All posts in Auto Maintenance

5 Signs Your Vehicle Needs a New Engine

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/26 in Auto Restoration with Comments Off

The engine is the heart of your vehicle. It is what gives your car or truck life. Most drivers are confident that they know their vehicle inside and out. With technology now in days you’re not as likely to have engine trouble, but it is still possible that it could happen. However, even if you’re at one with your car, it can be difficult to know when something changes. This is especially true when it comes to your car’s engine. Luckily, though, there are 5 signs that you can keep an eye out for which will let you know that your vehicle needs a new engine.

1. Gas is Gone in an Instant

One way to tell that your engine is breaking down is by how fast the gas in your tank empties out. If there is something wrong with your vehicle’s engine, there will be a quick decrease in the gas mileage. For instance, if you notice that you usually get 20 mpg on the road but are now limited to 15, it may be time to bring your vehicle to the auto shop. This does not mean that you need a new engine, but it does show a possibility. You may just have something as simple as a leak in your gas line or a problem with you fuel injectors.

2. Recent Knocking Noise

Another way to tell that your vehicle may be experiencing engine trouble is that all of a sudden a knocking noise develops. This noise will usually be brought upon when the car speeds up. The noise can be the result of something as simple as a bad tank of gas, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. That’s because this noise could actually be due to small detonations in the engine that could cause irreversible damage if not taken care of.

3. Car Turns Over But Doesn’t Start

If the engine is malfunctioning, it may be difficult to start up the car. Remember, if the car turns over, you can rule out the issue stemming from the battery. The same goes for the starter and alternator, as long as the vehicle starts. According to Mike’s Auto Towing, when the car starts hard, all fingers should point to the engine.

4. Vehicle is Backfiring or Stalling

Of course there are times where this doesn’t indicate engine failure, but when a car backfires or stalls there is a possibility that it is due to an engine problem. If it’s not the engine itself, it could be a problem that could damage the engine.

5. Odor From the Exhaust

Nowadays, most vehicles run without giving off any smell. However, if you notice that all of a sudden your exhaust smells bad or different from before, you should bring your car straight to the mechanic to get it checked.

It’s clear that if you experience any of the signs listed above in your vehicle, you need to get it looked at right away. After all, it’s better to be overcautious than not cautious enough. By getting your car inspected, you can avoid serious damage from occurring later on.

Why don’t you start your own car-washing business?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/24 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

Starting capital is not only that matters when starting your own business. Ideas are more important. In addition, you have to consider many things from the very start. However, there’s no place for fear. Replace it with enthusiasm and you’ll get more energy to achieve your goals.

So, what kind of business do you want to start? Do you want to sell products or services? What do you think is more profitable in the long run? If you still cannot decide, car washing business might be great investment for you. It may require more money in the beginning, but as time goes there’s pretty much nothing to think about.

Machines are durable, and there’re plenty of places where you can build it. You also have a choice when it comes to employing people. You can build a self-service car wash or you can hire employees to run your business. Of course, whatever you do, take your abilities and possibilities into account. It’s very important to carefully calculate and plan all your investments.

Do some research

You’re not first and only one who came up with this idea. Nevertheless, this should not discourage you. On the contrary, there are many high traffic areas out there, with no competition. All you need to do is to find the right spot by doing some research first. Your potential target are highways or any other high traffic roads with circuits of more than twenty thousand cars per day, with no other car wash service in a range of, at least, a mile. This might be your perfect location.

Paperwork and legal regulations

You’re going to need a working license, that’s for sure. Check what the requirements of local services are; what kind of insurance will you need. Although, in some countries you can do it online, we’re strongly advise you to go and check it personally because you’ll probably need to fill some applications at your area or country department.

Fit in the city plans

Arrange a meeting with city planners in order to get both planning and building approval. You’ll probably have to present your plans, and it will eventually end with verbal agreement like: “Yes, this is going to work.” or “No, something just isn’t right here.” Our advice is to avoid old boring car washes. You have to do something which will differentiate you from others, whether you choose to make it “shiny” or to go retro. It’s important to convince those people that you really mean it, and that your car wash will be unique in their city.

