Wednesday, December 31, 2008

How Does an Auto Salvage Yard Work?

The auto salvage yard is a very interesting place. It sort of resembles a graveyard for automobiles because they are in pieces and don't look too good. However, there are some viable parts on these old broken down vehicles that can work perfectly on a functional vehicle. The salvage yard is literally the "gold mine of auto parts.There are also some cars that are so old the parts cannot be found just anywhere. That is another instance in which the part may need to be ordered from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, that can be extremely expensive.

If you find that you are in need of a hard to find part, it pays to check out the auto salvage yard. Many individuals will search several junk yards before they find the part they need, but it beats having to order a part that is no longer made. The price difference is considerable and the ease of acquiring the part is significant.

The best way to find the part you need is to call the junk yard first. Ask them if they have the part and give them an opportunity to look. If they do have it, they will tell you. They assess vehicles when they receive them to see what parts are in good shape and which ones are not.
For parts that are large, some auto salvage yards will haul them for you. This is something to ask when you make the phone call. Some people will buy the entire vehicle in order to scrap it themselves. If no one else can do any better or they don't have the part, you can always call them back and tell them you will be there to make the purchase.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Yet, there is hope for your damaged vehicles!!!!!!!

There are many vehicles on the road with auto body damage driving on the roads right now. The vehicles not only look bad but are a safety concern for themselves and other drivers on the road. Many times the auto body damages are not taken care of because people just don't know what can be repaired. Also they think it will take too much time from their schedule to get it repaired and too much money out of their wallets. If you are like one of the people mentioned above who needs auto body repair but hasn't gotten it yet, there is hope for your damaged vehicle!

There are so many repairs that can be completed at auto reconditioning shops. Some of those repairs include paint touch up, paintless dent removal, wheel rim repair, windshield repair, bumper repair, auto body repair, interior repair and more. The auto body specialists who work at the shops are trained on the latest skills and procedures to repair your vehicles auto body. Also many of the repairs can be completed in just two to six hours which is much less than many people think. The repairs come out looking great. It is usually difficult to tell that any auto body work has even been completed. Also auto body repairs are just as safe as getting replacement auto body parts installed. Another reason people don't take their vehicles in for auto body repair is that they think it will cost too much money. But you should know that many auto body shops will work with your insurance provider, sometimes even handling the whole process for you to help take care of some of the expense. Even more surprising is that most people do not even use their insurance to pay for repairs since they find them so affordable!

There are a few reasons you will want to get your vehicles auto body repaired. First will help maintain a high resale or trade in value should you ever need to do so. Also it will look better, which will make you feel better too!

So, there is hope for your vehicle and you wallet! You just need to find an auto body shop that produces a high quality of work at a fair price. To start you need to find auto body shops that have good reputations, if they are known for completing bad work you would not want to bring your vehicle to that shop. You should also ask those who have good reputations if you can see some samples of work they have completed, that way you can be sure that you accept their level of quality. Make sure that you get an estimate from each of the places you visit and are considering. Don't worry; these are usually free of charge!

So, find an auto reconditioning shop to get your vehicles auto body repaired today! It will save you time and money while getting your vehicle to look its best! With something so easy there is no reason to wait!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

3 Key Ingredients to a Successful Business

1. Conversion:
Once you have gathered qualified leads, you need to convert them into sales! It takes time to learn how to gather leads but if you cannot convert them into sales, than you need to learn how to properly close a prospect. You can never build a successful business if you cannot close your prospects. This is a very important part of the industry and one that a lot of people just cannot seem to conquer. With the proper education, you can learn how to communicate with your prospects and help them end up closing themselves.

2. Continuity:
Once you have mastered the first two key ingredients, you need to be able to have your prospect purchase from you over and over again. Continuity is crucial for any business. Building a successful business consists of several stages with the final stage having your prospect purchase from you on a monthly basis. Perhaps you have them on auto-ship with a certain product or you have a membership site where they are receiving information and training or perhaps you have a subscription site where they are getting your newsletter. Continuity is very important in this industry and a key ingredient that most people miss.

3. Lead generation:
Lead generation is one of the most important parts to building a successful business. Everyone needs leads, and just not any leads. You want to be able to gather qualified leads every single day from your targeted market. To do this you need to apply various types of marketing methods every single day that will attract your targeted prospects.

