Posted on Monday 05 September 2016
Custom wheels are one way that Daytona Beach folks express themselves and personalize their vehicle. But they aren't as cheap and easy as sticking decals on your back window. There are several factors that need to be considered, including cost, the fit of the wheel, modifications that will have to be made to the vehicle, how the new wheels and tires will affect the operation of the vehicle, your driving habits and, of course, the style of the wheels. Most Daytona Beach drivers start with the last factor: the style of the wheels. But that should be the last thing we choose. When considering custom wheels, you should first carefully consider your budget. Some wheels may require adjustments to your vehicle suspension system, brakes, or traction systems. You need to know what you can afford before you start shopping or get your heart set on a particular type of wheel. There are three basic ways you can change your wheels. First, you ... read more
Posted on Sunday 28 August 2016
We don't want to think about it, but each Daytona Beach resident who drives or rides in a vehicle is potentially an accident victim. In the worst-case scenario, those people are unconscious and unable to communicate with FL rescue workers. Rescue workers and Daytona Beach police are well aware of this difficulty, even if the rest of us don't stop to think about it. They can all recount stories of searching through glove compartments, pockets, wallets, purses and cell phone directories for a person's name and for contact information for someone who can help them get the person the medical care they need. This contact information is critical in an accident because Daytona Beach medical workers need to know about allergies and potential drug interactions. Also, in FL, some medical treatments can't be provided without authorization or consent, and there can be insurance and billing issues if the person's medical care is not properly arranged. ICE provides a solution f ... read more
Posted on Monday 22 August 2016
Brakes really aren't optional equipment for Daytona Beach drivers' vehicles. And taking care of them isn't optional either.A regular brake inspection is on every FL driver's vehicle maintenance schedule. At Honest-1 Auto Care, our team will check your brake system and let you know if there are any problems. Of course, if you're having trouble with your brakes, get your car into your Daytona Beach service center right away. And watch out for these problems: Low or spongy brake pedal Hard brake pedal A brake warning light that stays on Constantly squealing or grinding brakes Vibrations or clunking sounds when you apply your brakes There are two types of brakes: disc and drum. Disc brakes have a rotor that's attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, kind of like the brakes on a bicycle. Drum brakes are more common on back wheels. Pads, called shoes, push against the inside of the drum to slow the vehicle.There are several things that need to be service ... read more
Posted on Sunday 14 August 2016
Do I keep my old vehicle or buy a new one? It's a question most Daytona Beach drivers ask themselves at some time or another.Generally, what it comes down to is the choice between a car payment and the possibility of repair bills. Most of the time, we want to choose the car payment because we don't like the inconvenience and uncertainty of vehicle repairs. But that payment has a detrimental effect on our budget and bank account.Edmunds.com is a great website to help you with your decision. This site uses repair histories to calculate the average repair bills for specific makes and models of cars. You can plug in the information for your vehicle and get an estimate on what it will probably cost you to continue owning that vehicle.Now, Edmunds.com isn't a crystal ball. It can't know what will happen to your specific vehicle. But it can guide you in knowing how much money to budget for the repair and maintenance of your vehic ... read more
Posted on Monday 08 August 2016
It seems like everywhere you go in the Daytona Beach area you see custom wheels. Big trucks, little cars, mini-vans - it doesn't matter - are expressing themselves with custom wheels. Some FL auto owners want smaller tires and wheels - some want larger - and some want them enormous. So where do you start if you want new wheels? At Honest-1 Auto Care, we suggest you start with your budget. We know, that sounds so practical. But if the look you're after goes beyond just new tires and wheels and enters into the world of suspension modifications, you need to be prepared for the additional cost.Let's start with something easy - you want to give your ride a unique look and the stock wheel size is just right for you. One of the concerns you will have is that the new wheels have the same offset as your vehicle factory wheels.Your tire and wheel professional at Honest-1 Auto Care in Daytona Beach can help you find the right size wheel or install adapters to make your new wheels ... read more
Posted on Monday 01 August 2016
The coolant system is a vital part of your vehicle. It is also the second most common cause for vehicle failures. Even though coolant system failure is fairly common in Daytona Beach, it is easy to prevent. The most recognizable part of the coolant system is the radiator. It is connected to the engine with hoses and is filled with coolant. The coolant draws heat off the engine and then passes into the radiator. Air passes through cooling fins to reduce the temperature of the coolant and then it's back to the engine again.There are several ways for the cooling system to fail. Most common is with the coolant itself. Coolant is comprised of water and antifreeze. The proper ratio keeps the coolant from either boiling away or freezing. Understandably, either can lead to massive engine damage.Another coolant issue that is often overlooked by Daytona Beach drivers is the age of the coolant itself. Antifreeze has additives that protect the coolant system from corrosion. As the ... read more
Posted on Monday 25 July 2016
The automotive professionals at Honest-1 Auto Care would like to give Daytona Beach drivers an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, vehicles are becoming more sophisticated every day. Fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.The Daytona Beach do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their vehicle with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many FL ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable Honest-1 Auto Care service advisor to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their vehicle and their driving habits in the Daytona Beach area.Let's start with engine oil. Daytona Beach drivers who have been paying attention will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the FL scene in the last several years ... read more
Posted on Monday 18 July 2016
There are a lot of drivers in Daytona Beach who are due for a differential service, but had never heard of a differential before.With front-wheel drive being so common in FL these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Daytona Beach folks don't even have to think about it. And rear-wheel drive differentials don't need to be serviced for years, so it's understandable that it's not something on the top of your mind. It's not uncommon for people in Daytona Beach to not know they have a differential, let alone know that it needs service.To better understand what a differential does, think about a track at any FL high school. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That's to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that e ... read more
Posted on Monday 11 July 2016
Virtually all vehicles come with power steering, so many Daytona Beach drivers have never driven a car or truck without it. Power steering assists you when you turn your vehicle steering wheel. Without it, it would be very hard to steer. Now this power assist comes in a couple of forms. In recent years, a lot of vehicles have an electric motor that reduces steering effort and helps improve performance and handling. The other kind of power steering is hydraulic. This is the kind most older FL vehicles — and a lot of newer ones — have. Power steering fluid is pressurized by a pump and is used to assist steering. Of course, vehicles need the right amount of fluid in the system. If it's too low, your steering is affected and you could damage your vehicle pump. Also, power steering fluid can become corrosive over time and damage the pump, hoses and connectors, leading to leaks and repairs. Power stee ... read more
Posted on Sunday 03 July 2016
If you haven't shopped in the Daytona Beach area for a new vehicle recently, you're likely to experience some sticker shock. It seems everything is costing more these days. And when you consider the price of auto financing in Daytona Beach, and insurance, the idea of hanging on to your old vehicle for a few more years gets even more attractive.On the plus side, vehicles these days are engineered to last for 150,000 miles (250,000 km) or more. So why don't they? Usually it's because Daytona Beach drivers don't stay on top of preventive maintenance. Good vehicle care at professional automotive service centers like Honest-1 Auto Care in Daytona Beach is the key to getting the most mileage out of your vehicle.Too often, Daytona Beach vehicle owners are inclined to wait until their vehicles develop an obvious problem and take them in for repairs instead of maintenance. Repairs can be expensive, but allowing routine vehicle&nb ... read more