Believing that prevention is still better than cure, Auto Parts Inner offers preventive maintenance tips to a lot of car users in order to avoid common car problems, frequent repair and car part replacement and thus, prolong the life of their vehicle.

Auto Parts Inner suggests a regular inspection of the vehicle’s major and minor parts, including the cooling system, engine system, ignition systems and the electrical system components.

It is also important to check all fluids in your car such as the transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering fluid. They must be kept in normal level to ensure your safety.

Furthermore, you must make sure that the wheels are properly aligned and the tires are well inflated to ensure safety, better handling and ride quality.

In addition, Auto Parts Inner provides a wide selection of auto parts for your car part replacement needs. This store provides wide array of Ford parts, Toyota parts, Chevy parts, Mercedes Benz parts, GMC parts,Mazda parts, Honda parts, BMW parts and so much more.

Car part replacement is inevitable in your car’s maintenance since all auto parts of the vehicle are subject to wear and tear and malfunctioning; thus, they need to be upgraded, repaired or replaced in order for the vehicle to function normally or more effectively.

Among the auto parts that wear out fast or gets frequently damaged are the body panels and other exterior parts such as the bumper, the door, the tailgate, and the wheels, including the tires. They are exposed to a lot of corrosive elements, which speed up formation of rust.

Sometimes, accidents happen and they too cause a lot of trouble to your vehicle no matter how much you have cared for your auto. The bumpers and the fender usually bear the brunt of the accident; thus, minor accidents are usually called fender benders. In most instances you need to replace them to restore the vehicle’s gutsy looks and excellent safety.

Auto Parts Information offers top quality bumpers, fenders and fender flares like the OEM-quality Ford bumpers, Toyota bumpers, Chevy fenders and BMW grilles.

Other parts of the car that need to be checked include the radiator, auto lights, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, alternator, battery and other cooling, electrical and exhaust system parts. These auto parts perform very vital and difficult tasks and so they are also prone to abuse. They need to be checked every now and then as well.

Should you need replacement parts such as Chevy exhaust manifold, Toyota catalytic converter, BMW A/C condenser, Honda radiators, you can come and visit Auto Parts Inner. This store offers only top rated auto parts for almost all makes and models, including passenger cars, trucks, SUVs, vans and minivans.

About the author:

Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto-related. He currently writes auto-related articles for several publications.

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Do some initial homework. Find out about the type of car you are considering. Check out any known mechanical problems with that model.

Check out the current second hand values for the car. A good place to start is www.what car .com. Also get your local paper and some of the specialist second hand car magazines and look up the prices of similar cars.

How much will it cost you to insure the car? That’s so easy to do on the Internet get a quote or two. It’ll just take a few minutes.

Also check out the car’s other running costs. Again www.what car .com will help. Make sure you can afford to run the car!

When you go to see a car insist on seeing the registration documentation, including its MOT certificate if the car is more than 3 years old. This will also show the cars’ chassis number. Check that the documents all tallies with the car. Be sure that the person selling the car does actually own it and always see it at the seller’s own home or business premises.

Make sure that the address on the Registration Document is the address where you are viewing the car - if not ask why. Be suspicious.

Examine the Road Tax disc. Is it still valid and do the registration number on the disc matches the Registration document?

Ask to look at the cars’ Service Record. This will also show the cars’ chassis number and details of the first owner. If the Service record is not available, has the owner kept any of the service or repair bills?

Now look under the bonnet and find the VIN Number (it could also be on the chassis). Check out that the VIN number tallies with the number on the Registration Document and that the number stamped on the car has not been interfered with. This will help to ensure that the car hasn’t had its identity changed.

Take a friend with you who knows’ about cars not only to look at the car but also to be a witness for what is said and agreed.

Never pay for a car on your first visit and don’t be pushed into paying a deposit. You need to carry out some checks before you part with any money (see 17 below).

