Latest news with #carrepair
The Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Huge blow as drivers' go-to car repair garage abruptly shuts up shop after motoring retailer ‘reviews estate'
A GO-TO car repair garage has suddenly closed its doors in a devastating blow to motorists in the area. The abrupt closure comes after a " review of our estate" by the company. 1 National Tyres and Autocare, which is a Halfords company, has shut in Oxford on Abingdon Road. A spokesperson for Halfords said: "We can confirm that our National Tyres and Autocare garage on Abingdon Road has closed following a review of our estate in the area. "We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues and are offering alternative roles at nearby Halfords locations where possible." The company also thanked its customers and pointed them towards the Halfords Autocentre in Oxford Trade Centre, Harrow Road, This is Oxfordshire has reported. They also have the option of Halfords Mobile Expert, which provides services at residents' doorsteps. It comes amid a series of stores closures along that same road in Oxford. Akiport Convenience Store, Akiport Cafe, and the Berkshire pub all shut last year due to traffic restrictions on the road, the Oxford Mail has reported. Gwyngrocers, also known as Top Tackle, closed its doors on Abingdon Road in January. Oxford City Councillor deputy leader and cabinet member for zero carbon Oxford Anna Railton told This is Oxfordshire: "I'm sorry to see a business in Abingdon Road close. "But I'm glad to see and support the two new nearby businesses and the emerging plans for a Chinese in the Berkshire. "There remain many great independent businesses on the road – but you do have to use them or lose them." The Abingdon Road garage closure comes after another branch site shut its doors last month. Like in Oxford, this came following what the company calls a "review of our estate".
Motor 1
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
'Don't Get Fooled, Ladies:' Man Says GMC Quoted Wife $900 to Put $6 Amazon Part Back on Car. He Does It in 1 Second
A self-proclaimed dad of TikTok said a GMC dealership quoted his wife $900 for a simple part replacement that he later found on Amazon for $6. He demonstrates in a video exactly how easy the part ended up being to install. TikTok user @ posted a video on Thursday that shows the entire process took approximately 1 second. 'Ladies, GMC quoted my wife $900 to put this in her car,' he says to start the PSA. 'We got it on Amazon for $6.' He then places the cover in the empty space and pats it in place until there's a click. 'Don't get fooled, ladies,' he concludes when the speedy job is done. He continues the advice in the caption, 'Ladies, don't let a car dealership take advantage of you.' The part in question is the Armrest Cover Cap for the rear bucket seats, which fits the 2007-2019 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade. It is available on Amazon for $6.99, Newegg for $22.19, and eBay for $29.88. Viewers Relate In the comments section, plenty of users offered their own stories of going to the dealership, getting what they viewed as a ridiculous quote, and later finding the part on Amazon for pennies on the dollar in comparison. 'Toyota quoted me $600 for a small plastic piece that goes on the side mirrors,' said one person. 'Got it on Amazon for $12.' 'We did the same thing with new key fobs for our truck,' said another. 'Bought them on Amazon and they work perfectly.' More Dealership Drama 'Lawyer Up': Woman Drops Off Mercedes At Dealership For Oil Change. Then She's Told It's Totaled, Costs $27K To 'Fix 5 Wires' Toyota Salesman Finds Thousands of Dollars of 'Missing' Keys. Now He's Exposing Dealerships for Failing to Give Buyers the Spare 'My taillight went out on my Yukon,' said a third person. '$1,500 at O'Reilly's or the dealership. Went to Amazon and got it for $175.' One person said they're more concerned with why this particular part needs replacing so often. 'OK, but mine keep breaking off,' they wrote. 'I've replaced them 32 times.' Why Do Dealerships Give Ridiculous Quotes? Someone else asked, 'How could they look at her straight in the face and give her that quote?' The TikToker replied, 'Because they pass it to the lady receptionist and have them do it. On a quote. Not even talking and describing the part and prices.' The economics of running a car dealership are such that a routine visit for an oil change can quickly turn into a long invoice of potential repairs, large and small. That's because it costs a lot of money to keep a dealership running, and mechanics often report feeling that they're forced to recommend repairs that aren't completely necessary or at an unreasonable price point. Motor1 reached out to Grace Exteriors via TikTok for comment. We'll be sure to update this article if we hear back. Now Trending 'That's Not Normal:' Woman's 2014 Honda Civic Keeps Stalling at Red Lights. Then She Asks for Help 'I'm Absolutely Doing This:' Arizona Man Shares Little-Known Sunroof Trick to Stay Cool. Then He Slides It Open to Show Off Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
4 Financial Emergencies That a Personal Loan Can Rescue You From
A financial emergency can put your world into a tailspin. Generally, these emergencies involve unexpected expenses with bills that must be paid immediately. And, unfortunately, the costs of an emergency can add up quickly. If you don't have the money on hand to cover the costs, turning to a personal loan could make sense. Generally, personal loans come with lower interest rates than other quick funding sources, like credit cards. Once you commit to a personal loan, you'll make fixed monthly payments to repay it, which can be more manageable than coming up with the funds you need upfront. Read Next: Learn More: Here's a look at some of the financial emergencies that might require turning to a personal loan. If you hear a dreaded noise rattling around your car or it simply won't start, a trip to the mechanic could cost you. While everyone hopes for a simple fix, car repair bills can easily cost several hundred dollars. Without an emergency fund on hand, getting back on the road could be a challenge. In some cases, turning to a personal loan could help you get the funds you need to cover the repair. For many, fixing their vehicle is not negotiable because that's how they commute to their job. Check Out: If you are a homeowner, you'll likely find out that home repairs seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times. Although you can see some repairs coming, others appear out of the blue. For example, a burst pipe or a completely broken air conditioning unit might be difficult to anticipate. When you don't have savings for this repair bill, personal loans could help you