blogcarparts

The Dirty Little Secret about Electric Vehicles

2012-03-09T09:10:00.001-08:00

Electric Vehicles have gotten a lot of media attention overthe last few years. The United States, with the rest of the developed world,have made a push to reduce emissions and improve air quality in our cities. Weuse things like O2 sensors and Air Fuel Ratio sensors, along with catalyticconverters, in order to reduce the impact that gasoline engines have on theenvironment. Recently, companies have been exploring ways to abandon gasolineconsumption all together and produce “zero emissions” vehicles in the form ofelectric vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf. Although people have thoughtfullyexplored the impact of producing the electricity needed to charge the battery,all of the green-enthusiasts are conveniently looking away from the real issue:the lithium ion battery itself.

Nissan Leaf

Lithium is a soft, silver-white alkali metal with the symbolLi on the periodic table. It does not occur freely in nature; it only appearsin compounds that are usually ionic. Lithium salts are extracted from the waterof mineral springs, brine pools, and brine deposits. The metal is then producedvia electrolysis from a mixture of fused lithium chloride and potassiumchloride.

The brine is usually pumped to large pools to let the sunevaporate the salts to a high enough concentration. Then this potent solutionis pumped onto trucks and driven to processing facilities. Currently, 61% ofthe world’s lithium production occurs in Chile. Worldwide reserves of lithiumare estimated at about 13 million tonnes. Using the battery efficiency figureof 400 g of lithium per kWh, this gives a total maximum lithium batterycapacity of 52 billion kWh which, assuming it’s used exclusively for carbatteries, is enough for 2 billion cars with the same size battery as a NissanLeaf.

Lithium brine pools

Problem is, only 25% of the world’s lithium goes into themanufacture of batteries (and that includes batteries for laptops and cellphones). Lithium is used for processingsilica to make glass, as a major component in high temperature grease, in airpurification systems, in nuclear weapons, and even in pharmaceutical drugs totreat bi-polar disorder. The world’s supply of lithium would be exhaustedrelatively quickly if we tried to run most of the world’s vehicles onlithium-ion batteries.

In response to this claim, many bring up the fact thatLithium batteries can be recycled, and thus diminishing the problem ofdepleting this rare metal. The problem with this is that lithium is rathervolatile at room temperature, so the entire battery has to be cooled down to-345°Fbefore it can be dismantled and recycled. Cooling batteries down to suchextreme temperatures uses a tremendous amount of energy, reducing the favorableenvironmental impact lithium ion batteries are supposed to have.

In reality, with a rapidly expanding population and ballooningconsumption of energy worldwide, there is no magic solution to solve ouremissions problems and save the world. Continuing current habits of everyindividual driving and using inefficient means of transportation, along withthe host of other issues with consumer culture, leaves little doubt that ourcurrent style of living is unsustainable. Save for the unlikely invention ofcold fusion, we are going to have to re-evaluate the way in which we travel.

DIY Vehicle Fluid Checks

2012-03-07T11:03:00.002-08:00

There are many different fluids in your car that keep itrunning smoothly and accurately. The most commonly known are of course theengine oil and radiator fluid, but there are still other fluids that need to beproperly checked and maintained to ensure the proper functioning and longevityof your vehicle. Many people don't know that there is oil in your AC Compressor and A / C Compressor - though you do not need to check it as part of regular vehicle maintenance.

Your owner’s manual can help you locate all of the dipsticksfor checking fluids in your car, the necessary fluid changes to keep yourwarranty, and the proper levels of fluid that should be in your car. Keep yourowner’s manual handy for reference if you’re having trouble locating one of thefluid dipsticks or reservoirs in your vehicle.

First step is to park your car on a flat, level surface andset the emergency brake. Then, make sure you have a clean paper towel or shoptowel handy – white ones are easier to use as they show the color of the fluidsbetter. Open the hood, and use the stand to keep it open.

I think it’s easier to check your transmission fluid first,as the car has to be warmed up and running in order to check it properly. Afteryour car is warmed up, leave it in park with the emergency brake on, butrunning. Locate the transmission fluid dipstick, hook your finger in the loop(and release any clips, if applicable) and pull it out completely. Wipe it offwith a clean rag, put it back into its opening, and push it all the way downuntil it stops. Remove it completely and look at the fluid on the dipstick. Therewill be indicators on the dipstick if the fluid is within the properparameters. Wipe this fluid off on your clean, white paper towel or shop towel– it should be a clear, reddish color. If the transmission fluid is very greyor black, it hasn’t been changed in a long time. You’ll need to schedule amechanic to drop the pan and change your transmission fluid.

The next and most important fluid to check is your engineoil. Your car needs to be cool in order to properly measure engine oil, so turnoff the car and let it sit for awhile; the car needs time for all the oil inyour car to drain down into the oil pan. There will be an oil dipstick – hookyour finger in the loop of the dipstick and pull it all the way out. Use aclean rag and wipe it clean, then place it back into its opening and push itall the way down until it stops. Take it out again, this time looking carefullyat the level of oil on the dipstick.

The dipstick has markings indicating an acceptable oil levelrange –if the level is down by the indicator for “low,” you need to add moreoil. If the oil is around the opposite end by “full” or within the properlymarked acceptable range, you’re fine.

Take the oil dipstick and wipe it on your clean, white papertowel or shop towel. Pay close attention to the color of the oil. Clean engineoil is clear, and golden. Dirty engine oil is dark brown or black. Aside from engine oil color, your owner’smanual should indicate how many miles you should go between oil changes – it’sbest to heed this advice and change the oil at the proper mileage, and not whenit looks particularly dirty.

The rest of the fluids can be checked by looking at theirrespective reservoirs. Most of these fluid reservoirs are plastic, and you cansee the fluid level through the plastic itself. On the plastic housing therewill be fluid indicator lines, much like the dipstick, that read low or full.If you are having trouble seeing the fluid line on the reservoir, jiggle it alittle so you can see it more clearly.

Find the brake fluid reservoir using your owner’s manual.Look at the fluid level in the reservoir and see if it falls within theindicator limits on the reservoir itself. Your car should not consume brakefluid – therefore it should not be low. If it is low, it means you have a leaksomewhere along your brake lines. Have your car checked by a licensed mechanicto see what is going on.

Next find your power steering fluid reservoir. Look at thefluid level, and see if it falls within the lines indicated on the reservoir,same as the brake fluid. With power steering fluid there may be two sets ofindicator lines – one for a hot engine, and one for cold. Make sure to read thelevel of your car’s current state.

Brake Fluid Reservoir

Now check the car’s coolant. VERY IMPORTANT – make sure theengine is completely cool before checking the coolant. Opening the coolantreservoir when the engine is hot can cause searing hot coolant to come sprayingout, burning you. You do not want this to happen. Make sure the engine is coolbefore continuing. The coolant will most likely be in a reservoir up front, bythe radiator. Check the fluid and the indicator lines to make sure you haveenough coolant. If not, you’ll need to top it off.

Cars are designed to operate with antifreeze as coolant, notwater. Antifreeze is a mixture that has a lower freezing and boiling point thanwater so it can handle more extreme weather conditions. Many people will tellyou to just top off your coolant with water – it is much better to heed theadvice of your owner’s manual and buy the correct fluid for your vehicle.Keeping your engine properly cool is essential. Read the label on theantifreeze you buy – some require to be mixed half and half with water, some godirectly in.

Lastly, check your windshield washer fluid. It won’t affectthe performance of your car, and there are no indicator levels for it, but itis nice to have fluid in the reservoir so you can clean your windshield whiledriving. Washer fluid that is formulated to clean off bugs and road grime ischeap and works significantly better than water, but you can use water as well.If winter is coming, make sure you use a washer fluid that has a lower freezingpoint than water – it will be indicated on the washer fluid bottle itself.

Hope this guide helps you maintain your vehicle and addressany problems you might be having early.

What is MPGe?

2012-03-05T10:42:00.001-08:00

Greater environmental protection measures have led to a pushfor more fuel efficient vehicles. Along with the development of catalyticconverters, air fuel ratio sensors,and O2 sensorsfor standard gasoline engines, automakers have looked for alternative ways to fuel our transportation needs. Most popular today are gasoline-electric hybrids, butmore recently, fully electric vehicles have been in the spotlight as the mostgreen and efficient option available today.

One challenge for the EPA was how to relate the fuel efficiencyof fully electric vehicles to consumers. We are all used to the standard MPG –or miles per gallon – rating to compare the fuel efficiency of gasoline poweredvehicles, so the solution has been to provide a MPGe, or miles ger gallonequivalent, rating for all electric and hybrid vehicles.

The MPGe metric was introduced in November 2010 by the EPAto label the fuel efficiency of the new Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt electriccars. The ratings are based on the EPA’s formula, in which 33.7 kilowatt hoursof electricity is equivalent to one gallon of gasoline. This is based on theenergy content of gasoline: burning one US gallon of gasoline is 115,000 BTU.The formula for calculating MPGe is shown below.

Two things must be taken into consideration for MPGe of electric vehicles: one is the energy consumed to generate the electricity necessarycharge the battery; and the other is the transmission efficiency of that electricity from itssource into the battery. This makes the calculations much more difficult, butit is essential for getting an accurate depiction of the fuel efficiency ofelectric vehicles.

