No one ever wants to hear the dreaded words that their car is going to need a new transmission.  Replacing the transmission is most likely one of the most expensive operations that your car will need, due to the fact that transmission repairs are incredibly complex and time-consuming.  Ultimately, when replacing your transmission, you have two choices: rebuilding the transmission or installing a completely new transmission.  So, is it better to replace or rebuild a transmission?  Read on to find out the pros and cons of each option.

Rebuilding Your Transmission

Rebuilding your transmission means that the transmission will be disassembled and inspected. The damaged or worn parts are replaced until it reaches factory specifications.  This may involve replacing not only the rubber gaskets and bands, but also replacing any damaged moving parts in the transmission as well.  Due to the complicated nature of transmissions, rebuilding a transmission requires a transmission specialist to remove it from the car, rebuild it manually, and then reinstall it.

The real power of rebuilding your transmission lies in the fact that you can rebuild your transmission with updated parts that manufacturers created to address weaknesses in the initial design.  However, while this method ensures that you have the most updated parts for your transmission, it unfortunately takes time to find a quality transmission specialist and even longer to perform the work correctly.

Installing A New Transmission

Unfortunately, you most likely will not be able to find truly “new” transmissions, as those are almost always exclusively kept for the production of new cars.  If you purchase a transmission from the dealer, you’ll most likely be getting a remanufactured transmission, which undergoes the same process as rebuilding the transmission, but in a specialized, factory setting.

If you’re needing a quick fix, installing a new transmission may be the quickest option as the new transmission already has been pre-built to factory specifications.  However, you may be purchasing a remanufactured transmission that was created a couple years ago, so it doesn’t have the most recent parts and fixes.

Find A Transmission Specialist

It ultimately becomes a question of time and cost.  Rebuilding your transmission with a quality specialist will take more time and money, but may result in a longer-lasting transmission.  On the other hand, installing a remanufactured transmission will also ensure that you have a factory-approved transmission quickly and promptly.  If you’re considering either method, you should always consult an auto repair technician before you make a decision.  TalkLocal can connect you with high-quality, local mechanics in no time, for free!

Windshield wipers are an important part of your car. They wipe away any debris or water that may be affecting your line of vision while driving. Sometimes the wiper blades will dull down or entirely fail, so you may have to replace them. Installing new windshield wipers may seem difficult, but it is relatively easy to do it yourself.

You should not wait until the last minute to replace your windshield wipers.  Many people wait until it is actually raining to remember that they need new wipers, but this is the worst time to take on the task.  You may not have time, and then attempt to drive around with the old, malfunctioning wipers.  This is very dangerous and could potentially cause an accident for you or someone else who uses your car. Installing new windshield wipers is an easy task that will allow you to drive more safely.

Taking Off The Old Wipers

1. The first thing you need to do when installing new windshield wipers is to take the old ones off.  Because your windshield wipers are made of metal, you need to be extremely cautious when taking them off.  They could scratch the windshield glass if you are not careful.

2. Pull the entire piece away by propping it up first.

3. Press the small tab at the bottom of the arm where it meets the windshield.  You should be able to easily pull the wiper off.

Installing New Windshield Wipers

The empty wiper arm now has an open attachment point.

1. Look at the side of the wiper where it should be attachable to the metal arm.

2. Rotate the flat plastic clip so it points to the blade.

3. Flip the wiper upside down next to the metal arm and find the curved arm that should match the curved plastic clip.  Once everything is lined up you can click the wiper into place.

4. Pull tightly so that you are sure the windshield wiper is completely secured.  You can lower the wiper back down and repeat this process for the other wiper.  Ensure that the wipers operate properly, and you should be good to go!

Continuing Problems

If you have more questions about replacing your car’s windshield wipers, you should try to talk to a professional.  The easiest, fastest way to get in contact with reliable local car service businesses is to use TalkLocal. Just tell us your issue, location, and availability.  Within minutes we will connect you to up to three professionals for free!

