5 car repairs you shouldn't skip

We often don’t think about maintenance on our vehicles until something is wrong. But keeping your car in top running condition is vital.
Angie’s List went to highly-rated auto repair professionals for the 5 auto service items you shouldn’t skip out on.

Oil Changes: Oil is the engine’s blood and it's critical to ensuring a car’s long life. Your vehicle’s oil should be changed depending on your driving habits, typically every 3,000-7,000 miles or around 3-6 months. You should check your car's oil level about every 1,000 miles.

"Keep your oil changed - it is the easiest thing to overlook and ignore but the most important thing anyone can do," says Terry Irwin of highly rated Aloha Auto Center in Hillsboro, Ore. "We see more worn engine parts due to the lack of oil changes."

Tire Maintenance: Properly maintained tires improve your vehicle's steering, stopping and traction. Tire pressure should be set to the manufacturer’s specifications, which can usually be found in the owners' manual, on a sticker inside fuel filler door or on the door well of the driver's side door.

"It’s important to keep your tires inflated to the pressure that is recommended by the manufacturer of the car; Proper inflation keeps your tires wearing correctly," says David Beck of highly rated All Star Tire & Auto Service in Indianapolis.

Over- or under-inflated wears tires out faster, can negatively affect fuel consumption and present a safety hazard. Get your tires rotated and balanced every 6,000-8,000 miles and get the alignment checked at least once a year to make sure there are not suspension problems.

Fluids: Transmission fluid, brake fluid, and coolant can break down over time and lose their effectiveness. All fluids should be checked and topped off every oil change. Have your transmission fluid flushed out every 50,000 miles, depending on your driving habits and your vehicle manufacturer's specifications.

Brake Check: A brake inspection should be part of your vehicle’s ongoing regular maintenance to ensure safety and reliability.

Have your brakes inspected at least once a year or more often if you experience grinding, vibrations or shaking when you break. Regardless of the vehicle, brakes generally  need to be replaced every 20,000-30,000 miles.

Scheduled Maintenance: Failure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule could lead to loss of warranty coverage, breakdowns, poor fuel economy and a higher cost of ownership in the long run.

Having a certified professional inspect your car according to these schedules is an opportunity to catch problems before they get you stuck or escalate into larger repairs.

Build a relationship with a shop or mechanic. Bouncing from shop to shop may save a few dollars on particular jobs, but in the end the only one who will have any responsibility for the condition of the car will be you. "Having a reputable shop you trust means you having someone looking under the hood for any potential problems on a regular basis," says Mike Aronow, owner of highly rated Sunset Auto Imports Service in Henderson, Nevada.

A good mechanic, who is familiar with your needs, your expectations, and your car, will help you get the most from your car.

Read more: http://www.angieslist.com/articles/5-car-repairs-you-shouldnt-skip.htm?CID=OB7

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Ten Easy Ways To Keep Your Car Clean

Great tips to keep your car clean even if you’re pressed for time or just don’t feel like it.

10.) Don't eat in there

Why it's effective: If you can avoid eating in your car, you won't have to deal with all the wrappers, cartons, stains and crumbs that inevitably follow.

9.) Wax it occasionally

Why it's effective: It means you have to buy something and it means you have to spend some time after washing your car, but it's an investment that pays off. Waxing your car occasionally makes washing it the next time easier.

8.) Knock your shoes before getting in

Why it's effective: Wherever it snows and gets slushy, you really can't keep your car from getting dirty on the inside, but you can do a lot just by knocking your boots before you get in.

Sit down on the seat with your legs outside and knock your cold, block-like feet together. Then you just swivel in. It means your footwells won't be quite so grimy and icy.

7.) Keep kids out

Why it's effective: If at all possible, don't have kids and your car will stay much cleaner. If you do have kids, try and contain them in the family truckster and keep your car out of their grubby, dirty, smearing hands.

This may be a lost cause for many of you parents out there, but the rest of you need to stay vigilant.

6.) Clean messes up quick

Why it's effective: If you let a spill or a stain linger for any period of time in your car, it quickly becomes "character" and is impossible to remove.

Remember that time when Jim smacked his head on the doorframe and got blood on the armrest? Of course you do, because you didn't clean it up right away and now it's a stain you never have the time or the wherewithal to scrub away.

5.) Garage it

Why it's effective: While not everyone has a garage available, if you can find some enclosed space for your car, it will stay much cleaner. Mother Nature has a way of bringing every living bird to roost in the tree just above your parked car. There are a thousand other things the elements can bring unto your vehicle, so clear out your old BowFlex and stick your car in there.