2012 Ford Focus Electric

Even with all those factors taken into consideration, newall electric vehicles have impressive fuel efficiency. The 2012 Ford FocusElectric gets 105 MPGe and has a range of 76 miles. Certainly not capable ofroad trips, but it will get most people to work and back, and perhaps a trip tothe grocery store, with some charge to spare. This satisfies what most peopledo with their cars on a daily basis, and can save a good amount of money in thelong run on gas.

Does MPGe make sense to you?

How to Choose the Right Vehicle For You

2012-03-01T10:48:00.000-08:00

Buying a new vehicle is very exciting, but it can also beoverwhelming. There are so many options for car buyers today that the whirlwindof makes, models, trims, and options(like advanced turbochargers and superchargers) can be dizzying.Fortunately, taking a few things into consideration can help narrow yourchoices and help you make the right decision.

The first and most important thing to define is the purposeof your new vehicle. Are you shopping for a vehicle to take your three kids topractice, or just to take you going as fast as possible through dangerousmountain curves? Is it to get you to work every day, or to haul you and yourfriends to the beach to surf? Carefully thinking and making a decision aboutthis alone will help tremendously in narrowing your choices, and to make yousatisfied with your new purchase.

Next is to decide a price range. This should be fairly easy– decide how much of a car payment you can afford each month, then find out thelowest car loan interest rate you qualify for. Your credit score will determinethe interest rate and loan amount you are able to take out. Then put thenumbers into an online loan calculator to determine a maximum amount you canget a loan for. Now that you know an absolute maximum, it’s always wise to tryto find a vehicle under that maximum that still meets your needs.

You should be down to just a few select makes and models. Atthis point you get to weigh all of the different options available in eachmodel – the fun stuff! Do you want a car with a more luxurious interior, or avehicle that is more technology-capable? Do you want a modern body-style, orsomething aggressive? This is where you get to match your car to yourpersonality. Most of us have to drive our cars every day, so it’s best to pickone you’re going to enjoy!

After you’ve indentified your main needs, you can alsoemploy the help of online car matching services. This free one from Edmunds.com can help suggest vehicles that will workfor you.

We hope you find just the vehicle you’re looking for. Happydriving!

What To Do If You Are Involved In A Minor Car Accident

2012-02-28T09:51:00.001-08:00

Any car accident can be very distressing - buying a brand new front wheel hub or rear wheel hub and then having it destroyed is never fun. However, if you areprepared it can help make a stressful situation more manageable. This guide isfor cases in which there are no injuries to either party in the accident. Ifyou are involved in an accident where there are injuries to either party, youmust stop immediately and dial 911.

The first thing to do if you are involved in an accident is,if possible, to move your car to a safe nearby location out of the way of othermotorists. Be careful not to go too far, and never leave the scene. Leaving the scene of an accident is a highlypunishable offense and a felony in cases where someone is injured.

Stay calm. Regardless of whether the accident was your faultor not, don’t panic, remain polite, and do not admit fault. Contact your localpolice, who will inform you whether or not a patrol officer should come andassess the situation.

Then exchange information with the other party. Collecttheir contact information, insurance information, the year make model and colorof their vehicle, and their license plate number. Take a picture of the damage toboth vehicles at the scene of the accident. Take pictures from multiple angles,and try to get as much detail as possible – from close-ups of the damage towider shots of the scene itself. If you do not have a camera on yourmobile phone, purchase a disposable camera and keep it in your car at all timesin case of an accident. Also collect contact information from the tow truckdriver and any witnesses (if present).

After you have exchanged all of the information necessary,you should be ready to get on your way. Make sure to keep all of theinformation you gathered in a safe place so you can reference it once youreturn home to complete the necessary paperwork, and ensure the responsibleparty pays for the repairs.

How to Get Warranty Work Done at the Dealership

2012-02-23T12:07:00.003-08:00

A great way to ruin your day is to have your diesel engine parts or diesel injectors go out on you. It's even worse when the parts aren't warrantied; or worse still, when the parts ARE warrantied by the manufacturer but your local dealership doesn't want to warranty the parts for you.

It's sometimes difficult to realize that dealerships are not directly related to the brand of vehicles they sell. Though you hold high regard for the automaker of the car you purchased, the dealership can fall short of those high standards. Automakers try very hard to get their dealers to be honest and good to their customers (it affects their brand image a great deal), but still sleazy dealerships persist.

Marilynn K. Yee/The New York Times

Here are some tips to get warranty work done on your vehicle:

1. Know Your Warranty: The owner's manual for your vehicle will have a warranty section, or a separate warranty pamphlet. There are often separate warranty terms for different parts of your vehicle; an example is a Drivetrain Warranty. Make sure that the part in question is covered under the manufacturer's warranty, and that your vehicle is within the warranty parameters.

2. Be Polite But Firm: If a dealer argues with you that the part is not under warranty when it clearly is, ask politely if you can check the warranty section of your manual. If they are still being resistant, nicely ask if they would like you to call the automaker to get authorization for them. Maintain an attitude of trying to work to solve the problem, not trying to accuse the dealer. Unfortunately your best bet of getting the problem fixed lies with the dealer, so make sure to remain polite and genial but firm.

3. Call The Automaker: If the dealer still refuses, you can always repeat the process at a different dealer in hopes of getting better service. If not, however, it may be necessary to contact your automaker and let them know of your experience. They often have national and regional telephone numbers; check your automaker's main website and search for the regional telephone number (if you can get it). Once on the phone, still remain polite and calm and do not badmouth the dealer. You do not want to be labeled as one of those "insane customers" so it's best to keep your cool and emphasize you are just trying to resolve an issue with your vehicle, and you need help.

Think this is a warranty issue?

4. Lemon Laws: If all else fails, you might need to get help from a lawyer. There are different laws for manufacturer's warranties in each state; finding out how many issues, and what kind of issues, you need to be experiencing to qualify could be useful to you. At this point you need to weigh the cost of lawyer's fees with the cost of buying a new part at your expense.

Hopefully, you will never need to follow all of these guidelines to get warranty work done on your vehicle. It can be an extremely frustrating experience but hopefully, armed with the facts, you'll get your vehicle taken care of.

Rear-Facing Camera's Might be Required by 2014

2012-02-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

Last week we covered why it might be a good idea to install a dash cam into your vehicle. So many vehicles now come with a Car Navigation System and In Dash Navigation Screen stock, that adding a few cameras in the front and the rear can be easy and provide you with a range of benefits. Soon, however, automakers will not have a choice: rear facing back up cameras are set to be required for all vehicles made after 2014.

Based on a proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers must have the ability to see behind their vehicle when the vehicle is put into reverse. According to NHTSA, this "blind spot" regulation could save 95 to 112 lives per year, and prevent 7,000 to 8,000 or more injuries. Tragically, backover accidents cause an average of 229 deaths per year, 44% of which are children under 5 years old. Cars with lots of travel and small back windows (like SUVs) have very poor rear visibility, especially for children who are not taller than the back windows of the vehicle.

The matter is not cut and dried, however: there is some heated debate on whether measures like this are necessary. The NHTSA says the total approximate cost to equip their estimate of 16.6 million vehicles sold in 2014 would be between $1.9 billion and $2.7 billion. Of course it's impossible to put a price on a child's life, but it is possible to hold drivers responsible for making sure there is nothing behind their vehicle, especially if there are children around.

There is also the responsibility of parents to keep an eye on their children to make sure they are not playing behind cars, and not in the driveway when a car is running. Given that in 2009 33,808 people were killed in automobile related accidents, back-up related deaths are relatively rare.

The decision has been delayed on several occasions so the jury isn't out yet on the issue, but if passed we could be seeing even the lowest base model cars with in-dash screens to support rear-facing cameras as early as 2014. Do you think the burden of responsibility lies with automakers or parents?

The Importance of Having a Dash Cam

2012-02-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about getting a dash camera? Most people are more concerned with whether their Pre-Cat Oxygen Sensors and Post-Cat Oxygen Sensors are functioning properly, and that dash cams are just for police vehicles.

The driver pointing out his dash cam.

You might want to think again - there are several advantages to having a dash cam, first and foremost having a recorded account of anything you witness while driving. There is a video circulating online currently of a driver with a dash cam who had a car in front of them BACK INTO their vehicle. By law, this would normally be his fault as anything that looks like a rear-end is the fault of the rear driver. However, despite attempts of the front driver to threaten to call the police unless our driver pay him $500 on the spot, because of the dash cam he had evidence for his case.

This is also handy in case you witness a crime while driving, even if it doesn't involve your vehicle. Events like accidents and crimes can happen fast - human memory can prove to be hazy when pressed to recall exact details about a certain moment in time. A dash cam can be very useful in these situations to provide an accurate account of events, and to identify anyone involved.

Serious matters aside, footage from a dash cam can be entertaining. I'm sure you can think of a time when you've seen something while driving that is almost beyond belief, but upon telling the story to your friends it turns into one of those "you had to be there" moments. Showing the footage to friends, and even uploading it to popular video aggregating sites, enables you to share your hilarious moment with potentially thousands of people.

