Don’t Let It Rust or Bust! How to Take Care of Your Car During a Snowy Winter

by Carsurfer Admin on 2017/10/31 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Don’t Let It Rust or Bust! How to Take Care of Your Car During a Snowy Winter

Winter is the hardest time of the year on cars. Not only are roads often coated in snow or ice, but the salt that is laid down to combat these problems can cause exposed parts of your car to rust. If you want to ensure that your car comes through the coldest part of the year in good condition, there are some basic maintenance steps you need to take. Here are four things you should be doing to take better care of your car in the wintertime.

Put on Snow Tires

The greatest danger to your car during the winter is the possibility of losing traction on snow or ice and running into something. The best way to prevent this from happening is to equip your car with specialized snow tires that will help it grip the road better. Any good tire dealer should have snow tires in all common sizes. Don’t get rid of your summer tires, though, as you can put them back on again in the spring if they’re still in relatively good shape.

Put Something Heavy in the Trunk

Another good way to increase your car’s traction is to put a heavy weight in the trunk. Doing this will increase the downward pressure on the rear axle, making it less likely to slide out on snow or ice. This step is especially important if your car is rear wheel drive. A front wheel drive car will have the weight of the engine positioned over the front axle, keeping it soundly in place. If your car is rear wheel, however, it will have comparatively little normal weight over its drive axle.

Repair All Damage Immediately

If your car does suffer some minor body damage, such as a dent or a significant scratch in the paint, be sure to get it repaired at once. Road salt and moisture will attack bare metal, leading to rust that will then become a much larger problem. Depending on the level of damage, you may have to take it to a professional body shop or a welding repair service. Fixing damage early, though, is well worth it to avoid the future problems it could present.

Wash and Wax Frequently

No matter how careful you are, your car is going to get some salt buildup on its body over the course of a snowy winter. The best step to take to combat this is to have it washed and waxed frequently to remove existing road salt and protect against the effects of new buildup. Ideally, you should take your car through a professional car wash, since the water jets underneath the vehicle will hit areas that would be hard for you to reach otherwise.

Protecting your car during a snowy winter is all about keeping the elements at bay and taking the right precautions. With these tips and a bit of common sense preventative maintenance, you’ll be able to keep your car in great shape through even the worst winters.

Faint Signs: 3 Early Warnings Your Brakes May Be Wearing Out

by Carsurfer Admin on 2017/10/30 in Brakes with Comments Off on Faint Signs: 3 Early Warnings Your Brakes May Be Wearing Out

Proper maintenance will go a long way in ensuring that your car serves you for a long time. By making sure that the vehicle is in good working order, you will minimize the chances of potentially deadly accidents. One of the areas you should focus on when you take your car for service is the brakes. These important components help to slow down or bring your vehicle to a stop whenever there is an imminent crash. If you are to know whether your brakes are wearing out, there are specific signs you should be aware of. Here are three warnings to look for when driving your car.

Reduced Responsiveness

This is perhaps one of the most obvious warning signs that your brakes may be wearing out. In case you notice that the brake pedal sinks too far towards the floor or is not as responsive as it is supposed to be, you should take this as a warning. In most cases, reduced responsiveness will be an indication of leaking brake fluid. If a puddle of fluid forms when the car is parked, this could be yet another indication of leaking fluid. Since reduced responsiveness will increase the risk of a crash, you should get a trustworthy mechanic to repair your brakes.

Grinding Or Growling

There are times when you will hear a loud metallic sound whenever you step on the brake pedal. The grinding noise may be as a result of two metallic parts, the disc and the caliper, rubbing against each other. Since this is a clear sign that your brakes are already worn out, you should seek brake repair services as soon as possible. A visit to brake repair and maintenance experts, such as Dualtone Muffler Brake & Alignment, will ensure that the problem is corrected before other parts get damaged.

Pulling To One Side

In case you notice your vehicle pulling to one side every time you brake, two possibilities should come to mind. Either there is foreign matter in your brake fluid or the brake linings have been wearing unevenly. If there is foreign matter in the fluid, the fluid will have to be drained then replaced. Brake adjustment would be the appropriate step to take in case of unevenly worn linings.

