Car Mirrors - Widely Use For Your Vehicle

Mirrors are used almost everywhere. From houses to stores, these things are already considered staples. With mirrors, rooms are made to look bigger while some are used to view one’s self or an object. Among the many machines dependent on mirrors are automobiles. The car mirror assembly, which is comprised of different mirror types, is definitely necessary in the safe operation of a vehicle.

First, there is the rear-view mirror, which is attached to a swivel mount above the windscreen. From the name itself, this type is designed to view the back portion of the vehicle, especially when the driver shifts the gear in reverse. While parking , for example, the driver can look at this mirror to see if there are any obstructions at the back. Another type of car mirror is the side-view mirror, which is strategically attached on both the driver’s and passenger’s sides. This type is often used when turning and changing lanes. While his vehicle is in motion, a driver glances at each mirror once in a while to check vehicles or other objects coming from the sides. These two types are the most common mirrors but there is also another one used in some vans called the back mirror. Installed at the rear window, this type allows the driver to see the tail end of the car so that he can estimate proper distance when parking or when in the middle of a tight traffic.

To have the car mirror assembly is one thing but to keep it in its proper position is another. The side-view mirrors, for example, are best positioned to view 90 percent of the road and 10 percent of the car body. In this angle, the driver has a good perspective of both the road and the vehicle. This proper side-view mirror position is also best achieved if the vehicle has a power mirror feature. This technology enables the driver to adjust the mirrors without the need to open the windows and reach for the mirrors to change their position manually. A more precise position of the side-view mirrors is achieved simply by pressing the corresponding buttons on the power mirror console.

These uses of the car mirror assembly only show why this is a staple in every vehicle whether it is a compact car or a heavy-duty truck. Without these mirrors, operating an automobile properly can be a really inconvenient task. More importantly, these parts are designed and are used to promote the safety of the driver, his passengers, and even of other motorists.

Guides To Find Tow Bar Specialist

Trust one of the UK's top tow bar specialists with all your towbar enquires and fitting needs.
With affiliations with SMMT and BALI, which incorporates the biggest brands and the right solutions for your needs. In addition, product fitted by experts means your product automatically comes with a lifetime guarantee.. UK customers will be familiar with the fact that all tow bars need to capable of towing any vehicles approved towing weight, but most will be unsure of fitting a towbar themselves. Choosing approved tow bar specialists to fit your chosen product means peace of mind that your tow bar is safe and secure - and even comes with a lifetime guarantee.
As a valued customer of Indespension, once your towbar is installed you will also have a 12-month guarantee on wiring and components and Indespension are happy to service your trailer to ensure its safety. For the best in detachable and standard tow bars, UK based Indespension offers great prices for all vehicles.



Before you choose a tow bar, we always recommend you check with one of our tow bar specialists whether you need to take the B+E Driving Standards Agency test to check your driving once towing a large weight is safe. This test is necessary for vehicles towing excessive weights, although depending on your towbar needs, you may not need to take this additional test.
Indespension are experts in tow bar and trailer needs in the UK. We make sure that our tow bar fitters are securing your cars safety.

Volvo Grille:Mark The Car With Style

Every vehicle has many parts that contribute to the totality of its function. Every part or accessory is not useless---they all play important roles to achieve the premium performance of the car. Noted car makers such as Volvo have continually found ways to serve their patrons better by developing different car parts suitable for almost any car. Thus, when one takes a look at a Volvo, the distinction not only lies in its smooth performance, but also in the aesthetics. At the front of a Volvo one will immediately behold the beauty of its grille. How every Volvo Grille would mark the car with style, at the same time executing efficiency by allowing the car to breathe.

The Volvo Grille is an opening in the bodywork of the car to allow air to enter. Most vehicles feature a grille at the front of the vehicle to allow air to flow over the radiator and cool the engine compartment. Other common grille locations include below the front bumper, in front of the wheels (to cool the brakes), in the cowl for cabin ventilation, or on the rear deck lid (in rear engine vehicles). While some, have what appears to be tiny grilles which are not positioned to duct air through the radiator. These are horn grilles, which enable the sound of the horn to be clearly heard forward.

The Volvo Grille has become a distinction with its slash bar, bearing the emblem of its name. The emblem represents the company's core values: quality, safety, and environmental care. True to its values, the company managed to deliver their goals to their patrons, making their name immortal in the car industry. They have earned their right to be trusted when it comes to quality products that are durable enough to last the life of the car.

The Volvo Grille has become a distinction with its slash bar, bearing the emblem of its name. The emblem represents the company's core values: quality, safety, and environmental care. True to its values, the company managed to deliver their goals to their patrons, making their name immortal in the car industry. They have earned their right to be trusted when it comes to quality products that are durable enough to last the life of the car.
Also, one must aways take note of maintaining the car as a whole, particularly the Volvo Grille. It should always be clean and clear of any blockage (example, snow, dried leaves, etc) so that it could perform its best. So to let the car breathe, hook it up with Volvo.

Tips on Jeep Bumper Brackets :Giving More Protection Than Ever

Jeeps are known to have high endurance in off-road trails and people consider it having a fearless character, great stamina, and strong durability. The fearless character could be easily attained with just an installation of exterior accessories that improve its already rugged look. But durability, stamina, and endurance are things that only be provided by the function and performance each Jeep part brings.

Bumpers are one of the parts that contribute in giving the three characters Jeep is reputable for, and also adds to the improvement of the Jeep’s look. Although bumpers are already useful, safety is something that people shouldn’t and couldn’t risk and so bumper improvements are only proper. One such thing that improves the function and appearance of bumpers of Jeep are the Jeep Bumper Brackets . It is a metal piece which connects the bumper to the reinforcement or frame. The Jeep Bumper Brackets assembly is made up of different components. First is the bracket mounting, usually shaped like a rectangle.

Second is the bracket support which serves as the bracket for mounting other bracket types. Third is the bracket stay which holds the bumper ends in most cars. Fourth, there is a bracket arm which serves the same purpose as the bracket stay but instead is shaped like a human arm. And fifth, the bracket reinforcement which holds the bumper reinforcement to the car’s frame.
Although these Jeep Bumper Brackets are made with only highly durable materials, several minor collisions could still put a bent on these things and be damaged.

Especially with Jeeps being used in off-road trails, drivers shouldn’t be surprised if one day their Jeep Bumper Brackets give up. And when this day comes, Jeep owners should be ready to acquire themselves a replacement only in their trusted aftermarket dealers. Jeep Bumper Brackets are minor parts but essential in adding safety and protection to the vehicle and its passengers

Features of Car Burglar Alarms - Prevent your car of getting stolen

Car burglar alarms are very important in terms of protecting your vehicle. It has many features which you can utilize to make sure you always protect one of your most valuable assets.
Nowadays, nothing is ever certain. Even the most seemingly quiet places end up to have the worst record in terms of crime rates and the stealing. This being said, you can never be too sure about the protection of your assets so you should pull off all the possible ways in which you can protect yourself from people who are interested with what you have. With this in mind, then car burglar alarms are something which you should definitely consider buying.

Car burglar alarms are really helpful and they can really save you up on this valuable asset. Car burglar alarms are more than just a piece of device which automatically makes some noise once a suspicious person comes up too close with it. In more ways than, car burglar alarms serve vehicles as a really effective self-protection. There is actually a considerable drop in the rate of stolen vehicles as soon as car burglar alarms became a popular commodity. This is obvious proof that car burglar alarms are really working.

Car burglar alarms also offer more than just some warning noise. There are some car burglar alarms whose features include a safety locking system which really prevents somebody from trying to force the doors open. So aside from just making noises, car burglar alarms can also strengthen the lock system of your vehicle so even if the car itself is not the primary but just something inside it, that thief will definitely fail if you have this security device installed.

