Monthly Archives: December 2009

Author : David Maillie

It is amazing the number of people that don’t know how to properly clean or polish and wax their cars Many people use products that were never intended for their car and others use products and equipment that should only be used by properly trained professionals Some never even wax or clean their cars Then they wonder why their car is given a very low trade in figure at the dealer, or why their paint is dull and flaking

For the purpose of this article we interviewed numerous professional automotive detailers and similar professionals We asked them what products they used and for tips that consumers could use They pretty much came back with the same advice:

Properly clean the car: This is very important as the use of harsh, non-automotive products can actually harm your cars finish and make it wear quicker Spray the car first and get it wet Use the water to spray off dirt and other contaminates that will scratch your car if you immediately start using a sponge and water first Also do not clean your car in the sun on a hot day Do make sure you use warm water as it works best to loosen contaminates After getting your car wet, use an automotive car wash solution and add to water in a bucket Follow the directions on the bottle Then wash the car You will find it easier if you use a long handled wash brush (most auto parts stores have these) Be sure to wash and rinse in sections so the car wash soap doesn’t dry before being washed off Then using terry cloth towels or chamois, dry the car off Expert tip: use a squeegee It is much faster and easier

Remove stubborn contaminants: There will be dirt, bugs, tar, etc that will be left after washing There are many products that are made specifically for removing these items you’re your paint and car The resounding answer from the experts was Meguiar’s bug and tar cleaner Remove all the contaminants and follow the directions (some products can remove paint if not used correctly) Expert tip: 3M and other manufacturers make a plastic shield that can be applied over areas of your car’s paint like bumpers and behind the tires to protect from contaminants and rock chips

Use a cleaner polish: This will remove any left over stubborn contaminates like ground in bug splatter on your painted bumper, acid rain etching, bird drop spots, and minor scratches Use a circular motion, just like for wax Follow the directions for that particular cleaner polish (some require a wet or damp applicator pad others don’t) Do the car one section at a time and use a clean section of cloth to buff once dry Most cleaner polishes will dry to a whitish haze Be sure to buff off all the haze and residue from the cleaner polish When done the car finish will be really smooth Expert tip: for deeper scratches, contaminants, etc you can use an orbital buffer or polisher to apply the cleaner polish Be careful and use low rpm’s (under 2000) anything above this and you risk burning the paint

Apply several coats of polish or wax: There is a big difference between car wax and car polish Car wax is usually a blend of carnauba and other waxes which will give a deep, wet look and new car shine It comes in both a liquid and a paste, and it will not last as long as a car polish Car wax is also less effective in high temperatures and can actually melt on hot areas like the hood Car polish is a polymer blend usually with no wax Car polishes can last 1 year between coats and is very durable protection for your paint The experts recommend a car polish with Teflon in it for maximum protection and durability The experts love the extra, deeper shine from car wax, but all agreed it was better suited for car shows Whichever you choose, they are both applied the same way Apply in a circular motion and let it dry to a haze Then buff dry with a clean terry cloth or microfiber towel Expert tip: Don’t use regular towels or diaper cloths as they can trap dirt particles and similar and leave scratch patterns in your finish A microfiber cloth works best for removing dried car polish or car wax haze 2 to 3 coats are recommended for maximum protection and shine A good rule is to reapply the car polish or car wax at least 2 times per year Expert tip: Apply car wax, not car polish (as car polish will leave streaks and smudges on glass), to your windows Do one light coat and completely buff it off The car wax will work better than the leading brand glass treatment for rain (it will also quite your windshield wipers)

David Maillie specializes in automotive safety products and information. He holds numerous patents and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and restorer. For more information, tips, and money saving products for your car please visit: MDWholesale.com

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Author : Gregory Smyth

A recent survey by AJD Power and Associates found that interior styling, far more than exterior styling, and just behind reliability and durability, is the most important factor for consumers thinking of buying a car There is a hole host of functions and features that can make your life easier, from directing you so that you don’t have to stop on the side of the highway and get out the map, to entertaining the kids for you so that you never have to hear ‘Are we there yet?’ again in your life

Exteriors with distinctive styling have traditionally been the forte of car manufacturers After all, this is the first thing that you see of a car, and first impressions count Hong Kong luxury sports car dealers found that while customers were often drawn first to the cars with more uniquely styled exteriors, they bought the ones with more comfortable interiors Consumers are spending an average of 46 minutes commuting to work each day, and many of them are actually spending twice that

Add this to travel in cars for leisure, as well as car holidays, and Hong Kong’s premium vehicle market has seen that the interior is truly one of the most important aspects

The interior of the Audi TT is one that has had a dramatic redesign This luxury car being sold by Hong Kong dealers now has a wraparound driver cockpit, as well as seats fitted low to the floor, creating a sportier feel in the car

The sports steering wheel is flattened at the bottom, both for easy use and looks and one of the improvements that is purely cosmetic, though certainly not negligible, is the brushed metal trim on areas like the glovebox, gearstick and footrest The interior mirrors have a digital compass, the adventurers version of a GPS This luxury sports car is available in Hong Kong for a very reasonable base MSRP

If you have bought a luxury sport car in Hong Kong, the last thing you want to do is damage it in the city’s tight parking spaces The Infiniti EX35 has a round view monitor in the cabin, to assist in parking and also increase safety while reversing Cameras are strategically located around this Hong Kong sports car to project side, front and rear views of surroundings onto a screen in the console The rear seats also fold up and down with the touch of a button

The new Mercedes CLK Class Coupe is an great example of an auto interior that takes luxury to the extreme Wood trim on the gearstick and around the console, as well as along the doors, and there are several steering wheel accessible controls, which provides both added functionality and safety These new sports cars in Hong Kong also come with a digital stereo, and are made with top quality materials

As one of the world’s most exciting and prestigious brand, Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong offers luxury passenger cars and commercial vehicles extensive choice of Vito, Sprinter, Viano, Actros, Axor and Atego to the customers in Hong Kong and Macau.

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Author : Martin Johnstone

Thousands of people have modified their cars to include a small gadget that has reportedly increased gas mileage anywhere from 20% to %80 The technology involves usually a jar, water and a few connectors for your car that allow for what is called an “HHO Generator” to be installed These HHO generators are very simple and the parts can be purchased from your local Home Depot or purchased prebuilt off the net

Generating gas (HHO) from water is a technology that has been around since 1820 However, it is only recently that technology developed to the point where any normal “Joe” could utilize this technology to quickly and easily install a complete HHO system in his car for under $100 in parts

At this time, cars such as the new VW Bug, Nissans, Fords and almost every car make and model has been modified by people who are frequently just your “average Joe” Along with the increase in gas prices, many individuals have had such a high necessity to curb the flow of money away from the gas pumps and redirected back into their pockets which has lead to an evolution of people doing garage installations of of “HHO Kits” into their vehicles

There are also various meetings, particularly in major cities such Van Nuys and others where people who have been modifying their cars, meet-up, share ideas and boast their MPG – miles per gallon At a recent meeting I went to in Van Nuys a person boasted having modified his 96 Toyota Corolla to having gotten up to 72 MPG on the freeway with his HHO kit I told him it wasn’t suprising as I understood the way that it works and it is in fact a very simple process

HHO Kits work on a basis of “electrolysis” which is essentially electrifying water, usually with a little something added In the case of most of the kits that are being used with these garage or backyard conversions, is baking soda So, you simply get some water, your kit and a little bit of baking soda, a little bit of help and install the system in your car and you can watch your gas gauge not fall so fast and keep quite a few more dollars in your pocket Not only that, when HHO burns it converts back to water so it is also a green fuel and considered eco-friendly The average increase with your miles per gallon usually ranges about 20-30% So, if you filling up your gas tank two times a month, you can expect to save about $20-40/month and frequently more if you get the right kit and do a proper installation

