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Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Gas-Saving Tips for Your Auto

Gas-Saving Tips for Your Auto

While it is always wise to conserve natural resources, the recent price of gasoline has made even the most wasteful people think twice. Whatever your motivation, here are some gas saving tips from the pros at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Monitor tires. Under inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. (Let the tires cool down before checking the air pressure.) Out-of-line wheels, as evidenced by uneven tread wear, should be aligned by a professional.
Remove excess weight. Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle. Store only essentials in the trunk. Less weight means better mileage.
Consolidate trips and errands. Some trips may be unnecessary. Also, try to travel when traffic is light so you can avoid stop-and-go conditions.
Avoid excessive idling. Shut off the engine while waiting for friends and family.
Observe speed limits. Speeding decreases your miles per gallon.
Drive gently. Sudden accelerations guzzle gas. Anticipate traffic patterns ahead and adjust your speed gradually.
Use windows and air conditioning wisely. Your mileage should improve if you keep the windows closed at highway speeds, since air drag is reduced. This is true even with the air conditioning on-assuming that the system is in good working order. But turn the air conditioning off in stop-and-go traffic to save fuel.
Keep your engine "tuned up." A well-maintained engine operates at peak efficiency, maximizing gas mileage. Follow the service schedules listed in the owner's manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended; have engine performance problems (rough idling, poor acceleration, etc.) corrected at a repair facility. Given today's high-tech engines, it's wise to have this type of work done by auto technicians who are ASE certified in engine performance.
These conservation tips will not only save gasoline, they'll help extend the life of your vehicle. Win-win, indeed.
For ASE’s Glove Box Tips, click here.
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was founded in 1972 as a non-profit, independent organization dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact area(s) of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign.

Don't Scrimp on Vehicle Maintenance

Don't Scrimp on Vehicle Maintenance


Technician certification organization ASE surveys show a well-maintained vehicle not only lasts longer, it retains more of its resale value.
With a sluggish economic recovery and today’s consumers watching their finances carefully, it’s no surprise that the average age of vehicles in the United States is more than 11 years old, according to automotive research firm R.L. Polk and Co. With motorists holding on to their vehicles longer than ever before, maintenance takes an even greater importance in keeping roads — and people — safe.
The cost of neglect
“It’s tempting to avoid car maintenance in tough economic times, but that’s not a financially sound method to manage the big investment you’ve made in your vehicle,” notes Tony Molla, vice president of communications for the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). “Surveys of our certified technicians show that a well-maintained vehicle lasts longer, retains more of its resale value, pollutes less, and gets better mileage than one that’s been neglected — to say nothing of being safer to operate.”
According to the pros at ASE, neglect causes components to wear out faster than they would otherwise (poorly aligned tires, for example) and can result in minor problems growing into more expensive repairs (worn brake pads will eventually damage the more expensive rotors). ASE suggests motorists, whether they are do-it-yourselfers or take their cars to ASE-certified technicians, become familiar with their owner’s manual and follow the service schedules. “The owner’s manual is under-utilized; it summarizes systems to check and provides schedules based on normal or severe driving,” notes Molla.
While some people might relish a weekend tinkering with the family car, today’s technological advances under the hood and busier lifestyles find more consumers in search of dependable, trustworthy automotive service and repair.
Finding a good mechanic
Finding a competent auto technician need not be a matter of chance. Much of the guesswork has been eliminated, thanks to a national program conducted by ASE.
ASE tests and certifies automotive professionals in all major technical areas of repair and service. With more than 360,000 currently certified professionals working in dealerships, independent shops, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, schools and colleges across the United States, ASE’s national certification program has industry-wide acceptance and recognition.
ASE certifies the technical competence of individual technicians, not the repair facilities. Before taking ASE certification tests, many technicians attend training classes or study on their own in order to brush up on their knowledge. By passing difficult, national tests, ASE-certified technicians prove their technical competence to themselves, to their employers, and to their customers.
What’s more, because this program is voluntary, ASE certification becomes a self-selecting credential. And while ASE does not certify repair shops or monitor business practices, it stands to reason that those shop owners and managers who support their employees’ efforts to become ASE-certified often will be just as proactively involved in the other aspects of their businesses as well.
How certification works
More than 40 certification tests in all areas of vehicle service and repair are offered eight months out of the year at secure computer centers. Technicians who pass at least one exam and fulfill the two-year work experience requirement earn the “ASE-certified” designation. Those who pass a battery of exams, as well as fulfill the experience requirement, earn “Master Technician” status. In addition, all ASE credentials have expiration dates. ASE requires technicians to retest every five years to demonstrate their commitment to continuing education and stay abreast of changing technologies.
The tests are developed and regularly updated by industry experts with oversight from ASE’s own in-house pros. They are administered by ACT, the same group known for its college entrance exams.
There are specialty exams covering all major areas of repair. There are nine tests for auto technicians alone: Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Light Vehicle Diesel Engines, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Brakes, Heating and Air Conditioning, Suspension and Steering, Manual Drive Train and Axles, and Automatic Transmissions. There are also exams for collision repair technicians, engine machinists, parts specialists, bus techs and others.
Finding ASE-Certified Technicians
Repair establishments with at least one ASE-certified technician are permitted to display the blue and white ASE sign. Each ASE professional is issued personalized credentials listing his or her exact area(s) of certification and an appropriate shoulder insignia or lapel pin. Technicians are also issued certificates that employers often post in the customer-service areas of their businesses. Businesses with a high level of commitment to ASE are entitled to a special "Blue Seal of Excellence" recognition from ASE.
As with other professionals, automotive technicians often specialize, so it’s wise to ask the shop owner or service manager for a technician who is certified in the appropriate area, such as brakes, engine repair, or air conditioning.
Visit www.ase.com for more information about ASE-certification, plus seasonal car care tips.