Moreover, some car burglar alarms are also high tech enough to automatically trigger a response from the police. In this way, the device do not just make warning noises against an intruder but it also actively makes sure that some authorities aid you in that particularly threatening moment. What happens is that as soon as the alarm is triggered, your device will automatically be sending wireless and signals which cannot be intercepted to the proper authorities.

As a result, the police can promptly respond on the scene and prevent the unwanted from happening. Car burglar alarms are really important devices which you should definitely consider buying. They can actually provide you with so many benefits that you end up getting more than what you initially paid for. Keep in mind that your car is a very valuable asset and yet you will not always be around to protect it. After all, you will not always be able to park inside a garage where you know it is kept safe and free from questionable strangers.

Car Spray Art - Which will be suitable for you

When you think of respraying your car most people think in terms of changing the colour.

So much is possible with a little imagination and determination. Stickers can really change a cars appearance but there are limits to what you do with a sticker, especially at edges and joins.

Damage can always be repaired by the original artist but you will be paranoid when driving a work of art like the ones featured on this page!

The paint layers in spray art is built up and will usually be thicker and tougher than the original cars paint. A good layer of clearcote will protect the car from stone chips and helps protect the paint underneath.

Time wise sprayed art does not take that long if you know what you are doing and a bonnet can be done in a day (although longer drying time between each coat strengthens the paint).

This page should hopefully give you some inspiration and show you just what can be achieved.

You get what you pay for - don't expect to get this sort of finish from a few tins of cheapo paint from your local car shop!

Prepartion is vital, you want the spray art to last a long time and if it starts flaking off in placed it will look ghastly. It is also vital to ensure that the surfaces are smooth, especially if you have use filler or added vents etc.

A tin of paint will not give a good enough finish and will tend to spit and cause blobs. Use a good quality spray gun and good quality paint - the old addage you get what you pay for certianly applies here.

Find a company at the many car shows, if you see a paint job you like ask the owner where he got it done. Many people have the skill to create fantastic works of art but lack the exposure so are holding down 2 jobs leaving respraying as a hobby. This is a shame, car spray art can be stunning to look at and as asthetically pleasing as a stroll around any art gallery.

Many of the professional spray artists started out as graffiti artists and have now put their talents to good work. Most of the work on this page was done by Lawrence from Custom Shack, a very talented artist who signs his work Kaos.

Slip diffs - Tips to tweak your car for a better performance

Every car has a slip diff but with a few tweaks you can totally transform your cars performance in the wet and other low grip conditions.

In a recent track test a Megane 225 Sport with a Limited slip diff out performed a number of more powerful cars on a wet track which goes some way to show how important this often overlooked part of the car is.

What does a diff do? Go back to the days when you made your first axle from a pencil and 2 cotton reels.

When it went in a straight line all was fine but when the axles turns a corner the one of the wheels start to slip and lose traction. The wheel that covers the outer radius of the corner must rotate more than the one on the inside as it has a greater distance to travel.

Try it with a pencil and 2 pieces of round car for wheels marking out each complete revolution of the wheel.

Under heavy load and especially in low grip conditions you will really start to appreciate a limited slip diff.

In a car the diff takes the power from the engine via the gearbox through the prop-shaft and diverts it to the wheels according to the amount each wheel takes with the wheel on the outside radius of a corner taking the most as it rotates a greater distance. The problem you get with a road car though is that the diff will send more power to the wheel which is spinning fastest. If one wheel is on ice and the other grips all of the power will go to the wheel which has no grip and the car will be effectively stuck.

Enter the Torque sensitive slip diff. This will perform in the same way as a standard but will limit the amount of power going to one wheel to 65-80% depending on its design. This avoids the problem of the car getting stuck in low grip conditions and actually improves traction when going through bends in the wet.

We also have a torque activated (clutch type) LSD which senses the amount of load from the input and behaves as a 1 way 1.5 or 2 way limited slip diff which gives a pretty good compromise in all conditions. When under a full load the coupling is proportional and under low load conditions we are back to a fixed coupling.

Geared torque sensitive diffs are also available which do not look at the relative difference between the output shafts rather looking at the input shaft but have useful applications in FWD cars reducing torque steer, and on drift car settings allowing more predictable over steer although pro drifters use a clutch type LSD.

The electronically controlled slip diff is a recent development and uses the anti lock brake sensors to monitor independent wheel speed and uses braking to bring the wheel under control if it starts to slip.

When you have fitted a new LSD you must follow the instructions that came with it to break it in properly otherwise you may cause permanent damage to the diff. For motor sport and heavy fast road use, it is recommended of using a clutch type of LSD due to their solid construction and reliability.

Most of the time you will not notice that you have a high performance diff but under heavy load and especially in low grip conditions you will really start to appreciate this subtle modification and turn in some very impressive track times compared to more powerful cars with a standard diff.

In 4 wheel drive cars the diff gets more complex and can divert the power to the rear and front wheels depending on the amount of grip available so there is much more scope for altering the traction and handling characteristics of these cars.

In complex cars such as the Nissan Skyline the diff can make the car behave like a rear wheel drive until traction is lost and then around 20% of the power can be diverted to the front wheels. Join us in our friendly car tuning forum to discuss diffs in more details.

How to decide which exhaust you will need to go for

Deciding what type of exhaust you would like to purchase for your vehicle can take some time. It does help to know you have plenty of options though. Think about why you want to buy an exhaust. First, you may need to replace it because yours has a whole in it or it is rusted and falling apart.
Others change their exhaust system though because they want to upgrade it to something else. When you have a better exhaust system your vehicle may operate better for you. The performance you can get out of it is going to amaze you. If you wish your vehicle had more power and a better sound, this is the way to get it.



The third reason why people often buy an exhaust has to do with the physical appearance of it. They may find that a new exhaust system is going to offer them the finished look that they have been dying to own. You can buy single pieces for an exhaust or you can but an entire kit.
It is vital that you understand the role of the exhaust for your vehicle though. It is in place to keep harmful fumes and toxins from the inside of your vehicle. It is extremely unhealthy for them to reach you. This is why you need to do extensive research when you shop for an exhaust system. You want to be 100% confident it will work properly for your vehicle.
You can also turn to specialists that can help you get the specific information for your vehicle. They will take your own exhaust needs into consideration and then give you're the options. They can also help you to find what fits into the price range you have for your new exhaust.
Of course if you are going to spend the money to get something like this set up, it needs to offer you the benefits you want. It also needs to be extremely safe. If you have any questions about how your exhaust has to be set up, then you will find plenty of experts out there to assist you.
All of the time you invest in getting the right exhaust though will be well worth it. You will love the benefits that it offers to your vehicle. You will also feel good about the investment that you put in it. Your exhaust is a very important part of your overall vehicle.

Free Changing the Windshield Wiper Fluid Tips

The windshield wiper should be kept in good condition since it plays a major role in ensuring that the windshield stays clean and clear. This particular part of the car should be given adequate care and this is generally attributed to a number of reasons. When the weather conditions are harsh, this particular part of the car is extremely important. Windshield wipers ensure that the weather, the snow and the sleet is kept away for clear vision hence the need to keep them in good condition and maintain them always.

