We have completed our 3-Year Test Market of the Detail Guys Super Center, as we run the company; The Detail Guys, if you are already in the industry you have heard of us, if not you might wish to check out our website as it might give you some juicy ideas to help you in your auto detailing business;

http://www.DetailGuys.com

After watching the automobile trends for 5 years and running this facility in conjunction with a franchisee in Reno, NV we have learned a great deal in a very short amount of time. We were also able to put together a significant number of vendors to help with support. We learned about Paint and Dent Repair, both paint-less and air-less. We studied oil additives, bed liners spray systems, clear coat sealants, aftermarket warranties, vending machine sales, buffers, wash bays, shop flooring and coating, web sales, management, training, color sanding, labor scheduling, royalty receivables, wholesale detailing, retail detail marketing, commission technicians, rotating shifts, energy requirements, artificial lighting, multiple locations, on-site and off site Dealership Detailing and fixed billing costs for customers. Yes, a lot to learn in 3-years and we want to thank our team for studying, learning, adapting, and overcoming obstacles.

As many of you realize we were closely watching the Ziebart Corporations business model and we were testing our efficiencies to compete in that market. After our 3-year study and test market we saw where we felt Ziebart was weak in certain sunny state markets and moved to determine which types of services we would drop and which we would concentrate on as we went head to head with them in any market. We feel we have a superior concept and a better understanding of the reality of the industry. Yet no one can deny Ziebart has a rich history in the auto aftermarket business. You may also wish to check out their website as they seem to dominate many markets today in this sector.

http://www.Ziebart.com

Whether you are thinking of owning your own franchise or going it alone, study the market and understand the profit margins and of each type of service you might provide. If you are unsure, you may wish to buy a Ziebart Franchise, if not perhaps you might buy some equipment from one of the well-known industry vendors such as Detail Plus. Here is another link, which might help you with the layout of your detail shop.

http://www.detailguys.com/nw12.shtml

Best of luck and remember there is enough cars for everyone as the auto makers are selling over 17 million per year. Think about it, think about auto detailing.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Author: Lance Winslow
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

FACT: In 1982, the federal government bowed to pressure from automakers and rolled back impact test requirements from 5 to 2.5 mph for 1983 and later model cars. The 2.5 mph standard also allows unlimited damage to the bumper and attachments – and most of today’s flimsy bumpers cost considerably more than the old 5 mph bumpers to fix.

FAIRY TALE #2 Todays 2½ MPH Bumper Standards Apply To All Vehicles Manufactured In The US.

FACT: Federal bumper requirements apply only to passenger cars. There are no federal standards for Minivans, Pickup Trucks, or SUVs.

FAIRY TALE #3 Bumpers Don’t Need To Be More Effective.

FACT: Consumers want stronger bumpers and they want them on all vehicle types. In a 1998 Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) survey, 77% of respondents said the government should require car bumpers to withstand a 5 mph impact with no damage. Eighty-eight percent said federal bumper standards should apply to all passenger vehicle types, not just cars.

FAIRY TALE #4 New Bumpers Are Better Than Old Ones.

Generally no. Bumpers used to be stronger. Example: “The 2004 F-150 is all new, but its bumpers are just as flimsy as before and even a little worse,” says Adrian Lund of IIHS. “The highest damage total was in the rear-into-pole test. The whole bumper was pushed downward, and the tailgate was crushed. In addition, the left and right ends of the bumper were driven into the rear fenders.” But it’s not just Ford.

FAIRY TALE #5 All Bumpers Are The Same.

No. Bumpers vary a lot in terms of both components and performance. In fact, some vehicles don’t even have bumpers. According to Adrian Lund of the IIHS; when one Toyota RAV4 was crashed into another Toyota RAV4 at 10 mph, “it didn’t engage the rear bumper because this SUV doesn’t have a rear bumper. Instead, the striking RAV4 hit the spare tire mounted on the tailgate,” Lund says. “This spare tire was the ‘anti-bumper.’ It didn’t absorb any energy. It didn’t prevent any damage. In fact, it caused most of the damage to both vehicles.

