Fixing Cars

AutoMD.com which is owned by US Auto Parts Network launched its new version of the AutoMD.com website. However, at first glance it looks very similar to their US Auto Parts affiliate sites, very generic and impersonal. And, indeed it was only a glance as I don’t have time to go through their 100,000 articles though I’m anxious to hear who’s written them.

Not too sure if this content will result in their being more accountable to the service and products they sell, if so then I’m sure people would appreciate the effort.

Just as Zappos has seen huge rewards from video, more video and content will be used like this.

What these companies have against them is the personalization they avoid as they duck behind the “virtual service counter” when they send the wrong parts or fail to deliver as promised. I actually got ripped off on a $200 set of gaskets, which they listed for the wrong application (big surprise, heh) After about 5 attempts, and other shenanigans over the phone, I gave up. They won. I simply didn’t have time to deal with their “staff” anymore, and felt like the person I was ordering from sounded just like the guy I order pizza from that shows up 20 mins late to my house claiming he was lost even if he’d just been here last week.

Obviously I’m going to be biased here in starting my own how to video site about cars, but I’ve learned a great deal about what works and what doesn’t, and the single most powerful thing thats missing from all of these new sites is credibility, accountability and originality. You simply can’t mass produce it, or do so internally, it must come from the users.

Anyone with a budget can put together a 100,000 videos, but to get each of those 100,000 to be done by enthusiasts, who can substantiate their knowledge and provide a background on the subject, is harder than just pouring money on it.

Now if a company wanted to work with TuneyFish on the launch of a product that’s all about how to automotive content, it would certainly benefit them from the knowledge accumulated over nearly 3 years of bootstrapping and brute force to become profitable.

Press Release:

CARSON, Calif., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ — AutoMD™ (www.automd.com) launched today as the most complete and unbiased free online automotive repair resource designed to empower car owners with the best and most affordable way to repair their vehicles — whether they’re heading to the shop or doing it themselves. Unlike any other site, AutoMD allows both car owners and DIYers to 1. Diagnose car problems, 2. Know how much car repairs should cost, 3. Understand the steps needed and the time it should take to make the repairs, and 4. Find the right local shop at the right price for their issue.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100119/LA39589)
“Until today, car owners have not had access to a truly unbiased and comprehensive free auto repair resource that operates both as an advocate to assure that they’re not over-paying for repairs and are finding the best, most affordable shop for their needs — and as a DIY guide providing them with the information they need to do it themselves,” said Shane Evangelist, President of AutoMD and CEO of US Auto Parts.
While other resources address pieces of the repair puzzle, AutoMD provides superior information for each critical step of the repair process — all integrated into a complete, intuitive, and user-friendly experience that enables both DIYers and DFMers (Do-It-For-Me) to:
Diagnose problems with easy-to-use diagnostic tool and visual guide
Get fair and objective car repair prices on over 10 million jobs, based on geography and vehicle type, including local labor rates and real-time parts pricing
Find a repair shop from the largest database of over 400,000 local shops matched for geography, specific job type and affordability
Access over 100,000 easy-to-understand “How-to-Repair” guides with step-by-step instructions, plus “How-To” videos and car expert/owner support

