Help with Auto Repairs Is a Cell Phone Call Away

Mobile phones have become a lifeline for North American motorists. According to the Cellular Telephone Industry Association, more than 73 million calls are placed to 911 hotlines from cell phones every year. AAA handles an additional 14 million calls for emergency roadside assistance from cell callers. "Your cell phone can be perceived as a companion or a status symbol, but when you really need it, it can be your most important personal safety device," said John Nielsen, director of AAA's Approved Auto Repair Network. "Like a best friend, a cell phone can be comforting to those driving alone; they feel safer just knowing help is within reach." Now with assistance from AAA, this help can include referrals to trustworthy auto maintenance and repair businesses throughout the United States...

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Helmets – Why Do You Need It When Riding?

Helmet is a French derivative of the word ‘helm’ from 15th century. Although helmets are available in countless designs for different utilities, they all serve just one purpose, which is head protection. The earlier helmets used to be manufactured in leather till the 10th century AD when metals with inner cloth lining for cushioning and comfort of wearing on the head became the norm. Helmet wearing is mandatory in northern America, barring a few states, for all bikers, whereas Sikhs are demanding a waiver from this mandate. Functional Utility and Symbolism Till the early 20th century, helmets were basically the protective head gears of soldiers and used to be a part of combat uniform. With industrialization, helmets reinvented themselves and undergone a lot of changes, both in terms of strengths...

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Helicopter For Sale

There are many reasons to purchase a helicopter for sale. Helicopters, often more affordable than their cousin, the air plane, afford both fun and function. Helicopters for fun and for business provide advantages over terrestrial vehicles, and can earn their keep in money saved. There are many business uses for helicopters for sale, and just as many leisure activities to pursue with a helicopter. Helicopters can increase the efficiency of sales for companies with wide geographic sales territories. Helicopters are easier to maintain than a company jet, and much less expensive. Helicopters get from place to place much quicker than a car could, and can carry greater amounts of products. For the fledgling company, a helicopter can add states to their sales territory without increasing the number...

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Heater Problems, Eh?

Well, we’ve all encountered some sort of problem with our car’s heater, and for some reason it always happens when the weather is cold. You’re thinking oh it's cold outside, but all I have to do is walk from my home to my car. And I’ll be warm and toasty in no time, but of course it doesn’t always happen. But before you think about calling your mechanic you might be able to do the job yourself. Wouldn’t that be great? You can save a little money and replace the heater right away. Did you check the coolant, hoses and connections and did it all look fine? That would be the case more often then not. So what’s the problem? It’s likely that your Ford heater core has died. But if you go to your Ford dealer and ask for the price of a replacement heater core, the price can be shocking. Fortunately...

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Heater Core Problems: Cold Snap Solutions!

Doesn’t it figure, that the very first time you have a problem with your car’s heater core is when you need it the most: in the middle of a horrible cold snap. Frost on the outside and frost on the inside -- giving new meaning to air conditioned discomfort. Cranking up the heat means billows of cold air filling your car’s cabin instead of the soothing and relaxing heat you should be feeling…ugh! Sounds like a job for your mechanic, but it may be something you can repair yourself. Please read on for more information. Playing with the heat settings does no good and a check of the coolant, hoses, and connections reveals that everything is okay. So, what is the problem? More than likely your Ford heater core has died. You jump in your car and head directly over to your Ford dealer to get a price...

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Have A Problem With Your Power Steering?

Has your power steering suddenly stop working? Maybe it is because you your power steering pump is broken or died. Maybe there isn’t anymore steering fluid or a bad hose that is causing the problem. Either way it will be difficult to drive. Before it becomes obvious that something is wrong, you will hear some buzzing or whining noises coming from under your hood. But you may also encounter a gradual loss of power, which is more prominently seen when parallel parking. Or you can even notice the problem when you first start your car. That would indicate that your steering rack it finished. Steering racks fail slowly at a gradual rate, but you should take action before it’s completely gone. That’s when you loose all control over your car and it can happen at anytime. That will become very...

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Happy Honda Days, Eh?

