Archive for the ‘How To’ Category

Proactive Anger Management on the Highways OR How to Prevent Road Rage

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

Road rage is one of the most senseless things you can do on the highways. Everybody makes mistakes when they’re driving, but that doesn’t give you the right to use your car as a battering ram or threaten their life. Unfortunately, many people think when another driver fails to signal a lane change, it gives them the right to act crazy. To avoid angering other drivers and getting involved in a road rage situation, follow the suggestions every time you’re behind the wheel.

Be courteous. When you’re courteous to other drivers, they usually won’t have anything to be mad about. Share the road as if it was built for everybody instead of just you. Remember the Golden Rule of driving: Treat other drivers the way you want them to treat you.

Use your turn signal. One thing that makes me want to turn into the Incredible Hulk behind the wheel is when someone turns in front of me or gets in my lane without letting me know first. Using your turn signal to let others know of your intentions is so easy, yet many drivers simply refuse to do it.

Drive in the appropriate lane. If you’re a 55 mph person, don’t drive in the left lane. And if you’re a 90 mph person, don’t get on somebody’s bumper if you’re in the slow lane. Stay out of each others’ lanes and everybody should get along just fine.

Keep your headlights down. High beams really light some people up. Make sure you keep your headlights at the normal setting unless nobody is around. This is especially important if you’re behind somebody and you’re less than 200 yards away. Your high beams could be blinding them in their rearview mirror.

Using these suggestions won’t make you any friends on the highway, but they will certainly help to prevent you from making enemies.

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How to Inspect Your Brakes for Problems

Friday, July 18th, 2008

You don’t always need to take your car to a mechanic if you think your brakes need an inspection. Yes, it’s true that many of them offer specials where they give you a free brake inspection, but I’m sure nobody has walked away from a free inspection without spending any money. So here are some things you can do to diagnose the problem yourself and hopefully save some money.

Check the brake fluid. If your brake fluid is low, that could mean you have a leak in the braking system. If the fluid is discolored, it could be getting contaminated with moisture.

Get in the car to check. Before starting the engine, apply the brakes and then turn the key. If the pedal drops when the engine starts, that’s good. If that doesn’t happen, you could have a bad vacuum connection or a leaky booster. But if the brakes feel “soft,” meaning you have to push harder for them to take effect, you could air in your brake lines or something more serious.

Check the ABS light. When you turn your car on, your ABS light should also come on and then disappear after a few seconds. If it stays on, there’s a problem with the system. If it doesn’t come on at all, you probably have a burned out bulb.

Use the parking brake. Don’t underestimate the importance of this device. Check it every so often to make sure it’s working properly by applying it to see if it “holds” the vehicle. Try to move the vehicle with it applied, but don’t attempt to drive it because you could do serious damage.

Of course, if you do end up needing some brake work done, don’t forget about getting an honest auto estimate from us before you pay your mechanic. We’ll let you know if you’re being overcharged before you even get the work done.

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A Quick DIY Guide for Changing Your Brakes

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

How many times have you had your brake pads changed by a local mechanic? If you’re like me, you’ve probably done it more than once. But if you have even a little bit of patience and mechanical know-how, you can probably change your brakes yourself. Following is a basic do-it-yourself guide to changing your own brakes so you can save money and feel proud about your accomplishment.

1. Park your car on a level surface and in a shady area. You want to be comfortable when you’re doing this type of job.

2. Put blocks under the rear wheels if you’re changing the front brakes. This will keep the car from rolling when you jack the front end up.

3. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheels. Find a part of the frame underneath the front end to place the jack. Lift up the front end enough so that you can remove the tire.

4. Place jack stands underneath the vehicle.

5. Finish removing the lug nuts and remove both wheels. Set them off to the side and place the lug nuts in a small container so you don’t lose them.

6. Remove the calipers. There is typically a bolt holding the calipers in place. Simply loosen the bolt and slide it out of the caliper assembly.

7. Inspect the pads to determine what’s holding them to the caliper. They usually have clips or bolts attaching them to the caliper. Remove whatever is holding them together. It’s always a good idea to work on one side at a time so you can see how it’s put together on the other side.

8. Inspect the rotors next. These are the parts of the brakes that the pads rub against to stop the car. If the rotors are smooth, they should be fine. If, however, they have deep groves, you’ll have to replace them. In some cases, minor grooves can be “turned” by a local auto parts store, but that’s more of a judgment call.

9. Take the parts to the auto parts store and get identical parts. You’ll need brake pads and brake pad grease at the very least. If you plan to change the rotors, you’ll need those, too.