Lastly, footage from a dash cam can be artistic. Want to remember what that road trip was like a few years ago? A neat video compilation of normal hand-held video camera footage mixed with dash cam footage of your trip can provide a very cool experience for you and your loved ones to share.

Whatever you use it for, a dash cam can come in handy in the right moment. For all of it's uses, it seems worth the average $60 investment.

What Documents Are Important to Keep for my Vehicle?

2012-02-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

There are several documents you are required to keep withyou when you drive in the United States. It is easy to forget about necessarypaperwork when driving – most of us are only concerned whether our CD Playerand navigation units are functioning to make sure we are entertained and comfortable. Howevernot having a piece of the necessary paperwork required for driving on publicroads can leave you with a huge headache.

One of these is a driver’s license, which alsoserves as a valid form of identification. As it is your license to drive, and aform of identification, it is best to carry your driver’s license with you atall times. These are issued by your home state, and the requirements forobtaining one vary from state to state. To check the requirements where youlive, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website for your home state.

You are also required to carry a liability insurance policyfor driving. The minimum requirements of these policies also vary from eachstate, but regardless, a card will be issued to you either physically orelectronically. There are many insurance companies switching to paperlesspolicies, and while this is more efficient and “eco-friendly,” it is importantto make sure you print a copy of your insurance card and keep it with you ifyou received it electronically.

You are also required to register your vehicle in the statein which you live. After filling out a registration form, and a check for thefees for registering your vehicle, you will receive a document and a sticker toapply on the top right corner of your license plate. Make sure to keep thedocument that comes with the sticker – this is your vehicle registrationpaperwork and should be kept, along with your insurance information, in theglove compartment of your vehicle.

Why are these documents important to keep with you? If youare ever pulled over by any law enforcement officer, you will be required tofurnish these documents as proof you are legally able to drive in the U.S. Ifyou are caught without these documents you will most likely be issued aseparate ticket for not having them on you, along with whatever violation youwere cited for in the first place. Additionally, if you are ever involved in anauto accident, you will be required to exchange the information on thesedocuments to the other party involved (if any), and depending on the severityof the accident, report it to the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is best toavoid any problems by making sure you have your paperwork in order at alltimes.

Lastly, it is very important to keep the original documents thatprove your ownership of the vehicle – typically called a title. The title toyour vehicle is critical in proving that the vehicle belongs to you, and isrequired for registering the vehicle in your name for the first time. Neverkeep the title inside the vehicle – if the title is lost, getting another copycan be difficult. It is best to keep the title to your vehicle in a safe placeat home where you can find it if you need it.

Why Should I Lower My Tire Pressure?

2012-02-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

So, you’re cruising down the white sand beaches of Mexico inyour truck with a Diesel Turbocharger, and all your buddies are flying by. What’s going on? How come they seem to befloating on the sand while you’re struggling? They have exactly the samevehicle as you, right down to the exact same Diesel Injector. The answer is probably tire pressure.

You may have heard people say that it is good to lower yourtire pressure anytime you go off-roading, but might have never known why. Youprobably don’t want to ask, because not knowing something about off-roadingwould make you seem unmanly. Well, no need to wonder anymore, because I amabout to tell you. The answer is a simple one word solution, FOOTPRINT. Justthink of a camel. Those things havebigger feet than Shaq, and Mother Nature gave the camel those aircraft carriersfor a reason. The bigger the foot, thelarger the area to distribute the weight of the camel, which keeps the camel ontop of the sand instead of sinking into it.

When you let air out of you tires it increases the size ofyour cars footprint. More of your tiretouches the sand. When you do this youmay think that more of the tire touches in width just by looking at it, but itactually increases the length of the footprint. With this increased length your friends will no longer be leaving you inthe dust… or should I say sand?

Driving in the sand is not the only time when lowering yourtire pressure optimizes your ride. Anytime you are off-road it will help, especially bumpy or rockyroads. When you go over a rock, a fullyinflated tire has to climb it. Even a small rock can cause the car to thinkit’s about to go up a steep hill. Just driving over a 2x4 piece of wood createsthe same increase in angle as a hill with a 30 degree incline. When you lower your tire pressure the tiredoesn’t climb the rock or piece of wood, it engulfs it. Your car stays flat on the road while yourtire eats up the rock and spits it out the back.

Remember when you get back on a hard surface to reflate yourtires. Tires with low pressure easilybend and break wheels, and driving too fast could overheat your tires. Thelower your pressures are set the lower the speed you should drive.

10 Things to NOT Put Off!

2012-02-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

With more and more used cars on the road today it isespecially important to keep up with regular car maintenance. At some point downthe road parts like the AC compressor or a fuel injector may unfortunately gobad, but there are certain things that every driver should keep an eye on toavoid unexpected car fails. The first of these are the brakes because oursafety is dependent on them. Brake failure is easily avoided by checking thefluid regularly and by replacing it every 24,000 miles. In addition to thefluid, the pads should be changed out depending on their condition and use. Just because they still make your car come to a stop, does not mean they don't need any help!

Other safety-related parts to keep an eye on are the tires.It’s easy to ignore tires that don’t have enough tread because you don’t wantto drop that extra cash on a new set. However, this can be extremely dangerousand you may leave yourself hurt or stranded because of neglect. A typicaltime-frame for tire replacement is 6-10 years, although it obviously depends on their wear. An easy test to check a tire's condition is to put an upside-down penny between the treads. If you can see thetop of the president’s head, time for a new tire! Check out the rest of a top10 car maintenance checklist below!

Brakes: Fluid 2 years or 24,000 miles
Tires: Dependent on use; roughly 6-8 years
Coolant: 2 years or 24,000 miles
Engine Belt & Timing Belts: 3 years or36,000 miles (Engine Belts) & 60,000-90,000 miles (timing belt)
Spark Plugs: Every 30,000-100,000 miles
Automatic Trans Fluid & Filter: Every 2years or 24,000 miles
Air Filter: 12 months/12,000 miles or asneeded
Battery: 48-60 months or as needed
Power-Steering Fluid: Top off as needed,inspect level with every oil change
Fuel Filter: Every 2 years or 24,000 miles

Pep Boys Sells for $800 Million

2012-02-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

When you walk down to the local Pep Boys to replace your AC Condenser or Radiator Fan there may be a sign that reads “Under New Management.” The iconic parts company recently sold to aLos Angeles equity firm for $800 million dollars.

There may be a sign out front, but not too much else shouldchange. The new owners plan on keepingmanagement in place, and you know they will keep Manny, Joe and Jackaround. Pep Boys would just not be thesame with those giant headed mascots. Thereare no plans to shut down any of the 729 stores, or to let go any employees.

Pep Boys hit a rough spot in the road because of increasedcompetition and a bad economy. Theyposted losses for four straight years. While their competitors saw growth during tough times, because of peoplewanting to fix their old cars instead of buying new ones, Pep Boys did not.Some analysts believe it is because Pep Boys has both a parts and servicedivision while their competitors only focus on one.

The new owner speculates that it will take a while to getPep Boys back in the fast lane, but they are confident it will happen.

See You Later, Flat Tires!

2012-01-30T11:58:00.000-08:00

You’re driving on a hot summer day with your windows downand CD radio player on full-blast. All of a sudden you start to feel something seemsa little off and realize one of your tires is losing air. Whether you decide tofix the tire yourself on the side of the road or give AAA a call, even the bestNavigation Unit isn’t going to get you to your destination on time. Bridgestoneis hoping to end these situations all-together with their air-free tireconcepts shown here.

The color-choice of green would probably be customizable,but in concept form it alludes to the fact that the materials used are 100% recyclable.Its recyclable “thermoplastic” internal spokes are what gives these tires allof their strength and flexibility. The outer rubber on the tire offers a moretraditional tread surface required for use on our sometimes rough roads. Onecriticism has been the possibility of noise due to wind resistance incommercial use. However, if commercialized these tires are expected to besealed by a thin sidewall of rubber for these reasons. Each tire also only hasa weight capacity of up to 330 pounds, but innovations to this technology willundoubtedly be made in the future.

Benefits obviously include the recyclability factor, butthey are also safer and less wasteful because they eliminate the risk ofpunctures. Check out these tires in action on YouTube! (And by “in action”, Imean a girl riding a small scooter equipped with these tires five feet across astage).

Can You Guess the Function of a Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor?

2012-01-25T09:23:00.000-08:00

You may have never asked yourself what is a tire pressure monitor sensor. These sensors do exactly what you’d expect; they monitor thepressure within your tires. However, because these sensors are battery powered,over time they will fail and you will need to replace or know how to repair tire pressure monitor sensors. Don’t worry too much about this, when the timecomes you will be warned via the little TPMS on your dash and it is a fairlycheap fix. A little fact about tire pressure is that if you are driving ontires that are 10% under inflated, you will see a 1% decrease on your gas mileage.

As of 2007, the NHTSA requires the installation of thesesensors on all vehicles. There are two types of these sensors, direct and indirect.Direct tire pressure monitoring sensors are located either inside or outsidethe tire and they physically measure the pressure. After doing so, they reportthis information to the instrument cluster of the vehicle. Newer vehicles can displayreal-time pressures of each tire while driving or parked. Indirect sensors onthe other hand don’t actually detect the tire pressure, but they “infer” thepressure through various factors. The main factor is the rotational speed of each individual wheel. If a tire has less pressure, the diameter will be slightlysmaller and in turn will spin a bit faster.