I love this time of year! The seasonal music, the lights, manger scenes, and the silly ads on television. No, I am not talking about ads pitching products to put in your stocking or to set under your Christmas tree. Instead, what I like is all the car ads cleverly designed to get you to leave the mall and hit dealer showrooms. There is a lot more then meets the eye when a car ad makes its appearance during the holiday season. It isn’t all ho, ho, ho either! Read on and I will tell you what it is all about. Happy Honda Days! Yes, playing on the “Happy Holidays” theme the group of five or six “carolers” singing Honda songs are doing what they can do to get you to buy a new Honda. So, why this pitch and why this time of year? For two reasons: consumers are buying Christmas presents, so purchasing...

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Guides For Perfect Car Dealerships

Have you considered buying a used car? There are fair and not-so-fair deals lurking around but for most of us, we are not just looking for something fair, we are looking for something great! The Internet will equip you with valuable details about unbiased car reviews and ratings, including price ratings, specifications and reasonable, yet honest, reviews, including photos of used cars. Comparison shops furnish and maintain databases as well where they keep price listings for used cars with their respective merchandisers across the net. Private Seller Listings: Great Deals for Real Great deals may not always turn out great in some circumstances. Unwise selection and choice of car dealers could lead you to wasting your money. In fact in 2004 alone, it was recorded that half of those...

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Guidelines In Buying Cars Online

The Web is a hassle free place to shop for cars. There are many advantages to shopping cars online. First, it greatly reduces the hassle of dealing with car dealers and salesmen. When buying a car online, you don’t have to listen to a dealer talk about the specs of a car. You just have to read all about it in a website. You don’t have to go to a showroom, you just to have to point and click your mouse and you could browse through different make and models of cars. And if you want to take a second look at a car it’s very easy. The advantage of shopping for a car online is that all transactions can be done without you having to go out of your room. After ordering the car you want and paying the price, all you have to do is to wit for your brand new vehicle to be delivered to the nearest dealer....

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Grilles: The Ultimate Car Accessory

Adding a grille to your car is the perfect way to make a dramatic statement while you drive. While these impressive looking car parts originate in a practical purpose, many drivers add them to their vehicle simply for that extra touch of pizzazz. With many brands of car boasting a signature style grille, this is a definite style statement that no discerning driver will want to miss. Grilles were a car part originally designed as an opening at the front of a vehicle, where air could enter the vehicle’s radiator, helping to keep the engine cool. An important job, as anyone who has ever suffered from an overheated engine can attest. A propeller was located behind the grille to help circulate the cooler incoming air and prevent such an inconvenience from occurring. Thus, grilles originally emerged...

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Great Value Buying Used Car Parts

Proper maintenance of a vehicle either new or old is the same. The engine has to be checked from time to time, the oil has to be changed and spark plugs need to be replaced. Any product wears down in time and the best thing to do if you are on a budget is to buy cheap, good quality used car parts. Acquiring used car parts is the same as looking around for a second hand car. You can either look for it in the classified ads, go around the neighborhood checking out the various shops that do sell these parts or you can surf the net saving some time and effort and search for the parts that are needed. There was time that such parts could only be found in dealerships and in the shops of local mechanics. This made it a challenge for those who needed it badly especially since there was no guarantee...

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Great Toyota Parts

Cars are something we use to get by with our daily lives. They have been changed and improved over the years, with better safety feature and luxury features as well. With the stress of our lives today we would like to have comfort and power operated auto part with the push of a button. Today, most cars come with an air conditioning system that keeps the driver and the passenger cabin comfortable with the scorching heat the summer can bring. The introduction of the air conditioning and heat system was a big step in the auto industry. It gave drivers the same comforts as home. At the heart of this system is the Toyota AC Condenser. This part is the one in charge of dissipating heat absorbed from the car's interior. It works the same as the Toyota Radiator, which actually cools the engine....

