Top 10 Most Sought After Car Features

Generally, people worry more about the engine, the overall look, and the price of the car when planning to buy. But you’ve gotta admit that these features are one of the plus points for any buyer when it comes to decision making. These features may not be deal breakers when it comes to a car but they still make your driving experience a bit more convenient. So no wonder people are willing to invest a little more if it means driving a vehicle with these modern tech features.

1. Power Driver’s Seat

It may seem a luxury to some, but having this feature allows the driver to adjust his seat according to his comfort. That will always be important since the level of comfort the driver is in while he’s behind the wheels can make a difference in his driving performance.

2. Heated Front Seats

This one is probably applicable to cold weathered areas. However, it’s still one of the luxury innovations that come with some cars nowadays. It provides comfort and warmth for those who live in snowy or rainy areas. Just keep in mind that there could be plenty of potential car repairs if you decide to purchase a vehicle with this feature.

3. Active Blind-Spot Detection System

How many little misses, dents, and scratches have you had to deal with due to an approaching car in your blind spot? Car servicing shops probably have more of these cases than engine failures. No wonder this feature is such a hit.

4. Easy-To-Clean Seat & Floor Materials

Cleaning can take longer than it should if your car is not equipped with this feature. That would be very inconvenient for those always on-the-go people.

5. USB Ports

Due to necessity and preference your gadgets are more likely to always be with you, admit it or not. Having USB ports in the car makes easier to charge or connect your gadgets for music or maps in case you don’t have a built-in navigator in the car.

6. Built-In Navigation System

Maps are great, but when you’re in the car driving around and lost, figuring out a map is the least thing you’d want to do. This feature is truly heaven sent for those who need to travel to different unfamiliar places all the time.

7. Heated Windshield (Auto Fog Prevention)

Having a clear vision on the road is very important for your safety when you’re driving. Fog, on the other hand, can hinder that. This is why most consumers would love it if their car has this feature.

8. Power Front Passenger Seat

Who says the driver should be the only one comfortable throughout the ride? This feature ensures that the front passenger seat has more adjustment options than just recline for total comfort. 

9. Backup Collision Intervention/Auto Stop

A lot of accidents could have been avoided if the market has come up with this sooner. Detecting what’s behind you, hearing an audible alert and seeing a flashing light indicating its oncoming direction, and a system that counteracts failure to act by pushing back on the accelerator could have not just saved lives but as well as the car repair expenses and trouble.

10. Leather Seats

Okay, leather seats aren’t a vital feature that could be convenient or life saving for the driver and passengers, but it doesn’t hurt for your car to look sleek with the help of this feature. Aside from that we all know that compared to cloth, leather is easier to clean.

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3 Ways To Protect Your Car Paint From UV Damage

3 Ways To Protect Your Car Paint From UV Damage

We can’t really help the kind of weather you’ll have in the place you live. Whether you have four seasons or two extreme weathers, all you can do is take extra step to protect your car from these. Paint protection in Singapore’s tropical weather will prevent your paint job from fading fast, it also keeps it from expanding and contracting which results to cracking where water or moist can seep through the cracks and create rust.

1. Limit Exposure To Sunlight

Even a warm garage beats being parked in the sun all day. So whenever there’s an available garage, use it. Not only that your interior will stay cool, but your paint job won’t suffer to premature damage either. Also, when you’re washing your car make sure you don’t do it under direct sunlight. Remember that the water and cleaning agent is already making your paint job vulnerable, don’t mix UV rays into that. And when you can’t find a covered parking lot, use a car cover to at least give a barrier for your car’s paint from the sunlight.

2. Take Advantage Of Ceramic Coating Paint Protection

Another way to protect your car is via paint coatings. Paint coatings are relatively new and are one of the up and coming leaders to car detailing in the automobile industry. It serves as an all in one protective layer to a car’s paintwork and UV ray protection is included in its specifications along with many others. It is able to keep your car’s paint looking polished, comparable to that of a showroom standard car and the best thing is that no re-application is required at all as it is highly durable. With this paint coating in place, you will not need to go through the regular hassle of consistently finding sheltered parking lots or frequent waxing sessions for your car. 

3. Wax Your Car

Remember that a good wax will easily last 8 – 10 months on a car that will protect the paint of the car from external elements like scratches, dust, contaminants, and UV rays. To be on a safer side, apply a coat of wax every six months on your car to keep it clean and smooth. 

Car repairs don’t come cheap. Actually they can really be hefty especially if it’s been awhile since your last maintenance and its condition is quite bad already. Take car re-painting for instance, when your paint gets damaged, you can’t just fix the damaged part, you have to repaint the entire car. If you don’t like to spend a huge amount of money trying to fix your car’s paint, better pay attention to this. They may seem nothing but could lead to serious damage in your vehicle if not taken care of.

