Helpful Tips When Your Car Needs to Tow
The car may break down for some reasons like engine, electrical, transmission or suspension failure. And breaking down is a nuisance most especially if you see some dagger looks from another motorist just as you stuck in the middle of the road and cause a traffic jam. If this situation occurs, probably your first reaction is to call for a company that renders towing services or ask a friend who can help or appoint someone to assist you. Here’s what you should remember before doing so.
Things to Consider Before Calling for Help
- If you noticed anything unusual try to drive slowly along the shoulder of the road and pull over
- If in case an abrupt flat tire occurs, move the vehicle to the safe corner. This might damage more your tire, rim or wheel but it will lessen the risk of your safety
- If you are on the side of the road, don’t attempt to fix your car if you think it is crucial, let the expert or the mechanic do it for you
- If by chance you are on a highway, be as visible as possible. Warn other drivers by using reflective triangles or flares (warning device should be placed far enough away from the vehicle) raise the car’s hood, put the lightest piece of cloth or carry a flashlight as warning signs
“Prevention is better than cure” might be an old statement but it still works in many instances. Like, how would you feel if emergencies happen and you know nothing or no one to call? To be always ready is your advantage thus, get some connections to towing companies that you think can render the best services, a reliable firm you can trust during a road emergency. Searching for one? Here’ some qualities of a towing company that you should look for.
- See to it that you know a towing company that renders services 24 hours a day or 7 days a week since most car breakdowns happen at the most inconvenient times
- Try to know one that serves local and long distance towing which ensures that your vehicle will be towed in a proper manner and that they will respond quickly
- A company with a larger fleet is good to consider which can assure that provides different types of tow trucks for your convenience
- Find a company that has competitive rates, get to know what’s included in the rates like towing truck used, time and other factors
- Also, consider the years of experience. The longer a company has been in business the better you can expect good services
If you think that your car needs attention beyond repair, remember this number 718-297-9797 to call, as we serve our clients with high quality of service any time of the day. Get to know more of our services through our website or check our Facebook page for more details.
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Stay Alert! The Danger of Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is considered as one of the reasons for fatal crashes, it can happen any time of the year, as a matter of fact, it is quite prevalent in all months. Many people can’t tell when they are about to fall asleep but if you are one of the passengers and notice the following signs, tell your driver to stop and rest.
- When the driver keeps on blinking his/her eyes and have difficulty on focusing
- When he/she keeps on yawning and rubbing his/her eyes
- When they sometimes miss the road signs and find it hard to remember the last few miles driven
- When they find themselves hard to keep their heads up
- When they seemed daydreaming and not in focus
The combination of sleepiness and driving are highly alarming as this will lead the drivers to be;
- Less attentive to the road
- Wouldn’t be able to abruptly react when they need to break
- Decreased its ability to make good decision while driving
- Develop its bad mood and aggressive behaviors
Among nearly 150,000 adults aged 18 to 40 years or older, admitted that they had fallen asleep once in its previous driving experienced, and some claimed that it is because of;
- Lack of sleep. Most people do not get the required (at least 8) hours of sleep per night due to some reasons including lifestyle choices
- Untreated sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy and other related health issues
- Job- related requirements like shifting late, working long hours and having more than one career
- Too much alcohol intake. The component of alcoholic drinks can cause sleepiness or immobility effects
Drowsy driving is definitely risky hence before you hit the road keeps the following tips in mind.
- Get enough sleep and start out well rested
- Listen to lively music or at least keep conversation alive with other passengers
- Stay focus and avoid using cruise control for long trips
- When driving on a long trip, full over, go out in the car and do a little stretching once in a while or better yet share driving if possible
It has been reported that drowsy driving caused roughly 4,400 vehicle collisions and more than 5,000 fatalities [NHTSA National Center for Statistics and Analysis]. If you happened to bump up your car along the road and need restoration, drop by at New York City Auto Salvage & Glass or call us at (718) 297-9797 and we will fix it through.
Is it Time for a New Alternator?
