To Help You Sell Your Used Car in Dallas Texas Fast, The following list of Car Care tips is meant as an ongoing checklist of things to take care of way before you need to sell your used car fast. Though some of these tips can be undertaken immediately, others like oil change frequency require that you do proactive maintenance on your engine. All these tips at one time or another have helped me sell my car fast.
Before you sell my car Dallas let's talk about struts.
What are struts? Struts are the main component of a modern independent suspension system – they are what “suspend” the body and frame of your vehicle above the wheels. All the weight of your vehicle rests on your struts, which transfer the weight, via several other components, to the wheels. Struts have at least two components: a spring and a shock absorber – and many have a third: the swivel mount.
The SpringThe weight of your vehicle is “suspended” above the wheels by use of a spring (usually a coil spring) – this allows for the wheels to travel up and down on the road without causing the body of your car (and so its occupants) to bump up and down with every divet, crack, bump, or pothole in the road.
A spring on its own smooths out the impact of the road, but on its own it would cause the body of the vehicle to move up and down several times after each bump as the spring extends and contracts, trying to find its equilibrium. Think of a person taking a big jump on a trampoline – after the initial jump, it takes a couple ups and downs to come to a standstill on top of the trampoline – the principle is much the same with cars. To minimize this effect, vehicles use shock absorbers.
Shock absorbers (shocks) are just what their name claims – they absorb the shock of an uneven road before it reaches the body of the junk car or luxury vehicle. Instead of all the force of a bump being transmitted to the body/frame of the vehicle via the spring (then causing continued oscillations as your vehicle tries to reach an equilibrium), shock absorbers take the force and use most of it up themselves. The force that does make its way to the body of the vehicle, pushing it up, is absorbed by the shock absorber when the vehicle comes back down for a smooth transition to equilibrium and a normal ride without the trampoline-like oscillations.
A strut is what we usually call a spring and shock absorber combo unit.
Battery
Your car's battery is the heart of your modern vehicle systems. Newer batteries are low maintenance and can be checked for for their charge and condition every few months. For older cars, check it every month. That means checking the cable terminals for corrosion and the cells for water level. If not too bad, clean the terminal ends with some coca cola and a battery brush, rinsing with clean water. If you need to add water to the cells to bring up to normal level, use distilled water only. Replace the battery when it becomes excessively dirty or will no longer hold a charge. Most battery installations are easy to reach, right under the hood in older, carbureted cars, or in a rectangular box at the forward end of the air intake assembly on modern fuel injected cars. Having a car or truck that starts right up and has a clean battery area will help you sell your car fast.
Belts
Engine belts and hoses should always be in strong shape with easy bending qualities. Any hose or belts showing dried out rubber that is frayed, glazed, or starting to show too many shredded threads should be replaced immediately. Also pay close attention to the metal clamps that hold the hoses in place. Make sure to tighten these clamps. Hoses that look bad or show excessive softeness or hardness should be replaced. Selling a used car fast is easy when you take care of these small but very important details.
Brake Fluid
Check the brake fluid every couple of months. Pay attention to your car's brake master cylinder reservoir lid. If necessary, flip off the retainer clip and remove the lid or unscrew the plastic lid, depending on which type your vehicle has. Add needed fluid and check for possible leaks throughout the system. Pay special attention not to overfill the reservoir.
Engine Oil
Of all the tips that have helped me sell my used car fast, this one entails the most foresight ahead of time. Detailed attention paid to something as seemingly insignificant as checking a used car's oil once a month can pay off big time. If you don't check and change your oil you will be looking for cash for cars in Dallas and calling Dallas Auto Buyers saying I need to sell my junk car in Dallas. That's because your car will not run very long with old dirty oil in the motor. Checking your oil means removing your oil dipstick mounted on the engine, wiping it clean with a paper or rag, then re-inserting the dipstick into its resting place (the engine).
Remove the dipstick a second time and inspect the fluid level. Your oil dipstick should have notches indicating if the oil level is low. Add oil if necessary. To maintain peak performance, your used car's oil should be completely drained and replaced every 4,000 miles or 90 days, whichever comes first. Refer to your owner's manual for oil change frequency. Remember to always replace the oil filter whenever the oil is changed. The absolute minimum is twice a year. If your car has an electronic oil-change indicator on the instrument cluster, don't exceed its warning.
