6 Tips For Finding A Great Mechanic

Whether you are looking for auto repair in London, Manchester, or Los Angeles, finding a decent and dependable mechanic can be tough. While there are many skilled and honest mechanics, there are lots of ways in which auto repair technicians can take advantage of their customers. Here are some simple things that you can do to become an informed customer and find a dependable auto shop.

1. Know Your Vehicle

The most vulnerable consumers in this industry are the ones that are least familiar with the inner workings of automobiles. While it is true that cars can be complicated, it is also true that they all operate on roughly the same principles. Though the world of engine mechanics is a wide one and full of diversity, consumers need only know the basics of auto repair and a few specifics regarding their personal vehicles to greatly decrease their vulnerabilities.

2. Get Your Hands Dirty

Learning about your vehicle and how it works takes time. Enlist the help of a friend that knows his or her way around an engine and be willing to get your hands dirty. There are books that are printed for every vehicle that clearly outline the steps to diagnose and repair almost anything. Doing simple repairs or maintenance yourself can be a fantastic way to get to know your vehicle and save on labor costs.

3. Ask Your Friends for Advice

The odds are good that you know several people that own vehicles. Odds are even better that those people have been forced to get some kind of auto repair done by a professional mechanic. Ask them about their experiences. There are several questions that you can ask that can help you find the best mechanics in your area:

  • Which mechanics have done the best work for you?
  • Have you felt slighted by any repair shops? If so, which ones and why?
  • Have you ever used a mechanic that did extra work for free?
  • Does your mechanic explain the problems thoroughly before doing the work?
  • Have you ever had to take your vehicle back to the shop because there were still problems? If so, what was that experience like?

4. Look for a Guarantee or Warranty

Most respectable shops offer some kind of guarantee on the work that they do. If a shop is not willing to guarantee their work, you should probably look elsewhere. Be careful of the guarantee, though. It is not always what it seems to be. Read the fine print when entering into an agreement with any mechanic. Continue reading “6 Tips For Finding A Great Mechanic” →

Choosing The Best Motorcycle For Your Needs

Imagine: riding down the roadways in fall, summer, spring, and even winter if you’re willing to be careful. Life on a motorcycle isn’t always a picnic, but there is something to be said about having the wind in your face with plenty of sun to go along with it. If you’re in the market for a motorcycle, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind in order to make the experience a really good one.

Motorcycle prices are all over the place, which is why you need to know what type of features you really want to have. The only price that really matters is the real cost of bike ownership. Like owning a traditional vehicle, there are many costs that go beyond gas prices and the motorcycle itself. You have to think about how much it’s going to cost to properly maintain the motorcycle. Some bikes really are cheaper to own than others, and the only way to really know for sure is to do your homework before diving in. Do you already have a motorcycle mechanic in the area that can take care of your new ride? If you don’t have anyone in mind, it is a great idea to get some references on who can take care of your new motorbike.

By the way, insurance policies cover a car or a motorcycle, but not both. This mean that you’ll have to add the motorcycle to your car insurance, and you’ll most likely need to pay a significant premium to do that.

There are other things that you’ll need to handle on the motorcycle as time passes. New chains, drive belts, oil changes, spark plugs, and tires are all considered standard maintenance. The tires have to be changed more often on a motorcycle than they do a car. After all, you have two wheels instead of four, so it makes sense to take care of it.

You also need to buy a helmet, and safety gear. This means high quality leather jacket, boots, pants, and boots. Yes, we do see people ride motorcycles in high heels, flip flops, and sandals. These are all bad ideas because if you have an accident, inferior clothing will peel off and your skin will be exposed to hot asphalt.

