Save the world with a Toyota Prius

Date: 2010.09.03 | Category: Engine, Hybrid | Response: 0

For those who are unaware, the Toyota Prius is the car that’ll single handedly stop climate change and save the world. The little car is much loved by celebrities and those in the know for being environmentally friendly; it uses less petrol than a normal car thanks to a hybrid engine.

Toyota has, unintentionally, created the ultimate posers car with the Prius. When driving one it is acceptable to expect applause from legions of people lining the streets, and your own parking space next to the President’s. Saving the planet is a full time job, so why shouldn’t you get any credit?

In reality the Prius is a very good idea, just executed pretty averagely. Toyota didn’t use any environmentally friendly methods during production or any materials on the car that’ll save the o-zone layer. This means you’ll have to clock up thousands of miles before you actually start to see any benefits. It isn’t a particularly cheap Toyota either; you have to pay quite a bit to have the pleasure of battling climate change.

If you walk around the car, nothing jumps out at you as extra special. It doesn’t look flashy from the outside, and the interior isn’t much better. You could say Toyota didn’t have much time to design the Prius after using up all their energy thinking of it in the first place. In terms of performance, the Prius isn’t worth writing home about either. It isn’t that fast and if you max out the hybrid battery, full acceleration isn’t possible. A great addition to the car would be a phone to call wherever you’re going to tell them you’ll be late.

Maybe criticising the Prius is unfair and maybe it isn’t. After all Clark Kent was boring and he was Superman underneath. With a bit more effort, the Prius could unleash its inner super hero.

Despite this, if you’re hell bent of on getting one, the best advice is to buy second hand. You’ll find many a cheap Toyota Prius online at big sites like Car Source and Teletext Cars.

So buy a Prius and save the world. You’ll just have to leave a couple of hours earlier to get there on time!

Muffler Auto Repair – What You Need to Know

Date: 2010.09.03 | Category: Auto Repair | Response: 0

The muffler is one of the most important parts of a vehicle. It is also a part of the vehicle where a small fault can cause very highly notable effects; as the affected vehicle ends up being ‘too noisy’ and something of a nuisance. In the best case scenario, such a vehicle could cause other road users (and bystanders) to start sending unkind stares and glares your way. In the worst case scenario, such a vehicle with a faulty muffler could get you arrested and charged, if you happen to live in one the cities with strict sound pollution laws.

It is out of all this, then, that muffler auto repair becomes a major necessity; to such an extent that garages specializing in it (and termed as muffler repair centers) have been coming up in recent days. One of the services that these muffler repair centers tend to offer is muffler modification, so that people who fancy it can have their car sound like a racing car.

If you have been wondering how people are able to achieve this, now you know that it is all about muffler modification; which is achieved at the muffler repair centers. Of course, the muffler repair centers also offer the opposite service; so that if your car is unpleasantly sounding like a racing car due to one or another muffler fault, then the guys at the muffler auto repair centers can check it out and hopefully, make it sound more like a normal car.

So how does one find these muffler repair centers? Well, a good way to start would be by conducting an Internet search; as most muffler repair centers have some sort of online presence nowadays. Another way would be by asking your generalist mechanic or anyone else in the automotive repair industry; so that they can refer where you can find a good muffler repair service. You could also check out your local telephone directory; you never know, you could find a new category for ‘muffler repair’ (possibly also masquerading as ‘exhaust repair’), in the latest edition of the yellow pages.

If you opt to look for muffler auto repair online, you will naturally be expected to exercise some caution; lest you fall in the way of scammers.

The cost of muffler repair will depend on the extent of damage we are looking at. Generally though, it is not too expensive, unless the damage is so extensive that the whole muffler assembly has to be replaced: where more money will have to be spent in buying the assembly, in addition to paying for the replacement labor.

Car DVD Players Are Important But Shop in the Right

Date: 2010.09.03 | Category: Car Air Intake | Response: 0

Car DVD Players Are Important But Shop in the Right Way

It is a dream of every car owner to keep his car in the perfect state. There are lots of performance parts available to help everyone in this regard. For instance, you can enhance the performance of your car’s engine by adding a cold air intake or you uplift the speed of your car by installing a turbocharger or supercharger.

Apart from these specific parts, there are some others that can be used to enhance the look and feel of your car. For instance, you can add stylish wheels or you can opt for lowering springs to change the entire look of your car.

It is not hard to gather that you can make your car much more stylish just by spending some money but when it comes to comfort and relaxation you must never overlook the role of car DVD players.

