Many people find a Haynes or a Chilton manual to be a very helpful resource when doing their own work. Both manuals provide step-by-step instructions on how to do lots of different jobs, from the simplest to the more complicated. Depending on how much you plan on doing yourself, the manual will pay for itself very quickly.
You’ll also need to invest in some quality tools and safety equipment like a jack, jack stands and wheel chocks. It will take a little longer for these to pay for themselves, but it can be well worth it in the long run.
Changing your car’s oil is often inexpensive if you take it to a local shop or quick lube specialist. You can still save a little extra money if you do it yourself, but there’s a tradeoff. For many people the money saved isn’t enough to spend the time doing their own.
Some prefer to do their own service because they want to be sure it’s done properly. The dealer will tell you the best oil to use, and just about every parts store has a guide to help you select the proper filter. Sometimes you can save even more money by using coupons or store specials. Buy the stuff in advance if you need to, in order to take advantage of the deals.
Changing your air filter is another way to save money, and it’s possibly the easiest car care job you’ll do. On some cars you don’t have to use any tools. On others it might just take a screwdriver. Here again, the parts store will have a guide to show you which filter to get for your particular car.
Changing spark plug is a little more involved, and its difficulty varies from one car to another. But it’s usually done at the novice level with a few simple tools. It’s a job that rarely needs to be done, but there’s money to be saved if you’re willing to put some time into it. You’ll need a ratchet set and maybe an extension. You might need a special socket and many people like to use a torque wrench. Spark plug wires are also easy to change as well. Here again, the manual and parts store can be pretty helpful.
Changing your coolant can be more of a hassle, but it’s still another way you can save money. One of the most important things is to make sure you’re using the proper type of coolant. It used to be that all coolant was the same. That’s no longer the case and the wrong choice can result in damage to your engine. A call to the dealer can be pretty helpful, or simply buy the coolant from the dealer to avoid the possibility of trouble.…
If you own and operate an automobile, eventually, there will be a time in which you must shop around for auto parts. When shopping for these products, you will quickly discover that they can carry quite an expense! The expense can place quite a dent in the wallet if you are shopping for parts to replace faulty ones, or simply parts to enhance the overall performance of your vehicle. There are many different ways to save money when buying parts for your automobile. Here, you will learn about a few different strategies that I use when shopping for these products. When comparing the prices of new parts from local automobile stores to the prices that I have paid, I have saved thousands of dollars. Now, you can too!
One of the best methods that you can use when shopping for deals in auto parts is to check out all of your local junkyards and salvage yards. This type of business discounts the prices of these products drastically ? mostly because of the fact that the parts are used, and they have so many to offer to the consumer in need of them. Generally, you can elect to have the parts that you need pulled, or you can save a few extra bucks by pulling the items needed yourself. For example, at one point, my radiator cracked and I needed a new one. The local parts stores average price was right around $75.00. However, I went to a local junkyard, had them pull the part for me, and paid only $15.00. In addition to the radiator, the salvage yard also threw in the hoses. Now, how is that for savings?
The next method that I have used to acquire parts for less for my automobile is a bit more risky than shopping at a local junkyard, but I have never experienced any type of complication from making purchases in this fashion. This step involves using the internet. There are many different online resources that can be implemented when purchasing vehicle components online. For example, there are many online wholesalers that have massive amounts of parts that can be sold at much lower prices than automobile parts stores offer. In addition to this, there are online auction websites like ebay, as well as many classified advertisements that offer great deals on vehicle components.
Over the years, I learned another little handy trick that seems to help when it comes to saving money on parts for my car. You know all of those old “buy here, pay here” car lots? Well, if you run into one that is locally owned, you may get a little deal on any spare parts that they have laying around. Many times, these spare parts are just lying around and cannot be used for anything in the lot. The owners of these little side car dealerships love to make a fast buck and are often more than willing to part with a few vehicle parts to make some fast cash.
As you can see, there are quite a few ways that you can save a little cash when shopping for auto parts. Many times, you just have to get a little creative in your search for a great deal. You will be absolutely surprised at what you bargains you can find shopping around for auto parts.…
With a little attention to detail and some elbow grease, you can save thousands of dollars by selling your vehicle online rather than swapping it with a dealer. The following tips will show you how:
* Avoid overpricing. Research the private-party value on sites like to find out exactly what your car is worth and price yours competitively to sell quickly.
* Thoroughly clean your car inside and out; wax the exterior. The car should be spotless, with no clutter. Have existing problems repaired, or be prepared to lower your price accordingly.
