Auto parts dealer price fixing
The United States Justice Department uncovered a global conspiracy among Japanese auto parts dealers to fix prices on wiring harnesses and other car components, like fuel sensors, gauges, and on board computers. The conspiracy was the result of a two year investigation.
Today it was announced that Yazaki, Corp. has plead guilty and will pay a $470 million fine. In addition the company’s executives, who worked in the United States office, will each serve prison terms of up to two years.
Another supplier, Denso Cop., has also plead guilty and will pay a $78 million fine. So the real question is which parts did this scheme affect? The answer is Toyota, Honda, and some Subaru.
This is the second investigation announced by the Justice Department affecting Japanese auto parts suppliers.
Brake Check
Its a good idea to check your brakes a few times each year. It you can make it a habit or routine to do so, you will be practicing sound preventative habits that will protect you and your car in the long run. Checking your brakes is not hard if you are wheels where you can see through them and see your brakes. Assuming you can see your disk brakes, make sure they look shiny from the inside to the other edge. That it looks uniform all the way around. If you see rough patches on the face or visible grooves then it is time to replace them. Get them replace in pairs if you feel you need to replace them.
Most expensive cars to maintain
Some cars cost more to maintain and repair than it is to buy them. Think about that for a second. Can that even be possible? Yes, it you consider how much it is to maintain them on a year basis. Can we have the drum roll please!
The ten most expensive cars are:
| Ranking | Make/Model | Maintenance | Repairs | Total |
| 1 | Dodge Viper | $8,209 | $2,114 | $10,323 |
| 2 | Jaguar XK-Series | $5,456 | $4,171 | $9,449 |
| 3 | Jaguar XJ-Series | $5,299 | $4,150 | $9,449 |
| 4 | Land Rover Range Rover Sport | $4,910 | $4,317 | $9227 |
| 5 | Land Rover Range Rover | $4,617 | $4317 | $8,996 |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | $5,963 | $2,793 | $8,756 |
| 7 | Mercedes-Benz CL Class | $5,988 | $2,742 | $8,730 |
| 8 | Land Rover LR3 | $4,424 | $4,213 | $8,637 |
| 9 | Audi RS4 | $4,424 | $4,213 | $8,637 |
| 10 | BMW Alpina B7 | $6,018 | $2,516 | $8,534 |
How save money on car repair
The easiest way to save money on car repair is to regularly maintain your car so that when something happens, you have done everything in your power to minimize the cost. So how do we get started. The first thing to do is to get to know your car. Read your owner’s manual. Understand the warning signals, what the manufacture recommends. Check your antifreeze and coolant, after you car has cool off once a week. Check your oil level. If you notice the oil is very dark you should go get a oil change. If its very low, then add more oil. Check your windshield wiper fluid and wiper. Change them as needed. Check your transmission, brake and steering fluids. Transmission fluid keeps your car running nicely. If you hear a grinding or squeaking noise when you turn your steering wheel, its time to check your steering fluid.
Another set of things to check regularly is your tire pressure. Under and over inflated tires wear down faster. Read your owner manual for recommend tire pressure for your car. The easiest thing to do is to buy a tire gauge to check your tire pressure. Also check your tire tread for wear. If you notice the wear is uneven, your wheels may need to be realigned. And lets not forget to check our car battery. If you notice residual around the battery or acid deposits its time to replace your battery. If your brakes squeak or make notices, its time to have them check.
Taking these simple basic steps will help you keep your car in good condition. It will also help you avoid cost car repair bills down the road. I hope you find this information helpful.
Find a repair shop now!
Car experts and consumer organization advise us to find a car repair shop now before you need one. This is always recommend because by the time you get into a fender bender you will be too stress out to pick one logically. You will be in too big of a rush and will ignore all the criteria that you know are sound and prudent in looking for a car repair shop. Here are some things to consider when looking for a car repair shop:
- License for auto repair and smog checks
- Member of automotive trade organizations
- The technicians are certified
- Neat and well organized service area
- They have modern equipment
- They have clearly posted and easily explained policies on labor charges, guarantees, and accepted payment methods
- Personnel is courteous and helpful. They are willing and able to answer your questions and resolve disputes.
Car repair warranty
When you go get your car repair one of the most important thing to ask that most people forget to ask is about the warranty. You need to ask the body shop if they provide a written warranty and if so, how long is the warranty and what it covers. The norm is a one year warranty. Before of life time warranty because they are unrealistic and have tons of exceptions in the fine print. The second thing you need to ask is if the body shop carries fire and theft insurance. Can you imagine if you leave your car at the shop and it gets stolen or if the building blows up and you are not covered? I would be pissed. Also ask how long they have been in business and check if they have a business license. Any place without a business license is not a reputable place of business.
Fixing big dents
The ability to fix big dents in your car is dependent on your ability to take out the damage section of your car and work from the back side. If you can do this then proceed as follows. If you can’t you are better off going to a body shop. With access to the back side you will need to reshape the section of your car to its original contour using a hammer. Don’t forget to remove objects that are in your way, like a mirror and etc before you begin. After you hammer out the body to the best of your ability you will need to work with body filler to fill in the outside contour of the car body. Begin by applying the body filler in small sections to match the contour of the car. Use 80 grit sandpaper to mode the filler to the contour of the car. Then switch to 180 grit sandpaper to get to a nice smooth finish.
Aluminum wheels
When you first get your car, assuming it is a new car, or buy your aluminum wheels, they are protected by a clear coated for corrosion resistance. When this coat wears off, the wheel can quickly corrode and pit when exposed to road salt and moisture. So its very important to coat them to protect them from the elements. You can use a wax, sealer, or paint to coat them. Just ask your local auto store or dealer for the best product to use for your type of aluminum wheels. I hope this helps.
Car Insurance Accident Checklist
Safety first
The first thing you should do if you’re involved in a car accident is to stop. Even if it is not your fault, you are legally required to stay if you are in an accident involving any other vehicle, person, animal or someone’s property.
If you don’t you could face a fine of up to $5,000, get five penalty points on your license and even be banned from driving.
Next, check everyone involved is safe and uninjured – and to make sure the accident scene doesn’t become a danger to other road users.
If anyone has been injured, call 911 immediately and request the emergency services.
After you’ve made sure everyone involved in the accident is safe, you need to exchange insurance details with the driver or drivers of the other vehicles.
To make this process simpler, always carry your insurance certificate with you. You’ll also need to gather these details at the scene.
Always ask for the following information
Details of any other driver’s car insurance policy – name of the insurance company, the policy expiry date, whether the policy is third party or fully comprehensive.Details of each car’s owner, if they are a different person to the driver. Contact details of all involved.The make, model, color and registration number of all vehicles involved, plus the damage sustained.Photographs of the accident scene and damage to vehicles – if you don’t have a camera, at least make sketches. Note the positions of the vehicles and make measurements if possible.Details of the weather and the road conditions .Any other relevant details, such as whether other parties were using headlights or indicators.