How to Keep Auto Interior Looking New - Common Leather Problems, DIY, Leather Advice From the Pros

Eating fast food in your car is unavoidable on some busy days, and we've all had those, "Oh crap!" moments when fries went flying all over the car seat. Although this isn't unusual or uncommon, it's probably not something you should brush off too lightly if you have leather seats. Grease and oil, even just the natural oils in your skin, can really add up and cause damage to your leather seats. In fact, oil (from food or just the oil in your skin) is one of the main reasons leather car seats end up looking old and worn.
How does oil damage leather car seats? There are two main ways:
1. Oil combines with little bits of dust and dirt, acting like a fine sand paper that wears down the protective coating on your seats as passengers get in and out of your car. That protective layer makes your leather seats more resilient to scratches, water and heat damage as well as other types of wear and tear, so, once that layer is worn thin, your seats are more susceptible to all types of damage.
2. When oil gets on your leather seats, especially once it starts to break down that protective coating, it is soaked into the back side of the leather-the part you can't see. Over time, the leather will "fill up," and the oil will rise to the surface. Once the oil saturates the leather, the result is typically ugly oil stains.
How to prevent oil damage to your auto seats:
To prevent oil damage, you should clean and protect your car seats 6-8 times a year, cleaning the most used areas more frequently than those that aren't used very often. Check out our leather cleaning post for tips on leather cleaning and protection. Additionally, never treat your leather with olive oil, petroleum or any other type of oil.
How do I get rid of oil damage?
If you find oil spots on your car seats, you can try to remove them by rubbing the area with a soft leather cleaner. You may be able to temporarily remove the spot, but since more oil remains deep within the leather, you will probably see it resurface over time. Depending on the extent of the damage, a professional may be able to do a more thorough cleaning of the leather seat than you will be able to do yourself, as they have special cleaning tools and processes that can cleanse deep into the leather.

DIY Auto Repair Troubleshooting

If there is something wrong with your car that needs to be fixed immediately, what do you do? Do you rush off to the mechanic to let him identify the problem? That is a good thing to do, sure.
Another smarter thing to do would be trying to identify the problem yourself. After all, we all know that our automobiles malfunction just for some minor problems.
You can try to identify the problem yourself before heading to the mechanic man to fix it by using some basic automobile troubleshooting strategy, just in case this could help save you expensive trips to the shop.
o Look For Information: Do some research on the internet to learn more about the usual kinds of automobile problems with your specific make and model so you can be prepared. Also check out maintenance issues and determine how often you should change the oil and other fluids, balance the tires, etc. And plan ahead with your vehicle's maintenance schedule.
o Talk to A Mechanic: Seek the advice of a mechanic either nearby or via the web who has time to reply. Note you might not find one at hand each time, though one may be able to email back or reply via an automotive forum or website. If you are given free advice, remember to reply with a note of thanks.
o Perform Simple Troubleshooting Procedures: Check with your local library and bookstores for an owner's manual for your make and model. These generally have a lot of basic info and steps to help you trouble shoot basic problems. Check the book's publishing company and automotive manufacturer's websites for help, too.
o Own a Basic Toolkit: Head to your local automotive store to piece together or purchase in full a good basic toolkit as these tools are those which will let you reach for the most hard to reach areas. They contain wrenches, screws, etc. sized for your vehicle. In case your car breaks down in the middle of the road, you can then use these tools to help you fix the car.
o Automotive Scan Tools: These days, specially devised automotive scan tools are available in the market to allow you diagnose the exact problem with your car. Earlier it would mean listening to your engine and waiting for the exact problem to get diagnosed through trial and error. Thankfully, we have come through that era now. Scan equipment isn't free, though, so expect to pay a reasonable fee for this service.
o Know More, Operate Better: The more info you have in your tool belt, the better prepared your car and you will be for major and minor mishaps. Get and keep up to date with info about your vehicle by joining local and / or online groups. Find groups by checking with the dealership and via search engines, for example, search "jeep forum" and find plenty of members registered for free at forums for Jeep enthusiasts.
With periods of recession or other economic slow downs, it's important for households to save up money for the management of all kinds of expenses. One such area is automobile repairs which can cost you lots of dollars. In these cases, it can be good to fix at least some of your problems relating to your car by yourself when possible. So see what you think and learn a little more about your car. Plus in the meantime, save a little aside regularly for your car's upkeep and maintenance with a local auto repair shop.