10. Before replacing the pads, you’ll need to move the piston back to its open position. This part is located near the backside of the caliper. It needs to be moved to its open position to accommodate the extra thickness of the new brake pads. Depending on how old it is, you may be able to do it with your hand or you may need to use a pair of vice grips or pliers to move it back into place.

11. If you’re replacing the rotors, do that first. They should slide on and off fairly easily.

12. Spread brake grease on the backside of the brake pads. The backside is that part that doesn’t come into contact with the rotors. It serves as a lubricant between the metal of the pads and the calipers to reduce heat in the area.

13. Think back to how the assemblies came apart and reassemble them in that way. With any luck, you might be able to finish the job in only about a couple hours.

14. Pump the brakes a few times to get the fluid back into the line. Take the car for a short test drive on some back roads to ensure it stops fine.

See how easy that was? Just imagine how much better you’ll feel when you don’t have to run to the local mechanic every time you need new brakes!

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Four Secrets to Keep From Your Car Dealer

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

While we here at HonestAutoEstimates.com believe in honesty (heck, it’s in our name), there are some pieces of information you should keep to yourself. This is especially true if you’re trying to get a great deal on a vehicle at a dealership. We’re not saying you should lie, but don’t volunteer any information.

Earlier this week, we gave you some tips on how to negotiate a lower price with a dealer. Today, we’re going to tell you some things you should never tell a car dealer when purchasing a car.

1. Never tell the sales representative how much you love the car. Once you’ve done this, you’ve screwed yourself. If they know that you love it, you have only two chances to get the price knocked down – slim and none.

2. Don’t talk about monthly payments. You can often get the monthly payments you want, but they could get stretched out over several years. By the end of the loan, you could be paying two or three times as much as the car is worth depending on the type of payments and loan you get.

3. Never tell them about your trade-in vehicle until it’s time to negotiate. If they know you have a trade-in, they may be less willing to come down on the price. The sales representative often has another employee take it for a test drive to evaluate what it’s worth. But once you hand over those keys, it might not be so easy to get them back.

4. Don’t volunteer your credit history. Since car dealers share some of the money from your interest rate, they may be delighted to know you have bad credit. Even if it shows up that you have good credit, they might play into your fears of bad credit and give you a higher interest rate instead.

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How to Negotiate with a Car Dealer

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

How many times have you gone to the car dealership only to leave with a car you didn’t want with payments higher than you can afford? Car dealers are in the business to make money. So when they can make a few extra bucks, they’re going to do it. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. Use the following suggestions to help you feel less intimated so you can negotiate more effectively.

1. Do some research before you visit the dealer. Find out what the average prices are for the type of car you want. Print these prices out and bring them to the dealer with you. Once they know you’ve done some homework, they’ll be more likely to negotiate.

2. Show some confidence when you walk into the dealership. A confident aura shows that you’re intent on getting a good deal. Speak matter-of-factly and don’t be afraid to walk out and go to the next dealership if the sales representative refuses to negotiate.

3. Know about any rebates or incentives that the manufacturer of the car is offering. Mention these to the sales representative if they don’t mention it to you.

4. Bring a friend. Having a friend by your side often makes a person more confident. The friend can also throw out suggestions and help you negotiate, especially if they are good at that kind of thing.

Car dealers aren’t all dishonest. They’re like mechanics. The overwhelming majority of them are honest and simply trying to earn a decent living. But it’s the few bad ones that spoil it for the entire bunch. Unfortunately, you almost have to pretend like the person you’re dealing with is one of the dishonest ones so you can stay on your toes and not take anything they say at face value. When you do all of these things, you can usually get the car you want at a price you like.

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Five Tips for Saving on Auto Insurance

Monday, July 7th, 2008

With rising gas prices and maintenance costs, drivers are trying to cut costs wherever they can. For some, lowering their insurance premiums is the best option. But if you don’t know how to save money on your insurance, where do you start? Following are a few tips to help prevent you from paying unnecessary money to the insurance company and putting more of it back in your wallet.

1. Reconsider your coverage. Many times, drivers sign up for more coverage than they actually need. They might feel rushed at the insurance agency or they just want to make sure they’re covered. Take some time and read through your policy. Chances are there are a few things you’re paying for that you’ll never use. For instance, you may be paying for a roadside assistance service through your insurance company while paying another company for the same service.

2. Make sure your driving history is listed accurately. Does your record say you’ve had accidents that you never had? Or are there tickets on your record that should have “rolled off” by now? Double check your record to ensure you’re not paying a higher premium than you need to be.

3. Use an independent insurance agent. They can shop around and compare quotes from various insurance companies to get you the lowest rate. When you go to the “big guys,” you generally just have to pay what they tell you to pay.

4. Get a multi-policy discount. You can do this by simply getting your home, boat, life and auto insurance through the same company. Or, if you have two cars, make sure they are both listed on the same policy to save money overall.