Possible Reasons Why You Started Losing Interest In Your Car

Buying a car and driving one every day is easily one of the most popular goals among working individuals. Not only because of the convenience that it provides but also because of the feeling of independence that it gives you and sometimes the status symbol that comes with it. However, no matter how important this investment is to you, you start losing interest in it once it no longer looks like the dream car it once looked. Here are some problematic elements that make your vehicle look old, slow and junky. 

Heat Consumption

Even if you don’t live in a tropical country, heat and sunlight will eventually take toll on your car’s condition. It can damage both exterior and interior surfaces of your vehicle and when that happens it’s natural to feel dismayed. Your car is an expensive investment after all. However, using sun control window films on your vehicle’s windows can help keep the heat away.

Dust Issues

There’s no way to avoid getting dusts all over your car, especially if you drive a lot and keep you windows down every once in awhile. But a little dust here and there is not enough reason to be turned off with your car altogether. Besides, dust will only accumulate if you don’t maintain cleanliness in your car. If you’re really that busy that you can’t spare some time to do the cleaning yourself, then at least take your car to car grooming regularly to keep it from looking like you go through the Sahara desert every day.

Fading Car Paint

Paint doesn’t just give color to your car and make it look like new, but it also protects it from premature rusting and corrosion. This is why it is very important to protect your paint from things that fades it sooner than it should. What you can do to prevent this is take your car to your trusted car servicing shop and have a car paint protection applied on it. This will serve as a protective barrier between the paint and any particles.

No Shiny Car Surface

If you want to keep your car paint as shiny and glossy as on the day you bought your car (or applied the paint), there is no better alternative to choose than ceramic coating for cars. The ultimate protection your car will get from the ceramic coating layer is unmatchable by any other product on the marketplace - and is one that you need to see to believe.

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7 Warning Signs Of Brake System Issues That You Should Not Ignore

7 Warning Signs Of Brake System Issues That You Should Not Ignore

A vehicle’s braking system is a very important part a car. If they’re not in good condition it means you car’s ability to slow down or stop when you’re driving can be compromised. Moreover, your family, other motorists and your own safety could also be at risk!

Don’t wait for that to happen before you realize the importance ensuring your brakes are always working properly. Here are the signs that could mean they’re not.

1. Temperamental Pedal

Once your pedals becomes mushy where one goes to the floor before you even engage the brake, that’s a big red flag! This could mean your pads are already worn out or your car’s hydraulic system is malfunctioning. However, if your brakes tend to grab immediately at the slightest touch it can still pose a problem. Possible reasons for these are uneven worn rotor, dirty brake fluid or contamination of the fluid by moisture. Either way, you shouldn’t take this for granted and take your car to the car repair shop right away. 

2. Vibrations

A vibrating brake pedal even under normal braking circumstances is bad news. This usually happens when you have warped rotors from a lot of driving down steep mountains or by stopping frequently while towing something heavy. While those two naturally occur over time, it doesn’t mean that such vibrations are normal especially since it can also happen when your wheels are misaligned. So, to be safe just have a mechanic check and fix it before you drive it again.

3. Pulling

A stuck caliper, unevenly inflated tires or worn tires, poor alignment, or a problem with your car’s suspension can make your car make right or left turns when you’re actually just trying to drive straight ahead or are hitting the brake. Since there are a lot of possible causes of pulling, don’t attempt to drive your car or immediately stop to the nearest car repair shop once this happens to you because this can be very dangerous on the road.

4. Strange Sounds

This is the reason why you shouldn’t turn the music so loud while driving or better yet don’t listen to any and just focus on driving. Sometimes the only indication that there might be a problem with your brakes is some strange sounds. It could be a high-pitched squeal which means you need to replace your pads or  harsh grinding sound that indicates you’ve completely gone through your brake pads and the metal of the calipers is already grinding against the metal of your rotors. Do not delay car repair once you hear any of these sounds otherwise you’d be faced with a bigger damage and cost.

5. Worn Pads

Due to the constant friction the brake pads deal with when you’re driving, they become thin over time. When this happen it can no longer slow or stop your car effectively. Good thing you can easily check your vehicle’s brake pads on your own. If they’re thinner than one-quarter of an inch, time to have them replaced.

6. Leaks

A leak in the braking system is usually a hydraulic issue. If the brake pedal goes to the floor, it can usually be traced back to a leak. A leak in the brake line will result in a loss of brake fluid, and eventually the brake system may fail altogether. Leaks should be addressed immediately, a pool of brake fluid on the garage floor or a low brake pedal are all symptoms of this problem.

7. Brake light

If the brake light on the dash illuminates it can indicate a serious issue with the braking system. In most cases it indicates a problem with the hydraulics and the vehicle should be inspected and repaired as soon as possible. It is never safe to drive if the brake light is illuminated. The light also doubles duty to let you know the parking brake is on in some vehicles.