Every car parts are essential and play a vital role that allows your automobile to run properly, one of which is the alternator. It is the pivotal piece of the machinery that works with the battery to produce power for the electrical parts of the vehicle that will keep them all running. When the alternator malfunction, it can mean an inconvenience or expensive repairs. Now, does it still working? Or, is it time for a new alternator? How do you know?
Warning Signs for Alternator Failure
The lifespan of the alternator will depend on the car’s condition or how it’s being used, but one thing is for sure “it cannot last forever” as it does a tough job. Hence, be alarm if your vehicle shows the following warning signs.
A dashboard warning light
The battery light in the dashboard will usually come on when the computer detects that the electrical system has fallen down or below its requirement. Warning light usually means of a dead battery or the alternator itself have an issue.
A frequent vehicle jump start
One of the main jobs of the alternator is to provide enough charge of the battery, it signifies an issue if it will not be able to meet the vehicle’s electrical needs and will not be able to keep up the load requirements to start the engine. If your cars require a frequent jump start to bring it back to life, it shows that the alternator is beginning to have a problem or has failed.
A dim light
Another erratic alternator symptoms are dimming of lights or speedometer and tachometers that simply stop working for no reason. If you notice any sort of flickering lights when you switch on the ignition, it indicates that the alternator is not generating enough power to supply the vehicle’s electrical needs.
A “grinding” or “whining” sounds
Worn or broken car parts known that produced odd sounds like grinding or whining noise. Grinding sound usually due of damaged, dirty bearing inside the alternator. Also, if the pulley is not in correct alignment in the belt or if it’s canted on the shaft you’ll notice the same sounds that set as a warning
A bad smell
A misaligned pulley will often cause friction on the belt which creates heat and produced a bad smell of burning rubber. Hot wire scent often associated to an overheated alternator and will accompany failure.
Erratic electronics
The alternator is responsible for supplying electronic energy to your vehicle thus if you observed an over bright headlight or very dim if the speedometer completely fails or electronic windows breakdown it means to say that the alternator is experiencing issues.
A quick inspection
A quick inspection will help you to determine if your alternator is worn out or broken. Open the hood and check the engine compartment if a belt is too loose or too tight. If it shows cracking, excessive wear and other age issues it indicates a problem.
Considering that your alternator is broken and that you’ve noticed the above-mentioned warnings, the question is, are you going to buy a new one or rebuild it? If you are mechanically inclined, fixing it yourself is recommended as you might just replace some defective parts which are worth the time and is very cost effective.
How about getting from a junkyard for alternator replacement? Why not? All you need to do is ask assistance from our skilled mechanic, call (718) 297-9797 or like us on Facebook and see more tips beyond alternator.
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Troubleshooting Tips: Why Your Car Won’t Start?
Almost every car owners have experienced turning on the key and nothing happens, the worst and frustrating scenario of being in an emergency and found out the car won’t start. Understanding the reason behind and learning the basic troubleshooting tips is your advantage.
Determine the Problem
To determine the reason what might be preventing your car from starting requires logical approach as there are many objects or parts behind the hood that needs attention like for instance.
Electrical
- Dead Battery is the most common reason that your car won’t start, it could be weak or totally dead. Weak battery at least produced a groaning sound but even tail lights don’t response for a dead one. Jump starting the car will fix dead battery issues
- Battery fuse often associated with a no-start car, take a look at its fuse system and find possible damage, replace it if necessary
- Battery corrosion is another cause. Check every connection or terminals for corrosion clean every angle and try to re-start your car
- Another electrical component that can affect the start system is a bad starter. Try to check using a circuit tester and see if it still works, if not, then this could be the culprit
Ignition System
- Ignition system could be the reason why your car won’t ignite. Check the coil using a multimeter that can measure the impedance. If it looks bad, replace it.
- Occasionally, distributor cap could be suspect, remove it and check if there’s possible dirt or moisture that causes your no-start problem. Wipe it thoroughly to get dry and if cracks or damage spotted, take a new piece.
