Repairing Auto

Car warranty coverage depends on two factors: mileage and the timeframe. General warranties usually cover your vehicle for 36,000 miles or three years. As I said in my earlier post, it’s generally an either/or deal with car warranties. Once you reach the maximum mileage even if you still have a few months in the time coverage, the warranty expires and vice versa.

While most people tend to keep paperwork locked tightly away under mounds of insurance policies and other important documents, it’s important that you keep your warranty accessible to you in case of a car breakdown or parts-replacement emergency.

If your car is still under warranty, then you need to be careful not to violate any of the rules and exclusions stated on the document or you run the risk of invalidating your entire vehicle warranty. When you invalidate your warranty, expect to extract a huge sum from your bank account in case of car emergencies–in short, you run the risk of losing the remaining coverage that you have.

Most companies are pretty lax when it comes to simple violations. Say, you happened to replace an original car part or truck accessory with a direct replacement part that meets your OEM standards but is not necessarily an original part from the automaker, most companies would be pretty forgiving with these “minor breaches”.

Big changes in your car on the other hand, like replacing a major system or going to a non-authorized garage and needing to consult with an authorized center to correct possible mistakes, can result in your contract/warranty becoming null and void. If you happen to tinker with your car a lot, then keep in mind that major repairs can also cause you to lose your warranty.

Before doing anything to your car, you need to thoroughly examine the clauses and statements made in your warranty. Examine the plan coverage and check out the warranty’s exclusion list. The exclusion list usually includes all the parts that you’ll need to replace or fix using your own money. After carefully reviewing all the information written on your warranty, make an educated choice about how to proceed with your vehicle repair.

Most of the repair techniques you see in this blog are usually minor, so it won’t really get you in trouble with your car warranty company. But for major repairs, you’ll have to decide on whether you’re going to go to a non-authorized repair shop, you’re going to conduct your own repairs or if you’re going to follow the contract and head to an authorized service center.

Realistically speaking, not all of us may have the time to head to authorized centers for minor replacements and changes. While some people can make the effort for every single car problem, most of us would settle for dealing with the minor problems ourselves. The choice on whether to use your warranty or run the risk of losing it by violating some of the clauses is ultimately yours. The importance of keeping your warranty is for you to be able to make this choice wisely.

If you choose not to use your warranty, then you’re guaranteed to have fewer restrictions when it comes to vehicle repair and part replacements. If you do make this choice, then the only way you can save money is to know where to find the right discount auto parts. Look online for great deals to save good money on part replacements and vehicle repair.

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

There is no disputing the importance of your car’s warranty. Every driver needs one, whether he or she is driving a used or a brand new car. The car warranty is definitely a great way to add to your savings in case of car trouble, replacements and possible breakdowns. Before signing just any warranty contract, there are some details you have to check.

If you’re looking for a used car warranty, then you need to have a copy of the car’s extended warranty or its original warranty to determine whether or not these warranties can still offer you some coverage. Should the purchase have been made by the previous car dealer, expect the car warranty to be short-term. If this is the case, then this could really help you save a hefty sum. If the car in question is not a year old, or is relatively new, then check to see if the original manufacturing warranty is still available. If it is, then there’s no great need for you to hurry your search for the right car warranty.

For new cars, expect your owner’s manual to have all the necessary information you need regarding the different warranties available to you. A general warranty usually lasts approximately 36,000 miles or three years, whichever comes first. These types of warranties usually afford you the benefit of covering all the different parts of your vehicle–although it’s of extreme importance for you to first check if the warranty has an “exclude” list. The exclude list will tell you all the things that the warranty does not cover.

If the exclude list includes certain car parts or truck accessories, you need to make sure you can find great deals on these items. The World Wide Web is an excellent source for discount auto parts. Your car warranty can save you money. Pair it with great deals on vehicle parts and you can be sure your bank account is well protected.

Another important warranty-type that you should consider is the powertrain warranty. The powertrain warranty has excellent coverage that lasts 60 months or 60,000 miles–again, with the premise that states “whichever comes first”. With most car warranties it’s usually an “either or” deal when it comes to mileage and period. Keep in mind that general warranties and powertrain warranties only become effective once your original bumper-to-bumper warranty ends, and these warranties have limited coverage.

