AutoMD.com's AutoAnswers Provides - and Invites - Individual Answers to Auto Repair Issues from a Community of Experts

CARSON, Calif., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --  AutoMD.com (www.automd.com), the most comprehensive and unbiased free online auto repair resource, and winner of best automotive website of 2010*, today announced that its AutoAnswers has already provided over 20,000 auto repair answers from its community of experts to individual consumers seeking advice for thousands of individual automotive repair issues.  AutoAnswers is part of AutoMD.com's Repairapedia, a virtual community encyclopedia of everything from consumer-contributed reviews on repair shops, to 'How-To' repair advice, to answers to individual consumer repair questions.

"With roughly 40% of DIYers doing more of their own auto repairs today than they were two years ago, we wanted to harness that growing community of expertise to help empower car owners to make better decisions about their auto repair issues – whether they are doing it themselves or going to the repair shop," said AutoMD.com President Shane Evangelist. "We invited the expanding community of auto repair experts and DIYers to participate, and we are thrilled that, in just the few short months since it launched, AutoAnswers is providing useful and actionable advice for thousands of car owners every week."

Car owners can use AutoAnswers to search for solutions to their vehicle problems by drilling down to question and answer categories specific to their issues and their vehicle make. For example, if a consumer owns a 1997 BMW 528i Base 6Cyl 2.8L and wants to know why the passenger side windshield wiper is not working, the owner can simply go to AutoAnswers, and filter by make, 'BMW', and then by category - in this case 'preventative maintenance' – to find out what the problem might be and get a solution: http://www.automd.com/answers/passenger-side-windshield-wiper-working-drivers-works_q24226/.  AutoAnswers also provides the ability to search by repair question or vehicle repair issue.  

AutoAnswers encourages auto repair experts to contribute answers and features a 'Leaderboard' to help users get to know these community advisors with a running tally of those who have contributed the most answers, as well as 'thumbs up' and 'thumbs down' rankings on answers from the community.  Question topics on AutoAnswers range from 'Body & Interior' to 'Transmissions & Drivetrains', with 'Engine-related' topics among the most asked questions. AutoAnswers is monitored by AutoMD.com's team of expert mechanics, who also contribute advice; but, ultimately, AutoAnswers is perfected by the community of auto repair contributors who can both comment on, and provide, automotive repair solutions.

AutoAnswers is part of AutoMD.com's ongoing mission to serve as an advocate to empower car owners with the best and most affordable way to repair their vehicles -- whether they're heading to the shop or are part of the growing population of do-it-yourselfers.  Unlike other repair sites, AutoMD.com does not rely on revenue from repair shops or dealerships, so car owners can rest assured that AutoMD shop listings are completely unbiased and designed to help car owners choose the best, most affordable shop for their vehicle issue.  For more information visit www.automd.com

About AutoMD.com

AutoMD.com™ (www.automd.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc., (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.com allows both car owners and DIYers to 1. Diagnose car problems, 2. Know how much auto repairs should cost, 3. Understand the steps needed and the time it should take with How-to Auto Repair guides, and 4. Find the right local auto repair shop at the right price for their issue and 5. Get your auto repair questions answered by the AutoMD.com community.  AutoMD.com was named Best Automotive Website in the 8th annual American Business Awards, also known as the as the Stevie® Awards. AutoMD Mobile is available for the iPhone at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/automd-mobile/id369361977?mt=8

Contact:



Media Relations

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (424) 603-4340, melanie@mwebbcom.com

Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, (714) 454-8776, angela@mwebbcom.com

* AutoMD.com was named Best Automotive Website in the 8th annual American Business Awards, also known as the Stevie® Awards

SOURCE U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc.