* Tires- Check for weathering (cracks or sidewall wear) and tread depth. Overly worn out tires will cost you money out of pocket right away and are a huge safety risk.
* Belts- Open up the hood & look for obvious cracks and wear on any belts including the engine belt, serpentine belt, v belt.
* Fluid levels & Condition- Check the engine oil after the car has had a moment to sit, make sure there is enough oil & it has good viscosity, no grit, carbon or dirt. Engine oil is best if it is on the lighter colored side. Transmission coolant should not smell or look “burned”. Radiator fluid should be properly filled & mixed.
* Cosmetic & Body condition- Check the condition of the body & the paint. Make sure all the lights, blinkers & windows work properly. Check the trunk & gas door releases. Make sure you know where these items are.
* Maintenance Records- Even a backyard mechanic can keep receipts from the auto parts store for oil & battery. Ask to see them. As a plus, some warranties are transferable with a vehicle.
* Air Conditioning System- Are there visible leaks? Is there noise when you run the air conditioner? Is it blowing cold?
* Brakes & Suspension- Visibly look at the rotors. Does the car pull to the left or to the right? Pulling is a bad sign. Does the car stop easily? It should. The brake pedal should be firm not spongy.

With so many systems on a car or truck obviously a professional inspection is a great idea. But if you are on your own looking for a used car print the above information and I hope it helps you to make a better used car decision, and helps to save you money in the long run.

Andrew Dale King has been taking things apart and putting them back together long enough to know that if you fix it right the first time it saves a lot of money, effort, and time. A second generation union heavy equipment mechanic he currently operates a mobile mechanic service based in the Henderson & Las Vegas area when he is not working on his wife’s Mustang or fixing the things his children have broken, or his dog chews. His website is http://www.kingautohenderson.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_D_King

Related posts

• Charger Headlights – Bring Back the Excitement to Your Car
• What to Look For in an Auto Service
• How to Correctly Build a Rat Rod – A Brief Overview

The first is durability. After all, you want your new paint job to last. And a paint job will only last if the service provider uses good paint and professional equipment. Now, I don’t want to cast aspersions on chain stores, but in my humble opinion, some of the more popular auto painting chains cut corners, especially when it comes to paint. They use cheaper, thinner paints that can be applied more quickly. This saves them time and money on both the paint and the training. Unfortunately, many drivers are lured in by their impressive discounts and expeditious service, only to discover a year or two later that they need another paint job.

There are two viable options to the chain stores. The first is a local auto body shop that specialises in spray painting a car. These trained professionals actually take their time and deliver superior service. The only issue is that it costs about twice as much spray painting a car than at the chain stores. Fortunately, there is a far more affordable way to get a custom paint job and that is by spray painting a car on your own.

The most common misconception that keeps folks from attempting a job, is any job that they believe takes some special talent. Trust us, spray painting a car is not an artistic undertaking. It is a skill that can be acquired with a little patience and practice. You don’t need to be a Di Vinci or a Michelangelo to do it. In fact, the only thing you need is the right equipment, which can be purchased for around two-hundred pounds, and the right instructional programme. That is where I come in.

After years of practice and professional experience, I have developed my own professional system that can show you how to custom paint a car.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Issobel_Langley

Related posts

• Start It Jump Starter With Portable Power
• How to Buy Car Parts Online and Save Money
• The Importance of Changing the Oil in a Used Car

Now, be sure that you don’t confuse them with Hot Rods, which are generally classic hot rods that are pretty and shiny lots of chrome. And don’t confuse them with Muscle Cars. You know, Camaros, Gtos, Corvettes, etc, you get the picture.

Rat Rods are your old, rust bucket looking car. It can be very primitive, looking like your typical jalopy.They are all custom, built to the owners taste. Some say the more of a rust bucket, the better. Others like flat black paint, large whitewalls and red wheels, with zero chrome. But there is no “wrong” way to do it. Some don’t have a roof and some don’t even have any glass at all, almost prehistoric.

