Monthly Archive for January, 2010

free auto repair information

When doing your own auto repairs and maintenance, having an auto repair manual handy is always a good idea. Traditional, printed manuals, however, can be clunky, and they might not always have all of the information you need. Furthermore, you can’t ask a printed manual for clarification in case you don’t understand a part of the instructions. All of which is why the internet is become more and more the place where many car owner go for to get their car repair questions answered. Here are some of the auto repair resources you can find online that can supplement the traditional manufacturer’s repair manual.

Haynes

Haynes is a well known publisher of automotive repair manuals. On the Haynes Online website you can order the printed manuals for a wide variety of makes and models for $25 plus shipping. However, in addition to traditional manuals, the website also has a ton of useful, very well produced instructional videos. These videos teach you how to perform basic and slightly advanced automotive repairs and maintenance procedures. Everything from oil changes to replacing broken hoses.

The Professional’s Database

ALLDATA provides troubleshooting guides and technical spec information to professional auto shops and dealerships. The website ALLDATAdiy.com is the company’s offering to the average car owner looking for a source of professional-grade auto repair information. For $27 a year you get access to the complete database for one vehicle make and model. With this subscription, you get detailed, printable guides, diagrams and manuals. You also get access to bulletin boards where you can post your questions to other car owners, a great resource for those times when you find yourself stumped by a particularly puzzling car problem.

Free User-created Repair Guides

Finally, there’s a huge amount of user-generated auto repair guides and videos. YouTube, for one, is a great place to access step-by-step instruction guides on how to perform basic as well as complex car repairs. The quality of these guides varies, but with some searching you can find some pretty good ones. The website FreeAutoRepairManualz is also good resource, especially for those looking for more specialized guides for specific car models and types of repairs.

To learn more about San Diego car repair and car services please visit http://www.robertsautoservice.com.

Chevy Detailed Parts List (database) – Mechanic Program / Website – Available Online?

I used to work for an Auto Repair shop. The mechanics there had an awesome computer program that would show detailed information about just about -any- auto part.

The program in question could either be AllData or Mitchell on Demand. All Data access can be obtained on -line through Autozone at $10. It gives you All Data access for 1 car for 7 days

Auto Repair: Car Maintenace Tips From Your Mechanic : How to Check Front Differential Fluid: Auto Repair & Maintenance Tips

auto repair info

It is inevitable. You are driving along, minding your own business and paying attention to the rules of the road when someone else slams into you, causing massive damage to your car. While it is not your fault, it is still your job to get estimates for the damage so you can present the insurance company with an accurate summary of what it will cost to get your car fixed. No matter how light the accident was if there has been body damage, the cost to repair your car will likely be through the roof.

Because cars today are nearly all one piece, instead of several sheets of metal like they were in the past, costs have risen considerably when it comes to getting body repairs. This is why you need to find a good Auto Repair Shop, which will offer you a fair price and estimate on fixing your car, so even if you have a deductible, you won’t have to worry about insurance rates rising too much. Auto Body Repair shops are numerous, as more and more people are getting into the field of auto repair; however, not all shops are created equal and there are many things you should look out for when choosing your shop.

The first thing you should ensure is that you are hiring a licensed professional. Many people perform small time repairs out of their garages and while this can be great in saving you money, it’s unlikely an insurance company is going to accept a hand written estimate on a sheet of notebook paper. Once you have ensured that you are speaking with a licensed professional, be sure to get a detailed estimate. A piece of paper that says it is going to cost $1,500 dollars to fix your car is not enough for most insurance companies. They want to know exactly why a service is going to cost $1,500 and where all of the money is going. If they feel the cost for any portion of the estimate is unreasonable, they could reject it. This is why it is so important to be sure you get an itemized estimate.

Aside from itemization, you should ask around to find out how long it will be in the auto repair shop. If your car is severely damaged to the point of being inoperable, you’ll likely be given a rental which will have to be paid for. Who pays for the rental car is determined by your insurance policy, so make sure to check what you’re getting into.

Michael Diablo is the founder of http://autobodymanual.com/

Auto Body Manual is the definitive resource for auto body help, tutorials, information and tips. We pride ourselves on providing high quality information on everything related to car maintenance and safety. In addition, we recommend other useful car repair sites on our blogroll for your added reference and convenience.

Would unpaid auto repair services show up on a credit report?

I gave a local auto repair shop my credit card info to pay for the deductible prior to repair. I got my car back and several months passed without them charging me. I recently received a call stating that I owed them money. If I decide not to return their call would this show up on my credit report? Please no responses telling me it’s unethical. I know this; this shop has screwed me over multiple times on previous repairs. I just want to know if it gets reported to the credit bureau if I don’t return their call with my credit card info.

They can take you to small claims court, which will show up on a report.

They can sell the bill to a collector, which will make your life miserable, and show up on your report.

They can contact the state and put a mechanic’s lien on your car, which will make it impossible to sell or use as a trade in.

They can call the police. This is not simply “unethical”; it’s a crime. Taking services without paying is called, obviously, “theft of services”. This could show up on a public records report, as well as cost legal fees.

They can add cost of collection, like their legal fees and court costs to the bill.

They did not “screw you over multiple times”. They give fine service: why else would you keep going back.

Auto Repair: Car Fuel System Troubleshooting – 1 of 11