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Car Repair Coupons - 4 Types of Repairs to Save On

04.1.2008 | 8:43 pm | Automotive

Car repair coupons are essentially like free money. Every car needs a certain amount of regular maintenance and repairs: oil changes and tune ups to keep it running its best, and replacement parts such as tires, brakes, batteries, and alternators as the old parts wear out. Since you already have to pay for these repairs anyway, these should be used to knock the cost of regular maintenance down a little.

Car repair coupons can be found in a lot of different places. Local auto repair shops often place advertisements and coupons in local newspapers, magazines, and other publications. Online coupon sites, such as Valpak are also a great resource for coupon clippers. Finally, many shops send out their own mailings or post their current specials right on their website. Here are the four types you are most likely to find.

1: Oil changes are the most frequent type of maintenance cars need. By about three thousand miles, the oil and oil filter in your engine start to wear out. Replacing the oil and filter regularly keeps your engine running smoothly, prevents harmful buildup inside your engine, and even helps to maintain optimal gas mileage. Dirty oil, on the other hand, creates buildup that can damage the engine, leads to dried-out and leaky seals and gaskets, and creates more resistance on the engine as it thickens — causing your fuel bill to increase too.

Since oil changes are needed so frequently, there are tons of auto repair shops and quick lube places ready to compete for your business. Because of this, shops almost always include a coupon for a discounted oil change.

2: Tune Ups. After oil changes, tune ups are the next most common repair that car owners have to do: Tune ups typically should be done once a year, or every twenty or thirty thousand miles, depending on the manufacturer s recommendations. A tune up typically includes replacing the air filter, the spark plugs, PCV valve, and the distributor cap and rotor some parts only need to be replaced every two or three years, such as the oxygen sensor and the spark plug wires. The mechanic will also visually inspect the car s various systems to make sure everything is functioning correctly.

All of the potential replacements can make tune ups very expensive, particularly if the mechanic finds something wrong. Auto shops will give you a discount on at least the basic tune up, so that if something else turns out to be wrong, at least the bill won t hit you quite as hard.

3: Wheel alignment is another one of those things that you should have checked regularly. Most auto repair shops offer an inexpensive wheel alignment check that will tell you if you need your wheel alignment done. Proper wheel alignment produces the least amount of rolling resistance on your car, ensuring that you get the optimum gas mileage it also causes the entire tread of the tires to make contact with the road as you drive, which spreads the wear out along the entire tread and helps your tires to last longer.

With the expensive but very precise equipment most repair shops use these days, wheel alignments can be pretty expensive. To compete with one another for your business, many repair shops will issue alignment coupons periodically, often offering a significant discount off the normal price.

4: New Tires. With the length of the average commute these days, most people end up needing to buy new tires every couple of years. Since tires can be pretty expensive, many tire shops and service centers send out mailings and print them in local papers. If you know you will need tires soon, be on the lookout for these coupons.

There are many other types of car repair coupons than the four listed above. These are just the most common. You ll notice as you hunt for coupons that you also find some for replacement windshields, bodywork, and even general repairs. In fact, it s not uncommon to find a coupon from an auto repair shop that simply states dollars off for any repair work made over a certain amount spent. You ll find that looking for discounts is like an Easter egg hunt. The coupons are all right there under your nose you just have to look for them.

Andy West is a freelance writer for DAE, which offers valuable car repair coupons for domestic car repair in the Houston area.

What Is The Difference Between Car Wax And Car Polish?

03.31.2008 | 8:39 pm | Automotive

What is car Polish?

Car Polish (Surface Oxidation Remover) removes tree sap, minor scuff marks and scratches, swirl marks, oxidized car paints/finishes and other hazing. Car polish is a polymer blend usually with no wax. Car polishes can last 1 year between coats and is very durable protection for your paint. Car polishes/waxes contain a cleaner that will leave a haze on plastic trim. Wax begins to degrade rapidly when exposed to sunlight and then just washes off in the car wash or in the rain. Spray on car Wax uses a blend of wax that will protect your surface.

What is car Wax?

Wax can be applied either by hand or a polisher. Wax is a substance that is secreted by bees and is used by them in constructing their honeycombs. Wax helps to protect the paint, minimizing harm of chemicals and protecting the paint from fading plus the car looks shiny. Waxing the car after applying the polish means that you won t have to repeat the process for quite some time. Car wax -there are two major types of car wax,. Car wax is a natural, traditional and proven form of protection for the paint. Car wax also provides deep and healthy shine to the paint. Many companies manufacture car wax using cheap ingredients. Fukken Wax cost more because of the high quality carnauba from Brazilian palms. Natural wax is derived from a substance called carnauba that is obtained from a Brazilian plant called copernica cerifera. The carnauba wax is generally used along with petroleum distillates, naphtha and oil.

