Guides on preparing your automobile for long term storage

If you are leaving town for an extended period of time or are storing a vehicle for seasonal use, there are several things you can do to protect your automobile and insure it will be ready for use when you retrieve it. Taking the time to prepare your car right will save you a lot of grief and money later on.The first step is to find a suitable location for long term storage. This is critical. The location should be secure, dry and clean. Putting it in a dusty barn is probably one of the worst places for you car. Make sure the storage place is dry and free of moisture. Moisture, humidity and condensation are the biggest hazards to exterior, interior and engine. Rust and corrosion can form on exposed metal and mold and mildew can grow in the interior as well. The best place is a climate controlled storage facility. Just look under storage in the yellow pages and there should be some options for you.Also, you will need to rodent proof your storage as well. Rats can destroy the wiring system. They can also get into the interior and build nests there. One option is to place rat poison or some other pest control device around the car. Ma If the storage unit has power to it, I would recommend getting a noise box that repels rats and mice. You can buy them at your local hardware store. These are very safe and will not hurt pets or children.Once you have picked a suitable location, it is time to prepare your car.Step one is to change the oil and replace it with a synthetic. Changing the oil before storage will reduce moisture in the system and help prevent corrosion in the engine. The reason for synthetic oil is because of the coating properties and it will not break down as quickly as conventional oil.Now you will need to fill the gas tank completely full. Most people siphon out the gas and leave the tank empty. This is not correct and the moisture left in the empty tank will encourage rust. Fill the tank as high as you can and leave it. This will prevent moisture from forming and prevent rust accumulation. It is also prudent to add in a gas stabilizer as well.The next step is the battery. If the vehicle is in for short term storage, you may want to hook up battery charger to the battery. This will insure all electrical equipment like stereo will have power and any saved settings will be there when you return. For longer periods of time, remove the battery. Batteries can crack and leak acid everywhere. In this case it is best to just remove it and replace it when you return.The next area to prepare is the external weather stripping and tires. The best product to use for this is a lithium grease. Stay away from petroleum based products. They will eventually dry out and crack the rubber. To apply the grease, spray it on a rag first and then wipe it on the tires and weather stripping. Be sure to cover the gaskets in the doors, sunroof and trunk.For the interior, use a leather or vinyl conditioner. This will safeguard these surfaces from cracking and drying.The last step is to thoroughly clean the exterior. After you have washed it, apply a coat of wax and buff it out. If you have an air buffer, this process will be a lot easier and will be more effective. Then cover the car with a good quality car cover. If you follow these basic steps, your expensive automobile should be in the same shape you left it before your journey.

Great Aerodynamic Addition - Rear spoiler

Car spoilers are normally ‘wing’ like attachments that are found under the front bumper of the car or on the car’s trunk. Rear spoilers are more common that front spoilers. A rear car spoiler gives your vehicle a beefy, sleek look. It makes it stand out in the crowd and can even increase the resale value of your car. However, the spoiler is attached not merely for its looks, though many people are not aware of this.

At first, rear spoilers were attached to sports cars and racing cars only because of their special utility. Good spoilers can help racing cars accelerate and brake at will, turn smoothly and ride comfortably. However, these days, you find spoilers in passenger cars too.A rear spoiler is a great aerodynamic addition to your gig. A spoiler is so called because it ‘spoils’ the flow of air around the body of your car reducing lift and increasing drag. Or, you could say that the function of a spoiler is to reduce the tendency of the car to lift off the road when it is in motion.

The spoiler is designed in such a manner as to provide a downforce to the car when in motion. This gives your car greater stability, better maneuverability and great traction. A rear car spoiler increases the contact between the road and tire, thus increasing safety and grip. Some rear spoilers even have break lights beading them. So, every time you apply the break, your rear spoilers will light up, alerting the driver behind you. Thus, these spoilers are a safety device too.
The spoiler is generally made of lightweight material like polyurethane, steel or fiberglass. High impact spoilers may even combine two or three materials. These materials are flexible, hardy and do not sag. Car spoilers come in different weights, so the mass they add to your vehicle varies. A good spoiler attached to the rear reduces resistance and enhances speed and performance.Attaching a rear car spoiler is not a tough task. This is because most spoilers come with sealing gaskets, which look like a sponge. Mounting bolts also come with the kit. Many kits are available for particular brands of cars. So, getting the right fit would not be a problem. However, many people like to leave installing of accessories to the experts, and for a good reason. If accessories are not installed properly, you could end up losing a lot of money. Worse, the body of your gleaming new car may bear silent witness to your juvenile attempts. If you fear this, it is better to get the spoiler attached by an expert.