Why It Costs You Money…

Bumpers play a significant role in insurance costs because so many physical damage claims are for relatively small amounts of damage involving the front or rear of vehicles–damage that a well designed bumper could prevent. Half of all collision claims are $1,500 or less. Repair costs for these minor incidents are a major factor in overall collision insurance costs.

So, How Can Consumers Tell If A Vehicle Has A Good Bumper?

Consumers cannot tell a good bumper from a bad one by looking at it. The federal government does not require automakers to disclose information about bumper performance.

Jeff is CEO of Mohr Mfg – http://www.superbumper.com The company makes portable, energy absorbing, spare safety bumpers that prevent rear end collision damage caused by Tailgaters, Uninsured Motorists, Bumper To Bumper Traffic, Distracted Drivers, Inattentive Cell Phone Users, Drivers With Poor Judgment, Text Messengers And Lousy, Stinking Parallel Parkers.

Author: Jeff Mohr
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

Getting a Lemon Law attorney is pretty low on the list, if you even knew there was such a thing. But it does happen and it is going to continue to happen. This is an unfortunate fact of life, particularly in a society that loves its automobiles.

Automobiles are more than essential to our daily lives; they are at the very heart of our economy. This is big business at its biggest. Even car dealerships are becoming big businesses.
It is an unfortunate axiom in business that when the going gets tough you cut departmental budgets.

Two departments that are always first up on the block are training and quality. Common sense tells us that these are the absolute last places to make cuts. It would make far more sense to go to every department and arbitrarily remove two layers of management. People who are dumping their work on others, creating little kingdoms whose measure of success is number of staff, would be forced to produce with fewer people stumbling all over each other. Streamlining management would speed the flow of work through the organization exponentially. It is sad that common sense is so seldom applied.

Untrained workers are a liability. This is fact. To allow them to continue to be untrained or intentionally withhold training to enhance the dealership’s bottom line, is worse than ignorant, it borders on the criminal.

Out there at the dealership, we are at the mercy of the people who work on our car. In the world of modern auto mechanics – we call them technicians now – lack of training is the source of astonishing inefficiencies, lost and or totally infuriated customers, major warranty costs for manufacturers and occasionally, loss of life.

If you are saying, “it can’t be that bad.” Think again. The need for well-trained auto mechanics, or technicians, if you prefer, is a national problem and it isn’t getting better despite auto mechanic schools springing up in every town and city.

More in the common sense department: Thousands of Lemon vehicles are replaced or refunded every year. Many of these cars had problems so complex that the technicians at the dealership couldn’t correctly diagnose and repair them. You imagine that because it is a large dealership, there must be people trained to repair what they sell. This assumption is as defective as the cars they cannot repair. The manufacturer must shoulder part of the problem to be sure. It is, after all, their responsibility to ensure that their dealerships personnel receive training on each new model car.
T
he need for auto mechanics is so desperate in some parts of the country, dealerships offer auto mechanics who are tech school graduates, substantial signing bonuses, like a high school baseball pitcher phenon from Bakersfield. Admittedly it isn’t in the millions. Large car dealerships will happily pay the tuition of technical school students as long as they can get them when they graduate. It’s a complex problem.

Here are some of the key factors that add to this complexity:

- Older mechanics are leaving the industry to take up other work. It’s just too hard to stay trained, to keep up.

- The pressures of working in a modern dealership begin to outweigh the benefits, especially when any technician with an ounce of decency finds his integrity being compromised at every turn.

- The equipment to service the modern automobile is incredibly expensive. A modern diagnostic machine may cost $20,000 or more, and keep in mind this machine will only work with one, or at best, a few model vehicles. Every day, all across the United States, independent auto repair shops are closing for the simple reason they can’t afford to purchase the equipment needed to work on the modern, computer-managed automobile. Even if they could afford the machines, they can’t find anyone trained in their use.

- Many older mechanics fear and loathe technology; they don’t want to work on anything that has a computer in it (that’s every new car manufactured for the past ten years).

- Technical school graduates in auto maintenance technology often switch to other jobs in computer fields that don’t require them to crawl around under vehicles: all that dirt and grease you know.

