Money Saving Automotive
Tips on Repairs, Car Buying, Leasing
"When your vehicle is running well, you feel good. When you
just beat the salesman, you feel even better. But when your car isn't running
well, and you just got taken by the garage or dealer, you feel lousy."
This site wants you to be a winner, to feel great.
Contents:
Reports and articles
Book section: Database of hundreds of car books
you can order, on all subjects.
Autobody Repair Tools: Rhino and Blackhawk Equipment for Autobody Repair - new and improved technology makes the business of autobody repair easier, but more competitive.
This may seem pretty simple and it is! Yet it is the most important
step. As with anything, have a purpose for what you want to achieve and
a plan for achieving it, buying a used car is no different.
Decide What You Want to Spend!
Write this down too! Over $1,500.00? Do you want to pay cash or
make payments? Private sellers are easier to work with than institutions.
The person you buy from might allowed you to make monthly payments, with
a modest down payment. You also may want a bargain, but be reasonable.
You really do get what you pay for. Expecting to get a great car for $600.00
probably does happen, but not often.
Decide That You Want a "Problem Free" Car!
This is very important. You don't want a car that you have to pay
through the nose to maintain. This would defeat the purpose of buying a
used car. If you have to spend a few hundred dollars the first year, your
winning. Check the Newspaper, Credit Unions, Military Bases, Friends and
Co-Workers!
When In Doubt, Have It Checked Out!
While a mechanic can give you a pretty good idea of just what shape
your used car choice is in, they will not be able to detect all of the
repairs that may arise in the future. However, they can certainly help
you to know if you are buying a peach or a lemon.
Just the Facts!
Will you make payments to the person who is to sell the car? What
are the payment terms? Do you have any recourse if something happens to
the car? Will the seller have any recourse if you do not live up to your
agreement? It just makes good sense to sit down with the seller and make
a list of your concerns about the purchase and sale of the auto. This will
be your contract and in order to protect you both, its is best to get it
all down in writing.
Decide on a Good Mechanic!
A mechanic can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Like friends,
it is up to you to choose one carefully. Ask around. Friends will tell
you about reliable mechanics that work on their cars. Go to one and ask
questions. Observe how he or she responds to you, if they are friendly
and know their business. The first mechanic may quote you on repairs that
total $800.00. A real nice fellow, but a second mechanic may say most of
the repairs recommended by the first mechanic weren't even necessary. It
happens all the time. Which only goes to prove that one must be ever vigilant
and prepared when dealing with repair facilities!
Decide to Be Diligent In Maintaining Your Car!
This requires being proactive in taking care of your car. Change
the oil faithfully and the car will purr like a contented cat. Ask the
mechanic questions about the car.
Decide What You Can Do Without!
Concentrate on safety and dependability. Prioritize. You can't have
everything.
Pray! Whether you believe in a "higher power" or not,
what is it going to hurt? Besides, aren't your safety, comfort and convenience
worth a little extra insurance? Be patient that all your research and diligence
will pay off because like all worthwhile endeavors, it will.
The most important negotiation tool is information. The more you know
about the type of car or specific model, the more comfortable the discussions.
It will be obvious when you've found a good deal. It will also be possible
to identify inaccuracies in the seller's commentary and logically argue
the value of the specific vehicle you are contemplating. You'll also know
what the right car is worth to you. Do you want to keep looking or is the
current deal one you can live with? Spend a month studying the particular
make and model you want to buy and become an expert. The research also
helps to decide which product you want and to know when a good deal crosses
your path.
For instance, someone was looking for a particular model and the ones
found were in different states of disarray, all for around $4,000. When
one was found garaged in perfect condition for $2,500 - pay dirt. You can
then confidently say: "I'll take this vehicle off your hands."
Automotive
Tips
Here are
a few tips to help you keep your car running in top condition.
Never try
to start your car for more that 20 seconds at a time. It causes extreme
amperage draw and can sometimes damage battery cables (even melt the protective
insulation down). But more important than that is, it can ruin the starter.
The starter is only designed for running short intervals. So take a one
minute break between every 20 second interval of using the starter.
If your engine
has ever overheated, the transmission has likely overheated too. Make sure
to change the transmission fluid promptly. It is important to your transmission's
longevity. Once the transmission fluid overheats, it loses much of its
protective properties.
If you feel
a pulsation or vibration during braking, many mechanics will automatically
machine your front brake discs. Sometimes this vibration can be your rear
drums. To tell the difference, try to notice if the vibration is coming
through the steering wheel or through your seat. The steering wheel indicates
front brakes, your seat indicates rear drums. You can use this method to
also determine the front or rear location of other general vibrations.
