Automotive Lift Basic Safety Rules

Automotive lifts save time when you need to do repair jobs, by making the lower part of the car accessible. They are an essential item of garage equipment supply. When draining oil, you can easily remove the drain plug, which is located on the bottom of the vehicle. Without a car lift, you would need to use a hydraulic jack to raise the front end of the car and place two jack stands under it. These would need to be in place before you could drain the oil. Before you use a car lift, you should know the basic safety rules. That way you'll avoid accidents. Failure to follow safety rules can lead to injury and even death.


Below are some "dos and don'ts" for to keep in mind when using automotive lifts.


Automotive Lift Do's:


• Be sure to have proper training on the basic operations of the lift. Improper use can result in someone getting hurt.


• Make a thorough inspection of the car lift before using it every day.

Each component must be in working order and properly lubricated.

• The locking devices must engage tightly. If one is loose, fix it.


• Always wear safety goggles when working under the car. This will prevent dirt from getting in your eyes.


• The vehicle should be balanced on the auto lift before you raise it up. You don't want it to topple over.


• If you're using a drive-on car lift, make sure that you place the safety wedge behind the tire. Without it, the car might slide off.


• Before lifting, check to see if you have enough ceiling clearance. This is especially important for tall vehicles like RV's and trucks.


• Stop lifting at knee height and gently check the stability of the car on the lift.

That way, you can adjust the position of the car before raising it higher.

• Before you lower the car, clear the area below of tools and people.


Vehicle Lift Don'ts:


• The vehicle must be empty before raising it up. Never lift it if it still has occupants.


• Each car lift model has a specified maximum weight capacity. You must not exceed the limit at any time.


• Some situations require the use of support stands, such as when you remove the transmission or engine of a car. Don't lower the vehicle onto the support stand, but rather raise the support to the vehicle's level.


• Don't repair a car lift by yourself when you encounter a problem with. Get in touch with the manufacturer.

How The Economic Downturn has Affected The Auto Salvage Industry

There is absolutely no doubt that the economic downturn has significantly affected the automotive industry in a negative way, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler were the three hardest hit resulting in two of these companies receiving bailouts from the government. Decline in auto sales can be blamed on many factors but the two most culpable are the massive increase in oil prices and the sudden credit crunch that affected nearly every American. Because these companies deal in new vehicles that are significantly more expensive than old or salvage vehicles they lost much of their market to these industries.


Salvage vs. hybrids


Even though new car sales declined significantly during the heights of the downturn in 2008-2009, there still existed the need of the consumer to purchase vehicles. Consumers opted for the smart buys and choose hybrid vehicles instead of those pesky and expensive gas guzzlers. Hybrid vehicles, though cheaper than traditional, new vehicles were still expensive to those hardest hit and thus they turned to salvage vehicles. While there are no exact figures it is estimated that the salvage industry during this time boomed as it left one of the only alternatives to purchasing expensive new autos.


The gift of cash for clunkers?


In an effort to boost new car sales as well as significantly reduce the operation of gas guzzlers on our roads, the government implemented the cash for clunkers program. This significantly helped the auto salvage industry in the short term because it was greatly involved in the pricing and collection and sales of these vehicles. The fact that most of these vehicles were sold to be shredded or crushed meant that this industry was given an expiration date of sorts; and while in the short term a lot of money was made, this program was essentially bad for business in the long term.


Having had to compete with hybrid cars that use less fuel and cash for clunkers the auto salvage industry has still managed to not just stay afloat in the economic downturn but it has also managed to become fairly successful during these times. It is true that hybrid cars and clunkers provide big competition but it is also true that salvage vehicles have always been directed to a niche market and that market never disappoints. The auto salvage industry is not expected to go out of commission any time soon.

Automotive Brands Making Clever Use Of Mobile

Automotive brands making clever use of mobile





According to a study done by ChannelNet there are more than 440 000 mobile sites and 500 000 mobile apps available worldwide with the automotive industry leading the pack and the category for auto parts coming in a close second.





Mobile device usage has seen rapid growth over the last few years, especially in the automotive industry. Mobile devices have made the buying and selling of cars easier than ever and this is proven by the statistics - 38% of all vehicle searches are done via mobile phones.





Having a mobile-optimised website can increase your business visibility and generate leads. Many consumers are looking for information on the go and having an easy-to-use mobile site for your business can increase your competitive advantage.





According to MobileMarketer.com 90% of shoppers end up at a car dealership after doing online research. This emphasizes the importance of focusing your web resources to attract clients for sales. Your websites usability plays an important role in converting leads to clients. Remember, your website in many cases is clients first point of contact with your brand. Easy access to information regarding your business is critical, especially on your mobile website.





According to Quattro Wireless mobile has the reach and the ability to take someone from consideration to purchase. It sure comes as no surprise that various automotive companies are taking advantage of what mobile has to offer, with great success as a result:





Harley-Davidson extends brand loyalty through mobile, using text messaging to inform customers about sales and promotions.


Volkswagen AG (AdMob Case Study) uses mobile marketing aggressively and smartly.


Land Rover used Admob which drove 73% of the traffic to their mobile site. On the mobile website, Land Rover had over 45,000 video views, 7,400 custom wallpaper downloads, 128,000 gallery views, 5,000 dealer lookups, 800 brochure requests, and 1100 and click-to-calls.


Toyotas motion sensitive iPhone App for Hybrid models: The less water you spill out of the glass, the more economical you are driving


Peugeot 3008 global mobile site: Enhanced touchscreen functionality


BMW Mobile Video Companion Ad (Rhythm NewMedia) achieves branding success.


Mobile case study: Jaguar XF Pre-launch (Yahoo!)


Steering Mazda customers (iCrossing)





Read more about these case studies on MMAGlobal.com.