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The right way to choose auto repair shops

The right way to choose auto repair shops

Automobile repair shops or auto repair shops are places where the maintenance and repair of automobiles is carried out by auto mechanics. Other than major repair of damaged auto parts, regular upkeep of the vehicles like changing the fluids, wires, tyres, etc and checking the overall health of the automobiles are done by these auto repair shops. No vehicle is there which does not need a repair while in its running lifetime. Choosing the right kind of auto repair shop for your automobile is the essential thing to do. There are many criteria which determine the choice of the auto repair shops by the owner of the automobiles. Some of the tips which may be followed while choosing an auto repair shop for your auto repair are discussed over here:

• Reputation of the shop

The reputation of an auto repair shop is one criterion which needs to be kept in mind before making the choice for your auto repair. Getting references from friends and family is also a good option. The Better Business Bureau can also give a record of the auto repair shops regarding the quality of their work and also the complaints if any.

• Checking the certification of the mechanic

Mechanics are the ones who will perform the auto repair so it is necessary to check out their certification. Mechanics with valid certification from organizations like the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or from other auto manufacturers and having the required experience are good for hiring.

• Visiting the auto repair shops

The shops where you are giving your vehicles for auto repairshould be checked for their cleanliness, the condition of the equipments and many other things. For that it is essential to visit the repair shops for yourself and then decide.

• Checking the customer benefits

Before choosing the shops for auto repairs, you must ask the shop for the types of customer benefits they provide. Many Auto Mechanic Shopsprovide benefits like rental cars onsite, car loaners, etc.

• Comparing the prices

Each auto repair shop charges different rates for the maintenance and repair work they do. It is best to make a comparison of the prices before the choice is made. Shops that charge average prices must be chosen over those whose charges are really high.

Other than these tips, auto repair shops which are compatible with your vehicle are best to be chosen. If you own a car of a brand it is best to get it maintained by the dealer of that particular brand to get the best result. It is good to create a working relationship with the local shops for doing small maintenance for your vehicles before major auto repair is needed. This causes a good relation which in turn makes it easier for repair work.

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2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket

2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket

The Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team announced an exclusive production run of special-edition 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket models featuring Stinger Yellow exterior paint and interior appointments.

Based on the 2012 Challenger SRT8 392, the Dodge Challenger SRT8 Yellow Jacket features a Stinger Yellow body color and black grille surround to match the standard black body-side stripes that highlight the newly developed Yellow Jacket logo on the rear fender. New 20 x 9-inch, five-spoke cast-aluminum wheels with black painted pockets provide a unique performance look.

Inside, the standard leather seats feature an exclusive Stinger Yellow accent band with embroidered Yellow Jacket logo and silver accent stitching. The driver’s seat also features a full adjustable lumbar position with seatback tilt, memory and an easy-to-reach release handle, while the front-passenger seat adds tilt and slide with memory, which makes it even easier for passengers to get in and out of the back seat.

“The Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket adds another piece of performance car nostalgia to our rear-drive muscle coupe lineup in 2012,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT Brand and Motorsports. “The Stinger Yellow paint and interior accents speak directly to the performance enthusiast who appreciates a memorable and collectible color that helps deliver even more excitement and exclusivity.”

The original Dodge “Yellow Jacket” show car, which evolved from the 1970 Challenger, was shown at various auto show exhibits beginning in late 1969. Painted pearlescent Honey Gold, the roadster was powered by the 426-cubic inch HEMI V-8 and carried a number of the famous Dodge “Scat Pack” performance features, such as a unique front spoiler, wider tires, heavy-duty suspension and brakes, and manual transmission, along with the Rallye instrument cluster and shaker hood.

A limited number of 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket models will be built for the U.S. market. All Dodge Challenger models are built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

The Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket will be available for ordering in December 2011 at Dodge dealerships nationwide and will be arriving in U.S. dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2012.

Watch out Ford and Chevy… the muscle car wars have begun!

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What Does It Mean if Oil in My Car Is White & Foamy?

What Does It Mean if Oil in My Car Is White & Foamy

Engines are like the human body, exhibiting all sorts of strange symptoms that may indicate a severe problem, a minor one or nothing at all. The trick to telling the difference is to look past the obvious — there’s foam in the oil — and try to determine the nature of the foam and where it happens to sit in your engine.