Create good business plan

Now, this is one of the most important things in modern business. The more detailed business plan you have the more attractive you’ll become to investors. There are highly educated professional who do this for a living, so if you’re not sure in how exactly should it looks like, maybe it’s wiser to pay them to make it for you. No matter you’re making a short or the long term business plan, if it looks good to the banks, they will approve you additional credit to develop your business. As you can see, you can only win in the end.

Building the facility

Here comes the interesting part. There are certain alternatives in which you can save lot of money. For instance, if you install a dome shelter instead of facility made of classic materials, not only it will be much cheaper and made of eco-friendly materials, but you’ll also be able to easily settle in the new location if required.

Financials

As we mentioned it before, running a car washing business is great solution for those who have starting capital, because we’re talking about an elaborate job in which you provide service which people do need all the time. This business does not require much additional investment, so once you set everything up, the rest is going to flow. If you’re not to invest all off the money, you can get the rest by getting a loan for entrepreneurs. This might be challenging part, but if carefully prepared your business plan, we’re sure it won’t be a problem at all.

Follow the example of others

Although you don’t want to imitate others, there are certain things which you need to follow in order to become successful as well as they are. This again requires some additional research in terms of their prices and services which will help you to become competitive neighbor.

BIO
Melissa Stevens is a professional blogger from Brisbane, mother of one, interested in eco friendly topics. Her family recently started their own car washing business, and instead of classical building they installed a dome shelter facility which reduced starting costs and carbon footprint.

Five Truck Repairs You Need Before the Weather Gets Cold

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/17 in Auto Repair with Comments Off

Winter is the worst season for driving. The roads get snowy, icy, and wet. They become very slick and your chances of getting in an accident if you’re not careful will increase. Few drivers want to think of the coming cold weather and what it means for a truck, but it’s important to prepare for the worst and if nothing else to be prepared. Here are five repairs you should do before the weather gets cold.

The Anti-freeze

Change the anti-freeze. The anti-freeze strength in your cooling system is important. In the summer, it keeps your truck’s engine from overheating, and in the winter, it protects your engine from cold temperatures while the truck is idle. Check the strength of your anti-freeze before the temperatures plunge. Do not hesitate to flush and replace the antifreeze if routine maintenance calls for it.

The Battery

A truck battery repair is fairly straight-forward, so don’t hesitate if your battery is weak. You’ll realize how important the battery is on the first cold morning that your truck refuses to start. Batteries have a definite expiration date. While a battery living on borrowed time may not have been a problem during the hot months of summer, it quickly dies during the cold months of winter. Truck batteries have a four-year life usually. Have a garage mechanic check the battery before the cold air arrives.

The Tires

If you’ve worn the tires bald during the summer months, be sure to replace them before winter arrives. Do a visual check on the tires for wear and tear. According to Tonka 4-Wheel Drive Ltd., worn tires will not grip the road, and the truck could end up in the ditch on the first morning of a snow accumulation. Put a quarter in the treads and check to make sure Washington’s head touches the top of your tread. If Washington’s head is separated from the tread, it’s getting low.

Body Dents

Body dings and dents will quickly rust with the exposure to road salts. Get your trucks dings and dents repaired to protect the metal body parts against corrosive elements of winter driving. If you don’t do this keep in mind that you are not just allowing the body of your truck to rust, but to become corroded as well. You will also start to lose the color in your body paint and will likely have get it redone at a later point in time.

Windshield Cracks

You may not want to drive around all winter with a long crack across your windshield. You may wonder if it can support all that snow that piles up on the windshield during the winter. In most states, this is an equipment violation, so it’s a good idea to get it taken care of.

Unfortunately, not all repairs are this easy to predict. When a warning lights flash on, or if a gauge indicates a problem with one or more of the truck’s systems, get it into a repair shop for diagnosis and repair before the cold weather arrives. It’s best to get a warning light’s severity confirmed by a mechanic before going on the road.

Roadside Fixes to Get You Back on Your Way

by Anica Oaks on 2014/12/12 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

It’s inevitable. Cars break down. And when they do, it’s usually at the worst possible moment. While many breakdowns will require a tow truck and can only be repaired at a qualified shop, some can be remedied with a small repair on the roadside if you are equipped to do so.

