lifestyle auto car

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Michael Chan is our head mechanic at Cars For Keeps. It has been noted and commented on that Michael makes a few extra steps when he's doing a brake job, so I asked him what he does special when replacing the brakes on a car. His first reply was, “I do them fast”.

He also said, “These days when a cars brake pads need replacing, the rotors are usually down to their minimum specifications and the cost of replacing them versus the cost to have them turned is fairly close anyway, and it is good to put new to new together so both surfaces are correct." Michael went on to explain that when he's doing front brake pads and rotors, the hardware really should be changed out for new as well, but if the customer declines, "I will clean them up to get the corrosion off, then put a special lubricant on the slides and hardware to make sure it slides free and clear. "










When Michael takes the rotors off the hub, they are almost coated in corrosion, so he uses another special corrosion hub cleaner on it that gives it "a nice and true surface to mount the rotors, which cuts down on premature wear on the rotors." According to Michael, if the incorrect lubricant is used you may as well not bother cleaning the hub. "You must make sure all the caliper pins are lubricated correctly so as not to get uneven wear on the brake pads. We make sure the tire pressure is at spec on all brake jobs.”

I asked him what people can do to get the optimal performance life out of their brakes, and he came up with a surprising answer which will be covered in next week's blog - so stay tuned!

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

As the days grow shorter and nighttime driving increases, I figured it was the right time to discuss night vision.

Did you know that the headlamps on your car, truck or SUV fade over the years and miles? The sand and other debris they are constantly blasted with create layer upon layer of tiny scratches over the years, causing the headlights to be glazed with a haze that impairs the light output. In other words, your car's headlights inevitably become duller - and less safe - over the years. Dull and hazy headlights are dangerous for nighttime driving, and they're also unattractive on your vehicle.

When the automobile was first invented, early headlamps in the late 1880s were fueled by acetylene or oil, similar to the standard household lamps of the time. The first electric headlamps were introduced in 1898 on the Columbia Electric Car by the Electric Vehicle Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and were optional.

Today's automotive headlights are much more effective. The old, relatively flat glass headlight styles that were introduced in 1940 remained relatively unchanged until about 1983, when the U.S. Government first allowed the use of plastics in headlamp design. Plastic headlights combined with newer electric technology allowed the more powerful light output we're used to today. Not only do our modern plastic headlights improve car headlight durability and light output - they're also much easier to maintain.

Many drivers continue to drive as their ability to see in low light or dark conditions is degraded more and more as the plastic erodes. The loss of vision is so gradual, it is easy to ignore. Car owners who do inquire about replacing the lamps or lenses are shocked to find that they often cost over four hundred dollars EACH!

Maintaining a safe level of nighttime visibility shouldn't be out of the average driver's budget range. That's why Cars for Keeps offers an inexpensive solution. Using a patented four step restoration process, we can restore most dull headlamps to a like new condition in about an hour - at a fraction of the cost of headlight replacement.

If you’re vehicle's headlamps aren’t crystal clear, give Cars for Keeps a call today to see how we can help you keep the car!

Happy & safe driving!

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

I was talking to a customer the other day when she made the comment that the worst thing she has to do is pump gas. Most women would agree that pumping gas is not high on our list of fun things to do. It's one of those chores where we have to mentally go to our happy place while doing it. It takes courage to grab that pump handle not knowing who last used it and what they had on their hands, leaving behind residue of…..?

Then we check the direction of the wind so we can stand upwind of those noxious fumes. Then we find out that we have picked the only pump that refuses to shoot out our receipt. And then, the topper is when the pump fails to click off and we get a backwash of gasoline all over our hands making it necessary to drive home with only our wrists on the steering wheel. The fumes from that seem to linger in your car for days.

The best temporary solution is to carry handi-wipes in your car's storage compartment. As any busy professional or soccer mom knows, handi-wipes are a MUST! But what else can we do to take charge over this situation?

The best way to cut down on visits to the gas pump is to make sure your car is running at its best and most fuel efficient. Regular maintenance is the key. Oil changes when they are due, visual inspections, fluid checks and tire air pressure checks. Believe it or not, these services improve your car's fuel efficiency. Sludge in the engine causes the engine to work harder and uses more gas, so get those flushes done to clean out that engine. There are also some wonderful additives that can help your car get even better performance. Stop by or give us a call; we'd be happy to help you find out which additives and maintenance routines are best for your vehicle.