How to Avoid Being a Bad Auto Repair Customer

Everyone would like to make a lasting and positive relationship with an Denver mechanic. There are a few things to avoid to ensure you are a good customer. First, never bicker and haggle over price. A customer that always comes in begging and argues over price will certainly end up on a mechanics bad side very quickly. Try to get the price settles quickly by doing research on the average price of the repair. You should know what the job will cost before you authorize starting on the project, so complaining after the job is finished. If you've done your homework and know you're getting a fair price, there's nothing wrong with acting as if you don't mind paying the price.

Another pro tip is to avoid spending too much time talking to mechanics and managers about things unrelated to your vehicle. A few kind words or some small talk is really all most mechanics have time for. This is especially true when you have them on the phone. You should state the reason for calling and get off the phone. Phone time takes the technician away from their work and other customers.

You can stay off a mechanics bad list by avoiding hanging over their shoulder to watch them work. This is uncomfortable for most people and can give the technician a sense of distrust. Wait in the customer lounge unless you are invited into the shop. Finally, if  you take your car to several shops don't attempt to haggle with this fact. If a manager believes that theirs is the only shop you visit, it puts you at an advantage.

Tires in Cold Pressure

Most people don't understand cold pressure doesn't necessarily mean the weather must be cold. It means your tires should be cold when they are checked before you drive.  When you drive, your tires heat up significantly when you drive and the increased temperature causes the pressure to increase.  It is a law of nature that if air is confined to a small area of space such as a tire and the temperature increases, the pressure will also rise.  If the temperature decreases, so will the pressure.  Knowing this, we understand you cannot accurately check the tire pressure of your tires once you have driven a few miles. 

Because tires tend to lose small amounts of air over a period of time, the pressure should be checked once every month.  If your tires only lose a pound or two between checks, this is normal.  Air can sometimes escape through the tiny pores in the rubber much in the same way that a rubber balloon loses air after a few days.  An older tire may be more susceptible  to bigger leaks because the rubber gets dry and can even develop small cracks.  If you check your tires two or three months in a row and you haven't lost any air, you wont need to check the pressure each month. 

When you add air to your tire, make sure you do not over fill it.  Many gas stations have compressed air or your can go to a Downing repair shop or tire shop to have your tires pressure checked and filled for you.  A week after you fill you tires, you will want to check the pressure again to make sure you didn't over fill or lose pressure.  Most tire gauges have a small nipple that is used to push in the valve to let excess air escape if you get too much pressure. If you purchased new tires from a tire dealer, they should be happy to add air for you at no charge. This will help assure them that you will get the most from your tires and purchased from them.

If you are looking for a place to check your tire pressure in Denver, check out Downing Street Garage at 401 Downing St  Denver, CO 80218 or call them at (303) 777-0142.

Repairing Vehicle Axles

The best way to replace a bad outer joint is to replace the entire axle on that side. This was not always the case, however. When FWD vehicles first came out, new axles were very expensive, sometimes over $500 each! At that time, it was cheaper to replace just the damaged CV joint and boot. Now it is actually less expensive to buy just the CV joint. When an old axle is re-manufactured the worn or damaged parts are re-machined or replaced and the axle will be as good as new, or better. There is another advantage: These axles not only have re-manufactured outer joints, but the inner joints will be as well, and new boots, grease, and clamps already installed. Replacing the entire axle, as opposed to replacing only the joint and boot, is almost always less expensive and less prone to giving you or your mechanic trouble. Furthermore, the Denver mechanic labor to replace the entire axle should e a little less than replacing the joint and boot, usually around $50 per axle. Today, re-manufactured axles cost from $75 to over $150 each for most common car models. You will usually need to replace only one axle at a time. It is not uncommon for a car to need an axle on one side but not the other. When shopping for a axle service center to replace the axle, make sure to compare the warranties.

So far, the outer joint has been the topic of discussion, because they are far more likely to go bad. Inner CV joints are not subjected to the same intense twisting and movement as outer joints, so they don't wear out as often-- but they can go bad. The symptoms for a bad inner joint are much different from the popping that an outer joint makes. In fact, a bad inner joint will not typically cause any strange noises. A bad inner joint will instead cause the car to shake and wobble back and forth, mostly when you are speeding up from a complete stop. This wobble which makes the whole car to move left and right, can be very severe while pressing the gas pedal and will then smooth out when the pedal is released. This condition can also come and go. It may happen once in every ten starts, or it may occur every time you start the car. This type of wobble or shimmy is almost always caused by a bad inner CV joint and should not be confused with a bad tire. Many new tires have been purchased to correct a vibration caused by an axle. A bad tire causes the car to shake whether the gas pedal is being pressed or not.