Ask the owner if the car has outstanding finance. Take notes of what he/she says. When you get home check out the information with RAC Vehicle Status Check. Go to the RAC’ web site. Click on Car Buying and then Vehicle Status Checks. The Status Check will cost you 24.99 but it will tell you if the vehicle has outstanding finance.

Carefully examine the car in good daylight. Look for signs of repairs and accident damage. If you have followed our advice and obtained a Vehicle Status Checks, the Check will also tell you if the car had previously been written off .

Make sure that the car hasn’t been clocked. Be aware that the average mileage is around 12,000 per year. Be wary if the wear on the car looks greater than the mileage would suggest. The wear on the drivers pedals may help. Then ask when the car last had new tyres. Then look at wear on the tyres. Does the wear look about right?

Always test-drive the car for at least 10/15 miles. By the way, don’t forget to ensure you are insured to drive it! Do not automatically assume that your own insurance will cover you for driving someone else’s car. Check your insurance documents before you leave home. If the seller says his insurance covers you, ask to see his policy better safe than sorry!

Still interested in the car? Then get it independently inspected.

Never hand over any money until you have seen the results of the RAC Vehicle Status Check. And even then don’t pay any money until the car is handed over to you with its Documents. Always get a written receipt for your payment which includes the sellers name and address.

Finally, make sure you have insurance in place from the minute you drive the car away. Did you know that the Police can now impound, and ultimately scrap, your car if you’re driving it without insurance or road tax? If the car has not got Road Tax, drop in at a Post Office on the way home and buy one. You’ll need to show an insurance cover note for the vehicle and its up to date MOT Certificate to do this.

About The Author

Michael Challiner writes for Brokers Online ( http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk ) who offer life insurance cover and most UK financial services including car insurance ( http://www.life-assurance-bureau.co.uk/family-finance/ )

michael@andromedawebs.co.uk

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You have worked hard towards your goal of owning a Volvo, to you it’s not “just” a car, it’s a dream you have realized. However, you do not want to go into debt whenever a part needs to be replaced. What you do want is the best quality parts for the best possible price. Check out these tips to realize that dream too, with discount Volvo parts.

1- One of the most reliable places to get genuine Volvo parts at a discounted price is a salvage yard. This might not have been the first thought that came to mind when you discovered that you needed to replace a part. However, salvage yards deal with factory parts that are still working even if the original car is not. Most salvage yards operate on an “as is” basis, but they also depend on their reputation to stay in operation, they test parts before putting them up for sale. This is an excellent option if you are looking for something like a cooling fan or a windshield wiper motor.

2- Searching the internet can yield excellent results when looking for discount Volvo parts. This is what most websites specialize in, quality parts for less. An added bonus of internet sites is that they can also offer reviews from previous buyers, installation instructions and forums that are filled with other enthusiasts who are more that willing to answer your questions.

3- A more hands on way to find the discounted parts that you need is by going to auctions. An auction, specifically a car auction, is a great way to find the parts you are looking for as well as a great way to get them for a good price. Another advantage to the auction is that you can physically handle the piece and talk to the seller to get an accurate history.

4- A close cousin to the auction is the swap meet. At a swap meet, there will be a number of other Volvo owners. These owners are looking to get rid of certain parts and accessories, sometimes for money, sometimes in exchange for parts they may need. As with the auction, a swap meet allows you the luxury of speaking with the owner and holding the part.

5- The most obvious place is not likely to be a good source of discount parts, but it never hurts to check. The dealership will be able to get you the part you need, even if its at full price, if your other options fail to produce the part you need.

About the author:

John Mancini writes about volvo parts online and offline. You can read more about volvo wheels and volvo auto parts on his websites.

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International car shipping is the service you will undoubtedly require if you want to transport your car over a long distance. As the name suggests, it entails a company putting your car onto a ship at one destination and then ensuring it s safe arrival at the other side. Depending on the company you choose to complete this service for you they may also be responsible for getting your car to and from the shipping docks. Some companies offer a door-to-door service. Many different people and organizations enlist the help of a shipping company for several different reasons. Individuals use shipping companies to transport valuable vehicles, antique cars that can t be driven over longer distances and even just to transport the family car to a new home while they fly. Companies may use a shipping company to move their fleet cars during a relocation and showrooms obviously use them for transporting their cars from the manufacturers to there showrooms.