Why car DVD players are essential:

Gone are the days when people were engrossed in the idea of using car radio to feel relaxed in their car. Time has now changed a lot and DVD players have replaced the old methods of getting some good entertainment while driving your car. Also, it is just perfect for you kids to watch their favorite movie while you are on a long trip.

One important thing to consider:

Now, it is quite clear that car DVD players are important just like other parts but you must take special care at the time of buying. Apparently it feels like internet is the best way to shop for DVD players and other such parts but there are several strings attached to it.

Actually, there are lots of sites selling nothing but crap. You will never be able to get right quality parts from them and that’s the reason why it is important to spend some time finding the right site on the internet. Here, you must never shy away from conducting a through research for the first time. No doubt, there are lots of sites selling car parts but you must shop from a popular site.

One way to spot a perfect site is by checking the stock. If a site is selling a diverse range of parts including, DVD players, CD players, parking censors and CCTV, it is ok to shop from that site. If you are shopping from a site having more products, you will also be able to get some discount while purchasing different types of products.

The fact of the matter is that you have to add certain car parts to make your car work in the right way. But, you just can not shop from any of the sites available over the internet. You must invest some time in researching as it is the best way to shop online. If you are not willing to research, you must be ready to waste your hard earned money. So, act rationally!

How to Ensure You’re Getting the Best Auto Repair

Date: 2010.09.02 | Category: Auto Repair | Response: 0

For many people, going to a mechanic is a hit-and-miss affair. If you don’t know much about the inner workings of your engine, you have probably resigned your self to never knowing if you’re getting a good deal on your car service and repairs, constantly wondering if something really needed to be changed, and dreading the next time your car goes to the mechanic. Today we are looking at how even those with no knowledge of car repairs or motor mechanics can ensure they are getting the best auto repair.

What makes a good mechanic… and a bad mechanic?

We all have an intuitive understanding of what makes a good auto mechanic – sometimes it helps to articulate it, though. A good mechanic will:

o Accurately identify what is wrong with the car

o If this is not possible, will allot a set amount of diagnostic time and contact you to let you know before commencing work or if it is a mobile mechanic they will show you the problem on the spot.

o Give you an upfront quote on your car repairs

o Offer a warranty on their work

o Professionally and promptly resolve any issues with their work, within the warranty framework

o If the organization is large, make sure that the mechanics are employees rather than contractors – less possibility of conflict of interest

o Be a member of the various automobile associations in their country of residence

There are hundreds of stories about dishonest, lazy, overcharging and argumentative mechanics online. Some common themes in people’s complaints about bad mechanics are:

o They didn’t spot a problem that they should have seen – now it has gotten worse

o They didn’t tighten a bolt or place something properly

o They charged me much more than they said they would when I dropped off the car

o They told them something needed to be replaced which was not faulty

o They drove their car for non-diagnostic purposes

Looking for the following signposts and markers of a good mechanic can save you a lot of heartache in the long run!

Fixed Price Quotes

If your mechanic is willing to offer you a fixed price quote, you can be confident that repair bills will not be significantly larger than you expect. Offering fixed price quotes also shows that the mechanic is confident enough of their skills that they don’t think they will lose money by giving you a fixed price. If you use mobile mechanic services, you will often have the option to authorise extra, necessary repairs on the spot and with full visual confirmation of the problem.

Warranties

A written warranty (and a customer service team that makes you feel confident that claiming on it will not be more trouble than it is worth!), is the ultimate mark of trustworthiness from a mechanic.

Ask around – learn from experiences of others

Your parents, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues all need to get their car serviced and repaired. Using their experiences to add to your stockpile of knowledge about local and mobile mechanics is an extremely valuable strategy.

No Pressure tactics

Your mechanic should not pressure you into having a whole lot of work done. The work required should be written out in order of priority from urgent to routine maintenance and discussed with you, so you can decide what should be done and when.

Improve Gas Mileage by Installing Cold Air Intakes and Truck

Date: 2010.09.02 | Category: Car Air Intake | Response: 0

Improve Gas Mileage by Installing Cold Air Intakes and Truck Bed Covers

As summer kicks into full gear and gas prices soar well past the $3-per-gallon mark, who isn’t looking for some additional ways to save money by reducing their trips to the gas station? By streamlining your vehicle’s engine as well as its exterior, you can greatly increase performance while making your rig more cost-effective at the same time. Here’s how two basic add-ons can serve as game-changers for those who are looking to save money at the pump.