Like every other part of your car, brakes have an optimal temperature range for functioning. This range is usually wide enough to ensure that your car does not break down due to temperature, but sometimes, extreme temperatures can cause failures in your car’s brakes. If your brakes don’t work when the car is cold, you will want to diagnose the issue as soon as possible to ensure your own safety and the safety of other drivers.

Why Your Brakes Don’t Work When The Car Is Cold

Brakes produce frictional heat when squeezing the brake pads against the brake rotor, allowing the car to stop. When the temperature is too low, your brakes won’t be able to conduct enough frictional heat to stop. However, there are steps you can take to prevent this from happening. If your car is used in an area that regularly sees very low temperatures, consider purchasing a brake pad that has an operating range that allows for braking in lower temperatures. Ideally, this pad should be used during the winter while the already-installed brake pad should be used during the summer.

Alternatively, if you run into this problem while driving, try riding your brakes for roughly one thousand feet before you want to stop to create more frictional energy and help your brakes work. If your brakes require this sort of management, get them replaced immediately to ensure you don’t put your safety or the safety of others at risk.

Find A Mechanic

If you want to get your brakes checked by a professional, consider using TalkLocal to find a capable auto mechanic for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality auto repair companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location, and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

Motorcycles can be used for various purposes: sport, cruising, racing, and much more. In order to get the most out of each activity, you need the appropriate tires. What is your motorcycle riding skill level? What kind of motorcycle do you have? What kind of riding are you going to do? These are the questions that you to answer when considering the different types of motorcycle tires. There are many different types of motorcycle tires on the market, so knowing which one to select to suit your needs is important for your safety and for the performance of your motorcycle.

Performance

Performance motorcycle tires are designed to grip the ground as your speed increases. The grip is important for turning sharp corners. These tires operate best at higher temperatures, so they will not be as effective or safe if you are just cruising on the road; there will be less grip. Performance bikes usually have radial tires whose sidewall allows for more contact with the road when you lean.

Off-Road

These motorcycle tires have deep treads and grooves, which help grip loose dirt, gravel, sand or mud. If you have a motocross bike and plan to go off-road a lot, you should get these tires. If you don’t plan on going 100% off-road, then you can chose a tire that is 20% off-road and 80% street.

Touring

These motorcycle tires are made to be durable because touring motorcycles usually cover long distances. The harder rubber will ensure a long lifespan for your cruising motorcycle. Unlike performance tires, touring tires operate better at lower temperatures, therefore allowing you to travel in any season of the year. Cruiser bike tires are also usually bias-ply tires.

Need Help Deciding?

If you need a mechanic to help you decide which tire is best for you, TalkLocal can help connect you with quality, local professionals in just minutes! Our service is fast and free!

It’s a lot of work trying to keep your car’s paint job looking top-notch. It’s another thing trying to maintain a poor paint job. The casual vehicle owner might not know why a paint job would start to peel, let alone how to fix it. After all, you can’t just hire a painter to touch up your car when they’re done painting the fence or kitchen. There are a lot of elements to consider when it comes to degradation or paint peeling on car exterior.

Paint Peeling On Car Exterior?

Typically, with newer paint jobs, peeling occurs when there’s too much time between coats or if there is no primer applied. It starts with chips, dents, and scratches. Tiny rocks, harsh rain, and the sun all combine to slowly erode the car’s exterior radiance. Even with body-glazers or touch-up paints, there is no guaranteed solution. It’s very important to keep your car cleaned and waxed as a preventative measure against paint damage. A great local car wash and wax is an affordable solution when it comes to such prevention. For most vehicles, however, degrading paint is inevitable after years of driving.

Get A New Paint Job

So how do you fix a car with peeling paint? Unfortunately, you’re going to need to strip the vehicle of all the old paint first and then apply a fresh coat of primer and paint. Since the proper equipment and materials are rather expensive and difficult to obtain, it is generally quite difficult for the average vehicle owner to paint their vehicle to its original, professional luster.

