Monthly Archives: August 2009

Author : Matt Chang

Winter season is here The question is, are you ready it is your car ready for the smell and icy roads? By now, much of the northern half of the country has experienced winter driving conditions, with ice, snow, freezing rain and sleet having set in We are early in the season, and it won’t be long before we are buried in snow and sleet

Let’s take a look at some of the things we can do to get ready for winter driving Although new snow tires cannot guarantee that you’ll stop on a dime, every time – old tires can be hazardous to your car, even to your health Even if you are not considering purchasing special winterized tires, it is still a good idea to have your tires inspected

Take a look at the wear on the tires and the tread on the tires You want to make sure that the tires are not all or close to be bald If you take a nickel and place it upside down with the head into the tread you should not be able to see the top of the head of the coin If you can, that means you need to get new tires

The worst thing that can happen is you hide your plane on the snow and ice because he did not have enough tread on your tires

Here are some more tire care tips Be sure your tire pressure is set to the proper level for optimum safety You should be able to find tire inflation recommendations in your car’s owner’s manual On winter tires, be sure to set the pressure 2 9 psi higher than what is recommended for summer or all-season tires

For safety’s sake, there are some tools you should have in your car Be sure to include the following equipment in your trunk: a set of jumper cables, a snow brush/ice scraper and de-icing spray Wiper fluid: Make sure the reservoir is topped off

You should also check your radiator, shock absorbers, brakes and battery to make sure they’re in top form If you live in an area that has very heavy snow, you may want to consider purchasing tire chains

Finally, use plenty of foresight before heading out on the road This includes taking extra care on bridges or at traffic lights, as well as keeping a greater following distance from the car in front Double or even triple the usual differences between cars is wise plus reducing your speed and being careful on the brakes are two more tips for safe winter driving

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Author : Alexander West

The four different kinds of payment options offered by Jaguar cars can be broken down as mail, telephone, online and automatic payments A standard mail payment is the first of these options where the customer mails a check to the address that is on the invoice This is a convenient means of payment for those who are unable to have access to other options like telephone or electronic methods

Telephone payments are also available Jaguar Credit offers telephone payments that can be made at any time of day and will require no mailing or checks The transaction will also be recorded on the next business day It only costs five dollars per transaction by telephone and will not result in any late charges when it is used Follow the step by step instructions and transfers authorised by 5pm Eastern Time will be effective the following business day

Electronic payments can be made online too The E-Bill service is very convenient method that can be used for paying off a Jaguar car This service is free and allows for the customer to view payment histories and to take care of additional payments online The invoice can be received online instead of by mail and will work with the customer’s financial institution and routing number It is also easy to sign up for this service; the instructions are step by step It should be noted that all transactions take place in a secure environment and the customer need never fear of their personal details being compromised Time was when people did fear using the internet to carry out business transactions, but with the advent of encrypting data, online transactions are a lot more secure

The last of these options is automatic debit payments This can be registered online or at a Jaguar dealer This works in that scheduled payments will be taken care of automatically as they will be withdrawn from the customer’s savings or checking account All payments will be taken care of during the day that they are due and will be taken care of automatically without any additional charges Some financial institutions will charge additional fees though

These Jaguar payment options are great to consider for anyone who is looking to pay off their Jaguar cars These options include using mail services but also telephone and electronic payments Automatic payments through a financial institution can be used as well These options will make paying off a Jaguar car incredibly easy and simple

Alex West is a Mercedes Benz car driver and a luxury car enthusiast. You can read the rest of this article and find out more about Jaguar cars at Click Here

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Author : Dominik Hussl

One of the joys of owning your own motorcycle is the custom bits that you can use to customize the bike Parts like Forward Controls and risers as well as handlebars can change the look of your cruiser instantly with very little investment Also most of these mods can be done on your own Custom forward controls are a great way to give any metric cruiser or American Road Hog a more custom chopper look A nice set of straight bars can also give your ride a real drag bike look especially when you combine them with a set of handle bar risers There are several manufacturers to choose from when it comes to customizing your cruiser

For a great set of custom motorcycle handlebars Flanders has one of the biggest selections around This manufacturer carries anything from your classic handlebars to straight bars to ape hangers Whatever your flavor you re likely to find custom handlebars by Flanders Carlini Design is another quality maker of handlebars Their selection is not as extensive as Flanders, however they make up for it with some very unique handlebars with a nice custom look There are many more makers of handlebars but these two are the ones I am most familiar with