Get Ready For Winter With These Two DIY Auto Projects

Summer is over and fall is in full swing, that can only mean one thing: winter is rapidly approaching. To get prepared for winter you should take a couple steps to make your harsh weather driving safer. Here are two quick and easy projects that you can do in two hours or less to get you car ready.
1. Restore your headlights: On the market today there are several options for headlight restoration kits. Your local parts warehouse store should have a section in the car cleaning aisle dedicated to these products. That a look at a few of them and select the one that best fits your budget and requirements based on headlight haze. Depending on which one you choose you may have between 15 minutes and two hours of work ahead of you. The simple liquid solutions will often only remove the lightest of imperfections from your headlight lenses, but it is a good first step. If it works, great. If not, they are relatively inexpensive and you'll just have to move on to one of the more complete kits. These kits include several different pieces of sandpaper, from coarse to fine. You start with the most coarse and work your way up to the finest one. Once you are complete you should have headlight lenses that look to be new.
2. Rotate your tires: This may be one of the best DIY things you can do for your car. Most tire or repair shops want upwards of $30 to rotate the tires for you. That is just silly since it is something that you can easily do yourself. You will need some basic tools which probably came with your car: a jack and a lug nut wrench plus a jack stand. Understand that the jack and lug nut wrench included with your car is more meant for emergencies so you may want to pick up a floor jack that is rated for the weight of your car and a better lug nut wrench. It will save you a lot of grief and time if you do. An aside about the jack and lug nut wrench in your car, this would also be a good time to test them out and make sure that they are properly lubricated. When you are stranded on the side of the road is not the time to make that discovery, I know because I have actually been there before....not fun. Once you have all of your tools ready, start by loosening the lug nuts on all of the wheels; just loosen, not remove. Next following the instructions in your owners manual, jack up one corner of the car on the designated jack spots. Place the jack stand in a secure location and remove that wheel. Leave the jack stand in place, lower the jack and jack up the next corner. Your owner's manual should have a diagram showing you where to place the removed wheel. There is an exception to this rule, if you have directional tires or rim pattern. In these cases just swap back to front on the same side, otherwise follow the owner's manual. Secure the wheel in its new location with the lug nuts and lower those two corners. Proceed with the next two wheels. Your owner's manual may suggest a pattern where you move the drivers rear wheel to the passenger front and the passenger front to the passenger rear. In this case you will need two jack stands. Once all of the wheels are back on and the car is on the ground you can tighten all of the lug nuts. You will need a torque wrench for this. Follow the owner's manual for a guide as to the torque setting. I always go over the lug nuts twice to be sure that nothing is left loose. You will also want to check them again after 100 miles or two days, whichever comes first.
These two pre-winter projects will get your car ready for the harsh winter ahead and make it safer to drive as well.

DIY Alternative Energy Options for Home and Auto

Are you getting tired of high electric costs? I totally am! But what choice do we have? Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of our local electric company if we want to live like human beings, with actual lights on in the house, not to mention refrigeration, at least one T.V., and in some cases, heat!
Things are getting so tight for some people they are actually not using electricity except for a small refrigerator after dark, and must opt to go to bed right after dark until the morning light. Although most folks aren't feeling the pinch quite that bad, a lot of people have started to perk up their ears and put on their reading glasses when they see or hear about alternative energy products on the market today, especially products that convert to electricity; products with do-it-yourself videos and e-Books.
Up until now, renewable, or alternative, energy has not been affordable or cost effective, since utilities have been able to keep rates at a level that doesn't make a home energy conversion worth the time and money. Finally, though, some people are ready for the change, if not because of their budget, then because they desire to lessen their carbon imprint. Also, people are finding that going green isn't as expensive as they originally thought, because of the proliferation of do-it-yourselfers (DIY'ers) who have Internet access to training DVD's and e-Books about how to make and install their own solar panels, or build their own wind turbines.
Some electric conversions don't even use solar or wind - they use radiant energy. A new "old" technology that has come to the forefront of late is reported to have been invented over 90 years ago by a genius that died broke because the powers-that-be at the time suppressed his invention so Thomas Edison could dominate the field!
Other alternative energy products are for DIY retrofitting of automobiles and trucks to run on alternative forms of power such as water, electricity or bio-diesel fuel. If things keep going the way they are, the entire world is going to need to step up their knowledge quotient (KQ) for alternative, or renewable, energy products and concepts, and then start to do something about one or all of the them.
One way for each individual to increase awareness for alternative energy products is to join a go-green, or renewable energy club. These are available locally and on the Net, and work to distribute information and support about alternative energy. We can be off the grid, or contributing to the grid, sooner than we realize.