Technician retention is a serious problem. Because of the competition for a well-trained technician, dealerships must offer more money and benefits to keep these special employees. The turnover rate at dealerships is far higher than most equivalent sized organizations in other industries.

The flat rate pay system drives mechanics and dealerships alike to cheat. It is problem of altered time. The customer is getting the least possible time devoted to his or her problems, while the technician bills the maximum allowable hours. The technician is encouraged to do this by the dealership as a declared efficiency factor. It’s money for the dealership of course.

There is so much to learn with new models coming out every year the technicians can’t keep up. And now it isn’t just mechanical systems, it is also software and the electronic integration of all the automobiles electro-mechanical systems. Somewhere along the way this work went from blue-collar to white collar, from grease to pocket protector geek. But, Mothers and Dads aren’t encouraging their sons and daughters to go into the automotive maintenance field because they still think it is a low level job. It’s a shame really, as it can pay quite well and it is a profession requiring a high degree of knowleddge.

Dealerships cut training hours the minute the bottom line looks as if it is in trouble.

Considering all these factors, it is surprising anyone would want to enter the industry at all. The profession of automobile repair technician has become a white-collar job in a blue-collar world. Here’s another factor, which may seem more opinion that fact. The typical auto mechanic or technician doesn’t get much respect. For a variety of reasons auto mechanics are not held in high repute, professionally. The average car owner when talking about his or her mechanic is a skeptic: suspicious, fearful and ready to do violence. The average citizen speaks of his mechanic in terms usually reserved for politicians and perverts. This response is both unfair and inaccurate. It is definitely emotional.

There is a reason for this. Joe Citizen’s reaction to his mechanic is not simply bad judgment or perversity. People react to events in direct proportion to their affect on survival. How important is a car to your survival? In Los Angeles, it is as important as food. How well the car works absolutely affects quality of life. There’s a lot of emotion associated with survival.

These attitudes are not entirely unwarranted. Remember how you felt when you bought your first new car? There was excitement, the pleasure of having done an adult thing, made and saved enough money to make one of the largest purchases an American can make. And the satisfaction of owning a new car: “New”! This is very special indeed.

As car owners, we have no way of knowing that the technician working on our car was never trained on the vehicle’s electronic system. The flat-rate mechanics pay system encourages the technician to work as fast as possible, not as well as possible. The following quote has really meaning here.

“People forget how fast you did a job–but they remember how well you did it.” — Anonymous

The service writer doesn’t verify the skills of the technician he or she assigns to do the work. So when the Electronic Control System computer fails through poor design, or a software fault, and the technician changes out some other component, like the emission control valve, the owner leaves thinking everything is all right. Then before the owner gets home, the vehicle manifests the same problem. This is called “betrayal after trust”, and nothing is more likely to enrage a buyer. When the owner looks around for someone to abuse, shoot, whatever the level of his anger demands, and naturally he focuses on the technician. Training is not something one does because it looks good in an advertisement.

“If we deliver on time, but the product has defects, we have not delivered on time.” Philip Crosby Let’s Talk Quality, 1989

What will we get from the untrained technician/mechanic? We get the car back but it isn’t fixed. If this continues, it is a betrayal of our trust, plain and simple. It certainly wouldn’t be out of line for the consumer to ask about the training of the technician who works on our car. We’d want to know if the doctor cutting holes in our body were trained. Keep in mind that a defective lemon vehicle might put unrepairable holes in your body.

Donald Ladew, Staff Writer for Norman Taylor & Associates, is a professional writer and author of numerous articles on quality,customer service issues and many other subjects. This article approved by Norman F. Taylor Esq. For more information about this most important subject, please read Lemon Law – The Standard Reference Guide, Norman F. Taylor Esq. ISBN 0-9760058-0-8 http://www.lemonattorneys.com or http://www.normantaylor.com For further inquiries, Mr. Ladew may be reached at: donald@normantaylor.com Phone: 818-244-3905.

Author: Donald Ladew
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

The modern automobile is the culmination of more than 100 years of development. Modern technology coupled with better metallurgy, production methods and design, have combined to provide drivers with sound transportation that will travel hundreds of thousands of miles without major repairs. If your “clunker” has made it this far, a wise investment might be to replace all the worn components and rebuild those that can be refurbished. The alternative is to go into debt for a new vehicle. Much like with the stimulus programs, debt isn’t the answer. A few thousand dollars reinvested in your old car is a lot better than a car note that is bigger than your mortgage payment.

