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Feb 5, 2012

History of the Automobile

The simple machine of the wheel was the most technically complex part. What is important for tracing them to the history of car repair, however, is the way cars are powered. Carts have been powered by people and animals, but never by another machine. The first engine to power a cart, turning it into a car (or automobile, which literally means a thing that moves itself) was powered by steam.
Steam power dominated the early Industrial Revolution and thrived in a time in which critical and scientific thought took on the characteristic of having a thermodynamic perspective on the world. Steam-based design required an extremely large amount of capital to design, as it was a large scale source of energy (much like car production today). Capital came to have a huge influence over the organization of industrial production, itself seen as a kind of motor, and one should remember that the production of cars emerged in this context.
Electric cars, which are now becoming popular again in their hybrid form, existed soon after the emergence of steam power. However, oil, and subsequently, gasoline, proved to be a less expensive fuel source, and the internal combustion engine came to dominate the vehicle power scene until the recent emergence of hybrids (arguably due to gasoline becoming an expensive resource, as well as due to increased concern for the conservation of natural resources).
The production of cars themselves has an effect on social relations. In the United States, the Henry Ford Company was very successful in the mass production of cars. The company was accompanied by a theory of society known as Fordism, in which the employee's of Ford were paid enough to purchase the products they produced.
Car repair has changed along with the types of engines used and social relations produced by Fordism. Car repair has become much more knowledge intensive as car technology has become more complex. Overall, the tendency toward complexity has been driven by the change from a thermodynamic view of the world to a view based on information science. The ever-increasing ubiquity of computers has forever changed the way cars are maintained and repaired.
Mechanics now have highly specialized knowledge of vehicle computer systems, all of which differ depending on the manufacturer. Car technology has used this change as a defense mechanism from the do-it-yourself repair person. Under the thermodynamic view of the world, tinkering was much easier. However, with digital technology, it has become nearly impossible for the driver to repair his or her own vehicle.

Auto-Repair What's Leaking Under My Car?

Car leaks can be subtle and unless you park in the same spot consistently, the subtle leak may go undetected by you. Or you simply hope or presume that any leak is okay and if your vehicle is still running, you simply don't worry a whole lot about it. However a leak is your car's way of telling you something is wrong and the sooner you address what is wrong, the better your car repair prospects will be.
There are a few basic fluids that go into every vehicle to make it run smoothly and these fluids ideally should not leak out. Oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid and radiant coolant are some of these fluids. You can generally tell what is leaking by the color of the fluid and where it is leaking from if you can determine a location.
If the fluid is a bright green it is likely radiant coolant. If you don't change your radiant coolant every 3,500 miles however the fluid can be a light or medium brown color which can be a little harder to identify.
Windshield wiper fluid can be just about any color from green, pink, yellow or orange and finding this leaking is usually just a result of over filling the holding tank too much.
Red fluid is usually power steering fluid which will affect your ability to handle the steering in your automobile, or it can be transmission fluid. Either way, if your automobile is leaking red, you need to have a mechanic look at it and diagnose what is leaking and why before your automobile becomes non-operable.
Brake oil can be a clear oily substance or it can be yellow or brown, depending on how old it is. You will usually find this by the wheels of your automobile if it is brake oil. If your brake oil is leaking, it is probably a problem with your master cylinder and your brakes may have trouble working properly if you continue to drive.
Amber colored liquid can be fresh oil, while a brown or black liquid can be used oil. An oil leak is usually the most common fluid leak and can be the result of a wide variety of car repair issues.
The long and the short of it is, unless you know the leak is simply windshield wiper fluid, which is the only leak you can really ignore, the rule of thumb is to have a mechanic diagnose your leak and make sure it's not an indicator of a bigger problem down the road.

Financing Your Auto Repairs

It seems like it's possible to finance just about anything in the world these days. Unfortunately, this is part of the reason that the economy is in the shape that it's in today. The main reason for most of the problems associated with financing anything, is the fact that the borrower is not educated enough on the loan process. This usually means not knowing the terms, interest rates, and fees associated with their loan. Not being aware of every fee and interest charge on your loan, can really cause some serious issues down the road. The last thing you want to do is fall behind on any type of loan, and dig yourself into a deeper hole than the one you started in. So before you go out and apply for a loan to help fix your car, there are a few things to consider.
Where To Apply For Auto Repair Financing?
The best way to go about financing your automotive repairs, is to get a personal loan from a trusted lender. Personal loans are terrific, and can be used for just about anything you may need some extra cash for. These type of loans come in two different forms, Secured and Unsecured. A secured personal loan is going to be backed by some form of collateral, and an unsecured loan is not and based mainly on your credit score.
These type of personal loans are great for auto repair financing, and are available to a wide range of borrowers. If you have poor credit, you will most likely be looking at a secured personal loan. If your credit history is above average, you may qualify for an unsecured personal loan to help with your car repair bills.
If you adhere to a strict set of principles when applying for a personal loan, you should have no problems getting the loan you need and the rate you deserve.

