First, it is better to set a budget to get a maximum price you would pay for a car. This will help when you start looking for a car so you know what you can afford and what are too expensive. When you begin your search remember there are several ways you can search for a used car, you can go to dealers, listings, online sites and more.You should look around at a wide range of options for all different vehicle specifications and prices. Please note that some used car dealers can charge more, but may offer limited warranty which may buy a bit of piece of mind.

Making a list of features is always a good idea, writing down a list of what you want in a car. Then you can refer to it and work out what you would comprise on if necessary, it can always help if at a dealership as well you can show the salesmen the list and he should be able to point out any potential vehicles that suit your needs. Once you know your budget, preferences and have a list of possible places and vehicles you are ready to carry out your search. If you are not very car oriented, it might be wise to bring a car savvy friend to check over any potential vehicles.

If you find any vehicles of interest, then you should ask questions about the documentation of the vehicle, such as maintenance records, log book V5C (which can tell the story of the vehicle, the previous owners, and changes in the car in general) and any other documentation that comes with the car. It is useful to verify the information, for example, ensuring that the plate matches the one specified in the documents.

Checking the body work is the most obvious place to start , do this in good light, as checking for rust damage and other corrosion will be easier. You must look around the entire car for any signs of repair or damage, looking along the wings and doors from each of the corners as any crash repairs will show up if they have not been well done. Look into the structural body work too, like the chassis, the frame, brake pipes and suspension etc.

Either you or a friend must thoroughly investigate under the hood, focuses on the engine and check the general condition to see if it has been properly maintained. Checking the odometer is also important to determine if the mileage could have been changed in the past, also see if the mileage corresponds closely to the current state of the car. Look at the transmission, suspension, steering, brakes and tires as well. Often you can request to test the vehicle do so if it is possible, you will hear the engine and possible problems with the car while you drive.

In addition to examining the conditions of vehicles, you must ask if they have road tax and Mot. If the seller does not own the car then ask to see the last owners documents and ensure the seller is authorized to sell the car. This is to prevent potential problems in the future legally. You can also take a car to a mechanic to service it and see if there is something you have missed after checking it, you will have to pay for it, but it is a wise investment if you are ready to buy the car.

If you are in the West London Area, and have found a second hand car and want it serviced, Impact Garage Services will provide you with a professional and affordable vehicle servicing.

Posted under Cars

The Dodge Ram has been on the road now for almost thirty years - across four different generations of models, and the current version of the Dodge Ram, a mighty car with the ultimate presence that a full sized pickup truck has to hand, is one of the true icons of US motoring.

The Ram is known for it robustness and durability, and few argue with it being called a mighty or powerful vehicle. It is not lacking in style either, and it is one of the most customizable cars on the road. With qualities such as these, it is easy to understand why it is a much loved car, and why those why buy them want to hold on to them for so long.

As the older models are long lived and seemingly indestructible it is little surprise that the call for Dodge Ram replacement parts is widespread, and the availability of genuine brand new aftermarket Dodge Ram parts means that updating your Ram or replacing worn out parts is no big deal.

Perhaps the best way of getting hold of quality Dodge Ram replacement parts is through online sellers. The reason to buy online rather than paying a visit to a local dealership is two fold - 1) They have more parts in stocks 2) They are cheaper. Plenty of online parts suppliers can be found by simply typing 'Dodge Ram parts' into a search engine.

Indeed, in these days of internet shopping buying Dodge Ram parts online is a very simple, quick and secure method of purchasing the Dodge Ram parts you require; whether it be engine parts, cooling fans, lights or mirrors, there are plenty of suppliers of aftermarket Dodge Ram parts with comprehensive websites and online catalogues for you to look through.

If you prefer to go down the dealership route then the choice of yours, but bear in mind that some of the best manufacturers supply OEM standard - that is parts designed to fit straight on as the original. Dodge Ram replacement parts via online sources, and using a web based supplier not only guarantees you a quick delivery, but a cheaper price thanks to reduced overheads.

