Archive for June, 2010

Making Your Car Go the Distance:Ignition and Charging Systems

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!If all the systems and their component are in working order, a car is said to be tuned correctly. The sound you will hear as you turn the ignition key is “vrrooon-vrrooon,” the muffled sound of many explosions and the [...]

Money-Saving Tip

Batteries should be recharged slowly whenever possible. Incorrectly recharging a battery can destroy both the battery and expensive electronic accessories such as digital clocks. Battery inspected during a pre-winter check, so it won’t leave you in the lurch when the snow flies. If it needs to be replaced, have it replaced then by someone you [...]

Battery Care

Excess heat will send your battery to it’s early grave. Allow cool-down periods between starting attempts. Before replacing a battery, have a competent technician inspect all ignition and charging components – they may be the real culprits when a car won’t start. If you leave on the headlights or radio and wake to discover a [...]

Money-Saving Tip

“Front end work,” a term that lumps together all repairs on the steering and suspension components, has traditionally been an area of high consumer dissatisfaction. If a technician recommends the replacement of steering or suspension components, ask the shop to show you what method is being used to determine wear. Often it is the manufacturer’s [...]

Making your Car go the Distance:Steering and Suspension Systems

Here are some tips to keep these systems in good working order. Check the power steering fluid level in the reservoir or have it checked about once a month, and top it off when necessary. The dipstick is usually located under the cap of the power steering pump. If you have to add fluid every [...]

It’s Not Just Vanilla Anymore

Many of today’s vehicles come with a variety of suspension choices, from a base system to off-road, from sport to touring. Each has its own distinctive comfort and handling characteristics. When looking at suspension features, first evaluate your own driving needs. Be sure you test drive a vehicle with the same suspension system that you [...]

Power Up

Driving Habits, extreme weather and lack of maintenance will shorten your car battery’s lifespan. Automotive batteries also last longest when maintained at or near a full state of charge; repeated or significant discharging of a battery will cause it to fail sooner. Still, when it comes to charging batteries, you can have too much or [...]

The Greaseless Guide to Car Care

As the air/fuel mixture explodes and expands, it pushes the pistons down, causing the crankshaft to spin and the wheels to turn. Too much air, too much fuel, or a spark that is not hot enough or delivered at the wrong time will result in poor performance. Hard starting, lack of acceleration, stalling, surging, hesitating, [...]

Cars and Bicycles

A car works something like a bicycle. When the bicyclist pedals, she generates up-and-down power through her legs. That power makes both the bicycle chain and the wheels turn. Up-and-down power is converted into rotational power, and down the road the bicycle goes. Inside each car’s engine there are three or more round metal plugs [...]