Friday, August 20, 2010

Users Guide to Replacement Convertible Tops

Users Guide to Replacement Convertible Tops

By Ron Haugen




There is nothing like driving down the road in the summer time with the wind blowing through your hair. This is just one of the many reasons why more and more people are turning to convertible cars every year. After a while the top on the convertible has the potential to be ruined by the sun and other factors. This will lead you to need to go out and purchase a new top for your car or go through the process of getting your top patched which will look very unsightly. The problem is, most people are not sure exactly how much it will cost and where they will need to turn to get the top that they need.

The first thing you need to know is that you can get replacement convertible tops. They are produced every day by the same people who produced your original top as well as by companies which specialize in creating the convertible top that you use. If you are unsure about what kind of convertible top you are looking for, you can always contact the dealership to find out from them exactly what the specifications are on the model that you have. This will help you when you order your new top.

The next thing you need to know is where to order convertible tops from. You will need to check a few different sources for this. This is because some manufacturers will specialize in different kinds of tops companies like Robbins Auto Top Company specialize in domestic models, but they have the ability to make tops for any models. You just need to let them know what model you are looking for and what color you are looking for. They will get right to work in creating you a brand new convertible top which you can install on your vehicle.

The next thing you will need to do is to figure out where you can get convertible tops installed at. This is not like getting your oil changed. Not all auto repair shops will be able to handle this kind of work. Your best bet is to go to a collision expert for the kind of car that you have. You might even want to go right to the people who ordered your convertible top. They will have the expertise to know exactly how to go about installing your convertible top.

The very last thing you need to worry about is the cost. This is the last thing to worry about because no matter what the cost of the procedure, it pales in comparison to how much you will have to spend if the top fails and the inside of your car is flooded. At this time, you will still have to pay the expense for getting replacement convertible tops. Only now you are also having to pay to get all the water removed from your car so that you will not have to worry about mildew.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com




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The Importance of Antilock Brake Systems

The Importance of Antilock Brake Systems

By Ron Haugen




The modern car comes with many different modern conveniences. These include the ability to have antilock brake systems in the car. The importance of the systems lies in the safety features that it provides you the driver. The old systems used to lock on when you stepped on the brakes too hard or if they got too hot. This would cause unsafe driving conditions which would lead you to be involved in an accident you were trying to avoid. This is why most car manufacturers do not use drum brakes anymore. They have too many incidences of causing the brakes to lock up.

Providing Better Stopping Power

The reason why antilock brake systems are so important is because they make it possible for you to stop the car better. The wheels are designed to grip the road. This is what the brakes are supposed to be taking advantage of to slow down the car. When the brakes lock, they will only allow one section of the wheel to be in contact with the road. This will allow the tire to slip on the ground and you will lose all traction causing the car to be able to slide out of control.

When the brakes are able to slow the wheel down rather than locking on, it allows the grip to stay in contact with the ground. The more constant contact the wheel has with the ground, the better your chances are that you will be able to slow down in time to avoid a collision. This is the entire point of the antilock brake systems being installed in every car produced today. They are designed to make sure that you will be safe when you are driving a car no matter what kind of driver you might be.

Stopping Driver Tendencies

The simple fact of the matter is that there are plenty of people out there who will make a point out of stomping on the brakes every chance that they get. This is why the antilock brake systems are so important. They allow you to not be a victim of your own bad driving skills. While it is still important to pump the brakes when you are coming to a stop, it is not the essential safety tip it used to be. This is because the system will pump your brakes for you so that there will be less of a chance of the brakes locking.

Get the System Inspected

The best way to make sure that you will be protected from collision is to get antilock brake systems inspected regularly. This is something which should be done at least every 15,000 miles. While the brake pads should at least be looked at every other oil change, it is a good idea to make sure the whole system gets checked at regular intervals to avoid any kinds of problems in the future. Regular maintenance will avoid the need for costly repairs in the future.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com




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Monday, August 16, 2010

Why People Prefer Diesel Engines

Why People Prefer Diesel Engines

By Ron Haugen




When most people think of diesel engines, they get the wrong impression. They think about billowing black smoke coming out of the back of the car which causes untold problems in the environment. What most people do not realize is that diesel actually burns cleaner than regular gas and has more efficient burning properties than any other kind of engine available. There are quite a few different reasons why people prefer the diesel engine over a regular one. Here are just a few examples.