Recent years have seen a massive increase in imported cars, especially from Japan, where top quality and high performance cars can be acquired for some of the lowest prices imaginable. This increase is also seeing many more individuals needing an international car shipping company to bring the cars into the country.

What is included in the price you pay for international car shipping?

As with most things the price you pay for your international car shipping is pretty much dependant on the car shipping company you choose and before you make your final decision you should be very careful that you have been comparing like for like. Some shipping companies will include a number of value added services that the cheaper company may not offer. In order to be sure you are getting the best deals make sure you read all of the terms and conditions on the site. Here is a short guide to selecting the most cost effective international car shipping company for your needs:

1. Get quotes from as many companies as possible.
2. First of all you should consider any services that you definitely require; perhaps you have to have door to door delivery in which case you would only consider those companies that offer door to door delivery in their price. Be sure to exclude anyone who doesn t offer any of the essential services you require regardless of how cheap their prices are.
3. Now write down which services and extras each of the companies remaining offer. Also write down the price.
4. Remove any international car shipping company that is way overpriced unless they offer something significant that the others don t. Also remove any company that offers very few of the services you would like (not essential, but preferred).
5. You should either be left with one offer that is noticeably cheaper than the others while still offering the same products. If so, this is the most cost effective solution for you. Alternatively, if the prices are all similar and one offers many more services, that is the most cost effective solution.
6. If, however, there are several international car shipping companies left with similar prices for similar services then it s time to ring back and get them to offer you that little something extra.

About the Author

For more more information about international car shipping please visit auto repair, Transmission Repair, Lee Myles Transmissions AutoCare, Lee Myles Auto Repair, Lee Myles Transmission Repair, Auto Care, Car Care, Auto Repair Shops, Automotive Services, Tranmission Services, Lee Myles, Transmissions

While the Jeep is famous in its history of serving the US military there is some misunderstanding concerning who created the original Jeep. Many incorrectly attribute the development of the first Jeep to Willys. The true inspiration of the first Jeep design came from a small and relatively unknown company by the name of the American Bantam Car Company based in Butler, PA.

The American Bantam Car Company was first established as a subsidiary of the Austin Car Company, a British car manufacturer, and was originally called American Austin Car Company. Austin made a small and economical car called the Austin Seven, which was very popular in England. Unfortunately for the Austin Car Company, the Austin Seven never saw popularity here in the states and the American Austin Car Company nearly went bankrupt. It was eventually taken over by its Chairman who changed its name to the American Bantam Car Company (Bantam). Bantam took the original Austin Seven design and made a number of improvements. It was a slightly bigger version than its British cousin and was capable of longer drives.

The Bantam folks were pioneers and saw a need for a light military vehicle. They provided a few of their autos to the National Guard in an effort to sell the military on the use of such vehicles. The military finally realized a need for a light mobile vehicle and finally agreed to discuss a design with Banatm in 1940. The outcome of this meeting was a proposed military 4X4 hybrid that was to weigh less than 1300 pounds. In 1941 Bantam developed a Bantam Reconnaissance Car in response to the U.S. Army’s request for an all-purpose military vehicle. This vehicle ultimately became the prototype of the Jeep, which was later manufactured by Willys (Willys MB) and Ford (GPW).

The US military was concerned about Bantam’s ability to produce the necessary amount of vehicles and because of this they decided to offer other manufacturers the opportunity to produce the vehicle. The requirement was to design a vehicle and with the approval of the US military, the manufacturer was then to build and deliver a prototype within 49 days. With the military’s approval of the prototype, an additional 70 working rigs were to be delivered in 75 days. The required weight limit caused many manufacturers to turn away from the project with only Bantam and Willys participating initially, and Ford joining in later.

