It is easy to feel overwhelmed when faced with fixing your car. If so, you do not have to accept your powerlessness. Continue to read to gain more knowledge on car repairs so you can control the situation next time you have issues.
Buy a good battery charger to keep in the car. Dead batteries are a common problem for many drivers. Additionally, having a charger with you will allow you to aid other motorists in similar need. Before you drive again, figure out how to use it properly.
Always keep and eye on the radiator to make sure that it is full. You should let your car run for a few minutes, shut the engine and open your hood. Never, ever open the radiator while the car is still on. Use a dipstick to gauge how much radiator fluid you have, keeping in mind that most types need to be diluted with water.
Before allowing an auto shop to do repairs to your vehicle, ensure you are aware of the total cost. If you do not understand something, have it cleared up with the mechanic before he or she makes the repairs. Don’t be surprised with extra costs when the car has been fixed.
You might not need a mechanic to fix your car problem. Some repairs are easy to make. Have a look on the Internet and see if you can narrow down what the issue could be. It’s not too hard to do, and you’ll be able to get money saved back to start repairing things.
Asking around for recommendations is a great opportunity to locate a mechanic you can trust. Ask friends, family or co-workers for recommendations. You can find out about a mechanics quality of work, their price, and overall satisfaction. You can use their experiences to determine whether a mechanic is honest or not.
Understand your manual and mark important pages. This will help you when it comes time for you to visit your mechanic if a major problem occurs. You might even find some easy solutions for the issues you have been encountering.
When getting auto repairs, take all items out of your car. If something is missing, it will be your fault if you do not take it out. You want to remove items from your trunk also.
Invest in a spare tire and a jack, and keep them in your vehicle. Newer cars almost always have them. You would hate to be stuck out in the road and be forced to spend money on a tow. It will be quicker and less costly when you do it yourself.
Always get a second opinion, a reputable mechanic will not be offended because he knows his diagnosis will be confirmed. Even though mechanics are trustworthy in general, you could still wind up paying for more than you should. Find shops that specialize in the job that your car needs. These types of shops will give you the best bang for your buck.
Now, you know how to deal with car repairs successfully. When your car breaks down, use these tips to get it back into running condition. Continue to learn all you can about care repair, so this never happens to you.…
Car Service – Get to Know the Uses For One
Whether your vehicle is giving you trouble or you are about to embark on a trip, it might be time to find a reliable car service to get you where you need to go. Before you book this type of business, you should find out a bit more about it. Specifically, you should know how it can help you no matter what your situation might be.
If you are planning on taking a plane ride on vacation, you might be considering ways to save money. One of the best ways is to avoid parking your automobile at the airport while you are gone. Parking in airport lot costs money everyday, so long trips in particular can get expensive. Try comparing the costs of paying for parking and using a car service and you will probably find that the latter is a bit cheaper.
You may be thinking of other ways to get to the airport rather than parking your vehicle or using a car service. One way is to take a bus or taxi, but obviously if you have lots of luggage, this is not always the easiest plan. Additionally, depending on how far the airport is from your house, this route could get expensive. Having a friend or family member drop you off is always an option, but not everyone has this luxury, and then you will need a ride home, as well. For these reasons, a car service might be your best bet.
If you are having vehicle trouble, you probably need a way to get to work or to your daily activities. Rather than pay for a rental vehicle or wait for the bus in order to get to work, you should use a professional car service. This way, you can get a ride to and from work with minimal stress or expense, and you can schedule it ahead of time so you know you will have a ride. This is especially useful if your vehicle will be in the shop for several days.
Clearly, this type of business can come in handy in many situations. It can offer you a reliable way to get where you need to go, no matter the reason you cannot drive on your own. It is also a lot more cost effective and dependable than most other methods, especially if you do some research and select one with a good reputation in your area.…
Few things are worse than your vehicle suddenly stalling and sputtering out on you as you are traveling down the road. This is a road hazard to yourself and others, but it also means you face repair bills unless you can fix the problem yourself. How do you go about finding a good mechanic? The article below can help.