Keep in mind
the oil pressure light on the dashboard is not a foolproof system. If the
light does come on, the engine has been without oil long enough to do severe
damage.
If the water
does not bead up on the car's exterior after it has rained, it is time
for a wax job. Your Car should be waxed twice a year; more if you drive
near salt water or park your car outside.
If white
smoke flows from your exhaust after the engine warms up, it could indicate
a leaky head gasket (this is commonly referred to as a blown head gasket).
The coolant leaks into the combustion chamber and burns to make the white
smoke. Other symptoms to look for are oil in the radiator fluid or water
in the engine oil. Also be aware that white smoke can also just mean that
the car is running rich. However, a rich running engine will usually emit
white smoke immediately after start-up and continue thereafter.
When adding
oil to the engine, make sure to wipe away any oil that spills on the ignition
wires. Oil destroys the insulation on the wires, making them weak.
Symptoms
of piston ring wear are: hard starting in cold weather, blue smoke from
the exhaust, and power loss going up inclines or when accelerating. If
you are experiencing these symptoms, be prepared for a "ring job"
(expensive). However, worn valve stem seals could also show the same symptoms.
If there is constant blue smoke it is probably the rings. If the blue smoke
is only during deceleration, it is most likely a seal.
Most people
ruin their door locks without knowing. Never use lock de-icer without re-lubricating
the lock. De-icer contains alcohol that melts the ice but also dilutes
the lubricant in the lock; therefore causing the locks to stick and finally
fail. Do not use regular penetrating oil, it washes out the lubricant in
the lock. Make sure to use a graphite lubricant or sewing machine oil.
How do I
get the musty odour out of my car? A deodoriser will mask the problem temporarily
and steam cleaning will get rid of it for a while, but it will come back.
The trick is to get the carpets and upholstery steam cleaned and then remove
the carpets and under-padding to wash the floorpan (the musty smell usually
comes from the moisture between the floorpan and the carpet. Don't forget
to wash the floor, seats, carpet, headliner and all upholstery with a disinfectant
such as Lysol. If you have access to an ozonator, (I have an ozonator/ionizer)
it can help to destroy the odors as well. But you must not run it too long
or it will also eventually oxidize anything rubber or plastic. Several
hours should be enough to kill the odor-causing bacteria and mildew. Incidently,
the latter is also excellent for removing the mildew odor from boats, and
a must for sterilizing your ducting in home or office.
Never rest
your hand on the gear shift knob, it causes increased wear and premature
failure to the synchronisers. The synchronisers are what stop the gears
from grinding every time you shift.
A little
safety tip: make sure to clean dirt off your headlights. The road grime
in winter tends to coat the lights when following other cars and reduce
visibility. This may sound unnecessary but try it, it makes a big difference.
This is also common in the spring and autumn months with wet dirt roads.
To get the
haze off your windshield that your wipers or washer fluid won't remove,
wash the windshield with vinegar, rinse with water, and dry.
If you get
stuck in mud or snow, the best way to get out is to gently accelerate back
and forth to produce a rocking motion. Note that 15% tire spin gives you
maximum traction, so do not "gun it". Also, do not rock more
than a few times as you take a chance of damaging your automatic transmission.
One of the
simplest and least expensive horsepower gains comes from a tuned free-flowing
exhaust. A set of exhaust headers with a low back-pressure muffler will
normally increase horsepower by up to 15%.
If you are
buying an older used car with an automatic transmission, be very careful
which one you choose. The horsepower loss between different transmissions
varies dramatically. The local transmission shop will be able to quote
you exact figures on different transmissions and their horsepower "robbing"
capabilities. The percentage can range from I 0% loss of power all the
way up to 35%, although the latter is very rare. Most newer cars are only
4-8%, but watch out for some of the older years.
Another great
way to get low cost horsepower is to make sure your engine gets the air
it needs to bum the fuel. This can be accomplished by installing a performance
air cleaner like ones offered by K&N or installing a secondary air
cleaner to increase air intake volume.
Nail polish
remover is a great cleaner for small parts. It contains mostly acetone
and can also remove tar and bugs from chrome. Keep in mind that it also
removes paint; so don't get it near any.
When working
on a car and trying to free a rusted bolt or nut, use a propane torch to
heat it then melt a little candle wax around the head. It acts like a lubricant
and allows the nut or bolt to be removed easily. As corny as this tip sounds,
it works great.