When residual rain or acid creates stains on the windshield, they should be washed off or wiped clean using the handy wipers of the vehicle. Sometimes it is a bit hard to remove these stains and one may be required to give the vehicle thorough cleaning. In a case where a dove or some other animal relieves itself on the vehicle's windshield, this calls for wiping down the obstructive material and letting the windshield wiper as well as its fluid complete the clean-up. Once an individual realizes the importance of the windshield wiper, this will definitely influence the frequency at which the fluid level of the windshield wiper is checked.
Checking and changing the fluid of a windshield wiper is one of the easiest fluid checks and changes that car owners can make. The fluid of the windshield wiper is generally a mixture of a particular solvent and an addition of water pumped on the windshield by the car to aid in cleaning or at least clearing the glass. This reservoir should always be added water, but if it happens that this is the first time an individual is checking and changing the fluid of the windshield wiper, this is no reason to worry. A few steps are quite easy to follow regarding how one can accomplish this incredibly easy and highly important trick for car maintenance.
The first step on checking the fluid of the windshield wiper and choosing the correct type involves consulting the car's manual and finding the exact location of the fluid reservoir for the windshield wiper. Unless one is sure about the location, the fluid should never be added. The car engine should be turned off and the hood propped up to check the fluid reservoir. There are markings on the outer side of the tank for indicating the fluid amount left inside the reservoir. At this point, one should only proceed if the tank is less than half-full. The cap should then be removed and the correct fluid mixture added according to the indicated markings on the owner's manual. The cap can henceforth be popped back on and the vehicle's hood closed.
The right mixture of the fluid should be used, but plain water should never be added. The fluid mixture consists of a detergent for cleaning the windshield as well as antifreeze for preventing it from freezing on the car's windshield or in the reservoir. The fluid mixture can be bought in a concentrated or premixed form. The windshield wiper fluid should be checked and changed regularly to ensure the glass is clear for excellent vision.

Free Guides - Suspension Tuning Tips

The basic job of the suspension spring is to support the car and any associated loads. They also prevent brake dive, body roll, rear end squat on acceleration and generally provide an even ride. When it comes to tuning your suspension the choice is basically between lowering springs that reduce the ride height of your vehicle and performance springs that will optimise the handling of your vehicle. The suspension tuning option is down to you and your needs. Do you want your car to achieve admiring glances from onlookers when out on a cruise, if so then lowering suspension springs maybe just right for you. Alternatively if the odd weekend track event is your thing then mild performance springs will be better suited to the job.






There are three general spring designs available - Normal, Step Linear and Progressive Springs. The Normal Spring has equal spacing between each coil and the response rate is a specific designation when compressed. For example a coil spring with 200mm spacing between each coil in normal state with extra weight applied to the load will compress evenly at say 170mm apart. A further increase in the load would result in increased compression to say 150mm but again this would be even between each coil.
Step Linear Springs have one half of the coils at one spacing and the other half at a smaller spacing. As the springs compress the coils with a smaller spacing close up and become ineffective leaving the coils with the larger spacing to do the work. This set up provides different levels of response and performance. Linear springs are more often used in drag racing, road racing, track and races that require a high spring rate, in which a constant spring rate is more important than a smooth ride.
Finally progressive springs have different spacing between coils. When the spring is being compressed the top 25% of the coils touch and become ineffective, the more compression applied and more coils touch again becoming ineffective and the spring stiffens. Progressive springs are very sensitive to road defects but provide the stiffness required under braking and steering. Progressive springs are most likely to be found in aftermarket performance kits giving a blend of performance for street and strip.

Guides to prevent wheel rim damage

Keeping your vehicle looking great can be challenging sometimes. It takes time, money and patience; however it is completely worth it in the end. There are so many different parts of your vehicle to clean, car for and protect. One part of your vehicle that is very important to care for is your vehicles wheel rims. If your wheel rims are not in good condition not only do they not look good but can be very expensive to replace. Find out ways that you can care for and prevent damage to your wheel rims. It is definitely worth the time and money to find out!



First of all you need to start out by taking care of your wheel rims. Since most of don’t have the extra cash flow right now for new ones the easiest way to get them looking and staying nice is to take care of them. You need to make sure that you wash your wheel rims on a regular basis. If you take your car to the car wash instead of hand washing it, you wheel rims are probably not getting their cleanest. Unfortunately that is an area of your vehicle that doesn’t really benefit from the car wash. It just takes soap, water and a cloth or brush. You need to make sure that you can reach all the little areas of your wheel rims with whatever tool you choose. You should also dry them when you are done washing and rinsing. Also if you spray a tire shine product on your tires that can leave a residue on your wheel rims. Make sure that you clean that residue off when you are done.

Your next step is to simply try to avoid situations that may lead to wheel rim damage. This is best way to save yourself money. Sometimes it will involve more time and patience on your part but it will definitely be worth it. First of all try not to take the corners to close while driving. What happens is that you take it too close and your wheel rims scrap the curb and you are left with scratched and maybe even dented wheel rims. Also be sure that you avoid potholes in the road. If you hit a pothole in the road you may be left with damaged wheel rims as well.
Also simply drive with care. A lot of wheel rims need repairs due the accidents. So try your best to avoid accidents of any kind.

If these measures do not work, you may need to get wheel rim repair.
Sure, you could get them replaced but that will require a lot of time and money. Getting your wheel rims repaired will only cost a fraction of replacement costs. Wheel rim repairs can also be completely in a very timely manner. To get your wheel rims repaired you should locate a qualified auto body shop in your area that can perform that service. Take the time to prevent wheel rim damage or at least take the little bit of time to get them repaired if they need it.

Engine Balancing - Benefit and Guides

We all know what happens when a wheel is fitted to a car without being balanced.

At low speeds you do not notice it but at higher speeds noticeable vibrations start to appear.

Inside an engine the rotational speeds reach 6-7000 rpm and the higher the speed the more critical it is to ensure that vibrations do not occur.

As you can see from this cross section of a piston there are a number of parts which move in each stroke of the engine, in varying directions and speeds, and if these are imbalanced you will end up with vibrations and internal stress.

The benefits of engine balancing

A balanced engine will generally be more efficient and reliable and will certainly tolerate much higher engine speeds.

We must remember that no engine can be perfectly balanced due the amount of subtle factors involved but we can certainly improve upon the balance of a mass produced engine.

They will have already modified many other aspects of the engine but we should not overlook the benefits of balancing the engine first, as this enables us to sustain higher engine speeds and gives us reliability.

No engine can be perfectly balanced but you can certainly improve a mass produced engine.

When balancing an engine there are 2 main areas to focus on, firstly the components inside the engine, their weight and how accurately machined they are and secondly the forces created within an engine under combustion.

When each cylinder reaches combustion ideally the amount of energy released should match that of the other cylinders. Firstly though we will look at the physical engine components from a balancing perspective.

Blueprinting an engine

Balancing the physical engine components is often referred to as "Blueprinting", as the components are carefully matched and machined as a set with each engine being unique.

Just as a tyre installer has a special machine to balance your wheels a machine shop have a dedicated engine balancing machine onto which the components are fitted, rotated and a computation is made of where adjustments need to be made.

The main components in an engine to be considered for balance are the flywheel, bearings, pistons & rings, the piston rods, pins and the crank. Weight is removed from the heavier side of a component to achieve balance but sometimes weight has to be added to the lighter side.

The pistons and rods are machined as a matching pair (with drilling away excess metal & again occasionally adding metal around the pin boss and the inside of the crown) and the weight and dimensions of each is also closely matched you will be well on the way to having a nicely balanced engine.

The counterbalance in the crank usually has metal cut away and sometimes weld added to add metal to adjust the weight and in extreme cases, a tungsten alloy is added, which is substantially heavier than most other metals although this is an extreme solution.

It is worth remembering that weight incrementally increases imbalance so using lighter components can assist with the aim of getting a nicely balanced engine although we should stress that often lighter components are weaker.

The crank, located at the bottom of the engine has quite a hard job as it converts the vertical motion of the pistons into rotational forces. Crankshafts are generally forged from steel although they can also be cast from iron but the forged steel ones are lighter and are more compact.

A machined crank from a billet of steel will be stronger as the metal has not been subjected to heating and cooling cycles of casting or the additional heavy pounding of forging. In some performance applications the crank shaft is balance lightened to reduce its rotational mass and then fitted with counterweights made from a tungsten alloy (or similar) to help balance the rotation of the shaft.

Crank shafts will suffer from sideways motion as they convert the vertical piston action into rotation and the bearings combat this, so getting good quality well machined bearings is also an essential in creating a balanced engine with high performance engines potentially carrying a larger number of bearings.