Regardless of which type of sensor your vehicle uses, if that warning light comes on DON'T just pretend its not there and put off the job. It isimportant, and cheap, to fix this issue. Not only can theysave you a few extra dollars at the pump, but if they are working properly you will have lower emissions, increased handling of your vehicle, and you won't have to worry about failing that state inspection coming up. Also an underinflated tire is the leading cause of tire failure, so having your sensors inworking order will increase your tire life.

What is a Transmission Gearbox?

2012-01-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

A Gearbox is a machine-driven process ofshifting energy from one device to another. A transmission gearbox is most frequentlypositioned at the junction point of a power shaft, and is used to generate aright angle change in direction. It provides a range of gearing to multiply theengine’s torque. A direct connectionfrom the engine to the road wouldn’t provide enough torque at the wheels tomove the car. Thus, the gearbox’smultiplication of the toque is what helps overcome the car’s inertia and getsit moving. I hope the gearbox is betterat multiplication then I am, or my car is not going anywhere.

There are three main types of gearboxes; Front Engine-FrontWheel Drive, Front Engine-Rear Wheel Drive, and Rear Engine-Rear WheelDrive. A FWD drive is condensed and willcommonly contain the gears, the final drive, and the differential. There aretwo shafts, an input shaft and an output shaft. The gears are constantlymeshing but just one gear is secured to the shafts at all time.

The RWD gearbox has three shafts. Just like the FWD it has an input and anoutput but the RWD also contains a lays half shaft. The input and output shafts run parallel toeach other and the lays half sits below the two and overlaps them. The input shaft drives the lay shaft througha pair of meshing gears. This act iscontinuous and goes by the term, “constant mesh.” This term does not apply toyour friend who constantly just wears mesh basketball shorts. The lay shaft andoutput shaft have a pair of gears rotating on them and from the constant meshgearing onwards it behaves just like the FWD gearbox. The main differencebetween a FWD and RWD gearbox is what is known as a direct ratio, which is whena system locks the two shafts together and bypasses the gear cluster.

Transmission gearboxes are either automatic, manual, orcontinuous. A manual transmission can bea sliding mesh or a constant mesh style. The sliding mesh uses straight cutgears and requires the driver to time the change from one speed toanother. If it is not timed right therewill be a loud grinding sound and increase the rate of wear and tear on thegears teeth, and it will also cause you to yell at your girlfriend. The constant mesh system has diagonally cutgears that are permanently meshed. This creates a smoother transition betweenspeeds. The constant mesh is used mostlyby agricultural equipment and race cars.

Saturn Compressor AC Line Update

2012-01-18T15:28:00.000-08:00

Over the years there are updates to parts just like thereare to car models. For every model year that a vehicle is in production thereare small changes that are more than skin deep. The AC compressor just like other automotive AC parts may change as the years go by. Sometimes a car company goes under andthe aftermarket has to take over the production of the replacement parts. Inthe case of Saturn that is exactly what happened, when the company closed itsdoors it left many of its vehicles owners out in the cold when it came toparts. Maybe out in the cold is the wrong term to use, out in the heat isbetter since the OEM AC compressor was no longer available the aftermarket didwhat it could.

The solution to the lack of supply was to find a compressorthat bolted into the same location as the original Saturn compressor. This isnice in theory but the problem arose when a compressor was found, the compressorcould bolt on but the AC lines would not hook up. The solution was found injust changing them out and sending the update out whenever a Saturn L series orVue compressor was sold.

Each one of the replacement compressors was sold with a setof the high and low side ac lines what could be easily swapped into the system.This simplistic fix is a great example of how the aftermarket is not just abunch of cheap parts but more a community of vendors who are working to createa market for anything that has a need.

Why do Vehicles Have Tow Ratings

2012-01-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

We have all seen the truck commercials with bold claims andflashing graphics but what are they all getting at. What is all this towing ofhuge boats up hills and pulling stumps out of the ground? Well this is not toshow the diesel fuel pump or diesel injectors are working, no this is togive an idea of what the truck can haul. Most commercials show a “Do Not Attempt”warning to keep people from destroying the truck once they buy it. The fact ofthe matter is that trucks can really only haul a specific kind of weight atvery specific speeds.

Most trucks have a towing rating that can handle towing acar or truck behind it but what are the dangers of going over the tow rating?First off is the danger of extended braking distance, while some trailers havetheir own braking system most use free spinning wheels. The added weight of thetrailer means more work for the brake system to handle and that translates togreater stopping distance. This means that the driver must think differentlythen he normally would. Also it means that the brakes will heat up and begin to“fade” faster. Brake fade is when the heat cannot be dissipated and the padsbecome molten. When this happens the braking ability drops to almost zero.

The next huge issue for towing capacity is what the frame ofthe truck can handle the added weight. Now must trucks are built with a verysturdy frame that can handle a good 10,000lbs more than the trucks weight. Whenthis weight is increased the stress on the “back bone” of the vehicle can bepushed past its rating. Exceeding the rating can cause the frame of the vehicleto bend or even break.

The ratings given by the manufacturer are there for a reasonand they do give a bit of flexibility but should never be exceeded. There aremany other issues that can arise when the tow rating is exceeded which can notonly be dangerous but also kill your gas mileage!

How To Install New HID Bulbs

2012-01-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

Many times theheadlights of a car seem to be dull or dirty which is “yellowing” that occursfor a number of reasons. Like the sound from your car radio or in–dash navigationscreen the headlights can degrade over time too. Chemicals used for cleaningthe car can sometimes cause this effect on a headlamp and other times it is theweather. Acidic rain or just unrelenting sun can cause yellowing along with the“salt” used to deice roads is also huge reason for yellowing headlights. Just like the Giants beating the Packers...the cold can always be a factor. Many times the effect isso bad on a headlight that the unit must be replaced.

When replacing a headlight it is not always necessary toreplace all the bulbs at the same time. HID bulbs are pretty expensive and mostof the time will still work perfectly fine in a new assembly. Unlikeconventional bulbs they do not dull over time since they are gas powered not filamentilluminated. The part of changing these bulbs is to purchase the correctheadlight housing for your application. While the same year, make and modelheadlights may “fit” in your car it is not always the same part if those lightsdid not have HID.

The first step to taking apart the old headlight unit thatwas in the vehicle, which requires removal of the old unit. With the unit removedfrom the car remove the clips or screws holding on the dust cover and pull thebulb out of the assembly. Be sure not to touch the bulb at all on the glass, theoil from your finger will cause the bulb to shatter once it heats up. Next removethe ballast for the HID unit and inspect both the bulb and ballast for damage.

For the install part of this process, place the bulb in thenew assembly and secure with clips or screws depending on the application. Now attachthe ballast to the headlamp and reassemble all the other parts of the light.Attach the power source to the headlight to check that all bulbs and signalsare working. Once the proper operation is certain, install the unit and checkfor proper “Gaping” around the unit. Gaping is the space around the unit tothe body panels which should all be even. With the headlight in place test theunit once more. If everything checks out the install process is complete.

Finally, a Traffic Jam Assistant!

2012-01-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday I joked about cars soon driving themselves consideringthey already know how to parallel park. It seems this idea isn’t as far off asI really expected because Audi just announced at CES that our wheel hub andbearing assembly might learn to drive themselves after all. They call it thedriver’s “Traffic Jam Assistant”, and it combines existing technology with newideas to add even more convenience to driving.

Have you ever been stuck in bumper to bumper traffic thatrequires you to pay constant attention to the road? Every day, twice a day? Youknow what I’m talking about, but Audi may have set the trend to end this dailyrush-hour struggle. Who knows, this may eventually even help solve the problemof traffic. Two wide-range scanning radar sensors on the vehicle will monitorthe surrounding area for other vehicles. A wide angle video camera will monitorthe lane markings and other objects in your vicinity, such as pedestrians andguardrails. Eight more ultrasonic sensors will monitor what’s directly infront, behind, or to the sides of your car. Add this to the existing adaptivecruise control and ah ha!, you have a Traffic Jam Assistant. They have evenmade adjustments in case you need to make an emergency maneuver such as the guyin front of you slamming on his brakes for no reason.

Audi’s Traffic Jam Assistant will operate between 0 and 37mph (that seems kind of fast to me..), but they say this will be completelysafe for use on expressways or in cities. When I first heard of this I thoughtit could cause more accidents because it’s new technology, but it appears theirgoal is to reduce or even eliminate injuries behind the wheel. Seems pretty coolto me, what do you think?

What is a Mass Air Flow Sensor?

2012-01-11T17:09:00.000-08:00

A Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) is a device that measures thevolume and density of the air entering the engine. It is the first sensor to read the amount ofair entering the motor. The MAF is made up of an air temperature sensor, anelectronic control unit, and a hot wire. The main job of this sensor is to convert theamount of air coming into the vehicle into a voltage signal. Along with the assistance of oxygen sensors,the MAF provides the Engine Control Unit (ECU) with vital information. This datalets the ECU know how much fuel to inject, the timing of ignition, and when toshift a transmission.