10 Car Care Mistakes That Lead To Expensive Car Repair Bills

Crashing your car on that pole isn’t the only way to wreck your ride and spend thousands of dollars on car repair. You’d be surprised that sometimes even a seemingly simple mistake can drain your bank account. Here are some of those mistakes that you should definitely try to avoid.  

1. Failing To Change Oil And Filters And Other Simple Maintenance

If you think you’re saving money by passing up on basic maintenance like oil and filter change, think again. Because what you refused to pay for now, means thousands of dollars in auto repair bills tomorrow due to major damage or malfunction. 

2. Not Asking For Your Parts Back

Seeing your old parts if the only guarantee that they have been, indeed, replaced. Don’t just rely on the mechanic saying it’s already done, see it for yourself. Otherwise you’d be paying for new parts that are not even placed on your vehicle. So you basically just gave your money away for nothing in return.

3. Not Communicating With Your Mechanic Properly

Being a car owner doesn’t automatically make you an expert at cars and car servicing. So don’t get ahead of your mechanic. Let him diagnose your car and say what needs to be done instead of the other way around. This way you’re not taking more money out of your pocket for needless repairs.

4. Driving On Bald Or Under/Over Inflated Tires

This means they shouldn’t be overinflated nor underinflated. Otherwise they’ll wear out faster than they typically should and will affect vehicle handling and fuel economy. To avoid this, check your owner’s manual for recommended tire pressure and always stick to that. It’s best to check your tires’ pressure at least once a month but do it more often if you always go on long trips or you carry heavy loads all the time.

5. Telling Your Mechanic What To Replace

Being a car owner doesn’t automatically make you an expert at cars and car servicing. So don’t get ahead of your mechanic. Let him diagnose your car and say what needs to be done instead of the other way around. This way you’re not taking more money out of your pocket for needless repairs.

6. Taking Your Car To The Mechanic For Car Repairs You Can Do Yourself

There are a lot of car repairs that you can definitely take care of like dead battery, oil change, windshield wipers, headlights, and air filter. Aside from that you get to save money, you are guaranteed that it’s really being fixed, you get to hone your car repair skills, and most importantly you become more and more self-sufficient.

7. Ignoring Symptoms

We’re all guilty of this sometimes. It’s either we’re too busy or we simply assume it’s nothing serious. But this habit is actually the reason we get ambushed with major problems. If you listen to your car when it’s whispering, you won’t have to hear it scream.  

8. Driving On Fumes

When cars had carburetors, you could drive them until all the gas was gone, refuel, and drive again with no problem. However, cars nowadays are mostly fuel injected engines that rely on in-tank electric pumps that use the gas to cool and lubricate their components. With these kinds of cars, driving on fumes can lead to pump failure which can be a very costly repair.

9. Going To A Dealership When An Independent Mechanic Will Do

Do not be afraid to seek a car servicing shop near your location or try one that is recommended by a friend or family member because of warranty. If your mechanic uses quality parts and you keep the paper, there shouldn’t be any problem. Just make sure you’re on your mechanic’s good side and he’ll surely take care of your vehicle.

10. Not Comparing Shops And Price Quotes

Don’t just settle with a known shop because it’s where everybody buys their car stuff. Always shop around and compare price and quality. Sometimes a different store offer discounts that other stores don’t or carry better kinds of tires. Until you find the best one for your needs and budget, keep looking around.

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Top 10 Signs You’re About To Say Goodbye To Your Car

Top 10 Signs You’re About To Say Goodbye To Your Car

Like many things in life, 'you don't know what you got till it's gone'. So before your car gives up on you and becomes too late to realize how much your life is so much easier with having your own ride, pay more attention when it’s already sending you SOS signals! Save yourself from the headache, bigger costs, and road risk.

1. Warning Lights Going Crazy

Your Check Engine Light is already enough to know that something is wrong with your car. But once all the other warning lights that can be found on your dashboard starts to go off, there’s no doubt there’s some serious trouble.

2. Oil Leak All The Time

Never underestimate oil leaks no matter how small it may seem. Otherwise you could be leading yourself to critical engine damage in your car or worst a fire hazard which can put your life in danger if it happens while you’re driving. Moreover, once this problem keeps recurring and you haven’t changed your oil in forever and are already covering the neighborhood in a smokescreen, it’s probably time to let go.

3. Dry Car Fluids

If you’re checking your car fluids every month and notice that something is bone dry every time, that means something is ready to grenade.

4. Strange And Exotic Smoke

It’d be foolish to ignore any kind of smoke you see or smell coming from your car. Blue-ish smoke coming out your tailpipe means you’re burning oil. Heavy white smoke means you’re burning engine coolant, and that means either your head gasket is done for, or worse, your cylinder head is cracked. Black smoke could be a lot of things, including fire. Whatever it is your car is emitting, best to get it to the car repair shop before your engine finally gives up.

