Tag: Mechanics

IMPORTANCE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES LIGHT

There are various types of lights on a vehicle each having its own purpose and importance. Here are some of the important vehicle lights that are used often to avoid accidents and ensure safety.

HEADLIGHT
The headlight plays an important role in improving the driving experience. They help the driver see clearly during different weather conditions and especially at night. The headlights are mounted on the front of the vehicle and its main purpose is to illuminate the road during the night, foggy, and low light conditions. It helps prevent accidents and ensures the safety of the vehicle and the passengers. Always make sure to keep the headlights clean by taking preventive measures as it is really necessary. Headlights have two features mainly to help you see clear at close distance and other helps you see the far-off objects. It is suggested by mechanics to use genuine products for headlight or headlamps rather than aftermarket or cheap alternatives to avoid any risks.

TAIL LAMP
The purpose of the tail lamp is simple. It helps the people see you from far or at a reduced distance when coming from behind to overtake you. It helps them to see you and judge whether to slow down the car, apply brakes immediately or to overtake you and go ahead. The tail lamp requires the same amount of maintenance as the headlights as the both their purposes are same. The safety it ensures is really important for a driver.

FOG LIGHT
The fog lights are considered to be a safety feature. They are designed to help the driver see at low speed and to let them see the surface and verges of the road more clearly. The fog lamps play an important role when the visibility is really poor in rainy, foggy, dusty, or snowy conditions. If you live in an area which receives or faces a lot of snowfall, rain or dust storms, it is suggested by the mechanics to use fog lamps and maintain them for better visibility.

TURN LIGHT
The indicator lights are located on the front, back, and side of the car. Sometimes on the side-view mirrors as well. These indicators play a really important role in ensuring safety while driving. These indicators help the driver to show other drivers from the other side of the road and from behind to understand which way he wants to go or turn. They are used while making left or right turns and while overtaking. Their importance cannot be ignored and it is necessary to get the lights replaced if one of them stops working.

BRAKE LIGHTS
The brake lights are on the back of the car while light up when the brake pedal is pressed to slow down or stop the car. This is considered to be one of the most important light as it indicates the cars behind what you are doing. Whether you are slowing down due to some reason, applying the emergency brake, the driver in the car behind will look at the brake light to understand what you are doing or about to do. It is a sort of a sign that helps avoid numerous accidents.

DO YOU NEED A COOLANT FLUSH FOR YOUR CAR THIS SUMMER?

WHY IS RADIATOR COOLANT SO IMPORTANT?
The radiator coolant is very important for a car because the engine would overheat without it which can lead to breakdown and engine failure. The coolant is what helps the heat to dispel and keep the engine cool. The coolant is added to the radiator in mixed proportion with water which helps prevent the water from freezing or boiling in the extreme temperatures. The engine generates extreme heat which is unbearable and the cooling system highly relies on the coolant water to play its part in cooling the engine down.

The coolant water is a mixture of water and antifreeze which are stored in the radiator of a car. Mechanics generally suggest you add 50/50 of antifreeze if you add more antifreeze in the mix it would increase the boiling point and decrease the freezing point. It is better to add 50/50 of both as it suits all kinds of condition an engine might face.

Without coolant, the heat generated by the internal combustion can easily destroy the engine in no time and water is not enough to keep the temperature under control. Thus, coolant is required to make sure that the engine can remain cool under extreme temperature. In summer, the temperature is very high and the water alone would evaporate entirely. In the same way, in winter the water would freeze and the car would not be able to function. There are many other reasons that make coolant really important fluid for the car.

The coolant prevents the internal parts of the engine from corrosion. The coolant requires being changed every 30000 miles and every time you feel the radiator water has reduced you need to refill it.