There are large amounts of information that are strewn across youtube and various places on the net that show the activity happening on people coming up with “new kits” or inventions that are based on this technology Part of the problem has been having a single source for the information but it is nonetheless, available

I hope you found this interesting enough to read this far Please email me if you want to know any more information about this topic or HHO in general

Find out about the pros and cons of HHO and implementing systems in your car – is it safe? does it harm your engine? can you get a tax write-off?

supergasbooster.com
is a collection of information for users, engineers, technicians and car mechanics to come together, help each other out in getting HHO systems implemented to have better fuel economy and cleaner burning fuels.

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Author : David Maillie

We all have received them on our cars – rock chips, door dings, bumper scrapes, etc, They can come from a rock thrown up from a truck on the highway, or its as easy as a parking lot ding from someone in a hurry or even an errant grocery cart Most of these are unavoidable They can happen even if you park far away from stores and regardless of the measures you take to protect your car Not only do they detract from your cars beauty, but they can also make your car susceptible to rust and the environment Here’s how to fix these paint chips, nicks and deep scratches and protect your car from rust

Its not worth going to a auto paint and body store for chips and scratches They will charge 10 times more for repairs you can easily do yourself The first step is to locate the chips and scratches and see how deep they are If they don’t go all the way through the paint you can buff them out Using a cloth terry towel apply a small amount of scratch remover or cleaner wax Rub in a circular motion over the chip or scratch and buff when dry If this removes the chip or scratch after a couple of applications, great, then just follow with a good wax or polish If you see white primer or metal in the nick or scratch scratch remover or cleaner wax will not work well

Some cars have paint that is lacquer based and others have paint that is enamel based The following tip works wonders on cars with lacquer based paint only Get a clean rag and apply a small amount of lacquer thinner to it Take this and rub lightly on and around the scratch, nick or chip The lacquer thinner will actually start to move the paint around and cover the affected spot This even works on larger scrapes This treatment is not recommended on cars with custom paint jobs and may not work on all cars with lacquer based paints

For those with enamel paint or scratches and chips where the above treatment didn’t work, then you have to touch up the blemish in your paint First, you need to get the paint code so you can correctly match the paint for your car This is located inside your door jam or on some Hondas inside the glove box Take this paint code to your dealer and get a small bottle of touch up paint The touch up paint will come in a small bottle with a brush applicator Instead of using the brush, as it will apply too broadly and make your touch up of the chip or scratch really stand out, we recommend using a toothpick for better paint placement

First clean the area of the chip or scratch Then follow the directions on the touch up paint bottle Usually it is mix thoroughly for 5 minutes (metallic paints may require more agitation) Then using the toothpick place the paint directly in the chip or scratch When done allow to dry for several days before waxing or polishing (some cars have a clear cote which you would then apply in the same fashion to the affected area) By touching up the paint you have sealed the area from the environment and greatly reduced the chances of rust setting in and affecting your sheet metal Rust is like cancer for your car and very difficult to stop once it starts, so it is better to be proactive and prevent it with proper car care and treatment and quickly identifying and repairing paint chips, nicks and scratches

David Maillie specializes in car care. He holds numerous patents and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and restorer. For more information, tips, safety and money saving products for your auto please visit mdwholesale.com

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Author : Peter Clark

So you’ve decided to buy a dune buggy You have had a dune buggy before, you’re new to the sport, and it looks great It’s time to get involved and buy yourself a dune buggy But before you get out there and buy there’s a few things you need to consider

The first thing is to decide if you’re going to buy, or build Now for most people that’s not an issue It takes a lot of time and money and skill to build a buggy, it’s not something that you tackle lightly And if it’s your first buggy you might be better buying one and getting to know a little more Don’t build unless you’re confident

Otherwise you need to find a good dune buggy for sale and buy it There’s lots of dune buggies for sale, but not all of them will suit your needs So here’s a few more things for the dune buggy buyer to think about