Get a referral if you want to see a reputable mechanic. Ask around for recommendations. Ask about how much they paid, the quality of the repairs and the customer service. People will let you know how their experience went.
Take all valuable items out of your vehicle before taking it in for repairs. The mechanic might have to remove certain items, and they won’t be liable if it goes missing. Clear out your trunk, too.
Have you noticed that your headlights aren’t shining very brightly? If so, ensure you are cleaning them regularly. Dirt from driving can build up on your headlights and block some light. Use glass cleaner to wash any dirt away from them.
Assemble repair tools and keep them in your car, so you are prepared at all times. You need to have tools to change a tire, which have come along with your car. Get a lug wrench or a jack. A Philips head as well as flat head screwdriver should be helpful, plus socket and adjustable wrenches. Always purchase quality tools. Instead, you should obtain solid tools that don’t break whenever you really need them.
A burned out headlight or taillight is a common repair. This can usually be done yourself. Having a mechanic do it is horribly expensive. Speak with people that you’re familiar with if you know they’re good at repairs.
Independent mechanics can be great. They may have learned through experience but still be competent, and are likely to have a lower labor rate. Next time your car is in need of repairs, ask around for referrals for an unlicensed but fabulous mechanic.
Keep an eye on the lights located on the dash, and make sure you are aware of what they all mean. They are meant to help; use them to your advantage. Ignoring them for extended periods of time will only make the problem much worse than it already is.
Clean your car regularly, even in the winter. While you may not see the need, winter is by far the harshest season for cars. Road salt and sand cause rust and abrasion. After washing your car, dry it thoroughly to prevent ice formation.
Although you can easily handle minor issues with your vehicle, you should not attempt to fix major issues. Don’t forget, you’re not the expert! A minor issue can spiral into a huge dilemma. Let a repair shop do the diagnosing. Tell them what you’ve observed, and then let them do their job.
Choosing an auto repair company can be difficult. Educating yourself on the topic makes finding one much easier. You will have an advantage if you know all the questions you should ask and what to look for in a repair shop. When you car needs repairs, use the powerful tips in this article to guide your choices.…
Diagnosing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) in the Whiplash Patient
Whiplash injuries are a common sequela of motor vehicle collisions. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, back pain, headaches and pain or paresthesia in the upper extremities. A less common, but often more life altering result of whiplash is mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). MTBI may also be referred to as closed head injury or post concussion syndrome. Trauma sustained in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) is the single most common cause of both fatal and mild brain injuries, causing 67% of all cases.
The mechanism of MTBI is thought to be the stretching or shearing of axons. An axonis a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron’s cell body. This injury involves damage to individual neurons and loss of connections among neurons which can lead to a breakdown of overall communication among neurons in the brain. In motor vehicle crashes, axonal shearing is the result of excessive forces generated by the rapid change in direction of the head secondary to vehicle acceleration upon impact.
MTBI and post concussion syndrome are often associated with direct trauma to the head. This, however, is not necessarily the case in motor vehicle collisions. The unique forces generated in these collisions are sufficient to injure brain cells in the absence of direct trauma. Collision speeds of 7-10 mph are sufficient to cause symptoms of MTBI. In fact, cognitive and emotional deficits from MTBI may be more prevalent in less severe injuries than those with greater trauma and more prolonged loss of consciousness.
Symptoms of MTBI include headaches, dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears and blurred vision. Emotional symptoms may include irritability, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances. A typical chronology of this syndrome is that of relatively few symptoms at the time of hospital or emergency room discharge. Symptoms increase in frequency up to 90 days post trauma. Thereafter, many symptoms tend to improve with time. Headaches, dizziness and cognitive problems tend to persist for longer periods and may lead to chronic disability.