The availability of quality Dodge Ram replacement parts means that your pickup can be made to look exactly as you want it, and suppliers of online Dodge Ram parts understand the needs of the driver. One final note though, make sure that you use a reputable Dodge Ram repair parts supplier, such as one that a friend of yours has previously used or one mentioned in an article that you have read. Do this, and you will be certain that your Ram remains running smoothly for years to come.

If replacement parts are certified and meet OEM standards, you can relax in the knowledge that you have ordered the best Dodge Ram aftermarket parts available online. There are many quality sites that offer Dodge Ram Parts, but www.dodgeramreplacement.com/pickup is one of the best.

Posted under Cars

Have you thought of adding Headlight Repair to your auto detailing business? A new set of sealed beam headlights on a New Jeep Cherokee could run as high as $70, however your team can make money lightly sanding and coating these headlights with the Micro-Glass product in the Micro-Mesh Kit by Micro Surface Corporation. It is important for the detailing companies to constantly review such products, this innovation has propelled our team to come up with the solutions for our fleet customers and help us bundle services to compete against the other large vendors to these fleet companies. One company we compete with out of New Jersey does offer this service, but we do and we are able to use this to our advantage on bidding on fleet detailing work.

This is just one more way you can bundle services to provide a value added service to your customers. We have talked to managers of fleet wash companies and fleet detailing companies in their various markets. Some of these managers have told us they have been looking into doing headlight restoration, because their customers are now asking for the service. Many of the high-end to Auto detailing shops do offer headlight restoration using various methods. Recently with the floods that we've had in the United States, we have seen Auto auctions start to offer this service also. Generally the Auto auctions that we've seen do not know how to deal with sealed beams, instead they're much better with none sealed beams, and by removing the lens and wiping down the inside and using glass wax they are able to make the lenses look transparent and therefore the car looks sellable as runs through the auto auctions.

Whereas this is a good idea for auto auctions it is not good enough for the fleet customers especially those that assign their cars to specific individuals. Companies like the Baby Bells, quest, Cox cable, AT&T, FedEx, United States Postal Service etc. have thousands and thousands of vehicles. Generally these vehicles are assigned for the most part with very few as a percentage of the total fleet being pool cars like at the GSA office. As the vehicles get back from Iraq and Kuwait and were ever they do next to wipe out terrorism from the face of the planet, they will have sand blasted headlights, from the very fine silica type sand of the Middle East. So how does one go about taking care of this problem? Well, it is much simpler than you think.

The first thing to do is to assess exactly how bad the damage it is this can be done in a number of ways; first, you would get the opaqueness or cloudiness of the lens. Second, you look to see if there's any pit marks and hard water spots. This is how you assess which method you'll use to either clean or restore the surface. Let's face it if there's too much damage, the time it will take to fix the lens will cost you more than to replace it. The micromesh is cool because you can use it either wet or dry when you're sanding. How much do most detailers charge for this service? Well in depends the tupe of vehicles and locations of the fleets; vans such bread companies, wholesale companies, small package delivery companies, online grocery services, dry cleaners, flower shops, armored car services, limo services, school buses, garbage trucks any other fleets mentioned above, we have found that is not difficult to get 8 to $10 per lens, remember each of the service trucks or cars have between two and for lenses.

This can add up to quite a lot of money very quickly. We have also found that used car dealerships will go for it once you show them how it works. We also found it to be a nice add-on to keep our crews busy in inclement weather. As you know the Northeast United States has been slammed by snowstorms and Nor-Easters, these additional services provide an extra revenue generator when wash cars.

There is a great article in TSP magazine in the October -- November 2003 edition about this product and ease of use. The micromesh soft touch pads are only three by four inches with a phone center but they were killer since they have micromesh upon both sides. When using them they bend with the lens as you're working so you can go fast with even pressure. We found that we could clean, micromesh, white and buff a lens in about six to eight minutes. If you're working indoors on a fleet of vehicles in the winter in the northern colder climates of the US or Canada you can make money no matter what the weather is in this is just one more way we are solving the problem of continuing sales with a mobile carwash or mobile detailing rig in the harsh winter weather climates. By using the micromesh can't it cuts down the time to do the job significantly. The old way was to use different levels of fine grit sandpaper slowly working up.

Automotive Service Careers and Learning Resources

Posted under Cars