Excellent values on excellent parts...
Monday, June 27, 2011
A HOT Car Isn't Always a Good Thing
It's one thing to have someone compliment you on your "hot" car, but it's a very different thing if your car is hot due to overheating.
This time of year, it's important to take extra precautions to prevent heat related automotive issues. Consider this...On a 90 degree day, the heat radiating from the road can be as much as 150 degrees. If you don't have the correct coolant mixture, your radiator could suffer. Also consider your fuel. In most parts of the country, Ethanol is mixed with gasoline. Ethanol is alcohol and has a much lower boiling temperature than gas. When temps reach to the upper ends of the spectrum, Ethanol can begin to boil casuing a problem similar to vapor lock. Fuel pumps can fail when this happens.
If possible try to avoid long trips when the tempeture climbs into the 90's and higher. If you must drive, try to stear clear of rush hour traffic. sitting idle with the engine running takes its toll on an engine that isn't in tip-top shape.
Keep a close watch on your gauges. If you see that your car is beginning to overheat, pull to the side of the road immediately, shut down the air conditioning and turn the car's heat all the way up. This will quickly remove much of the heat from the cooling system which in turn could prevent you from having to call for a tow.
One more tip...if your car DOES overheat, DO NOT attempt to remove the radiator cap. This will cause extremely hot water to be released under pressure. The end result could be disastrous.
This time of year, it's important to take extra precautions to prevent heat related automotive issues. Consider this...On a 90 degree day, the heat radiating from the road can be as much as 150 degrees. If you don't have the correct coolant mixture, your radiator could suffer. Also consider your fuel. In most parts of the country, Ethanol is mixed with gasoline. Ethanol is alcohol and has a much lower boiling temperature than gas. When temps reach to the upper ends of the spectrum, Ethanol can begin to boil casuing a problem similar to vapor lock. Fuel pumps can fail when this happens.
If possible try to avoid long trips when the tempeture climbs into the 90's and higher. If you must drive, try to stear clear of rush hour traffic. sitting idle with the engine running takes its toll on an engine that isn't in tip-top shape.
Keep a close watch on your gauges. If you see that your car is beginning to overheat, pull to the side of the road immediately, shut down the air conditioning and turn the car's heat all the way up. This will quickly remove much of the heat from the cooling system which in turn could prevent you from having to call for a tow.
One more tip...if your car DOES overheat, DO NOT attempt to remove the radiator cap. This will cause extremely hot water to be released under pressure. The end result could be disastrous.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Replacing Interior Car Parts - The Color Challenge
It's fairly easy to find used auto interior parts at auto recycling yards like Chuck and Eddies, but it's not always so easy to find the color that will match your car's interior.
Not to worry! With today's advances in paints and polycoats, there's a good selection of quality Leather and Vinyl paints manufactured exclusively for car interiors.
So let's say you're trying to replace your worn black center console in
your vehicle. You've found plenty of used consoles that will fit, but of course, nothing in black. Just buy the console that appears to be in the best shape regardless of color. Then stop by your local auto supply store and pick up a couple of cans of Leather or Vinyl Aerosol paints (depending upon your application).
The next step would be to remove the old console and set the newer one in the space provided just to make sure you purchased the right one. Now that you know you have the right part, scrub it well with warm, soapy water. Rinse it and let dry.
Now you're ready to paint. For best results. Warm the console a bit with a hair dryer. Don't make it hot, but warm it up to a little above room temperature. Then warm the paint can to around the same temperature. This will insure that the paint will be adequately atomized to produce a fine mist. The end result will be a professional looking finish.
Use light, overlapping strokes while painting and allow at least 5 minutes between coats. You decide how many coats the piece will need.
It goes without saying that you need to work in a well-ventilated area and use eye protection and gloves.
After about four hours, the piece should be dry enough for you to install it in the car. Just take your time so as not to scratch that work of art you spent so much time on.
Not to worry! With today's advances in paints and polycoats, there's a good selection of quality Leather and Vinyl paints manufactured exclusively for car interiors.
So let's say you're trying to replace your worn black center console in
your vehicle. You've found plenty of used consoles that will fit, but of course, nothing in black. Just buy the console that appears to be in the best shape regardless of color. Then stop by your local auto supply store and pick up a couple of cans of Leather or Vinyl Aerosol paints (depending upon your application).
The next step would be to remove the old console and set the newer one in the space provided just to make sure you purchased the right one. Now that you know you have the right part, scrub it well with warm, soapy water. Rinse it and let dry.
Now you're ready to paint. For best results. Warm the console a bit with a hair dryer. Don't make it hot, but warm it up to a little above room temperature. Then warm the paint can to around the same temperature. This will insure that the paint will be adequately atomized to produce a fine mist. The end result will be a professional looking finish.
Use light, overlapping strokes while painting and allow at least 5 minutes between coats. You decide how many coats the piece will need.
It goes without saying that you need to work in a well-ventilated area and use eye protection and gloves.
After about four hours, the piece should be dry enough for you to install it in the car. Just take your time so as not to scratch that work of art you spent so much time on.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Don't Be Dirty!
Dirty engines can cause trouble down the road. The greasy grime that tends to coat some engine parts increases the change that at some point the car will overheat. Dirty engines also fall out faster. Overheating causes the oil to reach higher temperatures which decrease its effectiveness as a lubricant.
Dirt and grime around electronic components tend to hold in moisture which can eventually cause the components to fail.
Dirty engines are also a safety risk. A car can overheat and catch fire in some cases.