“US car owners spend over $200 billion in car repairs every year,*” said Evangelist. “Based on our research, we estimate that American consumers are wasting billions of dollars by overpaying for repairs. Now, with a few simple online steps and a print out from AutoMD, car owners can literally ‘know before they go’ to the repair shop — or, for those who prefer to do it themselves, save even more money by doing car repairs at home.”
According to a recent national analysis of repair shops across the country, AutoMD estimates that car owners are, on average, overpaying at the repair shop by at least 10%. And a stunning 88% of car owners recently surveyed say they have felt overcharged when getting their car repaired**. Backed by a team of automotive data specialists and certified auto mechanics who are advocates for the car owner, AutoMD enables consumers to come to the repair shop armed with the estimate. Or, for car owners who have already left their vehicle at the shop, AutoMD empowers them to negotiate price before authorizing the work, with easy access to true parts prices, labor rates and alternative shops.
Evangelist noted that online information has long been the car shopper’s trump card to a better deal. This is the cornerstone of AutoMD, which is designed to do for car owners what sites like Edmunds.com and KBB.com (Kelley Blue Book) have done for car shoppers.
How it Works:
AutoMD is designed to be an easy-to-use and seamless process - walking consumers through vehicle diagnosis, repair price estimate, how-to-fix-it and/or finding the right repair shop at the right price.
1) AutoMD Auto Repair Diagnostic Tools:
Car owners can diagnose their vehicle’s problems through a series of questions that ask things like “What does it smell like? What does it sound like? What area of the vehicle is the problem located in?” With each answer, car owners narrow down the problem to help ensure the correct diagnosis. Unlike any other free site, AutoMD also provides a step-by-step visual inspection guide, as well as possible reasons for each problem, to reinforce the diagnosis.
2) AutoMD Fair Price Auto Repair Cost Estimates:
AutoMD’s ‘Fair Price’ estimates are formulated for over 10 million possible jobs using specific average labor costs for each zip code, hours to complete and parts pricing data — down to engine size and sub-model. With an AutoMD Fair Price Repair Estimate, car owners not only gain peace of mind at the repair shop, but can also save significantly on their bills. Unlike any other site, AutoMD also provides Do-It-Yourself costs, including tools needed and parts pricing, saving car owners even more money.
3) AutoMD Right Auto Repair Shop Finder
AutoMD has made it its business to provide geo-specific information on capabilities and hourly rates for over 400,000 repair shops across the country and has already spoken directly to over 100,000 shop-owners (and counting) to validate their information. Unlike sites that provide generic yellow-pages listings, only shops relevant to a consumer’s specific repair issues and zip codes are listed with each listing detailing average hourly labor costs, contact information, shuttle and payment information, maps and directions, and consumer reviews and ratings.
4) AutoMD DIY Auto Repair-apedia
The AutoMD DIY Repair-apedia is a robust and detailed library featuring over 100,000 step-by-step ‘How-to-Repair’ guides with difficulty ratings, tools needed and estimated length of time for each job, as well as hundreds of DIY videos, and thousands of user postings. AutoMD’s Repair-apedia is seeded by professionals and perfected by the community.
About AutoMD
AutoMD (www.automd.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Auto Parts (Nasdaq: PRTS), is the most comprehensive and unbiased free online automotive repair resource designed to empower car owners with the best way to repair their vehicles. Backed by a team of automotive data specialists and certified auto mechanics who are advocates for the car owner, AutoMD integrates unprecedented repair pricing transparency, easy-to-use diagnostic tools and How-to-Repair guides, repair shop listings geo-customized for each issue and a Repair-apedia of consumer-contributed advice into a complete and unbiased online repair experience that shifts the power to car owners.
Safe Harbor and Risk Factor Statement
This press release contains statements which are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about US Auto Parts Network Inc.’s (USAP) business, subsidiaries and its industry, as well as certain assumptions made by USAP. These statements are forward looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Words such as “can”, ”anticipates,” “could,” ”expects,” ”intends,” ”plans,” “potential,” ”believes,” “predicts,” “projects,” ‘’seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” ”will,” “would,” “will likely continue” and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
Please read all risk factors discussed in USAP’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Risk Factors contained in USAP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available at www.usautoparts.net and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements in this release and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Unless otherwise required by law, USAP expressly disclaims any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as result of new information, future events or otherwise.
AutoMD™ is for informational use only and is intended to be used as a guide. We do not take any responsibility for automotive service decisions or automotive work decided upon as a result of using AutoMD™. Always consult a certified automotive mechanic before making important automotive repair and service decisions.
Contact:

Media Relations
Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (949) 307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com
Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, (714) 454-8776, angela@mwebbcom.com

Investor Relations
Budd Zuckerman, Genesis Select Corp, (303) 415-0200, bzuckerman@genesisselect.com

* AAIA Digital FactBook 2010
** AutoMD National Repair Shop Report and Car Owner Survey 1/2010
SOURCE AutoMD
RELATED LINKS
http://www.automd.com
http://www.usautoparts.net

Update, we added more information on our Auto Repair Manuals and Car Repair Diagrams page with links to some helpful resources.