In the forties and fifties, a vehicle with fifty thousand miles on it was ready for a valve-and-ring job, but today there are many vehicles with several hundred thousand miles on them that still don’t leak or consume oil. In fact, most “oil-burning” is from worn seals as opposed to the failure of major engine components.

So what are the major components that fail or that should be serviced and replaced on a regular basis?
o Brakes – The pads wear out and the calipers need servicing.
o Suspension – Shock absorbers, struts, constant velocity joints and control arms should be checked and replaced as necessary. Vehicle alignment is important to handling and tire wear.
o Tires – Should be kept at proper inflation levels, balanced and rotated to maximize their lifespan.
o Engine and lubrication service – Regular oil and filter changes will extend the life of your engine, transmission and differential.

These services performed at proper intervals, will extend the life of your vehicle. Even if you do have a major component failure, the repair costs are still far less than the cost of a new vehicle, even with the $4,500 stimulus and close-to-invoice pricing from desperate dealerships.

Rebuilding or replacing the engine, transmission, differential or other component is still less costly than a new vehicle purchase . . . and you don’t have a car payment to shoulder after paying for the repairs. Japanese car owners have another alternative; pre-owned engines imported from Japan. The Japanese government has mandated that no engine may be operated for more than 100,000 kilometers without being replaced. This is sixty thousand US miles. These slightly worn engines and transmissions are imported by enterprising companies and offered for a fraction of their value to repair shops. Most of them need nothing than minor adjustments or installation labor, to provide many years of service on the US freeways and Interstates.

Before you help the Feds bailout the auto industry, consider having your “clunker” repaired and serviced, as your own form of a stimulus to your pocketbook. An estimate from a competent, trustworthy auto service shop will probably show that the cost of getting your “ride” into top shape is less costly than you imagined . . . and you’ll still have that vehicle that has served you well so far.

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at SW Engines. He writes about used transmissions, used BMW parts and other industry specific topics.

Author: Ronnie W Tanner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

One of the most common reasons for a vehicle overheating is a stuck thermostat. It can stick or freeze in the closed position blocking the flow of coolant to your engine. The easiest way to check if your thermostat is not open is to feel the upper radiator hose. Once the engine warms up it should become warm. If it does not get hot the thermostat is probably not opening.

A second common cause of overheating is a leak in your vehicle’s cooling system. If your vehicle is loosing coolant there will not be enough left in the vehicle to keep it cool. This is easy to diagnose as the radiator will be low on fluid and there will probably be a pool of coolant on the floor of your garage. Look for leaks in the most common places like around hoses and around the welds of your radiator. If you can not find the leak you might need to take it to a shop to have the cooling system pressure tested.

The third cause is a faulty water pump. The water pump is a vital part of your cooling system since it is responsible for circulating coolant through your engine. With a faulty water pump your vehicle will not run for more than a few minutes without overheating.

The fourth cause of overheating is a bad cooling fan. There are two types of fans, electric and mechanical. The electric fan should come on automatically once the vehicle reaches operating temperature or when the A/C is turned on. If it doesn’t you should have it replaced. The mechanical fan will run all of the time but has a clutch which makes it turn faster when the engine heats up. With the car turned off the fan should not turn too easily especially when the vehicle is warm. You can also check for signs of leakage from the fan clutch. If you see any problems have it replaced.

The fifth cause of overheating I will talk about is a clogged radiator. Over time the radiator can accumulate deposits of rust and debris. This is especially true if radiator fluid has not been flushed on a regular basis. If you suspect a clogged radiator you should take it to a shop to have it professionally cleaned.

Those are some of the most common cause for vehicle overheating. Vehicle overheating can cause a great deal of damage to your vehicle. If you are experiencing trouble be sure to fix your vehicle or take it to a quality mechanic as soon as possible.

Learn about online auto repair at the authors website on car, truck and automobile repair.

