Tag Archive: utah
How to Take Care of a Car – Top 5 Things
December 20, 2015
How to Take Care of a Car: Top 5 Things
Owning a car could be a symbol of your style and status. But a routine maintenance procedure is quite essential for maximizing the reliability, safety and protecting your investment as well. Your car won’t magically take care of itself. For it, you should start reading the recommendations and maintenance tips by the automakers in the magazines or Internet. Next, you would be need of a good repair shop where you get essential tips from the certified technicians.
With a few tips and alertness, you could keep your car free from the troubles. Listed below are some of the important car maintenance basics that would help your car to run smoothly and stay ready for every road battle.
- Check out all the fluid levels: Nothing could affect the engine’s performance faster than the negligence in oil-level checks. So, see if the oil levels, including engine, brake, power steering, and transmission is up to the mark.
- Take care of the cooling and heating systems: Flush the cooling system of your car and change it once in a year. Keeping the cooling system in a good shape help prevents the corrosion and harmful deposits inside it. Both heating and cooling performance is crucial for interior comfort and safety reasons like defrosting. It should be taken care of properly to function well.
- Check the battery and exhaust system: Battery is the key component of a car’s electrical system. Regular maintenance of battery could avoid unwanted troubles and saves a lot. Make sure that all the connections are tight, corrosion-free. Exhaust leaks could be dangerous that is why it must get corrected before anything happen. If you heard any kind of unusual noise, then there might some damage, leaks, or broken parts. So, inspect it carefully before you start a long trip.
- Check out the brake and suspension: Brake is one of the most important parts of a vehicle so as the suspension. So, have an annual check and keep an eye on the brake linings, drums, and rotors at each oil change. Also make an intensive check for the shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts including tie rod ends, ball joints, and other major components. It would extend the life of your car’s tires.
- Check the tires and lights: Check the pressure on a regular basis, as the uneven wear would cost you for a wheel alignment. You should also check for bulges and bald spots. Do make sure that the lights are working properly. Because it is important for your safety while driving at the night time. Checking other electrical components like horns, wipers, etc. to ensure they are functioning accordingly.
The above mentioned basic car care tips could assure safety and a better performance. To obtain the best result, you could hire the service of a reliable source, so that you go well on your way.
Short Term Car Loans
March 31, 2015
Short Term Car Loans
There are times, when a customer does not qualify for credit from the banks, and they keep wondering, whom to approach for the money. Well, they might still be eligible for the short term loans, which are available for less than one year. These can be used for financing their temporary requirements or to build their good car credit.
How Long are Short Term Car Loans?
These are the loans which typically have a maturity period of less than three years, and are termed as the short term loans. Given below are some of the features of such loans:
- These loans can help in providing immediate funds for purchasing a used car.
- These loans can be repaid back in monthly instalments at simple rates of interest. And, the lump sum amount can be repaid back at any time.
- The documentation for taking these loans is quite easy, and is free of hassles. There are no complicated procedures to be followed.
- There are absolutely no prepayment charges, unlike some other car loans.
- Customers can get the loans very quickly, and it gives them a lot of flexibility.
- The loans are disbursed without doing a lot of checking of the customers credit history.
- The costs involved in long term debt may be higher than the short termed loans.
- There is a potential increase in interest rates on these types of loans due to the increased risk to the car dealership and/or finance company.
These short term loans, usually found an buy here pay here dealers, provide a great deal of flexibility for buying materials and services, and these can be repaid back at a later date. And, when all the other doors are shut, these loans can become quite helpful.
Apply Now for a Short Term Car Loan.
Should I Trade in My Car When I Buy a New One?
March 27, 2015
Should I Trade in My Car When I Buy a New One?
Have you decided to purchase a new car? What about the old car that you have? What do you plan to do with that? Surely, you must be pondering over, “Should I trade in my car when I buy a new one or not? Well, the answer depends upon the condition of the car, and the time that you have with you.
If you wish to get the maximum possible rate for the vehicle, then you should sell it on your own. But, remember that it takes a lot of time, and will also require a lot of effort. So, most of the people prefer going for a trade-in. In a trade-in, your car might fetch a lower rate because the dealer would spend some money on reconditioning it, and making a profit on the resale. But, for the car owners, it is a very convenient option. We give below some tips, which will help you in making the maximum out of your trade-in deal:
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• Assess the trade-in value of the car: Knowing the value of the car will help in making a reasonable deal on the trade-in. There are car appraisal tools, which can help in finding the right value. Most of the cars are maintained well, and are in ‘clean’ condition.
• Get a quote from the dealer: You can take the vehicle to the dealer for appraisal, who will do a detailed inspection of the car, and will give a written appraisal. This will be valid for about 7 days or so, and you could check with other dealers also if they are giving better offers.
• Negotiate the deal: Once you have all the appraisals and offers with you, you can decide on them. You can choose to take any of the offer, or negotiate for a better deal. If you have all the paperwork proper, it will take you only an hour to complete the deal. And, it would be better to trade-in the car with the dealer from whom you are purchasing the car. This will give some leverage.
Well, this is the entire process of trade-in. Hope this would have helped you in giving an answer to your question, ‘Should I trade in my car when I buy a new one.’ Remember that you should not commit the common mistakes during the trade-in. Do not hide any information and don’t overestimate the value of the car.