If you are trying to learn how to paint your car or perhaps you want a few books on doing your own car repair then these books are a great start. They contain great information for the beginner or even those who have been working on cars for years.

A good technical understanding of cars along with the correct car repair manual for your vehicle will help you familiarize yourself with doing your own repairs. Even if you’d don’t intend on starting right away, just having these materials will give you the proper introduction of what is to come.

Automotive Detailing Manuals will show the proper steps to maintain your vehicles paint using mechanical buffing machines. Its critical that you understand the various types of buffing compounds that are available.

An Automotive Electrical Manual will show wiring diagrams and wiring harnesses. The wiring diagrams or schematics will show your vehicles electrical system for finding bad grounds or locating the testing leads for verifying the proper signal or voltage is being sent.

Automotive Electronic Reference Manual: Illustrated / Print / Diagnostic Trouble Codes / Articles / Bulletins / Scheduled Maintenance
If you haven’t used these types of manuals before, it will be a little overwhelming with data at first. They have “exploded diagrams” of every single nut and bolt that your car has. You’ll know the part #’s and descriptions so you know what the particular part is called. This is helpful when trying to identify parts for replacement. Or even trying to figure out what goes where after tearing into your car to do repair work.

Additional Categories: There are many categories for finding books and reference materials for working on your project. Here are a few categories that have an abundance of selection when it comes to finding the manual you need:

Cars
Pickups, SUVs, Vans
Racing
Motorcycles
Hot Rods & Customs
Muscle Cars
Build Horsepower,
Haynes Books and Chilton Manuals
Trucks & Heavy Equip.
Railroads
Tractors
Ships
Collectibles
Calendars
DVDs & Videos
Prints & Posters

In addition to the repair books, you can find books on how to build horsepower, restore and customize your vehicle. There are categories like restoration, turbocharger, supercharger and nitrous, fuel systems, tools, brakes, and many more.

If you are ready to dive in Click here for Automotive Repair Manuals and have access to the same info your mechanics use.

The HID kit for a Mustang has ballasts, lamps, wiring and brackets. The xenon lights have connectors for the wiring harness to connect to the ballast.

The HID (high intensity discharge) upgrade takes about 30 minutes to install. The result is a dramatic improvement to visibility, with different color options. The options are yellow, typically for fog lights (3000K), white (4300K), pure white (6000K), super white / bluish tint (8000K), and blue (10000K).

The benefits in having the HID lighting is primarily the improvement in your vehicle headlights which usually average about 1200K, so you gain almost 3 times the actual light output. In addition, a typical headlight consumes about 55 watts, where the HID system only consumes about 30 watts.

The installation is fairly simple and straightforward. The mounting brackets for the ballast and wiring is all included in the package. The connectors allow for easy plug and play type install. This is an upgrade you’ll appreciate every time you are driving at night or in times where visibility is limited due to weather conditions.

So I just got a message from David of Davidsfarm on Youtube, who I blogged about recently here.  David is killing it, and its such a good indication for content creators no matter what your passion is, if you create it they will come.

The thing that I admire most about Davids work is the style of his videos.  By style, I mean no fancy graphics, or editing in music, etc. 

The reason I like it is because its so quickly produced, meaning he can grab the video camera and go.  That means he can get a video up every other day or so, and without a film crew or writers or whatever.

I happened to glance at his bio as I was grabbing the link to a recent video and I just couldn't stop laughing: 

Occupation: Self employed garbage picker, problem solver and repairman.  (that is just awesome)

Posted via email from DIY Car Repair Blog

Here is an example of a serpentine belt diagram you can find under the hood.

The diagram shows how to wrap around the accessories. A 1/2″ drive breaker bar works well to rotate the tensioner. The leverage helps because of the pressure it takes to overcome the tension place on the belt.

Traveling long distances and going on roadtrips is good reason to keep a spare belt in the trunk. This is mainly because of the many different sizes available and the chances that in an emergency you aren’t spending days trying to source new one.

A new serpentine belt will help the cars performance as it drives the accessories and the alternator. The vehicle’s computer system is calibrated and dependant on the voltage coming from the alternator. A worn out serpentine belt can reduce the output of the alternator, thus reducing the overall engine performance.

