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 and Canada. This service is a boon to those traveling far from home, or just across town, if access to the closest reputable repair shop is required due to mechanical trouble on the road. For reliable assistance with vehicle repairs and maintenance, AAA has identified a network of approved repair facilities that include new car dealerships and independent repair shops. These shops meet AAA's strict quality standards and display AAA's logo. A phone call to 1-800-AAA-HELP or to a local AAA club phone number for emergency road service is all that is required to find the nearest AAA-approved shop. Calling ahead is always a good idea when arranging for auto repairs. Find out if the shop will be open, if they have time to work on your vehicle, if the repairs can be completed in a timely manner and if they have experience working with the make and model of the vehicle you drive. Cell phones and safety go hand in hand. However, to maintain safety, AAA suggests that motorists always park safely off the roadway when using a cellular phone.

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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 and weights and became a ‘must wear’ for certain industrial workers in sectors such as mining, construction and manufacturing etc. Surely, the popularity of helmets shot-up, thanks to the symbolic protection they offered. Typical Classification Helmets can be classified based on their utility and construction. The simplest for of helmets worn by construction workers and bicycle riders are nothing more than ‘hard hats’ as they are required to protect blunt impacts, whereas a soldier’s helmets are designed for ballistic impact protection. These are made by Kevlar©, which has excellent bullet proofing qualities and fragmentation powers. Helmets match particular needs also. Military helmets identify the ranks of the wearers with symbolic visors and bars therein, whereas ‘hard hats’ of bicycle riders sport large ventilation slots. Quality Standards Bikers and parents of small children are in dilemma concerning the sudden fall in children’s helmet prices. One must keep in mind that price is not a good quality indicator. In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires all helmets be certified. The certification is issued after stringent quality tests are carried out. There is another quality standard for helmets, too. Snell Memorial Foundation standards or ‘Snells’ as they are known are a bit extra stringent, albeit not compulsory by all types of helmet manufacturers to conform to. This fact should try to put at rest the apprehensions of consumers when they don’t see Snells’ label on helmets. It is hard to think of a modern and adventurous sport without helmets being mandatory. Although helmets aren’t absolutely safe, you can’t think of cross country biking without them, especially if the riders are your little ones, helmets are a must!

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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 of individuals providing sales. A helicopter provides a way for a salesperson to see about sales in one state, and still be home in a neighboring state in time for dinner. This can increase the turnaround of product after sale, and can decrease a company’s budget for travel and lodging of salespeople. Helicopters can make taking inventory on the road affordable and feasible, with on-demand merchandising increasing. A helicopter for sale may spell increased satisfaction for customers who want merchandise on the spot. A helicopter may also increase job satisfaction among traveling employees who understand the necessity of in personal contact but still wish to spend time with their families in the evenings. Helicopters for sale could spell future business ventures. Shuttle companies that use helicopters to ferry customers to and from cities provide a scenic view as well as a practical function. Helicopters for sale might be the beginning of a ferry business that brings customers to and from nearby cities. Cities located near major airports may benefit from this ferry service, because helicopters for sale and purchased for ferrying increase business traffic in a city. Helicopters provide an avenue for sight seeing that can bring personal pleasure as well as financial gain. Helicopter rides, ranging from fifty dollars an hour to much more in areas with interesting terrain, provide a better view than traditional airplane rides. This view increases the worth of a helicopter for sale. Customers may pay upwards of two hundred dollars for a helicopter ride over volcanoes. Helicopter rides that tour the Grand Canyon provide tourists a way to see the majesty of this natural phenomenon – a view they may miss when actually hiking in the canyon. Helicopters for sale are also very good candidates for search and rescue operations. Helicopters are preferable for search and rescue missions for many reasons. A Helicopter for sale on a search and rescue mission provides searchers a wide view of scenery. A helicopter has distinct flight advantages over airplanes for this purpose. Helicopters can get closer to the ground, and can hover, affording a slower scan of terrain. Helicopters can get into greater areas than airplanes, and should be considered first when outfitting a search and rescue mission.

