5 Tips to Make Your Car Last 200,000 Miles

5 Tips to Make Your Car Last 200,000 Miles

By Ron Haugen

Most cars have a reduced life span - after four years' time and a bit of mileage, they start having serious problems and many times they don't last to 200,000 miles, forget about lasting longer.
What most people don't know is, you don't need to take it to the shop every day for it to run smoothly and with no problems or disruptions.

You can follow simple daily steps, that will make your life a whole lot easier, and make your car perform better and, most importantly, last longer.
Here are five tips on what you can to, so your car reaches the 200,000 mile mark, and beyond.

• There's an owner manual for that you know: With every car, comes a little book. That's what's called an owner's manual. Here, you have specifications about your vehicle and when your car maintenance schedule is. For many it will sure be a hassle to go to the shop every two months or so, but it's well worth the cost.

Also, you should always follow gas recommendations - forget the cheapo gas, and keep to what the manual says. It will keep you engine running better, longer.

• Do it Yourself: Most people don't know how to change their spark plugs or to check their engines for malfunctions or what an electronic stability control really does. But by knowing the basics of how your car works can save you a lot of time later on, and you'll be able to identify when something's wrong.

Also, keep an eye out for the lights - those warnings are there to help you prevent total car breakdown, and if you choose to ignore it, you might have a pretty considerable check to pay later.

• Find a mechanic you trust: This one might be a tough one for most, because we only understand if people are serious through trial and error. Yet, ask around - talk to friends and know where they go to, and ask if you can give their auto shop a try.


• Keep your car clean: By this I don't mean tidy - but clean engine wise. If you keep it running smoothly and check the state of things every once in a while, you're bound to find any problems as they arise. And if you keep it clean on the inside, it will also be easier for mechanics to identify problems on their first attempt.


• Use parts and fluids that meet its specifications: Many of us have fallen into the claws of savings - but we should be careful not to save up on the wrong things. If you go for cheaper brands on your car, you'll create problems. If you stick to your car's manufacturer specifications, it will lead a healthier and happier life.

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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4 Reasons to Consider an All-Wheel Drive Vehicle

4 Reasons to Consider an All-Wheel Drive Vehicle

By Ron Haugen

The days when vehicle purchasers used to consider the brand and the miles a car could go before buying it are gone. Today, with so many enhancements and development when it comes to technology, the auto market is full of new customized options and gizmos that can make your life easier while driving your car.

All-Wheel is a technology that is ancient, but it has been re-mastered and now presents new functionalities and trademark names. It's also sold under different brands.
Back in the day, Rear wheel cars were the only ones available to customers worldwide. Yet, today, most of these cars aren't around, given that most cars have front wheel drive. The discussion that revolves around All Wheel, Front and also Rear Wheel drive - especially in the fans of the auto world.

All three might present benefits and challenges, but all it is a must today. It costs you a little more, but in terms of safety and performance, all-wheel drive is the best choice you can make, no matter where you live - in the city, in the country or even in the mountains.
While 4 wheel is usually an SUV term, that goes hand in hand with off-road use, all wheel drive is a car term that implies traction enhancement, and better performance in bad weather and adverse conditions.

Another way of driving: In all wheels driving, the torque created by the engine is directed to all four wheels, it doesn't matter if it's raining, snowing or sunny. These cars have a center differential that distributes power to wheels on the front and the back of the car - and with this system, all wheels turn, no matter the speed.

The difference between this and 4 wheel is that in this system, the power to the wheels is only active if there's need for it, or if the driver activates it. Yet it works all the time.

Power and traction: Given that all wheels have power at the same time, it makes this car safer and more powerful. It means it can be driven on snowy, slippery and muddy terrain. If you end up getting one of the wheels stuck, it's easy for the other three to get you out of that jam.

It's available everywhere: You now have all wheel drive everywhere, and they're very easy to buy with major brands. So, you can buy with your company of election.

Race around: Given the increased traction, you get better performance with all wheel drive cars - and this is exactly what you should get if you're planning on doing a small family Dakar or racing around in snowy or sandy terrain.

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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5 Reasons to Change Your Spark Plugs Before They Fail

 

5 Reasons to Change Your Spark Plugs Before They Fail

By Ron Haugen

Car engines never cease to be a mystery for most population, and we can only identify there's a problem by the time the lights in our dashboard go insane and start beeping all over the place.
What most people don't know is that spark plugs are the key when it comes to starting your car, and are the reason why sometimes, in those cold mornings, your car might not start. What these little things do is, they produce the spark your car needs to start circulating.

But, like most things, they deteriorate over time and the electrodes that are part of the system do to, making if harder for the spark to jumpstart your car.
Many drivers never remember this, but you can replace( and should) replace your spark plugs before they start acting up.

• Your car will perform better: Every time you try to start your car, and it doesn't, you're wasting precious fuel. Also, you release more carbon emissions that are bad for your health and are creating some nasty climate changes. With worn out spark plugs, your car will lose performance, and become sluggish and slow starter. If you replace those plugs from time to time, it will instantly stop misfiring.

• No more cold starts!: If you're living in an area that is very cold, you have surely faced the problem of the cold start - in the morning, the car just coughs up a bit, and refuses to start moving.

This problem has everything to do with the spark plugs, and can be avoided by a simple exchange. By changing them, the ignition system won't have to create as much voltage for the spark to make contact.

