Automotive Repair Financing Now Available

At Heads Up Motorsports we know just how important your car is to you and how crucial it can be in insuring you keep your day to day life on track. This is why we are excited to announce that we are now offering our customers financing for their repairs.

We have teamed up with several local finance companies to offer our customers a range of options to ensure that you can keep your car on the road.

Applications are fast and easy and payments are actually affordable. With their high approval rating, even those customers with bad credit ratings, no credit ratings, or bankruptcies can be on the road again in no time. Your car repair loan couldn’t be easier.

The process is simple:

• Bring your car into Heads Up Motorsports for a no obligation inspection
• We will estimate the cost of your repairs
• You will complete one of our simple loan applications
• Your application will be submitted to one of our lenders and we will have an answer for you while you wait
• Once approved just head over to the finance company to sign the final paperwork and your good to go!
• We will start your repairs and have you back on the road in no time

So stop putting off those much needed repairs and stop by Heads Up Motorsports today!

* Financing is not guaranteed by Heads Up Motorsports and is subject to approval from an independent finance company.

Top 10 Car Maintenance Mistakes

Compared to the family trucksters of a generation ago, modern cars require about as much maintenance as a toaster. This is a real liberation from the oil, lube and tune merry-go-round that ruled not so long ago.

Curiously, many people haven’t adjusted their thinking to keep pace with new car maintenance schedules. The preoccupied still run their daily drivers without service until the dash warning lights burn out, while over-achievers fret about running synthetic oil more than 2,500 miles without a change.

Although maintenance intervals are now more widely spaced, even the newest cars require scheduled service to live long, productive lives. Whether yours is the latest model or you paid it off years ago, the trick is giving your car the maintenance it was designed to receive.

Surprisingly, the answer to what maintenance is required is hiding no farther away than the glove box. Every car is supplied with a maintenance schedule — in the owner’s manual or in a separate maintenance log book — that details that vehicle’s needs. A few minutes assimilating these requirements will help you avoid the following common car-maintenance pitfalls.

Proper Tire Inflation and Rotation
Tires leak naturally and need the occasional check. Figuratively speaking, underinflated tires suck up gasoline. Under- or overinflated tires wear out sooner, and deliver the same emergency maneuver handling as marshmallows. You probably aren’t going to check tire pressures monthly, but how about twice a year?

Furthermore, front and rear tires wear differently and should be rotated to even that wear. Your owner’s manual will have a recommendation on both pressure and rotation periods.

Wiper Tales
Here’s a news flash: It’s much easier to avoid hitting things you can see. Simple as it is, that’s the concept behind replacing your windshield wipers before they fossilize into noisy uselessness.

Fall is the ideal wiper replacement time: after the blade-baking summer and before the fall and winter nastiness. Depending on location, wiper replacement may be an annual affair in the Southwest to a biannual chore in northern climes.

Tune-Up Anachronism
There are no more “tune-ups.” Valves no longer need adjusting, ignition timing is computer controlled and there are no carburetors to fiddle with. About all that’s left of the old tune-up drill are the spark plugs. These are often good for 100,000 miles, so don’t change parts just to change parts. Instead, save up for those big 60,000- and 120,000-mile services when the timing belt, spark plug wires and coolant are due for replacement.

Octane Overdose
“If some is good, more is better” thinking does not apply to octane. Here the rule is to supply whatever octane the engine is rated for and call it done. Higher-than-required octane does not yield more power or mileage, only oil company profits.

Some engines are rated for premium 91 octane fuel but can burn 87 octane regular, thanks to the magic of knock sensors. In that case, run regular gas if puttering around surface streets, and premium fuel if full-throttle driving is part of your daily repertoire.

Oil Change Timing
Oil changes every 3,000 miles used to be required jobs, just like cleaning the accumulated fuzz from record player needles or defrosting freezers. Today, advances in engine design and lubricants make oil changes something to be done when the schedule calls for it, not when granddad says it’s time. Some cars call for 5,000-mile change intervals, some up to 15,000-mile stints. Others have a variable timer. Follow the schedule and use the oil called for by the manufacturer.

Tired Tires
Tires wear out, but they also time out. The tire industry says tires are toast after five years, but they’re selling tires. It all depends on heat, sunlight and ozone conditions. There’s little argument from any pundits that after seven years those black donuts are dried and better off holding down a farmer’s tarp than carrying your family around. If you’re not sure how old your tires are, a tire shop can read the date code stamped into the sidewall.

Dirty Air Filter
Semi-clogged air filters hurt fuel economy for the same reason you don’t like to run with a potato in your mouth. The question is, when is your filter dirty? Under a Norman Rockwell schedule of small-town errand running and church duty, an air filter might not see much grit. But grimy city surface streets or just looking at a dirt road on a map are often enough to overwhelm air filters. This one is about conditions. If you go near dirt, the air filter may need changing twice as often as the schedule calls for.