4.) Keep a trashbag in the car

Why it's effective: Get either a small trash can or just a trash bag and keep it in your car. It keeps your junk from falling into the tiny cracks around the seats, or from rolling under the seats, and generally getting where you're too lazy to clean.

3.) Every time you leave, take something out

Why it's effective: There are three cleaning regimens that will keep your car clean. Each one requires a different degree of diligence, but they all work. Every time you stop for gas, reach into all the cubby holes and pull out the trash so you can throw it out. Every time you stop and get out of your car for any reason, grab all the trash in your car. If you stop and your car already looks clean, look around for one thing in your car that doesn't strictly need to be there and take it out.

2.) Make a routine for washing

Why it's effective: There's no quick fix to keeping your car washed regularly. You have to either set up a schedule for taking your car to a carwash, or you need to start a routine for washing your own car. Mark it out on your calendar and use the two-bucket method. One bucket has clean water and the other bucket is soapy. Scrub your car clean, soap it up, then wash it all off from the top down. Stay regimented and your car won't ever stay dirty.

1.) Keep it clean so it stays clean

Why it's effective: The easiest way to keep your car from getting dirty is to clean it once and make sure it stays that way. Once it's clean, it's easy to keep it clean, as readerhorspowr1001 explains:

If your car is always clean, you will be more inclined to toss out any trash right away. Similar to the dirty laundry analogy: If you have one pair of dirty socks on the floor, it's much easier to put that second pair there, then the third, then the.... Eventually it becomes a mess.

Also, if your passengers see a clean car, they will notice and clean up after themselves, not to mention compliment your ride.

Article courtesy of Jalopnik: http://jalopnik.com/5922778/ten-easy-ways-to-keep-your-car-clean

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Summertime Heat Can Do Real Damage to Your Car

Summer can be a great time! Fun in the sun can include camping, visits to your favorite water parks, relaxation and much more, but there's a downside to all the sun... It can be damaging to your car paint!
Sunlight can cause oxidation which causes fading, and that's bad news, but you're not at a total loss! There are steps the average person can take to PREVENT sun damage to their car.

1) Park in a shaded area: Obviously the easiest way to avoid sun damage is to avoid the sun altogether. Paint is tough, but if you're the typical 9-5 worker, that's 8 hours a day your car can be exposed to sun rays. We suggest seeking out shaded areas for parking, even if it means walking an extra block.
2) Clean off bugs: Insects not only make your car look gross, but the small amount of acid contained in some insects can be enough to penetrate your paint, so be sure to wash your car often... which brings us to our next step...
3) Dry thoroughly: Cleaning your car is great, but you don't want to let water settle. Water can leave behind minerals including salt, which is harmful to the outer coatings protecting your paint, which in the end, can lead to fading.
4) Finally... wax: Wax is the ultimate protector. Waxing fills in small scuffs, and rejuvenates the outer layers of your paint keeping them like new so be sure to wax after washing your car. It's a great way to insure it's dry, and keeps it looking as glossy as the day you bought it.

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Homeless Children's Education Fund School Supply Drive

Support Homeless Children through the CBL Monroeville Mall School Supply Drive. Drop off school supplies between today and July 31st at the Monroeville Mall food court, the Monroeville Area Chamber Of Commerce, or to their office inside of the Monroeville Convention Center. Supplies for children grades k-12 are needed.

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Military Copper Edition Jeep Wrangler

The new Copper Jeep Wrangler design is an excellent addition to what was already a sturdy and hearty car. Now, with the added copper shell, the Wrangler looks even more resilient to road hazards and the great outdoors. What do you think?

The latest update to Kahn’s Military edition Jeep Wrangler totally revamps the car by giving it a unique copper paint job. With this project Kahn has made a car that looks right wherever it goes, be it a luxury hotel in London, or a quarry in South Africa. It can take care of business in both places. The Copper Jeep offers a nice blend of elegance and badassery! 

The upgrades this Wrangler benefits from are far greater than just a paint job. To name a few of the extra goodies on it, we can mention a front grille industrial mesh, brake calipers finished in copper, mud flaps, side wing blades in carbon, xenon crosshair headlamps, door entry sill plates in stainless steel, Kahn enamel wing shields, fuel filler cap (smoked black), privacy glass, heated seats, floor mats, split level targa roof, aluminum machined foot pedals, Kahn enamel tailgate logo and Kahn wheel cover at the back. 

As a unique optional extra, Kahn can make the rear window bulletproof! So if people shoot at you a lot when you are running away, this is the car for you. The interior treatment is naturally bespoke to the customer, but this particular car comes with front and rear seats in quilted black leather with copper stitching and a centre console also in a copper finish.

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