• It protects the catalytic converter: Everytime your car misfire, a bit of fuel gets into the exaust system. This makes the catalytic converter to overheat, because temperatures at which they have to operate become too high.

If this converter fails, your engine can block and choke your engine - this causes your fuel economy to go awry, and will also downsize your engines power.

• They won't contaminate the engine: When your spark plugs wear out, they leak voltage to the engine parts that are close by, creating performance problems and deteriorating the engine faster.

• It costs you less: Weather it's time or moneywise, you can be sure you'll save up some dollars by beating those spark plugs to the punch. By keeping a good maintenance of the spark plugs, you won't need to worry about your car dying on you - and you going through all the trouble of calling a toe truck, all because of a tiny spark plug.

To avoid all these dire situations, you just need to do one thing: replace those spark plugs before it happens!

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.askronthecarguy.com
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5 Things to Do to Prepare Your Car for a Summer Road Trip

 5 Things to Do to Prepare Your 

Car for a Summer Road Trip

By Ron Haugen

If your car is reaching a certain age, it's only normal for you to worry about taking it on a long trip. Yet, what most people don't know is that long trips make less damage to your car than short course trips in the city.

The speed will be constant, you won't be needing to hit the brakes so often, making the car spend less gas and the motor won't have too much strain.

But, the last thing you want is to have a breakdown away from home. To avoid this, do a few simple checkups, the earlier the better - two to four weeks before departure would be the best choice.

• Repair major problems: If your car needs some big repairs, you should make them ASAP. This will give you time to see if there's something really wrong with the car, and you'll have the time to fix it.

A good thing to keep in check, is the coolant. If you're going to a warmer or colder place than what you're used to, your car may suffer with the changes. Ask for the mechanic to check if your vehicle is properly protected, and have it done as soon as possible.

• Check tires and spares: Make sure your tires have the proper pressure. If you have a low pressure, your tires will heat up, and this can cause them to blow up if you speed up. The best way to do this is by checking your user's manual, to see what the best pressure for your car. Also, check your tires tread.

A good thing to do beforehand is to check the spare tire - is it inflated? Also, check if the jack, wrench and everything you need to change a tire is in the trunk

• Check the glove compartment: Make sure you have your vehicles owner manual and registration. If you don't have the manual anymore, order a replacement or ask if they don't have it in PDF format on their websites.

Check the registration to see if won't expire while you're on your trip, and keep it in your wallet or in your pocket, in case your car is robbed. It's also a good idea to have a road atlas in there, just in case.

• Check the air filter: If your air filter is obstructed or clogged, it will make you spend more fuel. They aren't very expensive, and they're quite easy to change. If you haven't changed the filter ever, and your car is over 10,000 miles, it's time for a change.
• Join Triple A: If you don't have a roadside assistance program, consider triple A. in case of an emergency or if you have any problems, they'll tow it, put gas in it if you run out and change the tire if it goes flat.

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 Should Consider Safety Belts for Your Pets

Why You Should Consider Safety Belts for Your Pets

By Ron Haugen

Back in the day, dogs traveled in backseats of cars with one of the backseats windows open. The family trips consisted in making regular stops to give them some water and let them stretch out their legs.

Considering their safety alone, in case of an accident, they were in danger of being flung across the car and injuring themselves greatly.

Also, if we consider that a dog never stays put for long, you can have several problems that include distractions because your pet keeps trying to escape the backseat and you lose focus on the road increasing the possibility of an accident.

A new protection method that is being proved quite efficient is a seatbelt for your pooch. This is a good alternative to letting your dog run around freely in the backseat. It reduces the possibility of you being distracted while driving - reducing the possibilities of you having an accident.
It will also keep your pet safe in case of a sudden stop.

For most people, these harness shape seatbelts don't look humane and you might fear your pet can be hurt or too much restrained. But even the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends people use dog vehicle restraints.

They won't feel at ease at first, but like everything, they'll just need some training and guidance. Start by taking them on small drives, and reward them every time you put the seatbelt on, so it gets used to the new safety device.

A few pointers when buying a seatbelt for your pet: you should always check its quality. Make sure the buckling parts are metal, and not plastic. Also, check how much strength the seatbelt can take. A small dog needs at least 450 pounds of seatbelt strength to be safe when travelling.

You should always use your dog's seatbelt every time you travel, even if you're planning on traveling short distances and even if your pet struggles at first. It's the only way your pet will get used to it, and feel more comfortable. To make it easier, install a pet seatbelt on every car your pet travels on.

Don't stop trying if your dog doesn't like the seatbelt - it will take them only three to five trips before they relax. If they're too hyper, then try a natural stress reliever made specifically for pets. The more comfortable your pet is, the less it will resist the seatbelt. Bring a cozy shirt with you that will soften any bulky plastic.

For smaller pets, use a harness and not a collar, because it can damage the small neck bones of a little dog.

To keep your pets safe, put them some safety belts on. Only travel with your pets in the backseat, in the center. Keep them away from the airbags that deploy on the side of the 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.askronthecarguy.com
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Ron the Car Guy- 3/19/2013

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One Hundred Dollar Rebate

http://www.westsideautopros.com Ron Haugen Presents Chevrolet Repair West Des Moines and Ford Repair Urbandale Tips With Today's Topic: One Hundred Dollar Rebate