There are two main types of mass air flow sensors in automotiveengines, the vane meter and the hot wire. The vane meter is an olderstyle. It measures the amount of airwith a spring loaded flap attached to a resistor. The vane meter is not used as often as thehot wire because it restricts airflow, the moving parts wear easier, andfinding a space to mount it is difficult. On the other hand, the hot wire stylehas minimal airflow resistance, it’s smaller, it has no moving parts that wear,and it responds very quickly to changes in air flow. So, basically the hot wire is a skinnier,smarter version of the vane meter.

If your Mass Air Flow Sensor is malfunctioning your car mayidle erratically, run lean, try to stall, and the throttle could decrease athighway speeds. If you have a digitalscanner you can make sure that your MAF is to blame by hooking the scanner upto the housing circuit and checking for codes. In some cases the sensor is justdirty and needs to be cleaned, but more commonly the part is broken. MAFs are rarely repairable and a new one willrun you a couple hundred dollars.

Time for an Oil Change?

2012-01-09T17:16:00.000-08:00

If your oil changes are costing close to $100 chances areyour engine requires synthetic oil. The metal components of your vehicle (suchas steering racks and steering gearboxes) need oil to stay lubricated, butthere is more than one type of oil available. Most vehicles take conventionalor natural oils which are derived directly from crude oil. This oil has manynatural properties which protect and lubricate the engine over long periods oftime.

A downside to natural oil is that it contains manyimpurities such as sulfur which can slow down the flow of oil throughout theengine. Over time contaminants can also build up and create deposits or waxwithin the engine. With this in mind, syntheticoils were developed with specific chemical properties in order to create a moreconsistent substance. While natural oils can break down quickly at extremelyhigh temperatures, synthetic oils are made to withstand this heat. There areeven synthetic oil blends developed for specific purposes such as lubricating ahigh-performance or high-mileage vehicle. Despite its higher cost, synthetic oiloffers the benefits of improved lubrication, better stability, reduced oilbreakdown and fewer deposits.

However, just because synthetic oils offer these advantages does not meanthat you need to switch up the type of oil at your next oil change. In mostcases conventional oil does the job just fine; synthetic oil is only requiredfor specific vehicles. If you are thinking of switching up your oil be sure tocheck with your manufacturer before-hand for vehicle-specific recommendations.

How Long Should Brake Pads Last?

2012-01-06T08:05:00.000-08:00

“Why are my brakes already squealing? I only have 35,000miles on my car, this shouldn’t be happening.” Actually, even though it seems pretty early for your brakes to go out,35,000 miles is not unheard of. Thenormal range for brake pads to go bad is 30,000 to 70,000 miles. Just like mostwearable parts, such as wheel hubs and starters, the length of time the partlast depends on the many variables.

The main reason why some brake pads go bad faster thanothers is because of what the brake pads are made out of. Brake Pads come infour diverse types; Organic, Ceramic, Metallic, and Semimetallic. Organic Brakes are made from bondednon-metallic fibers. They have the best stopping power, but this means thatmore of the pad is worn down during braking. Thus, they are not the longest lasting pad andeven though they are organic, you cannot buy them at Whole Foods. Ceramic Pads are most often made out of fiberglass.They are half as heavy as other pads but more importantly they arestronger. These pads last the longestbut they cost the most. Metallic Padshave basically become obsolete because of the emergence of organic andsemimetallic pads. So why did I bringthem up? I guess I just like to waste your time. Anyways, Semimetallic Pads is a hybrid ofMetallic and Organic pads. These do wellwith heat, last longer than organic, and are the type of pad found on mostcars.

Other aspects also contribute to the lifespan of your brakepads. A main cause of premature brakewear is hitting the brakes at high speeds. For every 10 mph more you travel it takes a third more energy tostop. So, stop tailgating me at reallyhigh speed to only stomp on your brakes before hitting me. Not only is it pissing me off and dangerous,but it also decreases the lifespan of your brakes. Another cause of going through brakes quickeris where you drive. If you live in amountainous area and your brakes have to work against gravity than they will wearquicker. So, you may enjoy living in SanFrancisco but your brakes do not. Sizeand weight of a vehicle also affects the brake wear in a vehicle. The bigger and heavier the car the harder itis on brakes.

So, even though 35,000 miles is definitely in the low rangeit is still in the range. To extend thelife of your brake pads concentrate on gradually slowing down. Let off the gas and let your car slowdownnaturally before hitting the brakes. Ifyou have a manual focus on downshifting to slowdown instead of slamming on thebrakes.

Oil: The Creator of Many Fuels

2012-01-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

It may not be very surprising that Volvo’s V60 Plug-inHybrid was originally set to target the European market. North Americans as awhole strongly prefer gasoline powered vehicles over diesel (equipped withdiesel fuel pumps and diesel injectors). They also usually prefer SUVs overwagons. But what is the difference between diesel and gasoline, and why do weprefer gas?

There are chemical differences between the two as they areboth derived from oil at very different temperatures, but I won’t bore you withthat. The main reason that American’s tend to prefer gasoline over diesel,although diesel engines get better gas mileage, is because gasoline burns muchcleaner. Diesel engines are also known to be much louder. Because gasolineengines have a low compression ratio they require spark plugs to ignite thefuel. In addition to a spark plug they need electrical support from an electriccoil, a distributor, and an alternator. A diesel engine has a much highercompression ratio and creates enough heat to ignite the fuel at injection, thereforeeliminating the need of a spark plug and additional electricalsupport. Both engines create energy in afour stage process (although differently): the intake stroke, the compressionstroke, the combustion stroke, and the exhaust stroke.

In the past years there have been many improvements in dieseltechnology and it is being used more commonly than it has before. In regards toVolvo’s diesel wagon, they have recently announced the XC60 plug-in hybrid asthe gasoline alternative and it will be headed to US markets soon. Thisvehicle can travel up to 35 miles running on just electricity and is said to get about100mph in Hybrid mode. What’s more important to you, better gas mileage or loweremissions?

How Brakes Work

2012-01-04T08:36:00.000-08:00

The braking system is one the most and least understoodparts of a car. Brakes are not like an O2 sensor or air fuel ratio sensor there performtheir task in many different ways that all seem the same. The basic idea of thebraking system is that the calipers clamp on the disc and create resistancewhich stops the vehicle. While the ideabehind braking is basic the way each piece of the system works is not assimple.

The brake discs are very important and come in manyvarieties from basic solid plates to carbon ceramic cross drilled and vented. Eachof the different discs has different aspects that make them good or bad. Biggerwill always stop the vehicle faster but weight is much higher and so is cost,so on an economy car they are not appropriate. Small light rotors are good fora vehicle’s acceleration since there is less weight around the hub but theywill not create as much stopping power. A common mistake made by people lookingto upgrade the brake system on their vehicle is to just buy some cross drilledrotors. The main issue here is that not there is less surface area for the padto contact and thus less braking ability. Cross drilled will allow for moreheat to be removed from the brakes more quickly so cross drilled are great ifthe diameter of the disc is increased.

The calipers are another important part of the system since theypress the pads onto the rotor with specifically placed pistons. The size andnumber of pistons in the caliper control how evenly and hard the caliper canpush. The most common is the single piston type which has one large piston inthe center of the pad and is the cheapest of make. The multiple piston typescan more evenly disperse the pressure to all areas of the pad which means morepressure with less chance of lock up. A huge issue when upgrading the calipersis the amount of fluid that the calipers. If the system is not upgraded tohandle the increased pressure demand then the brakes will not press as hard andeven with larger calipers and rotors on a vehicle the braking power will bereduced.

Understanding the brake system is the best way to make surethey work properly. Many people think that cross drilled means better butunless it is done correctly it actually means worse. The brakes are the part ofthe vehicle that stops the movement and thus avoid accidents. It is vital tonot only the performance of the car but also the lifespan of the drive to have properbrakes. Next time your mechanic tells youthat your brakes need to be changed just consider that using the brakes to stopis better than the back of someone else’s car.

What is a Throttle Position Sensor?

2012-01-02T16:41:00.000-08:00

In order for your car to work properly everything must beworking in prime condition. Fromsomething as big as a diesel turbo charger to something as small as a throttleposition sensor, if one thing is malfunctioning your car will feel theeffects. We all know what car parts suchas an AC Compressor does, but a lot of us can get confused when we start totalk about all these sensors. I thoughtI would help you out a little bit and explain what a one of these sensors does.

Present day vehicles have an assortment of diverse sensors. Whenit comes to these sensors the key is “knowledge is power.” The sensors supply the knowledge to the computer so that the computer knows how much power needs to be out. One such sensoris the Throttle Position Sensor. Thislittle guy is located on the intake butterfly on internal combustion engines. The throttle position sensor is apotentiometer that reports to the computer in regards to how open the throttleis. This valuable info combined withdata from different sensors is used by the ECU to determine the correct fuel amount,ignition timing, and other important tasks. In turbocharged vehicles, the throttle position sensor’s cherishedinformation assists the wastegate for better car performance.

A malfunctioning Throttle Position Sensor means that thecomputer is not getting the correct information it needs to work properly. This means the computer, the brain of yourcar, has lost a lot of its brain cells. Your car may start to jerk, suddenly stall, and hesitate whileaccelerating, and the fuel economy will plummet. So, make sure your brain is getting the rightinformation so you’re not blowing a bunch of cash at the gas station. If your Throttle Position Sensor is brokenfix it immediately.

