Jimmys Auto Blog

Car Maintenance And Car Repairs Negligence: What It Will Cost You

MrsPalmer — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:34:32 +0000

With the increasing cost of car repairs and the hefty fees charged by your local mechanic, it’s easy to just ignore the problems you’re starting to experience in your car. Many drivers do not really pay attention to the signs that their car is telling them unless they experience a real trouble. However, you must know that car repairs negligence has its price.

The Consequences Of Neglect

Failing to address the problems in your car early on can result in a lot more of troubles, such as the following:

• More serious damage. Been ignoring the puddle of fluid that you often see under your car recently? That could be oil starting to leak, and ignoring it can lead to total oil loss among the various engine parts. And if you’re unfortunate, that can damage many of the various engine components and you may face a whole lot more of inconvenience. Car problems often start small. When neglected, they grow bigger until they overwhelm you.

• Accidents. If you’ve been hearing your brakes squeal each time you step on the pedal to stop, that’s one sign that the brake pads are already worn-out. If you don’t take action and don’t replace the pads, you may experience a sudden brake failure that may lead to serious road accidents or even death.

• More expenses. Of course, smaller inconveniences turned bigger problems are always proportional to simple expenses turned bigger expenditures. Your car is one thing you shouldn’t skimp on, or you may one day find yourself facing a bigger expense due to neglect.

All these are serious issues you wouldn’t want to deal with throughout your vehicle ownership. Therefore, it’s important that you pay attention to your car and address problems whenever you encounter them.

How To Save On Car Repair and Maintenance

And while you may think that you’re stuck with huge expenses on your car, you’ll be glad to know that this isn’t so. There are a lot of ways by which you can save on your vehicle. Here are three:

1.) Perform Routine Maintenance and Inspection. Always, always follow the routine maintenance schedule of your car, no matter how busy you are. Check the level of your car fluids regularly, always inspect the wear components of your vehicle, and keep your auto clean at all times. Doing these will prevent the onset of damage and this will also help you diagnose problems while they are still at an early stage and not yet so serious.

2.) DIY. Learn the basics of your car so that you can do some of the tasks that you used to leave to your mechanic. You can learn simple car washing, fluid refilling, or even the installation of simpler components.

3.) Shop Around. That is, for aftermarket auto parts and for a mechanic. Don’t go for the first part or the first shop professional that you find in case you need replacements or a skilled auto technician. Shop for the best value in price and benefits.

With all these pointers, there are no more reasons for car maintenance and car repairs negligence anymore.

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Automotive Charging Systems

MrsPalmer — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:52:58 +0000

Electricity is the lifeline of the car. This has always been the case since almost all the gasoline ignited combustion using electricity to the fuel. Today, the entire automobile is controlled and operated the electricity and electronic devices. These include controlling fuel, emission controls, accessories, such as heating and air conditioning, steering, brakes, lights and much more. It is obvious that the charging scheme, that this current is supplied to a very important System.

The charging system usually include a method to generate electricity and store a battery for power. This sounds easy, but it is no longer a simple system. The typical system consists of a generator, which normally belt driven by the engine. The generator of this park must be regulated to control the voltage with in a given area. The usual is 12 volts to about 14.2 volts. If the voltage is too high or too low electronic and electrical components will not work or they can be damaged.

Each generator is a form of electronic controller that controls the output of the generator. In recent years, it was a regulator mounted in the vehicle regardless of the alternator. A few years ago the regulator was moved into the alternator and the system was known internally regulated. A few manufacturers decided that the electrical system should be using the computer network interface. Now most cars either the charging system is a computer or monitor and there are certain levels by the engine management computer. Many systems reduce the alternator load during periods of strong acceleration.

Can I test and diagnose problems with my generator? It depends on the equipment you have. A good multimeter will receive a fair overview of the state of a charging system. If all you have is a multi-meter to measure the voltage at the battery terminals before starting the engine. Then you measure the voltage with thethe engine is running on a fast idle. The resting tension was in the vicinity of 12.6 volts and the voltage typically ranges from 13.2 to 14.2 volts at the battery. You can also measure the output voltage of the alternator, and it should be the measure in the 0.1 volt battery voltage. After measuring the voltage at a fast idle, turn off all accessories and lights. The tension should be near the same as for a fast idle with about 3 or 4 tenths volts.

How to Ensure You Get the Best Limousine For Your Wedding

MrsPalmer — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:43:13 +0000

Having a wedding limousine as your ride on the day of your wedding can be glamorous. However, you have to make the necessary arrangements in order to achieve this kind of luxury on your wedding day. The following articles that you will read are some tips on how to make good arrangements to get the ride that you want on your most special day.