Don’t be afraid to reevaluate your insurance needs on a regular basis. Your record and needs change after awhile. Why give the insurance companies any more money than you really need to?

5. Raise your decuctable. Raising your deductable to $1000.00 from the standard $500.00 Dollars is an easy thing to do. Just remember you should have the 1k in savings just incase!

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Four Tips for Taking Care of Your Tires

Friday, July 4th, 2008

Tires are an important part of any vehicle. Without them, it would be a bumpy ride on even the smoothest of roads. But sometimes we tend to neglect our “black rubber buddies” until they are almost worn down to nothing. Unfortunately, bad tires are not good for your car, your gas mileage or your safety. Follow these tips to take care of them properly and to help them last a very long time.

1. Proper inflation
Make sure you keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI (pounds per square inch). You can find that number around the sides of nearly any tire. Don’t be lazy. Use a tire gauge each time you inflate them to ensure proper inflation.

2. Switch ‘em around
Rotating your tires is one thing most car owners neglect to do. But this creates uneven wear and could cause a blowout at fast speeds. The general rule is to rotate them every 5,000-8,000 miles for the longest life.

3. Keep your front end in line.
Proper alignment will make your tires last as long as possible. But if your front end isn’t aligned properly, you could be making your tires wear out much faster. If you hear noise or notice uneven wear, get your front end aligned. It’s a fairly inexpensive procedure.

4. Keep good shocks on your car.
This is often overlooked, but bad shocks could create unnecessary wear on your tires. If your car feels extra bouncy lately, get the shocks checked out.

For more information about tire care and how to get the most out your four round friends, here are some links that you can use.

The Pep Boys Tire Care Website:
http://www.pepboys.com/car_care_corner/car_care_basics/tire_care/

Michelin’s Guide to Buying and Caring for Tires:
http://www.michelinman.com/tire-care/

The Dunlop Tires Way to Care for Your Tires:
http://www.dunloptires.com/care/

FAQs about Tires with Gemini Auto Care
http://www.geminicarcare.com/faqs/care.html

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How Not to Get Ripped Off 101

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

College students are known for having little to no money. Most of them don’t know the first thing about cars, either. That’s why some auto shops see them as a “cash cow.” They know they can sell them just about anything (like a new “Johnson rod”) and they’ll just get the money from mommy and daddy or they’ll put it on their credit card. Here are some ways to avoid getting scammed out of your money when your car breaks down at college.

1. Understand how a service repair station works. Mechanics are in business to make money. That doesn’t mean that they are out to rip you off, but some of them may “pad the bill” or find other ways to make money from you. If you go in knowing this, you can be more skeptical about what they tell you if it seems a little “off.”

2. Take someone with you. If you know somebody that knows something about cars, they can help you decide what’s necessary and what’s not.

3. Make your budget known. If the mechanic knows exactly how much they have to work with, they can provide less expensive options for you. When you make it clear that you’ll be paying for the repairs instead of your parents, they might go easier on you. Only after you get your estimate for repairs.

4. Visit www.honestautoestimates.com before going to the mechanic. For a small fee, you can get an idea about how much your repairs should cost before you even visit the mechanic. That way, you’ll at least have a reference point from which to base your decision before shelling out a bunch of money.

Remember, not all mechanics are out to scam you. But the ones that are give the honest ones a bad name. Just be careful and patient and you won’t get ripped off.

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How to Select an Auto Repair Mechanic

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

REPUTATION– Ask family or friends to recommend a repair shop or technician. Try the local Better Business Bureau(BBB), they will be able to give you information and disposition of any complaints made to them about repair shops.

REPAIR FACILITIES QUALIFICATIONS– Make sure the facility is licensed and insured, all shops should keep these in plain sight.
MECHANICS QUALIFICATIONS– After selecting a repair shop check the qualifications of the mechanics. Ask to see certifications from an auto manufacturer or a professional organization such as Automotive Service Excellence(ASE), check which areas of automotive repairs the mechanic is certified in. Look for a mechanic with up to date credentials and training. Remember cars are much more advanced than ever before and a qualified mechanic will not mind showing you his or her credentials.

WARRANTIES– Assuming your vehicle is no longer under a manufacturers warranty, make sure to ask the repair facility what the warranty is for repairs performed by their shop. A standard for this industry is usually 12 months or 12,000 miles whichever occurs first.

CUSTOMER SERVICES– Always ask if the chosen repair shop offers certain services such as: Loaner/Rental Car, Towing Services and weekend hours.
APPEARANCE OF SERVICE AREA — The work area should be clean, well lit, organized and stocked with modern equipment and professional quality tools.

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