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Great Detailing Products For The Do It Yourselfer

Thanks for visiting and finding my article. What follows is information that I have pulled together from several sources. I hope you find it both interesting and helpful. Who makes the best quality detailing products or where can I get professional quality detailing products for my own car seems to be what a lot of people are asking. You may be able to get the best products on the market or the same products that auto detailers and the serious hobbyists use. It is quite well known that if you intend to win auto show competitions you need the best quality detailing products to get that mirror finish. Young men also know that if their car is not looking at its best, their chances of getting a date will be tough. No one wants to go out with someone with a dirty car. For most people, their car...

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Great Audi Parts

In the last few years, Audi vehicles have become more and more popular. It is thought that Audi might even surpass Mercedes and be behind BMW. Here is a look at the best selling Audi accessories. You can be up to date and in style with the following accessories. 1. Custom Tail Lights. Altezza [or Euro] these lights are still popular. The parts look the best on older model Audis including the 90 and the 200. 2. Car Covers. Ask any owner of a classic Audi how they maintain their car's appearance and they will tell you: wash, wax, and cover. Washing and waxing alone are not enough. Keeping your car's paint protected can only be fulfilled by covering it with a custom fitted car cover. 3. Hood Protector: You can protect your grille and give your vehicle a special look with a custom fitted...

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Great Parts For The Racing Enthusiast!

You are on your final lap of what has been an adventurous race filled with mayhem, mishaps, and a near misstep that could have cost you dearly. The two top drivers are within reach as you navigate the track’s final turn. Do you risk it? Will you swing over to the left lane and pass them both or settle for a strong third place finish instead? Certainly, this “close, but no cigar” finish would be a moral victory for some drivers, but not for you. Suddenly, you swing your wheels to the left, press the pedal to the metal and pass driver #2 and edge just ahead of driver #1 as the checkered flag waves down before you. You win the race by mere inches because of the confidence you have in your car. Oh, were we all so confident in our rides! You may not be a race car driver, but if you value performance...

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Got A License Plate Frame?

There are many ways to promote something you care about and to celebrate someone or something you love, but few ways are as unique, fun, and inexpensive as getting a license plate frame for your car. It sounds funny at first, but think of how great having a unique license plate frame could be. One of the biggest reasons that most people decide to purchase a license plate frame is to promote an idea or an interest that they are passionate about. You can get a license plate frame customized about practically anything whether it is to save the whales or to give every child a chance to live. There are not many easier or more unoffensive ways to advertise your cares to the people around you than to use a license plate frame. Many people also get a license plate frame to show support for their...

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Golf Carts Can Be Used Off The Course Too

A golf cart, or golf car, is a small, motorized vehicle used to carry golfers and personnel from one place to another on golf courses. These little vehicles were designed for those individuals who can’t or aren’t inclined to walk, such as senior citizens and the handicapped. Golf carts are typically two-seaters with room for at least two golf bags. Golf carts are now available in an array styles and colors, just like regular automobiles. The difference between regular automobiles and golf carts is that the latter, due to its small, low-powered engine, is only able to move at slow speeds, which fits it with its intended purpose: golfers can relax and enjoy the surroundings while traversing across fairways and greens during an otherwise laidback game. These specialized vehicles are built at...

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Golf Cars - 1001 Uses, With Imagination

Golf Carts, Club cars, Golf Buggies - all the same thing - have come a long way from the golf course, although they can still be found there, too. Golf Carts were originally designed to ferry golfers and their equipment from the end of one hole on the course to the start of the next, and back to the clubhouse. Whatever happened to golf as exercise? You will now see golf carts in all kinds of places far removed from the golf course. Golf Cars are used on university campuses and to ferry presidents around. Their other uses are only just beginning to be explored. They are used in large warehouses and factories to move around quickly, without the noise and pollution that a conventional vehicle would cause. In many ways these compact vehicles represent a ready-made alternative to the gas-engined...

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Go Carts - How to Survive by Being Safe!

