Nine out of 10 women say they believe that car dealers and repair shops treat them differently because they are women, and the difference is seldom positive. (Car Care Council Survey)
You do not simply have to turn a car in at the end of the lease. If you have equity in the car, you can sell it and make money. Ask us how!
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According to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, approximately 75% of all automotive maintenance decisions are made by women. Yet, many women are not comfortable making those decisions due to a lack of automotive knowledge and a general distrust of dealerships and service centers. Woodie’s and Women’s Automotive Solutions have partnered to create a seminar to better acquaint women with vehicle maintenance needs and to instill confidence in their ability to communicate effectively with their mechanic.
Women’s Automotive Solutions is a unique car buying service dedicated to helping women through the entire car selection and buying process, enabling them to save hundreds to thousands of dollars on a new or pre-owned vehicle. Co-owner and Chief Car Chick, LeeAnn Shattuck, is passionate about empowering women to make informed decisions about everything relating to their automobile. Shattuck is known as “The Car Chick” and co-hosts the weekly educational and entertaining automotive radio show, America’s Garage.
Woodie’s Auto Service is a local, family-owned automotive repair and service company that has served the Charlotte community since 1962. Woodie’s has seven automotive repair and service centers in and around the Uptown Charlotte area. Their new, flagship service center opened January 5, 2012 near the corner of Carmel Road and Hwy 51. “Woodie’s dedication to honest customer communication and quality automotive service made them the perfect partner for this ‘knowledge is power’ car care seminar”, said Shattuck.
The seminar, entitled “My Car Needs a New WHAT?#$!”, is for women only and will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 10am – 11:30am at Woodie’s Auto Service new location at 6625 Carmel Road in south Charlotte. The cost is $5 per participant, and all proceeds will be donated to United Family Services to benefit the Shelter for Battered Women.
Nearly every car enthusiast (mostly the guys) dreams of having a home garage to rival that of the average NASCAR team. Most spouses of car enthusiasts simply dream of a home garage that doesn’t look like a cross between a salvage yard and the clearance rack at the local parts store. Here are five things that will help make your automotive “man cave” functional, organized and even “acceptable” to your wife.
1. WORKBENCH W/ A VISE. This can be as simple as a mounting an old solid-core door or some medium-density fiberboard on top of two sawhorses. If you want something more sophisticated, there are hundreds of easy-to-build designs floating around the Web, or buy something ready-made from Sears or even IKEA! Be sure to install a good vise to make those projects easier and safer.
2. GOOD LIGHTING! You can’t work on a car (or any other project, for that matter) if you can’t see properly! Most garages have minimal lighting, such as the lights on the garage door openers or exposed bulbs hanging from the rafters. Luckily, it’s not too difficult or costly to upgrade your lighting with ceiling-mounted fluorescent light fixtures. Hanging shop lights are single-, double- or four-bulb fixtures that drop down from above your workbench to provide illumination where you need it most. Sometimes just adding one of these lamps to an otherwise dimly lit garage can lead to noticeably better visibility. A portable worklight is also a must-have, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time under the hood of your car.
3. PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY FLOORING. The slab of cement that came free with your house is perfectly usable as a garage floor. But an upgraded finish will be more forgiving to dropped objects, as well as make your floor more appealing and keep it that way by protecting it from spills. Some people prefer epoxy finishes, which are available in “kits” with tons of color and “fleck” options and very easy to do yourself. Modular tiles are also a great way to go. A little more expensive, but installation is easier, and tiles offer numerous color and style options, including checkered flag patterns. RaceDeck is one of the best garage-floor tile manufacturers on the market – nothing but positive feedback about their products and customer service.
4. A GOOD TOOL CHEST. The more tools you own, the more important organization becomes. Few things are as frustrating as spending an hour looking for a tool you need for a 10-minute job. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars for a SNAP ON tool chest. For a few hundred bucks, you can get a 6-drawer Craftsman from Sears that holds plenty of tools with room to grow.