Car Care Schedule
March 24, 2015
Car Care Schedule – How Often to Do the Common Car Maintenance Items
In order for your car to function at its peak efficiency, there are a variety of different things that should be maintained on a regular basis. Maintenance of this type is usually rather easy to complete, and doesn’t take too much time or money out of your wallet. This type of maintenance includes processes such as checking your tire pressure, checking your fluids, checking/changing your oil, checking belts and hoses inside your engine, and -maintaining your tires. For those of you who are not completely car-savvy, this article will give you an idea of the ideal car care schedule, and help you to plan out a maintenance schedule to follow.
General Service Schedules
It is important to note that the type of vehicle you currently own, the model, and the year of your vehicle all factor into the time that you can go without having to maintain your vehicle. The following is a general schedule for maintenance services that you can either complete yourself, or have your local mechanic complete for you.
Check Weekly/Monthly
Dashboard Indicator Lights, Lights Inside the Cab, Tire Pressure, Engine Oil Level, and Washer Fluid.
Check Every 3 Months
Automatic Transmission Fluid, Battery and Cables, Belts, Dashboard Indicator Light On, Engine Air Filter, Engine Oil, Exhaust, Hoses, Lights, Power Steering Fluid, Tire Inflation and Condition, and Windshield Washer Fluid.
Check Every 6 Months
Chassis Lubrication, Engine Air Filter and Wiper Blades.
Check Every 9 Months
Power Steering Fluid, Cabin Air Filter, Coolant (Antifreeze), Engine Air Filter, Steering and Suspension, and Wheel Alignment.
It is important that you keep an eye on all of these on a regular basis during your car care schedule. Even if there is no need for repairs or replacements on any of the previously listed parts, it is still very important to keep an eye out for any potential problems. Many of these potential warning signs can be noticed easily, such as squealing sounds coming from the engine, a jerking feeling when pushing on the accelerator, and many different hazard lights that are located near your speedometer. If you are unable to complete any of the repairs needed for your vehicle, it is important to take it to your local mechanic in order to ensure that you do not have any type of breakdown, and to avoid the expense that repairs take out of your budget.
Preventing Credit Fraud
December 27, 2014
Preventing Credit Fraud
Credit card fraud has become quite common, and it happens in various ways. Even though, preventing credit fraud might not always be easy, one can try to create obstacles so that it cannot be misused.
How Does Card Fraud Happen?
Well, it is quite easy, due to the growing use of technology and online transactions. Anybody can hack the net and get hold of the credit card numbers and other account information. In fact, the thieves can also get hold of the discarded credit card statements, and use the information for purchasing online.
So, How Can You Prevent Credit Fraud?
Well, all it takes for preventing credit fraud is to follow some practices in the daily routines, and daily lives:
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• Make a note of the account numbers, credit card numbers, expiration dates, and the phone numbers, so that you can report the fraud, when it happens.
• Do not lend the credit card to anybody. And, don’t leave the card, statements or receipts anywhere. Try to shred the statements and receipts, when they are no longer required.
• Do not reveal the account numbers to anybody over the phone.
• Do not stuff the cards in the wallet. Try to keep them separately so that they do not get stolen along with everything else. If you have multiple cards, carry only what is required, and not everything else.
• Keep a close watch on the card, when the card is being swiped in. Also, ensure that you retrieve the card back, soon after the transaction is done.
• Never sign on blank receipts. And, try to save the receipt stubs so that you can compare them with the statement.
• Keep checking your statement online, so that you can reconcile them, more promptly.
• And, if you see any questionable charges, report it to the card issuer immediately.
• Also, if there are any address changes, or travel plans, inform the card issuer.
• Do not write the account number anywhere.
• While using the public computer, try to remove the history so that the account number information does not get saved anywhere.
Well, these were some of the fool proof methods for preventing credit fraud. When you follow these steps, you would be able to remain safe and secured. And, in case your card gets lost or stolen, report it immediately to the card issuer, so that it gets blocked by the issuer, and is not misused further.
Tire Care Tips
November 27, 2014
Tire Care Tips
Your tires are one of the most important parts of your car, aside from the engine of course, and taking care of your tires is completely necessary to avoid much of the extra stress on your paycheck that car repairs can cause. There are a few basic steps to taking care of your tires that go further than simply checking the pressure every once in a while. If you are not very car-savvy, then some of these steps may be better handled by a mechanic, but the first couple of steps will be easy for anyone to complete. This article will cover the basic steps of taking care of your tires, and ensuring that you get the most miles possible out of every set of tires that you purchase.
1. Check Your Tire Pressure
The first step to taking care of your tires is to always keep an eye on the overall tire pressure. In order to check your tire pressure, purchase an air pressure gauge (which can be found in most stores, gas stations, or at any mechanic,) remove the cap covering your valve stem (the small copper piece sticking out of your tire that you pump air into,) then push the air pressure gauge onto the valve stem. The pressure gauge will then push a small measuring stick out of the bottom of the gauge (or display your tire pressure on an LCD screen.) In order to find the air pressure that your tire should be at, simply look along the outside wall of your tires, in order to find the air pressure pounds per square inch that your tire should be inflated to.
2. Check for Any Abrasions
Checking for any abrasions or cracks on your car tires can help you to avoid running into any problems later on down the road. Even if the crack in the rubber composing your tire is rather small, purchasing a rubber sealant or taking your vehicle to your local mechanic will reduce your chances of having a blowout.
3. Watch for Nails or Foreign Objects
Checking the part of your each tire that rolls along the road (where the threading is located) for any type of foreign objects such as nails, glass or any other type of foreign objects that have punctures your tires. If there is a foreign object puncturing your tire, remove the tire and place your spare tire on your vehicle, then take your tire to a local tire shop. Never remove the object yourself, or you risk losing all of the air pressure in your tire, and possible ruining any chance of sealing the area that has been punctured.