IMPORTANCE OF COOLANT FLUSH
The engine is prone to corrosion and coolants lose their properties as the time passes. Mostly, after a couple of years, the fluid when added to the radiator would look rusty instead of green, red or orange. It means that it is time to flush the radiator as it is the sign of rust at the bottom of the radiator. If the radiator is clean, the coolant will move more smoothly and the radiator would function more effectively. Mineral deposit, gunk, metal erosion are the things which can cause blockage and harm the system’s functioning. This can cause the engine to get hot and affect the performance of several parts of the car. Flushing the radiator removes all the unnecessary particles from the system.

WHEN TO GET COOLANT FLUSHED
The coolant flush should be done as recommended by the manufacturer. It is usually around 2 years or 30,000 miles. The radiator should be flushed when any related parts are replaced to prevent contamination of components. Climate and condition of the car is a major factor in which the interval to change fluids and parts depend. Making sure to get the coolant replaced on the noted time or when other worn-out parts are replaced is necessary and should not be avoided.

HOW TO KEEP CAR HEADLIGHTS IN GOOD CONDITION

All car drivers need good visibility of the road to drive safely and headlights are placed in the front of the car for that particular purpose. It helps to see at night and during rainy and dusty weather which justifies why they should be kept in good condition. Any auto repair shop or car mechanic would suggest you to keep the headlights clean and in good condition for clear visibility while driving.

WHY HEADLIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT

The purpose of lights is safety and communication. The headlights ensure that the driver can drive safely and communicate with other drivers through signals using the headlights, sidelights and tail lights. The headlights make sure that the road is visible to the driver under any sort of driving condition be it snowy, stormy, dusty, rainy, foggy etc. It is really important for a driver to make sure that the low and high beams are working fine and there is no fog or dust on the headlight. Headlights are important for a driver’s safety as it helps the driver drive under any sort of bad light condition. It also helps other drivers coming from the opposite side see you. These are the reasons why headlights are important.

IF DAMAGED, HOW TO RESOLVE IT?

Maintaining a car’s headlight is not a difficult job to do. The headlights face many problems which can be solved by taking some simple steps and measures.

  • If the headlights are dirty, you can use headlight cleaners to clean the headlights. Dirty headlights can cause problems seeing at night. It is good to clean the headlights whenever you wash your windshield.
  • If the headlights suffer from condensation, you can deal with it by removing the headlight and drilling a small hole in it. Make sure to drain the water out completely before putting it back again.
  • If the headlights turn yellow due to extensive UV exposure, you can use the haze clearing products available on the market it cleans it. This usually happens as the headlights are made of polycarbonate.

The most important thing to do to keep any component of a car in good condition is to maintain it. If you follow these steps when it is necessary, the headlights will stay in good condition and you will be able to drive safely and see the road clearly. Headlights should be checked every now and then and replaced annually for best results. Just getting your car serviced won’t clear the headlights, you need to get it done separately.

These are the ways a headlight can cause problems and the ways to resolve it to help you drive safe under any lighting condition.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS

People tend to get confused when they hear the words brake pads, brake rotors or discs thinking they are similar or have the same function. This article will help you better understand the functions and importance of brake pads and rotors in the braking system.

WHAT ARE ROTORS?
Rotors are discs made from steel and iron. They connect to the axel and use brake pads and Calipers to control braking system. Brake rotors are also known as brake discs. Brake pads, rotors, and calipers together manage the braking of a car. The rotors absorb a lot of heat generated while braking.

WHAT ARE BRAKE PADS?
The part of the braking system which needs to be replaced more often than other parts. Brake pads are made of many components such as iron, copper, steel, and graphite combined together. They connect with the rotors and squeeze them to reduce the speed of the car and to stop it.

THEIR FUNCTIONING
Brake pads and rotors need to function together to reduce the speed or stop the car. The caliper is what binds the brake pads and rotors together for the proper functioning of the braking system. The caliper is like a clamp that connects the brake pads and rotors. When you press the brake pedal, its the caliper that forces the brake pads onto the rotors to stop the car. The calipers last for a long time.

