Auto Electrical Repair Keep Current In The New Year!

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For many people, the New Year continues to present financial challenges and you may need to hold onto your older car another year. Don’t overlook the responsibilities as a vehicle owner that will keep you safely on the road, including auto electrical repair. Accurate diagnosis is one of the most difficult challenges to be found when working on today’s automobiles. Considering the large number of systems that use electricity in order to operate, being able to quickly diagnose problems with starters and alternators to perform the correct auto electrical repair can be a real asset.

Consider these three resolutions for the New Year:
>Resolution No. 1 — Keep up with fluid and filter changes. Checking on your vehicle’s fluids and filters are important to the longevity of your car and interior comfort. Circle a day on your calendar each month to check all of your fluids and make sure they are at the correct levels. Remember to schedule an oil change, or any other fluid change as recommended by your vehicle’s manual. Don’t hesitate to ask your professional auto mechanic for the appropriate interval for fluid and filter changes.
>Resolution No. 2 — Schedule two vehicle checkups during the year. You will need the help of a professional to perform an auto electrical service to pinpoint any problems that may be happening with your electrical system. A well-trained mechanic can spot potential problems before they happen, especially with alternators. Preventative maintenance is cheap insurance for a reliable vehicle.
>Resolution No. 3 — Take care of small problems early. Unfortunately, cars can’t fix themselves. Putting off minor maintenance or easy repair work can result in larger problems and costly repair bills overall. Don’t procrastinate; repair what’s wrong; have the appropriate services at the correct intervals, and your car will last a lot longer.

Do you have questions about starters and alternators? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Price’s Precision auto repair shop today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information about auto electrical repair. Our Tech-Net professional auto repair shop in Billings, MT, also serves vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.

Top Automotive Innovations Of 2012

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Every new model year brings new bells and whistles from the auto industry. Here are the biggest changesand the unofficial rating for how it will affect you personally, either lame, game, or undecided.

Lame. Okay, so air bags were a good idea when they came out. They added safety with virtually no effort on the part of the driver. Even passenger side air bagsstill a good idea. But knee air bags? Seriously? Carmakers are even talking about making air bags to prevent back seat passengers from hitting the front seats. What will they think of next, giant padded walls inside the car to keep you from hurting yourself?

Game. Greater smartphone integration into all aspects of the car, from streaming your mp3s stored inside the phone straight into the car stereo, to projecting the navigation system in your phone onto the car’s DVD player. Now that’s smart: taking an already existing technology and adapting the car to use it without any additional effort on the part of the owner.

Lame. Apparently, the executive boardroom tables at Ford suck all the common-sense right out of the room. That’s because in spite of well-earned criticism for the MyFordTouch touch screen layout, they’ve decided to add it to more models for 2012. Touch screens work great for some things: smart phones, iPadsbut for turning up the heat in your car, it’s easiest just to have a knob. Or a switch.

Undecided. The auto-stop feature, which turns off your engine automatically at things like stop lights, is being added to more models than ever. In theory, it is designed to be imperceptibleto turn back on as soon as you go again. In practice, if it means having to wait for your car to turn on again, it could turn lame real fastor it could mean saving a few bucks on fuel with no perceived difference if it works as advertised.

Game. Secretariat would be proud. The fastest horse ever was always underestimated because of his smaller sizeand today’s engines are smaller and more powerful than ever. GM’s Buick Regal has a 4 banger that puts out 270 horsesjust about the same horsepower as a new 289 V8 produced in a 1965 Ford Mustang when they came out.

BMW X6-Either You Love It Or Hate It

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BMW X6-Either You Love It Or Hate It

The BMW X6 is the third in BMWs X line up. The concept car was shown in 2007 in Frankfurt Motor Show and the production followed the March next year. The X6 is a coupe-SUV -based on the X5- with a sleek style and fun drive but it has limited off road ability. There are options of two diesel and three petrol engines. Diesel engines are better with X6 40d giving the best balance of performance and fuel consumption. The X6 boosts a “love it or hate it” design which is not everyones bread and butter. This might be the only car having so many different buyer opinions. From the bottom it looks just like the X5, while above the waistline, is a coupe with a shallow glass area and sleek roof making it a Sports Activity Coupe as BMW calls it. 19 inch alloys and xenon headlamps come as standard across all models.

There is no doubt that the petrol engines return an excellent performance but they prove very costly to run, the diesel engines are better in the sense that they give similar figures of performance at comparatively low running costs. The basic 30d does the 0-62mph in 7.5secs which results in easy overtaking on the road. The 40d does the same in 6.5secs and the range topping M50D gives 0-62mph in jus5.3secs. X6 has very agile drive for its size, weight and height. It handles very well on sharp turns and corners. The X6 has a incredible road grip thanks to the Dynamic Performance control technology that adjusts the torque across each axle.

The BMW X6 has not be tested for Euro NCAP rating yet but it sure can get five stars when put through the test. It comes with a decent amount of safety feature that include ten airbags, electronic stability control, Isofix child seat anchors and tyre pressure monitor. The engines that and technology that power X6 have already been tried and tested in other BMW models and no major issues reported. All of these increase the drivers confidence in driving X6. Though the BMW X6 is a bulky car, still there are only two individual seats at the back making it a strict four seater.