The crank also endures a twisting motion so can be subject to fatigue. Various engine configurations attempt to address the problem of the forces on the crank in different ways, ranging from the v6 and v8 to flat 4s and boxers but no engine is perfect and they all suffer from an amount of vibration the best we can hope for is to maintain the engine balance throughout our usable rev range.

Balancing the engine dynamics

The next area of balance involves the dynamics of the engine itself. If the compression ratio is out between cylinders you will have an imbalance and vibration happening as the engine turns over.

The compression ratio can be affected by a large number of factors, cylinder wall damage, gasket imperfections, poor valve seating and even a badly machined spark plug.

It is a good practice to take compression readings from each cylinder at regular intervals and check that everything is within an acceptable tolerance.

Check the camshaft also as uneven wear will cause the valves to open at different intervals and amounts and this can upset the delicate balance between cylinders.

Assuming that each cylinders compression matches you now have to balance the fuelling to each cylinder. Again the injectors should be matched and need to deliver the same amount of fuel to each cylinder and the fuel to air ratio also needs to matched.

A gas flowed head will help to ensure equal air delivery to each cylinder although getting the compression ratio matched is more important. When an engine is balanced you will hear a purr as it ticks over.

Get used to the sound of the engine exhaust note on tick over and if you lose the regular throbbing purr it will generally indicate that something has moved out of balance in the engine.

Time To Change a Oil Filter - Free Indication To Change on Your own

The First step in oil change must get the old material from there. The Oil is dranned from oil pan in most bottom of your engine. The Oil is organized by connector of the drain that looks look like big bolt adown pans.

Previously, than You delete the oil connector of the drain, be certain that your recycling container positioned under oil drain. Oil change can be not no fun if most your time spent establishing order oil.
When You delete the connector of the drain, allowed this falls on top of the container recycling. There is screen on top, which will keep this from drop in dirt.
Allow whole oil drain then change the connector of the drain, tightening this in your specification rotating moment of the cars or "comfortable but not too it is difficult" if You - a key rotating moment sans.

Place the cap in oil recycling container so You may throw this in positions that takes the used oil the most full gas stations facilities take this.
Now that most oil is dranned you will need change the oil filter. First find what type of the oil filter, which You it is necessary. You may orderly find this info in your local autotomotive shop. You may also confirm our as to choose the page of the oil filter. Then we dispose the oil filter, which looks look like cup. This orderly white, orange or swabs the colour. After so attempts of the occupation to untighten this manually if this - it is difficult, You should use the key of the oil filter. To use this right before placed belt around filter and tumbling is left while this will not break free. After this will liberally this can drizzle more oil. If this happens placed, You swab the pan of the drain under this and waiting this to be slowed. Slowly weaken the oil filter after broken free and pull this. Beside it will probably be an oil in this and that - an o.k., simply mouldboard that in You to dran the pan. Pochistite area with your rag and prepare the new oil filter to continue. To prepare the oil filter, take little new oils and placed this on your finger, then place the oil around seal the oil filter.

This is made to make sure the oil filter is not sealled on and does this impossible to descend next time You change your car oil. Carefully screw the oil filter on and hand is delayed only. Do Not Do on be delayed.
Carefully screw the new oil filter on place. They Are Remembered, he has an oil in this so does not forget to keep this direct. This is screwed on clockwise.
You not it is necessary key to install the new oil filter. Screw this on such thick as You may get this with one hand. Overtightening Oil filter can delete its thread and cause the flow. Certainly, not delaying this it is enough can cause the flow. So screw this on such thick as this will go with one hand, but more.

Now You ready to fill the engine by oil. Unscrew the oil filler to close and include;switch on;list your pipe. I love to buy the containers 5- quarts to oils (cheap) but if You use the single quarts, which - a fine, too.
Check your managament an owner to find how much oils your machine vault. Leyte trace than 3/4, which are formed in engine. For instance if your car keeps 4 quarts to oils, adds 3 1/2.
If You use the container 5- quarts to oils, there is managament on side, which shows how much oils You have put.

After correct amount to oils will be in placed cap on and allows that each thing settle 5 minutes, then You should check the oil once again and make sure that it is correct.

How to make a non turbo car faster than a turbo car

When it comes to increase the speed of the car, turbochargers are the best solution to give you an adrenaline rush. Turbocharger increases the speed of the vehicle by compressing the air that enters the engine. Nevertheless, in doing so, much amount of air is permitted to enter the engine and thereby enabling more fuel consumption for enhanced energy. Through this procedure, the cylinders of the cars will yield extra power resulting faster acceleration. However, this high pressure results in the heating of engine. Due to this, the turbocharger may need more cooling occasionally since they are prone to high heat.

The turbo cars have the benefit of producing more power over the non-turbo cars. The turbo cars are small and can be fit within a four cylinder as well. Most importantly, the turbo cars offer amazing power that can be achieved only by large engines.
The turbo car comes with several disadvantages, if it is not fitted correctly and the oversized turbocharger employed, it may have no effect or very little effect on boosting. In place of providing powerful engine boost, the car with turbocharger might respond very poorly or slowly to acceleration. The turbocharger also incorporates a turbo lag that is inconvenient while racing, so it is essential to attain maximum performance timing with turbo car. One major drawback of the turbo cars is its cost involved for the installation of a turbo kit. In addition, turbo kit is complex in installing and you might require learning little bit for engineering for installing it correctly at one go.

The turbo cars are faster as compared to the non-turbo cars, but the choice of installing a turbo kit in the car one should seriously think over before installing the greddy turbo kit in the car because installing one is not a simple task. Get well acquainted with the installation of the turbo kit so that it is worth every penny of your money. If you are sure that you will be able to maintain the turbo car, then get a turbo kit and get it installed in your car. However always remember that driving the car at fast speed does not mean that you can compromise safety, if you have a turbo car, drive safely and follow all the road safety norms.

Fuel Injection System

Fuel injection system refers to the set of automotive part which mix fuel with air in an internal combustion engine. The primary component of this system is the fuel injector, which is a computer controlled valve. When pressurized fuel is supplied to it, it delivers fine droplets of fuel and air mixture into the combustion chamber of the engine. It's a sophisticated piece of machinery and can open and close multiple times within a second. The quantity of the fuel supplied to the engine is determined by amount time the fuel injector stays open. This function is electronically controlled. The system also makes use of a lot of sensors to ensure that the right amount of fuel is sprayed into the cylinders.



Source: automotive-online.com/carcraft.com

Free Guide on Replacing a Spark Plug

Changing spark plugs is a large part of a regular tune up, but did you know that you can perform this easy maintenance job yourself? A spark plug is basically a high voltage bridge that electricity passes through. They are very cheap to buy and easy to install. It does not hurt to replace them each year; doing so can increase the efficiency of your engine and even help out with gas mileage a bit. This procedure is not difficult as long as you follow the directions. The tools you will need include a ratchet wrench, a 12 inch socket extension, and a spark plug socket for your vehicle.

Your spark plugs may be easily located if you follow the thick, black cables As a rule of thumb, 4 cylinder engines have their spark plugs at the top of the engine in a row, 8 cylinder engines have their spark plugs 4 on each side, and 6 cylinder engines can have them either way. Spark plugs are placed in a specific order, so it does matter in which order you place them and take them out. Starting at the end of the row, grab the spark plug as close to the engine as you can, and pull it out. If you grab them too far up you could damage the cord and have to replace it.
If you have not already done so, place the spark plug socket and extension on your ratchet. Inside of the spark plug socket, you should see black rubber or foam on the other end. This is useful because it holds the spark plug into place as you take it out of the engine. Set your ratchet to loosen, and place it over the end of the plug. You can now easily remove the plug. After you have removed each plug, it is a good idea to examine it. There should be a little grime and dirt on the end, but if you have too much it could be a sign of trouble.
When you buy spark plugs for your cars nowadays, they will usually come already gapped. This makes things a whole lot easier. In order to place the new spark plug in the hole, place the plug wire end of the plug into the socket. Now hold the extension and place it in as far as it will go. Be careful while doing so though, as you don't want to damage the plug. You can now screw in the new plug using just your hands. You will only be able to do this to a point though, and then you will have to use the wrench. Once it is in, you may put the wire back on.
Now once the first one is done, you just have to repeat the process with each of the remaining spark plugs. Don't worry; it gets easier each time you do it. If you pulled out all of the spark plugs at once, you will have a difficult time knowing which cable goes where and things will not go well if you place the wrong cables on the plugs.

