The Importance of ASE Certified Mechanic

The Importance of ASE Certified Mechanics

By Ron Haugen

You will find that being able to have somebody that knows that they are doing with your vehicle definitely has its perks. It is common that people simply look for somebody that knows a little bit about cars to work on your so that you can save some money. If you find somebody that is not certified, then they typically will not charge you very little if any money. This is something that a lot of people do. This is something that sometimes works out okay but it is also something that can be putting you as well as your vehicle at risk.

Dangers

Just because somebody thinks that they know a few things about cars does not necessarily mean that they do. You will find that sometimes, if it is something simple, like an oil change or replacing spark plugs that you can usually do it on your own with the help of somebody. However, if it is something that requires more skill, such as replacing or rebuilding an alternator or an engine, then you should make sure that you have somebody that is certified. Somebody that is not certified may not have as much experience as they need to for the tasks at hand. This is something that can end up putting you in danger and costing you even more money in the long run as these alternators that they attempt to rebuild or put in can end up going out in just a matter of months.

Benefits

You will find that working with a mechanic that is ASE certified means that they have gone through an extensive amount of training. This means that they have been tested on all of the parts of the vehicle and how to fix them. You will not have to worry about them running into a problem that they are not familiar with unless it requires a specialist. These mechanics will have to retake their exams every so often to make sure that they are kept up to date on all of the latest technology. This means that a mechanic that became ASE certified 20 years ago will know how to work on your brand new vehicle. This is something that is especially necessary with all of the new computers that are put into vehicles today.

Considerations

It is no secret that you will end up spending some money on a mechanic if they are certified. This is something that is going to be necessary but is going to be worth it. You will need to simply shop and ask around and make sure that you go with somebody that you can trust. They are going to be able to provide you with the quality that you need at prices that you can afford. You will find that asking around will get you far in terms of people that know people. Just make sure that the people that you are put into touch with are certified before you go any further with them.

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 Exactly Are Xenon Headlights?

What Exactly Are Xenon Headlights?

By Ron Haugen

You will be able to find Xenon headlights for just about any type of vehicle that you may have. Understanding what these are and what they do is important knowledge. There is no point in spending money on these if you don't need them. Using Xenon headlights without knowing what they are or their features can end up being something that you regret, either because you do not get the full effect of the headlights or because you did not get what you expected.

Xenon Gas

Basically, what a xenon headlight is is a headlight that is completely filled up with xenon gas. Xenon gas is is an odorless and a colorless gas that is found in the earth's atmosphere in small amounts. These types of headlights are very easy to tell apart from others because it has a specific type of sheen to it that is very neon like. It was not until 1898 that this gas was actually discovered. Since its discovery, this gas has been used in many different ways.

Xenon Headlight Creations

It is a complex process that xenon headlights are created. It is basically done through the separation of the air. The air is split into oxygen as well as nitrogen. It is the oxygen that is turned completely into a liquid. This liquid oxygen will have small amounts of krypton and xenon in it. It is through even further process that the xenon will then be contained so that it can be used to create just one entire xenon headlight.

Benefits

It is common for these types of headlights to be used more frequently than other headlights for several different reasons. One of the bigger reasons is the fact that they help to light up the darker roads better than the regular types of headlights. These types of headlights can be found in several different locations. Whether it is online or in auto parts stores, they are not difficult to come by. You do not have to have a professional install them for you as they are not difficult to install. You will simply need to make sure that you do so carefully so that you do not have any leaks.

Considerations

These types of lights can be very dangerous if they happen to shatter. If you breathe in any xenon gas, then this can cause you to go into an anesthetic state. This type of gas cannot be contained inside of any container that is plastic. This will cause the gas to leak out slowly. This is why these headlights are most often made from glass. Something else that you should consider is the price. Because it takes up so much time for just one xenon light to be made, then they tend to cost more than a regular headlight. While they are not typically a lot more expensive, you should still expect to pay more than you normally would.

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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A Look at Some Common Cooling System Failures

A Look at Some Common Cooling System Failures

By Ron Haugen

Your cooling system is very important to the proper function of your engine. It helps to make sure that the engine will be able to run properly at any given time. It also helps to make sure that the engine simply does not catch on fire. With such an important system, it would seem that we would have a better idea of how it works. Still, the majority of people do not understand the system. This means they do not understand what they can be doing to make sure that the cooling system will work properly. The more you know, the longer you will be able to guarantee that you will have a smooth running car.

Check Your Cooling Fluids

The first line of defense for any cooling system is the cooling fluids. One reason for common cooling system failures is because the fluid is not being changed out regularly. While it does not need to be changed out as regularly as the oil, this is one of the essential fluids in your car. You will need to make sure that it is being changed out at least every 10,000 miles. This will help to make sure that the system will continue to work properly when you need it to.

Another of the common cooling system failures as they pertain to the fluid level is simply checking the fluid itself. Make sure that whenever you change the oil that you are checking the levels of the coolant fluid. This is important so that you will be able to make sure that there is enough fluid in the car to keep your system working properly. Simply pop the top on the system when the engine is cool and make sure that you are at the correct level. It is that easy. If you need more fluid, top it off.

DO NOT USE WATER!

Everyone sees the old movies where people pump water into their engine to cool it down. This is one of the common cooling system failures because the engines cannot be cooled by water anymore. The engines run hotter and will burn right through the water if you put it into your system. This is why you will need to make sure that you are using the right coolant for your car system. This is intensely important so that your system will not simply lock up. The system running too hot will cause many different problems in your car.

Check Your Belts

Another of the common cooling system failures is that you might have a problem with a bad serpentine belt. This is a problem because the belt is responsible for running the pumps which will help to distribute the coolant throughout the engine. If the belt breaks or slips you will run into many different problems. This is just one of the reasons why you should always get the belts checked whenever you get an oil change or engine service of any kind.

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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Why You Want Disc Brakes in Your Car

Why You Want Disc Brakes in Your Car

By Ron Haugen

Many agree that the brakes are the most important safety feature any car has. They can help you to avoid a collision. They can also help you to be able to stay within the law when you approach a stop. In order for your brakes to provide you with the proper safety features they are designed to, you need to have good brakes. Most cars coming of the assembly line these days will only have disc brakes installed in them. This is not because they are cheaper or easier to install. This is because they are superior to any other kinds of brakes which have come before them.

What Makes Disc Brakes Special?

The first thing you need to know about disc brakes is that they are a simplistic design. Basically you have two clamps on either side of a disc and they clamp on the disc to slow down the car. There have been other designs like the drum brakes which use one pad to push on the inside of the wheel in order to get the car to slow down. The reason why the disc brakes are better is because you are getting the stopping power of two pads on each wheel.

The clamps on either side of the disc brakes has the stopping power of one drum brake. This allows you to stop quicker
and with more accuracy. It also helps to avoid the brakes locking because the system overheated or the brakes become stuck. This is one of the main problems with the drum brakes which is why most manufacturers do not use them anymore.

Most importantly, the thing which makes these kinds of brakes special is the fact that they are cheap to fix. You will simply need to keep up with the changing of the brake pads in order to make sure that the system is working properly at any given time.

Changing Your Own Pads

There are many different kinds of repairs you can do on your own to save money or simply to be more in touch with how your car operates. Changing your brake pads for disc brakes is something you can easily do on your own. This is because in essence, all you will have to do is remove the wheel and the old pads. You can then install the new pads and be on your way. It is recommended you get a repair guide if you are looking to do this.

Making Your Pads Last

When you change your brake pads on disc brakes, there are a few different ways in which you can make them last longer. You will simply need to make sure that the pads were installed with the brake grease applied to the pads. This will keep the pads from causing additional wear to the disc itself. You might also want to simply watch the way that you drive. Sudden starts and stops are not good for your car.

