Car Repair: Questions To Ask
It also helps even if you are auto repair challenged, to keep a small tool kit in the car. A pliers, screwdriver, a set of jumper cables and some fuses plus a small wrench set can get you out of a lot of jams. Even if you don't know what to do with the tools, there may be someone around that knows what to do with the tools. Many cars are now operated as much by computer as anything else, but if your battery goes dead, having a set of jumper cables can get you on the road sooner. Make sure your tool set is what you need either inches or metric. Check to make sure you have the correct type for your particular vehicle.
A great source of cheap car parts can be found at a scrap yard. This is where people take their cars when they are nearing the end of their life so that they can be officially taken off the road and so that the owner no longer has to pay road tax. The owners of the scrap yard will strip down each car, keeping parts that still work and crush the rest and sell it. If you need a specific part it can be worth your while phoning round all the scrap yards in your area and finding out if they have what you need. If they do they will be able to sell it to you at a reasonable price.
The people who are interested in buying them are usually in need of the usable parts of the car. They usually take them and strip them down to get these parts which they then sell or reuse them. The interested parties mostly include the people who operate automobile repair shops who are always interested in cheap car parts to use in repairing other autos.
New parts are parts that have not been rebuilt or used before. Everything about them is new. They will usually cost more than their rebuilt counterpart.
We rode along backroads in the country, and the scenery was pretty. We followed the group around curves, under the shade of trees, and through the little neighboring towns. I tried to take it all in ... the homes, the landscapes, and the people. The sound of the bike roared uphill, and then we coasted down the hill. The riders used hand signals to communicate with each other. The obvious ones, right hand and left hand turns, and stop. Then they had some additional ones for forming a single line, changing lanes, and slowing down. It was fun to watch. One by one the riders signaled, and it was like a wave the crowd does at a baseball game. We passed by car audio stereo and cemeteries. It was sad.
Advertise your car. If you're not satisfied with the offers from the salvage yards, you may be able to make more money by selling it directly. You can advertise on Craigslist or some other website, giving details about your car. Include photos and be honest about the car's condition. Put down an asking prices such as $500 or OBO for "or best offer" and wait for people to contact you. One man's junk is another man's treasure -- you could be holding a classic that would be worth a mint once it has been restored.
This can save you a lot of money when you are not sure exactly what is wrong with your car. Generally there will be several parts that you know could be causing the problem, so you will have to start with one.
The best way to get ready for the rehabbing business is to grab a cup of coffee on Saturday mornings (even before you pickup a property) and head out to the salvage yard, builders' surplus store, junkyard and your mega home improvement store. Sniff around these places so you know what things cost. This will go a long way in helping you prepare budgets that are dead on that will have you smiling when you look at your bottomline.
