How To Save Money On Auto Repairs In 2009

We all know that the economy has come to a screeching halt and everyone has to do what it takes to survive during tough times. Now we all have been through tough times in the past but this one sure seems a lot worse.
What is important to remember when it comes to auto repairs is that you don't have to always pay what the repair shop quotes are have listed on their standard price sheet. You can call before you take to get your car that required 75,000 mile service maintenance. They might tell you that it is $500.00 initially but ask them if they have any specials or coupons before bringing your vehicle.
I can almost guarantee you that they or another dealer have at least one coupon they have sent out recently or put in the local newspaper. Every business is hurting this year and that means special offers and coupons. If they say that they don't have any special offers or any discounts then let them know you will most likely take your vehicle to the other Toyota dealership up the road. In this economy I can almost guarantee that if you call three Mercedes Benz service centers and ask for any service maintenance specials that at least one of them, if not all three, will have a special deal available.
What do you do if you have a 1999 Toyota Camry and you know that you will get charged too much if you take your car to a local repair shop?
We all have our opinions and I think the most important thing to do is to get more than one opinion. Very often the mechanics are on commission and it is their job to find work to perform on your car or truck.
Be up front. Call the repair shop before hand and ask them if their mechanics are on commission. Your local Toyota dealership by seem more expensive but they are more likely to do a better job on your Toyota because they are very concerned with their customer satisfaction scores. Now, do not get me wrong. Your local repair shop that has been in business for 20 years has not survived by providing poor service or by ripping off his customers, but it is not always that easy to know who has own a particular garage by just calling up.
Like any other service provider, ask your friends and family for recommendations. Look for local reviews on web sites that have real testimonials. This will help you narrow down the 2 or three places you bring your car or truck to get an estimate on repairs.
In addition to all the above advice, don't forget to look for coupons. Check the internet for coupons. Check your local papers for coupons. One of my favorite places to find coupons are those big coupon books. This is not a plug at all. Those books always have valuable coupons and if your car repair is over one thousand dollars than you know how valuable a 10% coupon can be in 2009. That is a months worth of lunch money for one child.
So here is a bullet point to do list:
1. Ask the service manager up front if there are any specials or coupons available.2. Do your best to get 2 or 3 estimates and opinions. 3. Don't be afraid to get an estimate from an authorized dealership service center.4. Look for coupons. They are out there in 2009.5. Ask friends and family for recommended auto repair shops.
I know this all sounds pretty simple and basic, but most of us fail to follow our own advice.
About the Author
Brian Benko is not an auto mechanic but loves to save money and loves to help others when it comes to making better decisions. I am hopeful that over time http://www.autorepairshops.com will grow into a useful auto repairs portal.

Installing Satellite Radio in Your Car

So, you made the decision to get satellite radio for your car. You bought your new satellite radio and now it's time to get it all set up. If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't worry - it's actually much easier than you might expect.

You'll first need to determine the type of connection your car uses. If your radio has an FM transmitter, then you can do a wireless connection. If not, you'll need to directly connect the satellite radio to your car's radio. Either way, it's very simple to hook up.
When you open the box to your new satellite radio, you'll see the main unit, mounting items, magnet roof antenna and an owner's manual with an installation guide. These are the main items you'll receive with a standard satellite radio; any others that are included will depend on the make and model of the radio you bought.

Steps for installing your satellite radio
The first step in installing your radio is to decide on where you're going to mount the radio. Your radio mount can be attached to the windshield by suction cups, or to the dashboard with Velcro strips. If you're mounting it to your dash, hold it in place at the location you want while making sure it's free of obstacles before attaching the Velcro. Position the radio so that it's within reach while you're driving, but also out of the way of gearshifts and other controls. If you're mounting it to the windshield, be sure it doesn't obstruct your view of the road.
Next, plug in the power adapter to your cars cigarette lighter, and plug the other end into the satellite unit.

The antenna is last. The antenna needs to be mounted in the area on the outside of your car that has the least obstructions. Typically, the guide that comes with your satellite radio system will have detailed information for running the antenna cable into the car to your new system. The type of vehicle you have and any existing roof attachments will determine where you should place the antenna.

Setting up a wireless connection
If you want to set up a wireless connection, your new unit has to have an FM transmitter. Although this method will involve fewer cords coming from your new system, the quality of sound won't be as good as you'd get with a direct connection.

The default FM station the transmitter uses is 88.1, which may not work for your area. You want to have a station that's clear of any local radio stations - if you drive between two areas; it's a good idea to find a station that's free in both areas. Once you've determined the station you'll use, save it to your presets so that your satellite radio can easily tune itself with just the touch of a button.

Using a direct connection
If your satellite radio doesn't have an FM transmitter, you'll be connecting it with either a cassette adapter for your car radio (lower quality), or through the AUX IN or LINE IN connections on your car radio (best quality). If your unit model doesn't come with the cassette adapter or audio cable you need, stop by your local electronics store and purchase the one that works with your unit.

Insert the cassette adapter into your cassette player on your car stereo, or plug the audio cable into the AUX IN/LINE IN connection. Then, plug the other end into the AUDIO OUT/LINE OUT connection on the back of your satellite unit. Finally, set your car radio to the AUX setting to listen to your new satellite radio.

Listening to your satellite radio for the first time
After you have everything connected, turn on your new unit and follow the prompts on the display screen to finish the set up process. Once you're done, you'll be able to enjoy your new satellite radio for the first time!

About the Author
Visit VitalMotion.net for your one stop car information resource. Find out how to buy a respossessed car or how car insurance premiums work.