Since standard diagnostic tools such as MRI and CT are not helpful in diagnosing MTBI, it must be diagnosed via a multi-faceted clinical approach. Open ended questions about symptoms following a motor vehicle collision also result in the under reporting of symptoms due to confusion on the part of the patient as to the varied nature of their complaints. Physician intake forms should have a checklist of the more common symptoms associated with MTBI. If multiple symptoms are checked the clinician should suspect MTBI. The next clinical step is to differentiate pre and post injury symptoms. A good tool for this is the Rivermead Post Concussion Questionnaire.
The Rivermead test consists of two sections. The first section (RPQ-3) consists of three items (headaches, feelings of dizziness and nausea) and the second section (RPQ-13) contains items including sleep disturbance, fatigue and poor concentration. The total score for RPQ-3 items is potentially 0-12 and is associated with early clusters of MTBI symptoms. If there is a higher score on the RPQ-3, earlier reassessment and closer monitoring is recommended. The RPQ-13 score is potentially 0-52, where higher scores reflect greater severity of MTBI symptoms. The RPQ-13 items are associated with a later cluster of symptoms, although the RPQ-3 symptoms of headaches, dizziness and nausea may also be present. The later cluster of symptoms is associated with having a greater impact on participation, psychosocial functioning and lifestyle. The Rivermead test should be repeated at 60-90 day intervals. Persistent high scores warrant further testing by a neuropsychologist.
Neuropsychological evaluation for MTBI consists of a battery of questionnaires and tests designed to describe and quantify changes in cognition, personality, emotional functioning, behavior and to monitor functioning over time.
Due to the subjective nature of many of the complaints attributed to MTBI, the issue of malingering is often associated with these cases. Clinicians must be aware of this and properly document any inconsistencies with patient history, activities of daily living and reports from family members. The many social and emotional issues that accompany a motor vehicle collision must also be factored into the diagnostic equation. The frustration of dealing with police reports, insurance claims and lost work often exacerbate MTBI symptoms.
The literature on whiplash and mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) contains disagreements among authors regarding the type and severity of brain injuries that can and do occur following motor vehicle crashes. Despite disagreements, it is clear from the literature that brain injury can result from whiplash. The diagnosis of MTBI following whiplash injury is made based on the patient’s history, specific questioning on intake forms, clinical monitoring of symptoms, Rivermead questionnaire and neuropsychological evaluation results. Given the fact that relatively minor motor vehicle crashes can result in brain injury, …
Driving Distractions and the Deadly Consequences
Operating a motor vehicle is one of the biggest privileges and rights of passage that teenagers have. However, with it comes great responsibility and great danger. The road is a place with many distractions and opportunities for great tragedy. Some of the more prevalent distractions involve talking on the phone, texting while driving and too many passengers in a vehicle.
Although talking on the phone while driving may not seem like a major distraction, it truly is. How many times has a vehicle been seen traveling way too slow or way too fast down a road, only to discover that it is because the driver is on a cell phone. Although a driver’s eyes are still focused on the road when they are talking on a cell phone, their mind is elsewhere. Due to the fact that a person’s mind is focusing on their conversation instead of their driving, the risk for accidents skyrockets.
An even more dangerous situation is text messaging while driving. This risky task is only becoming more popular with teenagers as time progresses. Many teens read text messages, type text messages and even send them all while operating a motor vehicle. It only takes a split second for a car to slam on its brakes or a child to run out in front of a car. Unfortunately, that split second could occur as a driver is looking down at his or her phone to read a text message. Texting while driving can affect the reaction time of a driver as well. A teenager’s reaction time is comparable to that of a 70-year-old if they choose to text message while driving. Many states have recognized this great danger and started taking measures to ban the use of electronic devices while driving.
Finally, having too many people occupy a vehicle can become a major distraction, especially for teenagers. Many times, a crowded car that is full of teens also incorporates loud music, a lack of seat belts and food. A combination of these prior activities causes a major distraction for the driver. If loud music is blasting, the driver may not be able to hear the surrounding traffic or warning horns from other vehicles. If too many people are crowded in a back seat, the driver will not be able to see out of his or her mirrors effectively. If two hands are on a burger and fries instead of the wheel, reaction times are greatly delayed. Although one of these factors may not pose a huge risk, the combination of them can be deadly.…
Your car can consume a lot of time and money if you do not take good care of it. Besides learning about your specific car model, you should know a few other tricks as well. This article will teach you about the more general tips you need to know.
