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PAGE 10
PRESS & DAKOTAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
Finding the right auto body shop How to keep your
bike in top form
For many vehicle
owners, finding the
right auto body shop is
nearly as important as
finding the right physician. The average price
of a new automobile
continues to rise, and
protecting that investment is of paramount
importance to motorists hoping to extend
the lives of their vehicles and maximize their
investments.
Part of protecting
your automobile investment is finding an auto
body shop you can
trust. A trustworthy
mechanic whom you re
comfortable with can
ease any concerns you
have when taking the
car in for maintenance,
whether that maintenance is a routine tuneup or more extensive
repairs. Though mechanics differ greatly,
the road to finding one
you can trust is largely
the same no matter
where you live.
Get a recommendation
Aside from his skillset, a trustworthy
mechanic s best friend
might just be his reputation. Word-of-mouth
recommendations from
satisfied customers
are invaluable assets
for mechanics, and
such recommendations
should be equally valued by vehicle owners.
When looking for a new
auto body shop, drivers should ask friends,
neighbors, coworkers,
and family members if
they can recommend
any local shops. If anyone offers an especially
glowing recommendation, take it to heart and
consider that shop the
next time your vehicle
needs work.
Don t be afraid to
get estimates
Drivers who tend to
agonize the most over
finding a new auto body
shop tend to be those
with little history taking
vehicles in for repairs.
This group is likely
growing thanks to the
escalating costs of new
vehicles. Those costs
are encouraging drivers
to keep their vehicles
longer, which means
drivers are now keeping
their vehicles even after
the manufacturer warranty has expired and
the dealership where
the car had been ser-
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viced will no longer do
so under the warranty
agreement. In such instances, it might be less
expensive to take the
vehicle to an auto body
shop that s not affiliated
with a dealership. But
that can be a frightening prospect for those
who have not done so
in the past. To ease
those concerns, drivers
should obtain several
estimates. The cheapest
estimate won t necessarily be the best fit for
you and your vehicle,
but multiple estimates
should give you an idea
of how much certain
repairs should cost and
who may or may not be
overcharging you.
Consider the
shop s location
Recent transplants to
an area who might have
relocated for a new job
often want to familiarize themselves with
their new home base as
much as possible, and
this can pay dividends
when a vehicle needs
repairs. The lay of the
land also should be
considered by those
people who have lived
in the same town their
whole lives. Auto body
shops located in affluent neighborhoods may
charge their customers
more for labor than
shops in middle-income
locales.
And those escalated
labor costs might not
be sinister. Instead,
higher labor costs may
be a reflection of the
shop having higher operation costs, such as
rent, than its competitors on the other side of
town. So when shopping for an affordable
auto body shop, motorists should consider
the location of the shop
and how that location
might ultimately impact
their bottom line.
Ask as many questions
as you need to
Some drivers, especially those who admit to having limited
knowledge of cars, feel
as if they must simply
accept a mechanic s assessment and estimates
at face value. Though a
good mechanic won t
try to mislead you,
it s still good to ask as
many questions as possible before agreeing to
let an auto body shop
work on your vehicle.
When the mechanic
diagnoses the problem, don t be afraid
to ask him to explain
the problem, including what might have
caused it. In addition,
don t be afraid to ask
about service warranties, and be as specific
as possible, asking what
a warranty covers, how
long work and/or parts
are covered and if the
warranty can be delivered in writing. These
questions and their
subsequent answers
can provide you some
peace of mind, and a
reputable auto body
shop should have no
problem answering as
many questions as you
can ask them.
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402-667-3285
According to Glumac,
a full-service engineering company specializing in sustainable
design, using one gallon
of gasoline in a car produces about 20 pounds
of carbon dioxide
emissions directly, or 26
pounds if you account
for processing the fuel.
Opting for a bike instead of a car can have
profound environmental
benefits.
Bicycles are most
useful and efficient
when they are properly
maintained. Failing to
maintain a bike means
it could be relegated to
a dusty corner in the
garage. To keep bikes
in ideal working order,
consider these bike
maintenance tips.
Keep the bike clean
A bicycle is a collection of moving parts.
Over time mud and
debris can get lodged
in gears, tires and other
components, impacting
the performance of the
bike. Regular washing
ensures that the bike
will operate at peak
capacity whenever you
decide to go for a ride.
High-pressure hoses
may damage sensitive
bearing systems, so it s
better to use a damp
rag to carefully clean
the bike. Brushing or
buffing away debris can
be handy as well.
Maintain proper
tire pressure
Much like with car
tires, air pressure in
bicycle tires can impact
the ride and likelihood
of damage. According to
the CARE Exchange, a
group of riders involved
in fundraising cycling
events, too little air in
tires can increase the
likelihood of punctures
to the inner tube. Low
air pressure can put
more pressure on bike
components and accelerate wear and tear.
Plus, it can make for
an uncomfortable ride.
Similarly, too much
pressure can cause the
tires to blow out or
provide a less enjoyable
ride.
Keep the chain
well lubricated
One of the most
crucial steps to maintaining a bicycle is to
keep the bike chain
and other moving parts
lubricated. This reduces
excessive wear caused
by friction and can prevent gears from ceasing up. Lubricants also
can help prevent rust
and corrosion. Apply
lubricant to the chain,
brake and derailleur
levers and cables. But
too much lubricant can
be a bad thing, attracting dirt and reducing
performance. Use only
as much as the bike
needs and wipe away
the excess.
Bike riding is a popular pastime and an
activity that is beneficial to the environment.
Maintaining a bicycle is
a great way to ensure it
operates as efficiently
as possible.
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204 West 4th, Yankton, SD 57078
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