5. Poor Timing

Timing belts can be expensive to replace this is why some car owner hesitate or insist to use their existing one as long as possible. But if you hear ticking noise from the engine, the engine won’t turn over or misfires every single time, plus you’re not sure about the last time you had your timing belt replaced, do it now!

6. Something’s Trying To Escape From Your Engine

Your vehicle’s engine is made up of giant lump of metals designed to withstand and contain thousands of explosions every single day. When any of those parts get detached and blow a hole right in the side of your engine, know that it’s really bad news.

7. Terminal Rot

In most parts of the country, rust is a scourge. Rocker panels, fenders, hoods, and trunks can all be fixed, but once you’re dealing with the tin worm in vital places like the frame, shock towers, fuel and brake lines, or suspension mounting points your car is as good as dead.

8. Your Car Is Bouncing Like It’s On Hydraulics, And Your Wheels Creak, Crack, And Thump Every Time You Turn

This means your front suspension is shot. This happens because your shocks, tie rods, steering rack, and ball joints all take an enormous amount of punishment which is why it’s important that you keep up with their maintenance. If you don’t then they’ll give eventually and cause you your car.

9. Tired Transmission

As soon as you start losing gears, your automatic is likely toast, and flogging it for a few extra miles is only delaying the inevitable. If you have the funds, it’s time to buy a new transmission. If you don’t, then it’s time to put your car to bed. 

10. You’ve Replaced The Battery, Alternator, And Starter; It’s Still Not Working

Let me guess, your mechanic is already running out of ideas? He’s tried everything and touched every part and your car still won’t start or when it does it leaves you stranded again and again. This just says it’s time to put your car to rest

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Top 8 Tips That Will Help You Protect Your Car's Paint Job

Top 8 Tips That Will Help You Protect Your Car's Paint Job

Save yourself and your wallet the annoying car repairs. Follow these tips and you’ll surely enjoy a shiny and brand new looking car longer than most cars wherein their owners don’t take these extra precautions.

1. Use A Car Cover
There will be times when you won’t be able to find a covered parking lot, but that doesn’t mean you have to let your car get soaked in the sun.

2. Wash It Thoroughly
People don’t just seek car servicing in Singapore due to engine problems, more often than not it’s due to exterior damage from different kinds of dirt like grease, grime, and bird poop. When left unattended for extended period of time, they can cause serious paint damage on your car. Avoid the stress and unnecessary expenses by keeping your vehicle clean.

3. Do Not Skip Drying
Yes the sun and wind can easily dry your car, but letting your vehicle dry that way will leave unsightly water marks which renders your hard work useless. Use a microfiber towel or preferably a weave drying towel to absorb the water and dry the car.

4. Clean With A Clay Bar
Washing your car with water and car specific cleaning agent is a great way to prevent any dirt from causing damage on the paint. However, even after washing, some contaminants still cling to the paint. To totally get rid of them, using a clay bar is the way to go. Using this product is very easy but time consuming. First, use a good quality auto detailing shampoo to wash the paint and get rid of dirt and grime as much as possible. After that, you can use the clay. Many clay bars in the market come with a lubricant but if it does not, there are products that you can purchase separately. It is extremely important to lubricate the surface first to enable the clay to glide easily across the surface. You’ll know it’s working because the clay gets dirtier as you go because of all the contaminants it’s grabbing.

5. Wax Your Car
Remember that a good wax will easily last 8 – 10 months on a car that will protect the paint of the car from external elements like scratches, dust, contaminants, and UV rays. To be on a safer side, apply a coat of wax every six months on your car to keep it clean and smooth.

6. Seek Car Polishing
Polishing is one of the most misunderstood paint care procedures and as a result many individuals skip this important step. Polish is an abrasive compound, which, when worked into the paint using the hand or a polisher, shaves off imperfections of the paint. It levels out the surface and makes it smooth, thereby preparing it for the next step of applying wax or paint sealant. If you wax without polishing the surface first, not only will the paint look dull, but you will also notice that the wax layer will wear off quicker than usual. So ultimately it is a huge waste of your time and resources. Because polish is abrasive as mentioned above, it is important to master polishing techniques especially if you are using a rotary buffer, or you risk burning right through the paint.

7. Clear Coat Protector
Most new cars come with a clear coat over the paint layer to keep the car shiny and protected from external elements. The clear coat offers a more glossy finish to the car, and will keep harmful elements like UV rays and dust at bay to protect the paint of the car. Any minor issues can also be buffed out, if the car has a clear coat. However, clear coats are sensitive to scratches and are prone to oxidation. It is still not a substitute for wax and needs to have a wax job to protect the shine of the car.

8. Park In A Garage When Possible
Even a warm garage beats being parked in the sun all day. So whenever there’s an available garage, use it. Not only that your interior will stay cool, but your paint job won’t suffer to premature damage either.