All 3 of these ingredients are important in order to build any successful business. No one starts off knowing everything and having success right from the beginning. Building a successful business takes time, dedication and experience.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Accord air intakes

You depend on the manufacturer of a car to supply you one from one of its outlets. The manufacturer, in turn, relies on you to buy the manufacturer's product. There is, however, a difference in the point of view of the two. A manufacturer has to cater to the requirements of a number of varied customers. He therefore aims to design a model which meets most of the requirements but not all.

The manufacturer cannot design a car which can meet the requirements of all, as it would make the process unwieldy and costly. The customer may, however, have his own specific requirements. Therefore the customer needs to go in for customization. Here one can consider air intakes.

Accord air intakes allow cool air to come in and mix with the fuel. It raises the fuel efficiency of the engine. It means that for the same quantity of fuel you can go a longer distance in your car.

The air intakes not only improve the fuel efficiency but also give more power for the same quantity of fuel. Both of these result in giving you a great return on the amount spent on fuel.

A question arises as to why some people do not prefer air intakes when these are so economical. Use of air intakes increases the noise level of a car. Some people treat a very low noise level in a car as a plus point. Others are prepared to ignore the increase in the noise level if they make the car performance better. Some may even consider it to be a nice robust sound.

Air intakes are made of plastic or metal, but in either case their function remains the same. You can find out more about Accord air intakes here.

It is also important from where you buy an Accord air intake. A reputed, well known manufacturer should be preferred. You will find one at Ilovebodykits.com.

One who installs the Accord air intake in your car has to be carefully selected. He should be a thorough professional, well versed in his job.

Accord Air intakes do not need a lot of maintenance but the manufacturer's instructions in this regard have to be followed.

Addition of an Accord air intake will give your car your distinctive individual touch.

Friday, December 26, 2008

What is auto insurance?

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.
* Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.

* Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage. * Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

How is your auto insurance policy price determined?

The average auto insurance policy price is derived from a variety of factors.

Many of these variables are common knowledge and make sense for the most part.

it's always a good idea to refresh yourself with what insurance companies are looking for when determining how much your coverage will cost.

*Liability: coverage is the primary - and usually mandatory - part of the auto insurance equation. Liability means what the word implies: it saves your bank balance when you're liable for destroying someone else's car or body parts.

*Driving Record *Coverage Amount *Age *Vehicle Model and Driving Mileage *Your Residence

What auto insurance coverage?

What types of auto insurance coverage to choose from?

*Your Age Generally younger drivers are considered to be high risk and so the insurance rates are higher. *The make of your car Most insurance companies tabulate auto insurance rates based on the make of the vehicle. Compact cars and sedans have lower rates while sports models, exotic cars, and SUVs are assigned high rates of premium. *Gender is a factor too Females get lower rates of auto insurance while males pay higher auto insurance premiums. *Financial stability Auto owners with great credit scores and credit reports generally pay lower premiums than those with bad credit scores and reports. *Driving records have a say in premiums payable If a driver has a clean driving record for three consecutive years then auto insurance providers will happily extend policies with lower premiums. *How many insurance policies you hold If you approach for auto insurance the same insurance company that has you covered for life, health, hone and so on then you would automatically be eligible for great discounts on premiums payable for an auto insurance policy. *The distance traveled per year If you restrict the number of miles traveled then you will be able to get auto insurance at lower rates. To do this you need to walk, use public transport, and car pool. *Whether or not you are eco-friendly If you care for the environment and drive a non polluting vehicle then the auto insurance premiums will be lower.

* Accidental damage, fire and theft risks. * Protection against windscreen breakage and for fitted accessories such as audio equipment. * Additional protection against riot, civil commotion, hijacking and armed robbery. * Hurricanes, earthquakes and flooding. * Payment of the purchase price for a seriously damaged or stolen car that is less than 12 months old (on Non-commercial Policies only). * Immediate cover anywhere in the world (except the USA and Canada). * Multiple vehicle and fleet discounts.


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Automatic Car Starters

automatic car starters are really useful for a vehicle as it allows the car to warm up before you take the driving seat. Think of a typical bad weather situation. It is freezing outside and you simply abhor the idea of getting inside a cold car from the warmth of the fireplace.

