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Those who run mobile carwashes or mobile auto detailing business know that with high fuel prices of $3.00 or more per gallon that staying on the route is critical. In fact with today’s traffic it is almost mandatory that you adhere to the most efficient routing possible.

Most smart mobile car wash operators and their crews are on strict routes and since everyone owns at least one car, they target our customers, which are most near our current master planned routes. Usually when mobile car wash companies add units they fill up almost immediately. Some mobile car wash companies are not worried about new customers knowing they could put 50 units in their regional area of operation and keep them all busy. Even those areas, which are services by licensees, a franchisee or another mobile car wash owner sharing a common name of the original operator will run into the same problems of expanding until their businesses before the routing is completely efficient.

Many mobile car wash operators are slammed with business and they are satisfied with the current size of their business. Even those who once considered expanding are now uncertain if they will be adding units before next summer. Due to the cost of fuel many operators pack their routes so tight that they are only taking new customers, which are exactly across the street or next door to current customers.

Mobile Car Wash and Auto Detailing Companies make money when washing and they lose money when driving in traffic. Due to summer volumes and fall volumes many mobile car washing companies will not be expanding until Spring and only if the fuel prices come back down under $1.60 per gallon. Fat Chance!

Mobile Car Wash Operators would be advised to do direct sales and sign up their weekly
customers where their schedules allow them to do so, since everyone loves the service, rather than advertising and getting calls from all over the place. In fact one of the most recent concepts for mobile car wash owners is to turn off their cell phones while working and allow everything to go to voice mail and save the money on the phone bill and stay efficient while working instead of trying to talk with one hand and wash with the other.

Most Mobile Car Wash Operators feel bad about turning away business, but they need to be honest with their customers and explain the routing systems and tell them that they are not looking for new business, after all it is chasing them wherever we go. Perhaps you might expand your own auto appearance business in your market since your volumes will be high as soon as fuel costs come down; you have trained another crew and have considered the most efficient routing. Think on this.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

You are about to go to your first car auction. You can feel the excitement in the air. There are so many cars to choose from. But do you really know what to expect at a car auction? Do you know the legalities that occur at a car auction? Most people get in way over there heads at a car auction. If this is your first car auction, you better come prepared.

There are a lot of things you need to do and a lot of things you need to pay attention to at a car auction. First off, before you go to a car auction make sure you have enough money in your bank account. All cars purchased at a car auction must be paid in full. You also need to bring your drivers license and any other form of ID to the car auction. This is needed to buy the vehicle and to do the title work and registration.

When you first get to the car auction you should make notes of the cars you are interested in. Then, if you can, go to kellybluebook.com and check the retail value of the vehicles you would like to purchase. This way you know what to go with when you make your bid. At a car auction, many vehicles have a reserve price. This means that the vehicle has a minimum price t be sold at. If it is too high, do not bid on it. Be sure when you do bid that you do not get into a bidding war. Never bid more than you can afford. If the bidding war begins, just walk away. At a car auction, it is every man for himself.

Before you begin to bid on cars, you need to see if the vehicle is a good buy or not. Many vehicles at a car auction could have been previously damaged. An example of this is in Texas and Louisiana many cars were severely damaged by flooding during a hurricane. These vehicles were sent to a car auction and the buyers more than likely had no idea the vehicles had flood damage. You may also wish to take a mechanic to the car auction. A mechanic is a good idea at a car auction because they can see where someone may have tried to hide repairs and damage that the vehicle might have incurred. Lastly, you can get a free Carfax vehicle history report on the vehicle if you get the vehicles identification number (VIN).

Remember, at a car auction vehicles are sold “as is” and they do not come with a warranty. Keep all of these tips in mind to protect yourself from a bad purchase. You are supposed to go to a car auction to get a great deal on a car and to save money. With the proper frame of mind, this is easily accomplished.

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.caronlinecenter.info a blog focusing on the Car, resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on Car. For more info visit his site at: Car

The mini-van market is among the most competitive segments of the
automotive industry. The Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey and Toyota
Sienna all have loyal owners. But with the upscale 2006 Chrysler Town
and Country in the mix, buyers have an even more difficult choice.

The Town and Country offers high-end prestige in the mini-van
category, plus an inviting, efficient and spacious configuration of second
and third-row seats. Add a sleek, new design and a stylish front grill and
the Town and Country also gets best-of-class marks for its handsome
looks.

It’s logical to assume mini-van buyers purchase their vehicles to
transport numerous passengers or for larger cargo needs, and that’s
perhaps the Town & Country’s best quality.

Seven passengers fit easily. With the third row of seats folded, the rear
cargo area is cavernous. If the second and third-rows are folded down
(flush with the floor), the available space could be rented out as a
moveable storage shed. The back liftgate has an automatic opening and
closing option, further adding to the vehicle’s cargo-carrying qualities.

My test drive for the week was the Limited, the most advanced and most
expensive of four Town & Country models.

It featured a 3.8-liter, V6 and a four-speed automatic transmission. As
the manufacturer’s top-of-the-line mini-van, the Limited’s dark-gray
leather seats and dark, wood-like console perfectly complemented the
dark gray exterior color called “Brilliant Black Crystal.”

The vehicle looks great on the open road and its ride quality, nicely
appointed controls and overall comfort are all impressive. As one
example, during non-daylight hours, the instrumentation panel is backlit
a soft light green. It’s a nice touch.

Driving the mini-van is comfortable and the front-window, near-
panoramic view is a plus. Steering is satisfactory, and the vehicle has a
commanding presence.

That leaves only two questionable areas less-than peppy
acceleration and average fuel mileage that didn’t quite meet the
advertised city and highway numbers.

Standard features in the Limited edition are vast. All key functions
windows to doors, eight-way seats to the sliding rear doors are
automatic. The Limited edition includes a rear-obstacle detection
system, interior air filter, heated front seats, six-disc CD/DVD player, a
removable center console, automatic driver-side and rearview mirrors,
automatic headlights, roof rack, fog lights and 16-inch chrome alloy
wheels.

My weekly driver also featured an optional custom preferred package. It
included power sunroof ($1,005), Sirius satellite radio with one-year’s
service ($195) and a rear-seat video system ($990) featuring a second-
row seven-inch overhead screen, wireless headphones and remote
control.

With a destination charge of $730, the Limited’s total price reached
$37,900. That’s a lot, but then again the Limited is a lot of mini-van.

2006 Town & Country Limited: The Weekly Driver

Safety features — Dual front, driver’s knee and side curtain
airbags (all three rows).

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 18 mpg (city), 25 mpg (highway).

Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles;
Powertrain, 7 years/70,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/100,000 miles;
Roadside assistance, 3 years/36,000 miles.

Base price — $33,325.

People find it difficult to get the perfect blend of colors in their vehicles. Getting the perfect seat cover for the perfect look on your car is impossible if you go for universal seat covers. To avoid your orange seat looking out of the place in your black car, the best deal would be to opt for custom-made seat covers, made using the color and material of your taste. Add a personal touch to your vehicle with the seat cover of your choice.

Though made for specific makers of cars and trucks, custom-made covers give you the option of blending your own special taste to the appearance of your automobile. The best manufacturers and dealers develop custom-fit seat covers for new models every year. You can also buy separate headrest and armrest covers, if you deem it fit. If your car is an imported model or has some unique seat contours, a tailor-made custom seat cover will be the only way to make your car look chic.

Wet Okole has custom-fit seat covers for a large number of car and truck manufacturers and caters to all the major automobile companies, including BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche. Their seat covers, made for more than thirty automobile manufacturers, cost not more than $250 and come in wide variety of fabrics and materials.

Shearcomfort.com has custom seat covers in neoprene, sheepskin, and imitation sheepskin materials of different colors and designs that cater to different tastes. Their Hawaiian prints, Camouflage prints, and original look covers come with a one-year warranty for defects in material or workmanship.

To get covers for your automobile’s exact year, make, and model, Automotive Interiors have come up with Custom Auto Upholstery Kits that provide specific custom fits for most vehicle models from 1940 and on.

Tweed seat covers from Saddleman are hand made according to strict standards and specifications devised by experts. Their double-stitched foam cushions, armrests, headrests, and consoles aim at providing maximum comfort to the user.

Seat Covers provides detailed information on Seat Covers, Car Seat Covers, Dog Car Seat Covers, Truck Seat Covers and more. Seat Covers is affiliated with Portable Massage Chairs.

Even the best car will break down at some time or another - it is the nature of the beast. When it does, it probably won’t happen at a convenient time or under favorable circumstances. A tire blows, the engine dies, there’s a pileup - and bingo, it’s towing time.

To start off, car towing is not something one should try without proper experience and equipment - especially valuable cars are involved. Improper car towing can result in a lot of damage and personal injury.