When to Have Your Brake Pads Inspected

Brake shoes are similar to brake pads and are designed to wear out. They are pressed against the inside of the brake drums to stop the car. Shoes are used only with drum brakes and are found only on the rear of modern cars. Many cars do not use drum brakes at all; these cars have disk brakes on the front and the rear. There are two brake shoes per rear wheel.

Any time the tires are off the car or whenever you hear or feel anything strange from your brakes, your brakes should be inspected. The best time is when you are having the tires rotated, which should be about every 5-7 thousand miles. This relatively short interval almost always allows you to catch the pads before they wear out completely. Even if the shop that does your tire rotation does not repair brakes, someone there can probably tell you approximately how much life is left on them. Simply ask them to look at your brakes while the wheels are off. Most cars can be checked with almost no effort if the tires are already off, so many shops will not change for such a check.

Warning Signs
Many cars and trucks have a built -in warning system that alerts you about worn brake pads- a device called a warning sensor. The appropriate slang term is "squealer." This squealer makes a high-pitched squeak when the brake pads are about 80-90% worn. The warning sensor is a small metal finger that gets closer and closer to the rotor as the brake pads wear thin. When the brake pads are worn out, this finger begins to scrape the rotor as the car rolls. This causes an annoying squeak which is similar to that of fingers on a chalkboard. A warning sensor squeal will usually stop when you apply your brakes. The squealer will not damage the rotor but it may sound like it is. When the squeak begins, Denver mechanic pros suggest you need to get new brake pads right away.

Audi Auto Repair Tips - Ways to Reduce the Cost of Audi Repair

Auto repair has become so expensive nowadays especially for imported cars such as the Audi. If you find yourself having trouble with your Audi, then these tips could help in reducing the cost of repairs.

Check the Warranty of Your Audi

Before bringing your Audi to the repair shop, check if it is still covered by the warranty. If it is, then you need to contact your car dealer immediately and tell about the problems of your Audi.

You can get free service and parts replacement if the Audi is still within warranty. The car dealer and the manufacturer will be the one responsible for repairs.

The Do-It-Yourself Repair

If you understand cars and knows the basics of car repair and maintenance, then it is usually best to repair the Audi by yourself. You will not pay for services which are really expensive now.

When repairing the Audi yourself, take advantage of free auto repair manuals which can be found abundantly on the web. You can find general repair manuals and model-specific car repair manuals.

There are also sites that have repair manuals exclusively for Audi cars. Specific Audi problems are listed on these sites. You only have to choose which manual to use and start repairing your Audi.

Simply download these free repair manuals. They are usually formatted in PDF or Word so you can print them easily. Just follow the steps in the manual and you can surely troubleshoot the problem bugging your Audi.

Finding Car Repair Shops

In case you don't know anything about car repairs, then don't tinker with your Audi. You might do more harm to it than good. You should bring your Audi to a reliable car repair shop and let the professionals repair your car.

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Changing Trends in Auto Repair Industry

Automobiles have become an integral part of every household. Be it for commercial purpose or personal use, they help you with the smooth transportation of both the goods and the passengers, so the sound condition of your vehicles must always be ensured to avoid inconvenience. Regular maintenance of the vehicle will avoid many of the problems. However, if a problem arises, it must be rectified as soon as possible by taking the service of an auto repair company. The industry is very much advanced and can take care of any problems pertaining to your vehicles.

With the growing number of automobiles on the road, the demand for auto repair professionals has also increased. The industry has benefited heavily from this. The economic fluctuations hardly affect the industry. If the economic climate is not favorable, the purchase of the new vehicles will be limited. This will in turn be beneficial for the industry as older cars tend to malfunction more often. These factors make the investment in this industry very safe. These are the main reasons for the increasing number of service shops. The increasing competition has benefited the customers as better services are available at cheaper costs now.

The industry has undergone a series of changes and is at its peak right now. Technology has played a major part in improving the quality of service. The auto repair service management software has also helped in carrying out the shop functions more easily. Rather than cutting down the employment prospects, these software applications have provided new employment opportunities.

Mobile auto repairs

This facility has gained wide popularity over the years. Car washing and detailing services are also becoming more common. The mobile repair van is equipped with all the essential vehicle parts, tools, fuel etc. which are required for fixing an automobile and restoring it in the working condition.

There are many advantages of making use of this facility.

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