Author: James C
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

There are some major benefits to going with a repair shop that’s certified as a consultant with the vehicle you own. For Honda and Acura vehicles, it’s best to be with fellows who know the inner workings of those specific brands of vehicles. Each car has an entirely different makeup. Westlake Independent Honda/Acura Service has provided specialized expertise for Hondas and Acuras since 1988. This could save you from having to pay for an experimental trial when you are getting your car fixed.

This is critical. You want a company that has the best reputation locally for satisfying their correct wishes. Some shops will do nefarious things and make an attempt to “repair” things that are not really damaged. Some may do a poor job. There is a degree to which a bad automobile repair company may do a rotten job so that they can create more work for themselves. Since you don’t have the technical data to understand if a problem is their fault, they’d use you in such a fashion. This is why trust and a good buyer reputation are a must when choosing the right auto repair shop for your Honda and Acura vehicles.

Luckily there are shops out there that do everything they can in order to show to their shoppers that they are the best. This may not let them “create work” by making Problems, but they’re going to win in the long run. If you need somebody in your corner, who is trustworthy, accomplished, and experienced with your automobile, you can simply count on them to get you up and running again.

choosing an auto repair shop is a very major call. Go with someone that has trust of the area people. Westlake Independent is a good example of such a company. They can handle everything, and their services maintain your factory and extended guaranties. They even broker new cars and have pre-owned vehicles available for sale. Rental vehicles are available on site, and local shuttle service is available, too. Whether maintenance or correct for new or pre-owned autos is required, Westlake Independent has it covered. Westlake Independent Honda/Acura service is the do-it-all mechanic for your Honda or Acura.

Please visit http://www.westlakeindependent.com

For more information visit: http://westlakeindependent.com

Author: Dixie A Harbor
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

It has always been a part of common culture to understand that if you go to a mechanic with a problem with your vehicle and tell him you have no idea what is wrong, you are doomed. Many people feel that the response is always going to be the same. “Your A-frame is broken, and it will cost you a million dollars to get it fixed, not counting labor.” The feeling is that your only chance is to know what is wrong and ask for a specific repair. Ignorance or an inability to understand the workings of the modern automobile are thought to be dangerously expensive. Yet, you can help your case with some good questions to ask a mechanic.

Actually, the first good question is pretty basic. What is the problem? This is the one that creates fear in many people. This is an issue of trust between the customer and the mechanic. If this trust is there, the question is appropriate and should be asked first. If the trust is not there and you are worried about the response being what will net the mechanic the biggest profit and not the truth, then get a second or third opinion. We will get back to this point in a later question on cost. The point is that if you are absolutely sure of the problem, you will simply start by saying, “I need my whatsis replaced”, and move on to the next question. If you have no idea what is wrong, you have to ask.

The next question should be fairly obvious. What are my options? There are usually options. Parts can be repaired or replaced. Replacement parts can be new or used. Sometimes problem areas can be bypassed. There are options in auto repair and you need to know what they are before you can make the right decision. Do not treat the mechanic like a guru and trust him without reservation. He knows all of your options, so ask him to share his information with you.

The next basic question is cost. Do not be shy about asking the cost. Most mechanics are prepared to give estimates. Many will not start work until an estimate is prepared and you have signed it to show your understanding and approval. Be a big supporter of this process. If you have a great deal of trust in your mechanic and have developed a good long term relationship with him, or he is dating your daughter, trust that estimate to be fair and the best deal available. Otherwise, consider getting a second opinion.

Although it usually is not necessary to ask this last one, it is a question that you should be satisfied with in your own mind. What is the training and certification of your mechanic? The reason this does not need to be asked is that most mechanics are proud of their training levels. They will let you know them in many obvious ways from certificates on the wall to logos sewn into their overalls. If the answer is that the mechanic has been fixing cars for 40 years, you have to make the decision if that rates higher than some formal classroom training in modern computer aided diagnostics. Remember, your teenage son could usually perform any car repair you needed 40 years ago. Today, it takes a bit more.

Locate reputable car shops near you at CarMechanicShops.com.