And now a word about the different types of motor oil. We like to use Royal Purple Synthetic oil in all our Cash for Cars Dallas tow trucks. You can read more about their oil here. Premium Conventional Oil- standard on all late model new-cars. Most major oil brands have one for service level SL, available in several viscosities (degrees of oil thickness). Auto manufacturers often specify a 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil, particularly for those cars in colder climates- an alternate 10W-30 oil can also be used by cars driven in warmer or less extreme weather conditions. These aformentioned ratings cover just about every used vehicle on the road.
Full Synthetic Oil - Anyone in the Dallas cash for cars Dallas business can tell you that Full synthetic oils are made for modern high-tech engines used in sports cars and German luxury autos. The oils of this type must pass stringent special tests and display better, longer range engine performance in several important areas, from viscosity index to protection against deposits. Synthetics are often favored in more extreme climates because of the way they flow better at low temperatures and keep peak lubricity at high temps. The high cost of these oils compared to conventional oil means that only the most expensive and high performance autos are recommended to use this oil type. Lower performance autos are better served by conventional oils. As always, read and follow your owner's manual.
Synthetic Blend Oil - These oils are a hybrid of synthetic oil mixed with conventional oil, and overall are formulated to provide protection for somewhat heavier loads and high temperatures. This type of oil is less volatile and are good for use in warmer climates because they evaporate slower than conventional oil, which reduces oil loss and increases fuel economy. Synthetic blend oils are often a good alternative for those drivers who want a little better engine protection for less cost than a full synthetic oil.
Higher Mileage Oil - Late model used vehicles are staying on the road longer than ever before. For those used car owners who intend to keep their autos a long time, there is also the option of using special oil formulated especially for higher-mileage vehicles. Almost two-thirds of the vehicles on the road have more than 75,000 miles on the odometer. Check with your dealer for advice on where to find specialized higher mileage oils.
Exhaust
Loose or broken exhaust clamps and supports can lead to bigger problems for your used car. Check for holes in muffler or pipes and those people living along the coast should guard against rusted parts from all the damp, salty air. California's stringent smog laws require that your mufflers be in tip top shape.
Lights
Assure that all your lights are clean and working, including the brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. Keep spare bulbs and fuses in your vehicle. Often a non-working light is the result of simple short circuits and can be fixed for little money. The resale value on a used car with faulty lighting can take a nose-dive way in excess of the cost of fixing this simple problem. The reason is because electrical problems in my car may seem small to me, but to the auto buyer who then has to pay a mechanic to troubleshoot that unknown electrical issue it can be scary because they don't know if it will take 1 hour of labor or 15 hours of labor to diagnose and fix it.
Power Steering Fluid
Examine the power steering fluid level once evey couple of months. Check it by removing the reservoir dipstick. Add fluid if the level is down and inspect the attached pump and hoses for leaks. If the steering wheel squeaks too much when you turn it, you can rest assured you need to replenish your power steering. Also you will notice in a junk car oftentimes the power steering hoses get old and start to crack and leak.
Shock Absorbers
Shock absorbers that need to be replaced often suffer from oil seepage. You can test shock action by bouncing the car up and down. The car should stop bouncing when you step back. Worn or leaking shocks should be replaced. Always replace shock absorbers in pairs.
Tires
Keep tires inflated to recommended pressure. Any bulges on the tires indicate that they should be immediately replaced. If your tire tread is unevenly worn down, replace the whole tire even if there is plenty of tread left on most of the tire. Also have the wheel alignment checked on your car. These are problems that often cause uneven tread wear. Obviously, if your used car is showing balding tires, get them replaced with new ones. Few used car accessories recommend a higher price or helped me sell my used car fast like great tires.
Transmission Fluid
Now if you are wondering where to get my transmission fixed in Dallas it's likely due to the fact that you failed to check your car's transmission fluid monthly with the engine warm and running, and the parking brake on. Shift to drive, then to park. Remove dipstick, wipe dry, insert it and remove it again. Add the approved type fluid, if needed. Never overfill.
Washer Fluid
Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir full. Use some of it to clean off the wiper blades.
