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

Video streaming by Ustream

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

Why It Is Important to Rotate Your Tires?

Why It Is Important to Rotate Your Tires?

By Ron Haugen

Rotating your vehicle's tires is a key component to proper vehicle operation. Improper wear on your tires can decrease fuel economy, cause your vehicle's suspension to wear down, and impair vehicle responsiveness in dangerous driving conditions. Let's touch on each of those topics to learn more about the importance of rotating your tires regularly, and properly.

Most vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend rotating your tires every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. There are many factors that can cause uneven wear and tear on your tires. Many of them have nothing to do with the quality of the actual tire purchased. For example, if your vehicle is front-wheel drive, this will cause your front tires to do the bulk of the work. Regularly rotating the front and back tires will even out the wear and tear on each tire. If you fail to rotate your tires regularly, you will begin to see degradation in the vehicle's overall fuel performance at the pump; effectively flushing money down the drain just by failing to perform regular maintenance and care.

Additionally, your vehicle's suspension and type of alignment will play heavily into how your tires wear in normal, everyday driving conditions. Certain suspension types result in varying tugs and pulls on your tires as you brake and accelerate. Routine tire rotation will even out the effects of your vehicle's suspension on the tires. As an added benefit, regular tire rotation will make driving your car more pleasurable. You will find that with routine rotations, you don't have to fight the steering wheel as much to drive. The car is more responsive and seems to handle better. You've heard the phrase "it corners like it's on rails." Well, let's not try that - but the gist here is that your car seems to respond to your every whim and command effortlessly. Now that's performance!

Speaking of responsiveness and performance, in dangerous driving conditions such as high winds, flash floods, snow storms, or just roads that are beat up with potholes, regular tire rotation is critical to your vehicle's performance. Even the slightest delay in response to turning suddenly or braking quickly can be the difference between a life and death situation. You are commanding a thousand pound machine to keep you and your loved ones safe. It is important to treat it with the respect it deserves. The research behind slower response times on worn tires is massive. It's not a risk worth taking.

Regular tire rotation will extend the overall life of your tires - therefore saving you money in the long run. As we've reviewed the reasons for making this the one maintenance checklist item you never skip can mean many happy years of driving your car safely and pleasurably.

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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Top 5 Reasons to Select an ASE Certified Mechanic to Repair Your Car

 Top 5 Reasons to Select an ASE 

Certified Mechanic to Repair Your Car

By Ron Haugen

It's time. Your car needs a repair and you didn't plan for it ahead - tsk, tsk. Now you need to find a good, dependable, quality mechanic, stat! Where do you go? How do you choose? There are many ways to evaluate mechanics and compare one against another, but one key way is to select an ASE Certified Mechanic. You've probably heard the phrase "ASE Certified" in relation to vehicles before, but what does it mean and why is it good? It refers to the National Institute for Automobile Service Excellence. The certification has been in existence since 1972 and here's all you need to know about why you should only select an ASE Certified Mechanic to repair your car.

1) ASE Certified mechanics have to pass a specialized exam. There are eight different specialties available for a mechanic to choose to be certified in. The specialization could be in specific areas such as: engine repair, automotive trans/transaxle, manual drive train and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical / electronic systems, heating and air conditioning, or engine performance. Now, just passing an exam doesn't necessarily make a mechanic qualified to work on your car; however, it does show that they have been educated in the specifics of how to diagnose and repair the components contained within their chosen specialty.

2) To be ASE Certified, you can't just pass the exam. One is also required to have at least two years of 'relevant' work experience. Now we're talking! So they have to pass a test and then work in the field for at least two years before they are eligible to be certified by the ASE.

3) The ASE also has higher levels of education, seriously, for mechanics. That's something to be impressed with in any profession. The ability to, and the subsequent decision to pursue continuing education to become a Certified Master Mechanic shows me that this mechanic both loves his craft and appreciates that it's an ever-changing field with these fast-paced technology advancements in the auto-making industry. An Master Mechanic has passed all eight specialty exams!

4) Ethics. In addition to the training and work-requirements, an ASE Certified Mechanic is held accountable to a commitment he or she has made to only engage in ethical business practices. Finally! A mechanic we can trust!

5) ASE Certified Mechanics are sought after by the most reputable dealerships and garages; why wouldn't you demand the same level of professionalism and training that others in the industry require?

Seriously though, most mechanics are good honest citizens just trying to make a living doing something they enjoy or have always been good at. But we've all heard the horror stories of shiesters and crooks in the auto mechanic industry, and quite frankly it's made us gun-shy. Asking for a mechanics certifications and only choosing ASE Certified Mechanics do perform your auto repairs will save you a tremendous amount of worry and headaches down the road. It's nice to just not have to worry about whether it's being done right and whether you're being treated fair. An ASE Certified Mechanic takes the stress out of car repairs.

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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Top 5 Benefits of a Hybrid Vehicle

Top 5 Benefits of a Hybrid Vehicle

By Ron Haugen

It seems hybrid cars are wildly gaining popularity. During your next car search do you ever wonder: Would you be happy in a hybrid vehicle? Are they cool? Do they really help the environment as much as everyone says? There are many considerations when purchasing a new car, and here are the top 5 benefits of seriously adding a hybrid vehicle to your list of top choices.

1) Fuel Economy

There is absolutely no debate that hybrid cars are more fuel efficient than their all gas counterparts. Typical hybrid gas mileage ranges from 40-50 miles per gallon. Considering that there are still all gas vehicles on your dealer's new car lot only getting 15-20 miles per gallon, fuel economy is a blessing to your hectic schedule and routine. Stopping at the dreaded gas pump less often = freedom!

2) Savings on at the pump

With the fuel economy mentioned above, one might still wonder if a hybrid vehicle, which still requires some gasoline, would a hybrid vehicle in your garage really amount to much savings at all on your monthly fuel bill. Since a hybrid vehicle only uses gas when driving over 40 miles per hour or when your battery needs charging, you could save a tremendous amount of dough on your gas bill each month. The key factor that would decide overall savings is how much stop and go city driving you do versus how much highway driving. The electric battery powers the vehicle at stops and during traditional stop and go city driving; thereby, saving you gallons of gas until you get on the highway.

3) Environmental benefits

What? You didn't realize that a hybrid is good for the environment? Seriously though, you obviously were already aware of the plethora of research and statistics that support electric car vehicles (and their hybrid cousins) as producing an astounding lesser amount of harmful fuel emissions. This is a key factor in global warming. Yes, a hybrid car is a wonderful alternative for your green initiatives.

4) Flexibility

Hybrid vehicles, unlike their all electric counterparts, don't have to be charged. As it turns out, the battery gets charged when you drive through two nifty pieces of technology. The brakes use a cool technology method of charging your battery during braking, stopping at a red light, idling, etc. We'll expand on this below. However, an additional way that your battery gets charged while you drive is that when your vehicle switches over to the gas engine, it also charges the battery. So driving on the highway all the way home from a long day at work is actually recharging your battery, too!

5) Tax Savings

Only two things are sure in life: death and taxes. But purchasing a hybrid vehicle can save you money on your tax bill to Uncle Sam. There are federal tax credits, as well as state and local tax credits as well, for taxpayers who purchase a hybrid vehicle.

These are just a few of the many benefits of considering buying a hybrid vehicle the next time you go car shopping.

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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