High Point Auto Repair

Ever wonder about the future of a career in vehicle repair, given how much our cars and trucks have been altered by technology? So did a reader on Boston.com, who wrote to columnist John Paul, the AAA CarFacts Car Doctor. Paul has more than 30 years in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. The reader, who has a son in middle school, noted that the boy really enjoys computers as well as taking things apart and putting them back together. “With the complexity of cars today, is there a future in auto repair?” Paul’s reply, in a nutshell: Definitely. “I believe the future looks bright for young automotive technicians,” he says. “Recently, Ford Motor Company stated they need an additional 5,500 technicians in the near future. In fact, in my opinion, as cars get more complicated, technicians will become more valuable and better paid.” More good news for the middle-school kid: Paul says the po ... read more

Why Have a Tune-Up Performed? Sometimes it is hard to know as a vehicle owner what is truly important for vehicle maintenance. With some companies out there trying to sell you the moon and the stars, it is easy to become cynical about car maintenance. However, vehicle tune-ups are an extremely important part of car maintenance. If you have ever wondered why you should have a tune-up performed, check out these four benefits of vehicle tune-ups. #1: Old Reliable First and foremost, having a tune-up performed on your vehicle can save you the headache of being stranded on the side of a road. When routine maintenance is performed properly on your car, you reduce the risk of roadside breakdowns. No matter what the age of your car is, tune-ups aid in long term reliability. #2: End Your Fuel Pump Woes Do you find that you are not getting the miles per gallon your vehicle should? A tune-up is one of the best ways to increase your fuel e ... read more

Head gaskets are vital component and play a key role in the function of your vehicle’s engine. A blown head gasket can cause extensive harm to your engine and lead to costly repairs. The head gasket is a seal that is equipped between the engined block and the piston cylinder head. The head gasket prevents coolant and engine oil from mixing together in the combustion chamber during the combustion process. A blown gasket can cause your vehicle’s engine to malfunction and lose a substantial amount of its power. Signs your head gasket may be blown: Check your vehicle’s temperature gauge. If your gauge is constantly showing a high temperature, your gasket may be blown. Overheating is major indicator of a problem with your head gasket. Check your vehicle’s coolant level. A low and dropping coolant levels can indicate a leakage with your coolant and a blown gasket. Inspect your oil leve ... read more

It can be hard deciding when to purchase a vehicle and trying to get the best deal for your purchase. So when’s the best time of the year for buying a new car? A recent TrueCar study has found that August is the best time to purchase a new vehicle. August has the lowest transaction prices that equals almost to a 2.5% decrease over pricing of any other month and around $720 savings over the monthly average. August also has the lowest prices for SUVs. The study used car sale data from 2009 to 2014. It found that car dealer are looking to get rid of old vehicle models and inventory in the late summer and early fall. The worst month of the year to buy is March. The study also found the best day to purchase a new car. Sunday is the best day to buy a new car. Buying a car on Sunday can save you an average of $2,000 dollars than buying it on the most expensive day, which is Friday.

Windshield wiper blades play a very vital role in your ability to drive safely. They wipe off rain, snow, mud, dirt and other debris from your windshield so you can see clearly and drive safely. Worn out, broken down or faulty wiper blades can be very hazardous and cause driving problems. The rubber on a blade can wear out and cause smearing, which limits visibility.They can also impede your ability to drive safely when there’s heavy rain or snow falling that limits your windshield’s visibility. Windshield wiper blades should at least be replace once a year. This ensures that your wiper blades won’t be too worn out throughout the year and ensures your ability to drive safe. Changing windshield wiper blades is a simple process. First Step: Remove the old blade. You can remove the old wiper blade by lifting up the wiper’s arm, clicking a small tab and detach the old blade from the arm ... read more

Summertime can cause a multitude of problems for your vehicle. Heat, dust and traffic during summer can cause your car to start to break down especially if you haven’t kept up with regular maintenance Here are some tips on how you can prevent vehicle problems during summer. Check your Tires You need to at least check your tire pressures once a month. Rising temperature during the summer can drastically change your tire’s pressure. Low or under inflated tires can go flat or blow out with enough heat and pressure. Over inflated tires make less contact with the surface and can pose a problem in wet conditions. Also make sure your spare tire is in good shape and properly inflated should you need to put it on. Change your Oil and Filters Oil is very important for your vehicle’s engine. Oil keeps your engine running smooth and clean. During summer your engine can start to overheat and shut down if you don’t have new oil. Change your car’s oil every 5,000 miles or every t ... read more

Thinking about purchasing a used car? Purchasing a used car over a new one can save you a lot of money but first you want to make sure that the vehicle is in good condition and that there aren’t any underlying issues that the seller may be hiding from you. It’s recommended to have an experienced auto mechanic do a thorough inspection of the vehicle before you buy but there are also things that you can check for yourself. Check the outside of the vehicle First check the paint. Look for dents, scratches, and signs of rust. A good way to tell if there car has had a paint job is to feel along the edges between panels for any roughness, which is caused by masking tape. Another indicator that the vehicle was repainted is if there are any waves in the body of the car. Next, check the tires. Does the car mileage match the wear on the tires? A car with a lot of mileage but new tires isn’t odd. However, a car with low mileage and worn or bald tires calls for some questioning. Al ... read more

What is it? Plant materials known as biomass can be used to produce a renewable fuel called ethanol. Biomass that can be used to produce ethanol includes: corn, sugar cane, potatoes, algae, grass, and other materials containing cellulose. Regardless of what material is used to produce ethanol, it all results in the same chemical formula. Also known as ethyl alcohol, ethanol is the same alcohol you find in alcoholic beverages. How is it made? Starch-based crops, primarily corn, are used for ethanol production. Biochemical conversion, when sugars are extracted from a plant and then fermented, is one of the processes used to produce ethanol. Because there is a demand for human food and livestock feed, production of ethanol from starch-based feedstock cannot exceed 15 billion gallons. What is it used for? More than 95% of the Uni ... read more

Courtesy of: http://www.onlineschools.com Teenagers and their cell phones are seemingly inseparable—even when they are behind the wheel of a car. In fact, teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 make up the largest percentage of drivers distracted by mobile devices. In a 2012 poll conducted by AAA, 94% of teens admitted that texting and driving is dangerous but 35% said they do it anyway. When compared to adults, teenagers are four times more likely to be involved in a car accident. Sadly, an average of 11 teen drivers is killed every day as a result of texting and driving. Teens who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident. Just reaching for their phone makes them 1.4 times more likely to be involved an accident. An even scarier statistic is that 77% of young adults are convinced t ... read more

If you ever smell something odd coming from your car, there may be cause for concern. Here are six odors you shouldn’t ignore. If you smell burnt rubber, this could indicate a slipping drive belt or loose hoses rotating against rotating accessory drive pulleys. The smell of hot oil usually means that there is leak and oil is dripping onto the exhaust system. To check for leaks, look for oil on the pavement or smoke coming from the engine. Smell gasoline? It is likely a sign of a gas leak from either your fuel injector or your fuel tank. These issues should be tended to immediately since leaking gas could potentially be a fire hazard. Smell something sweet? Like Syrup? Engine coolant may be leaking from a component of the car’s cooling system. If you smell burning carpet, act fast! There may be a problem with your brakes! Rotten eggs—arguably the worst smell ... read more