My Wife’s Auto Salon

Getting the longest life out of your tires can be somewhat of a challenge.  The two biggest killers in tire wear are improper alignment and abnormal tire pressures.

If you are seeing abnormal tire wear on your vehicle then it may be caused by one or both of these factors.

If you have not had your tire pressures checked lately then maybe it’s time to put the tire gauge to good use.

Too low of tire pressures cause abnormal wear through out the whole tire, it also causes heat build up within the tire also.

If you are seeing wear on the outer edges of your tire then this could be caused by improper alignment.  Caster and Camber are usually the two culprits when it comes to outer or inner wear of the tire.

It is a good idea to get your vehicle aligned before purchasing new tires if you are seeing this kind of wear.

It looks like the new government program C.A.R.S (Car Allowance Rebate System) is going to receive another $2 billion dollars.  This should be enough money to allow the program to run through the month of September.

It seems like Ford is ahead of the race in both categories; the Ford Explorer (MY’s 1994-1999) seems to be the top vehicle being traded in.  It’s the Ford Focus that tops the list as far as the new car to buy; followed by the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, and the Ford Escape.

The United States just adapted this concept not too long ago but the idea has been around the European countries for quite some time.

This concept might be a good way to boost new car sales and keep the automakers afloat, but for every action there is a reaction.  Glass’s is suggesting to the government to extend its Scrappage Scheme to avoid a possible fall in the new car sales and to avoid a possible collapse in revenues for the automakers and dealers.

 What does this all mean for us the consumer?  There are a lot of people in this country who rely on older vehicles to get them around.  They may not have the credit or want the debt to purchase a new car.  Not only that but if all these vehicles get scrapped then what happens to the salvage and used parts industry.

There are a lot of consumers who go to salvage yards to buy parts for their vehicles, heck I have done it a time or two.

With the salvage yards out of the picture, who’s to say that the new parts industry will hike up their prices?

It is too early to tell what may happen, but something tells me that at the end of the tunnel the big corporations will come out ahead at the expense of the American working class.  You and I will be the ones who feel the repercussion.

The new Forester made by Subaru is a crossover sport utility vehicle.  It originally was suppose to come out in early 2010 but it is out now and sales have been in the record highs.

There are many reasons why the Forester is so popular:

1.  This five door, five passenger SUV is the right size for you soccer moms/shoppers.

2.  The Foresters four cylinder engine (170-224 horsepower) gets around 19 mpg in town and 24 mpg on the highway.

 3.  With today’s today economic crisis this vehicle is also affordable; about $20,990 is the lowest starting retail price.  This standard all-wheel drive vehicle is something definitely worth looking into.

4.  Oh did I mention it earned a 5 star rating in the government front and side crash test and Consumer Reports recommended it as a good bye.

For an extra $2,000, you can get the Forester equipped with an automatic transmission.

Check it out and let me know what you think, I like comments.

Troubleshooting electrical problems can be difficult to solve if you don’t have the proper electrical tools for the job.  I know this because I have ran into this problem myself a time or two in my career.

The one thing I have learned over the years is that my test light (circuit tester) goes everywhere with me on service calls.  I have a test light in my shop toolbox and in my road tool box.

 This simple little tool has helped me trace problems to their core so many times that I can not function as a mechanic without one.

 One of the hardest obstacles in electrical troubleshooting is that I cannot see electricity; so I have to rely on other sources to help me see and trace the flow of electricity.  This is where the test light comes in handy.

 Without the test light I am blind; without the test light I have no idea where to start, let alone how to even begin tracing wires.  The test light is my visual aid; if a component is not working I can use the test light to see if there is even any power going to that particular component.

 Without the test light we can spend a lot of money guessing on which component to replace.

 With the test light we can accurately trace electrical systems and narrow down the very component that may be defective.

 For example, let say that the right fog lamp does not work when we turn on the switch.  We know the switch works because the right fog lamp comes on.  Using the test light we can unplug the harness from the fog lamp and use our test light to see if we have power going to the fog light.

 If the test light lights up when we touch the end of it to one of the spades on the harness then we know there is power going to the fog light.  This will tell us whether we have a faulty fog light or a bad ground.

 The test light allows us to perform quick and efficient checks for power to many of the electrical components on our vehicle. 

 Test lights are simple to use and very inexpensive to buy.  If you are a do-it-yourselfer then the test light is a must tool to have in your collection and you can find them at about any parts store.

 To get your circuit tester/test light at a low price, Click Here. 

If you enjoy buying auto parts to give your vehicle a new look, here are some suggestions you might want to think about the next time you visit the auto parts store

Body kits is one way to change the look of your vehicle; with the variety of kits out there you should have no problem choosing exactly how you want your vehicle to look.

For example, if you own a 4X4, you may consider purchasing a lift kit.  If lift kits are not your style then you can go the opposite direction and lower your vehicle.

The lighting system; like tail lamps and headlamps in another way to go to change the look of your vehicle.  Depending on what make and model of your vehicle there are some tail lights that display the brand of vehicle when lit up.

You can also change the color that your headlamps illuminate, but be careful; I know it is illegal in some cities and states.  It might be a good idea to do some research before spending money on different colored headlamps

There are also different ways to change the look of the inside of your vehicle.  This can be done with the engine in the engine compartment or the interior of the vehicle. 

Chroming out the engine, like changing the valve covers is one way to spruce up the looks of the engine.  There are many different options to explore if you decide to go this route.

As far as the interior is concerned; one common way is to change the factory sound system with an awesome aftermarket system.  CD or DVD players and speakers are very affordable to buy and install.

Seat covers, steering wheel covers, floor mats, etc.  There are a lot of different options to choose from when changing the look of your interior.

In all, you will not have a problem changing the look of your vehicle due to the fact that there are so many different options out there to choose from.  Changing the look of your vehicle is also a good way to express yourself.

So go ahead, what are you waiting for?  Showing your identity by customizing the look of your vehicle is very common thing to do in this day of age.

To get all your parts to spiff up your vehicle, Click Here.