How Do I Know if I’m Covered Under Warranty?

2011-12-30T16:51:00.000-08:00

If you have a Saab you now know the answer to this question.But how do the rest of us know if we’re covered under warranty? Usually a vehicleis covered under warranty for a certain amount of time or a certain amount ofmiles driven, whichever one comes first. If your oxygen sensors or mass airflow sensors turn out to be defective, a base factory warranty will usuallycover parts, labor and cost of towing. But what if these parts went bad due toan accident?

A part going bad due to any external damage is not going tobe covered under warranty. If you’re cruising home from work, someone rear-endsyou, and then you start having problems with your a/c compressor, you’reprobably not going to be covered. Most manufacturers offer different warrantiesfor different amounts of time. A bumper-to-bumper warranty usually will covermost items on your vehicle but last a shorter amount of time, while a powertrain warranty usually covers fewer parts but lasts longer. Whichever warrantyyou have on your vehicle is determined by the agreements between the dealer andthe manufacturer.

Whether or not you are covered under warranty isn’t asblack-and-white as we’d all probably like. When you take your car to adealership they not only look for the problem, they look for the cause of theproblem. If the failure is due to lack of maintenance, an accident, misuse, orany other fault of the driver (and they will look for reasons), you will not becovered. For this reason it is important to check your manual and onlineresources to find out details specific to your vehicle before taking it intothe shop. And for all of you holiday & end-of-year shoppers this Decemberread the fine print! No one likes surprises that can cost a few thousanddollars down the road. Oh, and if you own a Saab, ignore the above.Unfortunately you’re not covered.

Testing in a Winter Wonderland

2011-12-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Ford’s Drivability Test Facility locatedsomewhere in Detroit. Here they don’t just test parts like steering racks andsteering gearboxes, they test the car as a whole against the most severedriving conditions. This building is what they call “explosion-proof” and theycan create the harsh rain, snow and wind of a blizzard, as well as temperatureshotter than you could bear.

It’s amazing the lengths they go to that ensure that theircars don’t let you down. During the test shown in these photos, Fordtechnicians were testing “snow ingestion” on the newly re-designed 2013 FordEscape. Here, they pushed snow into the grill of the car and tested itscharging system, engine cooling, cabin heating, as well as the effects of thesnow buildup. From the comfort of the warm room next door, the technicians areable to shift the transmission, slam on the brakes, and accelerate the Escapethrough the man-made wind tunnel. Withthe flick of a switch they can create rain which instantly freezes into snowand pours down on the vehicle.

This is just one of many “torture tests” Ford conducts ontheir vehicles before they hit the streets. Ford is obviously not the onlymanufacturer that performs these tests, but from the glimpse they give it lookslike a pretty cool job. Having driven the same car through both the winter blizzards of the Northeast and the dead heat of Las Vegas' August desert, it’s obviously important that every car is able to handle both extremes of driving conditions. How does your car handle?

What is an Oil Pump?

2011-12-26T11:02:00.001-08:00

We all know what a cooling fan is. It is a fan that cools. We also now what a fuel pump is. It's a pump that pumps fuel. So, guess what an oil pump does? It is a pump that pumps Oil. Woah, the answer to that question was moresurprising than the end of a M. Night Shyamalan movie. Ok, so the oil pump sounds like a prettybasic part, but it plays a vital role in the operation of your vehicle.

The oil pump inside of an internal combustion engine is usedto lubricate the engine and reduce friction. The pump powers oil through bearings, sliding pistons, camshafts, and othersmall parts. The decrease in friction also means the cooling of pistons,bearings, and shafts. Failure to properly lubricate an engine will result inengine failure. Now you see howimportant that cleverly named oil pump is.

The oil pump needs to be generating approximately 10 psi perevery 1000 revolutions per minute in order to properly lubricate the system. If your oil pump is working well but you arestill having a low pressure issue, it may be caused by a clogged oil pickupscreen, too much wear on a high mileage engine, or you just need to add moreoil to your car. Each car has differentoil requirements. Higher performancevehicles put more stress on the system and they need more lubricating.

There are basically three types of pumps, a twin gear pump,a Gerotor Pump, and an internal pump. Atwin gear pump has one gear connected to a shaft that is driven by the camshaftor distributor. A twin gear pump turnsat half the speed of the engine and is located inside the oil pan. A Gerotor Pump has one small gear rotatinginside a larger one. While an internalpump is a Gerotor style pump, an internal pump turns at the same speed of theengine so it creates a stronger flow. An internal pump design is used onoverhead cam engines.

Your Airbags Know You're There

2011-12-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

After Honda recalled over 300,000 of their vehicles thismonth due to airbag safety concerns, I started to wonder how an airbag is meantto work efficiently. Oxygen sensors, your power steering pump, and other mechanical parts are expected to show wear after time, but airbags and other safetyfeatures should always be ready to work as if they were brand new. In Honda’scase, there is concern that their airbags may explode during a crash causingpieces of metal and plastic to shoot towards the passengers. Not good.

It’s crazy to think that airbags in the driver and passengerseats have only been required by law since 1998. Since then airbags haveobviously advanced and are now located in many areas in a vehicle. In many vehiclesyou can now find up to eight airbags, some of which fall like curtains over theglass windows or deploy inside to prevent passengers from hitting each other. Sideairbags can deploy for up to five seconds which is especially important inrollover accidents. To be sure airbags don’t activate from rough pavement orsmall fender benders, the crash sensors are programed to detect only severedeceleration. Basically, if you got your car going as fast as it can drive andslammed on your brakes as hard as you could, you would only be decelerating ata fraction of the speed the crash sensors are meant to detect

Newer vehicles can even detect how much weight is on a seatso they don’t deploy on, for example, your beagle napping in the passenger seat.They can also determine the severity of a crash, your seat position, whether ornot your seatbelt is on, and other factors to know the safest amount of air tofill your airbag (if any). I’ve never seen an airbag deploy and hope I don’thave to, but these advancements in car safety are definitely comforting..Especially having to commute with these southern California drivers.

The Funniest Car Fails of 2011

2011-12-22T09:05:00.000-08:00

Over the past year there have been lots of advances inautomotive technology that can adjust for driving mistakes. Suspension compressor and suspension pump units that canpredict and adjust for bad conditions to air bag systems that can protect theentire car the advances are amazing. These advances may be something to bemarveled but they cannot help when we do really stupid things.Modern technology can only make driving safer if people let it and while mostof us are not trying to cause accidents, sometimes they do happen. On the other hand sometimes people do things that defy all logic and end up with hilarious results. keep in mind that with all of these accidents no one was seriously hurt, though pride may have taken a serious hit.

The number one has to be a man in Georgia who decided tovideo himself doing a burn out in a Dodge Ram. The event starts out ok but endsup with him losing control of the truck, hitting an embankment and flipping thetruck. This just proves that there are people out there with more money thanbrains, who also have video cameras. Next has to be a group of men in Japan, while ontheir way to a car show in a slew of high powered super cars. The group racingthrough traffic, the lead driver miscalculates a pass and ends up hitting the guardrail. This will go down in history as one of the most epic crashes that hasever happened. Due to the fact that almost all the cars traveling in the groupended up in the crash and all of them totaled. Oh and one Toyota Prius that had a big of damage on the rear bumper...what a tragedy.

The automotive fails this year did not stick to tarmac in the case of this off-road driver. He decided that Ken Block is not theonly person who can jump their vehicle on a dirt road. After a long run up, ofobviously not enough speed he hit the ramp and launches his Chevy. It is not somuch the launch that as it is the landing that caused the problem. The trucknever reached the landing area and smashed into the embankment, causing massivedamage to the vehicle. Which just goes to prove when it comes to insane stunts leave it to the professionals.

Then there is the presidential award forautomotive fail this year, which actually involves the President. ThePresidential motorcade was able to get high centered in Dublin while travelingover a curb. This is a vehicle that can take a shot from an RPG without ascratched and it has been defeated by a sidewalk. It just goes to show that an automotivefail can happen to anyone anytime so be on the lookout.

Jeep Scrambling to Bring Back the Pick-Up?

2011-12-20T17:15:00.000-08:00

It’s been about 25 years since they’ve been in theproduction, but the likeness of the Jeep Scrambler is making its way back ontothe roads again one Wrangler at a time. If you’re looking for a Jeep pick-uptruck, why replace the old alternator, starter, or manual front-locking hubsof a Scrambler when you can turn your own Jeep Wrangler into the same thing?This is what MOPAR set out to do with their JK-8 Independence conversion kits.

This kit, available for $5,499, comes with everything youneed to turn your Jeep Wrangler Unlimited into a two-door pick-up truck. A newsteel bed, inner and outer bedsides, sport bar extensions, a fiberglass topwith sliding rear windows, you name it. MOPAR underestimated the demand forthis product and is working hard to catch up on production within the comingmonth, beginning shipments to dealerships this week. This isn’t the first I’ve heard abouta possible return of the Jeep pick-up truck and seeing more of these on the roadis bound to get Jeep thinking about this a little more seriously. And althoughthis kit may not be exactly what Jeep enthusiasts are looking for in the nextgeneration of the Jeep pickup, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

The only thing I’m confused about is that most currentowners of the Wrangler Unlimited bought it for the extra interior space. Sounless you’re ready to put the kids in the truck bed, this package seems to be for thosenew buyers still hoping for the Scrambler’s return.