5. POWER STRIPS & EXTENTION CORDS. A 6 to 10-outlet power strip (or two) is perfect for placement on a workbench and can easly accomodate cordless-tool battery chargers. Use smaller power strips to make difficult-to-reach outlets more accessible, and be sure to use metal-encased power strips with built-in surge protection. Extension cords are also essential. A ceiling-mounted retractable reel is indispensable for working on cars. It offers greater range and eliminates the need to drag power cords across the floor. You can get these cheap at Harbor Freight, Northern Tool or even Lowes. If you will be using multiple power devices at the same time, consider upgrading the wiring in your garage to its own circuit and fuse box.
You don’t need a big budget to have a great home garage. A little organization combined with some design flair will go a long way to giving you a functional automotive project space that your spouse won’t be afraid to show to the neighbors.
With shorter days and cooler temperatures upon us, now is a good time to get your car ready for the upcoming winter driving season. Although some seasonal car maintenance will require the skills of a qualified mechanic, here are five, easy maintenance items that you can do yourself (and save some cash).
1. Change your wipers – You generally use your wipers more frequently in the fall and winter. They’ll also be taking a lot more abuse from road grime and windshield-washer solvent, so it’s best to have a fresh set. Don’t forget the 3rd wiper for the rear window if you have a hatchback, wagon, van or SUV!
2. Top-off windshield wiper fluid – We also tend to use more windshield wiper fluid in the fall and winter, so be sure your reservoir is full. If you live in the mountains or other colder climates, change to a wiper fluid that contains anti-freeze.
3. Check your tire pressures – Temperatures have dropped in the last couple of days, and so have your tire pressures. Tire pressures can drop as much as 10psi or more as the weather cools down! Don’t forget to check the spare tire too!
4. Check your engine air filter – In the South, our air filters tend to get dirty in the spring and summer with all the dirt and pollen in the air. So fall is a good time to check the filter and replace it if necessary, so your car can breathe easily going into winter.
5. Check your battery – for dirt and corrosion on the posts and cable connectors, and clean them with a damp rag and mild detergent if needed. Consider having the battery tested to make sure it has enough charge left to last you through the winter.
Start with the easiest types of repairs first. Don’t try to tackle a transmission rebuild or an engine swap your first time out. Keeping it simple to start will allow you to learn how your car works, how to use the various tools, and help you build confidence.
Here are some relatively easy repairs for budding mechanics to try at home:
Replace the wiper blades
Change the air filter
Change a headlight
Change a battery
Replace the spark plugs
Change the oil
Change serpentine belt
2. Avoid high risk repairs
Novice DIYers should avoid repairs and maintenance items where the consequences of making a mistake are dire. If you mess up a brake job, you could end up crashing your car! If you don’t install a timing belt correctly (or reassemble the engine correctly), you could destroy your engine. Save these types of services for when you have more experience.
3. Get the right tools
Before you start ripping apart your car, make sure you have the right tools. A hammer and a screwdriver just won’t cut it. Run out to Sears or your local automotive store and a starter set of automotive tools. A good basic set will include a complete set of socket wrenches with extensions, open-end and box wrenches, screw drivers, and pliers. If your car requires any special tools for removing the oil filter, pulling spark plugs, and whatnot, then you may want to invest in those as well. If you plan to remove the wheels from your car, a high quality torque wrench is a MUST.
4. Do your homework
Always do your homework before plunging into a repair. A little research time invested up front will save you a lot of time (not to mention the headache) later. Buy the manufacturer’s shop manual for your vehicle (or the online subscription from AllData), and read up on the repair. Make sure you understand each step and what is involved BEFORE you undertake the project. (If step one says “remove the engine”, then you might want to reconsider.) Beware of “how to” information on the internet. Enthusiast forums and YouTube are full of step-by-step guides on how to change the thingamajigger on your 2002 Humbug GT. Make sure the advice comes from a trusted, professional source and not just Bubba in his backyard.
