Archive for the ‘Car’ Category
3 Ways to Keep Your Car Looking Great
You want your vehicle to get you to your destination, whether that’s a daily trip to and from work or school or a leisurely drive around town. You maintain your car’s systems according to the owner’s manual. You are careful to get oil changes, monitor the condition of the tires, and keep the windshield wipers in proper working order. For bigger issues, you take advantage of services from 5 star auto repair Bellevue WA. To make sure your ride looks as good as it functions, try a few simple tips to keep things clean and tidy.
1. Use a Garbage Can
Pick up a small, inexpensive trash receptacle to keep on the floor of your vehicle. Instead of tossing food wrappers or tissues on the seat next to you or tucking them away in storage compartments to forget about, you can throw them away properly in a dedicated place. This will make it easy to remove them from the car quickly on a regular basis. Any lingering odors will be taken away with the garbage.
2. Make a Cleaning Schedule
Decide on a regular date each month to wipe down the interior of your car and stick to it. Not only will this keep your surfaces shining, but it will also help combat any bacteria that may be present. If you think about how many of your vehicle’s components are touched frequently by many individuals, you’ll quickly realize the value of a fast clean-up.
3. Stow a Vacuum
Keep a small dustbuster on hand in your car so you can address those messes that pop up now and again. From a child’s spilled snack to some dirt from a potted plant you’re transporting, getting rid of this debris right away will prevent it from becoming part of a larger problem. Take care of it now and you won’t need to worry about it later.
Take pride in your vehicle and get ready to plan that next trip today!
4 Signs Your Exhaust Is in Trouble
Your car’s exhaust is an amazing configuration that converts engine gases into safer emissions that are expelled from the vehicle. With so many parts to an exhaust system, problems can creep up as the years go by. Here are four signs your car’s exhaust is in trouble.
1. Unsettling Noise and Vibration
When you’ve had a car for a long time, you’re familiar with all its sounds. If you suddenly notice a strange noise when you start it up or step on the gas, you might have an exhaust problem. Trembling or vibration when stopping is also a sign.
2. Check Engine Light Is Lit
A check engine light can mean many different things, but a good amount of the time it’s related to your exhaust. If your light is staying on, have your exhaust system Burlingame CA checked out. Even if it’s not the exhaust, you need to know why it’s lit.
3. Gas Smell Inside the Car
The last place you want to smell gasoline is inside your car, but it’s usually a dead giveaway of an exhaust issue. If an exhaust pipe is leaking, fumes will seep into the car’s interior. Smoke and a burning smell from the exhaust also mean trouble.
4. Poor Fuel Efficiency
If you notice you’re not getting as far as you used to on a tank of gas, it could be your exhaust. If you have a faulty oxygen sensor, which might be why your check engine light is on, your car will burn more fuel. Have your exhaust checked before spending any more money at the gas pump.
If you notice peculiar noises, unpleasant smells or your car’s fuel efficiency is plummeting, it’s probably your exhaust. A quick call to your repair shop will get you diagnosed and back on the road in no time.
Reasons To Brush up on Your Car Cleaning Tasks
As winter turns to spring, thoughts turn to cleaning. Car owners may be especially motivated to shine up their rides, both inside and out, after a long season of bad weather. However, several factors can drive you to keep your car’s appearance spotless not just in spring but year around. Unless your vehicle is so rundown that you need to call junk car removal Forest Lake MN, consider these reasons to jump-start a consistent car-cleaning routine.
The Neighbors’ Perspective
In most cases, your neighbors are invested in keeping up the appearances of their homes and properties, both for pride and future resell. A dirty car parked out front of your house will not be an asset to the neighborhood, appearing as a blight on the street and driving down property values.
Your Appeal
Like it or not, your car’s appearance speaks volumes about your lifestyle. Do you want to be defined by a filthy, rundown sheet of metal? Whether handing your keys to a valet parking attendant at a restaurant or parking at the school for parent’s night, you will earn more respect by gliding up in a car that is smooth and gleaming rather than scratched and dusty.
Your Mental Comfort
You will enjoy both long road trips and short errands more if you are not surrounded by interior clutter. At the same time, consider how your passengers feel sitting among older papers or other pieces of trash; even floor litter is unappealing. A dusty and trashy interior is not only mentally unappealing, but it is also unhealthy.
Keeping a car going for many years is a financially sound and environmentally friendly practice. Admittedly, an older car requires an effort to keep looking clean. However, if you focusing on the positive reasons for keeping up auto appearances, you can find that pride-of-ownership motivation to get the job done.
How To Detail a Car
Car detailing can make your vehicle appear as good as new. Detailers carefully clean the interior and exterior of the vehicle, removing all dirt, debris and stains. Here’s how it’s done.
Hire a Professional
Before learning how to detail a car and buying the equipment to get the job done, look into having it cleaned professionally. It may end up being cheaper and saving you a lot of time. A service that offers mobile car detailing near me can even come to you and clean the vehicle at your home.
Interior
The inside of your car is subject to a lot of wear and tear. Between spilled food and drinks, dust, dirt and more, it can get very dirty over time. To detail your car, you will want to vacuum the interior, including seats and floormats, at least twice. If necessary, you can also deep clean the carpet. Next, you should clean the seats. Make sure to read the labels on cleaners to make sure they are safe for the type of seats you have. You should also clean the inside of the windows with glass cleaner. Lastly, wipe down and sanitize the dashboard, steering wheel, doors and other surfaces in the car.
Exterior
The exterior of your car is constantly being exposed to dirt, rain, snow, salt and more. You should wash and rinse the car by hand, making sure to get all of the small crevices that an automatic carwash can’t reach. Next, you should polish the vehicle to make the paint shine. At this time, you can also apply tire shine to make your tires look brand new. Lastly, put a coat of wax on the car to protect it.
Detailing your car regularly will keep it looking brand new, and it can lengthen the lifespan of your vehicle.
How To Keep Your Car Running
The importance of owning an automobile is well known, but it can’t be overstated. However, even owning a car isn’t enough to secure your ability to get around, because automobiles are complex machines, the parts of which will experience wear and tear with use until repairs are eventually needed. Here’s what you need to know in order to keep your car in tip top shape.
Cheap Alternatives
Cars are expensive, so much so that the average person has to finance their car in order to make the astronomical cost more affordable. However, there are other options worth consideration. For example, you can get low cost vehicles and parts from junk yards in MD to make the car itself or replacement parts much more cost effective. Keeping an eye out for ways to save can reduce the costs of owning a car immensely.
Basic Maintenance
Another important part of keeping your car running also happens to be something that will save you money. While your car is constantly working toward various mechanical failures, not all of these problems will require professional intervention, and learning the skills to do basic maintenance on your own can save you a small fortune while ensuring that you always have a set of wheels at your disposal.
Defensive Driving
While taking care of your car will serve you well, some problems can be the results of forces beyond your control. This is where defensive driving comes in, because adjusting your own behavior behind the wheel can help to mitigate the risks of damage to your car as a result of the negligence of other drivers. Keeping your eyes peeled for drivers behaving strangely can tip you off to potential dangers, allowing you to respond accordingly. For example, many drivers don’t make proper use of their turn signals, so knowing to expect the possibility of other cars braking or turning without warning can help you immensely.