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 Serpentine Belts

By Ron Haugen

There are few belts in your car which are more important than serpentine belts. This is the belt which runs in between the alternator, water pump, air pump and a few other devices. It is basically the belt which makes sure that the engine is running exactly the way that it should be running. There are a few different problems that your car can run into if the belt is bad or snaps because it was either not changed properly or it was not a good belt to begin with. This is why it is of the utmost importance that you have a good quality belt in your engine.

Looking for a Good Belt

The first thing you need to figure out is exactly what kind of belt it is your car uses. This is because every belt is a different size. If you but in the wrong belt, you will cause your engine even more problems. Check with your manufacturer guidelines to find out exactly what length belt you will need for your engine. This will help you to get the right belt for your engine rather than taking chances that you will get the right length.

Looking for the Right Brand

This can get tricky because it is not fair to say that one brand of serpentine belts are better than another. This is, however the case. Just looking at which belts last longer, you will see a clear trend in how well one brand performs over another one. You can check through all of the different reviews about the belts you are interested in buying to see exactly which one will be best suited to your car. This is important to do because while you are thinking that a good brand is a good brand. In fact, there are brands which are better suited to one brand of car over another.

Getting it Installed Correctly

Unless you have a lot of specialty engine tools in your home, it is recommended that you allow a professional to install serpentine belts. This is to make sure that the belt is of the right tension and that there is not any problems with the belt slipping later on. Best of all, when you go through a repair center they will guarantee their work. This way if there is a problem which happens right after you get the car fixed, they will be obligated to complete any work to make the problem right for free.

Check the Belt Regularly

Serpentine belts should be checked regularly for wear and tear. This is something you can do yourself if you feel like it. Simply take a look at the belt. If you see any cracks or signs of wearing on the belt, it is an indicator that the belt might need to be replaced. While you can check it as often as you wish, the optimal time to check it is every other oil change to make sure it is not going too long without being checked.

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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Tips For Towing a Trailer With Ease

Tips For Towing a Trailer With Ease

By Ron Haugen

There are many different reasons why you might want to tow a trailer behind your car. You might want to pull along a storage container. You might want to pull along a flat which will hold certain items like lawn mowers. You might even need to pull along your car. No matter why you are pulling a trailer, you need to make sure that you are following certain guidelines for towing a trailer. These standards will help you to be able to get better fuel efficiency from your car. They will also help you to make sure that you are driving safer.

Check All Connections

The most important thing that you can do when towing a trailer is to make sure that you have properly attached everything to your car. This includes the brake lights, the safety chain as well as the hitch itself. Making sure that these connections are made correctly will help you to be a safer driver. They will also help you to make sure that the trailer will not fly off while you are driving your car across the country. The most important thing to remember is that each kind of hitch is different and you will need to follow the guidelines as instructed for your hitch.

Get a Better Hitch

One of the most important aspects of towing a trailer is to make sure that you have a good hitch to attach your trailer to. This is important because no matter what you do with the trailer itself, if the hitch is not of good quality and properly attached, it can simply fly off of your vehicle unexpectedly. The best advice if your car did not come with a hitch is to make sure that the hitch is professionally installed. This will help to avoid any problems down the road.

Load the Trailer Correctly

It is very important that you get to know your trailer. Know what weight limitations you will need to operate under. You will also need to make sure that you have loaded the trailer properly. This means making sure that the weight is distributed properly. When towing a trailer that does not have the weight distributed properly, it can cause problems like uneven wear in the tires to pulling the trailer to one side or the other which can affect your ability to drive and maintain safety with the trailer.

Get a Better Trailer

Another solution you can look for what towing a trailer is to make sure that you have a good trailer to begin with. This is important because the trailer can have a better axle or load capacity than others. Make sure that when you purchase your trailer that you are getting the one which is best suited to the task you are using it for. This will help to make sure that you have the ability to load it correctly and that you will not be exceeding weight capacities. If the trailer is not suited to your needs, buy one that is.

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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