The time of reservation is a very important factor in getting the ride that you want. You need to make reservations at least six months prior to your wedding day. Wedding limousines are not like some hotels where you can reserve whenever you want. Six months is the minimum time for you to rent a good limo. You can still choose the model that you want within this time without problems. Wedding limos are rented for three hours during the normal season; it includes the time of pick-up and drop-off.

Price of limo rentals are also an important factor to be arranged. Prices of wedding limos vary depending on the type and model you choose. Ordinary limousines with 8 seats cost $230, 12 – 14 seats at $330 and the SUV, which are the most expensive, costs about $1,100. These are all rented for three hours only. Some companies allow rentals of more than three hours. So if you want to rent your wedding limo for more than three hours, let the company know.

The peak season of wedding limousine rentals is from February to July. If your wedding falls into those months, you have to make your limo reservations one year in advance. If you make your reservations lesser than one year, you may not be able to reserve your desired limo since others may have already made reservations. Also, rental hours extend up to eight hours during peak season. Rental rates also go up as high as 30% than normal rates.

Make sure that you include all other details in making your wedding limousine reservation. Tell the rental company your rental preferences and how many people are going to ride the limo. Some companies may not entertain reservations if there’s only four months left before the wedding. In making reservations, prepare your advanced payment. In addition, some companies will not allow you to rent the limos for three hours.

The internet can also be used to make wedding limousine rentals. There are a lot of resources on the internet to help you make your choice. References from friends are also useful in making limousine rental choices. Feel free to call Jimmy’s Limousine Service at 360-459-7113 for your limo needs in the Puget Sound region.

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Replacing the Fuel Filter

MrsPalmer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

A fuel filters job is to, as the name implies, filter your fuel. It rids away particles that may damage the entire system if allowed to flow through the circulation. As important as their job may be, you have to realize that they are not entirely perfect. They can get clogged. And you don’t want that to happen for one single particle joined in the system can wreck and can do insurmountable damage to your engine. You have to make sure that the fuel injection system and the parts of the carburetors aren’t clogged for better functioning.

Replacing the fuel filter is as easy as making yourself a tuna sandwich before leaving for work. It would only take you less than 30 minutes to do the whole drill. And would cost you as much as $20 for the whole components.

Before starting, be sure that you have all the equipments so that the work will turn out smoothly and you won’t be wasting any time. Your tools would have to have the new fuel filter and fuel line washers, wrenches, rags, and eye protection is optional but extremely important for your safety.

Start by relieving the pressure inside your fuel system. You can do this by allowing your engine to rest and cool off. When it’s cool enough to work on it, you could start relieving the pressure and don’t forget to put on your eye glasses or protector. How do you release the pressure? Easy. First locate the pump fuse. Next start your engine. Then pull the relay or the fuel pump fuse and wait till the engine dies. Then you can now start on changing your fuel filter.

Always remember to disconnect any attachments to avoid further damage. Use the open end wrenches to disconnect your cars fuel injection. Before opening her up, put a rag on top of the fitting to protect your eyes if there are still some pressure on the line. Now turn the wrench counterclockwise until the bolt breaks loose. Do the same with the other end. Slide the line out of the socket. You can now remove your filter but do it with extreme caution. Slowly but surely.

If you notice that there would be the pressure washer sitting on the side of your line bolts. Change it with your new fuel line washers. Do this before putting back the fuel line on. Don’t fret if you see that your washers are different from the other. They are designed to be like that.

You can now install your new fuel filter by doing the exact opposite of the removal procedure. Screw the bolts back in, make sure the line is on. And don’t forget to put the fuel pump fuse back in its place lastly. You can now start your engine and feel the new filter work efficiently.

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Tips on Installing a Car Stereo

MrsPalmer — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Indeed, it is fulfilling for car owners to change the entire working condition of his car. But changing your old stereo with a new one is more rewarding than any other tough jobs. It is like the cream of the crop.

Here, you’ll be needing your newly bought car stereo, wiring kits for adapters, wire crimping tools, tape, cutters, screwdriver/s. The features of your new stereo will depend on your choice, personality, or the whole environment of your car.

Use a wiring kit to save you an hour from your installing time, minus the frustrations.

You have to first remove the trim panels then remove the trim around the stereo. Some cars have a lot of panels to get to the stereo itself. These panels are always attached by screws. Some as visible and others need proper focus to see it. Either way, you have to carefully remove these and put them in some place where you can easily find it. Do not lose something as important as these.