Best Way To Polish Your Vehicle

Car washing and grooming sure guarantees a sanitary environment for you while driving and a clean looking car outside. However, if you like to keep your vehicle looking branded new, that won’t be enough. You need car polishing to achieve that. If you’re in Singapore, it will be hard to escape from the periodic drizzles and the rays of the sun. Washing the cars will take care of the dirt accumulated but will not help you get rid of the harm done by the climatic changes. Polishing the car would be the best thing to keep the vehicle fresh and shining. Doing this at least once every three months will keep it looking like those automobiles in showrooms. Here are the different ways you can do that.

Include Clay Bar In Your Car Cleaning Supplies

Washing your car with water and car specific cleaning agent is a great way to prevent any dirt from causing damage on the paint. However, even after washing, some contaminants still cling to the paint. To totally get rid of them, using a clay bar is the way to go. Using this product is very easy but time consuming. First, use a good quality auto detailing shampoo to wash the paint and get rid of dirt and grime as much as possible. After that, you can use the clay. Many clay bars in the market come with a lubricant but if it does not, there are products that you can purchase separately. It is extremely important to lubricate the surface first to enable the clay to glide easily across the surface. You’ll know it’s working because the clay gets dirtier as you go because of all the contaminants it’s grabbing.

Seek Car Polishing

Polishing is one of the most misunderstood paint care procedures and as a result many individuals skip this important step. Polish is an abrasive compound, which, when worked into the paint using the hand or a polisher, shaves off imperfections of the paint. It levels out the surface and makes it smooth, thereby preparing it for the next step of applying wax or paint sealant. If you wax without polishing the surface first, not only will the paint look dull, but you will also notice that the wax layer will wear off quicker than usual. So ultimately it is a huge waste of your time and resources. Because polish is abrasive as mentioned above, it is important to master polishing techniques especially if you are using a rotary buffer, or you risk burning right through the paint.

Waxing And Applying Paint Sealant

Most people love shiny cars because it makes the car look expensive and sleek. To achieve this look, they often opt to wax their car because we all know wax can help give that sparkling effect. However, the problem with this is that it is temporary and easily melts especially when constantly exposed in the sun. A much better option will be paint protection because it can provide the same luster for your car but is more durable compared to wax so it last longer.

Make Sure You’re Using Non-Abrasive Car Wash Methods

People don’t just seek car servicing in Singapore due to engine problems, more often than not it’s due to exterior damage from different kinds of dirt like grease, grime, and bird poop. When left unattended for extended period of time, they can cause serious paint damage on your car. Avoid the stress and unnecessary expenses by keeping your vehicle clean. 

Avoid Sun Damage At All Cost

Summer time is a fun season to drive to the beach, go on a road trip, or simply go anywhere because the weather is nice. But while you may not have to worry about slippery roads driving which can be dangerous, it’s the heat of your car that you should be worried about. This is why aside from preparing thick towels to place on the seats, and windshield cover, it’s also important to try to park your car in the shade as much as possible and invest in paint protection especially in such a sunny country like Singapore. Unless you’re fine with your car paint blistering and peeling as well as premature fading and cracking of your car interior.

5 Ways To Protect Your Car’s Paint

If you wait until chips and dings on your car turn into rust before you take care of it, prepare yourself for bigger problem and heftier car repair costs. Here are five tips that will save you from an awful looking car and unnecessary expenses.

1. Use A Clay Bar

Washing your car with water and car specific cleaning agent is a great way to prevent any dirt from causing damage on the paint. However, even after washing, some contaminants still cling to the paint. To totally get rid of them, using a clay bar is the way to go. Using this product is very easy but time consuming. First, use a good quality auto detailing shampoo to wash the paint and get rid of dirt and grime as much as possible. After that, you can use the clay. Many clay bars in the market come with a lubricant but if it does not, there are products that you can purchase separately. It is extremely important to lubricate the surface first to enable the clay to glide easily across the surface. You’ll know it’s working because the clay gets dirtier as you go because of all the contaminants it’s grabbing.

2. Polish The Paint

Polishing is one of the most misunderstood paint care procedures and as a result many individuals skip this important step. Polish is an abrasive compound, which, when worked into the paint using the hand or a polisher, shaves off imperfections of the paint. It levels out the surface and makes it smooth, thereby preparing it for the next step of applying wax or paint sealant. If you wax without polishing the surface first, not only will the paint look dull, but you will also notice that the wax layer will wear off quicker than usual. So ultimately it is a huge waste of your time and resources. Because polish is abrasive as mentioned above, it is important to master polishing techniques especially if you are using a rotary buffer, or you risk burning right through the paint.

3. Waxing And Applying Paint Sealant

Most people love shiny cars because it makes the car look expensive and sleek. To achieve this look, they often opt to wax their car because we all know wax can help give that sparkling effect. However, the problem with this is that it is temporary and easily melts especially when constantly exposed in the sun. A much better option will be paint protection because it can provide the same luster for your car but is more durable compared to wax so it last longer.