If you’re looking for an extended warranty, make sure the company you’re going for has a reputable business history. Asking around or looking into the customer track record of these companies is highly recommended. Also look into the company’s assets to assess what kind of coverage the company can provide. A great company would offer you a wide multitude of plans to choose from. When meeting up with representatives from the company, make sure all that the person offers is backed up in writing–meaning, all the “perks” mentioned is part of the final contract. If you’re a resident of the United States, then it’s also highly recommended that you find a company that offers coverage in all the 50+ states of the country. It also helps if you can find a company that offers a money-back guarantee.

Before you sign anything, make sure you read everything, including the fine print! Most drivers make the mistake of skipping the clauses and simply signing. The few minutes you take to completely read the document, and not just browse it, can ultimately save you a lot of money in the future.

Keep all these things in mind before getting a car warranty.

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

It’s a common sight to see people pushing a vehicle to get its dead battery started. Although it’s pretty common, it doesn’t mean it’s very safe or effective, for that matter. I suggest that you save push starting your vehicle as your last resort when it comes to starting your vehicle with a dead battery.

The previous posts on this blog will show you more effective and safer ways by which you can jump-start a problem battery. That being said, a few words of warning regarding this method:

Pushing a 2000-lb. vehicle is neither safe nor easy. As much as possible, try this method only when you’ve exhausted all your other options—including jump-starting your vehicle with a portable device or jump-starting it with jumper cables and another fully-functional vehicle present.

Remember that safety comes first. It’s a really mean feat to be able to push your vehicle by yourself, while controlling the clutch pedal and the accelerator. Make sure you have at least another adult pushing the car while you attempt to get the car moving.

If it’s absolutely necessary that you aid in pushing the car, make sure you can jump in the car soon enough to control it, otherwise you run the risk of losing complete control of the vehicle or worse, seriously injuring yourself in the process.

Try this method only if you have a manual transmission vehicle.

Lastly, the older your battery, the sooner your have to replace it. If your battery has a long history of jump-starting and push-starting, then it’s highly recommended that you replace your old battery immediately. Try to find great car parts, or if you’re driving a truck, truck accessories online for excellent bargains.

Now that you’ve been properly warned, we can discuss how push-starting a vehicle with a dead battery works. When you have a manual transmission vehicle, it’s possible that you can get the battery to turn over simply by rolling or pushing the vehicle forward. If you own a van or a large pickup, you will definitely need a group of adults to help you push your vehicle. Your job will be a lot easier if your vehicle happens to be positioned on a small incline.

Before you begin pushing, keep in mind that your safety and the safety of everyone involved comes before your vehicle’s welfare. Before you try anything, make sure that everyone understands how push starting works and takes extra precaution in making sure that their hands, feet or any body part is away from the wheels or any part of the vehicle that may cause harm to their well-being.

With that said, here are a set of simple instructions on how you can push start a car with a dead battery.

1. Make sure that all the accessories in your car that requires the battery is turned off. This includes your car lights, the heater, air conditioner and the radio.
2. Instead of starting the vehicle, simply turn the key in the ignition and make sure that it is at the “on” position.
3. Push down on the clutch pedal, and shift into the first gear.
4. Release the hand brake, but keep your foot on the brake pedal.
5. Signal to the group behind you to start pushing, and then slowly lift your foot off of the brake pedal to get the vehicle moving.
6. When the vehicle starts moving, slowly release the clutch pedal and step on the accelerator pedal.
7. Try to start the vehicle.
8. When the vehicle starts, let it run for about half an hour.

Remember that this is just a temporary solution to your battery problem. You’re going to have to replace your busted battery sooner or later—and trust me when I tell you that the sooner you do the better. If you’re worried about the expenses that come with battery replacement, I suggest you check out this website on discount auto parts.

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

In relation to the previous post on jump-starting a dead battery, here’s another way you can revive a dead battery—using your vehicle’s lighter connection. A number of manufacturers for truck accessories and car parts are peddling small, battery-jumping units that are designed to be plugged directly into the lighter socket found near the dashboard.

So now, instead of needing to connect your jumper cables to the car’s battery, you just have to take one end of your lighter-connected cable and plug it into the lighter socket of another fully functional and running vehicle. The other end of the cable can now be plugged into the lighter socket of the car with the bad battery. Power is then transferred through the cables, allowing the vehicle with the dead battery to start.The following are simple instructions on how you can use this handy device.

1. Take one color-coded end of your cable and plug into the running vehicle’s lighter socket. Make sure the running vehicle has a fully-charged battery.
2. Now, take the remaining end and plug into the lighter socket of the vehicle with the bad battery.
3. Let the second vehicle charge for about five to 10 minutes. Make sure the cable is secured in place.
4. After charging the second vehicle, try to start the vehicle with the problem battery.