Motorcycle Forward Controls are another way to take a OEM Metric Cruiser and give it a more custom chopper look Forward controls basically take a bike with mid controls and move them to a forward position giving you a more relaxed riding position on the bike Jardine makes some decent forward controls forward controls and floorboards are a great way to customize your ride You will find the riding position with forward controls to be much more comfortable then the mid position, not to mention that the forward controls look way cooler

Risers are made by many of today s manufacturers of aftermarket motor cycle parts Companies like Cobra, Show Chrome and Lightning Performance all make quality handlebar risers Most of them are made of either a billet aluminum or some sort of steel which is then chrome plated for a quality finish handlebar Risers are made in a variety of sizes usually a 1 5 to about a 5 inch riser is what is available depending on the manufacturer Also when buying a handlebar risers be sure that you match them up correctly with the right size handle bar the dimension of the handlebar is important If you do not match the bars with the right riser you will have major issues with installation because the hole in the riser is designed for a specific dimension and will usually not accommodate a different dimension Some risers also come with a rise like for example you might have a 3 inch rise and a 1 inch pullback instead of just rising straight up risers with a pullback also do just that they are designed with a bend that relocates the bar a bit closer to the tank and the rider

Dominik H. Webmaster of http://www.discount-motorcycle-parts.net discount motorcycle parts dot net. For more information on http://www.discount-motorcycle-parts.net/handlebars-risers-controls-t-15.html Aftermarket Forward Controls & Handlebars come and visit us.

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Author : Matt Chang

As of this writing, the US is concerned about the oil supply coming through Russia, as there are renewed tensions there, and the US is also concerned about the upcoming hurricane season affecting the gulf oil drilling Prices continue to rise on light sweet crude, and there really doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight That has caused many consumers to consider other options in how to save money on gas

One way to consider how to save money on gas is consider a hydrogen fuel module This technology takes advantage of water, and improves gas mileage Almost a century ago the technology was uncovered that allowed someone to take ordinary water, and by applying a small voltage to it, separate the water molecule into a burnable gas called HHO, or Brown’s gas This technology does not allow you to drive on water alone but it does allow for a 50/50 conversion ration which will still go a long way in terms of helping with a tight budget

The following are the 6 reasons why you should consider running your car on hydrogen fuel from water if you haven’t already converted your car to a water powered car

1 Gas mileage is said to improve by as much as 20%, sometimes more A twenty percent increase in mileage is almost enough to get your spend on gas to previous year pricing

2 Hydrogen fuel offers more efficient and clean consumption of gas, minimizing build up of carbon in your engine As a result of this, there will be less carbon deposits in the engine, saving you on engine maintenance cost in the future

3 Operating temperature of a vehicle can be minimized by 20%, increasing the life of the engine High temperatures have a way of breaking down the working mechanisms

4 Because you use more efficient fuel, and you use less, you have a positive impact on the environment

5 The cost of buying a conversion unit is significantly less than the cost of the purchase of a new hybrid vehicle

6 Typically, your vehicle warrany is not voided by installation, as the unit can easily be removed

The above are just some of the reasons why you should convert your car to run on water You can get started using the water fuel technology in your car today There are many companies that offer conversion kits, and there companies that offer guides to build your own In general, the technology and techniques are the same Check pricing before buying a kit or a guide

For more tips you can use to save money on gas and for more information and more ways on how to save money on gas, visit our website for ways to save money on gas.

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Author : Everette Jamison

Parents have a lot of options when buying car safety seats In a previous column, we talked briefly about the various types available Today, we’re going to explore them in more detail Specifically, I’ll describe a few of the inherent advantages and drawbacks for several types of models In the end, drivers who have young children will be able to use the information to make the buying decision that best suits their needs Let’s get started

For Infants Only

Pros and cons aside, if you have a child under the age of 9 months, this is the only type of seat that is appropriate for them (besides convertibles) The biggest advantage is that they’re designed for maximum convenience You’ll be able to move your baby in and out of your vehicle easily The main drawback? They only last a year or less, depending upon how quickly your infant outgrows it

