.

There are many factors to consider to make maintenance as cheap as possible. You can even look into places like U Pull & Pay for help with maintenance and finding parts. By doing that you can save a lot of money and a lot of time. This is especially useful if you feel confident in your mechanic abilities. Just make sure that you are always taking the time to find the best possible and cheap ways to take care of your car.

Slip-Sliding Away: 3 Tactics To Avoid Car Accidents This Winter

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/12/16 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on Slip-Sliding Away: 3 Tactics To Avoid Car Accidents This Winter

The winter months bring a lot of nasty weather that can leave the roads coated in ice and snow. Even if it is warm enough for a storm to bring rain instead of ice or snow, it is still easy to get into an accident. What are some things that you can do to avoid getting into a car crash this winter?

Check Your Car Before You Leave

Before you leave home, school or work, make sure that your car is in good physical condition. If you notice that the tires need air, don’t hesitate to find a gas station and inflate them right away. Better yet, you can buy a portable inflation unit that allows you to complete the task quickly and easily no matter how much experience you have with car maintenance. Other issues to look for include fluid leaking from the car or the car not starting when you turn the key.

Don’t Drive Faster Than Road Conditions Allow

The easiest way to get into an accident is to drive too fast for road conditions. Even if the speed limit on the highway is 55 miles per hour, you should go 10 to 20 miles per hour under that in a snow or rain storm. This ensures a safe following distance and lowers the risk that you will skid or slide off of the road.

Avoid The Roads If You Can

If you know that it is going to snow or otherwise be hazardous outside, you should just stay home if you can. In the event that you have to go to work, you could call your boss and ask to come in late or work from home instead of putting yourself in danger. Most employers would rather lose you for the day as opposed to risking your long-term safety.

What If You Are In An Accident?

After an accident, the first thing that you will want to do is call an attorney, like the professionals at Randall A. Wolff & Associates, Ltd. He or she will review the case and let you know how to get any compensation that you may be entitled to. Having in mind which lawyer you would like to use well before any car accident is also a great idea as it will be one less thing that you have to worry about.

Car accidents are never fun regardless of when they occur. However, winter crashes may be more dangerous because you could be stranded in cold weather for hours at a time. Therefore, it is in your best interest to avoid them at all costs through good planning and safe driving habits.

5 Ways a Car Accident Can Change Your Life

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/12/14 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on 5 Ways a Car Accident Can Change Your Life

No matter how safe of a driver you might be, an accident can take place at any time. While everyone hopes these situations will be resolved quickly, they often devolve into serious legal battles if any injuries have taken place. Here are just five of the ways that your next accident could end up changing your life.

Points on Your License

When a driver goes to traffic school for the first time, they should learn about the point system and how it will impact their ability to drive. While every state is slightly different, drivers who are at fault for an accident will generally have one or more points placed on their license for up to five years. Those who accumulate too many points could have their license suspended.

Legal Troubles

If an auto accident turns into a trial, it can become a very expensive situation for all parties involved. This is especially common if the driver who caused the accident was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In those scenarios, the charges can result in a license suspension or even time in jail. Drunk drivers might also need to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle once their license has been reinstated.

Chronic Injuries

Immediately following an accident, many drivers and passengers do not even realize they are injured because of their adrenaline. Unfortunately, patients who are not treated immediately often develop lifelong injuries and disabilities. Those who do not receive fair compensation to cover their medical expenses should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney, like Jack W Hanemann,P.S. about their legal options.

Expensive Repairs

In addition to medical bills, many drivers face expensive repairs after an accident. When the damage is severe enough, the car will be declared a total loss and the owner must find the funds to purchase a new vehicle. While your insurance might cover some of the expenses, it is not always enough to replace your old car with a similar make and model.

Higher Insurance Premiums

Many drivers do not realize that the increase in their insurance premiums can be the most expensive part of getting into an accident. In some cases, the points on your license will not come off for many years, and your insurance premiums will stay at a much higher rate until those points are removed.

Once an accident has taken place, it is important for all drivers involved to immediately begin taking steps to protect their health, finances, and driving record.

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