The brake pads are the ones that need to be replaced on a timely basis due to constant wear and tear it takes. The brake pads last 25000-50000 miles and depend mostly on how you drive a car. Braking unnecessarily and applying short brakes can cause more damage to the brake pads. The same goes for rotors, they also take a lot of wear and tear but are built to last longer. The rotors get damage when the brake pads wear out but you don’t get them replaced. It causes the smooth surface of the rotors to become rough and causes it to lose grip and create squeaking sound.The rotors should be diagnosed every time you get your brake pads replaced and should be resurfaced or replaced if necessary. The rotors usually last around 30000-70000 miles.

The main difference between brake pads and rotors even though they work for the same cause is of its functionality. One applies the pressure, while the other absorbs the heat created by the pressure to stop the car.

CAN YOU TRUST ALL MOBILE MECHANICS FROM AUSTIN?

There are many mobile mechanics in Austin, but can you trust them all? The mobile mechanics business has increased immensely in the past couple of years and mobile mechanics have begun providing services in all parts of the world. Mobile mechanics is a new segment of auto repair industry that provides auto mechanics the opportunity to grow their business and expand their area of reach. But the important question is that whether can you trust all mobile mechanics from Austin?

In Austin, there are many mobile mechanics available for various auto repair services nowadays. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind and take a note of before hiring a mobile mechanic.

Firstly, make sure the mobile mechanics are licensed or not. Making sure that the mechanics are licensed assures that safety of the car and you know that the mobile mechanic is capable and has the knowledge of your car problem.

Secondly, book a mobile mechanic from a trusted website that provides you guarantees or warranties regarding services. Otobots provides a warranty of 12 months/12000 miles to its customers. This is an important thing to get on a customer’s part as it allows you to drive without worries for 12 months and if something does happen again, you are already covered.

The others to keep in mind are the price/service policies and quality of mechanics the company provides. Check the reviews of the auto mobile repair service providers before hiring one.

The best things about booking a mobile mechanic from auto repair service providers like Otobots is that all the mechanics are well-experienced and certified. The services they provide have a warranty and the pricing is transparent. The amount quoted to you before the booking is the amount that will be charged. There are no hidden charges and you don’t have to pay a single penny more than the quoted amount. It is time-saving and you can ask them to come to you wherever you are, just provide them a proper parking space is all you need to do.

The mobile mechanics from Otobots are specialized in particular diagnosis and repairs. This means the mechanic that comes to you is a master in diagnosing and repairing a particular problem.

If you hire a mobile mechanic keep all the above in mind, so you can trust the mechanic without any worries of getting scammed. The risk of your car getting damaged is zero to none.

WHO PROVIDES THE CONVENIENT AUTO REPAIR SERVICES IN SAN DIEGO?

There are numerous auto repair service providers in San Diego that claim to be convenient and hassle-free service providers, but are they? Customers are often left unsatisfied with the service they get. There are only a few that truly live up to their advertisements and provide the service they have written about. So the question remains, who provides the most convenient auto repair service in San Diego? The answer is OTOBOTS.

WHY OTOBOTS?

Otobots has been serving its clients with unparalleled auto repair service for years now and has grown immensely due to word of mouth and customer satisfaction. Otobots serves clients in cities and suburbs of San Diego where the mechanics come to you. All the auto mechanics are professionals and have specializations in particular repairs with years of experience and expertise about all the problems.

HOW IS OTOBOTS CONVENIENT?

Otobots provides the most convenient service to its clients not just in fixing their cars, but also in terms of booking the services. Otobots has an avant-garde website that allows the clients to book their mobile mechanics and also get the quotes before booking the services. All you have to do is follow simple steps of registration by providing some basic information.

After you confirm the service booking, an auto mobile mechanic who specializes in your car’s particular problem will be sent to diagnose and repair the car. All the company asks you to provide is a proper parking area to park the car to check and repair it. The car is diagnosed and repaired at the place of your choice and comfort. You have to make the payment only after the service is done and that too only the amount that was quoted while booking the service. There are no additional or hidden charges and you don’t have to pay any extra money to the mechanics.

HOW CHOOSING OTOBOTS BENEFITS CLIENTS?