Firstly you need to consider your needs Where do you plan to drive your dune buggy and what do you need it to do? You may just want to cruise the streets That’s ok, many do, but if so your needs are very different to someone who wants to get into the sand

So of course you have to buy a buggy that’s street legal If it’s not then it’s no use to you And there’s also no need to buy one with four wheel drive, for example, that’s just spending money on something that you don’t need

How many people will you need to carry? Now you’re not going to be taking the whole family shopping in your buggy, but there are still plenty of people who love to take along someone else Maybe you’d like to take your girlfriend with you on a sand dune weekend No use in a single seater And you can buy buggies that take 4 people, though there’s not many

And what size buggy do you want? It wouldn’t be the first time that someone bought a new buggy then found that it wouldn’t fit in the available space in the garage, and had to be left out in the rain

And have you got a trailer? If not then you have to buy one but if you already have a trailer then the buggy you buy has to fit, or else you have to buy another trailer

And you need to find out more about dune buggy lingo Like many sports there is a language all it’s own and to fit in you need to learn it What is a sandrail? What is a Baja Bug?

And if you don’t know it now you’re going to need to get started on learning the basics of mechanics You don’t have to be an expert but if you’re into dune buggies you’re going to be working on motors, so start learning It’s fun and it’s a part of the sport

This may all sound a bit basic to the seasoned buggy drivers out there, but for the person just looking to get into the sport there are some basic questions to answer Do your homework And if you’re not prepared to build one you’ll need to find a great dune buggy for sale, and buy it, but only after you’ve sorted out exactly what it is you need

And of course start saving, you’ll need some money There are some wonderful places where you can find cheap dune buggies for sale online, but remember it’s not a cheap sport So start saving for your first dune buggy today

Would you like to find hot Dune Buggies For Sale? visit Peter’s Website Cheap Dune Buggies and find some great Used Dune Buggies For Sale.

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Author : Victor Epand

When you were a kid you watched all those great T V Shows like Batman and other Show that you may have watched You might be surprised to know that some of these cars are still around and you might be able to get them for yourself

TV cars are not really a new thing There are many people that have or know where to get a TV car You can also have your own piece of the small screen if you are willing to go looking for the auto parts that you may need for your creation

When it comes to TV cars, you can go one of two ways You can build your own car or you can pay the money to have one of the original ones Whatever way you go, you should be ready to pay out the nose for some of your auto parts

If you decide that you are going to build your own car, you will have to do a few different things The first thing that you will really have to do is find the car that will be the base of your TV car Some of these cars are easier to get than others so it really depends on what kind of TV car you plan to build If you are working towards a Knight Rider car, you will need a basic Firebird body and then you will need to be ready to spend the money on the auto parts that need to be changed on the inside of the car

If you decide that you are just going to buy a TV car, then you should be ready to spend some money on the car These cars normally go for a very high price and are hard to get for normal everyday Joes

There are many ways that you can have that TV car if you are willing to spend the money on the auto parts that you are going to need for it You just have to look for what one you are going to build or buy and save your money for that special car There are many people that love a certain TV car and never take a chance to build it Don’t let this be you Get out there and get started on the TV car of your dreams so you can wow your friends and family!

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about motorcycle gear, used motorcycle parts, and used car parts. When shopping for motorcycle gear or used parts, we recommend only the best stores for motorcycle gear, used motorcycle parts, and auto parts.

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Author : Terry Parker

Getting a new car thrills and excites Sometimes it is easy to get carried away in our initial response to a car No matter how much you like a certain vehicle, take it for a long, serious test drive

You should first plan on spending as long as possible on your test drive Fifteen minutes is not enough time You want to thoroughly examine the car and definitely have a mechanic check it out

Take a look at the vehicle overall Do the body parts line up? Does the paint match? Will doors open and close easily? Do the tires look like they wear evenly?