* A vehicle history report provides credibility and builds trust. Carfax reports are available free at with the purchase of their Premium Ad package. If you have maintenance records, show them to potential buyers.
* A professional inspection will prevent last-minute surprises and adds to the buyer’s peace of mind. recommends SGS Inspections, with its nationwide staff of inspectors who will come to your home, office or any convenient location and perform a 150-point inspection and post results within 24 hours. Their fee includes interior and exterior photos.
* When writing your ad, provide specific details and features. Include plenty of well-lighted photographs of your clean and shiny vehicle, inside and out.
* Respond to inquiries promptly to keep the buyer enthused. Get the buyer’s full name, address and contact information. Verify the information before meeting face-to-face. Initially, you may wish to meet the buyer away from your house and also have a friend come along.
* Accompany the buyer on the test drive to continue discussing the vehicle’s selling points.
* Once you’ve agreed on a price, discuss method of payment. It’s best to request a cashier’s check drawn on a local bank and to go with the buyer to the bank to verify it. For cash transactions, both buyer and seller should sign a cash receipt or a bill of sale.
* After the transfer of title, notify your insurance company and local DMV. Remember that in most states, the license plates stay with the buyer.…
Most shop owners and dealerships are willing to rehire past employees that were good producers. When you listen, this is what they’ll typically say: “Now that Mike has worked at another shop for a while, he knows just how good he had it here with us! So I know that if I hire him back, he’ll be a great, life-long employee!” Well, before you agree with that statement, you should consider that when you first bring someone aboard you should look for a number of things, yet none are more important than a mutual commitment to a long-lasting relationship. This commitment is good for both you and your employee.
Unfortunately, no matter how green the grass is at your shop, as we all know, the grass is often greener on the other side of the fence. So what happens when that superstar employee of yours comes to you and tells you that they’ve taken a job with another shop or dealership? In the eyes of the employee, if they have been a good producer for you they may very well feel that if things don’t work out at their new job, you’ll welcome them back with open arms. And why not? That’s what most shop owners ultimately do. So they shake hands, they wish one another the best, and the employee walks out the door.
Then a few months later that very same employee is knocking on the shop owner’s door, telling the owner that they realize they made a mistake, and they would love to be able to join the team again. This is when most shop owners make a major auto shop management mistake. They immediately think of the tech or service advisor’s past productivity, and they foolishly tell themselves that if they bring the employee back into the fold, all the other employees will then realize just how good they have it. In reality, that’s the furthest thing from the truth. When you bring someone back into your company who left voluntarily, the message your employees are getting is that they can leave at anytime, with the peace of mind that you’ll always rehire them. That in itself is the wrong message to send to any employee. Consider this…
When an employee knows, upfront, that you have an auto shop management policy in place which states that they will be ineligible for rehire if they leave your company, it will motivate them to come forward and talk to you about the concerns they have. This in itself will give them pause when they think about leaving. You also need to consider that the price an employee pays for leaving is relatively low. If things don’t work out, they just roll their tool box back into your shop. Not the case with you as the business owner. You now have to burden the cost of finding and hiring the replacement employee, the cost of training that new hire, and the expense of business disruption, which is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.
Lastly, if you do bring that employee back aboard, odds are they’ll leave again. The reason is pretty simple: over the years I have argued that the first thing that leaves is the heart, then the mind, and then the tool box. So if you didn’t resolve whatever it was that caused them to leave the first time, they’ll more than likely leave again. Now I need to be clear: there’s nothing wrong with anyone wanting to do better in life. That’s understandable. But as business owners, we need to think through our auto shop management policies. By allowing employees to leave and return, what we’re really doing is encouraging our employees to take our competitors for a “test-drive”, while at the same time we’re putting ourselves at risk.
So what will a no-rehire policy do for you? First of all, it will bring about a greater commitment, and team spirit, from all your employees. Secondly, it will force your people to really think through any decision they make about possibly leaving your company, as appropriate with any big decision. That in itself is priceless, because it will help prevent your people from making quick, emotional decisions that more often than not turn out to be the wrong decisions. And finally, it will cause your people to be open, and discuss their concerns with you, rather than trying to run from the very same issues that may confront them at their next place of employment.
Are their exceptions to a no-rehire rule? Of course. If someone has to move out of town due to a family issue, if they are forced into a career change due to medical issues, or if they leave you for any other reason that is legitimately out of their …
Small cars have always had a large share of the automobile sales registered every year. Therefore, nowadays, almost every company is looking to launch a small Sedan that can suit the customers’ requirements. Moreover, in the recession hit environment, automobile companies are focusing on small cars that are available at reasonable prices and do not create much of a monetary burden on the customers. However, companies are not just content with making an economical small van rather; they are trying to infuse in it the qualities that you normally get in a medium sized or a luxurious Mitsubishi. Features like air bags, strong engine, excellent suspension, sun roofs- all are now available in small SUV’s.
