Nissan X-Trail The Best Value SUV

Nissan X-Trail The Best Value SUV

The X Trail was added to Nissans off road range in 2001 and is something of an unsung hero. It is a compact 4×4 with practical boxy lines. Dynamically, the X-trail drives great on-road making it better choice than rivaling BMW X3 or Volvo X360. The X-Trail is the best option for those looking for a dependable yet enjoyable 4X4 car. It also returns a great value for money in terms with generous standard kit and strong resale values. The overall look of the Nissan X-Trail remains the same since 2001 apart from the light tweaks it received in 2007, but the X-Trail doesnt really need any change in design as it is a winning formula that still feels fresh and has helped the Japanese manufacturer flourish through the off road vehicle market. The X-Trail has a rugged look thanks to its chunky bumpers and dark scuff plates. Inside it has a luxurious but practical cabin that feels upmarket with high quality materials.

Having said that, the dashboard looks a bit odd with centrally fitted screen which looks like a substandard after market accessory. The X-Trail is powered by a 148bhp 2.0litre and 171bhp 2.0litre diesels mated with a six speed manual gearbox. The gearbox is smooth but it drives a bit firm and on motorways there is a lot of road noise. Having said that, it performs great on the bends thanks to the firm set-up giving it an edge over the agricultural Land Rover Freelander. The X-Trails appetite for revs makes it an entertaining car to drive. However, like other Nissans, the X-Trail is also not the best at stopping and takes 62.6 metre to stop when brakes are applied at 70mph, the rivaling Kia Sorento (larger in size) does the same in 52.6 metres.

The X-Trail managed to score only four out of five stars in Euro NCAP crash test rating, which is same as the Toyota RAV4 but one star less than the Land Rover Freelander. However, the standard safety equipment includes six airbags, AntilocCK Braking System and electronic stability control. The four wheel or two wheel drive can be selected with a touch of a button that adds to the drivers confidence. Nissan cars have a strong reputation for reliability and the X-Trail has performed really well in owner satisfaction surveys. It finished ninth in Auto Express Driver Power Survey.

The X-Trail boast 603 litres of boot space which can be increased to 1,773litres on folding the seats, that is 100 litres more than the rivaling Freelander which is larger in sizes. There is plenty of legroom for the passengers at the back and cabin boasts a huge glovebox and lots of cubbyholes. The driver enjoys a comfortable position thanks to highly adjustable seat and steering wheel. All of these make long journeys easy for both the driver and the passengers. The X-Trail returns fuel economy of 44.1mpg which is on a par with its rivals. However, it enjoys high residual values as compared to its rivals plus the kit levels are impressive. The Sport version gets a sunroof, Bluetooth connectivity and CD changer. All of these combine to make the X-Trail an appealing package for buyers.

Automotive Service To Winterize Your Vehicle 2 Components Overlooked!

To winterize their vehicle, most people are aware of the major parts or components of a vehicle that should be inspected during an automotive service, such as oil changes, tires, transmissions, and brakes. However, there are 2 other components that often get overlooked until they fail, leading to an inconvenient and costly automotive repair.
What are these 2 components? Belts and Hoses!

Your cars belts and hoses are essential to the interior heating system, electrical system, and engine. Dont take the routine replacement intervals of these small parts for granted or neglected during an automotive service, because they can fail unexpectedly and leave you stranded by the side of the road. This is especially annoying and even dangerous in winter driving when the temperatures are below freezing.
What is their purpose?

* Timing Belt This belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft mechanically synchronized to maintain engine timing. Whether its the serpentine, V-belt or fan belt (the belts on the outside of the engine), they all transmit power from the front of the engine to accessories that need to be driven, such as the heating system, air conditioning, and the charging system and fans.
* Hoses Radiator and heater hoses carry coolant to and from the engine, radiator and heater core. They carry heated water to your cars interior heater which keeps the interior of your car warm when it is freezing outside.