Go carts are certainly thrilling, but they can also be dangerous if not taken seriously. You have to remember that it's not just you out on the track. There will be other drivers attempting to pass you around sharp corners whose talent may be questionable at best. By following a few common-sense safety rules you can eliminate most of the serious dangers. Different types of go carts can have speeds ranging anywhere from very slow to very fast. But regardless of the speed they are always exciting to race. They are simple vehicles that are also easy to handle. No matter what your skill level there are tracks all over the country that will fill your needs and wants. There are many go cart classes or levels that will cater to every age range from kids to adults. Gocarts are generally easy to drive...

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GM Extended Warranty - Whats In It?

An extended warranty is a contract between you and a service provider. Many people purchase extended auto warranties to shield themselves against the costs resulting from mechanical breakdown or failure to their vehicle. The extent of coverage, benefits, and terms of payment are particular to each individual contract. An auto extended warranty give you're the right level of coverage. Although the main advantage of obtaining a car warranty is to avoid high costs of automobile repairs, many plans come with additional benefits. You can buy warranties that are specific to the manufacturers. For example, you can buy a GM extended warranty. All GM cars and trucks have a full manufacturer’s warranty for a term of 3 years and 36,000 Miles. The GM Warranty is transferable at no cost to an unlimited...

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GM Death Watch: It Ain’t Gonna Happen!

I have been enjoying reading the news these past few days, perhaps in a perverse sort of way. Pundits and prognosticators are all forecasting the pending doom of the world’s largest automaker as if the approaching layoffs and restructuring are signaling the venerable automaker’s end. Certainly, GM has some problems – big ones – but the company isn’t likely to go away or even file for bankruptcy. The news isn’t all that it seems to be on this subject either…GM will survive and likely thrive in the decades ahead. Okay, I am not crazy. Could GM go away? Of course, as could any poorly managed company. Yes, executives are overpaid and so are union workers. There…I said it. GM has been taking it on the chin from Asian automakers for three decades now and their U.S. market share continues to dwindle....

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GM: Solutions For Effective Change

I, like so many people who have been following General Motors’ fortunes for some time, am wondering what the company’s long term plan of action is in the face of historic losses, plant closings, and unrelenting and widening competition. No, I am not talking about GM’s global operations, rather I am talking about the North American fortunes of the world’s largest automaker. Quite frankly, the North American market is currently unprofitable for the company while GM holds its own, even thrives, in many markets beyond our borders. The following are some suggestions to help “The General” not only get back on its feet again, but to halt the bleeding in North America. File For Bankruptcy -- It is time to play hardball with recalcitrant unions and government authorities who don’t understand that...

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Give Those Microscopic Hitchhikers The Brush-Off

You might think your car or truck is clean. However, most drivers are carrying around a dirty little secret and don't even know it. That's why keeping the interior of your vehicle clean is important, especially for people with allergies. "Keeping your vehicle interior clear of dust, liquids and other particles is one of the most overlooked areas of vehicle maintenance," said Peter Lord, executive director, GM Service Operations. "Neglecting interior cleanliness can lead to health and sanitary concerns." Cleanliness in our kitchens, hotel rooms and restaurants has been a hot topic, but many people forget to take the simple steps needed to keep the interiors of their vehicle clean. This is particularly important given the amount of time most people spend in their vehicles. The average American...

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Getting "Fueled-Up" For Summer Driving

As temperatures begin to rise, so does the anticipation of being able to drive with the windows down and the wind blowing in your hair during America's hottest season. Amid today's ever-changing fuel landscape, it is important for drivers to educate themselves about how to make smarter decisions for their vehicles-especially during the summer months. Car owners, it is time to get "fueled-up" for summer driving. Cars, like their drivers, require proper maintenance and replenished fluids in order to be prepared for the sweltering summer heat. Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, a nationally recognized automotive expert, shares some tips for consumers on how to keep their cars performing at their best throughout the summertime. • Inspect the cooling system. Prevent your car's engine from rapid overheating...