The clients are provided hassle-free service by the best and well-experienced mechanics. The price of service which is a major factor is really affordable. Otobots comes to you, so you don’t have to reschedule your busy routine. Otobots provides a warranty of 12 months/12000 miles or the service. All in all, Otobots provides time-saving and hassle-free service.

These are the reasons that prove that Otobots is one of the most convenient auto mobile service providers that provides satisfactory service with assurance in SAN DIEGO.

AUTO MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS THAT YOU CAN DO YOURSELF

When buying a car people focus on the maintenance cost as well before making a decision. All cars require certain basic maintenance in order for smooth functioning. Here are few maintenance and repairs that you can do yourself and save some hard earned money. These can be done by anyone who has certain tools.

TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUES

The most important thing you can do first is to try and figure out the problem with the car by performing a diagnosis. It might sound hard to do, but it is the simplest things that you have to notice like any sounds, oil spills or odd smells. Keeping an eye out for such things can help you reach to the core of the problem. Once the problem is identified you can decide whether it can be resolved by yourself or call an auto repair mechanic.

KEEP THE BATTERY CLEAN

The car needs good battery connection to function smoothly. If the battery is dirty the connection might get affected and cause starting problems. To solve this issue, get some corrosion removal liquid and a wire brush. Start the process by removing the negative and positive terminals from the battery. Use the brush and corrosion removal liquid to cleanse the dust off. Then rinse with water and let it dry before attaching the terminals again.

TYRE CHECK AND REPLACEMENT

Regular tyre pressure checks should be done in order to maintain road grip. You need a gauge to check the pressure of the tyre and if the pressure is low, you can adjust it again. If you have a flat tyre, you don’t need anyone’s help to change the tyre; take the Stepney out, use a jack to lift the car after placing it perfectly under axel and take out the bolts with the help of a wrench. Replace the tyre and it’s done.

CHANGE AIR FILTER

Air filter change is another simple procedure which is easy and quick. It requires being changed once a year or after 10,000 miles. To change the air filter open the hood, look for the air filter which is usually found in rectangular shape box. Take the old one out and place the new one in exactly as the old one was and it is done. It is that simple.

AUTO REPAIRS THAT CAN WAIT TO BE FIXED

The car problems should not be avoided and fixed immediately or as soon as possible. But these are the few auto repairs that can wait for a while to be fixed.

TYRE PROBLEMS

When a tyre loses air due to a small puncture, getting the tyre patched is an easy way to avoid the cost of a new replacement tire. All punctures don’t require the tyre to be changed. Sometimes when you get the tyre fixed it works for a longer period if the tyre has tread left to be used. Always check the tread when you get the tyres checked or fixed in order to have an idea about when to change it or how long it can still last.

AIR CONDITIONING ISSUES

This issue happens a lot as people use the air conditioner regularly in their cars regardless of the season. This is something you can shop around since this is a not an integral part of the car’s operations. This issue can be solved whenever you are free and does not need immediate attention.

WINDOW CONTROLS

Window controls are sensitive and the driver’s side has the power to control all the windows. If the control motor stops functioning, it will cause the window to get stuck in the position it is at that moment. If the window is fully ‘UP’ it’s not a problem, but if it’s down you need to manually pull it ‘UP’. If the window is ‘UP’, you can wait until you want to get it fixed.

INTERIOR ACCESSORIES

The interior accessories such a heater, radio, DVD player, GPS system, cigarette lighter, Bluetooth connectivity kit, data ports, radar detector and other accessories don’t require an immediate repair as they cause no problems to the functioning of the car or the safety.

DIFFERENT BELTS ISSUES

There are many types of belts in cars such as Timing belt, Drive belt etc. These belts go through a lot of wear and tear over the time and you can notice it on the belts when they start to dry and crack. The dryness and cracks are the indication that it needs to be changed. But you still got enough time to go the auto repair shop to get it fixed.