This list is by no means exhaustive. If you notice wobbling, bouncing up and down when you brake or a burning smell while driving, you should take your car for inspection. As much as brake parts will wear out over time, putting the problem off will pose unnecessary risk and result in bigger repair bills.

Why One Should Go For Genuine Nissan Car Service & Repair Center?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2017/10/27 in Nissan with Comments Off on Why One Should Go For Genuine Nissan Car Service & Repair Center?

Getting your car serviced regularly is one of the most important aspects of keeping your cars health in check. All those who own cars know the importance of having a good car service and repair centre. However, there comes a time when there is a dilemma of whether you should take your car for repair and service at the genuine service centre and dealership, or at a local service centre?

Reasons That Make Selecting Nissan Authorized Service/Repair Centre So Important:

Here are some of the advantages and points on why we think you should go for a genuine Nissan car service and repair centre:

  1. When you opt for visiting a dealership for your cars servicing and repair, you can be assured of getting only expert and trained specialists who are specifically trained to work on a particular line or brand of vehicles. In a local service centre however, you will come across technicians who might have general knowledge about your vehicle and its parts, but cannot guarantee to have specialized knowledge.
  2. At an authorized Nissan dealership, the staff members are given constant training to update their set of skills and knowledge. They are given not only theoretical knowledge, but practical knowledge also. This is important as Nissan constantly updates the technology of their machinery, and the staff members are required to be updated on the advancements so that they are able to detect accurately any issues with your vehicle and repair them properly.
  3. When you opt for car repair and servicing of your Nissan car at an independent service centre, you are also risking warranty of your new car. If the independent service centre is not able to repair your car properly, it might cost you much more in the long run to get it repaired again for the damage caused. However, at a genuine Nissan car service and repair centre, your warranty will stay valid, while your car will receive proper care, servicing and repair using only genuine Nissan parts and products.
  4. Another advantage you will receive by visiting an authorized Nissan car service and repair centre is that you can rest assured that your car will be given only genuine Nissan parts and products. You can, however, choose to opt for the more affordable, refurbished original parts. But one thing that can be guaranteed is that you will receive genuine, durable and long-lasting Nissan parts and products for your car.
  5. The staff members who are working at a Nissan authorized service centre have extensive knowledge about your car and its different parts. This means that your car will receive proper care not only from your technicians, but fromrest of the staff working at the Nissan dealership also.
  6. By regularly having your car serviced at a Nissan dealership, you can be assured of having an up to date servicing and repairing of your vehicle. This is because the Nissan dealership will keep all records and history of your vehicles servicing, repairs as well as a picture of the road history of the car.
  7. By getting your car servicing and repairs done at an authorized Nissan service centre, you can even save money! They offer competitive pricing as well as great, reasonable rates for all its parts as well as service charges. Your car will be serviced using all the proper equipment, tools, and properly trained staff with up to date knowledge and skills. This is something you can be guaranteed only at a Nissan dealership and not at a local, independent service centre.

Hence, keep the above-mentioned points in mind and avail the benefits by having your vehicle serviced at a Nissan authorized repair centre.

5 Tools That a Professional Auto Mechanic Must Have

by Carsurfer Admin on 2017/10/25 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on 5 Tools That a Professional Auto Mechanic Must Have

When it comes to repairing an automobile, there are mainly two things that matter a lot. First of all, the automobile mechanic should have all the important automotive tools; and secondly, he should have decent amount of experience of how to use these tools properly. Additionally, it is also vital that the mechanic should have thorough knowledge about how to deal with the various kinds of technical issues.

When talking about the automotive tools, there are certain tools that matter a lot, and can make the task of repairing your vehicle quite easy. In fact, if you have even a little amount of technical knowledge about car repair, you can use the tools mentioned below in order to fix the minor issues. So, let us take a look at some of the must have auto mechanic tools.