Car Company to Close… I’m so Saab :(

2011-12-19T09:41:00.001-08:00

Saab appears to have run out of gas. Not even a new fuel pump could save them now. The 74 year old car company filed for bankruptcy thismorning. This news is likely to befollowed by the company announcing that it will shut its doors completely. The only fuel pump that would rescue themwould be one that turns gas into gold.

Saabs’ last chance was to acquire $782 million in loans fromthe Chinese company, Zheijang Youngman Lotus Automotive, but General Motorsdenied the deal. GM was a former owner,but still had a say in the deal because they supply parts to Saab. Speculation was that GM objected to the loanbecause they worried that some of their technology would end up in Chinese competitors’hands. However, GM came out and saidthat they were against the deal because it was, “not meaningful different,” fromprevious offers.

GM sold Saab to Swedish Automotive back in 2010. Swedish Automotive is a Dutch company, whichis not at all confusing. Saab did getsome funding back in June from a couple of Chinese companies, but they blewthrough that cash faster than my girlfriend spends her paycheck on BlackFriday.

There is still a slight chance that Saab will stillexist. A new buyer could swoop in andbuy the remaining assets. So, if you andyour friends have some extra cash lying around, feel free to group the cashtogether and go “Dutch” on the car company.

Does this Concept Indicate Wheels of the Future?

2011-12-16T15:19:00.000-08:00

The new SIM-LEI prototype brings an entirely new function toboth the front wheel hub and rear wheel hub: powering the vehicle. While I hopethat no car ever looks like this, the concept behind this Japanese vehicle isunique and worth taking a look at. Rather than having one motor in the front ofthe vehicle this electric car has four motors, one in each of the wheels.

We’ve all seen more electric cars around in the past fewyears as gas prices have crept up and people are becoming more concerned aboutthe environment. What makes this car unique is not only the LEI (LeadingEfficiency In-Wheel motor) concept but its performance in speed, power output,and battery life. This prototype can go from 0 to 60 in just 4.8 seconds and eachwheel delivers 65 kilowatts of power (260 kilowatts total). Compare that to theNissan Leaf which only gives a total output of 80 kilowatts. The SIM-LEI cantravel about 207 miles on one charge while the Leaf does about 100. Having the motors located in each of thewheels also provides new possibilities regarding traction and stabilitycontrol.

I’m not a huge fan of the vehicle’s design, but the in-wheelmotors seem to provide more efficiency and I’m interested to see their future inelectric vehicles. SIM is expecting to begin production of its four-seat sedanin 2013 which will sell for roughly $32,000 a pop. While I can’t see these guyscruising around the streets of U.S. cities anytime soon, maybe they’re ontosomething?

What's the Difference Between a CV Axle and a Drive Axle?

2011-12-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

The answer to that question is “nothing.” Nothing isdifferent between a CV Axle and a Drive Axle. They are the same part, but referred to by two different names. THE END. Obviously I am joking, this is notthe end. Otherwise this would set a record for the shortest blog entry of alltime. Now, I do like to set records butI enjoy writing more, so I am going to discuss what a CV Axle actuallydoes.

CV Axles are typically found in modern front wheel drivevehicles. They can also be found on the back of rear wheel or all-wheel drivecars that have independent suspension. “CV” stands for constant velocity and “axle”actually stands for axle. It does notrepresent a cool acronym, such as Awesome X-men Laser Elites, but I am surethat will be a horrible movie soon. Thebasic purpose of a CV Axle is to transfer power from the transmission (ordifferential) directly to the wheels. Alot of people refer to the Drive Axle as the CV Axle because it is attached tothe wheel by the CV joint.

The first thing to go bad on a drive axle is usually theboot. If you think you might be havingissues with yours, there is a simple test. Go to an empty parking lot, such as a vacant Saturn Dealership, andstart driving in really tight circles. If you can hear a clicking noise than you have some problems. Crawl under your vehicle and look for anycracks in the boot. Cracks are easier tospot when you have the wheels turned all the way to the left or the right. If the boots have already split it will beobvious because it would have flung grease all over the place. Once the grease is out, dirt androad grime creep inside and you got yourself a bad CV Joint. The outer jointsusually fail first because they turn at the sharpest angle. The sharper the angle the more strain.
THE END… I’m not kidding this time.

Same Car, New Features? BMW Rolls Out Upgrades

2011-12-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

So you’ve been saving up money for a few months to get yourself an iPhone, an Android, or whatever your choice may be. You finally get it in your hands, and BAM, they unexpectedly release a newer, better version just weeks later. What the heck! Although this has become a common (and annoying) theme in technology today, you have to admit it’s becoming increasingly easy to update your old products to get new features. This week, this is exactly what BMW drivers were able to do with their In Dash Navigation and Center Console Display Unit.

On Tuesday, BMW owners with 2009 and later models turned on their cars to a new, updated BMW Online system. Some of the new features they can now enjoy include viewing recent news, weather, local fuel prices, Google search access, and a better overall display. Seems like a pretty cool deal to me, although I’m not sure how safe Google-ing is from behind the wheel. This all happened automatically and even better, for free. Now that I think of it, I don’t even need to plug my phone in to update it, add music to it, or transfer my pictures to my laptop. At the rate technology is progressing, it’s encouraging to know that it’s not so hard to keep the products we buy up to date. I can hardly turn on my computer without having to update some piece of software.

It’s great that BMW has rolled out this new upgrade, and I hope other companies with the same capabilities follow suit. Oh, and I’m definitely not getting into any long lines on the next apple release date. They released the software upgrade for free just a week after their latest iPhone was released, and who needs Siri anyways?

Do Your Eyes and Headlights Make a Good Team?

2011-12-08T16:04:00.000-08:00

I’m not sure if it’s just me getting older or my car, but it’s getting harder and harder to see the road while driving at night. It’s one thing to make sure luxury items like your Car Radio or Car Navigation System are working, but it’s even more important to maintain parts that affect your safety. Headlights begin to dim over time, and as the days get shorter in these winter months their brightness becomes even more important.

There are many different types of headlights such as incandescent, halogen, and xenon. Incandescent bulbs are the more traditional bulbs and tend to dim faster as the filament inside evaporates over time. Xenon bulbs use newer technology, specifically the HID (High Intensity Discharge) xenon bulbs which use two electrodes in a xenon gas-sealed bulb rather than a traditional filament. We are seeing these bulbs more and more in newer cars because the light they create is not only three times brighter than a halogen bulb, but lasts ten times longer. While three times brighter seems great for the driver, I can think of a time or two I’ve been blinded by an oncoming Audi or BMW, thinking their brights were on. Some headlights out today, such as bi-xenon, are so bright that they require self-leveling so they don’t blind other drivers on the road.

No matter which type of headlight your car uses, if you’re squinting to see the road at night you either need new bulbs or a pair of glasses. If you do notice your yellow-glowing halogen lights are much dimmer than they once were, be sure to change them both at the same time! It’s also fairly easy to upgrade them to xenon for that new, fresher look. Dimming headlights is a common problem but an easy fix, so don’t sacrifice your safety or the safety of other drivers on the road.

What Makes a Car or Truck Sound Raspy

2011-12-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

We have all heard it a car or truck rolls by and we want to cover our ears. It sounds like a swarm of angry bees and we all think the same thing…”what an idiot, but what makes the sound like that. No it is not the supercharger that the person says they have added…in fact a super charger unit would probably make the car quieter. The sound is created by adding an exhaust that has not been tuned for the application.

The exhaust is much more than just a pipe that channels the exhaust gases out of the engine bay. It is a specially tuned system that has been meticulously made for that specific car. The resonant sound that comes from a motor during the combustion process creates a pressure wave which can have a positive or negative effect on the engine depending on how the exhaust is shaped.

The headed is the easiest place to see this effect taking place, when the combustion process ends and the air enters the header. At this point the pressure wave is released as well. It will travel down the pipes and bounce off where ever the header turns into one pipe. When this wave moves back towards the engine it can cause unnecessary force on the now exiting gasses which can lower performance. If the header is built specifically to send this wave to impact the outside of the valves just before they open it will have a positive effect on the system. The early impact will create a low pressure area just outside of the valves and the exhaust can leave the engine more freely. Free flowing exhaust means more HP and better gas mileage. Some people believe that removing the header all together will give better performance but in fact the specifically tuned header creates more horse power than an open system.

The rest of the exhaust system is also tuned the same way, it is all about making sure that pressure waves work for the system as opposed to it. If an exhaust system is attached to a car that is not tuned to control this flow the negative pressure waves and lack of sound deadening material causes this sound. Next time you are in traffic and someone is revving their Nissan Sentra with a huge exhaust, just laugh. Not only do they look like a fool but they have also lowered the performance of their car and lost gas mileage to boot. Not to mention that most cars that are being built now are faster than the cars people tend to “modify”. So you can be happy knowing you can smoke them off the line too. In your stock V6 Camry all the while being comfortable and hitting 30 MPG.