The Mysterious "Check Engine" Light

If you have had your car or SUV long enough, that annoying “check engine” light has probably made an appearance on your dash board. The first time I saw it, I popped the hood and “checked” the engine. It seemed ok to me. My car was running fine. So like most experienced car drivers, I ignored it or I tried too. The really insidious thing about that little innocent light is that it really gets to you after a while. After a long drive at night with that light shining at me like a laser beam, I considered putting it out its misery with my tire iron. Which brings up the question, what is it there for.

Well here is a basic answer. The “check engine” light is connected to the car's engine fuel management computer. This is the computer that runs the fuel injectors, reads the engine sensors, etc. The oxygen sensors are used by the ECM to determine how accurately it's injecting the fuel, and adjusting the way the fuel is injected to compensate for changing conditions. When the computer inside the ECM detects that there is something wrong, the ECM turns on the “check engine” light. For example, a bad sensor or engine operating parameter that exceeds a preprogrammed set point then the ECM turns on the light to let you, the driver, know that something is wrong and needs to be corrected. It doesn’t mean something cataclysmic is about to happen, just that the computer that runs a lot of the functions in your car is getting some bad information. Most of the time this means an oxygen sensor has failed and needs to be replaced. In a lot of states, your car will not pass the inspection when the light is on. So you have to fix it before you can get a new inspection sticker.

Free Tips on cryogenic engine treatment

When putting more power through an engine you need to ensure that every part will perform at its optimum.

One of the motorsports favourite techniques to improve the durability of an engine is a process know as cryogenic treatments.

As you can guess from the use of the word Cryo - it involves the cooling and heating of the engine block to temper the metal changing its structure.

First the engine is slowly cooled in liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen is added to the sealed tank in very precise measures, too fast and you risk causing stress fractures in the metal.

After you have reached around -350F the engine temperature is slowly raised up again to over 300 F over a 12 hour period or so.

This process is repeated 3 or 4 times over the course of a week. The process will work on any metal engine part with popular use for hardening the block, pistons and crank.

The camshaft is also a high wear area of a performance tuned engine and will benefit from cryo treatment. It is best that the parts are cryo treated separately and then assembled.

Extreme cooling and heating has a massive effect on the engines durability and reliability.

The cooling and heating of the metal aligns the 'metal molecules' and allows them to be much more tightly packed together. This cooling and heating actually traps carbon atoms that do not have time to diffuse out of the crystal structure.

It forms a more symmetrical crystalline lattice which is much tougher than untreated metal. Known as a Martensitic structure this process has been used to strengthen blades and cutting surfaces and is now being applied to engine tuning.

It allows the head gasket and valves to seat better and this will also improve engine efficiency and power. It also improves the lubricity of 2 surfaces as there are less friction causing imperfections again raising the power output of the engine.

Rather than just affecting the surface of the metal the slow temperature changes allow the entire metal to attain the benefits.

Any stress points in the metal are thus removed and the result is that the engine is much harder and will cope with a lot more stress.

The internal friction of the surfaces is reduced giving an instant power gain. Because internal friction is lower the engine is more reliable and some sources quote 8 times the wear resistance for certain metals after a cryogenic treatment along with improved tensile strength.

There are not many places offering this service but there are some specialists out there. The relative cost to benefit ratio is fantastic and will give you a distinct advantage in the competitive motorsports arena allowing you to raise the bar of your engine power.

Carbon fibre body panels and bonnets - Free Guides

One of the hottest looks actually improves the performance of your car. Carbon fibre body panels are becoming popular. Carbon fibre is a weave of carbon fibres to construct a flexible but light and very strong material that is stronger than steel.

Carbon fibre is now a very expensive product due to the demand. Many companies are now offering budget carbon fibre panel and carbon fibre bonnets.

One of the easiest panels to fit is a new carbon fibre bonnet. They come tailor made for you car with predrilled holes for the hinges, catches and windscreen washer jets. If you need to drill carbon fibre yourself you should cover it with tape and drill from the top down to avoid splintering, some people place a block of wood underneath but with a high speed drill setting this is not always necessary.When drilling carbon fibre panels be very cautious - check and recheck your measurements and use large sheets of paper as a pattern to double check.

You get what you pay for so don't expect a cheap carbon fibre panel to be perfect.

Before you fit any carbon fibre panel you should check it carefully for imperfections. Then after removing the old panel lay the new one in its place and check that the holes and hinges align perfectly. Sometimes bubbles appear in the resin layer and discoloration can also appear in patches. Generally you get what you pay for and many cheaply made carbon fibre panels have a large number of defects. There is no reason why you cannot paint a carbon fibre panel and just fit it for the extra strength and light weight properties but most people prefer to show off the carbon fibre weave pattern. Carbon fibre wings are the next easiest to fit and are often a bolt off and bolt on the new panel proposition. Expect to have to remove the front bumper also in most cases as the wings come off easier.

Carbon fibre bonnets are substantially lighter and can sometime flex at speed as the air gets underneath them so fitting motorsport style fasteners either side of the bonnet will help fix this and allow you to remove the bonnet release catch at the front freeing up a little extra space for air flow into the engine bay.

Carbon fibre body kits are rare but certainly gaining popularity. Wide body kits seem to be the best proposition and again the carbon fibre is rarely painted and left for all to admire but this makes it vital that they are fitted correctly as you can cover up gaps and imperfections with filler and paint over it when you are fitting a body coloured kit.

Companies such as Audi are fitting carbon fibre look strips inside the dashboard and a number of aftermarket options are now available including carbon fibre look dash stickers (also in wood and a number of other finishes) which go round the air vents and center console. If you want a carbon fibre look inside the car get a complete kit from one manufacturer so the parts blend together nicely and remember that sometimes less is more.

Carbon fibre stickers look good from a distance but close up they will always look cheap and tacky so they are best avoided. We expect to see some exciting developments soon in carbon fibre wheels replacing the alloy as the light weight option.

Alloy wheels - pure styling with a little function

Probably one of the most common styling modifications performed today.

Alloy wheels come in a wide variety of sizes shapes and colours. Generally the larger the wheel and the lower profile the tyre the nicer it looks.

There are practical limits though as large wheels will adversely affect handling and can even rub on the wheel arches on full lock. For more information on the practical side of fitting alloy wheels have a look at the alloy wheel article in tuning.

This article is purely discussing the asthetics of adding an alloy wheel to your car. Cars have different numbers of nuts on their hubs, the distance and size of these nuts also varies and the amount of internal space in the wheel for brake disks also comes into play.

Choose carefully, you will need to know the PCD and offset and bore measurements of your standard wheels and ensure that your new ones are within this tolerance.

Complicated wheel patterns can make cleaning a real problem and brake dust does tend to cause pitting especially on rough textured alloy wheels.

Mating a new alloy to low brake dust pads will help to reduce this problem.

Spinners add another layer of complexity to cleaning as well but make an interesting effect spinning at a different rate to the rest of the wheel.

When you get the wheels fitted ask for the balancing weights to be fitted to the inside as these can look really unsightly.

Many alloy wheels allow a better view of the brake disk and calipers so ensure that these are in good condition perhaps using a little caliper paint as well.

Chrome alloys look really good against dark paintwork (VIP style) but remember that most wheels can be painted and this opens a wide selection of possible looks.

