Archive for September, 2011
What Are Computer Diagnostics
Posted on September 28, 2011 | Automotive Repair.
Did you know there were dozens of microchips in your car, sending signals to the main computer in it? Did you realize a computer was involved when you pulled on the handle of your sliding door and it shut automatically? Or how about when you went to back up, but a sensor went off because there was something small in the driveway that you did not see? Now there are even sensors that tells you when you driving into the other lane. Computers are present in a lot more components of your vehicle than you may have realized at first.
Did that sliding door get stuck halfway open this morning? Did the backup alarm keep going off, even though you were moving forward? Sounds like you need computer diagnostics to figure out exactly what is wrong. There are ASE technicians who are trained specifically to handle the electronic and computerized parts of the car. Diagnosing and finding a computer glitch can be trickier than you realized at first. It does take special training to be certified in these types of repairs, so check with the company where you are planning on taking your vehicle to make sure they have trained professionals.
Just like when your laptop at home does not function properly because of a circuit connection gone bad, your car can have the same thing happen. It takes a specialist to trace through your circuits and to spot exactly what and where the problem lays. Once they find it, then it can be repaired – usually pretty quickly. The hard part is finding exactly where the problem lays. That is also where the expense comes in – the time it takes the technician to locate the problem before it can be fixed.
How do they find a computer diagnostic problem? The vehicle is hooked up to a few different machines. The machines hook to the electronic system in the vehicle and look for codes or error messages to come up. The code can contain the location and the problem detected in your car. The technician can then get in to that location, check the wires and see where the problem is. It might be a quick and easy fix or it could be a larger problem, which requires a new computer chip or program installed in to your vehicle. Unfortunately, you won’t know anything until you have it checked out and evaluated, unless you happen to know computers and vehicles yourself!
Benefits of Car Service Plans
Posted on September 25, 2011 | Automotive Repair.
These days there are many different schemes available to help budget for service and repair bills to you car. They can help take the sting out of what would be a big bill, breaking costs down into small monthly payments that are easier to manage. In this article we look at the benefits of such car service plans.
Car service plans help you budget for those maintenance bills which can really have an impact on your finances. Whether your MOT is due, it’s time for a major service, your cambelt is up to its age or mileage limit, vehicles are machines, and machines require regular care and maintenance. Should all of these three items arrive at once, which is likely to happen at some point, you may find yourself landed with a hefty bill. More often than not the owner of the vehicle knows these works are due well in advance, and will attempt to save up enough money to cover the bill when the time comes. However life has its way of making sure this is not an easy task and there will always be some thing else to spend the money on, be it an unexpected bill, expensive trip to the dentist, veterinary bill, or broken household item, there will always be something else contending for your cash.
Car service plans are a great way to stop this happening and make sure you have the money to cover regular works. A small, regular direct debit from your account to the car dealer or manufacturer acts as a safeguard to protect your finances and help prevent nasty surprises. Maintenance items are paid for during the course of the plan so instead of a bill for hundreds of pounds every year, a small amount of money is given every month to stop this irregular but large drain on your monthly finances. By having your car regularly and having a dealer stamp in the book for each service you are helping to maximise the resale value of your car and minimising the chance of a breakdown.
Many car service plans are tailored to your own car and mileage, making sure you get good value and aren’t paying over the odds. Factors involved in determining your plan may include the amount of miles you drive each year, the length of the plan, the type of fuel you use, and the model of your vehicle. All these factors have an impact on the servicing costs of your vehicle so each plan will vary in cost.
Each manufacturer has its own service plans and items covered will vary. However such items as regular servicing, filters, various belts, brake fluid changes, and MOTs will normally be covered. More generous plans may include free MOTs, and air conditioning servicing (if required).
No, car service plans can actually help cut costs. Apart from the benefits of being able to budget for your car servicing and maintenance some garages will offer some items free, such as MOT tests for the life of the plan. Direct debits are often taken at 0% interest, so there are no extra costs associated with paying monthly.
This doesn’t always matter. Many manufacturers and garages will offer service plans on new and used vehicles, so owners of used vehicles still qualify. As long as your vehicle has been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations and you have a record of this, you can qualify for a service plan with most manufacturers.
If you are thinking about taking out a car service plan remember to read it thoroughly as you would with anything else you would sign your name to. Make sure you fully understand what you get for your money, what you don’t get, and what you need to do. If you have any questions just ask your service advisor.