Advance Auto Zone

As the operator of an Online Think Tank, prolific online article author and former Franchise Company Founder, I tend to get questions from cyberspace on many noteworthy small business topics and I welcome these to keep my mind alert in retirement.

Recently, an early retiring Airline Mechanic, perhaps taking a company incentive deal to retire ask me about starting a Mobile Fleet Truck Washing Business. His major question about taking the leap into small business entrepreneurship went something like this;

I have the money to start the business, but it will becoming out of my retirement and if I lose it do not want to have to work my butt off to earn it all back, as I would have to just to survive.

Personally in answering his concerns I stated: Very wise comment, small business is a risk no matter what type you get into. The odds are stacked against you, with over regulation, over lawyering and such. Sometimes the best thing is to not go into business.

His next question was telling and typical of the market place as he stated in so many words; There is a guy in the next town over who said he makes somewhere between $800 to $1,000 per day and invested about $20k in equipment, is this true?

My answer is multi-facited you see because if you have the right fleet accounts it is possible. However fleet truck washing is highly labor intensive you know? Unemployment is down and we have found in many markets getting labor is not quite but almost impossible.

Also remember taking in $1,000 per day is not taking home that much and if you are doing all the work yourself or go on every job, you will most likely be working harder than you have ever worked in your life. It is a lot of hard work washing that many trucks, vans, bobtails per day.

The hype is very common in the mobile washing industry. Sometimes folks will project their best ever day, which really went over a 20 hour period and say that they do that every day. I can tell you that $1,000 day is not unheard of in mobile truck washing. Running an $800 day every day of the week with one unit is tough because of equipment breakdowns, weather, scheduling, labor, water reclaiming, etc. But that is not to say it is not doable. Perhaps this article might assist you if you are considering a mobile truckwash business in 2007.

“Lance Winslow” - Online WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/ Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/ WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

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Reader Question” I have a question, can I change my brake fluid myself, and
if so how?
Thank you so much,
Tammy,

Tammy,

Thanks for your email. You CAN change the brake fluid yourself. The easiest and safest way to do it is to open the “brake bleeder screws” found behind each wheel (if in doubt ask your mechanic to point these out to you), or loosen the brake line behind each wheel which will allow the fluid to drip out slowly just with the power of gravity.

This might take an hour or two, so be patient. You need to remove the brake fluid reservoir cover on the brake master cylinder and DO NOT let the fluid level to so low that air will get in the lines!!!! Always keep the brake fluid reservoir cover off and filled with clean fluid until all the dirty fluid has drained out.

Once the old fluid has drained, re-tighten all the bleeder screws or brake lines that you loosened!!!

The other way to do this is to wait until your vehicle needs a brake job and have your mechanic do it while he is replacing the brake pads. There will be an additional charge, but it should not be very much as brake fluid “bleeding” is sometimes nessecary during a routine brake job.

Austin Davis is a myhonestmechanic.com Car Repair consumer advocate helping his visitors answer their questions about myhonestmechanic.com Auto repair and auto mechanic problems. Visit his site at myhonestmechanic.com myhonestmechanic.com to learn more.

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Welcome to Winter! Snow, ice, and cold can be especially challenging to the body and mind, as well as to important items in your life, including your car. Is your vehicle ready for winter? If not, there are some things you can do to help ensure that your car will start on cold mornings and survive even the nastiest winter weather.

Check under the hood. Make sure that your battery and all of its connections are clean and fastened; hoses and belts securely in place; your oil and oil filter changes up to date; your air filter clean; the radiator flushed and refilled; and your engine well tuned. One of the biggest contributors to a car not starting is the battery. If it is old and needs to be replaced, do it now before you take that long trip.

Look at the windshield. Besides obvious cracks in your windshield which you can have replaced, make certain that the wiper bay is free of debris. Ice and snow can freeze your wipers in place making them completely ineffective. Never pour hot water on a windshield to remove ice. You will remove ice all right…and crack the glass in the process!

Observe the tires. Properly inflated all season tires are usually all that you need for winter driving. In some areas, however, chains may be required. Keep a set in your trunk for emergency purposes.

Carry an emergency kit. It doesn’t take much to get stranded during winter. Even the best maintained vehicle can get caught in a snow bank or stuck in a ditch. Carrying a fully charged cell phone for emergency purposes is essential when driving anywhere uninhabited. The following items should be a part of an emergency kit you have stored in your vehicle at all times:

*Flash light with spare batteries

*Jumper cables

*Tire chains

*Ice scraper/brush

*Sand or kitty litter for traction

*Auto tools

*Wire coat hanger

*Flares

*Candles, matches

*Distress sign

*Medical kit

*Gas line antifreeze; ice lock antifreeze spray

If you frequently travel back roads and find yourself in remote areas, carrying an extra set of hats, gloves, and coats as well as several blankets is wise. Some people carry chocolate with them at all times which can be a great [and delicious!] energy booster as well as fresh water [don’t leave it in the car as it will get frozen].

If you find yourself stuck in snow, make sure that the exhaust pipe is free of all snow if you run your car while idled. Keep a window cracked open to allow for air to circulate; turn the engine off every ten minutes for a half hour or more to prevent carbon monoxide build up inside of the car.

You can survive the hazards of winter by taking a little extra care and caution. Properly equip your car today to ensure that your next trip is a safe one regardless of the prevailing road and weather conditions.

Copyright 2006 — Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for the Auto Parts Warehouse {APW}. At APW, we encourage drivers to properly prepare their cars for winter by keeping your autopartswarehouse.com/grill~pop.html grille free of snow and ice; ensuring that your autopartswarehouse.com/fog_lights~pop.html car fog lights are working; and your autopartswarehouse.com/cargo_liner~pop.html cargo liner hasn’t been cracked by ice.

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