Ignoring Your Brakes
Note to the Wandering Unconscious: If you notice anything different about your brakes — sound, feel or response — they are telling you to visit a mechanic. Now.

Tighten Your Gas Cap
Is the Check Engine light on? Then make sure the gas cap is on tightly before calling the dealer. No joke, this is one of the most common ways of setting off your car’s diagnostic system, since a loose gas cap defeats the fuel system’s venting arrangement.

The Garage Is for Parking
Let’s review. Your house is your most valuable investment. Your car is likely your second most valuable investment. If you’re paying all that money, then why are you storing empty cardboard boxes, broken skateboards and plastic holiday wreaths in the garage? Pitch that junk and get the car in the garage!

This Article Is Credited to MSN Autos

Car Maintenance And Repairs

Driving an automobile is a luxury that most of us take for granted.

Automobiles are the primary means of transportation in United States, with ninety percent of American adults owning or previously owning a car or truck. What we don’t realize is that operating a car or truck is a responsibility that can bring serious consequences. Every year in the United States alone, more than ten thousand vehicular accidents occur. It’s a tragic figure, especially when you consider that many of these accidents could be prevented with proper maintenance and routine check-ups.

Before hitting the road, be sure to conduct these checkups regularly:

Tires
Most Americans use all-season tires. These tires should carry you safely from season to season, but it is imperative that you check the tires regularly for wear or damage. Ideally, tires should be checked on a weekly basis.

Brakes
The brake system serves one main purposes: to slow down or stop the car when it is needed. If you step on the brake pedal and it goes all the way to the floor, you’ve got trouble. Late-model automobiles are equipped with a brake warning light. This dashboard indicator will light up if something is wrong with your brake system. If your brake warning light indicates trouble, it is imperative that you check the brake system immediately. Consult your owner’s manual for maintenance advice, and call an experienced mechanic for repairs. Brake repairs or replacements are no job for a weekend or hobby mechanic.

Headlights
Properly maintained vehicle headlights help you drive safely, and see more clearly. Replace your headlight bulbs at least once per year.

Wipers
Many people don’t think of changing their wiper blades until it is too late. This is one of the easiest and most inexpensive parts of the car to maintain. Change your wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and just before winter.

There are 10 common reasons why automobile owners visit the mechanic:

1. Electronic/Ignition control
2. Suspension/steering
3. Electrical problem
4. Brake system
5. Oil change/filters/lube
6. Exhaust system
7. Radiator repairs
8. Fuel system/carburetor
9. Clutch/transmission
10. Air conditioning system

Routine check ups and proper maintenance are less expensive than most consumers realize but budget restrictions are often the leading factors in keeping car owners from living up to their maintenance responsibilities. This does not need to be a problem, the key is to find an automotive service center that you trust that can understand your needs and budget to ensure that you and your vehicle stay on the road safely. Remember preventative maintenance to your vehicle tends to be far less expensive than waiting for something to truly go wrong and then having to have it repaired.

If your car is not performing to its full potential, remember the following tips to help you save money on repairs:

Preventive Maintenance
Be your car’s best friend, and you can save a bundle. By conducting regular preventative maintenance, such as regular oil changes and radiator flushes, you prevent unnecessary damage to the car and save a lot of money in the long run. Regular checkups by a reputable automotive repair center will keep your car running better and longer.

Conserve
Even automobiles need to take a break now and then. If you drive your car everyday the miles will add up quickly and damage can occur prematurely. To avoid this, consider carpooling with friends and coworkers. Ask around to form your own carpool group. You’ll all save on maintenance, and you’ll be able to pool your fuel and parking expenses.

Estimate
Before choosing a mechanic to repair your car be sure to get a written estimate. If the mechanic wants more than your budget can afford shop around. Compare estimates to find the best deal. Just be sure that you are comparing “apples to apples” and paying for quality service not just settling for cheap.

Do It Yourself
You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish after doing a little research. Read over your owner’s manual from time to time. Learn as much as you can about your car. Understand potential problems and how to solve them. For example, that mysterious clunking noise might be bothersome, but could be as simple to fix as tightening a bolt. Regular maintenance tasks like oil changes and radiator flushes are fairly easy to do if you understand your vehicle and take the time to do the job properly.

As an automobile owner, you have a responsibility to keep your car properly maintained at all times. Consider it an investment in your car’s future and yours, so stop by Heads Up Motorsports today to get your vehicle inspected and give us the opportunity to earn your business.

Transmission Maintenance Services to Reduce Vehicle Repair Costs

When you turn the key in the ignition and your car won’t start, it can often be difficult to determine the exact problem because of the complexity of engines. But when your car starts and the transmission slips, it can only mean one thing – the transmission needs repairs. Some people drive around for months with annoying transmission problems until it gets bad enough to cause a serious safety issue.

Waiting for a serious vehicle problem is not a good course of action. A small problem can turn into an expensive problem. Fortunately, the transmission is like the car engine – give it some regular attention and you can avoid most problems. Yet it’s not unusual for people to perform routine maintenance on the engine or air conditioner and then proceed to ignore the transmission.