Taking the motorcycle safety course offered in your area is equally important. We know that we’re treating you like a beginner, but there are most likely plenty of beginners that are reading this article. We want to make sure that we’re giving you a balanced view of things as much as possible. Some people skip over this, thinking that they can just read up on how to control a motorcycle and be fine. How can you buy something that you really don’t know how to use? Riding instruction is the best way to really learn. The motorcycle is provided, as well as a helmet, if you don’t want to buy your own. Continue reading “Choosing The Best Motorcycle For Your Needs” →

How to Protect Your Van From Thieves

Van users can be at risk from theft, the new business manager at Northgate Vehicle hire has provided a selection of top tips for van owners to help to protect them.

As well as vans themselves being valuable items, there are often valuable things stored inside them such as tools and equipment. Thieves know this and that is one reason why 47,000 commercial vans are stolen in the UK each year. In total this amounts to a cost of £152m. This is not only costly for someone who has the van stolen in terms of replacing lost items, it means that their insurance will go up and they will miss work when they are trying to source a new van and sort out the problems associated with the theft. This could have a huge effect on a business, especially a small one that relies on that van and tools. Therefore it is really important to protect your vehicle so that it is not susceptible to theft and therefore you can avoid these problems. Many drivers put a sticker on the van to inform thieves that there are no tools left in the van overnight, but there are more things that you can do to make sure that you have the best possible protection.

It may sound really obvious but make sure that your van is locked. It can be really easy to forget to do this, perhaps if you are only leaving it for a few moments or if you are tired and just forget. If a heft occurs on an unlocked vehicle it is unlikely that the insurance company will pay out and this could be devastating. If your van and tools are stolen, you may not be able to afford to replace them and this could mean that you will be out of a job. If your van belongs to the business that you work for then you could end up losing your job due to your carelessness. This means that you should be really careful. Make sure you never leave the van open when unloading, leave it running when you make a delivery or leave the keys in it at a petrol station. These are all bad habits that it can be easy to get in to and they can invite thieves to take items form the vehicle or take the vehicle itself.

Some vehicles have a deadlock or double lock system. What this does is disables the internal handles if you press the locking device twice. This can be really useful as it will stop thieves being able to break in through a window as they will not be able to open the door form the inside. It can also be wise to lock your tools inside a box when in the van. This means that if they do get in, they will have to get past another lock to get any tools. Screwing the box securely inside the van will prevent them from picking it up and running away with it. It is worth knowing that most standard locks can easily be overcome just with a screwdriver and so it is worth fitting extra locks. Deadlocks as mentioned above can be wise but another option is a slam lock which will lock the van as soon as the doors are shut. You will have to pay to have these fitted but they could be a very worthwhile investment if they prevent a theft which could be extremely costly. Continue reading “How to Protect Your Van From Thieves” →

74% of cars buyers would not consider buying a car that has recently been recalled

A survey by OSV Ltd suggests that car buyers are less likely to buy a car that has recently been recalled. The survey also shows that Toyota is the brand most remembered when considering car recalls.

London, UK (3 July, 2015) – OSV Ltd – An overwhelming 74 percent of the UK population said they would not consider buying a car that had been recently recalled. According to the survey carried out by OSV Ltd, car sales for Toyota could be the most affected as 27% of the survey respondents named Toyota as a car brand that had suffered from recalls.

But, when asked if generally they cared about the unprecedented amount of car recalls, 68 percent of respondents answered no and only 32 percent answered yes. That being said if you’re current car has escaped being recalled or you’re not on the look out for a new car, it’s fair to say that you probably aren’t interested in the millions of other cars out there that have been recalled.

Interestingly, only 22 percent of men would consider a car that had been recalled whereas 35 percent of women would consider buying a car that had recently been affected. Another surprising insight found is that a whopping 91 percent of 18-24 year olds would not consider a car that had been recalled, with only 9 percent admitting they would consider a recalled vehicle.

The figures also show that those between the age of 55-64 are most interested in the car recall crisis with 33% admitting they care. On the other end, those that cared the least were between the ages of 35-44, with only 14% stating that they care.