4. Use Non-Abrasive Car Wash Methods

People don’t just seek car servicing in Singapore due to engine problems, more often than not it’s due to exterior damage from different kinds of dirt like grease, grime, and bird poop. When left unattended for extended period of time, they can cause serious paint damage on your car. Avoid the stress and unnecessary expenses by keeping your vehicle clean. 

5. Prevent Sun Damage

Summer time is a fun season to drive to the beach, go on a road trip, or simply go anywhere because the weather is nice. But while you may not have to worry about slippery roads driving which can be dangerous, it’s the heat of your car that you should be worried about. This is why aside from preparing thick towels to place on the seats, and windshield cover, it’s also important to try to park your car in the shade as much as possible and invest in paint protection especially in such a sunny country like Singapore. Unless you’re fine with your car paint blistering and peeling as well as premature fading and cracking of your car interior.

Car repairs don’t come cheap. Actually they can really be hefty especially if it’s been awhile since your last maintenance and its condition is quite bad already. Take car re-painting for instance, when your paint gets damaged, you can’t just fix the damaged part, you have to repaint the entire car. If you don’t like to spend a huge amount of money trying to fix your car’s paint, better pay attention to this. They may seem nothing but could lead to serious damage in your vehicle if not taken care of.

How Often Should You Seek Car Grooming Services

If you want a clean, sleek, and brand new looking car all the time, seeking car grooming services is a must. Aside from that, it also maintains that value and warranty claim of your car. Although, most people understand the necessity of this, they also struggle with distinguishing the right time to do so.

The help you, here are some guidelines that may help you tell whether it’s time for a car wash, car polishing, or car paint.

Wash

There are car owners who wash their car as often as they can while others drag it as long as possible. But is there really a schedule that you should keep up to when it comes to getting a car wash and grooming? Well, it would have to depend on a lot of factors. Do you drive all day every day? Are you a very busy person? Have you been out on a rainy day lately? All cars accumulate dust, dirt, grime, and all sorts of impurities that can affect your car’s exterior as well as interior, but those question above makes all the difference on how frequent should you avail car grooming services.

It’s understandable that it’d be hard to squeeze in car washing everyday if you’re busy, but you should at least do it once a week or every time you get a day off and if you really can’t do it yourself then take advantage of  the car grooming service that are widely available in Singapore. If you drive on poor conditions a lot, like when it’s rainy or on rough roads you have to get it done more often than once a week.

Paint

Luckily for your, car paint last very long provided that you take good care of it like parking on covered parking lots or shaded area all the time and only using microfiber cloths when wiping any dirt off it. This means you can go for years before having to get a paint job for your car. But once your car have a lot of noticeable scratches and dents already, you should get it re-painted right away, otherwise you’d be risking further damage to your car exterior.

Polish

Car washing and grooming sure guarantees a sanitary environment for you while driving and a clean looking car outside. However, if you like to keep your vehicle looking branded new, that won’t be enough. You need car polishing to achieve that. If you’re in Singapore, it will be hard to escape from the periodic drizzles and the rays of the sun. Washing the cars will take care of the dirt accumulated but will not help you get rid of the harm done by the climatic changes. Polishing the car would be the best thing to keep the vehicle fresh and shining. Doing this at least once every three months will keep it looking like those automobiles in showrooms.

Top 10 Important Things You’ll Learn About Your Car If You Read Your Owner’s Manual

Some car owners don’t give their manuals a second glance after getting their car. However, they may not realize how much they're missing out on all the things their manuals can help them out with. Don’t be one of those car owners have wasted time, money, and gotten all panicked and frustrated with a car issue when the answer to the problem is all written down on their manual. Take the time to get familiar with what your manual has to offer, and it can greatly enhance your driving experience and extend the life of your car.

1. How To Initially Set Up Your Car

Have you struggled with key-less entry, delayed lighting, and even sound system decibel thresholds the first time you tried to drive a car? Well, guess what, instructions on how to set those all up are all written in your owner’s manual.

2. How To Check Your Fluids

You may think that checking your fluids isn’t as complicated but you’d be surprised to know that some fluids should be checked hot while others give more accurate readings cold. Those things wouldn’t be so surprising if you gave your owner’s manual a little more time to read it because it’s all indicated in there.

3. Advice For Better Driving Practices

Yes, you already know how to drive but did you know that there’s an ideal way to drive your car that may or may not fit your way of driving? Your owner’s manual outlines the dos and don’ts in driving your car especially during that critical break-in period which is typically the first 1,000 miles of your car engine.

4. How To Troubleshoot Common Problems

Did you know that you don’t have to be an experienced and expert mechanic to solve some car problems? You can learn how to handle some of the basic ones just by reading your owner’s manual. This way you won’t feel like it’s the end of the world the next time you have a flat tire in the middle of the road or have to manually open an electric window because that manual can teach you that.

