Automotive Guruz

Every car owner knows how expensive it is to have your car brought to the dealership or to the shop for repairs. Add to that misdiagnosis and inaccurate assessments and you have yourself multiple visits to the car repair center. This would take up a lot of time and money. The expenses could all pile up to astronomical heights and most of them are unplanned. While not all of us may have the time to delve into the technical intricacies of vehicle maintenance and repairs, having a vehicle maintenance log does help you and your friendly mechanic know the history of the vehicle and what it’s been through.

The log doesn’t have to be that complicated. You just have to list down the important things that are pertinent to its maintenance history and then organize it chronologically with the latest information at the very top of the pile. There’s no need to put the basic details of the vehicle since most automotive technicians are highly trained with all sorts of vehicles but there’s nothing stopping you from doing so. It’s pretty much like making your own health record for you or your child, except that it’s simpler and easier to use.

For starters it should have the following information:

1. Dates. As mentioned earlier, information about a particular trip to the shop should include the date. If you are making a chart, it’s convenient to have this as your first column header. This little piece of information is very important so as to know when a certain part was replaced. It also gives the technician a quick bird’s eye view of the problem before taking a look at the actual vehicle.
2. Type of Service Performed. The entry for the type of service performed on the vehicle performs two tasks. First, it informs the technician about the overall condition of the car. Next, it provides an insight on how the failure of one system could adversely affect another.
3. Parts Replaced. A lot could be gleaned from knowing on whether a part has been replaced or not. Remember, everything in the vehicle is somewhat interconnected with one another. Moreover, if a particular component has been recently replaced and a part that is in close proximity is functioning poorly, the mechanic may be able to ascertain the cause for the problem. For instance, a loose bolt or nut may loosen and affect a close component. This happens a lot, particularly with shoddy work.
4. Service Center. Whether you brought your vehicle on warranty to the car dealer or to an independent auto shop, be sure to list this down. If possible, even list down the name of the technician who has handled your case. Details are everything and finding the perfect shop for you entails building a relationship of trust with the shop.
5. Cost. Breakdown the total amount to its distinctive components. That is, separate the amount that you paid for the service from the cost of the parts that you purchased.
6. Receipts. Keep a copy of the receipts on a separate folder for reference or if you like, add them as an attachment to the master file.

These are all made easier nowadays to just enter all of these details to a vehicle maintenance program which you can install on your computer and even your mobile application. But the thing is, you can’t just share your computer or mobile phone to your auto mechanic. Chances are, their hands would be greasy and it would be better if you just give them a photocopy of your record. Keep a copy of your car repair info safe in the dashboard so you won’t have look around when the need arises.

Whether your windshield cracks due to a falling object or shatters in a collision, there are certain factors to consider when determining how to handle the situation. How do you know when you need to get your glass replaced and when you can safely drive home without it? Are there any windshield repairs that you can do yourself? And, what kind of car insurance can help cover the costs associated with glass replacement?

Replace vs. repair

From small cracks to broken windshields, you may be wondering when you should replace your window or windshield and when it is safe to continue on your way.

• Small chips or cracks – Even the smallest chip or crack in your windshield can quickly turn into a large one, so you should try to get it repaired as soon as possible. Especially if you find the damage is obstructing your view, be sure to have it repaired or replaced to keep you safe on the road.
• Large cracks or shattered glass – Repair all large-scale glass damage (i.e. cracks longer than six inches) immediately. Any large crack in your car’s glass can shatter if not properly fixed.

Do it yourself or call a professional

If you’re thinking about fixing your car’s glass yourself, you’ll want to understand what you’re getting into. Most glass replacement projects are best left to the professionals. Unless you are considering a temporary solution for a small crack or chip, keep in mind that most windshield repair companies will come to you and can typically replace your entire windshield in as little as 30 minutes. However, if you are looking for a quick (but temporary) solution for a minor chip or crack and don’t have access to a home glass repair kit available, consider using:

• Super glue
• Clear nail polish
• Clear packing tape

These three temporary “remedies” may prevent a minor chip from turning into a large crack, but be sure to get permanent repairs done by a professional. Since they come to you, it’s a hassle-free way to make sure the repairs are safe, secure and done in a timely manner.

