If you’re feeling fretful concerning your car’s safety, it is better to lower the danger of becoming a victim of car theft by following some practical tips. There is no single way to shield car theft, but you can apply as many of the below-mentioned tips as is possible for you, to lower the probability of your car getting stolen.
1. SAFEGUARD YOUR VEHICLE
Well, in the rare occurrence of your car being broken into, there are several ways through which you can make your vehicle extremely stubborn, if not altogether impossible to nick. To begin with, if you own a vehicle that is old enough, then you should fit an Australian-standards approved engine immobiliser to it. They are listed highly on the best ways to shield car theft, and you can have them fitted for a meagre $200. However, if your car was manufactured after 2001, then your car will have come with an integrated immobiliser, which certainly makes things simpler for you.
Next, you can buy some handy theft prevention hardware such as:
- Steering-Wheel Lock: It has a heavy-duty metal piece that holds your car’s steering wheel, rendering it inoperative to move, and consequently impossible to drive your car. They’re fitted and opened with the help of set keys, so unless your car burglar comes prepared with an industrial-strength steel cutter, they won’t be able to steal your car.
2. SHIELD YOUR CAR KEYS
All vehicles manufactured after the year 2001 are required by law to come fitted with an engine immobiliser – this means that modern cars can’t be hotwired that easily, which movies often depict. Therefore, thieves have to resort to other ways to steal your car and breaking into your property is one of them. Hence, shielding your car keys is one of the best protective measures to avert car theft. Currently, vehicle thefts from residential properties are on the rise, which is associated with an increase in key theft. This rise in key theft is primarily due to newer cars are tough and more secure and it’s nearly impossible to steal them without possessing their actual keys.
3. KEEP YOUR VEHICLE TEMPTATION-FREE
Free your car from all valuables when you’re not using it! Never ever leave valuables like a mobile/ tablet, laptop, suitcases or any other valuables inside in an idle vehicle. In case, you have a handy dash cam or a navigation device, ensure to take them away, as they can be expensive.
4. BE MINDFUL OF WHERE YOU PARK YOUR CAR
- At Residential Place: If you can tell the insurer that your car won’t be parked on the street, then it’s usually considered safer. If you have the luxury to park your car off-street, then go ahead. If you’re able to park your vehicle inside a garage or behind locked gates, then your car is in the safest place it can be and you can sleep comfortably during the night with that added peace of mind. For both your car’s overall condition and safety, it is better to have your car parked in a carport or driveway than parking it on the street.
- Outside Residential Place: When you need to park your vehicle in shopping centres, you’ve got to look at the positives and negatives of varied parking alternatives. Parking near to other cars puts your vehicle at greater risk of attracting damage to the bodywork via scratches or bumps from less experienced drivers. Conversely, you can also have your car parked in a more isolated part of the car park area but then it will make your car a more easy prey for any burglar passing by the car park.
THE RIGHT VEHICLE INSURANCE COVER IS VITAL
It’s highly recommended to have the right car insurance in place. It won’t shield you from car theft; however, if your car is stolen and there are no chances to recover it back, then you’ll be comforted because you know that you have the right car insurance to make the necessary claim.
If you’re looking to buy quality used auto parts in Sydney, then you can get it from FordPro Wreckers – No. 1 and the most trusted second-hand car spare parts supplier in this part of the region.
Regardless of how much you care for your car, a day will come when it shall lose its shine and start giving you troubles. Everyday wear and tear will take it to its expiry gradually but definitely. So big questions in front of you are:
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How will you know that your old car’s magnificent life has ultimately hit the bottom line?
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How will you know that it’s about time you get rid of your trusted companion and move forward?
We’ll cover these vital issues here in this blog post, which will help you to take your call on whether to repair your old car or get it replaced with a brand new one. After going through the below vital pointers, if you decide to stick with your old car, then you can inject fresh life into it by changing it’s worn out parts and/or engine. You can grab quality used car parts and used car engine from the reputed auto wrecker at cheap prices.
The crucial pointers that will help you in determining the best thing for your requirements and budget are as follows:
1. ARE YOUR CAR MAINTENANCE COSTS (INCLUDING REPAIRS & SERVICES) HIGHER THAN ITS USUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS?
Well, you must know precisely whether your overall car maintenance costs including repairs and regular services are, in fact, doing you any good or draining your wallet slowly but progressively. You’ll know it’s about time to move on when the dollars begin to accumulate to a point where it will cost you more to maintain your old car, in fact, maintenance cost will out way the actual worth of the car. Thus, you should understand the fact that your old car demands more expensive repairs.
2. LOOK AT THE FUTURE TOO!
Handling the issue at hand is not sufficient at all times, but you should also look at the possible future repairs. However, if you’re up for expensive surprises now and again, then it’s no good. The practical and the best thing to do in such a situation is to have a professional auto mechanic have a look at your vehicle and perform an in-depth diagnosis. Well, only a qualified expert mechanic will be able to give you proper guidance about the seriousness of the matter – as the repairs estimate get higher and higher, the nearer you may find yourself requiring a brand new car.
3. COMPUTE THE INSURANCE COSTS OF YOUR OLD CAR
Compute the annual insurance costs for your old car after thorough research and then find out the difference by comparing the same with the insurance costs of a brand new car. If your old car isn’t worth that much, you could remove comprehensive and collision, which would save you several hundred dollars.
4. FUEL EFFICIENCY – A VITAL FACTOR TO CONSIDER
As your car gets older, the more fuel it ingests and that’s evident. It is precisely because it lacks the technological improvements of newer engines and thus, will continue to go down the line or necessitate pricier repairs intermittently. A time will come where you’ll have to decide to buy a new engine, transmission or both. Therefore, calculate it carefully and then determine what requires to be done.
5. INSPECT HOW SAFE YOUR EXISTING CAR IS?
Always, the risk is looming of having a breakdown while you’re driving your old car. Well, nothing is worth that risk, as newer, more efficient safety equipment are being formulated and integrated every day to newer vehicles and if your old car doesn’t have those safety features, perhaps the time has arrived to decide to buy a brand new car as a replacement for your old car.
6. HAS YOUR LIFESTYLE CHANGED?
If there has been a considerable change to your life recently, maybe your family size has been increased – for instance, you have married or if you’re already married, you might have kids etc. Maybe travel distance between your home and workplace has changed or there may be other reasons. If your requirements have changed and that no longer your old car would be enough, then you might want to reassess your decision about repairing your old car and just get a brand new car per your requirements.
FINAL WORDS
All things considered, if you don’t want to discard your old car yet, then come to Sydney’s best auto wrecker – Ford Pro Wreckers for we have quality used car parts and used engines for sale at rock bottom prices. You can get replacements for all major and minor car parts including car engine at just a fraction of costs when compared to brand new car parts and engine.
Once you’re at Ford Pro Wreckers, our expert auto-technician would look at your vehicle and will diagnose the problems with the latest diagnostic tools and equipment and fix them competently. Alternatively, if you decide to sell your old car so that you can buy a new one, then Ford Pro Wreckers is best known as one of the biggest and honest car wreckers on this part of the land paying an upright price for the old car.
Everybody maintains their car in good running condition at all times and nobody would want their car to reach the point where it is only as good as scrap value. Here are five essentials that you should know before deciding to sell your car to the scrap dealer or car wrecker.
1. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CAR
You’ve spent substantial years together. Remember those lovely moments which you had – for instance, you were very excited to drive your new car on your first date, had the gorgeous girl seated beside your seat, and went on a long drive before lunching out and movie thereafter. Oh, yes – lovely, memorable moments, then why not take one final drive before you completely retire your drive provided your car does not have any issues with the engine. Well, it’s not only about memories; you’ll burn up your petrol, which you have put in the tank. You won’t be receiving any extra money for the fuel in the tank, so why not utilise it.
2. CAR TITLE
It’s imperative that you should possess your car title so that you can transfer your vehicle title out of your name. Assuming the car is very old, you possibly may not owe any money towards vehicle finance or bank. If you do owe money on your car finance, you’ll have to first clear it out before you can sell your car to the scrapyard dealer or car wrecker. In the rare occasion where you have lost or misplaced your title, it could get few weeks to get a replacement copy. However, it’s something that you need to do it; else, you can’t sell a car even to a scrap dealer.
3. TERMINATE YOUR VEHICLE REGISTRATION & INSURANCE
If you haven’t yet terminated your existing vehicle registration and insurance policy of your car, which you’re planning to scrap then cancel it right away. When selling your old car to the scrapyard, it no longer requires to be insured.