Spray them dark for a sleeper look. When alloys get kerbed they can look really unsightly so a good choice of tyre would include a wide wall to help avoid these scrapes. Bear this in mind when choosing an alloy wheel as some designs stick out so much they are just asking for kerbing.

Spacers inside the wheel against the hub will make the tyres line up with the edge of the arches and this widening of the footprint can improve the handling of the car. Split rims are two parts which have multiple bolts connecting them together and this can also make the wheel fill the arch and allow a much wider tyre to be used.

Remember that if the wheel is much wider or bigger than standard you will need to get the suspension realigned and set up otherwise you can compromise your handling and safety.

Your Car Kicked The Bucket? Time To Change?

When the phone rang, I knew the news was bad. "It's the catalytic converter," she told me. "And it's going to be $1,500 to fix."

My mom had already begun to mourn her 1999 Volvo XC70. As she talked about the repairs the station wagon needed, she admitted she'd been eyeing a new Toyota Prius, because paying to fix the Volvo just didn't seem worth it.

After all, Mom's Volvo, which is in fair condition and has nearly 150,000 miles on it, has a Kelley Blue Book value of about $3,000. Putting almost half the value of the car into fixing it would be silly and wasteful.

Not so fast, Mom.

Mom's Math

At some point, almost every car owner will be faced with repair bills. And as the bills start to add up to a large proportion of a car's value, many owners start to figure that their car has officially kicked the bucket. But thinking that way is actually a costly mistake.

This way of thinking confuses a car's potential monetary value with its actual value. At a basic level, a car's value -- any car's value -- is its ability to provide transportation. An older car and new car can both do that. The question drivers whose cars are on life support should be asking is: How can I get the transportation a car provides at the lowest cost? Once you take a car's potential monetary value out of the equation, the math becomes clear.

For instance: Faced with a $1,500 repair bill, my mother's instinct was to go out and buy a $22,000 Prius in the name of saving money. Her Volvo is completely paid off. On a monthly basis, the only thing it costs her is gas and insurance (and since the car isn't worth all that much, the insurance is pretty low). So, yes -- paying $1,500 to save a $3,000 car does seem silly -- until you compare it to paying $22,000 for a new car to avoid a $1,500 repair bill.

The Real Math

Here's the math any car owner should do when deciding if their older car has shuffled off the mortal coil: Compare the cost of the old car over a year to the cost of a new car over the same time frame. Chances are, if your car is more than five years old, you're looking at some hefty repair bills. You're also probably looking at owning the car free and clear - which means no more monthly loan payments.

Look again at Mom's situation. The Volvo, because it needed some other repairs earlier in 2009, has cost about $2,300 in repairs this year. She spends about $90 per month insuring the car and about $200 a month on gas) driving an average of 400 miles per week). Altogether, the Volvo will cost her about $5,780 this year.

Now, let's take a look at the cost of a new Prius. Assuming she can get one for $22,000, taxes and tags included, and she puts 10 percent down, it starts out by costing her $2,200. Then if she gets a five-year loan at six-percent interest, she's looking at a monthly car payment of $386. She will see some significant fuel savings, as driving the Prius 400 miles per week should end up costing her about $72.32 per month in gas, based on EPA data. If her car insurance rate stays the same, the Prius will cost her about $8,899 this year -- $3,119 more than the Volvo. And, the Pruis will cost her, on average, $919 more per year than the Volvo for the next five years that she has a car payment.

Other Factors

Of course, there are other things to consider. If your older car is consistently unreliable, causing you to miss or be late for work, or repeatedly leaving you stranded along dark highways, it might be time for a new one. Also, there are some problems that are incredibly difficult and expensive to fix, pushing the cost of the old car above the cost of a new one. If your car has had a number of major issues, and your mechanic sees more coming down the pike, it might be time to start thinking about a new (or new-to-you) ride.

There are also some people who like getting a new car, and don't mind that they are spending more to do so. There's even the argument that getting older cars off the road in favor of newer, more fuel-efficient and less polluting models benefits us all -- Congress is even close to a deal that would allow the federal government to pay people for trading in their old gas guzzlers. This cash-for-clunkers law would provide up to $4,500 for owners of older cars to get newer, cleaner models.

Still, when deciding if your car is finally dead, the one factor you shouldn't be looking at is the ratio between repair costs and the car's sale value. Instead, do a hard comparison of your old car's cost and what a new car would cost you over a year before you decide it's time to pull the plug.

Best Guides to Keep Your Car Running

1. Don't Drive

Want your car to last? Don't use it. That sounds obvious, but it's worth keeping in mind.

Chances are there are plenty of times when you currently use your car that you could be walking, biking, using public transportation or carpooling — choices that are better for the environment, your wallet, your health, and the car you won't be driving. It's simple: The less you drive, the longer your car will last.

2. Make Fewer Short Trips

Short trips of less than 10 minutes can be particularly hard on a car, resulting in excessive wear and tear. During a short trip, your car's engine never has a chance to reach its full operating temperature.

So what? Here's why it matters: One of the byproducts of engine combustion is water. When an engine reaches its operating temperature that water turns to vapor and is expunged, either out the tailpipe or the crankcase ventilation system. On a short trip, however, that water stays inside your car's engine and exhaust. Unfortunately, water is one of only three ingredients necessary to make rust (you've already got the other two, oxygen and metal), and rust kills. Look at any of my brother's cars.

A further complication of condensation and water is that it dilutes your oil, which then does a poorer job of lubricating the engine. If you can't avoid taking lots of short trips, we recommend you change your oil frequently, such as every 2,000-3,000 miles.

3. When Shopping for a New Car, Choose Carefully

If you're in the market for a new car — and you'd like that car to last until the start of the Sasha Obama administration — be sure to choose a car company that's going to be around for a while, with a good reputation for supplying parts.

Here's a sad but true fact: Too many perfectly good-running cars are junked because it's hard to get parts for them. So here's our recommendation: Talk to your local independent mechanic and find a company that has a good reputation for supplying parts for its older vehicles. Our personal favorites are Volvo, Toyota and Saab (although everything is subject to change these days). These brands have a reputation for longevity, so it's understandable that they'd want to make sure they make parts available for many years.

4. Drive Gently

When you drive, do your car a favor and drive gently.

Think of your car like your own body. What's more likely to land you in a full-body cast: A gentle walk around the park, or a season of rugby? We rest our case.

What does "drive gently" mean? It means accelerating slowly, not snapping your head back. It means anticipating your braking so you can brake gently and avoid panic stops. It means not revving your engine in the driveway when it's cold, before the oil is warm and freely circulating.

If it's below freezing outside, allow your car a minute or so to warm up before driving it hard. Then drive slowly for another minute or two, until the engine oil has warmed up and started to fully lubricate all the components.

Finally, if your car is new, follow the break-in recommendations in your owner's manual. Regardless of the manufacturer's recommendation, we advise changing your car's oil after your inaugural 1,000 miles.

5. Watch for Engine Warning Signs

It's OK to drive your car short distances with certain warning lights illuminated or gauges out of their normal range, but there are three that you dismiss at your car's peril: the engine oil light, the engine temperature gauge and the brake light. A few minutes of an excessively hot engine or low oil pressure and the groceries you're hauling in the back could suddenly be worth more than your car. A couple of minutes with the brake light on and you might end up playing bumper cars with the Cadillac Escalade ahead of you. The one being driven by Tony Soprano. In a bad mood.

Get in the habit of glancing at your engine's temperature gauge and warning lights. If the idiot lights come on, pull over as soon as it's safe to do so and shut off the engine. You might just save yourself an expensive engine rebuild — much to the disappointment of your mechanic.

6. Unload Extra Weight

Most of us know what it feels like to be hauling a few extra doughnuts around the midriff, so to speak. It places extra demands on our engine, and it creates suspension, braking and even exhaust problems. If you catch our drift.

