All posts in Auto Maintenance

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.

Ways To Keep Your Car In Tip Top Shape Year Round

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/19 in Auto Care with Comments Off on Ways To Keep Your Car In Tip Top Shape Year Round

Every year, the elements are working against your vehicle to fade your paint and to affect your vital system components. During the summer, UV radiation combined with increased summer heat and pollutants will eat away at your car’s beautiful finish. During the winter months, where temperatures are blistering cold, the sudden drop in temperatures can lead to glass breakage and to unnecessary wear on your tires and internal components. Investing in preventative maintenance all year long is vital if you want to avoid damage and preventable repair bills. Here are some tips to protect your car during the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring:

Prepare Your Car For Colder Seasons

Winters can be harsh on vehicles. Just like you protect your skin from the blistering cold, you should protect your vehicle’s finish. There are several steps that car owners should take to winterize their vehicles. Be sure to check the antifreeze level in your battery so that your vehicle always starts, and have brake fluids checked before storms hit. In addition to this, All-West Glass Ltd., a company specializing in auto glass in Edmonton, recommends that you swap out your windshield wiper fluid with a liquid that will not freeze during freezing conditions.

Protect Your Car’s Finish From the Elements Year Round

To protect your finish from the road salt that is laid to combat the snow, you should invest in a good was and a fresh wax that will prevent corrosion caused by the sodium within the salt. Doing this will ensure that the wheel wells will not accumulate with salt either.

Prepare Your Car For Warmer Seasons

Spring will bring April showers that give way to May flowers and then blistering summer temperatures. Preparing your car for the Summer heat should start in Spring. Check the liquid in your heat to avoid evaporation which can drain your battery of power. You should also check your cooling system and add coolant to your radiator so that your engine is running at an optimal level.

Seasonal Tires to Avoid Hazards

As the temperatures rise, check your tire pressure monthly so that you can avoid over-inflation and blow outs. The rising temperatures can lead to blow outs as the air in the tires expand. Be sure to inspect the wheel well of your tires for defects before the asphalt gets hot, or you can face hazards on the roadways.

Go Easy When You’re Stuck

When stuck don’t repeatedly throw your car from forward to reverse. Spinning your tires at high speeds can cause a lot of heat and possible ruin your transmission, clutches, and differentials. If you are really stuck call a tow truck so you don’t end up spending a lot of money on repairs from working your car to hard to get it out.

Winterizing and summerizing your vehicle are essential steps that you must take to prolong the life of your fine piece of machinery. Be sure to keep your vehicle clean, inspect your car from top to bottom, and invest in preventative maintenance if your want your car to stay in tip top shape. The money that you spend will ultimately save you in the future.

Get in A Car Accident? 5 Phone Calls You Should Make Immediately After it Happens

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/15 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on Get in A Car Accident? 5 Phone Calls You Should Make Immediately After it Happens

A car crash can leave some drivers and passengers in shock. However, it’s important to make the following five phone calls immediately after getting into a car accident.

Auto Insurance Agent

After getting into an accident, a driver should call his or her auto insurance agent. The agent will immediately start up all of the paperwork that needs to be filed for an official claim. An agent will instruct the driver on what to do regarding towing, storing and repairing the vehicle.

Police Help

The police should be called immediately after an accident. An officer can arrive in a matter of minutes to assess the car accident site. An official police report is created at the accident site. This report includes information about the causes of the accident and the driver that is at fault. A diagram can also be drawn in order to officially determine what happened during the car crash.

Legal Assistance

A personal injury attorney has said that people can save themselves some serious headaches as well as money, if they call a lawyer. They can be very helpful in taking care of some legal issues involving a car accident. An attorney can file a claim against insurance companies that are not willing to pay any extra money for medical expenses and other compensation to an injured driver or passenger. An attorney also has the right to file civil lawsuits against a driver at fault in an accident. Such a driver can face serious charges especially if he or she was impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Towing & Auto Collision Company

After a car accident, it’s a good idea to call a familiar local towing company. Such a company may offer a fair rate to tow away and store a damaged car. Otherwise, the police will call in towing services that may charge expensive rates. Additionally, a driver can request that his or her damaged car be towed to a specific auto body shop or service center that charges a fair rate. Otherwise, some collisions centers unknown to the driver may charge expensive rates for storage and labor.

Contacting Owner of Car

The owner of a vehicle should be immediately contacted after an accident. After all, some people drive cars that belong to their parents, relatives or friends. By law, the title holder of a vehicle is responsible for some of the events that follow a car accident.

Police, lawyers, insurance agent, car owner and towing company should all be called right after a car accident. Accident victims should also think about getting immediate medical treatment.

Chaleigh is a freelance writer that lives in NYC. She enjoys writing and lifestyle photography. She writes about anything from Reno Personal Injury Lawyer related content, to paving your driveway or how to properly fix your slice in golf. In her spare time she likes to take pictures, snowboard, golf, and play ice hockey.

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.

Foreign Cars: Fix ‘Em Up Or Throw ‘Em Out

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/06 in Foreign Cars with Comments Off on Foreign Cars: Fix ‘Em Up Or Throw ‘Em Out

When you own a foreign car, you may have a piece of junk on your hands. Other times, a foreign car is great for your wants and needs. Either way, if it starts to break, you need to either cut your losses or invest more in the vehicle. With this in mind, here are four ways to get your foreign vehicle fixed on the cheap.

Online auctions:

If you want a high-end part, you should head to online auction sites like Ebay. When going with this option, you can buy a part meeting your unique wants and needs. Simply put, when you own an older car, you will want to buy great parts and you can do so by heading to an online auction site. Again, while you will pay a higher price when compared with a salvage yard, you can get the item you want. And know for a fact that it is the right part for the issues you are experiencing, and it will be in perfect new condition. This is a great option when it comes to the actual mechanical issues of a car. After you have purchased the actually parts, then you can either take it into an auto shop, have a knowledgeable friend work on it, or learn how to make the repairs yourself.

Online salvage yard:

Believe it or not, if you want, you can head online to find a salvage yard. This is a more expensive option than doing it at the site. However, if you have an obscure car, you can find the part you want, just at a higher price. Without a doubt, if you want the item quickly and without doing much work, consider an online salvage yard.

Local paper or classifieds:

By heading to Craigslist or your local paper’s website, you can find that part for your vehicle. This is not a great option if you have an obscure car and have a need for lots of parts. But, if you want one or two items, head online and check your local classifieds. Especially if the repair isn’t an urgent one, this can be a great option to take your time, find the right part and for the right price. So this can be a great option when it comes to the more cosmetic issues with a vehicle.

Salvage yard:

If you own an older automobile, you can head to a local salvage yard. Here, you can get the right part for your needs. This is true whether you need an old carburetor or plastic piece on your bumper. Since a salvage yard is self-serve, this is the perfect option if you are busy and want to get in, grab the part, and move on with your life.

With these four options, you can get your vehicle fixed on the cheap. Otherwise, if you do not have access to inexpensive parts, you may think about getting rid of your old automobile.

Information Credit:
Looking for a part? You should head to a salvage yard such as All Japanese Auto Wrecking Services. They are experts at fixing foreign cars as well as having replacement parts. When doing so, you can get the part you want for a fraction of the cost.

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