Check under the hood You may not know exactly what you are looking at, but that is okay Look for leaky hoses, worn belts, and dirty oil Ask the dealer to show you the automatic transmission fluid Smell it If there is a burned odor, steer clear The fluid should be clear and reddish Transmission repair costs are not pretty

Have someone show you the radiator water It should have a light yellow or green color

Make sure all of the warning lights and gauges work Start the car and check all lights and functions And here is a no-brainer – make sure no warning lights remain lit on the dashboard

Look at the airbag indicator lights If these lights do not illuminate as you start the car, or if they stay lit after the car is running, they are not working correctly

Try on the seat belt Test the vehicle in the early evening to determine the headlight visibility If you already have a child safety seat, go ahead and install it Not all seats are compatible with all cars

Accelerate up to 35-40 MPH Is shifting smooth and steering straight? When braking, a pull to the left or the right could indicate a problem

If you buy via the classifieds, make sure to check the name on the title and match it to the name on the sellers drivers license Just to be safe

It would be nice to find the little ladies almost new car that was not driven more than 15,000 miles a year Of course, low miles on the odometer would be a big plus, too Even then, you can not assume that a low-mileage car is necessarily in great shape

One major concern is odometer tampering So do your homework Ask for a detailed service history report If records were not kept, you can check things out for yourself with the vehicle identification number Provide this VIN number to your state vehicle history company to get a record of the cars former life

Remember, no matter how in love you are with a car, think twice before purchasing one that has been wrecked You do not need anyone elses problems There are dozens of other cars you could enjoy just as much

So test drive more than one car You will never regret a wise, well-thought out purchase

To get into your next test drive vehicle from bell road toyota visit our site.

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Author : Dominic Donaldson

Driving in the winter brings with it some added responsibilities The days are shorter, the weather is colder and wetter and the whole experience of winter driving seems like a million miles away from its summertime equivalent

It’s ironic then that just when we should be taking that bit more care with our cars the temptation is to ignore that strange bumping sound or turn the radio up a bit louder when you here that high pitched whine! Whether your car of choice is a Volvo, a VW or an Aston Martin there are a few checks that you should routinely make

Rain is a major factor to consider when driving in the winter It brings with it diminished visibility, less responsive handling and the possibility of aquaplaning As well as slowing our speed and taking more notice of the conditions and other road users the importance of good quality tyres is essential

Worn tyres are less likely to disperse any surface water on the road which is the cause of aquaplaning It is advisable to get your tyres checked regularly Either take your car to a garage or use a tyre-tread tool yourself

A good set of wipers is also essential The need to use them at full speed during the winter months increases and so the wear down quicker Wipers on a Volvo wear the same as on an Aston Martin and again it is advisable to change them regularly

Keep all windows and mirrors clean and make sure that your screen wash is kept topped up Windows also get misted in the cold weather so check that the air vents and demister work

The other major concern in winter is obviously snow It is always advisable to keep a few choice items in the boot of the car in case you are caught out by a surprise fall of snow A spade, wellington boots and a torch and spare batteries will come in handy if ever the snow fall is very heavy and you are forced to stop driving

The importance of having the right equipment in the car increases for long journeys, in particular at night Blankets, food and hot drinks can make all the difference

Lights are particularly important During the summer months it’s not necessary to use headlights as much, especially during the day, so it is easy for a broken or faulty bulb to get missed or overlooked

A small item like an indicator light can be the difference between a safe, incident free journey and a miserable one They are easy to replace and readily available at little cost There are generic options or you can choose to buy the manufacturers brand whether that’s Volvo spares or Volkswagen spares it’s a small price to pay for piece of mind It is also recommended to clean and maintain all contact points and terminals

Engine checks are a must and with cars and their constituent parts more user friendly then ever there is no excuse for neglecting to carry out a few simple checks The oil, oil and air filters and engine coolant all require regular checks and the smooth running of your car will benefit from replacements at least once a year Correct levels and recommendations will be found in the car handbook or direct from the manufacturer

Look after your car during the winter and it will look after you

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in car maintenance.
Find out more about Volvo spares and car maintenance.

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