The most convenient way to repair peeling paint on your car is to turn to TalkLocal.Simply fill out your contact information, and within minutes we will connect you directly to up to three local professionals who can help you out. It’s fast, and free!

We typically take power steering for granted, never realizing how helpful it really is until it goes out on us. It is very important to figure out how to diagnose power steering problems so that you can get your vehicle fixed as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as other common automobiles chores, like changing the oil.

You’ll need:

– A floor jack

– Two jack stands

– Flashlight

– Rag

– A friend

How To Diagnose Power Steering Problems:

1. First, check the power steering fluid. Being low on fluid makes it a lot harder to turn the steering wheel. Be sure to turn the wheel left and right several times after adding extra fluid to work the fluid into the system.

2. Open the hood and start the car. While a friend turns the steering wheel for you, listen at the steering pump. If the pump is whining loudly, you need to adjust the belt because it’s probably out of place.

3. Use the floor jack to lift the front of the car and support it with the stands. While a friend wiggles the wheels for you, inspect the wheel assembly connection and the steering assembly. Be on the lookout for anything loose or wiggly, because the whole thing should stay solid as the wheel moves.

4. Check out all of the hoses and pipes around the steering assembly to check for leaks. Use the flashlight for this, since it’ll probably be pretty dark and dirty under there.

5. Use the rag to clean the steering components completely, then check under the car again a few days later. This will make it clearer if you have a leak.

6. Whatever you find loose, torn, or broken, make a note of it and take a photo if you can.

Getting Help For This Serious Issue

When you have this information, if you’re not sure you can fix it, use TalkLocal to connect with mechanics in your area to get your power steering back on track. We’ll do the searching for you, so you can get your car fixed and get back on the road, and focus on the more common aspects of car maintenance.

A feeling of horror overcomes us when there is a scratch on our new car. It may be the result of a wandering grocery cart or another driver who has scraped by in passing. Fortunately, some scratches can usually be removed without a trip to the car shop. Read below for multiple methods for how to get scratches out of car paint.

Small Scratches

Scratches as small as a pencil eraser can be removed by a paint pen. A paint pen is a specially made pen that can apply paint to metal, pottery, wood rubber, glass, plastic, and stone surfaces. Paint pens can be bought at your local retailer or craft store for less than seven dollars. To fix your scratch with a paint pen:

1. Clean the scratched area with soapy water, and then with a wax and grease remover.

2. Apply several coats of paint with the pen, allowing it to dry completely between each coat.

3. Use Cleancoat over the newly-painted area.

Normal Scratches

Scratches such as key scratches need a little more elbow grease and equipment to be removed.

You will need: shoe polish, 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper, rubbing compound, oscillating polisher, and car wax. The polisher can be found for less than 50 dollars. To remove scratches:

1. Clean the scratched area with soapy water, and then with a wax and grease remover.

2. Use shoe polish on the area so the scratch can be seen completely.

3. Place 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper on a sanding block.

4. Put the sandpaper into cold water mixed with detergent so the sandpaper is less abrasive to the surface.

5. Lightly sand the scratch until it is not visible.

6. Apply the rubbing compound to the area.

7. Polish the area with polisher. Be careful not to polish through to the next layer of paint.

8. Hand buff the area and apply car wax.

Get Your Car Looking Like New Again

If you are looking for an auto shop, use TalkLocal. TalkLocal can find you the best auto repair shop in your area, so you can get that scratch removed as soon as possible.

In the summer, AC becomes a very important part of driving comfort and physical safety. Sometimes, the car needs to become an icebox to relieve the scorching heat from outside. For these hot days, there are some ways to improve the car AC so it can work most effectively. Read on to learn about how to improve car AC.

Beat the Heat: Reducing heat in the car

The car will cool faster by reducing the heat in the car when it is not running. There are many ways to reduce the heat in the car, including:

– Park in shady areas to prevent your car from getting baked in the sun.

– Install window auto reflectors to reflect sun rays from the car’s interior. These available at your local auto store.

