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    Posted November 7, 2008 by
    DanaO |
    Location
    San Mateo, California
    Assignment
    Assignment
    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    Pain at the pump

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    Online Car Repair Trumps Replacement as Credit Crisis Heats Up

    By DanaO  |  Posted November 7, 2008  |  San Mateo, California
     
    SAN MATEO, Calif. – Due to higher gas prices, the current Wall Street crisis, and stringent financing requirements, concerned consumers are choosing to repair the cars they might otherwise replace. In commenting on the steepest automobile sales decline in fifteen years, Reuters reports, "Americans had either walked away from vehicle purchases or been stymied by a lack of financing or requirements for larger down-payments." The 26.6% drop in auto sales for the month of September is what many experts believe is a prelude to an industry bailout. In the last 3 months, online repair resource, FixYa has seen a significant increase in repair-related activity. Says FixYa expert Louie Role, "Offhand, it would appear that a sizable number of requests for repair assistance are electrical in nature. Ignition and/or starting systems top the list, followed by car audio/electronics, lights, and other accessories." Of the 7371 car and truck models available in FixYa's 1 million article database, the most commonly searched brands include Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Nissan and BMW. "It's just a difficult time to buy," says FixYa CEO Yaniv Bensadon. "As the market turmoil becomes a sobering reality, struggling families are opting to fix their own cars and stretch their hard-earned income." Known as Emission Wiz to FixYa's online community of 9 million, car expert Dennis Weidenbach offers several preventative measures to help increase vehicle life and delay new purchases: 1. Use the recommended weight of oil and change it as recommended by the manufacturer. 2. Keep a regular check on tire pressure as it really affects fuel mileage and most blow-outs are caused by under-inflation issues. 3. Tune-up the engine at the recommended mileage. If you do it sooner, it is a waste of money. 4. And last but not least, keep an eye on coolant, oil (including transmission fluid) and brake fluid levels. Very expensive repairs can be avoided by keeping oil and coolant levels full.
  • ABOUT FIXYA: FixYa is a community of 9 million members and visitors, who share, learn and connect over car, tech and consumer support tips. Rather than depending solely on manufacturers for answers, our community shares real world experience and practical advice. From fixing cars, to cameras, to iPhones, FixYa's community members are part of a DIY revolution that helps empower techies, tinkerers and hobbyists across the globe. http://fixya.com

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