54 percent of those surveyed said they could not name a car or brand that had recently been recalled. But some of the cars and brands that were mentioned include Toyota (27%), Honda (5.7%), Renault (3.8%), Nissan (3.8%), Ford (1.9%) and Vauxhall (1.9%). Unfortunately for Toyota, the Yaris and Prius were the cars most mentioned, followed by the Civic, Clio, Captur and Micra.

About OSV Ltd

OSV are the UK’s best independent vehicle supply professionals, providing every funding method imaginable. Trading since 1997, we have the experience to provide our customers with the highest level of service and are proud to be members of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.

For more information:

Please contact chanelle@greysquarepr.com

Latest Innovations in Motorcycle Safety

We often get to see dangerous motorcycle stunts in movies, which gives the impression as if riders can make the bikes jump and steer without any problem. Moreover, the movies also show that riders do not collide or crash while doing such dangerous riding. However, in reality things are completely different because no biker is willing to risk his or her life by riding so dangerously. Besides riders, motorcycle manufacturers are also quite concerned about the safety of their customers.

Therefore, apart from boosting the power, performance and style of their bikes, manufacturers are now also looking to improve the safety features. In fact, motorcycle manufacturers are so serious about it that some of them have even introduced car like safety features in their bikes. Below are some of the astonishing innovations in the history of motorcycle safety that have made the two wheelers safer for riding than before.

Suits and Jackets with Airbags

You may have seen airbags in cars, but in bikes this technology was first introduced by Honda back in 2006. However, as compared to the cars the airbag technology failed to lure the bikers. Therefore, now Honda Gold Wing is the only bike in production that offers an airbag system and the worst part is that the technology only offers protection to head in case of collision. When motorcycle makers lost their interest in the airbag technology, manufacturers of helmets, jackets and suits like JS Accessories decided to step up and test their luck in this field.

As a result of this effort a Japanese company RS Taichi introduced the first suit for riders with airbag in 2008 and shortly after that they rolled out airbag jacket. The airbag system in the suit and jacket help protect the neck of the wearer by stabilising bones in it. The system activates after the wire of jacket or suit attached to the bike gets detached. Later Italy based motorcycle clothing maker Dainese introduced the first wireless D-Air suit that does not require anything to establish a connection with the bike because the special suit uses algorithms and sensors in it to sense a collision or crash and activate the system in just 15 milliseconds.

Advanced Helmets

The motorcycle helmet manufacturers also decided to introduce airbags in their helmets after suits and jackets with the system surfaced in the market. APC Systems was the first helmet maker that has introduced a helmet with airbags in 2008. The Barcelona based company integrated speed sensors in their helmets which detects the crash and instantly inflates the airbag to cover the upper spine and neck of the biker.

Then, Sweden based Hövding used a different approach to protect the riders, as it developed a special collar for the neck that deploys an inflatable helmet in case of an accident. However, currently this special collar is used for bicycles only. ThermaHelm on the other hand, used a “brain cooling” technology in its helmets that swiftly reacts and cools the head of the rider when a collision takes place in order to decrease the chances of brain swelling.

Intelligent Lights

Traditional headlights enable drivers to see what’s in front of them in the dark, but adaptive headlights have empowered them to even see what’s around the upcoming bend. As usual the technology was first introduced in cars, but in 2011 BMW made it available in its motorcycles for the first time. These adaptive headlights of BMW’s bikes begin to tilt as the motorcycle leans. However, now San Diego based Vectolabs, a start up, is raising funds to develop a special LED backlight for the motorcycles that will light up whenever the bike slows down, even if the rider does not apply the brakes. This safety LED light of Vectolabs will be called Vololights.

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) was initially introduced in the four wheel vehicles by General Motor Company to avoid skidding and decrease the rate of crash or collision, but in 1988 BMW, a German based car and motorcycle manufacturer, introduced the technology in two wheelers. However, BMW’s ABS technology was not particularly designed for bikes. Therefore, later Bosch produced first anti-lock braking system that was especially made for motorcycles. The ABS of Bosch was much more compact and light weight as compared to the previous systems. On top of it, Bosch’s ABS can easily fit into different sizes of bikes.

As a result of that more and more motorcycle manufacturers started incorporating the ABS in their various models. However, the major reason behind integrating the ABS technology in motorcycles was that it has decreased the chances of fatal collisions by roughly 31 percent, which is huge difference. In fact, it is because of this very difference, last year European Union has passed legislation that will require motorcycle manufacturers to incorporate ABS in all bikes above 125cc category from 2016.

Top Tips For Passing Your Driving Test

The decision to separate the theory part of the driving test from the practical part at least spares prospective drivers the grief of having to sit two tests at once. The practical test is the one most people find most challenging, so here are some tips for passing it.

Remember nobody will die if you fail

That may sound flippant, but the worst that can happen if you fail your test is that you have to retake it. That may be something you would prefer to avoid, but its hardly the worst outcome in the world. Keep the test in perspective.

Remember the aim of the test is to assess you not to trick you

All a driving test aims to do is to ensure that you have sufficient ability to handle a car on a public road without damaging yourself or anybody else. You do not have to get everything right to pass, nobody expects you to be perfect.

Take the test when you feel ready

The whole point of the driving test is to check that you are able to drive alone. If you dont feel ready to take the test then you are not ready to drive alone. Part of driving is about knowing the Highway Code and relevant laws and part of it is about technical skills but most of it is about being able to stay calm and apply common sense while on public roads.

Handling mistakes calmly can impress your instructor

Everybody makes mistakes, even professional drivers make mistakes. Beginner drivers are expected to make mistakes, making mistakes is OK. Understand this and you will be well on your way to passing your test.

If you mess up a manoeuvre just tell the examiner you would like to start again. Thats exactly what youd do in real life, just reposition and have another go. Remember that theres a difference between touching a kerb and banging it. Its OK to touch a kerb provided that you can demonstrate you set up the manoeuvre properly, i.e. made the right observations in the right way. Continue reading “Top Tips For Passing Your Driving Test” →

Top 5 Car Upholstery Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

There will be times when you need to take your car to a professional if you want to get the upholstery cleaned or repaired. Hey, life happens. Kids or animals may toss their cookies in the back seat. You might spill your coffee when someone cuts you off on the freeway. And even regular wear and tear can lead to literal tears in the fabric or leather of your upholstery. In these cases you simply might not have the expertise to get your seats back in ship-shape. But for the most part, the average car owner can clean and maintain car upholstery in the meantime, combatting the dust, dirt, grime and aging that occur naturally. And here are just a few tips to help you keep your vehicle’s interior looking new for years to come.

Set up a schedule. Just as you likely clean the exterior of your car on a regular basis (once a week, once a month, or “as needed”), you should set up a schedule for cleaning and maintenance on the interior. This will ensure that dust and dirt don’t have the opportunity to settle into cracks and crevices, that stains don’t go untreated, that leather remains conditioned, and that everything is protected from the elements.

Clear the clutter. The first step towards ensuring that your upholstery remains clean is to clear away all the junk that builds up in the interior of your car. This means tossing any trash, pulling out the pile of CDs and jackets that has grown over the last month, and vacuuming every inch of the interior. You’ll want to get down in the seats in order to ensure that every crumb of fast food is sucked up in your shop vac so it never has the chance to fester and damage your seats or create lingering odors.

Treat stains. If your car features upholstery that is synthetic fabric, microfiber, or another textile, chances are it won’t be long before you find yourself trying to treat stains. Luckily, there are plenty of options. While you can certainly shell out the money for solvents specifically for car interiors (and you may want to if you’ve got hard-to-clean fabrics like microsuede, for example), most automobile upholstery is built to last, and durable as it is, it will easily stand up to just about any cleanser you throw at it (aside from bleach). So if you’re looking to save a few bucks, try your average fabric stain remover, like Shout. It should work fine for most stains. Continue reading “Top 5 Car Upholstery Cleaning and Maintenance Tips” →