Towing experts are specifically trained for their jobs; they have years of experience and also appropriate equipment for such work. They also need to be experienced auto mechanics who can handle contingencies like the need for jump-starts and on-the-road repairs. Furthermore, they are insured against unforeseen mishaps.

In other words, it is worth the extra expense to engage the services of a reputed towing company when it comes to having one’s car towed. The job takes much more than a lot of willingness, a do-or-die attitude, and a sturdy car or even truck. Cars are relatively light and wieldy by nature and tend to shimmy around a lot during the towing process - unlike the dead weight of a construction material or a boat.

The towing vehicle needs special cooling systems, extra suspension, and must have calibrated gear ration and engine power. It must essentially have a four-wheel drive and exceptionally efficient brakes.

Such a vehicle will also have a towing rating, the specified weight of which it cannot exceed (if this rating is stretched, the towing vehicle’s braking capacity is compromised, and serious consequences can result). It also requires specifically manufactured towing gear, which includes a tow bar, trailing-wire harnesses, safety chains, winches and hitches.

Towing provides detailed information on Towing, Car Towing, Trailer Towing, Truck Towing and more. Towing is affiliated with Windshield Repair Experts.

Have you ever been driving on a smooth road, alone, and by yourself, and felt the vehicle shimmy, and shake, and heard a slight roaring noise?

Gremlins! They do that sometimes.

I had a l996 Pontiac Grand Am in here the one day that was doing just that!

The owner told me he thought it was a wheel bearing, or maybe a universal joint.

He said he had thought about fixing it himself but he just didn’t have time.

It’s a good thing. This was a front wheel drive.

A front wheel drive doesn’t have a drive shaft, it has drive-axles.

Plus, he would have been shocked when he took the tire off. No-hub-like-a-normal-hub.

There’s a lot more to changing out a bearing in a fwd than it is in a rear-wheel drive (rwd).

I put the car on the lift and raised it.

I rotated the right front tire. No noise.

I went to the other side and rotated that tire. No noise.

I rotated the rear tires and there was no noise there either.

I shook each one of the rear tires side to side and top to bottom.

Neither had any slack.

The rear wheels have bearings the way most people are use to seeing on the front. Make sense?

Then I rotated each tire and put my hand on the top of the tire as it was turning.

When I got to the driver-side front tire and put my hand on top, as it was rotating, I felt a *flat* spot.

He had told me that it was his wife’s car, and that she was afraid it was going to come apart on her.

Either he get it fixed, or buy her another one.

He said that was why she *let* him bring it to the shop.

I let him feel the flat-spot on the tire. He told me that the tires were still under warranty.

I saw his wife at church a few days later and she told me they had the tire replaced and that the noise and vibration both were gone.

I should have changed out the front bearing and the drive shaft…I could have made a lot of money. (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you):-)

Tommy Sessions has been in auto repair since 1970. He publishes Auto Repair Answers Newsletter so you can learn how to keep your vehicle looking new, running safely and efficiently, while you save money and time…also, learn how to avoid shop rip offs. Don’t be at the mercy of the dealerships and auto repair shops…they will have more respect for you.
http://www.auto-repair-answers.com

Most people that go to a car wash do not consider that there is a chance that the carwash might damage their car. Even some people who have had their car damage do not even realize it at the time. For instance the brushes might scratch the finish on the car and remove some of the clear coat or put slight scratches that are below the clear coat in the paint that can never be buffed out or fixed completely.

The Carwash Industry Surveys show that the average car wash pays out over $1100 per year in damage claims to carwash customers. In fact that is a lot of money if you also consider the deductible issues with insurance. And that is the average, some car washes may have none and others have quite a bit. Should you risk going to a carwash with your brand new car? Well, it may not be that bad or that great of a risk but you should consider this.

Having been in the mobile carwash business, I can say that our crews never damaged cars. I think this is because we had a hand wash for our customers. We did not have robotic machines that we could not control and we used soft lambs wool mitts and Terry cloth towels and chamois.

Even though the chance of having your car damaged at a fixed site carwash is low perhaps you might consider this and think about hiring mobile carwash instead. Of course I am partial because I ran a mobile carwash service and later franchised it into many states. But nevertheless this is food for thought.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

A bearing is a component in any machine that allows the forced relative rotational or linear movement between two parts. They are typically present between two parts of a machine to reduce friction. It is very important for any machine to work under very little friction so that it gives the optimum output and performance.

