Any suggestions for a automotive school?
By: Isaac C
Which of the two is a better technical school for High performance Automotive Technology?
One is UTI (www.uti.edu) and the other is Wyotech (www.wyotech.edu).
Please suggest if there is another option out there?
Thanking you
By: Blueice
How often should I wash my car during the winter?
Now that it’s freezing and I’ve got salt all over my car, how often should I wash my car?
By: platniuminthey2g1
All About Automotive Detailing
Automotive detailing can be one of the most important jobs at vehicle dealerships or detailing shops. Whether a detailer is preparing the vehicle for a sales display or getting it ready for its new owner, it’s sometimes that first impression of the vehicle that makes automotive detailing so significant.
Good automotive detailers will know the areas on vehicles that a bad detailer can miss. Areas such as door jams, window seals, and engine cleaning are signs that you got a good detail job. Trade-in vehicles that need to be detailed are perhaps the most important as a good detail can affect its retail value. No one wants to buy a used vehicle, no matter what the performance quality, if it hasn’t been detailed properly.
Soiled upholstery and carpet stains can also prevent resale value but using the right products can show a drastic improvement if done correctly. Tobacco or smoking in a vehicle are no longer challenges for the good automotive detailer. Various manufacturers are now producing machines such as Ionizers that when placed in a vehicle for a small period of time can take out the effects of smoking smells.
Automotive detailing products are important. Products or mitts that can scratch, wear out the paint, or dull chrome should not be used and a good automotive detailer will know which products to avoid.
Automotive detailing product salespeople who promote their products and claim they are the best visit many dealerships. Beyond what products auto detailers are using, a customer should look at the detail shop or detail area. Is it clean? Are the products organized, or are the detailers running back and forth, sharing products, or worse, leaving the detail area looking for their equipment? Check them out for cleanliness and accessibility of the automotive detailing items they use-are they nearby?
A good automotive detailer will use tools such as small brushes with soft bristles for vent cleaning. Detailing tools that have small rubber tips are good for cleaning dirt out of seams and trim. Wheel and tire brushes are also a must. Some products such as mitts and brushes are now being offered by the manufacturers with color-coding. This color-coding helps the detailer identify which is the best tool for the process in a quick and easy manner. Bottles of cleaners should also be color-coded for automotive detailing use. Grabbing the wrong solution can be detrimental to the detailer if he is in a hurry. The color-coding process has eliminated the mistakes sometimes made in the automotive detailing business.
Some automotive detailing shops even offer services that will check your wiper blades and other viewable parts that can easily be replaced by a detailer at a lower cost than a mechanic or technician.
A big job for the automotive detailer is new vehicle preparation. If a dealer sells new vehicles, as they are shipped in, they are inevitably full of dust, debris and, road wear from the shipping process. Not only is the automotive detailer responsible for cleaning the new vehicle, most car dealerships will provide them with a checklist of other items to check for operation. The checklist can include items such as setting the clock and radio, testing the key fobs to see if they are working correctly, removing the new vehicle plastic and stickers, and, taking the vehicle on a small test drive to check wipers, air-conditioning and, other essential elements.
Probably the last thing a good automotive detailer can offer is the trip to the gas pump to fill your vehicle up with a full tank. If your detailing company or dealership offers this, it may save you dollars. Many dealerships receive gasoline discounts and are happy to pass them along to the customer to keep them coming back, so check that out when you visit your automotive detailer or dealership.
Automotive detailing takes a lot if care. People who work in this area should be the kind of people who love the detailing process and the outcomes they achieve. They are people who have high levels of energy and communication skills to ensure the customer is getting what they want. If chosen right, the good automotive detailer can make all the difference in that new, used, or customer vehicle. Good automotive detailers will keep customers coming back to any shop and are sometimes overlooked for the talents they possess.
By: Marcus Lim
What can be the cause for my car to overheat?
By: michelle16
How does the Alamo car rental company work?
By: Mandy H
Automotive Insurance Fraud – Staged Accidents
Automotive insurance fraud is quickly becoming one of the biggest criminal problems in our country. A down economy significantly contributes to amount of people willing to risk a criminal conviction or and injury for the chance at an insurance payout. Many automotive insurance scammers use tactics like vehicle arson to file a claim for a totaled vehicle. Others, however, risk their lives and the lives of other motorists by staging car accidents.