DIY Auto Painting

Great auto painting involves a series of several deliberate, detail-oriented tasks.
If executed carefully and correctly, the result is an A+ paint job that looks professional and appealing. After a well-executed paint job, the paint will feel perfectly smooth and flawless to the touch, it will appear lustrous and shiny to the eye, and will last for many years thereafter.
It is important to understand at the outset, before beginning any automotive-painting project that the ultimate result is determined by how well and thoroughly each stage is completed. One stage builds upon the other, and hasty mistakes and errors cannot be concealed, no matter how many coats of paint and clear coat you apply.
There is no point in rushing through stages, because of shoddy workmanship, however minor at any stage, will doom all further efforts, and make it pointless to continue.
Most unsatisfactory do-it-yourself paint jobs can be traced to rushing through steps and not finishing each step thoroughly and completely.
So first rule of thumb:
Take your time to do it right, and if you make a mistake, stop and correct it. It's self-defeating to push forward without meticulous care given to each step. After all, the fundamental reason you undertook the project in the first place is because you wanted a terrific paint job you can be proud of and a car that doesn't embarrass you.
Painting a car requires slow, fastidious execution of the following general steps:
- Sanding and repairing surface imperfections, like scratches
- Applying body filler as needed
- Sanding and more sanding, using progressively finer grades of sandpaper
- Thoroughly cleaning the entire surface to be painted
- Masking carefully all areas of the car you want to protect from paint
- Applying primer
- Applying the paint color (usually three coats)
- Applying the clear coat (usually three coats)
To accomplish the project successfully, you will need a good paint gun, a compressor, sandpaper in a variety of grades, good auto paint and clear coat, a few hand tools, clear plastic and masking tape, and some patience.
Some people get hung up on which paint gun to choose to paint their car, and waste an enormous amount of time worrying over the features and benefits of the many models of paint guns available on the market. This is a useless exercise. Any reputable brand will do and many can be purchased for around a hundred dollars. The most important consideration is to choose a paint gun that feels "right" to you, one that is comfortable in your hand.
A word of warning on paints and solvents is in order: Make certain all of these products are compatible or the results could be ugly, if not disastrous. Also, be sure the compressor is suitable for the paint gun and delivers the paint to the car's surface correctly.
Learning how to paint cars is easy, and a way to save massive amounts of money. To get the best tips on how to do it yourself and paint your own car please read below.

Auto Glass Replacement DIY

Some people truly enjoy fiddling with their cars. Whether they are changing the oil, washing it, or tuning it, they really enjoy it. When something breaks in the car, they are not as happy fiddling with the car, but they can deal with it. Replacing a fuse here, a flat tire there. But what happens when something breaks n your car that is a little more difficult, like a window, can you do your own auto glass replacement?
My answer is absolutely, anyone can do an auto window repair. Especially if you are a car enthusiast like above. But even if you hate cars, you can do this yourself, you simply have to dedicate yourself to doing it. It's a little tough, but the accomplishment is worth it.
Why would you want to do an auto glass replacement yourself, when you can simply bring the car to a body shop and have them do it? Well, there are several reasons I could give you. The first is savings. Most of the time, when repairing something yourself, you save money in labor. This is not always true, but in this case it generally is. You also feel that great sense of accomplishment for fixing your own car. That's a great feeling. In addition, there are some people who simply don't want anyone else touching their car-it's like their baby. For this reason alone, you should at least attempt an auto window repair.
There are various sources which can help you on your quest. Look into them deeply, making sure that you are one hundred percent comfortable with doing this prior to getting your hands dirty.