Prices for this type of jumper may vary depending on the maker and the device’s capacity. For great deals on high quality car and truck parts, check out this website on discount auto parts.

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

Extreme cold, just like leaving your car lights on for several nights, can wreak havoc to your car’s battery. A dead car battery can be such a hassle, especially if your battery gives out in the middle of nowhere, long past midnight.

When faced with this situation, the common solution is to find another vehicle and to use ordinary jumper cables to jump-start your battery. However, great innovations in the world of automobiles have allowed for a handier solution—one that won’t require another vehicle’s live battery to jump-start your car.

There are great car parts and truck accessories manufacturers that offer durable and dependable jump-start devices designed to make jump starting your car’s battery a lot easier. Each jump-start device is smaller than a car battery making it a lot more convenient to have around—at least compared to another vehicle’s live battery. True, the unit may be a bit heavy, but all jump-start units come with handles making them a little easier to lug from your house to your garage and back again.

Aside from no longer needing another vehicle to jump-start your battery, most jump-start units come with built-in cables, so you won’t need to bring your jumper cables every time you go out. All you have to do is recharge this device to make sure it has enough power to jump-start a dead battery.

Charge this device by simply plugging it into a regular wall socket and letting it charge overnight. After charging the device, you can now use it to jump-start your battery.

Although the exact instructions may differ depending on the jump-start device’s brand, the following should cover the basic steps on how to recharge a car battery using this handy device:

1. Bring the device close to the vehicle
2. Take the built-in cables and attach them to the right battery posts
3. Allow the unit to charge your battery for a minute or two (or the time indicated in the device’s manual)
4. Start your car to see if it works

Portable jump-start units or devices are usually priced between $70 and $100. Click on the link for discount auto parts.

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

There is no disputing the importance of your car’s brakes. Driving around with busted brakes would likely cause an unwanted accident. But conversely, without the right intake system, your car would also become immovable—no accident, but also no movement.

Keep in mind that your car’s brakes are not supposed to be played around with. If you experience difficulties braking, you have a soft pedal or you hear grinding sounds when you step on the pedal, then it’s time to troubleshoot to see if your car has a braking problem. If there is a problem then you have to repair your brakes immediately.

To help guide you in troubleshooting, we’re providing you with some of the basic braking problems connected with low brake pedals.

If every time you step on the brake pedal it seems as if the brake pedal has to go too far down before your car starts slowing down then the following could be the reasons behind your low brake pedal:

• You may have Low Brake Fluid Levels.

Check if you need to add brake fluid to your vehicle by looking at the brake fluid reservoir. The markings located on the side of the reservoir will indicate whether or not you need to add brake fluid. Keep a wash rag handy to clean off all the grime on the reservoir for you to see the lines clearly.

If you do need to add brake fluid to your car, remember to add the brake fluid slowly and never to shake the bottle of brake fluid before adding it to the reservoir. The tiny bubbles caused by the shaking will most definitely cause big automobile problems.

• Your Brake Pads May Be Worn and In Need of Replacing

Your brakes should never be worn so low that the pedals would screech with the pressure you exert on your brake pads. If they are too low, then you need to fix this problem by looking for replacement car parts as soon as possible. If you’re looking for great deals with low prices, check out Discount Auto Parts.

Troubleshooting can prevent this problem.

• Your Brake Fluid is Contaminated

Although your brake fluid is closed off inside its reservoir, it’s still possible for contaminants to work their way inside the closed system. Water can end up in your brake fluid system due to condensation, and air can make its way in through the smallest and finest of holes. It’s quite difficult to check for this problem, but it never hurts to bleed your brakes and take out all the contaminants by replacing the brake fluid.

• Lastly, your car might have a Malfunctioning Brake Booster or Brake Power Boost Unit

If you have a bad brake booster then it automatically follows that you’ll have problems with your brake pedal as well. A low brake pedal is usually a telltale sign that your brake power boost unit has gone bad. Most of today’s brake boosters are vacuum controlled. To check your brake booster you may need a vacuum measurement gadget that will be connected to the brake booster.

After checking, if you find that your brake booster is broken then you need to replace it.

On a side note, if you’re looking for brake pads or brake boosters for your truck, browse through these truck accessories.

Although troubleshooting your brake pedals may seem like a complete and utter chore, it’s always better to spot the problem immediately as opposed to getting into an accident because you refused to check your car’s brakes.

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips

Source: Auto Mechanic | Auto Mechanic Repair and Maintenance Tips