5. Ask for help
If you’re undertaking a repair you’ve never even seen done before, it’s reasonably likely that you’ll screw it up. At best, you’ll do it the hard way and possibly pick up a bad habit or two. Besides, there’s no sense in reinventing the wheel. Find someone who knows what he or she is doing, preferably a professional (ASE Certified) mechanic, and ask for a lesson. Not only will you learn the right way to do the repair, you may even learn the quickest and easiest method. If you get into the repair and you make a mistake, don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Better to eat a helping of humble pie than risk ruining your car.
6. Safety first
Working on your car can be dangerous, especially if you have to get underneath it. If you have to jack up your car, don’t use flimsy jack that came with it. Invest in a hydraulic floor jack and ALWAYS use approved jack stands to support the vehicle. Try to avoid repairs that involve contorting yourself into an uncomfortable position, which can make a repair more difficult and more dangerous. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from dirt, flying parts and spewing fluids. Consider wearing latex or polyurethane gloves to protect your skin from dirt and grease – your significant other will thank you for keeping clean.
7. Dispose of waste materials properly
Nearly all automotive jobs result in waste projects, such as used coolant, motor oil, brake pads or other hazardous materials, which will need to be disposed of properly. Pouring used fluids down the storm drain or casually tossing used oil filters into the trash bin is environmentally unsafe and, therefore, illegal. Google your county government website to find the hazardous waste facility near you. Many automotive parts stores accept used motor oil, coolant and other fluids, as long as you bought the products from them in the first place.
When temperatures drop to somewhere between chilly and frigid, it’s time to check the air pressure in your tires. As we learned in high school physics, air compresses as it gets colder, which lowers your tire pressures.
Low pressures cause the sidewall of the tire to flex, leading to handling problems, excessive tire wear, reduced fuel economy and even tire failure.
Signs of low tire pressure may include your car pulling to one side, a drop in fuel economy, and “squealing” sounds during normal acceleration and cornering. Of course, if you are lucky enough to have a vehicle with a tire pressure monitoring system, that little yellow warning light is a dead giveaway.
If you don’t know the proper air pressure for your tires, check your owner’s manual or look on the side of the tire itself, near the rim of the wheel. Keep a tire pressure gauge in your car and check your pressures often, adding air as needed.
When temperatures warm up again, the air in your tires will expand, and you will need to let air out to prevent over-inflation.
Do you hate having to make the time to take your car in for service or an inspection? Do you hate standing in line at the DMV? (Ok, who doesn’t?) Women’s Automotive Solutions can take care of these pesky, but necessary, tasks for you through our affiliate partner “Top- Priority Concierge & Errand Service”. Top-Priority is a woman-owned, professional errand service company serving the Charlotte, NC market. VIP auto services include taking your car to be washed or detailed, taking it in for scheduled maintenance, inspection or repairs, handling DMV paperwork, even filling it up with gas! Contact the Car Chick to learn more!
Top-Priority can also save you valuable time on a varity of other tasks and errands. Visit them on the web to learn more, and tell them that Women’s Automotive Solutions sent you!
Getting your car ready to sell can be a pain, especially if your vehicle has some minor damage. You know that you should really fix that scrape on the side where you grazed the garage door or the dent in the bumper where you hit the mailbox, but you don’t want the hassle of putting your car into the body shop for a couple days. Fortunately, there are companies that bring the body shop to you!
Companies like Collision on Wheels can do minor collision repairs in your own driveway or the parking lot at your office, saving you valuable time. They even have a mobile paint booth (think big, blow-up tent) to do paint touch-ups. Naturally, they can’t fix the big stuff, but bumper dings and scrapes are their specialty and at a price that is typically 20% – 50% less than a traditional body shop.
Go one step further, and have your car professionally cleaned by a mobile detailer. Professional detailers know how to buff out light scratches, get stains out of upholstery and make your car shine!
Collision on Wheels is a national franchise with certified technicians in most major cities, including Charlotte. For a free estimate, call 1-866-551-DENT. Visit them on the web at www.CollisionOnWheels.com.