It's no different with your car. Extra weight adds stress to critical systems and causes premature wear. Check your car right now. What's in there that can come out? Toss out the four bowling balls, the barbells and the lead-lined box of plutonium fuel rods. You might even consider removing your mother-in-law — as long as she doesn't have to come inside the house, that is.

You should also remove anything that causes additional drag. Creating aerodynamic drag is similar to adding weight in that it increases the demand on your engine, so think about removing the big, flat bug shield that sticks up above your hood. Remove any roof racks you're not actively using, and take the cargo carrier off the top of the minivan. We know it gives you some hope of looking cool, like you do something besides haul kids around, but it's killing your gas mileage and making your engine work harder.

7. Do Your Regular Maintenance

Skipping regularly scheduled maintenance intervals is one of the quickest ways to assure your car finds its way to an early grave. Regular oil changes and oil, fuel and air filter changes all help make sure your car has what it needs to run without problems: clean air and clean fuel, plus fresh, uncontaminated oil to prevent wear and tear.

An added bonus to regular service? It gives good mechanics an opportunity to spot problems before they balloon into something more serious.

If you're wondering how often to do these things, there's a book that explains it all to you. It's called the owner's manual. You'll find it in your glove box, shrink-wrapped in plastic, because — if you're like most of us — you've probably never looked at it. In the back you'll find a list of service intervals, and the services that are recommended during each of them. If intervals in the book stop at 120,000 miles, that doesn't mean you're done with maintenance. Go back to the beginning and start over (so, for instance, do all the services called for in the 7,500-mile service at 127,500). Nice try, though.

By the way, if you're fretting over the ongoing cost of routine service, remember our maxim: "It's the stingy man who makes the most boat payments!"

8. Change Oil and Other Vital Fluids

Your car's fluids will often be changed during regular service intervals, but it's important enough that we wanted to mention it separately. As you drive your car, and even if it just sits in the driveway, your car's fluids degrade.

That's a problem because each of the fluids in your car is vital to the long-term health of the engine, transmission, steering or brakes. Simply keeping the fluids topped off isn't enough because over time they lose important properties — like their ability to remove heat and lubricate, as well as the ability to prevent rust and freezing.

What fluids are we talking about? Transmission, differential, brake and power-steering fluid; oil; and antifreeze. Windshield washer fluid? Not so important.

Regular transmission and differential fluid changes are often overlooked, but this service is very important. If you really want to keep your car forever, our suggestion is to get these fluids changed every 60,000 miles whether your owner's manual recommends it or not. Fresh, clean transmission fluid assures that your car's drivetrain stays cool and uncontaminated. Some cars, by the way, have two separate differentials. Be sure to ask your mechanic if yours is one, and make sure that both sets of differential oil get changed. It's easy to overlook this particular service, but you do so at your own peril: A cooked differential can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Routine maintenance service is much less expensive; it should cost about $150 to get your transmission fluid flushed and replaced, and another $100 to do both differentials.

By the way, if your mechanic tries to sell you new blinker fluid, lace up your Pro-Keds and run out of there as fast as you can.

9. Get Problems Checked Out Sooner Rather Than Later

This is like saying "Don't let a cold turn into pneumonia." If you have a small problem with your car, get it checked out sooner rather than later.

For example, a torn CV boot is a common problem and a simple repair. Delay getting it fixed, though, and you'll eventually end up by the side of the road, unable to drive and forced to fork over some additional money for a tow and a whole new axle.

That's just one example. There are many other problems that start small but balloon into something much larger if they're not addressed right away. Don't believe in this theory? Talk to the secretary of the Treasury Department.

Above all, make sure your car is safe to drive. If you have any doubts about such things as brakes, brake lines, ball joints, tie rods, airbags, seat belts or even the structural integrity of your car, get it checked out. Remember: Even though you want your car to last a long time, you still want to outlive your car.

10. Find a Mechanic You Trust

Find a mechanic you trust intuitively. Think of maintaining your car as a partnership between you and your mechanic. Or, more precisely, between your bank account and the bank holding the loan on your mechanic's yacht. Money only moves in one direction, and in exchange you get a car that runs reliably.

Having a good working relationship with your mechanic will enable you to make wise decisions when the time comes — and you won't have nagging doubts about the truthfulness of what you're being told. This is such an important point we wrote an entire feature on how to develop a great relationship with your mechanic. All platonic, mind you.

How do you find a great mechanic? When you find someone you think you like, ask for recommendations from longtime customers. If you're new to an area, or your mechanic just retired to the Home for Aged Grease Monkeys, ask friends or try searching our database of recommended mechanics, the Mechanics Files.

11. Discuss Your Plans With Your Mechanic

Not everyone wants a car to last for 200,000 miles. As a result, mechanics don't always have a long-term mindset when they perform routine service.

If your mechanic knows you're in this for the long term, he'll spend a little more time looking things over when you bring in your car.

You'll need to remind him regularly that you're hoping for a long, healthy life for your car. Ask him to keep that in mind as he works on your car. Like everyone else, mechanics can be myopic. They tend to focus on the boat payment at hand, and can easily overlook important signs and symptoms that might be right next to their elbows.

12. If You Can't Avoid Salt, Wash Your Car Frequently

If you live in a part of the country that gets more than a few inches of snow during the winter, you're probably very familiar with the ravages of road salt.

By kick-starting rust, salt wreaks havoc on the body and other components. Our advice is simple: During the winter, when there's salt on the roads, wash your car's undercarriage as often as possible. You'll remove much of the salt that's eating away your car, and that's a good thing.

13. Skip the Heated Garage

Garages and carports are great things. Do you want to spend 10 minutes every morning during the winter freezing your bolts off, scraping ice and snow off your car? Of course not!

A garage allows you to avoid that supreme morning hassle, and it also helps slow the steady deterioration of your car's interior and exterior caused by bright sun and storms.

However, there's a big exception to this rule: heated garages. Our advice is to skip the heated garage, which can accelerate your car's march towards its grave. Here's why: Heat accelerates oxidation, also known as rust. You drive in the garage with snow and ice on your car, it melts, and the water and salt mix in that nice, warm petri dish and, come morning, there's less of your car there.

14. Be Proud

Owning an older car should be a source of pride. You're showing that you're sensible, not swayed by the latest models and capable of keeping your car well maintained. Who knows? That sort of no-frills common sense can be very appealing to members of the opposite sex. It might even land you a date! After all, who wants somebody who's always got his eye on a new model?

Even if it doesn't score you the babe or hunk of your dreams, owning an older car can offer you something else: a truly liberating experience. You no longer care about scratches, dents or bird droppings.

Free Guides - Fix The Wheel Alignment

A wheel alignment is nothing more than setting the angle of the hub/wheel so it tracks in the right direction. Most vehicles have four-wheel alignments, meaning each of the four wheels is separately aligned. Your basic alignment consists of three angles: camber, caster and toe-in.

Camber is the tilt of the tire when viewed from the front of the car. Positive camber means the top of the tire is tilted away from the car. Negative camber means the top is tilted in. Camber has a lot to do with cornering performance. Too much negative camber will wear the inside of the tires prematurely. Too much positive camber will wear the outside tread.

Caster is the inclination of the front spindle. Picture the angle of the forks on a bike top to bottom. When the caster is out, it creates a pull or wandering condition and sometimes a slow responding steering wheel. Toe-in is measured in inches or degrees. Viewing from the front of the car, it is the difference between the front and rear center-line of the tire. Toe-in means the fronts of the tires are closer together. Toe-out means, the fronts of the tires are farther apart.

Toe-in or out has the most effect on tire wear.
When your car is out of alignment, the tires will wear prematurely. In some extreme cases, new tires will be gone within 500 miles. At the price of tires, especially high performance tires with soft compounds, you want to keep your vehicle in alignment as long as possible. Other symptoms of an out-of-alignment car are poor handling, pulling to one side, or wandering from side-to-side. An alignment will also affect the steering wheel response and how quickly it returns to the center.

