Car Care 104
How to Choose an Honest Auto Repair Shop: 3 Tips
The auto repair industry is just like any other. It’s full of honest, hard working people making a living at what they do best. But unfortunately, just like any other business, there are bad apples who make the rest look bad. If you’ve ever been burned by an unscrupulous auto mechanic, you’re probably gun shy every time the […]
About Your Vehicle's Ball Joints: What they Do, When to Replace & Cost
What Do Ball Joints Do? Ball Joints are the automotive equivalent to the human shoulder. Think of a ball and socket design with a base that mounts onto a control arm, and a stem that fits into the tire/wheel assembly. As the control arm moves up and down with changing road conditions, the stem (socket) […]
National Boyfriend Day: Desperately Seeking a Mechanic Boyfriend?
The Twitterverse has just brought it to our attention that today is National Boyfriend Day. Apparently that’s an excuse to celebrate boyfriends of the romantic and platonic variety. It sounds like something we can all technically appreciate. National Boyfriend Day reminds us of a bunch of posts we’ve seen on social media of people seeking […]
How This Millionaire Athlete Got Revenge for a Bad Car Repair Experience
Almost every driver has had a bad car repair experience. Whether that’s dealing with an unscrupulous mechanic making bad recommendations, or charging too much, it’s very frustrating. Celebs Have Car Trouble Too! Mike Tolbert, fullback for the Carolina Panthers, recently had his own frustrating experience, according to The Charlotte Observer. He had taken his 1975 Chevy Caprice Convertible in to […]
What Does a Car Radiator Do? And Tips to Prolong Its Life
A car radiator is simply a device that exchanges heat from the engine with the surrounding, cooler air. The failures are slightly more complex, but preventable. What Does a Car Radiator Do? Hot coolant enters the radiator through the upper hose, then moves down a series of small tubes built into a large, flat surface area. The […]
Mechanic Near Me: 5 Tips Before You Hit the Shop
Does your car have you desperately searching for “mechanic near me”? Don’t hit the shop before reading these give tips. They’ll help you to make the most of your search for a local mechanic. 1) Have an expert diagnose the problem. Going all WebMD-for-cars, thinking you know what’s wrong, can drive mechanics bananas. You tell them what’s wrong, […]
What is a Mobile Mechanic & What's It Like to Work with One?
Mobile mechanics tend to do really well on Openbay‘s auto-repair marketplace. The reason? Our users’ #1 reason for choosing a service provider is distance. What is a Mobile Mechanic? A mechanic that comes to you, whether you’re at home, work or wherever. It doesn’t get more convenient than that!When Openbay vehicle owners sort through quotes for […]
Common Maintenance Question: How Often Do I Need a Brake Flush?
When a mechanic suggests you need a brake flush, many drivers fear that their wallets are being flushed instead. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is now that cars have advanced braking systems that contain lots of expensive components, so it makes sense to periodically flush the system. How Often Do I […]
Did You Know: Openbay Enables Text, Photo & Video with Mechanics (Spare the phone call.)
Getting your vehicle serviced is a nuisance for loads of reasons — you’re out a set of wheels, it’s expensive, and you’ve got to find a reputable mechanic. In addition to helping you with that last task, Openbay makes the whole process easier by enabling you to exchange text, photo and video with mechanics. That’s right […]
Basic Car Maintenance – Here's What to Stay On Top Of
You know your vehicle needs regular oil changes, but beyond that, aren’t quite sure what you should be doing, beyond fixing things when they break. That approach won’t save you any money. What Basic Car Maintenance Are You Missing? The answer lies in your owner’s manual, and online, which tells you exactly when to have your […]