Is Your Muffler Bearing Still in Good Shape?

2011-12-05T09:31:00.000-08:00

Has the performance of your car seemed reduced as of late? Does the exhaust sound rough or just too loud? Is the idle too low and you are thinking the fuel pump has failed? Well good news everyone! It may just be your muffle bearing not the fuel pump assembly. The muffler bearing is essential for high performance cars to avoid that annoying swarm of angry bees sound. Ever heard a Honda with a fart can on it? Well the muffler bearing will keep you from looking like a fool. But the muffler bearing is not the only part that is over looked on a regular basis…there are tons of parts that just don’t get enough attention.

Most of the time blinkers stop working and it is assumed it’s time to replace the bulb but really your car is just out of blinker fluid. It is a common mistake to waste your money replacing bulb after bulb without fixing the issue. The blinker is a sensitive component and needs to be properly lubricated, if not the bulb can dry out. Lots of issues can be cause by a dry bulb, the least of which is fire. Before ordering blinker fluid, be sure to check the manual for the correct viscosity fluid for your vehicle. Don’t forget that Synthetic fluid is only intended for newer model vehicles.

This brings up on to performance gains that can be made with very little time or effort. These upgrades can give performance increases almost instantly but are seldom known in the automotive community. Parts like the radiator insulator, which keep the much needed heat closer to the engine. The engine works to create heat and there is no reason to give it away through the cooling system. The cooling system is intended to keep the transmission and axles cool not the engine. Protect the most valuable commodity or your car by insulating the radiator from cold air. Lastly are brake line upgrades. A cheap and helpful upgrade is a cross drilled brake line kit. These lines expose the brake fluid directly to the outside air and thus cool the fluid. Cooler fluid increases braking and reduced brake fade during times of heavy use.

Automotive performance has been argued about since the dawn of the car but following the correct steps will get you ahead of the game. When working on your vehicle it is important to never listen to this guide. All of these parts are a joke and not to be taken seriously. If any of this guide made sense to you leave the automotive work to the professionals. Stay safe and always trust a licensed mechanic to do all maintenance and repairs to your vehicle.

The Mannesmann-Sachs Nivomat! Say What?

2011-12-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine told me that his Volvo had a Mannesman-Sachs Nivomat shock. Now, I know a lot about car parts. I know an ABS Control Module like the back of my hand, which my friend knows nothing about. After I made sure that he just didn’t get back from the dentist and was slurring his words, I decided to look into exactly what this strangely worded shock assembly is all about. I am assuming my friend is doing the same thing in regards to an ABS Control Module.

The word Nivomat is actually a contraction of two French words, niveau and automatique. In English, this translates to “level automatic.” Finally! Some words I actually understand. Basically, the Nivomat does exactly what its English translation says it does. It is a compact device that automatically levels out the vehicle. So, when the back of your Volvo station wagon is full of all your kids’ really heavy soccer gear, your car will not sag in the back. This will give you a smoother ride, keep your eyes on the road instead of the skies, and avoid looking like a low-rider.

The Nivomat shock assembly combines all the common components of a shock assembly; springs, struts, and shock absorber into one small housing. The energy required to adjust the height comes from relative movements between the axle and the vehicle body while driving. No electric engine or motor is required. After a few miles of driving the car will rise to optimum height. If the road is bumpy then the Nivomat adjusts to a higher level, for greater ground clearance. That’s one clever Nivomat.

This type of suspension can be found mostly in European vehicles, cars that carry heavy loads, and trailer hauling vehicles. So, the next time you’re in your friends Volvo, Saab, or Jaguar and their car is sagging in the rear you can be helpful. Instead of making a crude joke about them having “too much junk in their trunk,” you can politely tell them to have their Mannesman-Sachs Nivomat checked out.

What Exactly is an Ignition Coil?

2011-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Most of us think of cars as basic and straight forward, this is due to the fact that the cars we have owned have all been older models. As technology gets more integrated into our cars the simplicity has pretty much vanished. The suspension is a great example of this it used to be shocks and springs. Now suspension can be air suspension with a suspension pump or suspension compressor with 10 different sensors controlling it. Till recently the ignition system in most cars was very simplistic, distributor with a cap and rotor with spark plug wires that lead to the cylinders. This is not so with the new models which are coming onto the market in recent years.

The biggest and most noticeable change to the ignition system for modern vehicles is the introduction of the ignition coil. The ignition coil is more efficient than a plus wire since there is no loss, through the wire. The ignition coil pack is an induction coil that increases the voltage going to the spark plug to the 20-30 thousand volts that is needed to create a solid spark. Some coil packs use internal resistor to create voltage and others rely on external to get the job done.

Replacing a coil pack is just as easy as replacing a spark plug wire but it will cost a bit more. It may seem like a waste of money for something that does the same thing but in truth it makes for better gas mileage which means that they will pay for themselves.

Clean Fuel Injectors Mean Better Gas Mileage

2011-11-29T10:43:00.000-08:00

After time you may notice your car isn’t getting the same gas mileage it once did. A cause of this may be one of your diesel injectors, which can experience wear over time. Diesel or regular fuel injectors will need a bit of work to sustain the power and performance they had from stock. In some cases a simple cleaning of the injectors can restore the vehicle’s performance. In other cases, the diesel injectors may need to be replaced with a new diesel injector kit. A recent consumer reports study shows that 46% of people think fuel economy is the most important factor when purchasing a car. (Have you seen any Hummers around lately?) The only factor that seems to have more of an impact on new car sales is price.

A main factor that can hurt the performance of a fuel injector is dirt. A fuel injector is basically a valve controlled by the car’s ECU. This valve opens and closes very quickly to allow fuel to be squirted into the intake valves. Ideally, the fuel is delivered as a mist and it is vaporized immediately. If there is any dirt on the nozzle or within the injector itself, the fuel will not be sprayed as consistently and the combustion system will suffer. This process takes place in small fractions of a second and is therefore extremely sensitive.

How do you clean your fuel injectors? Give them a bath! Ultrasonic cleaning is one of the more intensive (but effective) solutions. This process involves actually removing the injectors and giving them a “bath” in a special cleaning solution. Simpler cleaning tips include doing a few full throttle accelerations on the highway. After having the injectors cleaned, most car drivers notice an immediate improvement in performance.

If there has been too much dirt buildup or there are other problems facing the fuel system, the fuel injectors may ultimately need to be replaced. If it comes to this, you should probably consider changing out all of the fuel injectors at the same time. So save yourself some money at the pump this holiday season and make sure your getting the gas mileage you’re suppose to!

Identifying What Killed a Turbocharger

2011-11-23T08:42:00.000-08:00

There are many causes that can lead to a turbo failing but what are the main causes that can be seen after the failure happens. Turbochargers themselves are very simplistic pieces of equipment. All they really do is move air, it is not magic and there are not really that many moving parts. The process of designing a turbo is difficult with years of research into every element of the creation. Once they are built it is just a matter of maintaining them with proper services.

When it comes down to the turbo failure on a motor there are only 4 main reasons that caused failure. The first and most common reason for failure is metal fatigue over time. This will happen to all turbos eventually due to the expansion and contraction of the metal in the unit over time. Eventually over time the metal will become brittle and being to crack or crumble, usually starting with the impeller. Proper maintenance on a turbo will slow this process but in the end it cannot be avoided.

The second major type of failure is oil starvation, this occurs when the oil flow to the turbo stops. With no oil flowing to the turbo the bearings will become under-lubricated and will either seize up or just fall apart. Oil starvation can be seen when taking the turbo apart and inspecting the shaft of the turbo. When the shaft shows discoloration or scaring oil starvation is what killed this turbo. This can be cause due to low oil pressure, a blocked oil line or oil sludging. Oil sludging is caused by the turbo burning the oil that is in the unit and then it is pumped back into the oil pan. Usually the sludge is due to the car being shut off when the turbo is excessively hot and the oil sits in the turbo and burns. Then once the car is started it is pumped back into the system, this can be an issue for the engine as well as the turbo.

The third major reason for failure in a turbocharger is over-heating. While this may sound like a strange thing to worry about in a unit that gets hot enough to glow red, it is an issue. Many modern turbos use engine coolant pumped through them to keep the turbo within operating range. When the flow of coolant stops or is hindered it is just a matter of time before the turbo gets too hot and cooks the bearings inside. Again this can be seen by discoloration on the internal pieces of the turbo unit.

The last and final common cause of failure in turbochargers is foreign objects. The internal parts of a turbo spin around 30-50,000 RPM and if something like a rock or other debris were to enter the system it will cause serious damage. Basically a turbo is very intense fan just imagine if you threw a brick into a house fan. Think of the damage, well that is exactly what will happen to the impeller of the turbocharger. This can be detected if there are dents in the impeller blades and sometimes all of the blades get chewed off completely.

Making sure to check and determine the reason for failure is the best way to make sure that the replacement won’t fail for the same reason. An automotive turbo can cost upwards of $2,000 and a truck turbo can fetch prices in the $10K range so failure can be a costly repair. All of the failures listed here besides normal wear will void the seller warranty. In other words if the cause of the failure is not determined you could be stuck with a huge repair bill that could have been easily avoided.