The carnauba wax provides excellent shielding to the paint and generally lasts from 30 to 60 days. This naturally occurring carnauba wax is also used in the manufacture of floor wax, furniture wax and candy coatings. Synthetic wax is commonly known as paint sealant. Paint sealant or synthetic wax provides long-term protection to the paint. The beautiful liquid shine and gloss provided by natural carnauba wax is not provided by paint sealant. However the longevity of natural wax is less when compared to the paint sealants as the melting point of the natural wax is easily reached during warm temperature. Natural carnauba wax is difficult to apply and remove when compared to paint sealants. That is the reason for Fukken Wax being put into a aerosol can to make the applying process easier.

Aerosol Car wax is the easiest wax you will ever use. There is nothing on the market that compares to Aerosol spray on car wax products. Wax begins to degrade rapidly when exposed to sunlight and then just washes off in the car wash or in the rain. Fukken Wax has added some UV protections to help your vehicles surface last longer.

Latest Mercedes Technologies

03.30.2008 | 7:15 pm | Automotive

Today of the age of mass media and information everything is progressing fast. The technology today could be way too old in just a few months. To keep things on track Mercedes offers new solutions every day. New ways to improve your way of driving and feeling into the car are implemented in every new model that goes to market.

First let s get a hint on what technology really means. If we ask Wikipedia - the biggest encyclopedia world knows today we will get the following: “Technology is a broad concept that deals with a species usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects a species ability to control and adapt to its environment.”

It is knowledge of tools and crafts. And this is what you will get for your Mercedes car - tools designed and crafted especially for your needs to make you feel better, to make you drive safer and to get your world into a new plane of existence.

Up until today Mercedes showed the world the capability to impress with precise, up-to-date parts with excellent quality. No matter if these parts are simple accessories, safety features or entertainment systems - Mercedes make them all to the best they could be in every moment.

Today the car is part of almost everyone s life. That s why many people today knows more about what they need and what they want from the next car they will drive. Buyers are giving feedback on the needs they have, on the quality they get, on the dreams that are floating into their minds.

Mercedes began reaching for everything buyers wanted starting from what is the most important aspect of these needs - safety systems. The manufacturer made even the fortune telling possible with advanced radar and cameras systems. Powerful mathematical systems analyses data provided by the radar and cameras and warn the driver about every possible danger that may occur as he drives.

For example S- and CL- class Mercedes cars are using radar-based system to detect drivers on the blind spot of the driver who are changing lanes. This system is called Blind Spot Assist and it is installed in the front and rear bumpers scanning for vehicles that are located in the blind spots where the driver could not normally see them. A warning system is telling the driver when there is a car on the blind spot giving the driver a way to react in a proper manner.

Keyless systems have been already used by other car manufacturers for Cadillac, Infinity and BMW models but Mercedes shows something pretty innovative. A credit card style system will replace the keys. It could be pretty cool to have just another card in your wallet which will be the way to enter and start your car. This is not made just to make your pocket lighter but for a better security because keys proven to be not very effective.

One very powerful tool is the highly improved navigation console system which will make your ride very effective and your final destination closer than you think. With a cool screen on the dash this system will give you the power of the global positioning satellite and some on board DVD s. A location will be easily checked and a direction to it will be shown for you. Hotels, hospitals and everything that you will need will be available for you. Maps and some pretty vital information will become your guide as you drive into an unknown area. This will make getting lost almost impossible because in every moment you could keep track on where you are and where you are going to.

Wi-Fi is a protocol for data transfer. This fine solution is implemented into almost every vehicle. It will provide information about weather, news and everything that is currently available in the region. This could be pretty entertaining too.

Many important parts of a Mercedes car are hooked up into a computer analyzing every condition they are facing and every reaction they are providing. This information is stored into the memory of the computer system and it could be easily transferred using a cellular phone or laptop. You could send this data to the manufacturer, to you personal mechanic or to anyone you choose. This enables for a perfect diagnostic to be made if it is necessary. Every problem could be solved even on-the-fly via a long-distance troubleshooting procedures.

One good way of importing new devices will be to use the new 40 volt electrical system. This will provide you with a way to use even more devices in your car. Of course keep in mind that every new device you hook up will require additional power which will cost you. However don t let that stopping you from using things you really need.

There is a voice prompt available for you too. This will literally enable you to “talk” to your car. It will not even mean that you are going crazy because a powerful artificial intelligence will analyze your voice and make the proper adjustments you require. For example picking a radio station will be very easy for you. You will only need to tell the system that you want a radio and the station you want to listen to. It could be pretty fun but try not to call it Tracy, Vicky or in any other female name while you are talking to your wife on the phone.

Electrically controlled pedals are available for some time now in many Mercedes vehicles. The force you apply to the pedal will not mechanically set the brakes or accelerator on motion. It will only send a signal that a motion is required. This enables the action to occur quickly. This could safe you time when every second counts. For example you will be able to use the breaks in the moment you push the pedal which in many situations could be extremely important.

Some programmable Mercedes vehicles are available too. They use electronics to adjust the Mercedes car to the needs of the driver. For example lowering or raising ground clearance could be made easily. This enables the driver to pick the right choice for him.

More information on Mercedes.

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Car Repair Coupons - 4 Types of Repairs to Save On

What Is The Difference Between Car Wax And Car Polish?

Latest Mercedes Technologies