Author: Aazdak Alisimo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

Because the automatic transmission is the most complex piece of machinery in your entire vehicle, by no means can a list of warning signs be all-inclusive. With that said, here are the 8 most common problems that have been observed by transmission repair specialists over the years. These are the early warning signs that you want to look out for:

1) Leakage. That small pool of pinkish oil that you see when you move your vehicle from its parking spot in the morning is a sign of trouble. Transmissions can leak from nearly 20 different external seals- some are very simple to repair, while others require more involved service procedures. In any case, the idea is to have the vehicle looked at right away by a qualified transmission repair shop because, much like an engine that gets low on oil, a transmission that is low on fluid can fail completely in very short order.

2) Shaking. Sometimes a shaking or bucking sensation is experienced, especially at highway speeds. While this may be an issue of poor engine tune, it could also be a malfunction in the transmission. Take it to an expert that can tell the difference and diagnose it for you.

3) Delayed drive or reverse. A noticeably longer than normal hesitation for your transmission to engage a gear once the shifter is put in “D” or “R” is another sign of a transmission malfunction. These delays can be caused by anything from a low fluid level or a band that is in need of adjustment to an internal transmission seal or clutch pack that is failing. Again, sooner rather than later is the right time to get it checked out.

4) A neutral condition on brisk acceleration from a stop or when going around a turn. This is a classic sign of a low fluid condition. Remember, unlike an engine where it may be normal for some oil to be consumed over time, if a transmission is low on fluid it is leaking.

5) Burning smell. A burnt odor can be a sign of a transmission that is overheating or is leaking fluid onto the exhaust. This needs to be addressed immediately- if engine oil or transmission fluid drips onto a hot exhaust it could catch on fire.

6) Check engine light. Today’s transmissions are computer controlled and a check engine light can be an indication of a trans problem, even if you don’t have a drivability symptom yet. Modern automobile computers are extremely sensitive and can detect a transmission slip or malfunction that would be imperceptible to the driver. The light comes on to tell you that something is wrong somewhere- listen to it and get your car checked out!

7) Transmission Slipping. Slipping is a condition where the engine is revving but full power is not getting to the wheels. Slipping can be caused by a variety of transmission malfunctions- none of which should be ignored.

Harsh shifting and wrong gear starts. A hard shift or wrong gear start either by itself or in conjunction with a check engine light may be a sign that your transmission is in a computer commanded “failsafe” or “limp home” mode. This can be triggered by your vehicle’s computer when it detects a transmission fault. The reason for this computer strategy is to let the driver know that there is a problem and to help protect the transmission from further damage while it is “limped” to a shop to be repaired.

While we often fall into the trap of hoping that problems with our vehicles will somehow go away or fix themselves, rarely does it work out that way. Paying attention to and addressing your vehicle’s small problems before they turn into larger ones can often help you to avoid costly transmission repairs.

John Lombardi is co-owner of Passaic County Transmission and has been in the transmission repair industry for over 20 years.

Author: John Lombardi
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

Below, we’ll provide an overview regarding your check engine (CI) light. We’ll describe how it works, the most common reasons it turns on, and how you should react when you notice it. We’ll also give you a few tips for troubleshooting the culprit that triggered it.

How The Light Works

The CI light is actually part of an older automotive design. It is connected to your car’s onboard diagnostic system. This system is built around a computer that monitors and regulates several features of your vehicle’s operation. For example, the computer watches your engine’s RPMs, the air-fuel mixture within the individual cylinders, and its ignition timing. It may also control the shifting of your transmission, depending on your vehicle’s make and model.

When a problem occurs, the onboard diagnostic system will attempt to correct it. If it is unable to do so, it will trigger the check engine light. Whenever the computer sets off the light, it will generate a trouble code. This code helps the mechanic determine what is causing the problem. For example, a failing oxygen sensor will produce a different code than a misfire.

Your mechanic will have access to a special diagnostic tool that can “pull” the code from the computer. You can also purchase a similar tool at many auto supply stores. Automakers create the trouble codes to make it easier for technicians to find and resolve problems.

It’s worth noting that every automaker designs their onboard diagnostic system a little differently. That means the computer in one type of vehicle may set off codes for different events than another vehicle’s computer. That said, there is a significant amount of overlap. For example, nearly all automakers have designed their computers to identify most types of powertrain issues.