Typical symptoms of wear and tear that are indicators to schedule an automotive service as soon as possible are

* You start to see fluid leaks on your garage floor
* The dashboard light flashes
* You hear squeaking noises coming from under the hood during start-up, or while driving.

Are you looking for expert automotive service? To keep your car rolling down the road, contact our ASE Certified Technicians today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information. They will be happy to help you with your car tune up services. Our Tech-Net professional auto repair shop in Billings, MT, also serves vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.

Major Automotive Service Technician Tools Found In Every Garage

When embarking on an auto career, the first things you learn are the ins-and-outs of using the most popular industry-standard tools. In addition to these, however, there are other major tools not usually found in the garage of the hobbyist, but are absolute necessities for the automotive service technician. These tools are indispensable to building up your business from the ground-up, or becoming a valued member of a pre-existing team.

Tools You Can’t Do Without

Early in your auto career, you’ll come across the full range of electrical issues with the parts of a vehicle. As such, a voltmeter is an essential piece of diagnostic equipment, which drastically cuts down the amount of time you would otherwise spend trying to find shorted wires and faulty connections. Often sold together, a multi-meter for the checking of amperages is just as important.

Because a busy automotive service technician can easily encounter tens-of-thousands of bolts, screws and holes in a short period of time, you’ll find air-powered ratchets, ball drivers and power drills to be merciful instruments of construction and disassembly. They save your joints from inflammation and injury and allow you to easily tighten and loosen disagreeable bolts and screws.

For big jobs that involve razing down the thick metal of a car, cutting and making adjustments are easily handled by this next popular tool of the automotive service technician: the plasma cutter. Reaching temperatures hot enough to ionize the surrounding air, this is essentially the perfect knife and slices through hardware like butter. The plasma cutter is an indispensable welding tool that will serve you well in your auto career.

A work light is an absolute must. Even during the brightest day, there are nooks and crannies in the back of the garage where darkness dominates, and it is crucial that you see what you’re doing. Work lights come in super-bright halogens and low-energy LEDs, where the lack of an extension cord and power adapter proves handy.

Extensions and swivels are mechanical tools that allow you to reach and manipulate hard-to-reach bolts, which are either deeply-embedded in some corner of the car, or surrounding by too many other machine parts at an awkward angle.

Jacks and jack stands are instruments of dual-importance, so much so that they’re sold as the feature of many starter packages for the beginning auto mechanic. The jack is for removing car wheels safely, by allowing you to slide underneath the multiple-ton vehicle to inspect the underbelly.

These represent just slightly more than a handful of the essential tools you’ll encounter in auto careers, and serve as the bare minimum for a serious mechanic. Vehicles develop all kinds of problems through wear-and-tear, and these tools help you effectively apply your knowledge in finding solutions for satisfied customers as an automotive service technician.

Build your garage’s reputation on the quality of your automotive lift service

There are many procedures to follow and many different tools to use when inspecting or repairing an automobile. Doing a thorough job of inspecting and repairing a vehicle requires more than just looking under the hood. Of course, anyone who works in automotive repair knows this. And they know that providing an automotive lift service is one of the most important parts of servicing a vehicle. Incorporating an auto lift repair & service is the best way to ensure a vehicle is properly inspected and thoroughly restored.

If you want to build a reputation as providing the highest quality automotive repair, then you must have an auto lift repair and service that is second-to-none. The best way to ensure your mechanics are able to examine, diagnose, and repair vehicles in a safe and timely manner is to have an automotive lift service. The days of automotive repairman sliding under a vehicle with raggedy sliding boards are over. In the 21st century people want to see a repair service that uses state-of-the-art equipment.

To be sure, you may already offer an automotive lift service; but the question you must ask yourself is, is it good enough? Technological advances are being made all the time in the equipment used in an automotive lift service. You don’t want to be left behind. In order to remain competitive you need to have the tools and equipment that will allow you to enhance the value of your auto lift repair and service. This can only be done by investing in the best equipment available.

