Car trouble? Are you sick and tired of the overheating and the non-stop oil leaks? Sometimes there are things that we can’t troubleshoot, and well, what mechanics can do – only they can do. You can’t always figure out the cause of an oil leak just by your own diagnosis. You would definitely need to see a mechanic in an auto repair shop. But, looking for a good auto repair shop can be a difficult and challenging process. How do you know you’re picking the right shop? What are the factors you should consider?

The first thing you should do is that you should drop by the shop to check if they have trained, hardworking mechanics and high end equipment. Of course, there are also other things you need to check out. There is always more than meets the eye. An auto repair shop that looks classy and well maintained doesn’t necessarily mean it can provide you with good customer care, honest work and reasonable prices.
It is best to know something about vehicle repairs so that you are not caught off guard when conversing about the repair. You should also be cautious of the shops that take advantage of an unknowledgeable client. When people sense that you don’t know much about something, they may grab the opportunity to rip you off, or worse, tell you to have something repaired that isn’t really broken.
You should also consider feedback about the shop. Ask around. If you know someone who has any experience with that shop, listen to his or her comments. It always pays to be inquisitive.
Do a background check on the auto repair shop. You need to know if the shop’s mechanics are highly trained and competent.
Ask for a written estimate for major repairs. You can compare prices with other auto repair shops by checking them out yourself. You can give other shops a phone call or visit their websites to do the research to save time. You would also want to check into the quality of materials the shop uses for their clients, and the brands of their parts as well.
You would also want to ask for ongoing promotions and offers to save you money. Make sure you find out about their service warranty. Aside from the rates, you also deserve good customer care. Make sure they entertain all your questions and answer you thoroughly.
Knowing all these factors, you can carefully decide which shop to choose. Don’t be in a rush though, and don’t be impulsive. Doing so can save you hundreds of dollars, or cost you a lot. If you live in the Kansas City area, check out a very competent Kansas City Shop. Check out their free services and get your own online quotation. So choose wisely before making that big move. When you finally decide and if you are fully satisfied with the auto shops’ service, you’re lucky to have found an auto repair shop for keeps! Jim’s Discount Tire & Brake
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                                      10 Tips to Save Gas With Tires in North Kansas City.

The fact is we all drive cars powered by gas, diesel, or bio-fuel. And since the majority of us are not out there developing the next form of energy, we need to conserve the fuel we use now. One of the biggest expenses is our cars, so let us start saving there. 10 Basic ways to save fuel in your car are as follows: 1) Properly inflate your tires – can save 1 to 2 mpg and extend the life of your tires. More on this later. 2) Proper tire tread – insert a penny into the tread of your tire, if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head you need new tires. Some experts think you should do this with a quarter. 3) Purchasing the correct fuel – most cars do not need a high octane fuel (check your owners manual), using eeFuel by Fuel Legacy can make all octane levels work more efficiently. 4) Reduce resistance – Remove ski racks and luggage storage containers when not in use. 5) Check your gas cap – gas evaporates from old, cracked or not secure gas caps. Turn your gas cap four times to assure it is tightened properly. Consider getting a locking gas cap to prevent siphoning. 6) Use your manufacturers recommended grade of motor oil. 7) Avoid idling – a good rule of thumb is if you plan to idle for more than a minute shut your car off. Go into the bank or fast food restaurant, don’t use the drive-up. Put the car in park at red lights. 8) Keep extra weight out of your trunk – just carry emergency items. 9) Slow down – I’m not asking you to go 55mph, you might be a victim of road rage if you don’t cause an accident first. But be reasonable, stay back so that you don’t have to brake as often, and use cruise control when you can. 10) Maintenance – Pay now or pay later!!!! Keep your car on a regular maintenance program and you will save fuel, save energy and save money.

Just installing a new air filter can show measurable fuel savings. What you don’t know about your tires can hurt and cost you! Last fall I took my son to an advanced driving school. Other than being a great driving course, the instructor talked about tires. He explained tires are probably the most important item on the car because they are your only contact with the road. I should have known this but how often did I put off new tires until I got a flat? Well it turns out there is a lot more to tires than driving into a tire store and buying tires off the rack. Buying the right tire can save your life, save fuel, save energy and save money.