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

How to Silence Moto G Notifications and Ringtones

How to Silence Moto G Notifications and Ringtones

You can enter Moto G silent mode, or vibrate mode to silence Moto G notifications and ringtones easily. In Android lollipop, you can have more controls in Priority mode.

Update:  this guide was written for Moto G, Moto E and Moto X, with  KitKat 4.4. If your Moto G, Moto E or Moto X has been updated to Android Lollipop 5.0, and you want to silence Moto G, Moto E or Moto X, please check this new guide for Android Lollipop (which uses a a totally new notification and interruption system).

Have a problem to silence your Moto G?

There are 2 different methods to silence Moto G notifications and ringtones.

Sometimes, for example, in the library, you may want to quickly silence Moto G notifications and ringtones.  If you want to know how to silence Moto G ringtones and notifications, this guide is for you.

Method 1: put your Moto G into vibrate mode

You can put Moto G  in vibrate mode by holding down the volume button on the right side of Moto G  until your Moto G vibrates.
This is the quickest way to silence Moto G. But you know the limitation:  Moto G actually enters vibrate mode. It will not ring, but it will vibrate.
If you do not want Moto G to vibrate, use method 2 to completely silence your Moto G.
Of course, you should hold down the volume down button while Moto G is not playing music or videos. If the music player or video player is running when you press and hold the volume button, it will simply silence your music or video. It will NOT silence Moto G notifications and ringtones.
So, normally, you should exit music player or video player before holding the volume down button. After your Moto G enters vibrate mode, you can play music or video as usual. Vibrate mode is for ringtones and notifications only; it will not silence your music or video.

Method 2: Silence Moto G ringtones and notifications completely.

If you do not want Moto G to vibrate as well, in other words, silence your Moto G completely, you can put Moto G in silent mode.
Press and hold the power button until you feel a vibration.  The following box will show up in the center of the screen:
silence-moto-g-ringtons-silent-mode
Touch Silent mode to silence all sounds (including call and notification ringtones) except media and alarm (you must silence media and alarms in their own applications).
Of course, you can also put your Moto G in vibrate mode here by tapping the Vibrate button.

How to stop silencing Moto G?

You can stop silencing Moto G ringtones and notifications  by tapping the volume up button on your Moto G.
Again, you should do this when you are not playing music or videos. Otherwise, it will only change the volume of your music or videos.
Of course, you can also use the Ring button as shown in the image above.

Why I can not find the Silent mode or Vibrate mode?

If you updated your Moto G to Android Lollipop, you will NOT be able to find the Silent mode or Vibrate mode. In Android Lollipop, a new notification and interruption system was introduced with three modes: All, Priority and None modes. Please follow this guide to silence Moto G notifications and ringtones if your Moto G is running Lollipop.

Do you have any problems to silence Moto G notifications and ringtones? Please let us know in the comment box below.

More step-by-step guides , tips and tricks for your Moto G phone are available at  our most popular Moto G how-to guide page.