So how do you clean a dirty engine? Our advise would be to take it to a professional. Cleaning an engine yourself could cause damage to the vehicle or to yourself.
Several degreasers are petro based and can catch fire if the car's engine isn't completely cool. You could cause damage to the electrical system if cleaner or even water were to get on the parts. Steam cleaning which is a common degreasing method may also damage engine parts if not performed by a professional.
A professional clean can cost around $50 to $80 . It's well worth the price considering the mess and possible dangers you face by attempting the job yourself.
Dirt and grime around electronic components tend to hold in moisture which can eventually cause the components to fail.
Dirty engines are also a safety risk. A car can overheat and catch fire in some cases.
So how do you clean a dirty engine? Our advise would be to take it to a professional. Cleaning an engine yourself could cause damage to the vehicle or to yourself.
Several degreasers are petro based and can catch fire if the car's engine isn't completely cool. You could cause damage to the electrical system if cleaner or even water were to get on the parts. Steam cleaning which is a common degreasing method may also damage engine parts if not performed by a professional.
A professional clean can cost around $50 to $80 . It's well worth the price considering the mess and possible dangers you face by attempting the job yourself.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Some Unorthodox Applications for Used Auto Parts
Used auto parts aren't just used to replace worn parts in cars. They're also used to build custom vehicles....from the ground up! As a matter of fact, We would love to hear from some of you who have done this or are in the process of doing it. We think it would be great to feature your progress on the ChuckandEddies.com website. Interested? Send a quick email to: bruce@chuckandeddies.com and we'll discuss it!
Another use for salvaged parts is sculpture! Artists from all over the world have incorporated used auto parts in their work. I've seen everything from animals to monsters and even chess sets sculpted with the used of car parts. If you're an artist using auto components to create works of art, We'd like to hear from you as well. We're sure our customers and site visitors would be interested in seeing your work and learning about how you do it. Please contact us at the email address above and we'll talk about featuring you on our website.
Another use for salvaged parts is sculpture! Artists from all over the world have incorporated used auto parts in their work. I've seen everything from animals to monsters and even chess sets sculpted with the used of car parts. If you're an artist using auto components to create works of art, We'd like to hear from you as well. We're sure our customers and site visitors would be interested in seeing your work and learning about how you do it. Please contact us at the email address above and we'll talk about featuring you on our website.
Used Parts Save You Plenty
Cars approaching the four year mark, are probably to the point of needing a replacement part or two...or three. No matter how often you check you vehicle or how well you maintain it, car parts age with time...just like people parts.
It's sometimes not easy to tell if a car part is on its way out until it's too late and you're left on the side of the road with your AAA card in hand. Once a car starts showing its age, it's a sure sign that you're going to have regular unexpected expenses relating to car repair.
One thing you can do to manage the costs of keeping your car on the road is to replace broken and worn parts with used parts from a reputable car recycler.
Used parts are of course the most affordable and they can be very dependable too. Just because they've been previously used doesn't necessarily mean that they are either broken or badly worn. And knowing that you could be saving up to 80% in some cases is a good reason to consider quality used parts. Something that some people don't realize is that a reputable used parts dealer will offer a very liberal warranty policy. This serves as great protection for the customer.
Finding a good used part for your car has become so much easier now that many quality car recycling yards offer their parts online. Here at Chuck and Eddies Used Auto Parts, we offer our inventory at our two locations (Southington and New Haven, CT), on our own website (http://www.chuckandeddies.com/) and on our ebay store (http://stores.ebay.com/Chuck-Eddies-Auto-Parts).
We have a full-time Ecommerce staff who's mission is to constantly upgrade our ecommerce systems to ensure a positive online experience for our customers. Right now, we're in the process of developing a brand new, easy to use website as well as a mobile site which will allow our customers to order from anywhere right from their cell phones.
Of course, for those who prefer to actually see and handle a part before they purchase it, most auto recyclers, including Chuck and Eddies, maintain a very busy showroom.
So keep your car running long for less money. Use used!
It's sometimes not easy to tell if a car part is on its way out until it's too late and you're left on the side of the road with your AAA card in hand. Once a car starts showing its age, it's a sure sign that you're going to have regular unexpected expenses relating to car repair.
One thing you can do to manage the costs of keeping your car on the road is to replace broken and worn parts with used parts from a reputable car recycler.
Used parts are of course the most affordable and they can be very dependable too. Just because they've been previously used doesn't necessarily mean that they are either broken or badly worn. And knowing that you could be saving up to 80% in some cases is a good reason to consider quality used parts. Something that some people don't realize is that a reputable used parts dealer will offer a very liberal warranty policy. This serves as great protection for the customer.
Finding a good used part for your car has become so much easier now that many quality car recycling yards offer their parts online. Here at Chuck and Eddies Used Auto Parts, we offer our inventory at our two locations (Southington and New Haven, CT), on our own website (http://www.chuckandeddies.com/) and on our ebay store (http://stores.ebay.com/Chuck-Eddies-Auto-Parts).
We have a full-time Ecommerce staff who's mission is to constantly upgrade our ecommerce systems to ensure a positive online experience for our customers. Right now, we're in the process of developing a brand new, easy to use website as well as a mobile site which will allow our customers to order from anywhere right from their cell phones.
Of course, for those who prefer to actually see and handle a part before they purchase it, most auto recyclers, including Chuck and Eddies, maintain a very busy showroom.
So keep your car running long for less money. Use used!
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