June 28, 2008
Consumer, General Interest, How To Auto Repair, jump-n-carry
5 Comments
The way the ground cable is attached in the picture above is incorrect and can cause the small ground wire to overheat from too much current passing through it.
Recently my brother had a dead battery, so I took my jump box to his house to jump start his car. It’s funny how some things are second nature when you’ve done it a thousand times. He had already tried using his new bargain booster box that he had just bought at a local parts store. The less expensive jump boxes usually only have continuity on one jaw of the cable clamp.
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June 22, 2008
General Interest, Service Manager
2 Comments
 The photo above was taken outside a bar in Tampa, Florida. The business owner’s humorous statement attracts attention from possible patrons.
Has a slowing economy along with climbing gas prices affected auto repair shops for better or for worse?
As gas prices increase along with almost everything else, most people will inevitably be keeping their cars longer and that means more vehicles with more repair needs. But, does that mean automotive repair shops will have an influx of work to do? That depends.
Shops rely on people to bring in their vehicles for oil changes where they hope to find additional auto repairs that will help them turn a profit. However, with tougher economic times encroaching, many people who would normally bring their vehicle in for a simple oil change will be choosing instead to change the oil themselves and save a few dollars. People will be more willing to drive their vehicle without air conditioning or take the rise of not getting extensive brake work as long as the vehicle stops. Bare minimum crucial fixes combined with a hope-for-the best mentality will keep many repair shop’s profits down.
On the flip side, because more people are driving older vehicles, many are making repair purchases with more of a preventative mentality by keeping their car in good working order so it will last. So although there might be less work to be had, the shop owner who is able to offer competitive pricing along with having an honest reputation will most likely be the one who drives more people into their shop.
June 18, 2008
General Interest
No Comments
New York’s automotive equivalent to Bermuda’s airplane and boat mystery…. The Empire State Building, one of the seven wonders of the modern world has people wondering about something else besides the engineering marvel. About ten to fifteen car’s computers have been seemingly jammed near the Empire State building in New York every day, revealed Isaac Leviev. (Issac is the manager of Citywide Towing, the AAA’s exclusive roadside assistance provider in this area). The radio, headlights and horn work but the cars will only crank over without starting.
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