Wiper Blades
Inspect the windshield wiper blades whenever you clean your windshield. Do not wait until the rubber is worn or brittle to replace them. They should be replaced at least once per year, and more often if smearing occurs. Good wiper blades are a sign of attention to detail and have helped me sell my junk car fast in Dallas Texas on more than one occasion.
Before you sell my car Dallas let's talk about struts.
What are struts? Struts are the main component of a modern independent suspension system – they are what “suspend” the body and frame of your vehicle above the wheels. All the weight of your vehicle rests on your struts, which transfer the weight, via several other components, to the wheels. Struts have at least two components: a spring and a shock absorber – and many have a third: the swivel mount.
The SpringThe weight of your vehicle is “suspended” above the wheels by use of a spring (usually a coil spring) – this allows for the wheels to travel up and down on the road without causing the body of your car (and so its occupants) to bump up and down with every divet, crack, bump, or pothole in the road.
A spring on its own smooths out the impact of the road, but on its own it would cause the body of the vehicle to move up and down several times after each bump as the spring extends and contracts, trying to find its equilibrium. Think of a person taking a big jump on a trampoline – after the initial jump, it takes a couple ups and downs to come to a standstill on top of the trampoline – the principle is much the same with cars. To minimize this effect, vehicles use shock absorbers.
Shock absorbers (shocks) are just what their name claims – they absorb the shock of an uneven road before it reaches the body of the junk car or luxury vehicle. Instead of all the force of a bump being transmitted to the body/frame of the vehicle via the spring (then causing continued oscillations as your vehicle tries to reach an equilibrium), shock absorbers take the force and use most of it up themselves. The force that does make its way to the body of the vehicle, pushing it up, is absorbed by the shock absorber when the vehicle comes back down for a smooth transition to equilibrium and a normal ride without the trampoline-like oscillations.
A strut is what we usually call a spring and shock absorber combo unit.
Battery
Your car's battery is the heart of your modern vehicle systems. Newer batteries are low maintenance and can be checked for for their charge and condition every few months. For older cars, check it every month. That means checking the cable terminals for corrosion and the cells for water level. If not too bad, clean the terminal ends with some coca cola and a battery brush, rinsing with clean water. If you need to add water to the cells to bring up to normal level, use distilled water only. Replace the battery when it becomes excessively dirty or will no longer hold a charge. Most battery installations are easy to reach, right under the hood in older, carbureted cars, or in a rectangular box at the forward end of the air intake assembly on modern fuel injected cars. Having a car or truck that starts right up and has a clean battery area will help you sell your car fast.
Belts
Engine belts and hoses should always be in strong shape with easy bending qualities. Any hose or belts showing dried out rubber that is frayed, glazed, or starting to show too many shredded threads should be replaced immediately. Also pay close attention to the metal clamps that hold the hoses in place. Make sure to tighten these clamps. Hoses that look bad or show excessive softeness or hardness should be replaced. Selling a used car fast is easy when you take care of these small but very important details.
Brake Fluid
Check the brake fluid every couple of months. Pay attention to your car's brake master cylinder reservoir lid. If necessary, flip off the retainer clip and remove the lid or unscrew the plastic lid, depending on which type your vehicle has. Add needed fluid and check for possible leaks throughout the system. Pay special attention not to overfill the reservoir.
Engine Oil
Of all the tips that have helped me sell my used car fast, this one entails the most foresight ahead of time. Detailed attention paid to something as seemingly insignificant as checking a used car's oil once a month can pay off big time. If you don't check and change your oil you will be looking for cash for cars in Dallas and calling Dallas Auto Buyers saying I need to sell my junk car in Dallas. That's because your car will not run very long with old dirty oil in the motor. Checking your oil means removing your oil dipstick mounted on the engine, wiping it clean with a paper or rag, then re-inserting the dipstick into its resting place (the engine).
Remove the dipstick a second time and inspect the fluid level. Your oil dipstick should have notches indicating if the oil level is low. Add oil if necessary. To maintain peak performance, your used car's oil should be completely drained and replaced every 4,000 miles or 90 days, whichever comes first. Refer to your owner's manual for oil change frequency. Remember to always replace the oil filter whenever the oil is changed. The absolute minimum is twice a year. If your car has an electronic oil-change indicator on the instrument cluster, don't exceed its warning.