It boasts a decent 570 litres of boot space and underneath there is a storage space for items you dont want others to see. The rear visibility is poor but parking sensors make up for it and come as standard across the range. Going for a diesel engine surprisingly lowers the running costs, the 35i is the most efficient petrol returning 28.0mpg with 236g/km of carbon emissions. On the other hand even the biggest culprit in diesels the M50d does 36.7mpg with CO2 emissions at 204g/km. Insuring the X6 will always be expensive but BMW offers a Service Inclusive deal for just 400 that covers the vehicle for five years or 60,000 miles whichever comes first.

Maintain Your Vehicle Working Nice With Scheduled Automotive Service

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Automotive providers are part of a automotive proprietor’s life. There are quite various auto service procedures that are obtainable in varied automotive restore shops in Brandon, Florida. These automotive services might be categorised into two: automobile repair and automobile diagnostic services.

Automotive diagnostic companies is an auto service that can be a type of preventive car maintenance. Routine diagnostic procedures contain checking the completely different elements of the car to see if they’re still of their optimum condition. That is important in order that if something must get replaced, it’s changed immediately earlier than causing any major car problems.

Three of a very powerful car elements that ought to routinely endure diagnostics are transmission, brakes, and engine.

Transmission refers back to the gearbox. Nonetheless, some mechanic personnel the term to confer with the gearbox, clutch, and shafts as a group. Transmission is what provides the automotive pace and power. It has the flexibility to reduce the engine pace to slower wheel speed whereas growing energy within the process. The transmission is accountable in shifting automobile gears so any issues concerning transmission would require major automotive repair.

The engine, on the other hand, is the motor used to burning gasoline and convert the energy to mechanical motion. It’s an inside combustion engine which burns gas and use the produced hot gases for generating power. Most engine configurations are focused on increasing combustion effectivity and engine power. If one thing is improper with a automobile’s engine, the automotive is normally left to a car restore shop for quite a few days to get it fixed.

Lastly, automobile brakes are the gadgets used for stopping automobile motion. There are various kinds of car brakes, but all of them work for the same purpose. They’re one of the important safety characteristic of any vehicle. Brakes diagnostics is concerned with elevated increase of brakes in addition to brake restore and replacement.

On the subject of automotive restore, in style automotive companies embody AC restore and collision repair. Particularly for outdated autos, ac units usually are not working as easily as before. They constantly needs some parts to be replaced. Auto ac models absorbs warmth inside the automotive and expels it exterior so it’s a necessity particularly throughout summer. Auto ac items differ based on automobile fashions so it’s better if a mechanic is consulted before doing anything.

Collision restore, on the other hand, is part of auto body work and body work services. Collision repairs are performed for dented vehicles attributable to accidents or road mishaps. You can do these car repairs by yourself however they are such a meticulous process so it is much really useful for those who seek skilled help. Automotive repair services akin to these require sure abilities, techniques, and tools. There are individuals who had been skilled to specialize in such issues, so allow them to do their job. Simply just be sure you transact enterprise with a good automotive repair store that has aggressive costs in trade for prime quality work.

How to Avoid Automotive Repair Fraud

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Too many automotive centers are taking advantage of the consumer’s lack of knowledge about their vehicles when it comes time for repairs. While there are many trustworthy shops that do honorable and reliable work, there are always places that are quick to take the consumer’s money while not making the necessary repairs.

The government, the press, Better Business Bureaus and other consumer rights advocates are working hard to intervene, and while some shops are getting caught and being indicted with fraud, too many are still under the radar and getting away with it.

Here are some tips on how to become better educated about your vehicle so that when repair work is needed, you will have a better understanding of what is actually being done.

Talk to Everyone

The most important thing of course is to find a reputable place thats been in business for several years. The best way to find this kind of information is to ask your family and friends where they have their vehicles maintained. Ask your coworkers and anyone whose opinion you value. Why do they like the shop they frequent, what their fees are, and how long they have been using that particular place? This is where doing a little research will save you a ton of headaches and a lot of money.

When its time to take your vehicle to the shop, be very specific in what you are there for. For example, if you are replacing tires, let them know you are there just for tire work. If the service adviser tells you that you need additional work done, question why it’s needed. If you feel the mechanic is trying to up sell you unnecessary repair work, this should raise a red flag. You have every right to request a quote for their suggested repairs and get a second opinion.

Don’t be Shy

There are times when a service adviser may tell you that you need new brakes or that you have a leak, both of which can be relatively easily spotted when the vehicle is in the air and the wheels are off the vehicle. This is generally the time these types of potential problems are found. Ask the adviser for measurements of components that are worn, such as the brakes, and ask if you can take a look for yourself. If you feel they are not being forthcoming with the information you need in order to make a decision, or they will not allow you to view the problem, do not approve the repair. Most reputable shops have no problem with these kinds of requests.

If you need major repairs, such as engine replacement or transmission repairs, always get a second opinion from another reputable shop. If you have built up a good relationship with your existing shop, this may not be necessary. But if this is the first time you have brought your vehicle to a new shop it’s important to get that second opinion.

If it’s not practical to move your vehicle, take the time to get “ballpark” estimates by telephone. Reputable shops understand the need for their customers to get additional quotes. Its in their best interest to accommodate you in any way they can in order to get and keep your business.

Be Prepared

Be a knowledgeable consumer. Read your owners manual and be prepared for the regular wear and replacement work that will arise every few thousand miles. Keep your vehicle on its proper maintenance schedule and when larger problems arise, you are not hit unawares with a huge expense.

It costs money to own a vehicle and keep it in good repair, and it can cost more than you bargained for if you are not careful. Don’t be afraid to ask for input from others and gather as much information along the way as you can. Being prepared, you stand a much better chance of avoiding automotive repair fraud.