Make sure there is an emergency kit located in your vehicle at all times. Assemble a kit that has tools for changing tires, charging the battery and putting more gas in the car. Blankets may be added, some batteries and a flashlight for if you have a trouble with your car at night.
Make sure the repair shop technician is familiar with the particular model of your vehicle. If yes, then you can trust them with your car.
Check with your mechanic to see of they have experience working with the make of your vehicle. There are certain specifics which he needs to know before doing any repairs. If you cannot be sure, just take the car to a dealership.
Make sure you have both a spare tire and a jack in your trunk. Many newer cars already have them. Stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire is bad news. Stuck without a jack and spare tire is bad news and a big bill. It will be quicker and less costly when you do it yourself.
Major repairs should always be accompanied by more than just one estimate. The shop you’ve gone to may be trying to rip you off. Search for trustworthy shops that are experienced in repairing your car’s make. These mechanics will most likely be more experienced in fixing your kind of car.
See if any of your friends or family members have had a positive experience at a particular auto shop. They have used mechanics before and can fill you in on their experiences. Research any recommendations you get. At least look for online reviews of those recommendations.
Figure out what repairs and labor are going to cost you before handing your keys over. Some repair shops have details about their rates posted on the walls, but you should not hesitate to ask about rates if you do not see any information. Since it’s your car, you have to know the cost of repairs. Some shops provide repair time estimates established by manufacturers. Repairs that seem minor may take all day long.
Monitor your dashboard lights regularly. They are meant to help; use them to your advantage. Yes, there are sometimes false positives, but it is risky to ignore these warning lights. If you do so, a problem can get worse and become more costly to fix.
Each time you fill up with petrol, take the time to look at your tire pressures. Make sure there are no objects embedded in your tires at the same time. If anything is wrong with your tires, the problem needs to be addressed quickly. Faulty tires can cause major accidents so avoid this situation at all costs.
As mentioned earlier, learning some basic repairs for your car has many long-term benefits. You can be a lot more self-sufficient using this knowledge, and this could help your wallet out too! Make use of this advice the next time that your car needs repairs.…
Steps That You Can Follow to Scrap Car
Do you have an old car that you want to dispose it off? You might find that it is totally useless in making investment in further repairs. In such a situation, you might want to dispose off your car. What would you do? In that case scrap car would be the ideal option for you. This is the option when you find that your car is beyond any repairs.
However, there are few things that you need to do if you want to go for scrapping your car. Make sure that you follow all these different points in order to get the scrapping done in the best possible manner.
• Firstly, you must try to contact your local registered scrap yard. You can also look online in order to find out an authentic dealer who would take proper care of your scrap car.
• The company that you choose should be excellent in terms of the customer service that it provides. You should in fact recognise a good scrap car company by the service that it provides.
• Good and registered companies generally do not charge any money for the services that they provide. They in fact offer free scraps to remove and dispose your car.
• The staffs of the particular company that you hire would come to pick up your car.
• It would be wise on your part to remove all the parts that are usable. If you want you can also sell them individually. This would help you to fetch good money. Your used parts of car might be purchased by someone who wants to rebuild their old car. In that sense, you can definitely expect to make profits.
• You can also sell off the shell to a local recycling centre.
• It is also essential to gather the proper documentation of the car in accordance with the law. The DAV certificate is essential in this sense and there are companies that can offer the certificate. These companies can definitely prove to be a good option for scrap car.
If you dispose your car properly, you would naturally enjoy plenty of benefits. You would not only protect the environment by scrapping your car but at the same time, you would also earn a deduction in the total tax. In some cases, you might also get back some cash in return. Combining all these benefits that you would get, you would definitely consider that to scrap car is indeed a great idea.…