And now a word about the different types of motor oil. We like to use Royal Purple Synthetic oil in all our Cash for Cars Dallas tow trucks. You can read more about their oil here. Premium Conventional Oil- standard on all late model new-cars. Most major oil brands have one for service level SL, available in several viscosities (degrees of oil thickness). Auto manufacturers often specify a 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil, particularly for those cars in colder climates- an alternate 10W-30 oil can also be used by cars driven in warmer or less extreme weather conditions. These aformentioned ratings cover just about every used vehicle on the road.
Full Synthetic Oil - Anyone in the Dallas cash for cars Dallas business can tell you that Full synthetic oils are made for modern high-tech engines used in sports cars and German luxury autos. The oils of this type must pass stringent special tests and display better, longer range engine performance in several important areas, from viscosity index to protection against deposits. Synthetics are often favored in more extreme climates because of the way they flow better at low temperatures and keep peak lubricity at high temps. The high cost of these oils compared to conventional oil means that only the most expensive and high performance autos are recommended to use this oil type. Lower performance autos are better served by conventional oils. As always, read and follow your owner's manual.
Synthetic Blend Oil - These oils are a hybrid of synthetic oil mixed with conventional oil, and overall are formulated to provide protection for somewhat heavier loads and high temperatures. This type of oil is less volatile and are good for use in warmer climates because they evaporate slower than conventional oil, which reduces oil loss and increases fuel economy. Synthetic blend oils are often a good alternative for those drivers who want a little better engine protection for less cost than a full synthetic oil.
Higher Mileage Oil - Late model used vehicles are staying on the road longer than ever before. For those used car owners who intend to keep their autos a long time, there is also the option of using special oil formulated especially for higher-mileage vehicles. Almost two-thirds of the vehicles on the road have more than 75,000 miles on the odometer. Check with your dealer for advice on where to find specialized higher mileage oils.
Exhaust
Loose or broken exhaust clamps and supports can lead to bigger problems for your used car. Check for holes in muffler or pipes and those people living along the coast should guard against rusted parts from all the damp, salty air. California's stringent smog laws require that your mufflers be in tip top shape.
Lights
Assure that all your lights are clean and working, including the brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. Keep spare bulbs and fuses in your vehicle. Often a non-working light is the result of simple short circuits and can be fixed for little money. The resale value on a used car with faulty lighting can take a nose-dive way in excess of the cost of fixing this simple problem. The reason is because electrical problems in my car may seem small to me, but to the auto buyer who then has to pay a mechanic to troubleshoot that unknown electrical issue it can be scary because they don't know if it will take 1 hour of labor or 15 hours of labor to diagnose and fix it.
Power Steering Fluid
Examine the power steering fluid level once evey couple of months. Check it by removing the reservoir dipstick. Add fluid if the level is down and inspect the attached pump and hoses for leaks. If the steering wheel squeaks too much when you turn it, you can rest assured you need to replenish your power steering. Also you will notice in a junk car oftentimes the power steering hoses get old and start to crack and leak.
Shock Absorbers
Shock absorbers that need to be replaced often suffer from oil seepage. You can test shock action by bouncing the car up and down. The car should stop bouncing when you step back. Worn or leaking shocks should be replaced. Always replace shock absorbers in pairs.
Tires
Keep tires inflated to recommended pressure. Any bulges on the tires indicate that they should be immediately replaced. If your tire tread is unevenly worn down, replace the whole tire even if there is plenty of tread left on most of the tire. Also have the wheel alignment checked on your car. These are problems that often cause uneven tread wear. Obviously, if your used car is showing balding tires, get them replaced with new ones. Few used car accessories recommend a higher price or helped me sell my used car fast like great tires.
Transmission Fluid
Now if you are wondering where to get my transmission fixed in Dallas it's likely due to the fact that you failed to check your car's transmission fluid monthly with the engine warm and running, and the parking brake on. Shift to drive, then to park. Remove dipstick, wipe dry, insert it and remove it again. Add the approved type fluid, if needed. Never overfill.
Washer Fluid
Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir full. Use some of it to clean off the wiper blades.
Wiper Blades
Inspect the windshield wiper blades whenever you clean your windshield. Do not wait until the rubber is worn or brittle to replace them. They should be replaced at least once per year, and more often if smearing occurs. Good wiper blades are a sign of attention to detail and have helped me sell my junk car fast in Dallas Texas on more than one occasion.
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