The biggest gains in fuel economy come from the installation of cold air intakes. And, aftermarket cold air intake systems provide the greatest improvement to overall horsepower and torque of any other performance upgrade. On average, an increase of 5hp – 11hp is standard.

Stock intake systems are built with a bunch of twists, turns and chambers to quiet the natrual rumble of your engine, but this noise-dampening design greatly restricts airflow. Performance-enahancing intake systems work by providing a smoother pathway for air to enter the engine, allowing for an increase in the amount of oxygen used for combustion with fuel. To add even more power to your intake, try coupling cold air intakes with a throttle body spacer. Throttle bodies increase performance by placing a high-velocity spin on the incoming air.

Aftermarket intake systems, like those produced by Airaid, completely replace your stock components to provide increased torque, maximum fuel economy and a meaner, throatier growl when you hit the gas — not to mention the muscled-up appearance of your engine bay.

While adding cold air intakes may provide the highest output, it does require some basic skill. The same isn’t true of tonneau covers. Also known as truck bed covers, they’re a snap to install and instantly produce a greater fuel economy. Available in two main varieties, hard-top and soft-top, tonneau covers streamline your rig by making it aerodynamically efficient, allowing air to slide off the cover rather than smack into your tailgate and create drag. By minimizing drag, tonneau covers improve the overall efficiency of your truck and have been shown to extend gas mileage by up to 10 percent.

In addition, both soft and hard tonneau covers – like those produced by Truxedo – provide safety and security for fragile cargo or materials that are easily damaged by the elements. The hardtop variety is typically constructed of plastic or fiberglass and comes either pre-painted or paint-ready, allowing you to match your current finish. Plus, most Truxedo tonneau covers install with clamp-on hardware and therefore don’t require drilling into the truck bed, mounted using only a handful of basic tools in as little as half an hour.

Do it Yourself Auto Window Repair – Auto Glass Replacement

Date: 2010.09.01 | Category: Auto Repair | Response: 0

Do it Yourself Auto Window Repair – Auto Glass Replacement

Some people truly enjoy fiddling with their cars. Whether they are changing the oil, washing it, or tuning it, they really enjoy it. When something breaks in the car, they are not as happy fiddling with the car, but they can deal with it. Replacing a fuse here, a flat tire there. But what happens when something breaks n your car that is a little more difficult, like a window, can you do your own auto glass replacement?

My answer is absolutely, anyone can do an auto window repair. Especially if you are a car enthusiast like above. But even if you hate cars, you can do this yourself, you simply have to dedicate yourself to doing it. It’s a little tough, but the accomplishment is worth it.

Why would you want to do an auto glass replacement yourself, when you can simply bring the car to a body shop and have them do it? Well, there are several reasons I could give you. The first is savings. Most of the time, when repairing something yourself, you save money in labor. This is not always true, but in this case it generally is. You also feel that great sense of accomplishment for fixing your own car. That’s a great feeling. In addition, there are some people who simply don’t want anyone else touching their car-it’s like their baby. For this reason alone, you should at least attempt an auto window repair.

There are various sources which can help you on your quest. Look into them deeply, making sure that you are one hundred percent comfortable with doing this prior to getting your hands dirty.

How To Choose A High Performance Fuel Injection Kit For

Date: 2010.08.31 | Category: Car Air Intake | Response: 0

How To Choose A High Performance Fuel Injection Kit For Your Truck

The price of gas is starting to get more and more expensive as the price of gas goes up many people are looking for accessories to add to their truck in order to improve their gas mileage. There are not very many accessories that can really help your gas mileage but many people are starting to look into ways to increase their power using cold air intake systems.

High-performance cold air intake systems help engines run on the air by trapping and filtering the air as it comes into the engine. Most regular fuel injected vehicles have a filter that is not a space mounted filter on top of the engine like of the carburetors of cars and trucks do. With a cold air intake system there is usually some kind of divider that separates how the air filters and enters into the engine. These intake systems provide cold air coming through the grill of the truck this is a more appealing option than grabbing warm air from under the hood. Because cold air is more dance it is better for your fuel injector and willing hands the horsepower of your truck.

You can purchase performance kits that include all the hardware you will need to install your cold air intake system. Actually installing the cold air intake system may not take very long for somebody who knows what they’re doing; a skilled mechanic should be able to complete the task in only a couple of hours.