Fuel Related
- There are many electrical connections in the fuel injection system, check every link and be sure that it is tight and properly arranged
- Check the fuel pump and relay with a circuit tester while the key is “On” position. From here, you can determine if the fuse or the pump relay is the cause
- Clog fuel filter is also another factor to consider. Your car is safe if you regularly change your fuel filter but if you neglect to replace it after 12,000 miles or so then this could be the source of the problem
Other “no-start” related issues
- The key will not turn the ignition switch with a lock wheel. Try to nudge your wheel left and right and turn your ignition key
- This may rare but it happens, check your spark plugs and see if it still work or needs to replace
- Cold engine will prevent you from starting, faulty cold start valve also brings an issue, try to start the engine when it is warm
Different cars have different ways to manage, it is perhaps similar but still, it has a distinctive process. If you think you need an opinion from car experts just dial (718) 297-9797 or like us on Facebook to see more tips and guides.
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10 Cleaning Tips That Rejuvenate Your Car’s Interior
Cleaned car interior is essential from a hygienic perspective. A grimy lodge not just looks awful, it can likewise make or add to operational issues, but cleaning such will definitely cost you a lot of money like $200 to $500 (for professional detailing) to make the car look show-worthy. However, DIY (doing it yourself) option is surprisingly inexpensive and to get a thorough understanding of the correct techniques, come along and follow these 10 cleaning tips that will rejuvenate your car’s interior.
- Gather your cleaning products and equipment: vacuum cleaner, chemical cleaning products, different-sized of brush and applicators and an assortment of wiping and polishing materials. See to it that you are only using goods that are meant for your car’s surfaces.
- Remove all the trash from every corner (this is a good way to start) slide seats and pick up some junks of papers, coins, empty bottles, boxes and other objects that you can accumulate the process may take time depending on how dirty is your interior. Begin with a thorough vacuuming of the interior; carpets, seats, dash and back shelf.
- Remove the floor mats, shake off dust and dirt, use the vacuum to get rid hidden tiny particles wash it with a non-slip product (to keep the driver’s feet safe from slide) and air dry completely.
- Carpet must be vacuumed well, utilize various nozzles and brush to reach out every corner. Use a cloth or sponge to apply a foam cleanser (a cleaning spray will also do) rub all over hitting areas with stains, sit in for a few minutes. Dry it off with towel or through wet-dry vacuum after the final wash
- Seat’s cover comes in different materials such as leather, vinyl, and cloth upholstery and each one required different cleaning process. Cloth interior can be taken care by a shampoo that simply lifts the grime like magic. Leather can be sprayed with leather cleaner products and polish out with microfiber cloth while vinyl will work fine with any cleaning brand revealing a lighter finish.
- The dashboard is one hard and dusty objects in car interior use the vacuum first before applying an all-purpose cleaner. Lightly drizzle some spray each part and rub it a microfiber cloth to make it look brand new.
- Center console is one hard part to clean with especially buttons and controls. Use small vacuum nozzle to absorb the dust, the thinnest cloth to wipe around the hole is perfect but make sure to use cleaning stuff that is safe for plastic and paint,
- Air vent grills can be wiped with a cotton swab soaked in interior car cleaner. Also, a small brush will do to take care of most dust in the corners and crevices. Don’t forget to check and clean the lower air vents which can be found under the dash, air compressor tools can give a brand new air vent look
- To polish the glass or windows, check it well because usually, the front console is made of plastic and so the cleaning process for both materials are different. All-purpose cleaner would be fine for the plastic while the right product of glass cleaner is perfect, hitting those nasty insect splatters and watermarks, wash and wipe it using a microfiber cloth for better results.
- Lastly, after you give your car a thorough clean you might still smell a Lingering odor from cigarette smoke which is difficult to remove. Spray or hang deodorizers inside the car that leaves a refreshing odor.
Tip. Using the right products as cleaning materials is a must and avoid facing interior damage in the future. Read instructions on the label before application to be safe.
When was the last time you clean your car interior? Regular detailing will maintain that “new car” looks for many years and it could bring you thousands of dollars when you are going to sell it. Need help for car assessment? Why not give us a call at (718) 297 – 9797 or visit our page for more information.