5. Access Technical Data Easily

Granted that you may be driving a car for its convenience alone and not because you’re a car enthusiast. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter a situation where you’ll need technical information about your car.  From your car’s dimensions for a paint job estimate to the size of your car’s engine can be found in your manual’s section for technical data. Knowing this information or even knowing where to find them can come in handy when something technical needs to be fixed on your car.

6. How To Achieve Ideal Tire Pressure

Over and under inflation seems to be a simple issue but a lot of car owners are still having trouble with it. Although the ideal tire pressure is indicated on the side of each tire, you can always find it in your owner’s manual along with step-by-step instructions on how to achieve it.

7. How To Clean And Protect Your Car’s Surfaces

Who doesn’t like a car that always looks brand new not just on the exterior but as well as the interior? But because some car owner’s don’t know how to clean and protect their car’s surfaces properly, their cars suffer premature wear and tear. What they don’t realize is that proper cleaning methods for their car’s particular material are outlined in their manual. It even states cleaning instructions for areas people don’t usually give second thought like side mirrors, windshield wiper blades, or chrome accents. If only car owners would read their manuals, they could have saved a lot of time, hassle, and money on car repair by being able to prevent it from the first place.

8. What Does This “Gizmo” Do

Since every car is different, you can’t automatically know what every knob and lever controls in your vehicle. Although you could start flipping switches or pressing buttons just to see what happens, you could accidentally do something you regret or can’t easily reverse. If you don’t know what function a particular switch has in your car, simply check your manual to be illuminated on the subject.

9. How To Decipher Warning Lights

Consulting your owner’s manual can save you a lot of frustration and worry. Not all icons on your dash are self-explanatory, so when an icon you’re not familiar with lights up it can easily send you in panic. Good thing your manual is well-versed with those icons, so that you can immediately tell if that warning light is worth a trip to the car repair shop or it’s something you can handle.

10. What Your Warranty Covers

When your mechanic gives you a list of everything that needs to be done to your car, it’s easy to just give the guy a go especially when you know nothing about cars, you don’t know the possible consequences of that and you’re afraid about car troubles happening while you’re on the road. It may seem reasonable but, you should know that not every part or issues in your car is covered by your warranty and just letting your mechanic touch everything may meaning voiding that warranty. You don’t want that, if you’re not sure which is or isn’t covered by  warranty hold any repairs and consult your manual first. 

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When You Notice Any Of Signs In Your Car, Get Your Brakes Check ASAP!

When You Notice Any Of Signs In Your Car, Get Your Brakes Check ASAP!

A vehicle’s braking system is a very important part a car. If they’re not in good condition it means you car’s ability to slow down or stop when you’re driving can be compromised. Moreover, your family, other motorists and your own safety could also be at risk! 

Don’t wait for that to happen before you realize the importance ensuring your brakes are always working properly. Here are the signs that could mean they’re not.

Temperamental Pedal

Once your pedals becomes mushy where one goes to the floor before you even engage the brake, that’s a big red flag! This could mean your pads are already worn out or your car’s hydraulic system is malfunctioning. However, if your brakes tend to grab immediately at the slightest touch it can still pose a problem. Possible reasons for these are uneven worn rotor, dirty brake fluid or contamination of the fluid by moisture. Either way, you shouldn’t take this for granted and take your car to the car repair shop right away.  

Vibrations

A vibrating brake pedal even under normal braking circumstances is bad news. This usually happens when you have warped rotors from a lot of driving down steep mountains or by stopping frequently while towing something heavy. While those two naturally occur over time, it doesn’t mean that such vibrations are normal especially since it can also happen when your wheels are misaligned. So, to be safe just have a mechanic check and fix it before you drive it again.

Pulling

A stuck caliper, unevenly inflated tires or worn tires, poor alignment, or a problem with your car’s suspension can make your car make right or left turns when you’re actually just trying to drive straight ahead or are hitting the brake. Since there are a lot of possible causes of pulling, don’t attempt to drive your car or immediately stop to the nearest car repair shop once this happens to you because this can be very dangerous on the road. 

Strange Sounds

This is the reason why you shouldn’t turn the music so loud while driving or better yet don’t listen to any and just focus on driving. Sometimes the only indication that there might be a problem with your brakes is some strange sounds. It could be a high-pitched squeal which means you need to replace your pads or  harsh grinding sound that indicates you’ve completely gone through your brake pads and the metal of the calipers is already grinding against the metal of your rotors. Do not delay car repair once you hear any of these sounds otherwise you’d be faced with a bigger damage and cost.

Worn Pads

Due to the constant friction the brake pads deal with when you’re driving, they become thin over time. When this happen it can no longer slow or stop your car effectively. Good thing you can easily check your vehicle’s brake pads on your own. If they’re thinner than one-quarter of an inch, time to have them replaced. 