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from DIY Car Repair Blog

Davidsfarm is a youtube phenomenon and the story behind it is simple. Davidsfarm is a farm up in canada where David works on cars and video tapes the activities and shenanigans that occur. His videos are entertaining and informative, a mix that has been very popular in producing a big audience. Dave is amassing a huge following on youtube, with over 50,000 subscribers to his channel and over 8MM channel views. Checkout Davidsfarm on Youtube and the following describes his channel-

From Youtube:
David’sfarm is a 100% Canadian Interactive YouTube Channel where I produce raw videos of wild redneck influenced cars I collect and build !! We take them on the wildest Joydrides!! I own a huge 100 acre Farm ,with jumps and trails, that I maintain all year round. I also enjoy making “How-to” instructional videos teaching others unique and cheap alternatives in repairing automobiles, heavy equipment and appliances. I am a semi retired appliance technician/Jack of all trades! Sit down, grab a drink and enjoy yourself! You will Laugh and Learn endlessly!!

In addition to providing entertainment to his viewers he is also satisfying the desire to learn about cars in a fun way. His information on doing budget repairs is another reason why people are so receptive. In this economy, people are looking for any and all ways to save money and DIY.

David makes a good living from his channel too, as YouTube sends him a share of the revenue his channel brings in when people click on ads. I’d argue that given this size audience on an automotive specific site would generate higher CPM’s as more advertisers are willing to spend more to be seen on niche sites where the content is focused.

This is a big opportunity for people who are willing to put it all out there and be totally transparent. Gary Vaynerchuk, who has been extremely successful and is promoting his book Crush It relys on these types of concepts in being immeresed in the community.

There is really no magic to this, building a brand is a lot of hard work, but by simply having the willingness to put yourself out there regardless of what some people might think is what differentiates your brand. Even if it means making a mockery of others, these videos are drawing a huge audience.

People are curious, inquisitive and strive to obtain new information everyday - selling your products or services is as simple as an explanation, and some listening skills.  Imagine yourself as the person who’s car just broke down, before walking into a car repair shop you will do some online research to determine what happened.  Regardless if the person who walks in becomes a customer, its critical that they at least walk out having learning at least one or two things that will help them with their car.

I’ve been sending some proposals out to companies I think would be interested in video, mainly manufacturers in the automotive aftermarket.  I had a thought that perhaps I was missing out on some local business.  So I am revising this approach to gain some face to face reactions on what we provide.  Our core value proposition is in the use of video to provide those one or two little tidbits of information that explain a repair, a product, or a technical subject.

A simple 2-3 minute video will suffice, and give so much credibility instantly that people can engage and share with their friends online.  Our videos are not only available on our website, but soon, perhaps by the end of this week we’ll have our iPhone application approved which provides our audience with immediate access to video on their phone.  A series of videos on basic car skills, our first and only free application, will give a glimpse into how incredibly useful having access to video on your phone is going to be.  Not to mention our app doesn’t require you to be connected to the internet in order to watch the videos, make it a great app for air travel or places that connections are limited.

Back to the subject of how auto shops can embrace this new media.  So I walked into this small repair shop not far from where I live, explained a few things, and in a couple minutes walked out.  It was fortunate that the company’s president was right there and the first person I spoke to.  I explained what
we do with video, suggested that we do a case study with them, just to see how well we can get them to rank highly for some good keywords that they may either be paying for or their competition is paying for.  The hesistation is fine and although they didn’t agree to anything right away, sooner or later they’ll want to do this.   Being the competitive nature of auto dealers and shops, once one or two see their competition is doing it, they will follow suit.

Video seems to rank pretty good, so I told him a little about what we’d be able to do and let him think on it for a few.  He stated it might be a month or so because of the workload, but he’d like to know more.  The thing I’ve realized is that these conversations are extremely useful because it changes the way you think about your actions.  I walked out of their thinking how I’d be able to make it easier on them, and when I finally got to work it was so much more productive.