Auto Glass Repair - DIY Advantages

For all those first time vehicle owners out there, this one is for you. If it so ensues that you are troubled of DIY car repair, then you almost certainly wish to have an expert manage all your cars as well as car glass troubles. On the other hand, the truth is that several small car problems like vehicle glass as well as mirror repairs can be simply fixed with a do it yourself fix kit that can be easily obtained in any car parts shop.
Sooner or later, it is almost certainly unavoidable for you to come in these stores. The vehicle windshield is one of the most ordinary trouble areas for a lot of vehicles. This is for the reason that little nicks and splits can simply appear if you are smack by a small rock or pellet flung by chance or otherwise. One can see a number of situations where this can happen to you. Maybe a moldy tree branch unexpectedly drops on your vehicle, or perhaps even a crop can do several damages.
Car glass repair kits can save you not only plenty of time, but as well as a lot of cash. And in reality, they are not so hard to apply to your vehicle. All you actually need is a small number of extra minutes, even some sunshine, and your car fix kit. Obviously, you will have to cautiously understand the directions in your car fix kit.
But it all essentially foes like this; initially, you pull out the pump that is built-in in your kit, set up the whole thing, clean the exterior of your auto glass that needs fix with a dry and spongy car rug or maybe a piece of cotton duster. Then basically put the resin in the pump as indicated and then apply the resin lightly by squeezing it out bit by bit.
After this step, all that is left for you to carry out is to drive your vehicle outside in the scorching sun or simply park it out so that the car resin will dried up fast in the heat. It takes actually no more than one or two minutes for this procedure to get done and there are no problems at all. Anybody with sufficient capability can utilize a DIY fix kit with no troubles.
So if you are actually one of those first time automobile owners, maybe you know nothing as regards to vehicles or maybe you are a young woman and are anxious that the technical matter concerning vehicles are out of your knowledge, just keep in mind that the only thing that preventing you from entering that automobile and vehicle accessories store and buying the exact DIY car glass repair kit is your self.

Interesting Facts About Used Japan Cars

The used Japan cars play a vital role in the growth of international market and have satisfied millions of people worldwide. You will be well aware of the fact that used cars from Japan are tested and certified for low emission, high efficiency and great eco friendliness. These are the main reasons why people around the planet prefer the used Japan cars.
As the used Japan cars are boosted up with best technology at a very cheaper pricing, buying used Japan cars is a trend in today's modern world. Japanese used cars include all models such as station wagon, SUV, sedan, hatchback and even trucks. Moreover, these cars are available in both pattern of right and left hand steering that makes the Japan cars comply with the driving habits in different countries. Normally, the used Japanese vehicles are re-checked and maintained by experienced engineers before it comes out for sales to the public. This maintenance takes place in authorized work shops across Japan.
Auto Auctions in Japan:
Japan is known as a world off auto auction. An interesting fact about the Japanese auto auction is that more than 150,000 vehicles are sold per week through these auto auctions. With the advancements in technology, now anyone can participate in these Japanese auto auctions online from anywhere in this planet. You will be able to see the pictures of the used Japan car available for auction and once you choose the used Japan car of your liking, you can start bidding for it right from your home. It has to be noted that, across Japan, five to fifteen auctions can be attended daily and the customers get responses for their orders within 24 hours. To the added advantage, the customers are allowed to monitor their orders and alter bidding if necessary. Every day, all bids are responded, and the customer is informed if the bid was successful or not.
Importing used Japan cars is easier than ever before
Importing used cars from Japan is just a breeze today. Vehicles purchased are fist transported to work shops, for a brief checkup and maintenance. If the vehicles purchased have accidental damages or faulty engines then the dealer returns the car to the auction with no risk to the customer who made the bid. Every Japanese used vehicle is covered by Japanese Government's guarantee under the terms of Trade. After inspection and confirmation, vehicles will be shipped to the destination port of the customer. The main advantage of importing used cars directly from Japan is that, no import tax is charged. Normally, the car delivery will be made within 6-8 weeks but some port destinations can take up to 12 weeks.

