Since the invention of the automobile man has been in love with his car.  For many of us our car represents a big part of who we are.  We look for cars that express or personalities.  We even use them to attract the opposite sex.  If you ask any teenage boy what he wants more than anything, with very few exceptions he will say a car.  Not just any old car, but a bright, shiny, and fast one.  Owning your first car is a right of passage and as we age we still keep that love for our cars in our hearts.  If you drive around any neighborhood in the spring or summer you will find hundreds of people out washing their car.

Washing, waxing, and detailing our cars is almost an obsession.  The automobile accessory market is booming and all auto parts stores have a section of the store devoted to keeping the appearance of our car perfect.  Millions of dollars every year are spent keeping our cars looking great.
Many car washes today are not the same as they were even 10 years ago.  Some you can even drive through, slide your credit card, and emerge out of the other side looking shiny and bright. 

The car is such a part of our daily lives that to not have one is unthinkable to most of us.  We do everything from our cars.  If we are hungry we go through the drive through.  If we need money we drive up to our local ATM machine and get cash.  If we need directions all we have to do is ask our GPS systems to tell us where we are and how we get to where we are going.
The advances in the automobile, computer, and credit card technologies have all helped to make our lives easier and more mobile.  Many independent business people do their work from their car.  Everything they need is at their fingertips.  Plug in their laptop and they are in a truly mobile office.

The history of the automobile has always defined the generation it is associated with.  What started as a novelty evolved in to a definition of wealth and then in to being cool.  Today the car has come to represent business and leisure in a way that was never imagined by the first car manufacturers.  So, keep that car shiny and new and you will truly be living the American dream.

If you are like most people you have been driving down the road and suddenly an eerie orange glow illuminates the panel in front of you.  Looking down you see the light is actually your “check engine” (or “service engine”) light.  Now, this could be a very frightening experience, after all your engine is what is keeping you moving down the road and that light is telling you something is wrong with it.  However, while you should get your car checked out, it doesn’t mean you have to pull the car over instantly either.  There are a multitude of reasons that light could be on, and even some of them you can check and fix at home.  Here are a few tips on what you should do when that light turns on. 

The first thing you need to do is check the other gages and lights on your counsel.  If there is any indication of overheating, low oil pressure, or any other indicator of a major problem including smoke from under the hood, pull over.  These are not things that you want to press because they could end up costing you hundreds, possibly even thousands of dollars if not taken care of. 

If there are no apparent problems with your car you could try tightening the gas cap.  It seems like a small, stupid thing but often times this will solve the problem.  Do keep in mind however that the “check engine” light may not turn off right away.  It may need a trip or two to reset itself.  Another thing you can try is to reduce your speed.  The light could be indicating that your engine is working too hard.  Slowing down could take some of the strain away, as could removing any additional weight.  If you are pulling a trailer it may be necessary to stop for a while and get the car checked out.  An overworked engine can give out pretty quickly and the added weight will only expedite the process. 

If nothing seems to be working and you still don’t want to take the car into the shop there is one other option.  Most auto parts stores will actually carry a device that will scan your car and give you a code number telling you what it is that is wrong with your car and causing the light to stay on.  The price of this tool ranges depending on your model and year of car.  The one problem with this is unless you have a decent knowledge of cars you may not know how to read the code or understand the directions. 

Taking your car to a specialist is probably the best option for you, but try these few steps first and see what happens.  There is a chance you can fix it very easily.

Sure, there is a chance that you live in an area where 45 degrees is a cold day and rain is the worst weather you have to prepare for.  But for the rest of us who have to fight through the snow and ice 3-5 months out of every year, there are a few things that we need to do to make travel safer. 

The first thing is making sure that you get the oil changed, and checked.  You want to make sure that you are getting the right type of oil change as well.  There are some cars that suggest different grades of oil for the winter.  Oil changes are important, especially in the winter, because as oil gets older, it gets thicker.  The cold weather also makes the oil thicker and could clog the engine and cause some serious damage.

Another thing you want to make sure is working properly and replaced is the windshield wipers.  With slush and ice being thrown up on your car your wipers need to be in top shape.  While you’re at it check the windshield wiper fluid as well.  Water won’t cut it anymore, so make sure that you’ve got plenty in there and check it frequently, you probably use it a lot more than you think.