In addition, reduction in friction allows greater life period and greater dependability for any machine. This is where bearings come in handy. Bearings are broadly classified with relation to the motion they allow and also according to rationale of operation. Every machine which has either rotational movement or linear movement involved has to have bearings and thus bearing carrier. Bearings are basically round shaped shiny balls that revolve in their sockets and thus help in the movement of other parts of the machinery. They are either placed in-between two moving parts of the machine to reduce friction or to act as shock bearers.

A bearing carrier, in nonprofessional’s terms is a device that supports the bearing in their place in a machine. They are strategically placed plates, which hold the bearing in their place and help in their movement. As each bearing depends upon its utility for size, so are the bearing carriers. The movement of bearing differs in different machines and thus their size differs in different machines.

Bearing carriers come in different shapes as well; this too depends upon the nature of movement of the bearing and the part of machine where the bearing is to be used. A very important aspect of bearing carriers is that they have to be produced keeping in mind the weight and the space available for them to fit in the machine. Also they are to be produced keeping in mind that they do not hamper the ultimate reason for the existence of bearings in the machine, that is to reduce friction. With respect to the work, the bearings are supposed to do, the bearing carriers are made to give minimal wear and tear but maximum stability.

There are various kinds of bearing carriers available in the market, but you should go for the best bearing carrier available that suffices your needs. You should also take care to ask for warranty from the dealers. Depending upon the principle of operation of a carrier, they are made using different materials. Also, they have to be sometimes so complicatedly placed that material used & the crafting matters to the 10th decimal point as well. Usually you should go for those bearing carriers that are made by specialist manufacturers.

Supposing you have a need for bearing carrier for Volvo machine, there are companies that produce bearing carriers only for Volvo machines, thus you should search the market before making any decision.

Trish is the author for http://www.sterndrive.info , Get more information on bearing carriers.

Car accidents can result in extensive injuries such as spinal cord injuries, kneecap injuries, broken bones, and shock related minor injuries. Many severe car accidents can even result in death due to head injuries or shock. Knee injuries sometimes never heal and can be fatal in cases of severe damage to the knee during the accident.

Most car accidents are results of reckless driving, fast or inattentive driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol. Many drivers do not concentrate on the road while driving, which could prove to be very dangerous on highways or residential streets. Playing pranks on other drivers on the road, like teenager sometimes do, can prove to be harmful since it distracts the driver. Drivers who are more interested in paying attention to everything other than the road are quite dangerous and unpredictable. Passing other cars without proper signaling can be another cause of accidents and side collisions.

Another main cause for inattentiveness while driving is talking on a mobile phone. Even though many opt for hands free head phones, the best option would be not to receive the call while driving or better yet, pull over to the side of the road and stop the car before attending to the call. Although many states consider using a mobile phone to be illegal while driving, some people ignore the law and talk while driving anyway.

Severe accidents such as pileups can result in deaths and severe injuries. It pays to be cautious while driving in the fast lanes of highways as a minor mistake might result in extensive damage to oneself and others on the road.

Car accidents caused due to faulty cars and rollovers can cause extensive injuries. Skidding cars might prove to be quite treacherous to other cars coming up behind. It is a good option to research on the rollover and skid statistics of different cars before investing in one.

Car Accidents provides detailed information about car accidents, car accident injuries, car accident lawsuits, and more. Car Accidents is affiliated with Drivers Ed Games.

Have you ever had problems with your car? Sometime you just can not find somebody nearby to fix it for you. Your car may decide to die on you, when your friends are not around. Life is not always easy. Sometime you simply have to solve the troublesome automobile problems by yourself. If you run into one of those situations, you will have to be your own auto mechanic. Is that possible? Of course, it is possible. Don’t panic.

What should you do exactly now? First of all, look for the manual. Study it carefully. A good manual often tell you a great deal about your car. It often has troubleshot section. If you go through your manual carefully, you may find the solution to your problem. Especially, if your auto mechanic is not too complicated, the manual generally tell you what to do.

If that’s not working, you may want to try to call a friend or local mechanic. Even if they can not come to your rescue, they may have an idea with what is wrong with your car. They may be able to tell you how to solve the problem, and they probably can help you understand the manual better.
Doing research online may help. A lot of car manufacturer provide helpful information about their products on the internet. You can email them. They often quickly respond within a few hours. Internet is great place for researching.

It is important to keep calm. There are many things that you must pay close attention. You don’t want to do more harm to your car.

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