May 2010


posted by FindGasCards.com
cheap car rims

Credit: Flickr

Whether you need new rims to replace the old ones, or you want your car to look a little bit more stylish, I understand that most of us are on a budget.  Why go to a local store, find that they have limited stock, and even if they do, they charge and arm and leg?

I wanted to give you some killer tips on how you can find cheap car rims for your automobile.  By implementing these tips, I can assure you that you can find some rims that you can afford yourself.

#1 eBay – I love eBay.  Not only can I find cheap video games, I can find a lot of great auto related parts as well.  Do a search for your, or the brand of rims you want and see what they have.  If you don’t mind buying used, you can really score a bargain!

#2 Craigslist - If you don’t mind purchasing used, Craigslist is another great place to check out as well.  Check out the “for sale” area and look for auto related items.  A quick search should do the trick.

#3 Amazon Auto Store - I love shopping Amazon and what people don’t realize is that they sell a lot more than books.  Check out all the items that they have to sell.  You will find that many of them have very, reasonable prices!

#4 Local junkyard – No matter where you live, I can assure you that you live near a junkyard.  Call them up and see if they have something that you can use.  If you don’t care what they look like, they should have some sizes that could fit your needs.

#5 Try online auto parts stores - I generally find that the local auto parts shops just have a low selection.  The prices are high and I just can’t find what I’m looking for.  Try online auto giants such as Auto Parts Warehouse.

#6 Try the free section – This goes with Craigslist again, but you may find that you can get some free stuff by searching online.  Check out the free section because many people just give up their older rims.  Again, if you don’t care what they look like, go this route.

By trying out these tips, you should be able to find the rims that you need.  There are plenty of makes and models out there.  Compare some sites and prices to see what best suits your needs!

posted by FindGasCards.com

Your windshield cracked, but you don’t have the money to get it replaced.  So, your last option is to find some low price auto glass shops in your area.  If you’re thinking about replacing some sort of glass in your car, how can you find the best deal possible?

#1 Call your insurance company – The first thing that I would do is call up your insurance company.  If you have a crack in your windshield, some will give you money  to get it fixed for free.  What they will do is have it sealed, so that the crack doesn’t spread.  You won’t need to get a new windshield, if you decide to do this one.

#2 Look for the parking lot crew - You’ve seen them before.  They sit in big parking lots stating that they can fix your cracks for free.   These guys, again, work with the car insurance companies.  You just fill in some information and you can get it done for free.  If you don’t have insurance, you will be out of luck.

#3 Use your AAA - If you have an AAA card, you can call up AAA and ask who they work with.  You can use your card and get a discount with them.  What you will want to do is call up a few shops that may use it and compare the quotes.

#4 Check with a junkyard - If you’re good with installing glass, you can always hit up an older junkyard around you.  See if they have any pieces that you can use.  By doing this, you can save a fortune.  I would only recommend this for those that can fix things on their own.

Auto glass is generally cheap if you know how to do it yourself.  If you’re not a pro with cars, I would recommend that you call up at least 3-5 places.  By calling these places, each shop should be able to give you an estimate over the phone.

posted by FindGasCards.com

We all have car engine problems here and there.  That little light comes on the dashboard, or maybe the car engine is just making some funny noises.   Regardless, you’re going to want to figure out how to fix is ASAP.  If you let something like this go, you may cause even more in damage in the near future.

#1 Check your owner’s manual – It sounds so simple, yet many people don’t do this.  Whip out your car manual and head to the page where they show you the icons.  Match that icon up to your dashboard and see what it has to say.

#2 Head to an auto part shop - A place like AutoZone and others will analyze your engine for free.  This is a great way to get the exact problem and how you can fix it.

#3 Google the engine problem – Sometimes you can just Google the problem and see what other people are saying.    You’re going to have to remember that all cars are created in a different way.  For example, if your engine is making a clicking noise and you drive a Honda Civic, search for something like, “Honda Civic engine clicking noise.”

#4 Call up a shop – Most of the nicer shops out there will tell you what they think is wrong over the phone.  They have dealt with it all.  What you can do is call them up, ask, and see what they recommend.  They will of course, try to lure you in, but you may be able to get some good advice.

What can cause a bad engine?

Engine is worn out - Your engine may just be getting old.   If you have more than 200,000+ miles one the car, you may want to look into a new one.

Cooling system - Your engine may overheat.  This means that some of the pieces outside of the car may be failing.  Pieces such as the radiator, cooling lines, and more could be going bad.

Battery - The battery may be going if you car doesn’t start at all.    You may want to get  jump start to see if that gets it going again.

Bad spark plugs - If the plugs aren’t creating the spark that they need, you may find that you’re going to need new spark plugs.

This list could go on and on.  What I would recommend that you look into the tips above.  If you’re not that good with engine problems, then you can always call up a professional to get the advice that you need.

posted by FindGasCards.com
how much for window tint

Credit: Flickr

You want to get your car windows tinted but you don’t feel like calling up every shop around town, because you feel as if you are going to be harassed by them.  I don’t blame you!  Thankfully for the Internet, you’re able to get some decent price quotes.

Now, before I get into quotes, you’re going to remember that prices are going to vary between states, as well as what kind of vehicle you’re driving.

First off, you’re going to want to ask yourself these questions.  It’s going to give you a better understanding at what your price point may be.

  • What kind of car are you driving?  SUV? Car?
  • How many windows do you want to get tinted?
  • How dark do you want the tint?
  • Do you care about the quality?
  • Do you want a name brand?
  • Do you want it professionally done or are you willing to do it?

If you plan on doing it yourself, you can always get a do it yourself kit.  According to kits like these, it looks as if you can do it on your own for about $10-15 a window.  You’re going to want to make sure that you read into the directions though, because if you do it wrong, it may bubble up.

How much does it cost to get it professionally done?

From what I’ve seen throughout the shops around the United States, it’s going to start around $150 for a well installed job.  The bigger you car, the more you’re going to pay.

Once again, the things that are going to factor is the type of tint you want, how many windows you want tinted, as well as how big your car is. Overall, I wouldn’t expect to pay no more than $300 for the job.

If you have had your windows tinted in the past, let the readers know how much you’re paying for window tint to help them out!

posted by FindGasCards.com

You’re going to find that you’re going to have to give up some tires sooner or later.  If you’re doing some work on your car, you just don’t want to leave your tires laying around in the yard.

What are some ways that I can recycle my old used tires?

Look for landfills - The EPA has a great section where you contact or find places that are willing to accept your tires.  If you really want them to be recycled, there are plenty of locations listed here that are willing to pick them up, or if you want, you can take them there.

Call up a shop - Places such as Discount Tire and other places will take your older tires.  All you have to do is call them up and ask them about the process.

Think outside the box - If you only have one or two tire swings laying around, you can always create a tire swing, or do what other people do and plant some plants inside of them.  Sure, some may look rather tacky, but at least you’re not taking up precious landfill space.

Shred them up - Old shredded tires make for great mulch.  If you get them colored, you can’t tell the difference from a distance.  What you can do is plant them in your flower beds, or if you wish, you can throw them under playground areas as well.

You’re reading this, so you know that tires are harmful to the environment when you take them to the trash.  They are going to take up lots of space at landfills, also trapping gases that can tend to be harmful.

The following 4 ways above are generally the best way to recycle your tires.  Sure, you can be handy with other creative projects, but your best route is to take the following tips mentioned above.

Next Page »