Checking your belts, hoses and tire pressure are all needed as well.  With the cold weather, belts get stiffer and if they are already damaged can break easily.  Hoses are the same way.  As far as tire pressure goes, as the air gets colder it condenses.  You generally lose about one pound of pressure for every ten degrees (F) the temperature drops.  Full tires offer significantly better traction.  Speaking of tires, throwing a pair of snow tires on the credit card and having those for the really bad days is never a bad idea, especially if you live in a particularly hilly area. 

An emergency kit is something you should always have in the car, but in the winter it’s essential.  Be sure that you have blanket, boots, gloves, a shovel, windshield washer fluid, flares, a spare tire, sand or kitty litter for added traction if you are stuck, and a credit card or money in case of emergencies.  If  you need a tow, you get stuck in the snow without that money.  It’s not always easy to drive in the snow, but it is easy to prepare for it, so don’t procrastinate or you may end up stranded and freezing on the side of the highway.

Most people enjoy keeping their cars clean and, let’s face it, there are few things that feel better than looking at your car gleaming in the sunlight after a good washing.  One of the problems with washing the car is often times we are damaging the cars.  Here are a few tips on keeping your clean, safely. 

Avoid taking your car to a “drive through” car wash.  The “flaps” that slap against your car could have dirt or small rocks from the previous car on them, scratching and digging at your cars paint job with each swipe.  Also they often miss large areas because it is a “one size fits all” machine.  And finally, the rinse cycle may leave soap on the car which can eat away at the wax or just leave dirty streaks on the car. 

So grab your credit card and head to the store to get some supplies.  There are several types of car wash accessories out there and for the most part it is personal preference.  Something to consider however is to avoid dish soaps to wash your car.  While these tend to be cheaper and more convenient, dish soaps are made to eat away at dried on food off of fired ceramic, thus tend to eat away at the wax on your car.  Also, look for a sponge or mitten that has a thick layer over it or deep crevasse to trap dirt and rocks.  Some flat sponges (like dish sponges) can act more like sandpaper than sponges. 

Once you’ve pick up your essentials, park your car in a shaded area and drag out the hose.  The shade is far better than in the sun because the warmer the car is, the softer the wax is.  If you can’t put your hand on the hood without pain, don’t wash the car.  Start by filling a clean, plastic bucket with water and about half of what the car wash shampoo recommends. Remember they are trying to sell more soap.  Soak the car with the hose, but don’t blast it.  Then start at the top and wash a section at a time, rinsing as you go and thoroughly cleaning your mitten/sponge.  Once finished, dry the car with dry, 100% cotton towels.  Try using one towel per section to extract as much water as possible. 

Now you’ve just washed your car the right way and your credit card won’t see eight dollar charges every week from those automated car washes and you know your cars paint and wax will have a longer more beautiful life.

When I was a wee tot, about 10 years or so, a few friends and I decided to try our hands at the lucrative business of car washing. We got our buckets, sponges, poster boards that read CAR WASH on them, all purchased using our parents’ credits cards, and went to work. The days were long, the hours were hard, and the money was… nonexistent. Nobody came our way looking for a car wash. Especially not when they could get it professionally done down the street for $3.00. 

As it turns out we weren’t well prepared anyway. The soap we decided to use left streaks on the windows and it was difficult to get the car looking perfect. Unfortunately, we had to shut down shop and perhaps maybe try again the next year (and this was before the economic disaster!). 

Years later I was working a security job at the mall and they wanted me to wash the security truck. The first thing that came to my mind: I have no idea how. I had forgotten what I should have known to do! And for many of us, that is just the case. We either forget or choose not to remember. When it comes to something so simple, there is really no reason to have a refresher…So, without further ado, here’s a refresher.

Firstly, use your OWN credit card and purchase some car wax from your local hardware or auto supply store. While you’re at it buy some tire polish as well.

Secondly, find a bucket in your garage or around your house and fill it with water. I prefer warm myself but I don’t think it matters.

Thirdly, add the car wax. A small, but healthy amount will suffice.

Fourthly, using a sponge, apply water / wax mixture over your car. Use a hose to rinse, then repeat, as many times as you like until you feel your car is clean.

Finally, apply your tire polish.

Grab a rag or towel you’re willing to wash and dry your car. If it’s a particularly pleasant day, you may want to let the sun dry your car for you.

I became quite a pro at this while I worked security. Hell, I could probably reopen my car wash business from my own house now. I might actually get a customer or two. Then again, with the economy… nah, I wouldn’t get any.