Top 8 Don’ts After A Car Accident

You always think it’ll never happen to you until it does. Car accidents can be disorienting and stressful. It’s one of those things you want to get out of immediately. Having said those, it’s better to know how to deal with accidents in case it happens to you than to be completely clueless. 

1. Forget Fleeing The Scene

Who wants to hang around stressful conditions, right? However, you have to remember to wait for the authorities to clear your departure, because they will need information from you. Otherwise you may have to face serious criminal repercussions, especially if there are injured people involved.

2. Never Neglect To Call 911

Don’t assume that there will be no need for authorities when an accident happens, no matter how small it may be. Calling the police is necessary because they file the report of the incident for you, which may help you with insurance claims and the car repair expenses reimbursement. Just remember to list the names and badge numbers of the attending officers.

3. Don’t Assume Aches And Pains Are Just Bruises

Do not downplay any aches or pains that you feel after an accident because you never know what serious injury might be behind that seemingly mild symptom.

4. Try Not To Ignore Others

Yes, you have to look out for yourself first. But once you are certain that you’re not hurt, try to see if the others are okay. Help out if you can. The ability to save another person’s life often comes down to immediate action.

5. Avoid Being Confrontational

Even if it’s really the other party’s fault, being aggressive and confrontation doesn’t help make the situation better. In fact, it can actually make it worse in case you really get into a nasty brawl and assault and battery charges get mixed into the whole ordeal.

6. Don’t Claim Responsibility

Remember the part of the Miranda Rights that police officers say when arresting a suspect? Anything you say can and will be used against you. Even when you know you have some responsibility in the accident, it’s not wise to just claim it right off the bat. So, watch what you say in such tricky situations and wait for the officers to sort those things out.

7. Take Photos For Proof

You never what’s gonna happen, so it’s always best to get solid proof of the situation through taking photos. This way, if someone decides to twists the story of who did what; you have evidence to back up your side of the story. Aside from that, this will also help you when asking for reimbursement for the car repair cost from the other people involved.

8. Never Hand Out Personal Information

Always remember that your personal information is all the swindlers need to scam you. So keep in mind that you can’t just give them to anyone who’s asking, even in an event of accident. You have to be certain that you’re talking to authorities before you give anything.

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Top 6 Most Broken Driving Rules That You’re Probably Guilty Of

Top 6 Most Broken Driving Rules That You’re Probably Guilty Of

Driving mistakes happens even to the best of us. While that’s true, it’s shouldn’t be an excuse for you to be too complacent either. Learn these driving rules that you probably break every day and make it a point to change your habits and improve on them as the day go by because even the tiniest mistakes can mean life or death on the road.

1. Not Turning Your Lights On

Yes, even during the day, you need to turn those lights on. Good things that modern cars usually get that out of your way, but just to be safe just flip them to the “on” position.  Aside from that, remember that your daytime lights aren’t enough during the night. Always remember that a clear vision is very important when you’re driving, so put those lights to use. Having said that, sometimes you think they’re on because you always flip them on but they’re not actually because something in your car’s electrical system is not working properly or you need to have your bulbs replaced. Checking if all your lights are working would only take a minute or two, but can make a difference in your driving. So if you need car repair don’t put it off and have it fixed right away.

2. Not Stopping At Stop Signs

Never ignore those stop sign. They weren’t placed there for decoration or any other unnecessary reason. Even if there isn’t any policeman nearby watching or you’re the only one on the road at the moment, it would be safer for you and everyone else to at least make a stop even for a second just to make sure everything is fine before you step on the gas again.

3. Using The Left Lane For Other Purposes Other Than To Pass

The left lane is for those who are attempting to overtake or drop someone off. Otherwise you always have to stay on the right lane. You don’t wanna cause traffic by not knowing what lane you should be in.

4. Using Your Phone While Driving

With the National Safety Council report of 1.6 million crashes a year because of distracted driving, you’d think that people have learned the lesson. However, there are still those who think they can do driving and whatever on their phone at the same time. Put your phone away and focus on driving. A text or social media is not worth risking your life on the road.

5. Not Slowing Down When You See Pedestrian Lanes And Signage

Yes, it’s annoying that people walk while their face buried on their phone and complain when they get hit. Yes they should pay attention to the road while walking and do the good old look-at-the-right-and-left-before-crossing-the-street. However, when they are walking on a pedestrian lane and a pedestrian crossing sign is present you have to remember that they have the right of way.

6. Not Signaling Properly

Most of the time, the reason why accidents happen on the road are due to  drivers either don’t signal properly or don’t signal at all. What’s the use of having those signal lights if you won’t use it to communicate to your fellow commuters? Are we supposed to just read minds now? Use them to tell other motorist which way you’re going unless you want to be held responsible for causing unnecessary stress and a potential pile-up.

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