Why Are Japanese Cars So Popular at Auctions and Dealerships?

Japanese cars are world renowned for building quality cars such as the cars produced by Honda. The high testing standards and quality roads underscores the Japanese culture of keeping cars in great shape. The attention, care, and pride, the Japanese take in their cars makes these cars popular at auctions and dealerships.
At auctions and dealerships one can find such cars from companies like Honda at very affordable prices. Auctions take place in nearly every country, including the United States. In Japan, auto auctions are held every day. When looking for a Japanese car at an auto dealership or at auctions, including online auctions, it is important that you look at the grade of the particular car that you are thinking about bidding on or buying. Grade 5 indicates the car is almost new while Grade 2 denotes a car that may not be in great shape. Some of the best deals can be found at a Grade 3.5 and higher.
One can acquire a good quality and high grade cars such as a Honda car that are very fuel efficient, have low mileage, and are of very high quality. These cars have been tested to meet Japan's high standards so you know you are getting a great car. As well, you are getting great value for your money.
The best way of getting a great deal on a Japanese car is through Japanese auctions, particularly online auctions. There are over 100 auctions that are run weekly all around Japan. Each one can have anywhere from several hundred to thousands of vehicles that are up for auction. If you are a car dealer, it would be very beneficial to your business and your pocket book to register for these auctions. These cars can come fully equipped with Japan's high tech equipment and can contain such features as air conditioning, power steering, electric windows and retractable mirrors, climate control, ABS and airbags, full electronics, CD players, and other quality features.
The benefits of buying Japanese cars such as those from Honda are great quality, reliable, economical, and meet the standards set by Japan which have the highest standards in the world. Because of the best roads and the Japanese's Government encouragement of getting a new car every 6 to 7 years, Japan's used car market is extremely popular. Most of these cars have great suspension, low mileage, and are in great condition. The overall condition for cars of similar age will be significantly better in Japan than in most countries. Many of these cars are never used to their full potential and often spend the entire time being driven short distances.
The general public can contact a professional to place a bid from their side and get an idea about the cost of used vehicles at an auction location. As well, the price of vehicles sold at dealer auctions tend to be lower than those advertised on a dealer's lot.
Acquiring a Japanese car has so many benefits that it makes for a great investment.

Expect High Quality From Japanese Used Vehicles

Japanese used automobiles which mainly include hatchbacks, trucks, SUVs, sedan, and cars are always superior in quality and outstanding when it comes to fuel efficiency. Japan's automobile industry is extremely well known for its vehicles all around the globe. Conceivably, it has been Japan that has given various high speed, fuel saving and cost effective technologies to the entire world from the past few decades. There are a large number of Japanese car exporters that hold a sound repute in case, you are considering buying your next car which is cheaper than any other brand then you certainly can think about Japanese used vehicles.
With the tough economy time that is prevailing all around the globe with extreme recession, job cuts, retrenchments, layoffs, and people are just losing their careers. Therefore, is such circumstances, it is extremely possible that you were considering having a brand new car but because of these financial constraints now it is not possible for you and this makes you consider opting for used Japanese vehicles. In such a case, you will be able to find numerous options to choose from particularly ranging from some of the cheap vehicle to quite brand new automobiles at affordable and good deals.
Unlike various other parts of the world, Japanese used vehicles are particularly low on mileage. It has been estimated that these used cars on average have a mileage varying between 35 to 40 thousand miles. The drivers are quite reasonable and the road conditions are also outstanding in the country. In addition, in Japan the roads are normally jam packed with automobiles all the time thus it is not at all possible for any driver to drive their vehicle over the speed limit. Mostly drivers follow the traffic rules as regulations as there these rules are extremely strict. Because of these highly dense and crowded countries with small cities and towns, the pollution checking norms are extremely strict.
Thus, while you are looking out for Japanese Used Vehicles then you can be sure of the fact that you are going to get high quality vehicles at an affordable rate and also with a superior working condition. Most of the vehicles in Japan are extremely maintained, carefully looked after, and timely serviced; therefore, you are bound to get High Quality cars while you are opting for Japanese Used Vehicles.