Indeed, it is important to remember that automotive lift service equipment is an investment just like any other you’ve made or plan on making to grow your business. Your auto repair service can only grow on the strength of its reputation and an increase in the number of new customers you attract. An automotive lift service may seem like a minor thing, but it can mean all the difference between a vehicle that has been properly looked at and repaired, with a full view of all the various parts, gears, and combinations under the vehicle, and one that has only been briefly scanned and not thoroughly serviced. A repair shop in which vehicles are fixed in the first instance tends to do much better than one in which drivers have to return again and again because of the same problem.

Fortunately, finding the best in equipment for an automotive lift service is not that difficult. And the place to begin your search is on the worldwide web. The web gives you the ability to bring many of the vendors selling this kind of equipment to you. This will give you to opportunity to compare the price and value of the many firms offering this kind of equipment. Using the web will also enable you to find out the reputation of a firm. The best predictor of future performance is past performance. And the firm with a proven record of delivering high customer satisfaction is the one most likely to meet your needs and expectations.

Motorcycle Repair Restoring Your Bike

Soaring fuel prices have made gas-guzzling cars very unpopular. Welcome to the resurgence of the motorcycle. Why? Because properly maintained motorcycles and motorcycle engines can get between 40 and 60 miles a gallon. Smaller scooters get upwards of 90 miles a gallon, pretty good for an economy with $4-per-gallon gasoline.

Because of this, bike sales have soared. Motorcycle repair, too, can come in handy. Do you have a bike in storage that you haven’t dusted off for awhile? There’s a good chance you can be among those restoring motorcycles so that you can ride your old road hog again.

Restoring your older motorcycle to working condition starts with some basic steps:

Check Fuel
If you didn’t use a fuel stabilizer before you put the bike into storage, drain your old fuel (including tank, fuel lines and carburetor as applicable) before you run the engine, and put new in. Lubricate spark plug ports with a little oil, too, before you start things up.

Check Oil
Change the oil and filter if you didn’t do so before you started. If you did, top levels off.

How Is Your Battery?
Make sure leads are not corroded and that the battery will fully charge and then hold a charge. If it doesn’t, replace the battery.

Inspect The Chain
Because your chain transfers power from the engine to the rear wheel, it is very important that it be in excellent shape. Look the chain over for the following:

— Is the chain the proper tension? You should be able to grasp it in the center and move it about one inch in either direction, up or down.
— Are front and wheel sprocket teeth in good condition? If the teeth have grooves or “waves” in them or they show other signs of wear, you probably need new sprockets (chain will probably show similar wear and need replacement).
— Check every single section of the chain for signs of wear and for proper tension. It should move about an inch when you pull on it. Tighten the chain if it’s loose, and loosen it if it’s tight. If the links themselves are too tight, you might need to replace the whole chain.
— Clean dirt off the chain with a clean towel or rag before you apply lubricant. Make sure you thoroughly lubricate all sprocket teeth and links.
— Lubricate the chain well. Remember that some solvents should not be used with rubber if your chain has rubber parts to it. Use a proper solvent and wipe off any excess lubricant with a clean rag.
— Set chain tension properly by moving your rear wheel and axle forward or backward. Both sides of the axle should be aligned properly before you tighten things up or the chain and sprockets might wear out quickly. Tighten the axle nuts and replace the cotter pin with a new one if needed.

Fluid Levels
Brake, clutch and coolant levels should be checked as necessary. Make sure you replace missing brake fluid with a new container of the same brand you used last time. Let your bike idle for a few minutes before you take off so that all fluids circulate properly.

Tires and Suspension
Inspect everything thoroughly before you take your first ride. If you kept your bike stored upright on a kickstand, make sure your tires aren’t cracked, marked, or flat. In addition, check to make sure tire wear and air levels are good.