Flat-Fixin

First, familiarize yourself with your vehicle before it breaks down. Know where the spare is, how to get the jack and tire iron out and how to use them. If you have wheel locks, know where the wheel lock key is. Changing a flat tire is one of the most fundamental repairs that one can do to get back rolling. Even if your vehicle has large oversized tires, replacing a flat tire with a spare can be done safely if precautions are taken. Make sure your vehicle is parked on flat level ground before getting the jack under it. When jacking the vehicle up, don’t lift it higher than you need to. You will have to lift it high enough to get the flat tire out, and the full spare under it. Going higher than that could make the vehicle shift and unstable. Make sure to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern in order to get a consistent tightness on the wheel assembly.

Breaking Murphy’s Law

Some basic hand tools in a repair kit kept in the trunk of your vehicle may get you back on the road quickly so you can get your vehicle serviced on your schedule, not at the mercy of Murphy’s Law. Even quick roadside repairs are inevitably dirty, so it’s a good idea to have some gloves or other protective coverings on hand in the event your vehicle would break down.

Toolin’ Around

In your hand tools, a Leatherman or multi-tool is a great tool to have. Most of them have needle hose pliers, at least one knife blade, screwdrivers and other useful tools to get you back on the road. Some breakdowns are caused by something as simple as a loose connection, clamp or fitting. By identifying the problem and using some hand tools to tighten the offending part, you could remedy the problem yourself with the spin of one tool.

Call a Tow Truck

Sometimes it’s best to recognize when you are in over your head and call a tow company. Some services will bring you fuel or do minor fixes, and others will come to your location nearly regardless of conditions outside. For getting your 4×4 out of that gutter, consider a company like Mike’s Auto and Towing that specializes in difficult recoveries.

Release Your Inner MacGyver

For those old enough to remember MacGyver, he had a fix for everything—and most of it involved duct tape. There’s a good reason for that. It’s durable, flexible, and under the right conditions, can make a near water-tight seal. A blown radiator hose once cleaned up a bit and allowed to cool can be fixed temporarily with a couple rounds of duct tape just to get you to a shop for a permanent repair. If the hose is broken close to the clamp, it may be possible to remove the clamp, cut off the damaged portion and put the hose back on with the clamp moved further up the hose. This only works if there hose has enough length. Again, this is a temporary fix.

Sometimes, the repair is just too much to do on the side of the road. Times like these, sometimes the best tool to have in your toolbox is a cell phone and the number to a reputable towing service.

Five Quick Fixes Every New Driver Should Know

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/03 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

New drivers may be tempted to take their car into the shop for every minor problem just because they do not have much experience fixing automobiles. But this is often a very expensive route to take. Taking the time to learn several quick car repairs will make driving much easier and your wallet fuller. These five quick fixes can be learned quickly by every new driver to save money and time.

Flat Tire

While you never want to get a flat tire while driving, preparing for the worst is always a wise decision. If you never learn how to change a flat tire, then you will be forced to wait hours on the side of the road, when the problem can be fixed in a few minutes.

Oil Change

Changing the oil may seem like a major hassle to most new drivers, but it is something that has to be done to ensure the car runs correctly. Depending on the vehicle, your oil should be changed every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. While an oil change is far cheaper than a Calgary transmission repair at a body shop, oil and a funnel can be purchased for only a few dollars at many grocery stores.

Jump Starting a Car

Learning to jump start your car is another skill new drivers need to learn so you are not stranded on the side of the road for hours. There is no reason to wait for roadside assistance when you can jump a car in seconds. While jump starting a car will require the assistance of someone else, it should not take long to find a willing person in most emergencies.

Replacing Filters

Replacing the oil and air filter regularly will guarantee your car continues to run properly. As National Transmissions says, it only takes seconds to make sure your filters are still clean. Since replacement filters can be easily installed, every new driver should handle the fix themselves.

Changing Battery

When batteries get too old, they will stop working, and it will be impossible to start the car. Car batteries can be purchased at most auto part stores. They will even install the battery for a fee, but this is fee can easily be avoided. New drivers may have to take some time learning how to replace a battery, but this skill will be used several times throughout your life.

Learning these five quick car fixes will keep your car running properly, save you money, and save you time. Everyone who regularly drives a car should know how to maintain it properly, and that starts with learning these easy repairs.