Easy Auto Repair and Maintenance

Auto repair these days can cost a lot for the owner. This often prompts the car driver to tackle the repairs themselves in order to ease up on the costs that can accumulate when bringing the vehicle to a service garage. Usually, the driver notices that something is wrong when he hears or feels something different with the vehicle he is driving. The feel of the moving car as well as any unusual noise can indicate something is wrong with it. When noise and a wrong feeling with the way the vehicle is moving is combined, it is best to not use it for a while and to have a look to see if whatever is wrong is visible.
Noise is often the first indicator that something is wrong with the automobile. The best thing for the driver to do is to observe when the unusual noise occurs. Is it when turning the wheel or driving straight? Is it when stepping on the brakes? When the area has been located, jack up the vehicle and have a look under it to see if something is amiss. Those with some idea regarding engines and vehicles can probably spot what is wrong just by feeling around and with a visual check. Loose nuts and bolts on the tires can be dangerous and these should be tightened before any accident can occur. Another aspect of car repair is checking to see if there are any loose hanging parts in the general vicinity of the noise. Brakes can loosen as well as other cables which are crucial to the vehicle's ability to function.
Smell, smoke and steam can also indicate something wrong with the automobile. A burning smell can indicate a possible overheating problem with the radiator or burning brakes. On the other hand, it can also come from other vehicles, especially when the windows are opened during the drive. If the burning smell prevails for several miles, it is best to stop and check the gauges for overheating or to check the wheels for smoking brakes. Overheating is a delicate problem which cannot be easily solved by just pouring in coolant. The safer solution to this is to turn off the engine and wait for it to cool down before adding the coolant. The other is best done when the engine has not yet overheated but the gauge is indicating that it is going there. Leave the engine on and then take off the cap of the radiator. If steam is already coming from it, do not touch anything and turn off the engine because hot water may come spraying out from it when it is opened and injure anyone in the vicinity. This is actually not a good idea if the driver has no idea what to do. Always check the gauges while driving to see if something is amiss. Check the radiator for coolant level as well as brake fluid and other fluids levels regularly.
Feeling something bumpy or gritty when driving is also another indicator that something is wrong with the vehicle. A flat tire can make the vehicle difficult to turn or maneuver as well as make the ride bumpier. When this happens, pull over to the side and check the tires. Do not attempt to run on a virtually flat tire because this can shred the tire and damage the rims if the distance is quite far to the car repair garage.

Auto Repair - Preventing Paint Damage

One of the first things that you can do when you purchase your automobile is to have a clear paint coat protector applied to your vehicle. You can do this yourself or have the dealership apply it before you drive off the lot. If you choose to apply it yourself, read the directions very carefully. You want to make sure that you apply it exactly as the manufacturer recommends.
There is some question about the effectiveness of these clear coat protectors. In the end, though, the time or money involved in applying one of these coats will pay off. They can stop any premature fading or harm to your car's paint. The protector will wick away water, chemicals or other possible damage causing agents. This can be the first step in lengthening the life of your vehicle.
Something else you can invest in after the purchase of your vehicle is a clear film. These films are applied directly to your vehicle with an adhesive. Invisible to the eye, they are a great way to protect a new paint job and keep you from spending money on car repair. Generally, these films are applied to areas of the automobile or truck that receive the most sun, water or bug damage. Places like the front bumper; hood and roof of the vehicle need more protecting than other areas.
Finally, another habit to get into is cleaning your vehicle on a regular basis. By keeping your vehicle clean, especially during winter months, you are lengthening the life of your paint job. Salt, road dirt and mud, tar from construction sites can all damage your vehicle's paint, causing necessary car repair.
Take your vehicle through an automated wash or wash it yourself. Either way, you need to make sure that a thorough cleaning job is done on your automobile. One of the places that often gets over looked but can cause the most damage is the underside of your vehicle. Especially during winter months, it is necessary to wash these areas. Road salt used to melt ice and snow can cause irreparable damage.
Thoroughly clean the wheel wells and under carriage of your vehicle. This will prevent premature rusting that can lead to paint chipping. When a wheel well or under carriage is left to rust, the vehicle's metal body is weakened. This weakening in turn causes issues with the paint. Cleaning this area of your vehicle will also keep you from major car repair bills later.
By maintaining your vehicle through paint protectors and through regular washing, you can lengthen the life of your car's paint job, preventing major car repair.