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Get Your ATV in Top Shape for Spring

Spring is just around the corner. You know how it is: One minute you're adding antifreeze, and the next you're wiping spots of sap off the car hood. After being cooped up all winter, the temptation to hit the road- or go off-road - with the first breath of a warm breeze is overwhelming. Before you take off on a whim, however, think for a moment about your all-terrain vehicle. How is the tire pressure and coolant level? Is the vehicle clean? Polaris, a leading manufacturer of ATVs, offers the following tips to get your vehicle in top shape before hitting the trails: * Be sure to do a "walk-around" of your unit, checking air filter, coolant level, battery, tire pressure, operation of lights, tire pressure and operation of throttle and brakes. Also, check and drain fuel. * Clean the vehicle...

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Get Ready for Summer Driving

The busy summer driving season is coming. Will your vehicle be ready? The experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offer the following tips on getting your vehicle ready. * Read the owner's manual and follow the recommended service schedules. * If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, look for an orderly repair facility with modern equipment in the service bays. Also, look for evidence of qualified automotive technicians, such as trade-school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work and training, as well as national certification of the individual technicians by ASE. * Flush and refill the cooling system according to the service manual's recommendations. The level, condition and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. Make...

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Get away from it all

Haven't you ever had time you wanted to get away from it all? In March/April 1978, www.motherearthnews.com published a story about a couple who bought McLeod's Island — a 90-acre island off the coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. They have a few animals, spend very little on groceries, and are pretty well sustained by the island itself. Although it does present them with some challenges: "The sea, you know, is not called "restless" for nothing. A glass-smooth bay (as we've learned so well!) can churn-sometimes seemingly in seconds-into a windswept chaos of currents and combers. We've also seen that same bay (the one in which our island is located) thaw and then completely refreeze in just hours on a single December day. Winters up here can be especially variable. Continual...

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General Vehicle Maintenance

Regular vehicle maintenance or preventative maintenance, if you will, can go a long way in making sure your vehicle runs at optimal condition. For example, no one truly enjoys the trips to a mechanic because our brake pads are worn down to the rotors or drums and we have to spend more time and dollars to repair the brake system. What little time it takes to make sure we do the "regular" things to our vehicle, makes the time well spent. The pay me now or pay me later cliché, in this case, is never more true. The following tips will aid you in keeping your vehicle ready to take you wherever you have to go. Enough can’t be said about regular oil changes and oil filter replacement. Personally, I have oil changes every 2,000 miles. The recommended schedule is every 3, 000 miles. Because of my...

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Gas Scooter Safety

By Flemming Andersen Having a gas scooter means that you need to take the necessary precautions and learn how to use it safely. You will need to be responsible and make sure that you do a few things before you decide to get on a gas scooter and ride. You want to use common sense to make sure that you are not hurt or even worse. You should make sure that you are wearing the proper gear each time you ride your gas scooter. Safety is very important and there are few necessities that you will have to have in order to make that happen. You need to make sure that you can be seen on the scooter. You should wear bright and reflective clothing. This will make you more noticeable to other people on the road. You need to make sure that you have reflective helmets as well. It is important...

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Gas Mileage Savers

Gas mileage savers can be defined as anything that helps you save money on gas. As many of you know, the price of gas is going up and there is no end in site. In this article, you will learn about some gas mileage savers that will certainly help you save money. There are many simple ways to save money on gas. The first is to plan your driving ahead of time. By planning ahead, you can combine multiple trips and tasks into one. For example, plan to go to the grocery store or pharmacy before picking the kids up from school or on the way home from work. Try to carpool with co-workers as often as possible. The more people in your carpool, the more money you will save. These gas mileage savers are sure to save you time and money. Another way to save money at the pump is to watch the way you drive....

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Gas

In the U.S., gas is the short form of gasoline, while in many Commonwealth countries, it is known as petrol. Gas is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture that consists of hydrocarbons and is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. There are different types of gasoline in the fuel industry. Small aircrafts use specially formulated, high-octane aviation gasoline, which cannot be used for ground vehicles. Vehicles involved in racing use specially formulated racing gasoline that has very low levels of benzene and an anti-knock index of at least 100. Gasoline used for scientific research has unusual properties, which depend on the nature of the research. Cars with gasoline engines use E85 gasoline that is a blend of 85% fuel ethanol and 15% gasoline. The reason gasoline is added here is to...

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