These are the few things that can wait in being fixed when it comes to cars. And always go to a good auto repair mechanic or service provider to get it fixed with genuine parts for safety.

IMPORTANT TIPS TO KEEP YOUR CAR RUNNING RIGHT

Everyone likes a smooth functioning car and tries to maintain it to keep it that way. All cars are different in terms of engine, technology and made. But the ways to maintain them are basically the same. These are the basic tips that any auto repair service or auto mechanic would suggest you do in order to keep your car up and running.

OIL & FLUID CHANGE

Regular oil change and other fluid changes are necessary as they help the engine and other components function properly. There are many kinds of oil and fluids that need to be looked after like Engine oil, Coolant, Transmission oil, Brake fluids, Power Steering fluid etc. All these oils and fluids need to be checked and refilled on regular basis for better performance that would increase the lifespan of a car.

TYRE CHECKS

Checking a car’s tyre pressure every time you go to refill your gas is a habit that everyone should have. Tyres are the most important part of the car and need to be looked after. Tyres maintain the grip and traction between the road and the car. A simple thing as maintaining car’s tyre pressure can help in getting better road grip, longer brake life, rotors will last longer, the car won’t need an alignment soon and axel would be safe.

CHANGE WINDSHIELD WIPERS

The windshield wipers need to change after every few months as they take a lot of wear and tear whether they are used or not as they deal with a lot of weather changes. The most common sign that wipers need to be changed is when they fold underneath or crack on the edges. If not changed, it can damage the windshield and cause problems while driving in bad weather conditions. To drive safely, it is necessary to change windshield wipers.

AIR FILTER CHECK AND REPLACEMENT

A clean air filter provides more mileage, better acceleration, longer engine life, lowers emission and gives the better overall performance. It cleans the air entering the engine as well as prevents debris from entering the engine and harming it. When an air filter gets dirty, its capacity to filter the air going into the engine is reduced which makes the engine unable to function properly. It can cause various issues in the driving experience. The best thing to do is to examine and replace the air filter.

REGULAR SERVICE AND CHECKS

Any responsible car owner should service their car every 3-4 months to get the necessary checks done and parts replaced. Timely service increases the lifespan of a car and all its parts and accessories.

These are the basic tips that should be followed to keep your car running right.

HOW AUTO MECHANICS HAVE BECOME AUTO TECHNICIANS

The Job titles nowadays are getting revamped to make it more suitable and appropriate. Titles like stewardesses have changed to flight attendants, hairdressers are called hair stylists and many more. So when you take your car to fix it you are confronted by an auto technician.

Is there any difference between the two or are they the same?

To clear it out for you, the answer is no. There were various differences between auto mechanics and auto technicians. The main difference is the area of expertise they possess. Auto mechanics are good at fixing most of the parts of a car whereas auto technicians are trained to diagnose the problems that your car might be facing with help of computers. But it has not remained the same anymore.

Back when the On-board diagnosis was introduced in 1996, the car designers began using computers within your car to examine the systems operations. These computers can be connected to equipment and used to diagnose the problems within the car. The systems have become complex and training is definitely required to use them and that is what has transpired the need for Auto Technician. These technicians are trained to deal with computers and the compatible equipment to examine the car problems. Problems and data related to engine, performance and other aspects of the car are known through computer diagnosis.

As the time is changing, all the mechanics are getting well-trained in technical aspects of auto repair and all the technicians are learning how to be more tactical and handy. Whatever you may call them, their quality of work is the same, but their area of expertise differ a bit. Auto mechanic or auto technicians now choose a particular field to specialize in or a particular brand of car as the systems in most of the cars are different.

The innovations in technology are making the auto mechanics more skillful and the process of maintaining the car easy as well as complex. Easy in terms of getting to know the problem sooner and complex as the equipment cannot be used without proper training.

In the end, it all comes down to this, the customers are benefited the most as preventive maintenance can be done now by examining the problem earlier. The cars are fixed using proper equipment and the auto mechanics and technicians are up-to-date with technology to fix the car soon without any risks.