Knowing How To React

So, what should you do if you notice the CI light illuminated on your dash? The worst thing you can do is ignore it. A lot of drivers see the light and convince themselves they have plenty of time to have the issue addressed. The problem is, there’s no way of knowing whether something serious is wrong with your engine or another major component. A lot of issues start small and worsen with time. When your engine is involved, this can lead to extensive – and expensive – repairs.

To be clear, there’s rarely a need to pull over immediately when you see the CI light. However, if it comes on, avoid letting too much time pass before having a mechanic pull the trouble code. Drive to a repair shop and ask a technician to pull the code as soon as possible. Then, once you have determined if the issue is serious, you can decide whether you can postpone the necessary repairs.

A Few “Common Sense” Tips

When you see the check engine light come on, try to identify other signs that imply a potentially serious problem. For example, a low oil level should trigger a dedicated light, but may also set off the CI light. Because insufficient oil can cause your engine to overheat, you should pull over until you have a chance to replenish it.

Also, the light can often be triggered by a loose gas cap. If you have recently refueled your car, check the cap to make certain it is tight.

If you’re driving a GM vehicle and subscribe to the OnStar service, call a representative as soon as you notice the CI light. The representative can remotely pull the trouble code and determine the problem.

The purpose of your car’s check engine light is to notify you of any issues that need to be resolved. If you notice it illuminated on your dash, have the underlying issue identified and fixed as soon as possible.

When looking for used auto parts and used engines consider the leader in parts, Everdrive.com

Author: Lawrence Reaves
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

Toyota knew they were building a great product, being one of the Initial Quality volume leaders, but Toyota’s Delivery Quality was way behind the market average. Obviously, Toyota controls how they build their vehicles and every aspect of the processes and procedures in the factories. However, Toyota did not have the same control on the dealer level with every dealer having different processes for delivering new Toyotas. Toyota begin to see a pattern develop – if the Toyota store had bad VDQ scores, then that stores numbers were down usually in both sales and profit.

Was it this major concern for these bad apple stores with bad VDQ scores and a lack of control at the dealer level concerning customer satisfaction that caused Toyota to stop doing what they do well? I believe so. Toyota took for granted that they build and manufacturer one of the best automobiles in the world and stopped focusing on that and began to focus on the question, “what can we do with our dealer body to increase customer satisfaction?” Toyota had all of the solutions, Customer Experience Groups, Customer Relations Manager positions, VDQ tools, tests and training, Toyota Motor Sales Delivery Training. Toyota put managers into the field and they were involved with nothing but Customer Satisfaction and Delivery Process.

How many unsatisfied customers are there now due to the recalls? The St. Petersburg Times quoted Manny Oliveira of Sun Toyota, “If we did 50 repairs a day, just on the cars we’ve sold here, it would take us a year to finish.” Dealers are doing everything they can to satisfy the customer, most, if not all Toyota dealerships have increased their service hours some even opening 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is innate for a dealer to want to satisfy his customers. If the dealer doesn’t have happy customers, they won’t stay open very long.

However, Toyota should have continued to focus on what they do well and let the dealers focus on missing keys, door dings, missing floor mats, full tanks of gas and all of the other things that go into customer satisfaction at the dealer level. I am confident Toyota will fix these recall issues and will once again gain their reputation as a dependable car builder. I am also confident that Ford, GM, Hyundai and other auto manufacturers have narrowed that quality gap and Toyota will find it much more difficult to climb back to the top as the number one selling auto manufacturer in the world.

Lee Johansen is an Account Executive with Silverback Advertising. Having 17 years of retail automotive experience at some of the largest automotive dealerships on the west coast of Florida. He was involved with setting-up some of the first Toyota dealer Internet websites in the mid-90s and since then has strived to be on the cutting edge of Internet advertising. Lee is currently using tools such as Search Engine Marketing, Intuitive Search Engine Marketing, Display Advertising, Behavioral Targeting and Re-Targeting. Feel free to contact him at lee.johansen@silverbackadvertising.com

Author: Lee Johansen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How Electric Pressure Cookers Work