The Convertible

Convertibles are a great choice for parents who don’t want to deal with buying a new safety seat when their baby outgrows the infant-only models They can be used for babies and a lot of the newer models can accommodate kids up to 80 lbs The disadvantage of using a convertible is that it can’t be used as a convenient carrier So, it’s not appropriate if you’re doing a lot of errands

Give Your Child A Boost

Boosters offer parents a lot of flexibility and that’s not necessarily a benefit The point of a booster is to help transition a child from using a seat’s safety harness to using the vehicle belts By propping a child up, boosters can prevent the belts from crossing the neck or face The problem is that a lot of parents begin using boosters too soon Experts recommend keeping children in models that use harnesses for as long as possible The advantage of a booster is that they’re comparatively inexpensive to other options

Integrated Options

Newer SUVs and minivans are coming from the factory already equipped with safety seats built directly into the vehicle They’re only appropriate for children who weigh over 20 lbs The advantage is that the built-ins are convenient; they transform easily into standard seating The drawback is that they’re not great for protecting children from side collisions Plus, if your toddler is riding in someone else’s vehicle, you’re going to need to provide a safety seat anyway Integrated built-ins are a nice option to have But, they’re not a perfect solution

Making The Right Choice

So, which model should you purchase? If you’re not planning to run a lot of errands, a convertible will suit you well as your baby grows into a toddler Otherwise, an infant-only model is likely a better choice due to its carrier convenience From that point, remember that experts suggest using the harness as long as possible before transitioning a child to your vehicle’s safety belts

Find your used auto parts and used engines from the leader in parts, http://www.everdrive.com

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Author : Sunny Tan

On one fine evening, a subscriber of mine wrote me the following,

“Dear Sunny,

I bought my first car, a Nissan Sunny 130Y, three months ago, It runs extremely well and I’ve had no major problems since But I’m curious as to its actual fuel consumption Can that be measured without sophisticated electronic devices so I could learn to start increase gas mileage of my car in more efficient way?

What are the methods a layman like me can use to measure fuel consumption?

Janice”

To be frank, fuel consumption varies widely It all depends on the way you drive your vehicle, your car make, and the type of traffic condition it encounters These circumstances affect the actual fuel efficiency of your car

For instance, if you drive mainly in urban areas where you’ll see lots of traffic jam, you are likely to lose up much more gas money compared to when you are cruising along the highway

Enough said, your fuel economy will suffer when you are stuck in the jam Jack rabbit starts and heavy braking of your vehicle may contribute to your increased fuel consumption as well All these factors may not contribute to your ways to save fuel

Here’s my tip to measure your fuel consumption of your vehicle and to get the best possible gas mileage reading of your car

First, you would start by filling up your vehicle tank to the brim and then adjusting the trip meter to zero You could do that just by resetting the meter

Next, drive the vehicle until at least two-thirds of the tank has been used before you fill up again During this time, please take note of the amount of fuel you are filling up against the distance that you have travelled since the last time you topped up

Fuel consumption, in kilometres per litre, is calculated by dividing the reading on your trip meter by the amount of fuel that you have filled up

Based on my experience, it is best that you average out the results by repeating the same procedures and take measurements over a few weeks to obtain the average of the best consumption figure for your vehicle

Some car manufacturers will state the fuel consumption figures of the cars in the manual Please be aware that these figures were obtained under strict test conditions and surveillance and also on an almost perfect road surface

So don’t be alarmed when you notice the variance of the actual fuel mileage result you get against the manufacturers’ figures

To really find out your actual car fuel consumption and to diagnose any sudden drop of fuel efficiency, you should keep track of your fuel consumption regularly as it is the best and surest way to tell when something is going on with your car

Once you’ve realized how easy it is to keep track of your car fuel consumption, you should be on your way to seriously consider some of the ways you could do to increase gas mileage even when you are pumping gas in the gas stations

Believe me, not everyone is aware of some of the stuff you could do to top up additional gas mileage All these have been documented in my book “Gas Mileage Tactics” available at my site

Sunny Tan is the author of ‘Gas Mileage Tactics’, the ULTIMATE Gas mileage saving resources consist of many top notch tips and tricks the PRO drivers use. Pick up YOUR copy of this ground-breaking ebook with absolutely NO RISK at http://www.extragasmileage.com now…