Coverage you can count on

Depending on the car insurance coverage you have, windshield replacement coverage may be part of your policy.

• Comprehensive auto insurance coverage will cover windshield damage due to vandalism, fallen objects and certain natural disasters.
• Collision coverage will cover windshield repair due to a car accident, whether you’re at fault or not.

Accidents happen, but it’s important to be prepared in case you ever have a cracked or broken windshield. Be prepared with the information you need to keep you safe on the road. And don’t forget the peace of mind that comes with having the right car insurance coverage for your needs.

Many people struggle to find an auto mechanic that they can truly trust to service their vehicle over their lifespan. Some prefer to stay at their dealership as they pay for extra warranty or coverage to avoid having to find their own auto mechanic. Others may be lucky enough to know a family friend or get a reference from someone they trust in regards to finding an auto repair mechanic or service company where they can service their car.

When buying a new car, such as a Jeep Liberty, Honda Civic, Ford F-150 or any other extremely popular model you should automatically get at least a couple years of warranty at your dealership. But once the warranty expires you will face the choice of either staying with your dealership, whom you may or may not have built up a solid relationship with over the years, or trying to venture out and finding your own auto mechanic shop.

The thing is that once your warranty expires, you might not care so much about small fixes like replacing a head gasket, minor transmission work, tire rotations and replacement, oil ad engine filters, but when it comes to major repair work like replacing brakes and brake rotors, any engine work – you will really want to find someone you trust.

When you don’t have any connections or recommendations the next best thing you should do is to do some searches online and try to find an auto mechanic or mechanic shop that has some good reviews in Google. Type in terms like “Chicago auto repair”, “Los Angeles auto repair“, “Buffalo auto mechanic” and other variations in your geo targeted area and do your research. Trust other people’s reviews and be sure to shop around before you leave a major car repair up to complete strangers.

When it comes to auto repair, it’s often extremely difficult and frustrating to find a good, reliable mechanic or auto shop. A lot of people are hesitant to take it back to the dealership just because they feel that the dealership will try and over quote them, or make suggestions on parts to either be replaced or fixed that may be excessive for the particular fix; basically trying to upsell you at the end of the day on your car repairs.

Others are even more hesitant to take it to a local repair man or body shop because they really have no references and could potentially do even more damage than the dealership in terms of price quotes and the the size of the repair job required. For those that don’t have their own “auto repair guy” or shop finding a suitable body shop to service their ailing car can be an extremely daunting task. That’s why both word-of-mouth and auto body repair shop review sites are so important and can be of great assistance.

On top of that, Google and the other search engines are now even sometimes pulling reviews into the local listings, so when you search for a body shop and city like “Chicago auto repair shop” or “San Francisco auto repair” not only will local auto shops appear, but user generated reviews will actually be pulled in as additional citations under the original listing. This is great if you’re looking for repairs that are general in nature and you just want to find a local auto repair shop.

Another way to search would be to actually search on the specific models of the cars and then try and find a specific shop or auto resource site that specializes in your specific brand and make, whether it be a Jeep Wrangler, Mazda 3 or Honda accord.Sometimes their specialization can get you great service at cheaper prices since they may have cheaper access to repair parts. A third way of searching would be to enter in the specific parts that need to be replaced, so suspensions, a timing belt, front and back axle servicing, the list goes on but basically the whole point here is to try and find discount auto repair shops or stores that may be able to get you the specific parts you need and can potentially save you lots of money as well.

The whole point is to think out of the box and use the resources that are available for the taking, go beyond just taking your car to the local dealership or closest auto body repair shop. Do some research and try to find the best deals possible!