Short Trips and Cold Weather

Oil flows through dozens or hundreds of tight spaces inside your engine — particularly in the valvetrain — and every time it does it picks up a few air bubbles. Under normal conditions, these air bubbles would simply pop in the oil and release into the crankcase, but very cold oil tends to trap the bubbles and turn them into foam. It’s the same thing that would happen if you shook a half-empty bottle of cold maple syrup; the surface tension of the highly viscous syrup would negate the bubble’s natural tendency to rise and separate. Cold weather and making lots of short trips that don’t get the oil up to temperature will almost always cause a bit of foaming.

Condensation in the Oil

Oil and water mix about as well as oil and air, which means that water trapped in your oil will produce a similar foaming effect. Generally speaking, water of any sort in the oil will emulsify to yield a dense, white foam, and air in the oil will make for a light, yellow foam. A certain amount of water in oil is normal, a result of condensation that builds up inside the engine. A loose oil filler cap will allow more moisture to penetrate your engine; the degree to which condensation will affect a given engine depends on where the condensation happens to pool in the cylinder head.

Leaking Gaskets

Condensation isn’t the only place that water can come from, and it’s not the most likely if you happen to find foamy oil on your dipstick instead of the bottom of the oil cap. A little bit of water in the cylinder head can cause foam because there isn’t much oil there, but you’d need a lot more to emulsify the oil in your sump. If you see a thick, white foam on your dipstick, then you’ve got water from the cooling system pouring in through a leaking gasket. The intake manifold gasket and head gaskets are the most likely suspects, although the timing cover gasket may also be at fault if water must pass through it going to and from the water pump.

Other Causes

A light, yellow foam on your dipstick, particularly in cold weather, could indicate aeration in your oil pan — typically a result of overfilling the engine with oil. Spinning crankshaft counterweights work as a very efficient blender, quickly whipping air and oil into a meringue-like foam. The solution here is to drain a bit of oil out of the engine. Oil may also tend to foam a bit more if your oil or oil additives contain large amounts of detergents, which are essentially soap. While less likely than a blown gasket, a cracked engine block or cylinder head will also dump water into your cooling system; in that case, a bit of foam is probably the least of your concerns.

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A guide to buying car accessories to smarten up your leased Mercedes Benz

A guide to buying car accessories to smarten up your leased Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz is a prime choice for those looking for a car lease, so here is some tips on how to pick the most suitable car gadgets and accessories if you have just agreed to the lease on your Mercedes Benz.

1) Some of the most basic car accessories are for the interiors. You might want to add new mirrors, mobile phone or iPod holders, seat covers, floor mats or cushions. Aside from providing fun accessories for your vehicle, this could be a top way of making your leased Mercedes Benz reflect your style and also make it feel personalised. You could wish to fork out for some new office floor mats from Mercedes Benz as they can help your new lease car to stay looking new for longer. But a word of warning to try and find mats directly from the Mercedes Benz manufacturers that have been specifically made to fit the dimensions of the Mercedes Benz.

2) A new stereo for your car can make such a difference. A high-quality stereo system fitted in a new Mercedes Benz makes it seem like you have specially commissioned your car for a fit-out. Moreover, you can enjoy excellent sound quality for your favourite tunes. Great for commuters! However, before you get a new sound system you should check your speakers are compatible with your new stereo system; a mechanic with experience of Mercedes Benz’s will be able to offer you some good advice.

3) Where should you buy your car accessories? Accessories, particularly for a high value product like a car, should be bought from a reputable store and you should only purchase authentic Mercedes Benz goods. A badly designed and made product can quite simply cheapen your car and can make you lose pounds instead of saving you a bundle, as they will have to be replaced. Any respectable car shop that sells merchandise from Mercedes Benz will be able to advise you on which ones would look great in your new Mercedes Benz model.

4) Make sure you leave some room for your suitcases. Plenty of people that look into Mercedes-Benz contract hire, choose to rent a car because they are going on holiday, so a luggage storage box could be a must-have addition. This sort of storage is readily attached to the roof of the Mercedes Benz to offer a bit of extra packing space. Although you might not be able to get hold of a Mercedes Benz, it will still look better for your car to get a design that fits in with the colour and style of your car.

5) Insist on taking an emergency kit along with you in your car. This should include a warning triangle, some jacks and jump leads; it is important to make these emergency preparations as you might drive into trouble on an empty road with no hope of getting assistance or help in changing your tyre. Although this advice isn’t specific to Mercedes Benz’s, it is still helpful to bear in mind.

Once you have considered your options for smartening up your car you should just let loose and be creative with your accessory choices. Just make sure you buy top quality accessories and that they do not clash with the interiors of your Mercedes Benz.

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