Clean the crusty buildup of battery acid on car battery connections with a can of Coca Cola. Pour it on and scrub gently with a brush. Be sure to rinse the battery and the ground below with some water afterward, as the sugar can attract ants.
Automotive Tips
Car Battery Cleaner
Keep Car Locks From Freezing
To help keep your car locks from freezing, put a little petroleum jelly on them and move the keys in and out of and back and forth in the keyhole. This would also work on house doors.
Prevent Car Doors From Freezing
To help keep your car doors from freezing shut, use a little silicone spay on the rubber seal around the door.
Car Alarm
Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until you either turn it off or the car battery dies.
It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar rapist won’t stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there..…
Foggy Windshield
Hate foggy windshields? Keep a chalkboard eraser in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Tip for Traveling with Kids
When traveling with kids, place a folded flat sheet over the back seat where the kids are sitting. When you stop, simply take out the sheet and shake it to get rid of crumbs, crayon shavings, etc., and the seat upholstery will be kept much cleaner.
How to Remove A Bumper Sticker
To remove a bumper sticker from a vehicle, spray on a little spray lubrication, like WD-40. Then work a plastic spatula (or paint scraper) under the corners until you can get as much of it up as you can. Don’t use a razor blade, as it will scratch up the paint.
You might also try using a hair dryer to heat and loosen the sticker.
When you have the sticker off, use a plastic scrubbie and dish soap to get leftover adhesive. Follow that with rubbing alcohol.
How To Buy Auto Parts Online
The Internet is a great way to shop. From the comfort of your chair, you can go from one online shop to the next, comparing product prices and features so you always get the best deals. You can also read product reviews of shoppers who have previously bought an item and learn from their experiences. You save yourself the hassle of actually going out to these stores, lining up to pay, and carrying back the goods to your house. With just a few clicks of the mouse you can shop and buy, and wait for your purchase to arrive at your doorstep within 5 days or less. This is shopping convenience at its best and what’s more, online shops are open 24 hours a day!
So the next time you need a replacement for your car, say a new headlight or a better exhaust muffler, buy online. You would be surprised to know that there are hundreds of websites offering a wide range of auto parts and accessories. Many of these online shops carry OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacements and aftermarket performance parts for your vehicle. Their massive online catalogues can be sorted according to auto part, type of car, and year of make so you can zero in to what you need in no time. Unlike your brick and mortar auto parts retailer, online auto parts merchants will inform you through email or by phone when an accessory that is not in stock becomes available.
There is no question about the convenience offered by online auto parts shopping to busy car owners but you may want to take certain precautions to ensure a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience.
1. Know your online retailer. You want only the best replacements for your car so make sure you are shopping in reputable online stores. Check out their inventory of car accessories. Does the store offer a wide selection for a particular replacement? Does it provide relevant information about the product features and pricing? Click on the site’s About link and see if the store has clearly disclosed who they are and how to reach them. A good way to determine an online store’s reputation is through the quality of its customer service.
2. Protect your privacy. Shop only at secure websites. When you’re at the checkout page, the address on your browser should begin with ‘https’ instead of just ‘http’. ‘https’ means the the online transaction is being secured from malicious interception. It is very important to read the store’s Privacy Policy so you know exactly what the store will do with the personal and financial information you are giving to them. Look for eTrust, VeriSign, HackerSafe, BBBOnline Reliability Program, and other privacy enforcement seals to guarantee your security and privacy.
3. Keep a record of your transactions. Take note of the shipping and handling fees and total charges before you click on that Buy button. The total price you pay for a new car part is often higher than the published one. Make sure to printout receipts, confirmation emails, and other information related to your order so you have something to back you up in case you have questions or problems with the shipment.
4. Read the fine print. There are cases when what is delivered to you is different from what you ordered and you have to return it. While rare, errors such as this do happen so read the online merchant’s cancellation, return, and complaint-handling policies. Does the store offer warranties for its auto parts and accessories, and who honors that warranty? Do you get a refund to your credit card or get a store credit? If these are not posted, it is wise to call or send an email to customer service first before going ahead with your purchase.
So there you have it. These tips seem too much a bother at first but as you get to know the best auto parts retailers online and become comfortable with their system, you eventually save yourself some headaches and disappointments. Happy online shopping!
Interior Detailing: Upholstery, Trim and Headliners
INTERIOR DETAILING
Mild Refresh to Complete Resoration
Sagging headliners, dingy seats and interior plastic can really detract from the driver’s experience. All these problems can be improved with a little time and a few Eastwood products. To fully determine the interior’s condition it’s best to start with a thorough detailing.
First, vacuum all carpeted and cloth surfaces. Use a brush attachment on headliners and other delicate cloth surfaces. Use a crevice extension to reach into recesses between seats and foot wells. A 12 Foot Vacuum Hose with crevice and wide extensions will really extend the usefulness of your wet/dry vac.
TIP: Many spills and stains will dissolve in water. It’s often effective to dampen a small area with a pump spray bottle of water and immediately vacuum with your wet/dry vac. More stubborn stains can be removed with commonly available upholstery/carpet cleaners.
FOR GLASS: Clean all glass surfaces. The Pro Glass Detailing System features a floating triangular head with replaceable bonnets. The unique shape and low profile of this tool allow it to reach into corners. Especially great for the lower windshield corners where there is very limited space between the glass and the dash. Works great with Sprayway.
FOR TRIM & UPHOLSTERY:
Interior vinyl, leather and plastic parts like seats, dash top and other trim panels can fade due to sun damage. For the most professional results it is best to remove the piece to be refinished. Eastwood offers a full line of 
trim tools from the 3 Piece Door Panel and Trim Removal Set with stainless steel blades, to the less expensive plated steel Trim Removal Set. Other ducts, window and other trims can be unscrewed and gently pried away with the Reinforced Nylon Pry Tool Set.
Once the interior items to be refinished have been removed they should be completely cleaned with a detergent scrub followed by an application of Adhesion Promoter for hard plastics, vinyl, leather or carpet then coated with any of the 15 Eastwood Upholstery Dyes. Be sure to work in a well ventilated area and follow label directions for best results.
Original style seat covers are available for the more popular vehicles. The seats in most cars built in the 60′s through 70′s and beyond have covers that can be replaced with a few basic tools. The Stretching Plier helps pull covers tightly around the metal frame so retaining clips or Hog Rings can be installed with specially grooved jaw Hog Ring Pliers. These Pliers are available with either Bent or Straight heads.
Sagging headliners seldom respond well to regluing. The foam backing over the years dries out and releases from the cloth headliner and the backing board. Applying a fresh layer of contact adhesive soon releases as the foam continues to degrade. Replacing the glue-in headliners is not as difficult as many would imagine. The actual process varies from vehicle to vehicle but basically the perimeter moldings, mirror, sun visors and dome light need to be removed before the backing board can be removed. The most impressive thing about this whole process is how the entire backing board can be gently bent and passed through a door opening.
At this point it’s a simple and messy process to pull off the old cloth and brush away the dried foam. Headliner materials are available in 10 colors from Eastwood. We recommend purchasing one of the Headliner Kits, which include the cloth and the proper adhesive. Follow the instructions included with the headliner and reinstall.
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2007, The Easthill Group, Inc.