4. EMPTY YOUR CAR COMPLETELY
The first thing that you need doing is emptying your car interiors of all your personal belongings. You may have a bunch of CDs/DVDs, an extra pair of sweatshirt and shorts and any other stuff belongings to you. Irrespective of you need them or not, you must empty your car before selling it to the scrapyard. Make sure you empty your car fully before the hauling truck arrives from the scrapyard to tow your vehicle away. The last thing you want to hear from them is to refuse your car to be hauled because it’s not empty of your personal belongings.
5. RETAIN THE STUFF THAT’S IN GOOD SHAPE
If you haven’t yet called the scrapyard seller and obtained an offer for your vehicle, you can take that Bluetooth CD changer head unit that works like a charm and instead place an old cassette deck in the dash. In case, you have put a new set of tyres and wheels, then you can remove them, and fit in a set, which is bald and appear like scrap. You can either sell them away for cash or use them if you intend purchasing a used car.
ALL SET TO SELL YOUR OLD, USED FORD CAR
When you’re through with the five essentials mentioned above, you’re ready to sell your old, used Ford car and there are a few options to sell including selling to a scrap dealer or car wrecker.
(a) Selling to a Scrap Dealer – When you sell to a scrap dealer, you’ll receive cash for your old car. Usually, you’ll be paid per kilogramme, which means you’ll get money depending on how much your car weighs. Roughly, you may end up getting a couple of hundred dollars but not more. A scrap dealer wouldn’t haul your vehicle; you’ll have to pay to the tow truck separately to tow it away.
(b) Car Wrecker – The option of selling your old used Ford car to a car wrecker would be ideal to get the maximum possible value for your vehicle. For instance, FordPro Wreckers will offer you the best price for your used Ford car in Sydney. Well, FordPro Wreckers dismantles old Ford cars for parts that are usable, then after refurbish and test the used parts, and finally sell used Ford parts at attractively low prices.
Moreover, FordPro Wreckers will guide you through each step so that you won’t have to take any type of stress or anxiety. In addition, FordPro Wreckers has its own Tilt Tray service, which means if your vehicle isn’t in the drivable condition, we’ll pick up your used car from your location and bring it to our workshop, and pay you cash for your old, used Ford car. FordPro Wreckers dismantles all Ford models for used Ford Falcon parts, used Mustang parts, used Fairlane parts, used Territory parts etc. So when you want to sell your used Ford car, straight away call us at FordPro Wreckers on 02 9757 1811.
If your car has met with an accident or is not running efficiently, will you go ahead and repair the car and sell it as a used car or just sell your car for parts. Many a time, collision repairs are pricier when evaluated against car’s value. We have outlined below what you should do when your car is damaged or broken and when it makes sense to sell your car to an established auto wrecker instead of repairing it.
IS YOUR CAR HAVING ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS?
Perhaps, your car has an engine bar bang or your car has developed numerous engine oil leaks. Your vehicle’s transmission might not be changing or it’s trapped in limp mode, or your car’s air conditioning isn’t working. Whatever your car’s mechanical problems are? You need to figure it out whether it is worth repairing or not.
Some mechanical problems are expensive to fix and could push your credit card to its limits. Well, the symptoms might be trivial or just a thing now but often after this repair, something else may go wrong and you’re back to where you started. Nevertheless, if major mechanical problems hit your car and you want to get rid of your car then a reputed auto wrecking company is a better option to which you can sell the damaged car at any point of time.
HAS YOUR CAR MET WITH AN ACCIDENT?
If your car has met with an accident, repairs are going to cost you dearly and if it’s not covered by the insurance policy – at this point, will you repair or sell your car to an auto wrecker for cash.
SELLING YOUR DAMAGED CAR LOCALLY
Well, you can sell your damaged car through an ad in the local newspaper or on Craigslist but you have to make yourself available for people who would come to see the condition of the car, which is followed by haggling and organising for it to be hauled away. Often the time you need to put in and the trouble you need to encounter isn’t worth the extra hassles.
SELLING DAMAGED CAR “AS IS”
When you want to sell your damaged car, you’ll realise that the options are often limited. Some of the services out there will provide a free pick up service but they are usually not interested when you want to sell your damaged car for cash.