We go to the portion where you remove the stereo from its nesting point. With everything out, all you need to do is carefully detach your old stereo. Again, this would be held by numerous screws so get your screwdrivers ready. After successfully getting it out, don’t just plug the new one in. There are still tasks you have to accomplish like connecting the wires altogether with the harness.

Alright, now here’s the hard part. For you to connect the adapter, you have to crimp its connections by stripping the wires. Do not try installing a stereo with only electrical tape to connect it, like twisting it together. Refer to the manual provided with the stereo. Now that you have it done, you can plug the adapter into the harness and do a test run. If all seems okay, you can now re-install all those panels that you just detached.

Finish your installation by securing your new stereo into the dashboard bracket. Arrange the electrical wirings back in its place. Then safely push your stereo back into the area. All done! Now you can enjoy a more convenient way of listening to your music.

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Replacing Your Car Brake Master Cylinder

MrsPalmer — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

If your car doesn’t respond well when you step on the brakes, or if you need to pump the brake a few times in order for the brakes to respond, it is of high probability that your car’s brake master cylinder is damaged and may need to be replaced.

Even if you change your car’s brake shoes or you fill the brake master with brake fluid, damage in the brake master cylinder will still give you no response when you step on the brakes.

The brake master cylinder is responsible for giving brake pressure. Wear and tear can cause leaks, which causes poor response when you step on the brakes.

Removing the brake master cylinder is very easy to do. The brake master assembly is connected to the canister where you put the brake fluid in. To remove the old brake master cylinder, you first need to empty the reservoir. Dispose of the old brake fluid in a proper manner.

After doing this, disconnect the wire connector for the brake fluid level or the brake fluid warning switch. Then, disconnect the brake lines from the master cylinder. You should use a line wrench to do this as the line wrench is designed to remove and install hydraulic fittings without rounding them off.

Then, remove the master cylinder mounting nuts. After that, you can easily remove the old brake master cylinder. If your vehicle has a non-power brake, you should also disconnect the master cylinder linkage from the brake pedal underneath the dash. Also, you should also remove the fluid reservoirs if your car model uses separate fluid reservoirs.

After removing the brake master cylinder, it is now time to install the new master cylinder. However, you first need to bleed the lines from old brake fluid. You can do so with a special bleeder kit.

You can now install the new brake master cylinder. Just reverse the process of uninstalling the brake master cylinder to do this. Then, fill the reservoir with brake fluid. Pump the brake pedal up until you feel pressure. Recheck the brake fluid reservoir and fill it up to the maximum level.

As you can see, it is quite simple to replace the brake master cylinder. Doing so will ensure safety whenever you drive your vehicle. Always remember that there is no point in making your car run if you can’t stop it. If you already feel that your car is not responding well when you step on the brakes, it may be time for you to replace the brake master cylinder.

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DIY Auto Repair For The Novice

MrsPalmer — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

When you purchase a car, the dealer or manufacturer often provides some basic auto repair tips to help them use their car smoothly. You can also get an auto repair manual. Make sure that you get a specific manual and this is not really hard to find. You can ask the manufacturer or the dealer if they have an auto repair manual for the particular model of your car. This way, you will know exactly the systems and parts of your vehicle. You have to learn how the system and parts work. Each system or part has its own optimal performance level. Once you know these things, you can master some repair techniques.

Suppose you hear strange sounds from a certain part of your car. If you know some basic auto repair information, you can instantly identify the part of the car that is affected. Troubleshooting will be a lot easier once you know the basics. Simple problems can be personally addressed and you don’t have to take your car to the repair shop. Hiring professional service can cost you a lot so by doing the task yourself, you can save the money. You can perform tasks such as cooling your cars overheating radiator and adjusting loose screws.

As a novice in do-it-yourself auto repair, it is very important to have a tool kit wherever you go. The kit usually contains a jack, screws, and wrenches. Accidents often happen and if in case your car stalls unexpectedly, the tools will really come in handy. With the tools, you can troubleshoot simple problems.

When visiting your mechanic, you can ask simple questions so that you can also learn some simple auto repair techniques. If you log on to the net, you can find much useful information about auto repair. When your resources permit, you can enroll in short-term courses to learn more about the basics of auto repair.

New car owners no longer have to worry about auto repair. You have all the resources in your hands and all you have to do is to learn about them.

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How To Repair Paint Chips On Your Car

MrsPalmer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Now that you have that ugly chip in your car, you then go to the body shop to get an estimate to repair the damage. You are then given a rough estimate that can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair and labor.

If you don’t want to spend this much to repair a small chip in your car, you can do it yourself. You just need to get the closest paint color that can match your car’s paint.

