Month: November 2012

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yxBJP0P9c8″ width=”600″ fs=”1″ rel=”0″]
 

by KING5 News – www.king5.com

Winter is just around the corner which means that it is time to get your car “winterized” so that it can make it through the colder months. Experts say that with a little preventative maintenance, drivers could avoid hefty mechanic bills down the road.

“Something simple like a leaky radiator hose could cost maybe fifty dollars to repair but would cost fifteen-hundred dollars if it blows the head gasket or something. Most minor repairs will save you major money later on” said Walt Julian, instructor at Self Serve Garage.

Topping off fluids under the hood, checking belts and hoses and changing the oil are all important steps but making sure your windshield does not have cracks or chips is key to safety as well.

“A rock chip, ding or crack in your windshield is not just a cosmetic flaw, it’s actually a danger to yourself and other people on the road. The windshield makes up about 45%-60% of the structural integrity of the vehicle so if you were in a head-on collision or a rollover crash, it could potentially endanger your life” said Joe Koncikowski, Owner Lucky Dog Auto Glass.

Making sure you have the correct tires on your vehicle is another important step to safe winter driving. There are several options to choose from including all-weather tires, non-studded winter tires and traditional studded tires. Everyone is also advised to carry chains in the car.

Estate version of i30 at 2012 Geneva Motor Show
24 February 2012

The Hyundai i30 Tourer will be debuted at the 2012 Genenva Motor Show
Hyundai has announced a new i30 Tourer estate variant, debuting at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March. Developed alongside the latest i30 five-door hatchback, the new Hyundai i30 Tourer promises to blend increased practicality with attractive looks.

2012 Hyundai i30 Tourer: best-in-class boot space
The concurrent development of estate and hatchback means the new i30 Tourer carries over its smaller sibling’s keen style with an effectiveness that’s usually the preserve of more premium marques.

The basic underpinnings remain unaltered, but bodywork changes from the B-pillar back see a 185mm increase in length – taking it close to 4.5m in total – giving the Tourer has a significantly enlarged amount of boot space.

In fact, with the rear seats in place, it achieves a best-in-class 528 litres – considerably more than the 340 litres the hatchback offers – while the fold-flat rear seats open up 1,642 litres in total.
Despite the clearly heavily canted rear and slopping roofline, this also out does the previous generation i30 Tourer, which can only muster 415-1,395 litres.

The wraparound rear windscreen is said to allow plenty of light into the cabin, while the rising swage line adds a certain muscular tension. Although not shown in these three initial photos, Hyundai says the tailgate opening is deep enough to allow easy loading.

Improved styling and five year warranty will appeal to many buyers
2012 Hyundai i30 Tourer: up to 133hp, five-year warranty

Engine and suspension is the same as the hatchback, so buyers will be able to choose from a range of petrol and diesel engines producing between 94bhp and 133bhp.

Full specification details have not yet been released, but expect the fuel consumption and the CO2 emissions to increase slightly due to the extra weight of the estate bodywork.

Similarly, interested buyers should anticipate a modest price premium over the new i30 hatchback, which has just gone on sale priced from £14,495.

As with all new Hyundais, the i30 Tourer will come complete with the company’s Five Year Triple Care package. This includes a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, five years’ roadside assistance and five years of annual vehicle health checks (sadly this last isn’t the same as free servicing).

More details from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March, where Hyundai has confirmed it will also be showing other newcomers.
Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2012/02/hyundai-i30-tourer-revealed-280072/#ixzz1ntNGpO9z
Consumer Champions Which?
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial

The mystery about rock chip repair, is this a legit art or a pointless scam…

For years the auto glass industry has been plagued with people who have been taken advantage of when it comes to repairing their windshield. Unfortunately the auto glass industry is poorly regulated and will allow anyone to repair a windshield. A lot of the time this knowledge is sold to the person who’s claiming to do the “repair” as an easy way for them to make money. All they have to do is purchase a kit online for a couple hundred dollars and watch a video and poof they’re ready to go into business for themselves…right? Wrong, this does happen but after making several mistakes and being cancelled by the insurance companies due to lack of knowledge, breaking more windshields than they repair, and a poor insurance rating they go out of business and you’ll never find them again. Buyer beware, there is a difference between a qualified repair technician and one who isn’t! Windshield repair is a serious business and should be respected as one.

Lucky Dog Auto Glass has invested the time and money into pioneering state of the art repair equipment to ensure that every repair is done within specifications with ROLAGS (Repair of Laminated Auto Glass Standard) and the NWRA (National Windshield Repair Association). This certification is essential in understanding the anatomy of a rock chip and how to properly repair it correctly the first time! After all if it’s not done right the first time there’s no going back.

Another unfortunate truth that I see a lot of the time is someone who tells me that they just had their windshield repaired and after a quick inspection I find out that nothing was repaired and the “technician” simply took the money and ran. This breaks my heart to think that there are people out there intentionally taking advantage of people and thier ignorance. Lucky Dog Auto Glass vowes to uphold the highest moral standards in every transaction and this behavior would never be tolerated!

The bottom line is that NOBODY understands windshield and rock chip repair like Lucky Dog Auto Glass. For a quality repair from a company you can trust call us today for an appointment at 253-569-9403.

A lot of people that I talk to have no idea that there’s an option to repair their windshield or they’ve been burned in the past by someone who didn’t know what they were doing. Please be aware that not all windshield repairs are the same and nobody understands windshield repair like Lucky Dog Auto Glass. We have studied and understand the anatomy of a repair and how to assure that it’s done correctly the first time.

When you need auto or truck glass replaced Lucky Dog will come to you during our extended hours. (See below for our expanded local service area.)

To ensure excellent results and your complete satisfaction, your auto or truck glass will be professionally installed “factory-perfect” every time. After all, you’re the lucky dog who found us and we want to make your experience exceptional!