All Season vs. Snow Tires Most of us have been buying all season tires to save money and time on snow tires. The fact is that all season tires are a compromise. There is no substitute for a snow tire in cold climates, they are just safer. And there is no substitute for performance tires in summer, they are just safer. We all need to budget to switch tires with each season. Either we have two sets of rims with two sets of tires and designated storage space. Or we have to pay to have the tires mounted twice a year on the same set of rims and have designated storage space. Blessed are the people who live in climate without excessive cold or heat. TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) There are changes in tire technology that are going to affect all of us regardless of heat wave or snow storm. Congress passed a bill called the TREAD act. This requires all cars manufactured from the 2006-2007 season and on to have a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). We all know the benefits of properly inflated tires: Ø Save fuel Ø Improved handling Ø Less tire wear Ø Shorter braking distances The problem is most people rarely check their tire pressure. I went out to my car while researching this article and found not one of my tires is properly inflated. So Congress has decided they will do what we will not do ourselves. There are two different types of TPMS: Direct TMPS: A sensor in the tire assembly sends information to the computer in your car that notifies you if a tire is unde rinflated by 25% or more. When replacing tires with this system a valve stem service kit needs to be added and then checked to make sure the sensor works. This can add between $5 and $10 to each tire. If the sensor goes it could be between $50 and $250 per tire. Indirect TMPS: Your ABS (Advanced Braking System) measures the diameter of each tire and notifies the computer in your car if a tire is under-

inflated by 25% or more. This is definitely food for thought when buying a new or used car with TMPS. Low Rolling Resistance Tires Another tire technology to save fuel is Low Rolling Resistance Tires. This is not a measure of traction but of how easily a tire rolls. Go back to basic science, heat is energy. Heat on a tire is wasted energy. If a tire rolls easily it creates less heat, therefore wasting less energy. Some of these tires can save 1 to 2 miles per gallon. If the average car is driven 15,000 miles/yr and your car mileage increased from 25mpg to 27mpg, at $4/gallon that would be a $180 savings. A Rolling Resistance Coefficient (RRC) of .0105 or less is considered good, a little bit higher with the larger vehicles. Most car manufacturers put Rolling Resistance Tires on new cars to improve their rated mileage. If your tire store is unsure of the RRC of their tires, consider replacing your tires with the same model that came from the factory. Tire Expiration Date I am sure most of us think of an old tire as being worn by many miles of usage. But what about a tire that has been on the store shelve for years? Take a look at this ABC News Video at abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897 and find out the dangers of old tires for yourself. The price of tires is going up almost daily with the price of oil. Petroleum products used in everything from raw materials, to manufacturing, to shipping are affecting the cost. This is an important purchase and worth the time to do your homework before you get to the tire dealer with a flat. I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with information. But tires are what keep us on the road. The right tire for your circumstances can save fuel, save energy and save money; and more importantly save lives. Please visit us at http://jimsdiscount.com

Your sedan engine really needs clean air to operate efficiently: it takes about twelve thousand gallons of air to burn a gallon of gas in your sedan engine. And clean air is much better than dirty.

When your air filter’s dirty, it simply can’t trap any more dirt, so the dirt just passes through into your air intake system. From there it can get into the sedan engine combustion chamber. And burning dust and pollen in your engine as you drive around North Kansas City does you no good.

The verdict: When your engine air filter needs to be replaced; it needs to be replaced. How often depends entirely on how dirty the air is in North Kansas City where you drive. A simple visual inspection by a honest Jim’s Discount Tire & Brake technician will tell you when you need a new engine air filter in your sedan.
When you look at the air filter on your furnace in your North Kansas City home and see it’s all clogged up with dust and dirt, you don’t hesitate to replace it. But don’t wait until your air filter (furnace or automobile) is totally plugged – by that time you’ve been running inefficiently in North Kansas City for a lot of miles.
When your Jim’s Discount Tire & Brake service technician brings out your nasty engine air filter, you now know why you should go ahead and change it out.
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Jim’s Discount Tire & Brake
816.471.5540
101 Armour Rd
North Kansas City, MO 64116
At Jim’s Discount Tire & Brake in North Kansas City MO (64116) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 816.471.5540. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.