DISMANTLE THE CAR & SELL USED CAR PARTS FOR CASH
Surely, after dismantling your car, you can sell used car parts and get a little bit more from it. You can make use of reputed online classifieds and even eBay where you get cash for your used car parts that are working in good condition. The bigger question to ask is whether it’s worth the efforts. To accomplish this, you’ll need the time, space and the know-how to sell used car parts from a damaged vehicle. This is not a good option if you want to sell your damaged car quickly.
SELL YOUR TOTALLED CAR TO REPUTED AUTO WRECKER
If your car has met with an accident and the intensity of the accident was so severe that it has left your car in a totalled state (also referred as a total loss), which means your car is beyond repairs or repairing costs would be far more than its actual worth. Is it possible to sell a totalled car? Selling totalled car for parts may take a long time, and selling a totalled car to a salvage yard can be a tedious experience but selling a totalled car to a reputed auto wrecking company is undoubtedly the easiest way for getting rid of your car quickly and also get cash for it.
FINAL WORDS
Well, there is a better way to sell your damaged or broken car than selling it on online-classified portals, newspapers or scrap yards – the option we are coming to is none other than selling your damaged car to an established auto wrecking company for cash. Auto wreckers will provide you good value for your broken car, as well as, remove your efforts, save your valuable time, from personally selling used car parts from the damaged car.
The hot, crazy days of summers have set in, and with it, high temperatures as well. However, it’s the perfect time to hit the highways for a road trip, so pack up all your sunscreens and put on the summer hats to enjoy the long drive. But hey wait a minute! Is your Ford car ready to hit the hot Australian roads yet?
Just as your skin needs heat protection, your Ford car also needs some extra protection when the heat wave strikes. Fortunately, if you’re wondering how to keep your car cool during summers then here’s the list of simple things that can help you maintain a cooler car on hot and humid summer days.
Tip #1 – Get your car’s air conditioning system checked
Trust me! The most important part of your Ford car is to check the air conditioning system before you begin your trip. Similar to other cars, your car’s air conditioning capabilities can deteriorate over years due to common maintenance issues. However, if your car’s air conditioning system is not working quite well, it is recommended to repair it first before hitting the hot summer highways. Get your Ford car’s air conditioning system inspected with the assistance of a reliable auto mechanic to identify the exact malfunctioning issue.
Tip #2 – Inspect your car’s filters
As the temperature rises, so do the pollen count in Australia. During summers, most of the people plan out a road trip, but on the other hand, it increases the ratio of harmful gas emission and dust in the atmosphere. Hence, here’s where it is important to inspect and clean your Ford car’s filters such as engine filters, air conditioning filters, cabin air filters, etc.
If the filters are damaged and cannot be repaired, it is always better to replace them with newer ones. However, if you don’t want to spend more on new Ford parts, FordPro Wreckers can be a right place for you. FordPro Wreckers offers genuine Ford parts that will help you to keep your car up to date.
Tip #3 – Protect your car’s interior & avoid the UV rays
Would you like to leave the dash and other items in your car’s interior made of plastic to get a dull look? Obviously not – right! So ensure protecting your Ford car’s interiors from harmful UV rays because these UV rays can do some serious damage to your car’s interiors. Car’s interiors consist of materials such as rubber, plastic, vinyl etc, which are more likely to invite premature ageing.
However, with the help of various car interior protectants and leather conditioners, you can keep your car’s interiors protected and maintain its fresh look for a longer time.
Tip #4 – Replace seat cover and floor mats of your car
Summers means harsh Sunrays, which are meant for increasing hot temperature around. And it is obvious that you’re not going to spend your entire day out of your car, isn’t it? Thus, it is essential to keep your car well maintained including exteriors and interiors.
Change your seat covers and floor mats before hitting the roads because you’re not planning to sit in a car with dirt and mess around. Avoid using leather seat covers because they absorb more heat. In fact, changing the car mats and seat covers will help you to get an enhanced look in the interiors of your Ford car.
Last words
With these handy tips, make your car summer-ready before you hit the roads for a long trip. Due to the harsh sunrays, it is possible that your Ford car’s parts i.e. exteriors or interiors might be damaged.
FordPro Wreckers is a Ford parts dealer, supplies the best quality second-hand Ford parts for all Ford models and makes starting from Falcon and Ranger to Ford Mustang. At FordPro Wreckers, we test all the used Ford parts before we resell them to our customers. For genuine Ford parts, get in touch with FordPro Wreckers today on 02 9757 1811.
