Jul 16
adminUncategorized auto repair naples, naples auto, naples auto body, Naples Auto Repair, naples car repair, naples cars, naples collision, naples collision repair, naples fl car repair, naples truck repair, naples trucks, truck repair naples
If you’re planning a long road trip then you need to make sure you check your car over before you leave. This can prevent lengthy visits to the auto shop or worse still collision repairs. There are some basic checks you should carry out before you leave home. They only take a few minutes but can make the difference between an enjoyable road trip and a miserable one.
Check your tyre condition and pressures. These are the only contact point with the road so it is vitally important that they are in good condition. Correct tyre pressures will not only improve your fuel economy but also make the rider smoother and enable the car to hold the road better. Make sure you check the spare wheel too! Check your lights, headlights, brake lights, main beam and indicators. Some police are more stringent than others when it comes to broken lights.
Under the hood, check all your liquids. Make sure there is plenty of coolant, with the right mixture of anti-freeze for the conditions. Ensure windshield wash is topped up and that the nozzles are clear. Next check power steering fluid, brake fluid and oil and top up as necessary. Carry any spare oil you may have in the trunk.
While you are under the hood, quickly check all the hoses and belts. Turn the car over and listen for hissing noises which can indicate leaks. Run the engine for a bit to make sure the fan comes on. You can tell a lot from an engine just by looking at it and listening to it.
Just spending fifteen minutes doing these basic checks can not only prevent incidents but also give you confidence in your vehicle. Both or either of these will make your trip that much more enjoyable.
Jul 16
adminUncategorized body work naples, car repair naples, naples auto, naples auto body service, naples auto service, naples body work, naples car, naples car repairs, naples cars, naples collision, naples fl auto, naples fl auto repair
The Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN is your cars fingerprint. It is original to the car and unless the car has been cloned, completely unique. It is used by manufacturers, the DMV, state vehicle registrars and warranty owners to identify and track the car through its lifetime. If you are involved in a vehicle theft, auto collision or other mishap you may need to provide this number to your insurance or authorities.
The VIN is placed on several positions within the vehicle. The first, and easiest one to spot is on the driver side. Stand outside the door and look through the window at the side of the dashboard. You should see a metal place with 17 digits comprised of letters and numbers. This is your VIN.
Alternatively, it can be found on the driver’s side door post, near where the door latches. This is often a black or silver place or sticker with other information on it too. It is also on the front bulkhead under the hood. With the hood open look down and you will see another plate or sticker with the VIN on it. If it isn’t there, it may be on your engine block, depending on the manufacturer.
There is also often a VIN plate under the spare wheel in the trunk if your vehicle doesn’t have any on the places already mentioned. The last place to look is the owner’s manual. If you can’t find a VIN then you should be concerned, especially if the car is new. Every vehicle made in the world has at least two or three VIN plates around it. If your doesn’t then it is advisable to contact either the manufacturer or the dealer you bought the vehicle from.
Jul 16
adminNaples Auto Repair auto body, auto paint, car painting, collision repair, naples auto, naples auto body, Naples Auto Repair, naples car painting, naples collision repair, naples mechanic
We Americans love our cars. We’re famous for it, well that and the cheap gas prices anyway. Even with the slow demise of the auto industry in recent months, we are still stalwart supports of our vehicles.
With increasing gas prices, traffic, and pollution we are still driving everywhere we can and enjoying (mostly) every minute of it. The Transportation Department reports that there are over 107 million households with an average of 1.9 million cars and 1.8 million drivers. They are big numbers. They equate to 204 million vehicles and 191 million drivers to drive them.
There has been a steady increase in cars over drivers for the past twenty five years as families disintegrate, commuting increases, family wealth increases and more teens wanting to drive. The cars themselves have become longer lasting in this time, with a typical car doing 200,000 miles in its lifetime.
The main reason for having a car is to commute to work or the school run, however people are increasingly acquiring vehicles for specialized purposes. Many families have a “weekend car” which is generally a sports car or SUV. They may drive an efficient car during the week and something a little more fun at the weekend.
A survey carried out by the Transportation Department in 2002 found 91% of commuters use their own cars. 57% of these are cars or station wagons, 21% are vans or SUVs and 19% are light trucks. Only 8% of American families don’t own vehicles.
Since 9/11 more people than ever have been taking to the road for their vacations. Flights are down overall with many people electing to stay closer to home and drive where they need to go. With hundreds of thousands of miles of road, there is no shortage of vacation destinations in the country and just about everywhere has a gas station or garage for auto repairs.
Choice may be becoming more limited and gas prices might be getting slowly higher, but there is no perceived change in our relationship with our cars any time soon. The type of vehicle we purchase is slowly shifting away from gas guzzlers to hybrids or more fuel efficient cars, but we are still driving nonetheless.
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