cover the upfront costs. While taking a vacation wouldn't fall under emergency travel costs, traveling across the country for a pressing, unexpected reason could lead to an expensive bill. For example, you might find yourself racing across the country to say goodbye to a loved one in person or making a trip to a nearby state to pick up your long-lost dog. Whatever emergency reason you find yourself traveling for, it's likely that the costs will add up quickly. Losing a loved one comes with all kinds of emotional consequences. But for many, the financial consequences compound the misery. A funeral can cost thousands of dollars, usually ranging from $7,000 to $12,000, per Lincoln Heritage. If your loved one didn't leave behind funds for the funeral, you'll likely need to come up with the cash quickly. Additionally, if you lost your partner, you might find yourself suddenly faced with significantly higher housing costs because you aren't splitting the rent or mortgage anymore. While a personal loan won't solve a long-term cash flow issue, it could give you the space you need to make changes at your own pace. Without a robust emergency fund, you might be one financial emergency away from significant debt. If you aren't facing an immediate financial emergency, consider building an emergency fund as soon as possible. Generally, experts recommend tucking between three and six months' worth of expenses into your emergency fund. Hopefully, this cushion can protect you from taking out debt when life throws you a curveball. But if not, a personal loan could be a good option. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 3 Reasons Retired Boomers Shouldn't Give Their Kids a Living Inheritance (And 2 Reasons They Should) Mark Cuban Tells Americans To Stock Up on Consumables as Trump's Tariffs Hit -- Here's What To Buy This article originally appeared on 4 Financial Emergencies That a Personal Loan Can Rescue You From Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Motor 1
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Mechanic Says These Redesigned Lugnuts Are the 'Worst Thing' Automakers Have Done. Then He Shows Why
Imagine being stuck on the side of the road trying desperately to change a tire, tire iron in hand, only to discover that your lug nut has grown and your wrench no longer fits. It sounds like a joke, but it's a real design flaw on millions of cars, most notably by Ford, and mechanics are fed up. We get an up-close look at why the lugnuts are such a pain for anyone involved in managing wheels and tires from creator Mike Melton, owner of tire and wheel emporium Speedy By STWDirect (@stwdirect) in Lincolnton, North Carolina. In a TikTok clip that's been viewed more than 140,000 times, Melton doesn't mince words about the unnecessary changes to a timeless auto part. 'This is the absolute worst thing the manufacturer could've ever put on lug nuts,' he said while displaying one of the two-piece or 'capped' lug nuts that have become the bane of his existence. 'There ain't but one fix for this. You gotta replace the lug nuts, and these things ain't cheap. So, instead of getting these from the dealership, get you an aftermarket one.' What Is a 'Capped' Lug Nut? Many modern cars, especially some Fords, use a two-piece lug nut design: a solid steel core topped with a thin decorative outer shell, often chrome or aluminum. On paper, it makes sense: manufacturers get a shiny finish for less than a solid stainless nut. But in real-world use, it's a recipe for disaster. Why Is It a Problem? Moisture, road salt, and regular heating and cooling cycles creep into the tiny gap between the sleeve and core. Over time, corrosion pushes that thin cap outward, swelling it, even by half to one millimeter. That might not seem like much, but it's enough to turn a once-perfect 19 mm lug into a stubborn 20 mm behemoth. The result ends up being something like trying to jam a square peg into a round hole, or forcing a mismatched key into a lock; it just refuses to cooperate. Mechanics—and even AAA drivers—report being stranded because the lug wrench supplied with the car couldn't budge these swollen caps. Worse still, roadside tire changes can become multi-hour ordeals, requiring chisels, larger sockets, or even complete tow-outs. More on Ford Ford Recalls Another One Million Vehicles Ford Is Facing the Second-Largest Recall Fine In NHTSA History The problem hit national headlines when a 2017 class-action lawsuit accused Ford of using these faulty two-piece nuts on millions of vehicles, including F‑150, Fusion, Escape, Focus, Flex, and F‑350 models. The plaintiffs claimed the nuts swell, delaminate, and cost drivers time, money, and roadside safety. The suit was dismissed in 2019, yet complaints continue in forums and automotive service counters. Reddit and mechanic forums are full of anecdotes: one driver started the day at a dealer, told they couldn't rotate tires due to 'swollen lug nuts,' only to pay a shop $49 for an aftermarket replacement set , and still find the dealer trying to reinstall the originals. Some shops even carry oversized sockets (e.g., 19.5 mm or larger) specifically for swollen two-piece lug nuts, since ordinary tools no longer fit. In online automotive forums , owners have shared stories of shops refusing to work on vehicles equipped with nonstandard lug nuts because the stock sockets couldn't budge the swollen nuts, and they wouldn't risk using chisels or damaging rims. So, What's the Fix? Mechanics on the Maverick Truck Club forum unanimously recommend ditching the two-piece caps and installing one-piece steel or chromed lug nuts instead. Brands like Gorilla and McGard are often praised in forums for being reliable and affordable—many owners report full replacement kits for under $60, with dealership labor costing far more. These solid nuts won't soak in water, swell, or strip out your tools, and they're simple enough to swap wheel by wheel—just torque them down to spec and store the old ones as backups. The bottom line is that if your ride has those shiny capped lug nuts, chances are good they're ticking time bombs, waiting until you're roadside with a flat. Swap them out for affordable, robust one-piece nuts now, and spare yourself the next breakdown drama. Motor1 reached out to Melton by phone. We'll update this article when we hear back. Now Trending 'Make Sure Your See It:' Man Says His Boss Retaliated Against Him After Seeing His 'Nice Car' 'Don't Forget The Dusty Filter:' Woman Calls Out Mechanics Who Show the Old Oil After a Change. Here's the Real Reason For It Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Motor 1
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
'He Only Charged Me $100:' Woman Buys Her Mechanic a Juice From the Corner Store. When, and How Much, Should You Tip Yours?