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Author : Gregg Hall

When you purchase a new or used car, you will receive a booklet with detailed maintenance schedules for you to follow Today’s engine has advanced, but there are still details that should be checked regularly Keeping your car well maintained is the key to preventing breakdowns in dangerous or remote areas Brake inspections, fluid level checks, oil changes, tire inflation checks, belt checks, and inspection of lights are important

Proper maintenance should be performed every 3,000 miles Some times these checks will involve only an oil change Other times, a more complex check of items including gauges, sensors, and belts is required You should have your vehicle checked before heading off on vacation

You should always have your oil changed every 3,000 miles This prevents build up of sludge and grime With a properly lubricated engine, you are virtually guaranteed that the engine will not seize Consider going to a station that not only changes your oil but also performs safety checks These stations will check brakes, tires, fluids, lights, and more for you It may cost a little more, but it can save you from trouble in the future

Every 7,000 miles, it is essential to have your tires rotated This keeps tire treads from wearing irregularly Tires will last longer Check treads by placing a penny into the tread mark Proper tread depth should come to the top of Lincoln’s head

Check for uneven wear, bulges, and holes When purchasing new tires, find locations that offer free tire rotations to all customers This can save you plenty of money in the future

All fluid levels (brake fluid, transmission fluid, oil, power steering fluid, and antifreeze) should be checked every 3,000 miles This can help clue you in to slow leaks

Once a year, you should have your radiator flushed and refilled This can prevent radiators from developing holes prematurely

Always make sure you have a full windshield fluid tank Clean windows can be the key to preventing some accidents At the same time, you should replace your windshield wiper blades twice a year This is especially true in areas where winter grime will be getting onto your car Dirt can cause blades to wear quickly

Headlights, turn signal lights, brake lights, and parking lights should all be working Turn on your lights and then walk around the car to make sure all of these lights are working If they are not, replace the blown bulbs This can prevent others from rear ending you Properly working lights are important to preventing accidents

Every few months, you should check all seat belts for frays, twists, or rips In the event of an accident, a worn seat belt could fail causing you permanent injury or even death

Taking the time to ensure your car is working properly is not hard It can keep you safe, however, so do not fail to provide proper upkeep on your vehicle

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a paint protection at http://www.stopwaxing.com

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Author : Everette Jamison

Whether your car has an automatic or manual transmission, clutches are used to control the operation of the engine and its impact on the wheels Your engine spins continuously When the wheels aren’t moving, they can’t be connected to it The clutch is used to control the amount of slippage between the wheels and the engine, essentially severing the connection between them when necessary

Today, I’ll explain the basics behind how your car’s clutch works Most capable drivers don’t realize what is happening under the hood of their vehicles However, knowing the fundamentals can be valuable in maintaining your car properly and diagnosing problems as they occur

Engines, Drive Shafts, And Plates

Let’s simplify the process In rear-wheel drive cars, there’s a long metal shaft that starts at the engine, travels the length of your vehicle down the middle, and connects to the rear axle As the engine spins, the drive shaft spins That spins the axle which causes the rear wheels to spin When you press on the gas pedal, your car’s engine spins faster, causing the drive shaft to spin faster As a result, the wheels turn and your car moves

Keep in mind that the engine spins constantly If the connection between it and the wheels were constant, your car would always be moving You could aggressively apply the brakes every time you wanted to stop, but it would be a continuous battle against the perpetually spinning engine That’s where your clutch comes in

The clutch is connected to the drive shaft and uses a pair of circular plates to control the shaft’s spinning (at least, the part connected to the axle) The shaft is severed in 2 parts, each part with a plate on the end The plate that is connected to the engine spins constantly while the other plate is motionless until it’s needed

When the driver wants to move the car, the clutch presses the 2 plates together, causing the second plate to spin with the first This, in turn, spins the rest of the drive shaft which causes the wheels to spin When the driver wants to stop the car, the plates separate, allowing the one attached to the wheels to slow and stop

Controlling The Engine’s Power

While your car is running, the engine produces power continuously Your clutch is basically the lever by which you manage (when driving stick shift, at least) your engine’s power output to the wheels It controls the connection between the engine and the drive shaft through the application of friction between the plates Over time, they can wear down and you’ll need to replace them So, make sure your mechanic checks their condition periodically

For all your Guaranteed used auto parts and used transmissions needs the leader in parts is http://www.everdrive.com

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