Extend Transmission Life

The kinds of transmission maintenance services which can extend the life of your transmission are not complicated if you know what you are doing and have the right tools. A trained automotive technician can satisfy both requirements and add the convenience of doing regular maintenance on your car before expensive problems begin to appear.

For businesses, maintaining the transmissions in fleet vehicles is even more important. Business vehicles are driven many miles in a variety of circumstances including up and down hills and in congested traffic requiring a lot of speed changes. Fleet vehicles are also driven by a variety of people and each person has a different driving style.

Proper maintenance of the transmissions in the fleet vehicles can keep your cars and trucks on the road where they are making the company money.

Regular transmission services may include the following.

• Check transmission fluid levels
• Change fluid and filter per maintenance schedule
• Change fluid in torque converter
• Check transmission sensors
• Check modulator valves
• Clean transmission using specialty cleaning fluid

A transmission should be flushed every 15,000 to 20,000 miles. If you don’t put many miles on the vehicle the rule of thumb is to flush the transmission every 2 years minimum.

On the Spot

Letting Heads Up Motorsports take care of your transmission needs provides some assurances you are getting the job done right. Though some try to do this kind of maintenance on their own, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.

• Clean job without messy spills
• Able to check for signs of problems during fluid change such as metal shavings
• Able to check for signs transmission is developing problems which could lead to future problems
• Insures correct fluid is used for the make of vehicle and transmission

Making sure your transmission gets regular maintenance can save you a lot of money and problems over time. Unfortunately it is often one of those simple maintenance chores that doesn’t get done as frequently as it should. Heads Up Motorsports offers convenient and high quality transmission maintenance and rebuilding servicing to make sure you and your car stay on the road.

So stop into Heads Up Motorsports today for all of your transmission needs.

For more information on our transmission services visit our transmission section here.

Is Your Car a Mess? Organize Your Car in Five Steps

Many Americans spend more time in their cars than in most rooms of their homes, yet they neglect their wheels when it comes to regular “housekeeping.” When it gets really messy, organizing your car can seem as daunting as keeping a closet in order. So we asked California Closet’s organizational expert Ginny Snook Scott how to sort out, size up, store and contain your car cargo in five easy steps. Then we added some ideas for finding the necessary gear to clear out the clutter.

Step one: Sort and clean up
Take everything out of the car, including car seats, music and miscellaneous items stored in the glovebox and door pockets. Don’t forget the trunk and cargo area! Chances are you’ll find all kinds of trash to toss. Organize the rest of the items into three piles: stuff you use all the time, things you use occasionally and items you might need in an emergency. Whatever doesn’t fall into these categories should be stored in your home or garage.

Step two: Analyze
Ask yourself, “How do I use my car?” Are you a salesperson who travels with a trunk load of samples, a parent with two toddlers in car seats or a realtor squiring prospective clients from property to property? Do you make a lot of short trips or are long journeys the norm? What are you always struggling to find? (Pen and paper? Change for the toll? Tissues? Your cell phone?) The answers to these questions should determine your priorities.

Step three: Prioritize
Depending upon your needs, go through your three piles and prioritize the most important items in each group. What do you need to keep close at hand and what can be relegated to the second row or back of the car? Pay attention to duplicates. For example, it’s a good idea to keep drinking water in the car, but not a bunch of half-empty bottles. When you bring three new CDs into the car, take three that you’re tired of back to your house. And just like seasonal clothes in a closet, many items such as ice scrapers and tire chains can be packed away in summer.

Step four: Contain your needs
Loose objects in the car lead to disorganization and mess. In the event of a sudden stop or a crash, they can also damage your car or, worse, injure your occupants. Automotive accessory shops offer a variety of cargo containers and organizers for every part of the car, from leakproof litter bags, CD storage and trunk organizers to drink coolers, folding hangers and kids’ entertainment centers. For the businessperson, the Lewis N Clark “Business Center” holds folders and has a writing surface and detachable portfolio. Talus makes a great line of car organizers, including the CarGanizer and the Kids Car Travel Organizer, which can make a world of difference. Sites for such storage products include The Busy Woman, The Container Store and Amazon.com.

Step five: Store
Store items you use regularly in places where you can reach them. Can’t find a place to store that big box of facial tissue? Try a “tissue cup,” a paper cup that fits into a cupholder and dispenses tissues one at a time. Of course, keep insurance information, maps, directions and other documents together in the glovebox. And be creative about storing lesser-used and seasonal items — there are often nooks and crannies around the spare tire or in the rear walls of the car that can hold a small first-aid kit, roadside flares or jumper cables. Your owner’s manual (now that you can find it) can be helpful in pointing out hooks and cubbies that might have been overlooked.

Finally, don’t put anything on the floor — even trash — unless it’s designed to sit there. Once you start messing up the floor, you’ll find it too easy to keep adding to it, and soon your car will be cluttered again!

This Article Is Credited to Edmunds