Tools That Every Auto Mechanic Should Have:

  • Jack
    We all know that it can be really difficult to repair a car without lifting it with a jack. Once there is enough space available between the car and the ground, you can easily execute the process of repairing. For this reason, having a set of four jack stands is absolutely essential, along with a floor jack. It is important to remember that all jacks are not enough versatile to lift each and every type of car; therefore, before you buy a jack, make sure it has been designed to support a wide range of models.
  • Impact Wrench
    In most of the car servicing or repair cases, the wheels have to be pulled out. Hence, every auto mechanic should have a good quality impact wrench, which can deliver high amount of torque. The good quality impact wrench smartly stores its rotating mass, which in turn ensures that the user does not have to use too much force in order to keep the machine under control. Apart from an impact wrench, you would also need a torque wrench to put back the wheels to their position.
  • Proper Lighting
    If the garage does not have enough lighting, it can be quite difficult to carry out the repairing process easily. If you end up dropping even a small hardware item like screw or nut inside the engine’s compartment, it may turn into major issue later. For this reason, make sure that the garage is not dark inside. So, purchase a few spotlights and a couple of LED lamps. Don’t forget to buy a good quality flashlight.
  • Air Ratchet
    When it comes to fixing a car, you usually have to play with a lot of nuts and bolts. So, in order to save your time and effort, as an auto mechanic you should have a good quality air ratchet, which is powerful enough to ram the bolt in an effortless way. Do check the torque delivered by the air ratchet before buying it.
  • Automotive Stethoscope
    It is an invaluable tool of every professional mechanic. Many a times, vehicles make strange noises, particularly at the time of driving them. With the help of an automotive stethoscope, it becomes really easy to find out the source of the issue. An automotive stethoscope comes equipped with numerous transmitters and a few microphone clamps.

So, those were some of the must have tools that every auto mechanic should have in his garage. In addition to them, you can also include some other tools like high torque pneumatic wrench, bleeder, vacuum pump, pressure testing kit, battery carrier, pliers, and many more. When purchasing these items, you must make sure that the supplier or manufacturer is a reputed and reliable one. Durability of these tools matters a lot in ensuring a hassle-free experience.

Winter Windshields: 4 Ways to Keep Yours Clear

by Carsurfer Admin on 2017/10/24 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Winter Windshields: 4 Ways to Keep Yours Clear

Keeping your winter windshields safe and easy to see through is quick with a few low-cost preparations. Whether your windshield is perfect or has a few cracks, you can follow these steps to be safer this winter.

Go Blue or Don’t Go

If you do nothing else, get the right washer fluid added to your car. While the color can vary, the key is the alcohol content because it lowers the freezing temperature of the washer fluid. Look for washer fluid with a freezing temperature of -20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, the lower the better. Anything higher could freeze in the reservoir or even on your windshield.

Dealing with Cracks

If you have cracks or chips in your windshield, it is highly recommended to get those fixed before the first frost or freeze of the season. Water and moisture can get in these imperfections and expand causing even more damage. You have two options: repair or replacement. You can visit most auto repair shops and get windshield repairs done very quickly. Those facilities will usually file and approve the claim with your insurance company with little or no cost to you. You can also call a glass company like Valley Glass Utility about replacement. It is best to check your coverage before calling so you don’t file a claim that isn’t covered.

Keep It Clean

A dirty windshield can lead to poor visibility, more scratches, and damaged wiper blades. Before winter, run your car through the car wash or hose off the loose dirt from the windshield. Then use an automotive window cleaner on the inside and outside of the windshield, and other windows, to remove oil and grime that has built up all year. On the outside of the windshield, you can apply a product to reduce friction. You can also apply an anti-fog product on the inside of the windshield. This is helpful if the defrost function in your vehicle isn’t working well.

Ice Removal

If you park your vehicle outside during the winter, ice will accumulate. Removing the ice can be done several ways. First, try to park your car where the windshield faces east or south. The morning sunshine can warm the ice just enough to make it easier to remove. Next, be sure to get a plastic ice scraper. They are less likely to scratch the windshield. Keep two since they can break easily. You can also warm the car up and blast the windshield with the defroster. However, do not pour hot water on your car. It will likely crack glass and plastic. Even if it doesn’t, the water might refreeze and make things worse. Finally, before trying to run your wipers, be sure to free them from the ice to prevent blade or wiper motor damage.

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