How to fix
an annoying fan belt squeal even after it is adjusted: If spraying on fan
belt dressing only eliminates the problem temporarily, try scuffing the
pulley with very fine sandpaper. This is another hint.
Philips head
screwdrivers frequently slip out of the screw groove. Try using a little
valve grinding compound on the tip of the screwdriver for tough screws.
The gritty compound gives the screw a little more grip which prevents you
from rounding off the slots in the screw.
Automotive
hand cleaner works well to get the oil and grease off of ignition wires,
vacuum lines, and hoses. Your engine will sparkle.
Remember
that some metric wrenches work on SAE (English) bolts and vice versa. They
aren�t exact, but they will suffice. Try the following possibilities: 1/2
inch = l3mm, 9/16 inch = 14, 3/4 inch = 19mm, 13/16 inch = 21mm.
Rough idle
quick-fix: Many cars with fuel injection can develop a rough idle after
10,000 miles. This may be due to a carbon build-up and can be easily eliminated
by spraying some carburettor cleaner into the throttle body or air intake
while the vehicle is running.
Remove annoying
adhesive residue from your paint (usually from a sticker you have peeled
off) by using WD40, CRC or lighter fluid. Make sure to remove all the fluid
after the residue is removed since it can damage the finish of your paint
if left in place.
If you do
your own brake work, a little tip is to place masking tape over the brake
shoes so you don�t get grease or oil on them (which always seems to happen).
Then right at the end when everything is in place, just remove the tape.
Note: most people forget to remove it so right a little note to yourself
and tape it to the steering wheel.
If you're
on the road and your car quits, most people want to check if the car is
getting "spark." Testing this is easy. Take one plug wire off.
Take a straightened paperclip and place it inside the plug boot so it touches
the metal. Hold the end of the paperclip about 1/4 inch away from a bare
metal surface (like an exhaust manifold). Have someone crank the engine
over. If you get a spark between the manifold and the paperclip, you are
getting spark to the fuel, unless you have a bad spark plug (very rare).
Never wear
jewellery when working on a car. It can either trap your hand by snagging
on a part or cause an electrical short if you put your hands between a
"hot" wire and a grounded part.
Studies have
shown that 33% of all vehicles on the road have air filters in need of
replacement. This can decrease your fuel economy by up to 10% by providing
insufficient air volume to burn the fuel dispensed by the injectors. Make
sure to get yours checked.
Do not rev
the engine before turning it off. This was a common practice for older
cars, but it is not necessary for newer ones. It can cause excessive wear
on the cylinder walls and contaminate the engine oil with gasoline. You
should normally turn an engine off as soon as you stop. Nevertheless, there
is an exception to this rule. After a long high-speed trip, let the engine
idle for a minute or so before turning it off. This allows the engine to
cool, eliminate hot spots, and relieve hot fuel vapours that could cause
vapour lock and result in hard starting.
Excessive
idling creates extra engine wear and breeds contaminants in the oil. Idling
is one of the most severe modes of engine operation.
To cool an
engine if it is overheating in traffic, simply put the car in neutral and
press down the accelerator slightly to increase the idle. This action increases
the coolant flow which could bring the engine temperature down just enough
to prevent overheating. If this isn�t enough, try rolling down the windows
and turning on the heater full blast to dissipate some of the engine heat.
Run the air
conditioner at least 10 minutes every week. This procedure helps avoid
costly breakdowns.
With a manual
transmission, start the engine in neutral and engage the clutch. There
is less drag on the engine and it is easier to start (especially in winter
months when cold motor oil is very thick).
If you find
the information you have just read valuable, you may be interested in a
new book called Car
Secrets Revealed: Tips on Car Buying, Leasing, Repairs, Insurance, and
More/with IBM and MAC software,
written by Corey Rudl. There are hundreds of "insider" secrets
on just about everything automotive. It covers topics such as how to reduce
your car insurance by 50%, how to get free repairs after your warranty
expires, how to buy cars (and parts) at wholesale prices, how to legally
beat the police radar speed traps, how to avoid the auto repairs rip-offs,
and hundreds more.
Disclaimer: The tips here are meant
to help you with keeping your car running the way it was designed, and
not to take the place of a trained mechanic. You should consult a mechanic
if you are experiencing any problems.
Car
Secrets Revealed: Tips on Car Buying, Leasing, Repairs, Insurance, and
More/with IBM and MAC software by Corey Rudl Our Price: $27.00