You can simply start the engine and give some time as the heater inside the car makes it warm for you. The vehicle will be activated as soon as the remote is used to send transmission to the main control unit installed inside the vehicle.

class="MsoNormal">The total installation procedure for the remote car starters will usually take 2 hours to 5 hours. However the installation largely depends on the vehicle. The experts from Xtreme Vehicle Designs will guide you amply about the use of the unit after the installation process is completed successfully

You can start your car if you are alone or in some shady neighborhoods. All the remote car starter packs include the vehicle security instruments. The price largely depends on what you choose. If it is a 2-way remote then it will have a LCD display unit which will tell you if your car is safe or not.
. Apart from the normal car starters, there are units which comprise the alarm. If you want to know about the different types, you can simply browse through the site. You will get to know about the various models and brands like Avital, Viper and Clifford. Avital 4113L is one of the most popular units.

If you want to know about a good place where you will find automatic car starters you can contact Xtreme Vehicle Designs.
It is located in Central Indiana and is one of the popular retailers of car starters. It has been in business for long 13 years and has earned a good name for itself. There are experts who will help to install the remote car starters for the vehicles. This retailer is also known as the store-house for a number of reputed brands which are manufactured by Directed Electronics. The units which are available with Xtreme Vehicle Design have settings for different run time.

If it is cold outside the temperature has dropped down below freezing point, you can warm your car with the help of automatic car starters. You can also make your car cool and nice by turning on the engine and the A/C switch. Another good thing about the remote car starters is that they are safer than the normal ignitions.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Servicing petrol engine automotives

You have picked out your new car, the financing is in order, and you are ready to drive it home. You may think that the hard work is over, but it is not. Now that you are the proud owner of an automobile, there are some things you are going to have to do or have done on a regular basis. This is called vehicle maintenance and it must be done routinely to keep your car in good running order. Some car owners prefer to do a majority of this themselves, however as technology increases so does the difficulty of doing this.

The most common maintenance issues are listed below. Oil Change The most overlooked part of vehicle maintenance is the one most essential to longevity. An oil change should be performed on your vehicle every three thousand miles. You may have heard that industry standards have changed and that manufacturers of auto parts, car parts are increasing the mileage between oil changes. This is true and it is not, you see the key words in the advertising are "under normal driving conditions". Some carmakers are advertising that you can go as many as 10,000 miles without an oil change. This only applies if your driving habits do not fall into the severe category.

Severe 1) Repeated short distance driving 2) Long idling periods 3) Dusty, muddy, rough, hilly, sandy, and salty areas are severe driving 4) Extreme temperatures cold/hot and humid As you can see, almost all the driving conditions of most of the country are listed as severe. Therefore, every three thousand miles is still smart. Be sure that you check the manufacturers recommended oil against that of your service provider. Many warranties could be invalid with the use of substandard oil. Tune Up A tune up should be preformed about every 30,000 miles.

This will keep your vehicle of auto parts in top running order and could prevent breakdowns. Tune-ups cover: • Spark Plugs • Air filter • Fuel filter • Adjustment of carburetor on older vehicles • Clean/ replace fuel injectors • Check compression • Check distributor cap and plug wires • All major fluids, brake, power steering, oil, transmission fluid and coolant or anti-freeze • Belts and hoses should be checked for wear • Computer codes run for issues • Safety items such as lights, wipers, and tires (air pressure and tread depth) These are the most common areas that should be checked when you have a tune up. Different service locations may offer different packages when it comes to this, for instance they may do a fluid check only.

This is acceptable as long as you are aware that the other items will still need to be looked into. A good routine of vehicle maintenance is essential to the longevity of your vehicle. The better you are at taking care of your car the less likely it is that it will break down or suffer major mechanical failure. When choosing a mechanic to perform this work, ask around about their reputation. The best mechanics in town will have great feedback and will likely be extremely busy. It is also important that they be familiar with the make and model of auto parts you own. A mechanic can be fantastic with Fords and not so much with Volkswagens. Do your homework and select someone with the right combination of references and experience.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Car Parts, has been unexpectedly closed by the new owners

Euro Car Parts Sheffield-based LSUK last week from holding company Pinco 1555 Ltd, claiming that 680 jobs would be saved in the process.

But LSUK staff tuned up to work on Monday to find gates locked and notes informing them that they were unemployed.