A rear spoiler for your car is pretty inexpensive. Even so, do not compromise on quality. Buy the right spoiler for your car even if it means shelling out a few extra dollars. Before you make the purchase, be sure to check out a number of shops and online stores. That way you can get competitive prices and excellent deals.

Advantages of Auto Body Kits

The one problem that has always been nettling car lovers is the question of how to individualize their car, so that it makes a style statement when it sets the road on fire. Everyone loves to travel in great looking cars. Unfortunately, most cars on the streets look similar. The truth is, if you’ve seen one Toyota, you’ve seen them all. Ditto for other cars. There really are no external differences to make your car stand out from the others of the same brand. Sometimes, people even confuse your brand with some other brand!

Auto body kits have been developed to change all that. They are the perfect answer to your desire for a stunner that will leave onlookers gasping with pleasure and sighing with envy. These style enhancers change the way people look at your car, and at you. With so many kits available on the market these days, you can alter the look of almost any brand of car. For instance, a simple addition like adding car wings can really turn heads. That is not the only function of auto body kits.Auto body kits enhance the performance and power of your vehicle. In many cases, they augment the dormant characteristics of the car thus making it more adaptive to the particular road conditions in which the car is run. For instance, adding spoilers to a high-speed car can greatly increase fuel efficiency, speed and traction of the car. Thus, auto body kits are not designed to up the style quotient of your gig, they also promote several functionalities like providing better swerve, road contact, traction, bettering the aerodynamic condition of the car and enhancing other external features. Auto body kits therefore provide every ardent car lover the freedom to personalize their cars to the highest degree. Since there are various options available, you can easily find a kit that answers your needs.

Most auto body kits contain parts that are made of fiberglass or polyurethane. Accessories made from these materials are highly durable and hardy. They are also suitable for most brands of cars. Usually, a typical kit includes front and rear bumpers, fenders, side skirts and bumper skirts and spoilers. Depending on the kit you choose, you will also get a number of features that suit your model, make and frame. Often, these auto body kits are made for a particular model and brand, so it is possible to get an exact match. The parts you get in a kit are designed to work in tandem and complement each other. So, these parts will work as a single whole. Of course, some enthusiasts do like to mix and match their parts so that the car gets a very different look. One thing is for certain, whether you use all the parts from a single kit, or mix and match, you can alter the look of your vehicle dramatically by choosing the right kit.Installing the parts from an auto body kit is not everyone’s cup of tea. You need some level of expertise, and a good amount of patience. To ensure proper installation and best results, leave the job to a mechanic. There are mounting kits in the market that claim to make it easy for you to install your kit. But you never know what your kit will require, whether you will need to drill holes or add something else.

Noticeable Look - Honda CRV body kit guides

No matter how appealing the Honda CR-V looks, you are not the only person who has it. In fact, people see a Honda CR-V almost anywhere and its appeal has become ordinary.If you want your Honda CR-V to look noticeable, you will have to exert efforts in customizing it according to your creativity and the design you have in mind. Body kits are exterior modifications for your vehicle responsible for modifying the look of your vehicles. But where do you find a Honda CR-V body kit? Well, since Honda CR-V is a car that is common to almost everyone.
Finding a Honda CR-V body kit should not be that hard. You can tour your local neighborhood shops and ask if they have exterior part for your CR-V. If it happens that they do not have a lip, bumper replacement, or a wide body perfect for your CR-V, then better if you just go online than tiring yourself from driving. Online shopping is actually more convenient and not to mention, it will save you a lot of money you are supposed to spend on gas. Just remember to find a reliable and trusted online shop. Many had already been scammed and the smartest thing to do is not add up to their numbers by researching carefully about the company or seller you are dealing with.