The insurance fraud criminals can work in groups to stage multifaceted and dangerous vehicle crashes. The more complex the accident seems, the less likely it will seem staged to claims adjusters or the police. Here are a few tactics these criminals use to defraud insurance agencies and put innocent people in harm’s way:
The Side Swipe
This type of accident is most prevalent at a bustling intersection with two left turning lanes. The unsuspecting victim will drift into the outer-most left turning lane where the other participant’s vehicle is already positioned. The criminal will side swipe the victim, causing damage and a serious hazard to innocent motorists. At a busy intersection, this collision may look like an accident, but the police and insurance agencies have come to recognize the telltale signs of a staged side swipe.
The Swoop and Squat
This type of fraudulent accident involves three cars, one of them being an unsuspecting victim. One criminal driver, or the “squat” car, will drive in front of the victim. The other criminal in the “swoop” car, will come up from behind, pass both cars then abruptly cut off the squat car. The criminal in the squat car will slam on his brakes, usually causing the victim to slam into the back of the squat car. The swoop car drives off, leaving the squat car and the victim to tell the police that the car that drove off caused the accident. The driver of the squat car may fake an injury to collect injury insurance money as well. The victim will then be responsible for the damage and any personal injury claims.
The Brake Check
Otherwise known as the panic stop, the brake check involves a car load of criminals driving in front of a victim. One of the passengers in the back seat will look out the rear window for any signs of distraction on the part of the victim driver. When the victim looks away to change the radio station or answer a cell phone, the driver of the criminal vehicle will slam on his brakes, causing the victim to crash into the back of him. Because it is a rear-end accident, the victim is usually the one who will have to pay for damages, including the faked injuries of all the criminals in the car.
You can avoid becoming a victim of insurance fraud criminals by maintaining a safe distance between you and other motorists. Accidents like these, even staged ones, are the result of traveling too closely to other vehicles. If you drive safely, you can be sure you won’t be the victim of these dangerous and fraudulent tactics.
By: Budda Oliver
What is the best automotive interior product to put on MARINE VINYL for waterproofing?
By: manchild1957
looking for an inexpesive welder for minor automotive repair. Not sure what to get?
By: Andre B
Rule of Thumb Automobile Service Schedule
Your owner’s manual will give the information when all maintenance tasks should be done. Most tasks will be listed according to the mileage and the type of driving you do. These services should be followed to give your vehicle maximum dependability. Basically the following list is the average service schedule for most automobiles.
3000 Mile Maintenance
Change the engine oil and filter every 3 to 4 thousand miles. When doing this also check the fluids, the air filter, tire pressures, hoses and belts. At this time check the battery cables and terminals for corrosion.
5000-10,000 Miles:
Have your tires rotated and balanced every five to ten thousand miles. This helps the tires wear evenly and extends the life. The best tires should be put in the front of the car. Check the tire pressure regularly and check the tread for signs of uneven wear or damage.
15,000 Miles:
Change the air filter every 15,000 miles. A clean air filter improves the fuel economy of your car. At this time you should also check the brake pads and shoes. Check all fluid levels. Change the wiper blades. Check for any fluid leaks under the vehicle. Check the axel boots, struts, and shock absorbers.
30,000 Miles:
Change the oil and filter. Do an engine flush if your repair shop has this equipment. Change the transmission fluid and filter if applicable. Change the engine coolant. Rotate and balance the tires. Check the brake pads and shoes. At this mileage most automobiles will need front brake service. Change the wiper blades. Also at this time, give the car a tune up. Replace all spark plugs (non-platinum) and wires. Check the axel boots, struts, shocks and suspension. Replace the fuel filter if external.
45,000 Miles:
Same as 15,000 mile service
60,000 Miles:
Basically the same as the 30,000 mile service with the exception of doing the timing belt if your engine is so equipped. The timing belt replacement is somewhat expensive but not doing it can turn into the possibility of ruining the entire engine causing a major expense and inconvenience.
By: Guenter Hohmann