Your vehicle's alignment should be checked every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. Any harsh impact such as potholes, curbs, objects in the road, or the damage of an accident, should prompt you to have your alignment checked. If you do any modifications to your suspension, raising or lowering your car, that will affect the alignment angles. Even changing the tire size will effect the alignment. Loose, worn or bent suspension parts such as ball joints, springs, bushings, and control arms will have an adverse affect on your alignment, too. In most cases you do not know if your alignment is out. The best way to check it is with a precision alignment machine. Laser optics combined with a computer allow for the most accuracy in alignment readings.
Remember you are aligning the hub of your vehicle. Check to see if the alignment shop or dealer has equipment that attaches to the hub, not the wheel. Many independent shops that do alignments have a specialty tool called "Tru Align" that attaches to the hub. This will make for a much more accurate alignment with the added bonus of not damaging the delicate finish on your wheels.

There is a lot more to suspension alignment, especially if you push your vehicle on the track. The modifications you make on your suspension are just the beginning. Once you start down this road you will be concerned with things like bump steer, weighting (vertical load), preloading, tire traction versus tire load, and more. Now you're thinking under-steer, over-steer, tire compound, sway bar design, and other topics that can be covered in a later article. For now, just remember to have your vehicle aligned every 10,000 to 12,000 miles in normal driving conditions.

If you accidentally hit a curb, or drive through a nasty pothole or other road obstruction, that would be a cue to have your car's alignment checked more often. Proper alignment is good for your car. It will save unnecessary wear on your tires. It will ensure that your vehicle is giving you the handling the factory designed the car to have. And, most importantly, a properly aligned car is safer and more fun to drive.

Fix Air Conditioner in your car - Guides

Air conditioner in car has become a necessity these days. It is very difficult to travel in a car without an AC in scorching heat. The car AC is very small and the designing and the functioning is completely different from that of the air conditioners used in offices and homes. There are two sides of an air conditioning system of a car, viz high side and low side. The compressor of the AC begins at the high side, and performs the functioning of the pump. The refrigerant is moved through the system with the help of the compressor. The expansion valve is there at the low side, which restricts the flow of refrigerant. This helps in reducing the temperature and the pressure of the refrigerant.

The car air conditioner works almost like a refrigerator and has a multi-component piece of machinery. The warm air is removed from the car and the cool air is pushed inside the car. This helps in maintaining the temperature of the small space in the car, and moderates the area.

There may be times when the AC in the car stops working or does not give effective cooling. A repair is required at this stage. Each and every car is made of different design and model. But, the basic functioning of the AC in most of the cars is the same. The basic problems with the car air conditioner and the basic ways to fix the problems of car air conditioner have been listed below:

Absence of cool air and improper cooling are the signs of problems with respect to the car air conditioner.

In order to diagnose the problem with your car air conditioner, it is very important to have proper information and knowledge of the different parts of the car air conditioner. There are five components of the car AC viz the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve, the refrigerant, and the dryer or evaporator.

It is very important to understand the functioning of all the parts so that the right action can be taken in case of any problem.

The refrigerant is pumped out through the compressor. The compressor acts as a power unit of the car air conditioner.

The condenser performs the function of changing the refrigerant to the liquid form.

The liquid formed through the condenser is converted into cold air with the help of the evaporator or the dryer.

There may be some pressure on the condensed refrigerant. This pressure is removed with the help of the expansion valve and moved into the evaporator.

In case of ineffective cooling, check the refrigerant for any kind of leakage. A fluorescent dye that is readily available at any auto part shop can be used to check the refrigerant. Autozone or
NAPA can be used as the fluorescent dye.

The instructions given on the pack of the dye that you purchase should be followed completely and carefully. In most of the cases, the dye is added through the low pressure A/C recharge port that is found on the canister of the air conditioner of the car.

Use the U/V light to check for the leakage. In case of leakage of the refrigerant, the refilled kits can be bought from any auto supply store. These refilled kits are sealed and the replacement can be done by anyone at home.

In case this is not the problem, check for any kind of problem with the fuses, wires, and fan belts. The fuse may have turned bad. The wires might have broken, and the belts of the fan may have got damaged. All these problems may be creating trouble with the functioning of the pump. In case of any problem with any of these parts, get the parts replaced to ensure proper functioning of the car air conditioner.

The air conditioner should be tested after making any kind of repair done by you.
In case one has tried all the above methods to make the AC function properly, and even after replacing all the parts, the AC does not function properly, then there is a need to call a professional.

Plastic Plumber - Repair On Your Own

There are a few precautions to keep in mind before you get your bumper repair completed. First and foremost is to choose a plastic bumper repair company you trust. From there, you can take work through the process to get the best finish for you and your car.

• Get an estimate ahead of time. Most bumper repair providers will either allow you to email a picture or come in for a free estimate for the cost of damages. It's always best to approach bumper painting and repair knowing what you can expect to pay - especially if you want to do a little comparison shopping.

• Clean the area of your car that will be getting the bumper repair done. While your mobile bumper repair provider will certainly still work on your vehicle if it's dirty, you can save everyone some time and effort by providing a good glimpse at the total damages.

• Consider the weather. Although no one can predict when it will rain, hail, or even snow, you may want to plan for your repairs at a time when the weather is sunny or when you can park indoors (during inclement weather). Although most cars are able to be on the road as soon as the plastic bumper repair work is finished, it's the best to avoid weather extremes for at least the first day.

• Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're uncertain about any part of the process - from getting your repairs done while you're at the office to the types of materials used to return your car to a flawless finish - be sure and talk to your bumper repair specialist. They should be able to answer any questions you have about getting back on the road or about what they offer in terms of a quality guarantee.

The entire purpose of mobile bumper repair is making the process easy on you. Remember, though, that there is an element of care involved in ensuring that your perfect bumper paint and repairs remain flawless. Follow these guidelines and you'll be back on track to a great looking finish.

Prevent Engine Break down Factors

If your car breaks down at the side of the road it will certainly be an inconvenience and will delay your journey, but unlikely to be life threatening. If however your car breaks down whilst it is still moving the consequences could be entirely different, especially if you are travelling at high speed on a motorway, requiring you to react correctly and decisively to ensure your car is brought safely to a stop without causing an accident.

Engine Failure
Most modern cars now come with power assisted steering and brakes, so if the engine fails it is very likely that these systems will be affected too. Therefore you will need to be prepared to use extra force to turn the steering wheel and place extra force on the brake pedal to bring the car safely to stop.

Most engines are now governed by an electronic control system that have a limp home mode if they detect a fault, and this could mean your speed is suddenly limited to under 30mph, even if you are travelling at a much higher speed. If you suddenly experience a loss of power switch on your left hand indicator lights and use gaps in the traffic to safely pull over to the side of the road.

Engine Fire
If you detect an unusual burning or petrol smell, or see signs of fire pull over immediately and get all of the vehicle occupants out of the car and to a safe place as soon as possible. If the fire is inside the engine compartment do not open that bonnet, because the sudden rush of air will cause the fire to flare and burn even harder. Stay well back and call the fire brigade to handle it.

Engine Overheating
The first signs of an overheating engine will be on the rising temperature gauge inside the cockpit, which if left unnoticed can lead to steam coming out from under the bonnet. As soon as you suspect the engine is overheating pull over, switch on your hazard car bulbs and stop the engine as soon as possible otherwise the engine could be seriously damaged.
Allow the engine plenty of time to cool before investigating further, especially if you are going to remove the engine coolant filler cap and top up the fluid level. The reason for this is that the coolant system is a closed system and so whilst still hot will release scalding hot steam.
Modern car engines are normally extremely reliable, however faults do occasionally occur, so it is important to know how to react safely and correctly if they do.