Better Gas Mileage

These days everyone is looking at the price of gasoline so that they will be able to save money. There is a misconception about diesel gasoline because it costs more at the pump that other kinds. While it is a little more expensive, it is important to remember that the engine actually runs more efficiently than other kinds of engines. This is why you will be able to enjoy three times the gas mileage of a normal engine. While you will pay a little bit more at the pump than you will for normal gasoline, you will end up saving money in the long run because you make less trips to the pump.

This kind of gas mileage comes in vary handy when you are going on long trips. This is exactly why the trucking community uses diesel engines almost exclusively. There is another reason why diesel engines are used by the trucking industry. The engines are better suited to producing steam and hydraulics. These are things which are used all the time in the trucks so that they will be able to power the brakes, steering and many other properties of the engine. This is just one of the many reasons why truck engines are diesel engines.

Cleaner Burning

There are a few different reasons why the diesel engines are cleaner burning than the regular engines. The first reason has to do with the type of fuel itself. This is because the gas is burning at a much higher temperature than normal gasoline does. This eliminates many of the pollutants which the gas can release into the air. The result is that you do not see any black smoke coming from the back of diesel cars anymore. This is in part because of better filtration systems in the car for the exhaust. It is also because of more efficient usage of the fuel itself.

Getting Gas

The most difficulty people with diesel engines run into is finding gas stations which sell the diesel fuel. This is because the industry is still trying to get used to the fact that more car manufacturers are using this type of engine than ever before. At best you will be able to find one pump available at most locations which sell the fuel. This is sure to increase in the future as more car makers turn to this kind of engine. This will happen as more people find the benefits of the diesel engine.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com




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What You Need to Know About Air Bags

What You Need to Know About Air Bags

By Ron Haugen




All cars these days have at least a driver's side air bag. This is an important safety device which will allow you to stay safe in case of a collision. What happens is when you run into something a signal will be issued through your car to the deployment mechanism. It will be deployed through the use of compressed gas. The bag will deploy instantly and will help to keep you from going through the windshield or hitting your head on the steering wheel. There are a few other things you will need to know about them to maintain safety.

Changing Driving Habits

While air bags are designed to keep you safe in case of an accident, there are certain things you should be doing in order to keep yourself safe when you are driving in a car that has air bags, The first thing you need to be aware of is how close you are sitting to the steering wheel. It is designed to inflate to full capacity. It will not make concessions for people that prefer to drive with their chest right up to the steering wheel. If this is the way that you drive, you are likely to come away from the accident with a broken nose at least.

The recommendation of the industry is that when driving cars with air bags that you drive at least an arms distance from the steering wheel. This will leave a significant gap between yourself and the air bag. This way when there is an accident, you will fall into the bag rather than the bag pushing you back from where you are sitting in the seat. If it is a height thing, consider elevating the seat or using a pillow under you so that you will be elevated rather than moving closer to the wheel.

Another thing you should watch out for is the way you grip the wheel. This is because if you are holding the wheel in such a manner where your arm crosses the middle of the steering wheel, you will run the risk of your arm being broken when they are deployed. The old standards of 10 and 2 still apply for more reasons than just making sure that you are keeping both hands on the wheel at the same time.

Getting Air Bags Inspected

It is a good idea to get the air bag system inspected from time to time. This is because you do not want for the system to malfunction at any given time. Remember that you do not want to get the system inspected too often of you run the risk of the system malfunctioning as well as the fact that you will spend a lot of money unnecessarily. You should, however get the system check at least every five years if it has not been used. This will make sure that the gas is ready to go and that the bag is still packed correctly.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com




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