You can phone Better Business Bureau and see if the company or companies on your list are registered with them. If a company is registered with them then that is a good sign. BBB protects consumers by ensuring that each and every company registered or associated to them are being constantly monitored. According to BBB, they ensure that high standards for trust are set and maintained. They exist so consumers and businesses alike have an unbiased source to guide them on matters of trust. They provide educational information and expert advice that is free of charge and easily accessible to those who need it.After finding a shop that is reliable and honest, you can now proceed with knowing what kind of CR-V body kits suits you. There are usually just two kinds of body kit: urethane and fiberglass. Though fiberglass proves to be more expensive, it does not suit those who live in cold places with bumpy roads for the reason that fiberglass can break easily. Fiberglass can be repaired, but again it will prove to be costly.
If you want a quality body kit, urethane should be your best pick. Urethane can stand any weather conditions including harsh and unpredictable climate change. It is also very durable and does not easily crack when exposed to uneven or bumpy roads. Urethane, as a whole, is known for its flexibility and durability. Keep in mind though that when a urethane breaks, it cannot be repaired. Therefore, you will have to think of a replacement.See, customizing your Honda CR-V and being different from the rest are not at all hard to do, it only requires some effort in knowing what your design is and in knowing where to get it from.Honda CRV is truly one of the cheapest and flexible vehicle ever made. Thanks to it, many can now customize their vehicles according to who they really are.

Pontiac Kit Guides - Stand out from the rest

Restyle and revamp the look of your car Pontiac vehicle with a Pontiac body kit. Pontiac body kits can make your car look sportier, cooler, and exotic. No matter what kind of personality you have, Pontiac body kits will sure to bring it out by restyling the look of your car according to your individuality.With a Pontiac body kit, you are sure to steal the look of everyone who passes by. In other words, your car will be the center of attention because of its cool look. But where to find Pontiac body kits?

Actually, there are many stores that offer Pontiac body kits, but it is wiser of you just by online. Buying online will not only save you time and effort, it will also save you some money on gas. All you have to do is surf the net and look for reputable body kits online stores and you are good. A word of caution, by the way, before you do any transaction with anyone online, make it absolutely certain that the store is honest. You do not want to get ripped-off right? Research first before buying any kit.Assuming that you have already found a reputable store, what you have to do now is decide which type of Pontiac body kits are you going to buy. Depending on your needs, you may need to either get a urethane or a fiberglass kit. Urethane is highly resistant to damages, but once damaged repair is already impossible. Fiberglass, on the other hand, is prone to damages, but can be repaired when damaged. Choose what’s best for you also in accordance to the climate where you live.

Guides on common smart repairs

SMART repairs, or small, medium repair techniques, are a great way to repair all of the little imperfections that have built up on your vehicle over the years and make it look new again. Not everyone can or will perform these repairs. Only trained technicians with specialized tools will perform the repairs on your vehicle. It's best to find a body shop that specialized in these type of repairs, so you can be sure they have the experience to do the job right. Look below to see 5 of the most common SMART repairs you can have completed on your vehicle.

Alloy Wheel Repair- Over time you can start to see scuffs and scratches appear on your allow wheels. While this doesn't affect how your vehicle performs, it does affect the appearance. Everyone wants their vehicles to look as nice as possible. Getting this simple repair done will make sure that your vehicle looks its best.
Paint Damage- It's really not difficult to get slight paint damage on your vehicle. Scratches and chipped paint can occur easily. If a branch on a tree scrapes against your vehicle or someone opens their vehicle door too far and nicks the side of yours, the paint will more than likely be damaged. A specialist mobile repair technician can easily repair the paint damage without the need to repaint your entire vehicle.