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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 for us, it’s not too hard to change it yourself. For many cars, a heater core can be pulled out of the dash or check under the hood next to the firewall, once you locate it just take it out and replace it with a new one. If you buy the part off the internet or someplace else, it can save you even more money, instead of making the purchase at your dealership. For the most part, you can find any core heater for any type of vehicle you have on the internet. It can save you bundles. So you don’t have to wait until spring roles around and you don’t have to think about the problem for a few months. There is no excuse for not replacing your core heater. You can replace it for a lot less yourself. There is no reason to be cold while you’re driving in your car this winter.

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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 on a new heater core. Within moments you are gasping for air as the man behind the counter looks over his computerized inventory and quotes an outrageously high price for a new heater core. For a moment you don’t know whether to whack the guy over the head or start driving around with a portable heater you plug into your car’s cigarette lighter. Quickly you dismiss either option and decide to take matters into your own hands. Fortunately a heater core isn’t all that difficult to change yourself. For most cars, a heater core can be reached by pulling out the dash or checking under the hood adjacent to the firewall, locating the unit, yanking it out, and replacing it with a new one. Naturally, you will pay gobs of money through your dealer’s parts department, but you have other options besides visiting the dealer or making a futile trip to your local junkyard: shop the internet. That’s right, online auto parts wholesalers carry Jeep heater cores and heater cores for just about any make/model of car out there. Best yet, when shopping with a wholesaler like the Heater Core Experts, you can save big bucks. By purchasing direct from the manufacturer, a first class wholesaler will turn around and sell a heater core to you for less. A lot less than what Mr. Parts Dealer would charge and without you having to pay for labor costs either. Yes, you could always ignore the problem and hope that Spring comes early and stays forever, or you can sell your first born child and head over to your dealer’s part department and hope they have mercy on you…they most certainly will not! Better yet, shop online for an OEM replacement heater core that meets or exceeds manufacturer specifications, save big, and get warm!

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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 dangerous for you and your passengers. You should check the power steering fluid to see if in fact you steering rack is the problem. Be on the look out for small metallic pieces of metal floating in it. If there are some then your steering rack is wearing out, the metal pieces are prove that the rack is deteriorating piece by piece. Now the only thing that’s on your mind right now it the hefty bill that awaits you. But not necessarily, you could take your car to your local garage or dealer, which would probably cost you quite a bit. Or you could decide to do the repair yourself; it’s not as hard you might think. You can purchase to part on the internet, there you will most likely find better deals, then at your dealer or local auto shop. A good place to check out would be Steering Rack Pros. They will have what you’re looking for and save you a great deal of money. So now there are no excuses to not change your power steering pump or rack. It’s possible to do it yourself and it won’t cost you as much.

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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 a new car is nowhere near the top of anyone’s priorities, and Toyota. Toyota?! Yes, that is right. Toyota and Honda are once again battling for the top spot for the best selling car in America. Long ceded by American automakers who sell more trucks than cars, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are the two top selling cars. Guess what? December 31st marks the final day that cars sold can be tabulated as 2005 sales. Honda wants you in their showrooms and they want you to buy. Move over, Toyota! Don’t think for a moment that Honda is the only manufacturer with a big year end sales drive in place. Virtually all manufacturers are in a race to get you to buy a new car now. Each is hoping that you aren’t too busy to watch a little bit of television, listen to the radio, scour the newspaper, or search the internet in hopes that an ad promoting their product will find its way before your eyes. You can’t shop all the time, right? Right? To help you out, the following are some of the current campaigns already under way and the brand they are touting:

December to Remember; Lexus

Toyotathon; Toyota

Miles of Freedom Plan; Dodge

Keep It Simple; Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

Red Tag Sale; GM

A to Z Year End Event; Nissan

The Cadillac Season’s Best Sales Event; Cadillac

Winter Event; Mercedes There is no telling what other sales events are being planned. By the time the new year rolls in, you are likely to be as sick of them as you will be of all the tinsel, the egg nog, and your 47th viewing of “A Christmas Story.” Happy holidays to you and yours; Happy Honda Days if you are choose to purchase a new car during this already overstressed time of the year!

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