Bantam’s drawings were the closest to the military’s requirements even though their design had problems with the weight restrictions. The company completed their design and built and delivered the prototype on schedule. The military having tested the vehicle to its fullest was satisfied with the design and performance, and commissioned the additional 70 vehicles to be built. This is where the Military began to be concerned about Bantam’s ability to produce enough vehicles. The company was fairly small and had a limited capacity. What the military did was to grant Willys and Ford access to the trials of the Bantam prototype and to their actual designs, even though Willys failed to submit a prototype on time and Ford showed little interest in the endeavor up to that point in time. Both Ford and Willys were allowed to submit prototypes, the Quad (Willys) and the Pygmy (Ford), well outside the specified time frame and well above the required weight limit. Both the Ford and Willys versions “borrowed” quite a bit from Bantam’s design.

The Bantam vehicle, Bantam GPV (General Purpose Vehicle), was delivered on time, met the majority of the specifications, and performed well in the tests. By all accounts Bantam should have been awarded the contract, and there was a large controversy over how the contract was handled. The military, unfortunately for Bantam, identified strengths and weaknesses of each vehicle. The Bantam was to high off the ground and was underpowered, while the Quad was well over the weight limit but had a more powerful engine, and the Pygmy was underpowered and had suspect steering components but handled best of the three vehicles. The military still concerned about the capability of two of the companies, Bantam and Willys, decided to place an order for 1500 vehicles with each company producing 500, as long as they met the original specifications with the only change being an increase in the weight limit to a little over 2200 pounds.

All three companies took the best ideas from each other and from Bantam’s original production design to further develop their vehicles causing the 3 vehicles to be extremely similar. In mid 1941 the military decided that the 1500 vehicles should be of a standardized design and not three different types. They ultimately chose the Willys design due to its lower cost, and that version was adopted as the standard army vehicle. Willys went on to secure the contract to provide the next 16,000 Willys. This contract award called for a series of alterations to the design, which lead to the classic standard Jeep design.

Bantam continued to produce its production version, known, as the Bantam 40 BRC, but the US Army did not want it because it was non-standard. The already produced vehicles and the new production units were forwarded to the Russian and British armies. It is very interesting to note that after watching the testing trials the Russian military actually chose the Bantam over the Willys’ and Ford’s units. The eventual Willys’ design closely resembles the 40 BRC.

In the winter of 1941 the army wanted to develop a second source for the vehicle because Willys couldn’t keep up with production requirements and a wanted a safeguard against the possible sabotage at the one production facility. In November the US Army awarded Ford to build 15,000 jeeps to the Willys design and drawing. The Willys MB and the Ford GPW vary in minor details only as the military required that the parts be interchangeable. The GPW in the Ford model’s name was reference to G for government vehicle, P referred to its wheel base size, and the W was for designating that it had a Willys’ engine. The one change Ford made, which was adopted by the military as standard design, was the now all-familiar grill. With Ford now producing the jeep along with Willys, the military was able to provide the jeeps to its allies and production of the Bantam 40 BRC was discontinued.

Combined production of the Willys MB and Ford GPW during WW II was over 500,000. A total of 2,675 of the Bantam 40 BRCs were built. The company reportedly never produced vehicles again. The US military awarded Bantam contracts to build trailers as a way to make it up to them for not receiving the jeep contract.

So, who created the original jeep? Well historically this has seen a bit of controversy going back as far as 1943 when the Fair Trade Commission ultimately charged Willys with false and misleading advertising claims stating that Willys had created the Jeep. The court determined that the Jeep was fostered and conceived in Butler, PA, by the American Bantam Car Company. The primary designer who worked on the Jeep project for Bantam was Karl Probst, and, now you know who really created the first Jeep!

Find Jeep parts for the Willys MB and GPW with XtremeTerrain.com

About the author:

In his spare time, Al likes to learn more about a true American Automotvie Legend, The Jeep! When he’s working, Al is a marketing manager for one of the leading on-line retailers of aftermarket Jeep parts and accessories, Xtreme Terrain Concepts: http://www.xtremeterrain.com

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