Dent removal- There are so many ways you can get minor dents and dings in your vehicle. Maybe you hit a stray basket at the grocery store, or you weren't able to cover your vehicle during that last hail storm. Whatever the reason, a SMART repair technician can remove the dents with the least amount of impact on your vehicle. Many times they can even remove the dents without having to touch up your paint.
Trim/Seat Repair- The interior of your car probably doesn't see as much wear and tear as the exterior since it's not exposed to the forces of nature or other drivers. However, it's not uncommon to get small scratches on the dashboard or a small tear in the upholstery. There are a variety of SMART repairs that can fix these repairs and many others related to your vehicle's interior seating and trim.
Plastic Welding- This is a popular repair since there are many plastic parts on your vehicle that can be damaged. One of the most common plastic parts is your bumper. It's very easy to end up with little dents in dings in your bumper. Rather than spending the money to replace the entire bumper, SMART repair technicians use special plastic welding tools and repair the dent itself. The same goes for other plastic components on your vehicle.These are just a few of the SMART repairs you can get done on your vehicle. They are a great way to make your personal or company vehicle look new again. They're also the best choice for repairing lease or rental vehicles and avoiding the high costs that the rental or lease company will charge for the damage.

Body Kits Installing Guides-Major Style Point

An auto body kit is one of the most exciting upgrades you can do to your vehicle. A good aero kit or body kit can really transform the appearance of the vehicle, and the installer will determine if this is a good or bad transformation. I would personally suggest you find a reputable shop experienced in your type of body kit work. They should know how to work with the material you selected, and how to color match, prep and paint the kit. They should also know how to, if necessary, make adjustments to ensure a proper fitting. Your finished product will be as good as the effort put into it.Having said that, it is never a bad idea to learn something new. Before you begin, make sure you designate enough time to the project to install your body kit right the first time.

This type of body work requires a lot of patience if you are inexperienced at it. Here are some instructions to help you get started on the project. The first thing to do is to prep the body kit for painting. It will be much easier to work on before it is installed. If you do not intend to paint the whole vehicle, it may be wise to color match and paint the body kit prior to installation.Start by removing the pieces that will be replaced. This may include the front and rear bumper covers. You can find the bolts for the front cover in the fender wells and underneath the cover near the frame. Remove these bolts and loosen the cover. Depending on the application, be sure to remove any of the lighting that is attached to it, such as the headlights, side markers, fog lights, etc. Now check to make sure that there isn't anything else holding it in place, such as a grille or license plate holder.

Carefully remove the front bumper cover and set to the side. Keep the hardware handy, as you will need it later. Remove the rear bumper in the same manner, as well as the trim panel located just above the bumper (if applicable). Most cars won't have side skirts at this point, but if it does, remove them by removing the bolts that hold it to the vehicle. They are located on the back of the side skirts.Take your replacement cover and carefully align it to the car and check the fitting. Some of the kits will have 3M adhesive to help hold the kit in place during this process. You may find that the foam inserts are an obstruction to the new body kit. You can either remove them or trim them to size, depending on the application.


I have found that if possible, it is better to trim them to fit because they will help sturdy the body kit so it doesn't appear as flimsy. If you have done your research and purchased a good kit, then you should line up almost perfect. Make some markings as to where you will drill your holes. You can also use the old bumper cover to line up the holes but it may not be as accurate as the fitting approach. If you find yourself in a situation where the kit doesn't line up exactly, there are some things you can do to correct the problem. First, locate the problem areas. They will be most noticeable on the sides where it matches up to the fenders or in the very front where it matches up to the hood. If you notice one side has a bigger seam in these areas than the other side, try moving the cover to the larger seam side in very small increments until there is no longer a difference.
The seam should be the same width as other seams on the car, most notably the same size as the seam from the fender to the door, or the fender to the closed hood. Using these same widths for the seams will create a "seamless" look for the finished product.If your problem area is in the front, you will have to adjust the body kit in small increments until it lines up. If you have too larges of a seam, try gently pulling the kit from the two sides to tighten up the front. it should have a little bit of play in it since it is not bolted down. If the seam is to small, try pushing the sides in towards the front of the vehicle to free up any space. Once the front is adjusted, look to see if the sides are aligned property. If you are happy with the fitment, place the bolts in the holes and tighten them down. Start in the middle, and work your way out to the sides making sure that your seams line up properly. If your kit comes with 3M adhesive on the back side, adhere the kit to the car once the proper alignment is made. This will help hold the kit in place and allow the seams to be smaller in width.