Driving 101: the most important aspect of driving is safety. Sure, we all understand the fundamental safety tips which include obeying the speed limit, using turn signals to change lanes, knowing your surroundings, and not multitasking – especially now since using your cell phone is illegal! But what about changing a tire? If you do not know how to change a tire, waiting for an auto club response vehicle is very unsafe. Anyone learning to drive should learn how to change a tire to stay safe when on the road. If changing a tire is new to you, follow these steps on your way to successfully changing your first tire:

1. When you realize you have a flat tire, pull off the road as far away from traffic as possible, making sure you are on a solid, flat surface. Place the car in park and apply the parking brake. Do not change your tire on a hill or on soft ground. Chicopee Nissan recommends to all customers wanting to perform maintenance on their own, remember one thing: safety first.
2. Remove the spare tire and the jack from your vehicle to begin. They are most likely stored in your trunk. Your owner’s manual can also be of assistance and should be stored inside your vehicle.
3. Place the jack under your vehicle on the frame and raise it until it is supporting the vehicle, not lifting it.
4. Loosen the lug nuts by turning the socket wrench counterclockwise.
5. Next, raise the jack until the tire is off the ground. Now you can remove the lug nuts completely and then the tire from the wheel.
6. Once the flat tire is off the wheel, you can now put on the spare tire. Align the rim of the tire to the bolts of the wheel and then apply the lug nuts.
7. Tighten the lug nuts by hand until they are snug on the wheel.
8. You can now lower the car to the ground but do not put full weight on the new tire until you tighten the lug nuts as much as possible with the socket wrench.
9. Lower the car completely to the ground, remove the jack, and tighten the nuts once again.

The final step of the process is to put the flat tire in the trunk along with the jack and all of your tools so you can take the tire to a mechanic for repair. It is not advised to drive excessive distances on the spare tire.

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Auto Parts and Auto Repair

New car sales have plummeted in recent months, and it seems as though that trend is likely to continue. While car dealers have had to battle sales declines, many have turned to their service departments to make up for slipping profits. But many are finding that service is also not quite as lucrative as it used to be.

First, new car sales have reduced the amount of warranty work. Washington DC Mercedes Benz dealers stress that more cars being sold results in more cars being serviced at dealerships. Additionally, non-warranty service, while expected to increase, has also bottomed out recently as the economy has forced all drivers to conserve precious dollars.

Many car dealers are finding that revenue has dropped since the third quarter of 2008. In the current economic downturn, consumers are alternating their spending habits. This includes increasing the time between service intervals, skipping minor scheduled service, and in some cases ignoring mechanical issues altogether which Los Angeles Honda parts dealers say will only increase costs for drivers in the long run. Some dealers have also found that more customers are inquiring about financing options when it comes to service. Others are also bringing their vehicles in for engine and/or transmission replacements, as more consumers are investing in what they have rather than buying a new car. While these repairs are helpful according to Hyundai parts sellers, they don’t make up for the vast majority of customers which only receive minor and low-cost maintenance on their vehicles.

While forecasts look grim for new car sales, many service managers are also predicting poor results when it comes to vehicle service in 2009. Many car dealers have even had to reduce the number of mechanics in 2008. Meanwhile, the National Automobile Dealers Association does expect a modest revenue gain when in 2009 when it comes to parts and service departments, as  Toyota Accessories Stores and others are already seeing consumers hold onto their cars for longer periods of time.

Already the automotive industry has seen many car dealers close their doors in 2008, and even despite gains in other profit centers, one Westminster Toyota dealer says many more dealerships are likely to go out of business. Although many service departments remain optimistic, there are others that realize that this year may be the most difficult yet.

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