Posted on June 16th, 2008 — in Cars
With so many wonderful and interesting U.S. cities, an increasing number of Americans are forgoing international travel in favor of road trips to the beach, mountains, and other domestic hotspots. If you count yourself among them, make sure your vehicle is in good condition before hitting the wide, open road. The following list of summer maintenance check points will help ensure a safe ride to your vacation destination.
1. There’s a lot riding on your tiresmake sure they can handle it.
If your tires are still in good shape, prevent unnecessary wear by rotating them whenever you change the oil. (RK Toyota technicians recommend a rotation every 6,000 miles.) If the tread on your tires is fairly worn, consider replacing them before departing. If you see the “wear bars” (rubber strips that usually are darker than the tire), replace your tires immediately. RK Toyota technicians also maintain that proper tire inflation is vital. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for the proper pressure.
2. Like tires, brakes are crucial to your family’s safety.
RK Subaru technicians advocate having brakes checked whenever tires are rotated. If your brakes make unusual squealing or grinding noises when you hit them, or if the steering wheel pulls to one side, you might need new brakes. If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), as most recent models do, pay attention to your dashboard indicators. If, after about 2 seconds, the ABS light goes out, the system is in good working order. If the light stays on, have a mechanic check your brakes.
3. Pay attention to belts and hoses to decrease the risk of a breakdown.
Fan belts, which used to last about a year, are now much more durable, so people tend to neglect them. However, RK Subaru technicians report that belts and hoses are the second-biggest cause of auto breakdowns after failed batteries. Have the belts and hoses checked during an oil change or other service visit.
For more tips on preparing your car for a summer road trip, continue to RK Auto Group Summer Maintenance check points 4-6.
© 2006 RK Auto Group
Tom Kline is Controller of RKAutoGroup.net (RK Buick, RK Chevrolet, RK Subaru, RK Scion and RK Toyota).
During his 15-year tenure Kline has worked in the Sales Department of RK Auto Group, Parts, Service and Body Shop, Leasing, Collections, and Management Information Services.
RK Auto Group, located in Southeast Virginia, has been recognized as one of the top 100 Chevrolet dealerships in the nation. Founded in 1964, this award-winning dealership sells approximately 9,000 vehicles per year.
RK Chevrolet is the recipient of Chevrolet Motor Division’s coveted Service Supremacy Award four years in a row. This is an award which less than 8% of the nation’s Chevrolet dealers have won. In 1998, RK received the prestigious “Genuine Leaders Award” for excellence in sales, service, and customer satisfaction.
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Posted on June 5th, 2008 — in Cars
This is a short list of things to look for when you buy a classic car, if you do these things it will make you a lot happier with the purchase of your classic car.
1.Locate the right car for you “The Most Important Step”, this car need to excite you, it should make you feel like a diamond ring feels to a woman, you should be all giddy, just like a little school girl on her first date.
2.Make sure that you inspect the car, for rust, collision damage, leaks, make sure it doesn’t over heat wile running, look under the carpet and floor mats for rust, be sure all the gauges are working correctly, look for electrical problems, like flickering lights, or lights that don’t come on, check the blinkers, check the tail lights and brake lights, fire the engine and listen for knocks, clicks, pings and the like, these are all signs that you may have a lot of work to.
3.The test drive, look for: excessive play in the steering, engine running rough or misfiring, brakes that don’t stop the car like they should, whining from the rear end or transmission, if it has a standard transmission be fore warned if it pops out of gear, this means that synchros are going bad, and listen for a grinding sound when you press the clutch as this indicates a bad pilot bearing, and if the car has a hard time moving when you let off the clutch this indicates that the pressure plate and disk are bad. If it has and automatic transmission, look for the trans to slip, or not go in to gear like it should, pull the dipstick and look and the transmission fluid to see if it’s dark or burned, ask the owner of the car to jack up the front of it so you can move the wheels to check for bad tie rods, this is done by grabbing the wheels one at a time and wiggling the, with your hands positioned and 9 O’clock and 3′Oclock and moving the wheels back and forth.
4.Engine: pull the dipstick out of the engine and look at the oil to see if it’s black and sludgy or smells burned, and if it has a with honey looking appearance to it, this indicates a cracked head or a bad head gasket that leaks water in to the oil pan, look at the rocker covers to see if they leak excessive oil, also with the engine running listen for a grinding sound from the water pump or alternator, this indicates that these item are going bad.
5.Also I forgot to mention, while your inspecting the body of the car, be sure to look at the rocker panels for rust holes and bad body work, also look at the quarter panels for rust holes, and bad body work, and don’t forget to look at the engine compartment for rust and bad wiring.
These are all reasons for you to get a better deal on the car you choose to buy, use these factors to barter with the owner of the car, point them out and use them to your advantage.
I’ve been in the automotive business for about 20 or 25 years, I have worked in all facets of the industry, from parts to restoration, all different makes and models, I just want to keep people interested in the old cars because it’s where my heart is.
- Classic Car Restoration
- Auto Shop Search
- Classic Car & Parts For Sale
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Posted on May 9th, 2008 — in Cars
UK Parking Control Ltd <a href=”http://www.ukparkingcontrol.com” target=”_blank”>UKPC</a> is a parking enforcement agency and is committed to providing clients with an effective parking solution that is appropriate to each individual situation. Our clients range from SME’s to major retailing names and from hospitals and universities to residential premises both large and small.
We are living in an era where new technology and innovation are making huge changes to the way that parking can be managed. UK Parking Control Ltd recognises that there is more to operating a car park than issuing parking permits and parking tickets. We offer Automatic Number Plate Recognition, Warden Patrol services, Self Ticketing Systems and Car Park Management as part of the extensive range of services at our disposal. Tailored parking solutions can be provided for any location where parking problems may occur. We believe that this is the key to a successful parking control and management strategy and our many satisfied clients can confirm this.
Another of the distinctive features of UKPC’s approach to parking control management is its professionalism. The company is a member of the British Parking Association and all our front-line parking personnel/wardens are fully trained. UKPC operates throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Contact us and let us help you solve your parking control issues now.
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