A woman went viral this week after sharing how she thanked a mechanic who reportedly replaced her motor for just $100. Raeign (@raeignbykeyzz) posted a video saying she found someone willing to do the job for what most would call an unbelievably low price. Her thank-you gift? A juice. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . 'GIRL MATH: Bought my mechanic a juice from the corner store because he only charged me $100 to change my motor,' she wrote in the text overlay. In the caption, she joked that after the juice, they were 'even.' As of Thursday, the clip had racked up more than 233,000 views. If True, She Scored a Baller Deal Replacing a car's motor, or engine, typically costs thousands. For most vehicles, engine replacement ranges from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the car's make, model, engine type, and labor costs. Luxury vehicles or newer models can run as high as $15,000 or more. On the MechanicAdvice subreddit, one user said a shop quoted them $6,000 to replace the engine in a 2011 Mazda 3 , with $2,400 of that going toward labor alone. 'One of my co-workers who used to be a mechanic told me that $2.4k is way too high and that it should be around $1k—$1.5k,' they wrote. Still, $100 is unheard of. You can find ways to cut costs, like buying a used or remanufactured engine or shopping around for quotes from different shops, just like Raeign did. And if you're really lucky, maybe your mechanic just wants a juice in return. There are also ways to keep your engine running strong and avoid replacement altogether. Warning signs of engine trouble include knocking or rumbling noises, excessive smoke, loss of power, poor fuel efficiency, overheating, or an illuminated check engine light. Replacing an engine is serious work. Staying on top of service intervals and addressing issues early can save you from a costly breakdown. Viewers Say It Sounds Too Good to Be True Trending Now 'Don't Forget The Dusty Filter:' Woman Calls Out Mechanics Who Show the Old Oil After a Change. Here's the Real Reason For It 'We Get It Fixed': Woman Says Her 2020 Ram's Steering Wheel 'Randomly' Locks Up. The Dealership Says It's Fine In the comment section of Raeign's video, some people expressed skepticism that she got the deal she said she did. 'Bro did not change no motor,' one commenter wrote. 'Was it a wiper motor? Window lift motor? Because $100…wow!' another said. 'Damn most mechanics wouldn't change their mind for $100,' someone else joked. 'Aww he changed the tire,' another added. Although some might say tipping culture has gone overboard, it's still not common practice to tip mechanics. However, if one gives you a great deal like the one Reaign got, that might warrant an exception. Some viewers said if a mechanic ever changed their motor for $100, they'd offer more than just juice. 'Would've [bought] him lunch as well,' one woman commented. 'A juice!!! That deserved a bottle of Don Julio & some dinner,' another added. But few people said deals like this do happen. 'My neighborhood mechanic fixed the issue and turned my check engine light off,' one woman shared. 'He wanted buffet money. I handed it to him.' 'I'm working on an old lady's car right now, I'm charging her like 300 bucks,' another said. 'I should be charging her wayyy more based on the work I'm doing lol.' When Should You Tip Your Mechanic? And How Much? A cursory search online reveals the obvious: When they go above and beyond. Especially when they do added work but don't charge you for it because they stumbled upon a quick solution organically and kept the fix off-books. It isn't recommended you tip at dealerships or chains. And then it's a matter of how much. That part is subjective! But no one says no to an extra $20. And certainly, food, drink, gift cards, or even a thank-you note all go a long ways. Motor1 reached out to Reaign via a TikTok comment. We'll be sure to update this if she responds. More From Motor1 Mazda's First Electric Car Is Dead in Europe Toyota Contacted Nissan After Honda Merger Failed: Report Excl. Interview: Audi TT Pickup This Burning Mercedes-AMG One Breaks Our Hearts Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