– Tint the car windows. The car only needs to be lightly tinted to effectively reduce heat. If you are considering a tint job, look for tint specifically designed to reduce heat-causing rays.

– Cover the AC pipes with a foam pipe and wrap it with aluminum tape. The covering reduces the heat transfer from the engine to the AC pipes and results in greater AC efficiency.

Max Setting

Put the AC on the “max” setting or the setting that recirculates air in the car. When on the low setting, the car pulls air from the outside and turns it cold. This causes the car to cool more slowly than the max setting. It’s recommended to use the max setting on humid days.

More Tips

– Change your car’s air filter every six months. When these filters are blocked with dirt and grime, the AC has to work harder to cool your car.

– Do regular checkups to find and fix small leaks in the AC system. For big leaks, call an auto repair professional.

Let Us Find Your Mechanic For You!

If you need help finding an auto repair shop, just use TalkLocal. TalkLocal connects you to the best auto repair shops in your area for free, so you can get the help you need, when you need it.

A car’s brakes are among the most important parts of the vehicle.  They are the only way to stop your car or slow it down.  You may be panicking if your car brakes are squeaking.  You may be worried that something is wrong with the most important safety feature of your vehicle.  Sometimes there is cause to be worried and sometimes there isn’t.

Reasons Why Your Car Brakes Are Squeaking:

1)     Driving conditions

2)     Severe braking

3)     Humidity

4)     Worn down pads

5)     Broken anti rattle clips

How to Stop the Squeaking

The squeaking coming from your brake pads can be very annoying.  It also makes you look like a terrible driver when in reality you may not be.  You will want to fix this problem as soon as possible.  The metal rotors that are squeezed together by the brake pads sometimes vibrate and cause squeaking.

– You can always try to use a spray or lubricant to relieve the noise.

– You can also use a lotion, cream, or milk to spray on the back of the pads.

– You may also want to try to sand off anything hardening on the surface of the rotors by using a sander or sandpaper.

– You can always try to use a different type or brand of brake pad.  Having your brakes squeak is an inconvenience and you should try to fix it as soon as possible.

Additional Help

If you have more questions about why your brake pads are squeaking, TalkLocal can connect you with up to three, reputable, local mechanics in just minutes. We’ll find the right professional when you need them — for free!

If you leave your car on without having the engine running, it could cause your car battery to die.  Allowing your vehicle to idle will drain the charge in the battery. If your car does die, you will need to jump-start it, and perhaps replace the battery once you get to a mechanic.  This is not very difficult, but you should keep some things in mind with these steps for jump starting a car.

Steps For Jump Starting A Car

1. The number one rule when jump starting a car is to only attempt to do so with vehicles that are similar to your own. Trucks, motorcycles, cars, etc all have different voltage systems, so it could be dangerous to jump them with a different type of vehicle.

2. Furthermore you need to make sure that the red and black jumping clips do not touch.  Wear glasses or a face shield to protect yourself from any sparks or gases.

3. When jumping another car you need to pull up so the hoods are facing each other and are as close as possible.  This will ensure that the jumper cables will reach and be safe to use.  If you cannot position the cars properly you may need to call 911 or a towing truck for help.

4. The dead car should be off and the other car running.  Attach the black clip on the dead car to the negative battery post and the red clip to the positive post.

5. Connect the cables to the running car by first attaching the red clip to the positive post.

6. Connect the black clip to anything metal on the running car.  Most importantly do not connect the last black clip to the battery because it will cause a spark.

7. Let the batteries charge for about 30 seconds before starting the dead car.  You might need to gas it a little to load it.

8. Once the car starts up you can disconnect the cables, starting with the black clip from the source car and then the red.

9. Next disconnect the black and red from the formerly dead car.  You should be able to use both cars properly now.

Call In A Mechanic

If you have more questions about jumping your car, let TalkLocal find a professional mechanic for you. We will connect you with up to three mechanics in your area who will be able to help you when you need them most.