When your cold air intake system has been installed you may actually hear the air as it enters the filter. When you are going slow you may only here a small noise, but as you start going faster you will hear a much louder roaring. Most people who have a cold air intake system actually think this roaring is a pretty cool sound and do not find it very annoying.

Many manufacturers claim that I using a cold air intake system you’ll actually get better gas mileage with your truck. But unfortunately there’s not any hard documentation to prove this fact. So for now the only reason for installing a cold air intake system is because they are better for your engine and if you like the cool roaring noise that you get when going fast.

If you are not a mechanic and still would like to get a cold air intake system try visiting your local mechanic and asking them if they think it would be a good fit for your truck. You might also want to check out and see if anybody else has a cold air intake system already on their truck that you could possibly take a look at or hear about for having one installed on your truck.

With the increasing price of gas any little thing that you do to help save gas and save you money is a great idea. Although the cold air intake system is not proven to reduce gas mileage many people have done their own experiments with it and asked down that they do get better gas mileage with the cold air intake system installed on their truck.

Basics of General Auto Diagnostics

Date: 2010.08.31 | Category: Auto Repair | Response: 0

Early cars, like the Ford Model T, are relatively easy to maintain and repair. In contrast, automobiles nowadays are difficult to repair. Because of its complexity, an average car owner would find it very hard to spot a problem with his car. Generally, car owners lacking auto repair know-how would just opt for the repair shop. That’s a rational option. However, it’s quite costly. And, sometimes, auto techs take advantage of those who don’t have any idea about car repair. Therefore, having some knowledge about basic auto diagnostics is really important.

How do you learn basic car repair diagnostics? Nowadays, we’re blessed with the Internet. The Internet is a treasure trove of information. If you want to diagnose your car for repair, you can just search the Web for textual or multi-media instructions.

Here are some basic auto repair diagnostics.

The first thing you should remember when doing car troubleshooting is to check if the car runs. If a car won’t run, then a loose battery cable is probably the cause. Ensure to check all battery power and ground connections. See to it that the battery cable ends aren’t loose. Also, check for any signs of corrosion. Most of the time, a car won’t start because of battery problems.

You should also check if the car cranks. If it cranks but not starts, then you will need these basic tools: fuel pressure gauge, compression tester, and spark tester. Fuel pressure, compression, and spark are needed for an internal combustion engine to function. To know the exact testing steps, it’s important to consult the manufacturer or a qualified car tech.

Let’s consider a different scenario. What if the car starts but then dies after a few seconds? Most of the time, a no start condition stems from an ignition component failure-camshaft sensor problems, crankshaft sensor issues, problems with ignition module, and so on. When troubleshooting a car that starts but dies after a few moments, it’s important to ensure that you have the proper equipment. Many car owners who do not have proper equipment have improperly diagnosed their cars and caused damage to their cars’ computers. Discretion is recommended when performing auto repair troubleshooting.

Let’s move on and consider another situation. What will you do if the car runs but lacks power and a check engine light? In this case, you should consider the important things that will make your engine operate: fuel pressure, compression and spark. These three factors are really essential. When diagnosing a check engine light or drive ability problem, you should always examine fuel pressure, compression and spark. Also, you should check your car’s computer for the check engine indicator light. In this way, you may determine if there’s a circuit failure.

But if you’re not sure how you can handle the problem, it’s always best to do more research or consult an experienced auto repair technician.

Performance Auto Parts

Date: 2010.08.30 | Category: Car Air Intake | Response: 0

There are many benefits to improving the performance of your vehicle, including an increased resale value, and many improvement methods don’t require a monetary investment in performance auto parts. Checking the air pressure in your tires and keeping them at the recommended levels will ensure optimal gas mileage and handling, and lightening your car’s weight by removing unneeded cargo from your trunk can do the same plus increase speed.

However, beyond the regular maintenance precautions, modifications with performance auto parts will notably improve speed and function without spending the thousands of dollars needed to upgrade an engine or install a turbo system.

K&N Air Filters

K&N air filters increase the speed and power of your vehicle and are better for the environment than traditional air filters. Also inexpensive, K&N air filters go for about $40-$70 dollars depending on the model needed. Investment is minimized in the long run since they won’t need replacement, whereas traditional air filters need to be replaced 5-10 times throughout the lifespan of a vehicle. Unlike traditional air filters, these are reusable. Once you buy a K&N, you will most likely not need to replace your air filter again. These air filters are made of a cotton gauze material and are easily washable.