In addition to the lesser prices, there are many other benefits of small vehicles. Some are summed as under:
Better mileage
A small car will always have a better mileage than medium sized automobiles, SUV’s and luxurious sedans. It can even give a mileage of 20 kilometers per liters of petrol, whereas, a large one won’t be even close to it. Hence, you will be able travel far at quite a reasonable cost.
Excellent maneuverability
A small sedan can be maneuvered quite easily. You don’t have to rethink twice before taking your vehicle in a crowded place, since it is easy to turn and can be parked in a smaller space. On the other hand big Limousine requires larger space for parking and is not easy to maneuver.
Easy Handling
The small One is easy to handle. These are more nimble, which make them lesser prone to accidents. Since the center of gravity is lower as compared to big one, the chances of them tolling over or filliping over are quite less. Moreover, since, these are small in size, these can be easily stopped. Whereas, a big van will take that fraction of a second more to stop, that can cause collision.
Less Maintenance
A small car requires lesser maintenance. Also, the parts of a small car are available at a lesser price, which make them cost effective as well. Moreover, in the big cars, most of the spare parts are expensive, which can make you spend more than you want.
Eco friendly
A small car is more eco friendly than a big car. It emits less pollution and consumes less fuel which makes it environmental friendly.
With all these factors the small cars definitely have an edge over big cars hence; the small car sales keep on increasing at a good rate.…
Audi has unveiled a compact sports car, the A1, designated for release in the summer of 2010. Designed for younger drivers, the car reflects a sleek and sophisticated look, which makes it a perfect fit for customers who live in urban and large cities. Also, the A1?s compact size allows it to retain agility through high volume city traffic.
The interior reflects a high quality, sporty look. With the latest technology incorporated on board such as the ?infotainment system,? Audi has paved the standard in automobile advances. It features a MMI navigation plus, a media center that also includes a monitor that rises from the instrument panel to the control unit. The A1 also comes with a 465 watt Bose surround sound system. Customers can also customize various aspects of the car to fit their own tastes.
The A1 was designed to have an agile chassis along with powerful engines. This combination makes it the sportiest car in its class. Yet it retains the distinct characteristic of the Audi brand. These features include the coupe-like C pillars, the unique arch-shaped roof, large wheel well and the single-frame grille.
Designed with four four-cylinder engines, the A1 sets new standards in efficiency. All engines substitute turbocharging for displacement and directly draw fuel from injection units. This car also features efficient fuel economy at around 43 ? 61 mpg with a CO2 transmission emission of 159.33 g/mile.
Audi has continued the trend in high-tech through incorporating a seven-speed, dual-clutch S tronic transmission. This allows for quick changes in gears without the pauses in pulling power. The A1 comes in automatic and manual. There is also the option for paddles on the steering wheel.
Overall, the A1 is a compact yet powerful and sporty automobile. It should appeal to younger customers who typically live in larger cities and are looking for a sophisticated yet stylish car.…
Used Car Websites – Discover the Best Way to Buy Cheap Used Cars Through Government Vehicle Auctions
If you are looking to buy cheap used cars in your locality or across the country then you have come to the right place. There are some well known used car websites available online which you can use to find these types of vehicles through government auctions. Read further to discover how you can grab your favorite car through different types of government vehicle auctions held all across the country.
We all love bargains about the cars we buy. We often hear some people buying cheap cars without investing thousands of dollars. And we usually wonder how these people are able to purchase the cars at such rock bottom prices. Your answer is the government vehicle auction websites.
There are basically two ways by which you can take part in these government auctions. The first one is to ask directly to the relevant government authorities in your locality. This option seems simple in the beginning. But when you actually try to ask these authorities about the actual auction places then you will realize that they are very reluctant to provide you the required answer. Most of the times, government do not spend any advertising money on these types of auctions which is why very few people know about these auctions.
This is why using second option is much simpler and easier for common people. The second choice is to use reliable and safe government auction websites. There are few websites available online which can find all types of cars available in our locality as well as all across the country. Plus we can also place our bid on any car we want at the comfort of our home. For a small one-time fee these websites provide you all the information regarding all types of auctions held across the country everyday.
The major advantage of using these websites is that common people do not know about these sites. This is the reason you stand a good chance to win your auction and get your dream car quickly and safely at your home.…