Always remember that you should always do the paint repair during sunny days or when it is more than 70 degrees outside. However, if you are doing it on an extremely hot weather, like what you will get on a hot summer day in Nevada or Arizona, do it early in the morning to prevent the paint from drying out too quickly.

When repairing chips, you first need to mask off the area around the chip using masking tape. Next, clean the area with lacquer thinner or alcohol to free it from dirt, wax and road grime. It is important that you never use a dirty cloth or paper towel or tissue. Clean it with a clean, lint-free cloth.

If the chip is deep or it goes down all the way to the metal, you need to use a 40 grit emery cloth to scratch up the metal. This will allow the primer and paint to have something to grab on to. It is also important to remember that you should make sure that there isn’t any rust on the affected area. If there is, it should be cleaned out as well.

Using an applicator brush or a toothpick, you now need to coat the bare metal with the primer. It is important to make sure that you don’t get any of the primer on the good paint. Just paint the bare metal. The point of all this is that you want a smooth layer and just enough primer and paint to cover the bare metal. After that, let it dry for at least 24 hours.

After that, you now need to apply the paint to the chipped area. Gradually add bits of lacquer thinner to the paint before applying it. If it is still too thick, add a few more drops of lacquer thinner. Then, apply it on the affected area.

Repeat this procedure until the new paints blends in with the rest of your car’s paint.

As you can see, it is quite easy to repaint a chipped part of your car. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get a chip repaired. You can do it yourself.

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How To Replace Your Spark Plugs

MrsPalmer — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

One of the things that you need to do is change the spark plugs every now and then. Spark plugs are basically a high voltage bridge for electricity. It’s what ignites the gas vapors inside your engine that is essential for making your car run.

When to change the spark plugs mainly depends on a few factors. It will depend on the condition of your engine, the purity of fuel you use, and even the driving habits. Spark plugs are quite cheap and it can be easily replaced without the help of a professional mechanic.

By changing your spark plugs every now and then, you will be able to get your car to run a lot smoother and also increase your gas mileage.

The first thing that you will need to change the spark plugs in your car is to get the necessary tools. You will need a ratchet wrench, a 12 inch socket extension, and a spark plug socket for your car. As you can see, you don’t have to have all the tools that a professional mechanic has in their shop.

Locating the spark plugs doesn’t require you to be a rocket scientist. All you need to do is follow the thick, rubbery wires under the hood. If you have a 4 cylinder engine, then the spark plugs will be located at the top of the engine that is arranged in a row right in front of you. But, if you have a larger, V8 engine, you will need to reach down on both sides of the engine to get them out. Just follow the thick, rubbery wires, and you will locate the spark plugs.

To remove the spark plugs, it is very important that you remove them one at a time. Do not pull out all the spark plugs at once as spark plugs fire in a specific order and it is a lot easier if you replace the spark plugs one at a time. Start at the end of the row and pull the wire off the end of the spark plug. You need to grasp the wire as close to the engine as possible when you pull.

The next step is to remove the spark plug. You need to remember that you need to pull one wire at a time and replace the spark plugs one at a time. Using the spark plug socket on your ratchet, remove the spark plug that you need to replace. Then put the new spark plug in and put it back in the engine. Do this with the rest of the spark plugs and you are ready to go.

As you can see, it is quite easy to replace the spark plugs in your car. With simple tools and a set of new spark plugs, you will be able to replace it in no time at all.

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Replacing Your Auto Signal

MrsPalmer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

If your flashers work yet in a different and awkward way, you definitely need to do something about it because it wastes your battery power. There are 3 modes to identify if you have a signal light that can put you into so much trouble: it blinks rapidly, comes and goes with slight blinking or no blinking at all.

You might get busted with this kind of problem so as early as possible, fix it. You might not want to get caught in traffic and be stopped by a policeman just to get a ticket for a jammed signal light. You have to know that it is dangerous and a violation when going on the road with a ruined signal light.

Don’t just focus on the signal light but include all the possible lights that can be affected by this, like the hazard signal. You should check every inch of defect. And clean the interior while you’re at it. Wipe off a little dust to seal off the dirt.

Before starting on this easy task, might as well get your car manual. Next would be locating the cluster where the relay is found. If you have no idea what it looks like, you can relate to the manual. It’s a square shaped instrument where you can find different wirings. Like that of a time bomb.

Next thing you should do is to identify the signal relay. Once you have found it, just remove the old flasher and replace it with a new one. Place the old flasher inside your pocket then throw it away once you’re through. You don’t have to worry about not placing the new flasher inside the shelf for it will definitely fit in once it is pressed. Put back the relay cluster to where you took it.

To prove your worth, turn on your lights to see if you have to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

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Jimmys Auto Blog

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