Zoom Impressions is a mobile detailer in Charlotte, NC that cleans cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles and even airplanes. For a quote or appointment, call 980-297-6546 or visit www.ZoomImpressions.com.
Winter can be rough on cars and their drivers. Even those of us fortunate enough to live in the moderate climate of the South must face cold and even severe weather on occasion. Taking a few simple steps to prepare your car for the weather can make nasty conditions safer and a lot more tolerable. Here’s a list of things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready for the upcoming cold season, however long or short it may be.
Check your tires! A good amount of tread on your tires will give you better grip than an old worn out pair of tires. Take a look at the grooves in your tires and make sure that the tire has not worn down to the tire wear bars. You can check your tire wear by inserting a penny into the tire tread. If you can see the top of the Lincoln’s head, it’s time to buy new tires. You should also check the air pressure in your tires. Cold temperatures cause the air in the tires to condense, lowering the air pressure. Failure to maintain the correct air pressure can result in reduced gas mileage, decreased tire life, and poor handling, which can cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
Gain weight! Not you – your car! If you have a rear wheel drive car, or a car with high performance tires, you are at greater risk of skidding on slippery roads than those with front or all wheel drive vehicles. Rear wheel drive cars do not have much weight positioned over the rear of the car and, therefore, not much pressure on the rear wheels to keep them from skidding. In places where winter is an actual season, people typically solve this problem with snow tires and adding weight to the rear of the car. In the South, you can skip the snow tires, but consider throwing a large bag of kitty litter in your trunk. Not only will it add weight over the rear wheels, but you can place a handful of it under your tires to provide traction if you get stuck on a patch of ice. But, don’t think you are off the hook if you have a front or all wheel drive vehicle. They may work a little better on snow, but EVERYTHING slides when it hits ice! Always drive slowly and cautiously in winter weather.
Get a Check-Up! A mechanical breakdown during the summer is usually just a nuisance, but breaking down in the winter can be very dangerous. Your car’s engine performs differently during the winter, especially in very cold conditions. Make sure your car is in top working order before cold temperatures hit. Have your mechanic check the hoses, coolant, oil, hydraulic and transmission fluids. Also check your starter, battery alternator & drive belts to make sure your electrical system is up to task of starting the engine in colder weather.
Make sure you can see! Inspect & clean your lights to make sure they are working properly, since you will be driving more at night. Replace your windshield wipers, if needed, and clean your windows regularly to maximize visibility. Put fresh windshield washer fluid in the windshield washer reservoir. (Never use plain water, as it will freeze.) Use a plastic ice scraper or defrost to clear your windshield. Do not use your wipers, as this will wear them out very quickly.
Be prepared! It’s not just for Boy Scouts anymore. If you don’t have an emergency kit in your vehicle already, make one. You never know when you might get stranded. Always have a flashlight, ice scrapper, jumper cables, water, snacks, first aid kit, gloves, blanket & charged cell phone. Flares can also be used to signal for help and warn other cars of your presence on a dark road. Make sure there is air in the spare tire, and that all the proper tire-changing equipment is in the trunk.
Winter driving can be challenging, if not downright hazardous. By winterizing your car, you are prepared for whatever weather or situation you may encounter. Drive safely!
All leather comes from one source; the hides of animals. Different animal skins are used to produce a variety of looks in leather, but the most common is cow hide. Before it became leather, nature took care of feeding, cleaning and repairing the animal skin. The chemicals used in tanning the leather only preserve the usefulness of the skin for a certain period of time. Nature is no longer able to do what it once did. This responsibility is now yours as the “new owner”, and good leather care is akin to good skin care. Regular cleaning and replenishment of the natural oils, will keep your leather in good condition for a very long time. Oils in the leather will dry out and evaporate even when the leather is not regularly used. To keep the leather soft & flexible, dirt & grime must be removed and the leather conditioned and protected at least every 3 months. Many quality products can be purchased online or at your local auto parts store. Need a recommendation, or want someone else to do it for you? Call Shine On (803-431-1987), a mobile detailing company recommended by Women’s Automotive Solutions.
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