In a statement ECP said: “Unfortunately, it became clear, very quickly, that it was simply going to be impossible to continue with investment without the required support, which was not forthcoming.

"After a considerable amount of non-stop work and investment into LSUK over the past five days, the ECP directors realised that they had no option but to place LSUK into administration with immediate effect."

Staff have indicated that Euro Car Parts changed locks to offices and cancelled meeting with representatives.

Euro Car Parts has indicated that administrators Tenon will keep employees informed of further information.

• Have you been affected by the closure of LSUK? Tell us your thoughts on this story below.

Have dealt with lsuk and lucas over the years and always found them very professional in solving problems not the cheapest but the best one asks the question how was the takeover sanctioned if the finance was not in place to sustain the buissness this apears to be a substantial loss to the UK aftermarket support network the new owners ECP would be foolish to assume the trade will return to them as suppliers

Compared with most LSUK employees I only worked with the company a short while. I worked with a fine bunch of people and indeed a fine business, I enjoyed every minute of it and very proud, afterall it was part of Lucas! I can´t help to notice that most people are slating ECP for what they did to us, yes it was appaling but in my opinion are management was that great either. If they managed us in such away we could have evolved into a national leader, a winner. It was clear from a branch perspective what needed to be done! but hey although I feel very sad to have been made redundant it´s happened now. I hope everybody can get new jobs but as alot of you will agree it´s quite hard with all this doom and gloom around us!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Keeping Driveline Modifications Viable

Between the price of gasoline and diesel fuel and the environmentalists who expect all internal combustion engines to emit nothing other than flowers and perfume from the exhaust pipe, engine modifications have taken a hit. Fewer automobile enthusiasts seem to be making major, hard-core upgrades to their gasoline and diesel engines. That's really too bad because most engine modifications that increase horsepower usually also increase the efficiency of the engine, and therefore, once the novelty of the added performance has worn off and the driver settles back into a normal driving mode, the fuel economy delivered by the modified engine increases.

Most new vehicles, with the exception of some performance vehicles, are sold with automatic transmissions and/or automatic transaxles. For decades, there used to be a fuel economy penalty for having an automatic transmission. Typically, there was an EPA rating of 3 to 4 fewer miles per gallon with an automatic transmission. Today, that isn't always so. GM's old PowerGlide transmissions and Ford's Ford-O-Matics had just two speeds forward. The combination of lots of torque and a torque converter meant that two speeds were enough, but there was a significant fuel economy penalty. But modern vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions usually have four or five speeds forward, and some sophisticated new automatic transmissions, such as those found in the new BMW and Lexus sedans, have seven or even eight speeds forward.


Today, big diesel engines in full-size pickup car parts have huge 13-inch wet disc lock up clutches (they are located inside the torque converter itself) and some vehicles have smaller, multi-disc wet clutch setups.

According to Bob Ritzman, director of motorsports and customer service at B&M Racing and Performance Products, "Sales of torque converters are down somewhat. One reason for this is that the manufacturers are matching the torque converters directly to the cars." It used to be that automatic transmission choices were limited and that meant the choice of torque converters was limited too. Since there were only TH350 and TH400 from GM, C-4 and C-6 from Ford and the TorqueFlite A727 from Chrysler during the muscle car era, it was easy for a manufacturer to build and for retailers to stock high-performance torque converters.

"Recalibrating the automatic transmission computer has in some cases replaced the old valve body kit modifications. You can achieve pretty much the same result without getting your hands dirty. You can use a black box to talk to the transmission computer to recalibrate the shift characteristics of the automatic transmission. B&M still manufactures valve body kits and we are currently developing a new synthetic automatic transmission fluid that will meet the auto manufacturer's specifications."

"Modern automatic transmissions have more gears and they also have lock up torque converters that make them more efficient than ever," Ritzman continues. "It's not uncommon now to have many gears and to have EPA fuel economy estimates equal or sometimes even better for the automatic transmission vehicles.

"Recalibrating the automatic transmission computer has in some cases replaced the old valve body kit modifications. You can achieve pretty much the same result without getting your hands dirty. You can use a black box to talk to the transmission computer to recalibrate the shift characteristics of the automatic transmission. B&M still manufactures valve body kits and we are currently developing a new synthetic automatic transmission fluid that will meet the auto manufacturer's specifications."