Performance Chip

Every new vehicle has a computer chip that controls how much torque and horsepower can be displaced. With a performance computer chip, the horsepower and torque of a car can be noticeably increased. A performance computer chip can increase a car’s horsepower by up to 50 increments. Not only do these performance chips increase speed and horsepower of a car, but also increase gas mileage. Another benefit of performance chips is their easy installation. All you have to do is locate your vehicle’s factory computer chip and swap it out with the new one. A performance chip can be purchased at under $300 dollars, are street legal in the United States and will not void a vehicle’s new car warranty.

Cold Air Intake

This modification improves a vehicle’s power by cooling its air intake. Because cold air is denser, it improves air flow, causing the increase in efficiency and power. A cold air intake system is one modification that gets noticed. Benefits include visual enhancements to the appearance of the engine bay (because the parts can be painted colorfully) and a more powerful sounding exhaust system.

Performance Exhaust System

A great way to optimize your torque and horsepower is a catalyst-back exhaust system. These exhaust systems lower exhaust back pressure with large width exhaust pipes and low restriction mufflers. Borla and Flowmaster are the popular performance exhaust system brands, and can give your vehicle a 5-15% boost in horsepower. These systems are made of the same stainless steel that is used in airplanes; this will also give your vehicle sound a deeper tone. Also you will notice an increase in fuel economy because these systems will help your engine run more efficiently.

The Driver’s Guide to Auto Repair Shop Shenanigans

Date: 2010.08.30 | Category: Auto Repair | Response: 0

People enjoy taking their vehicles to the auto repair shop as much as they enjoy visiting their dentists. That is, they dread doing so. Not only is it inconvenient, but the repair bill is a mystery to most drivers because they’re uncertain regarding what needs to be fixed. Worse, few people can tell whether the mechanics are giving them a fair deal.

Unfortunately, when parts start failing due to wear or other factors, they need to be replaced. Likewise, when various systems (e.g. brakes, exhaust, fuel, etc.) begin to show signs of trouble, they need to be inspected. The problem is, many garages are less than trustworthy. We’ll explore some of the shenanigans pulled by repair garages below. The following may encourage you to buy auto parts online and learn to install them yourself.

Why Labor Is So Expensive

It’s rarely the cost of the parts that sends the bill through the roof. It’s the labor. Mechanics will normally charge between $50 and $80 per hour (and more for specialty cars). The reason for the high hourly rate is due to the cost of maintaining the facility, tools, and paying wages, taxes, and insurance.

That said, a lot of garages will over-bill on the labor, knowing the customer will never know the difference. For example, if you need your alternator replaced, do you know how long the job should require to perform? Most people don’t. So, the repair shop will bill the customer for two or three hours even if the job takes an hour and a half.

Paying The Flat Rate

A lot of people are unaware that repair shops use manuals that are provided by the automakers to determine how long each job will take. Initially, you might think that works in your favor. It’s difficult to justify a bill based on four hours of labor when the manual lists the job at two hours. However, it can just as easily work in the garage’s favor.

For example, suppose your catalytic converter is failing, so you drive your vehicle to your local mechanic. The manual for your make and model lists the job at two hours. Further suppose the technician is able to replace the catalytic converter in one hour. Even though it’s arguably unfair, you’ll still be charged for two hours of labor. The extra billable time is pure profit for the shop.

When The Work Isn’t Performed

This problem is especially challenging because most people lack the skills or knowledge to know whether a particular task has been performed. For example, if you instruct your mechanic to swap out your failing fuel pump with a new OEM replacement, will you know whether the pump is new? Or, could your auto technician put in a badly-designed rebuilt without your knowledge? In most vehicles, this component is installed within the gas tank, so it’s difficult to visually inspect the work.

This is an area in which trust plays a critical role. You should be able to take your vehicle to a mechanic who is experienced and willing to treat you fairly. Of course, the best time to begin looking for an honest repair shop is before your car breaks down.

Learning To Fix Your Car On Your Own

Most people are unwilling to lift the hood of their vehicle and get their hands dirty replacing or cleaning parts. Instead, they rely on their local mechanic. The irony is that a little automotive knowledge and a few tools is enough to replace hoses, plugs, and simple components without the help of a technician. It’s also far less expensive.

Here’s the takeaway: if you intend to continue having mechanics perform all of the maintenance and repair work on your vehicle, find someone you can trust. In the meantime, consider buying your auto parts online and learning how to install them on your own.