Just over the course of the last week I’ve spoken to numerous companies over the phone and the conversation is typically a good outcome if I can just make sure they know what I’m talking about.  I don’t expect every single one to turn into a paying customer, but the more I talk to them the more everything makes sense to me because I have to be sure it makes sense to them.  The use of videos in business is getting to be pretty standard, but just saying we do online video isn’t enough to make it click.  Fortunately I’m able to get them to click a lot faster, and I can definitely detect when they shift.

I’m serious about the local approach, I think its going to become very big with advertisers and its where the real money changes hands.  Its perhaps more a longtail, vertical play, but still you can almost smell it in the air.  The more the technology makes it easier for people to Twitter across the globe and find out what everyone is up to, the more they will then pull back into their local scene to get stuff done.  I see Twitter as more of a stream of consciousness, a way to gauge what is happening at 50,000 feet, and to learn about the ways other people are living.  But what goes up must come down, sort of like the servers do over at Twitter.

People prefer to buy things locally, provided they are able to get a good price, and its not terribly difficult to find what they need.  All customers, regardless of whether they work on cars or just want to know more about how their car should be maintained, should be welcomed and provided something of value before leaving.  So forget business cards, or a written proposal, give them something for free, an experience of some sort.  They will return in the future, and they will highly recommend your business.

Local businesses can compete with online retailers, though it doesn’t have to be differentiation based on price.  Online retailers are vunerable when it comes to the local merchant who understands social media, and has the tools and understanding of how it works.  Local businesses are very accessible, you can pick up the phone, you can drive to them, but typically their web presence is minimal.  A video that takes no more than a couple hours addresses that.

If you want to maintain your cars value over time there are some important tips to keep in mind.

Keep mileage low

Most people when shopping for a car will look for one with low miles. This is about the most valuable selling point for any used car.

Keep good maintenance records

Its also important to try and keep good records of the work that has been done. If your car is under warranty and you’ve had most of the work done at the dealer its fairly easy to have them provide you with records.

Also, if you sell your vehicle with time left on your warranty be sure to call the dealership and ask them to provide you with a refund of the balance. This can be several hundred dollars so its worth it to inquire.

Get it detailed

Have your car detailed or do it yourself. This is something that will show a prospective buyer that the vehicle was well cared for. Vacuum the interior and clean the windows. Remove all stuff that won’t be transferred to the new owner. If you have any aftermarket stereo equipment installed, provide receipts / boxes / and any documentation that would be helpful in figuring out the operation.

Make sure it has had all necessary maintenance done, especially the major service 30,000 mile, 45,000 mile, etc.

Fix any problems as they arise

Try to fix any of the little things that you’ve just put up with and tolerated. If it has a squeaky windshield wiper, or any other strange noises, its best to try and get those dealt with.

Check the car market

Keep an eye on what other vehicles like yours sell for. Look on Ebay, Craigslist, AutoTrader, etc for finding the market value.

Be organized with your records

Get a 3 ring binder and keep all your documentation in one place. It makes it much easier to deal with when it comes time to sell.

In the past couple of weeks I’ve been researching ways to deliver a unique experience to those visiting TuneyFish that want to learn about automotive. So I’ve been looking at things that might allow one to sketch or utilize props so that they can still explain a concept without having to film the video on an actual car.

Don’t get me wrong, those videos will always be great but what if you just want to sit down and demonstrate something like how to change spark plugs, or replace a windshield wiper. I’d rather try something a little more creative, unique, and fun.

What led me to this:

1. I can’t draw
2. I have no time
3. I don’t like being on camera

I’ve been looking into 3D because its extemely useful to analyze parts and how things go together. A program called Solidworks is used by engineers to create these 3D designs, its similar to a more popular program which I’m sure you’ve heard of called AutoCAD. These programs are for engineers and its a stretch to think that it would be a viable tool for creating automotive how-to videos.

Adobe has an entire suite of products dedicated to this, but one in particular called FrameMaker is now capable of integrating 3D objects into pdf documents. Basically, you click on the image and it goes into a 3D mode where you can rotate and even see an animation.

Google SketchUp may be exactly what I was looking for.

If anyone has any suggestions about using SketchUp or any other ideas for a tool that could accomplish this I’d be very interested in hearing more.

The goal is to create automotive how to videos that are entertaining and educational without having to have a degree in computer animations.