No one can truly tell you how to build it, but we can give you some ideas. You can turn any car into a Rat Rod, but do it with taste. I wouldn’t go out into your garage and spray flat black paint on your Lexus, if you know what I mean. Some of the more popular vehicles are 20s, through 50’s vehicles. Fords and Chevys are more popular, but dare to be different. Make a statement and build a Hudson or a Metropolitan.

So here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Find yourself a car that fits your personality, and no your bimmer does not count. Make sure the car is pre-fifties and preferably is poor condition.

Step 2: Tear the car apart. Remove all unecessary items that will get in the way like carpet, interior trim, emblems, you know, the stuff that makes cars look like, you know, a car!.

Step 3: Make sure you’ll be noticed: Be it painting your car flat black, leaving it rusty, or some other creative scheme, it cannot shine. Period! Cut off that silly exhaust and make it loud. You want your Rat Rod to be seen and heard.

Step 4: Finish it up with cool wheels and tires, some pinstriping, a beer can for a shifter knob, a keg for a fuel tank, etc (you get the picture).

Step 5: Cruise. This is what its all about. No trailer queens here. These cars are real drivers. Rain or shine and sometimes snow, there should be no excuse as to why your not cruising, and no, being out of gas doesn’t count.

And what better way to put this all together than by visiting the rat rod authority for all your needs for Rat Rods and even Hot Rods and Muscle Cars. All the latest parts, accessories and apparrel to get your vehicle running and looking right for the night out on the town, or the Saturday morning cruise. So come see us at ratrodauthority.com From rust buckets to Hot Rods

Started by Art Tupaczewski, his experience in the auto body industry lead him to devise a way to find that “specialty part” for your car quickly, easily, and cost effectively. Whether just starting out, or a seasoned veteran, http://www.ratrodauthority.com has what you need. After analyzing the marketplace, Art figured out an efficient way to get what you need fast and correct from the comfort of your own home. His website is the most user friendly and is designed to tell you exactly what you need to know so you can get back to your project. No guesswork and up to the date products allow you to move at a rapid rate and checkout quickly.

Whether its an exhaust for your lead sled, wheels for your jalopy, or tires for your Chevelle or Camaro, you can rest assured knowing that you found the only place to shop for your car. So always remember, from rust buckets to hot rods, the rat rod authority is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Come visit us at http://www.ratrodauthority.com for ideas, parts, vehicles and anything to do with Rat Rods, Muscle Cars, and Hot Rods.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Art_Tupaczewski

Related posts

• Diagnosing a Problem With Your Vehicle’s Transmission
• 9 Tips on How to Fix Your Car Or Van Safely
• Maintaining German Cars With Quality German Auto Parts

To prevent your car from paint damage make sure you wash and wax it regularly with a good quality product. It is important to use car wash rather than usual detergent as the residual film left on the paintwork may eat away over time causing areas that are vulnerable to further damage. Always keep your car in the garage or undercover to protect the paint.

If you do find yourself with some scratches or chips in your paintwork don’t worry, an easy and cost effective do-it-yourself car paint touch up kit will solve the problem in no time. It is important to touch up the damaged or affected areas as soon as they appear so that they don’t develop into much larger and more expensive issues later on. Touching up the paint early on can be done with perfect color matching and will cost a fraction of the price of a major repair.

Matching the color of the paint should be easy; most models identify the cars color code on a sticker located on the inside of the door. If this sticker is not found on your vehicle or is too difficult to read, the paint manufacturer will still be able to match the colour based on the cars make, model and year.

Always ensure that you order more paint than you need, a good basis is 10-20% more than your original estimate, this way you won’t get stuck half way through a touch up with not enough paint to go around. You should also apply at least two coats of touch up paint to ensure that the repair is long lasting and durable.

Once you have touched up all of the paint chips and scratches on your car, ensure that you maintain good preventative measures such as careful driving, regular washing and storing your car in a shaded area to keep your car looking in top shape all year round. Using a do-it-yourself car paint touch up kit is a sure fire way to improve the overall value and resale price of your car.

Related posts

• Porsche 911 Parts – Specifications
• Rattling and Vibrating – How Your Vehicle Ages
• Do-It-Yourself Auto Repairs – How To Learn From Your Failures And Mistakes