Repairing Car Heater
There could appear some problems if the heater core gets plugged and it will require replacement or flushing from time to time. When the engine is hot, there are 2 hoses from the engine to the heater core and these could cause leaks at high pressure. You can buy flush kits from auto parts stores or you can use even a garden hose to flush the car heater and the car radiator.
When it comes to car heater and radiator problems, the most common one is low engine coolant level. You should always check it before you go on a long journey. Also, if you’ve got an older car you could have faulty engine thermostat and that should be changed at car repair shop.
When you enter the car you should check the temperature gauge and make sure it’s in the normal range. You could also check the temperature yourself by using a metal case thermometer placed into the filler of the radiator when the engine is cold.
If temperature and fluid level are good and you still have heater problems then it might come from poor circulation through the heater core. Test that by keeping your engine running at good temperature and try to feel the heater hoses. Both hoses should have the same temperature. If their temperature is different you should try flushing them or replacing them.
When you’re working around the car heater always use caution because it could be very hot and never try to work at it while the engine is hot. You should also use some gloves to protect your hands from being burned.
Smart Car Repair & Motoring
Alter your lifestyle: It has been discovered that if 10% of the population used their Auto one day less a week, that every year 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide would be saved from going up into the atmosphere. So, try staying at home one day extra a week (working, not lazing around!). Alternatively, join a car pool.
Use SMART car repair for damages: Whatever brand your car is, treat minor damages the (Small To Medium Repair Technique) way. Minor car repair can not only save you a fair amount of money, but can help the environment too, as the damaged parts – particularly plastic ones – do not have to be replaced.
A lot of S M A R T car repair jobs also take a lot less time than at a garage. In addition, many minor repair jobs can be done on your premises, saving you the petrol used to travel there, as well as time and inconvenience.
Techniques that SMART car repair undertake include paintless dent removal, seat and trim repair, plastic welding and bumper repair, air conditioning repair, and alloy wheel repair.
Get a car repair technicians to check you out: illuminated warning signals on your dashboard need immediate attention as they could indicate serious problems indirectly leading to inefficient fuel consumption (in addition to the car being unsafe to drive!). Make use of car repair services, which also include a car diagnostics service to ensure the problem does not escalate.
Choose a motor that facilitates your lifestyle: If you mainly use it as a run around, then a small car or electric one would be much better than a 4WD, which will use a lot more petrol and cost a lot more to run and maintain, though minor car repair can reduce a lot of those costs in the case of minor damage.
For regular long-distance drivers, a diesel engine uses less fuel than a petrol engine, so would be a better choice , environmentally speaking.
Slow down: Putting the “pedal to the metal” may be cool in films, but in reality, it’s an excessive waste of petrol radically and unnecessarily increasing your fuel consumption. By reducing your speed from 135 kms/hr to 112 kms/hr, your fuel efficiency increases to 25%. By travelling between 80 and 96 kms/hr, your fuel consumption will be at its optimum.
Alter your driving: Slamming on the brakes or accelerating suddenly also increases fuel consumption and increases your risk of an accident. Although car -repair services are quite comprehensive, if you lurch forward in slow-moving traffic and smash into the car in front causing considerable damage, SMART car repair technicians may not be able to fix it.
Use mobile services: Where possible and practical, use mobile services that come to you, rather than you going to them, such as (Small To Medium Repair Technique) car repair services. You will save on petrol and reduce fuel emissions.
Walk: Try walking (rather than driving) to your destination. It will alleviate any thoughts about fuel consumption, will be better for your health, and better for the environment!
Colors for Car
Classic Appearance
You can pick basic colors like white or black if you do not want your car to look too vibrant. Absolutely no car will look boring in these colors. Just make sure that the paint is finished properly.
Sporty Appearance
If you want your car to achieve a sports car look, then pick bright colors such as sporty yellow, blazing red, green, orange, etc. You may also opt for white or black for this specific purpose.
Vibrant Appearance
If you want your car to have colors other than the standard ones, there are various shades available such as beige, maroon, red, silver, blue, brown, etc. These colors scream for attention, if that is exactly the effect you wish to accomplish.
Cool Graphics
Together with the car paint, you may also decide to add graphics on the car surface area. This would give a completely unique appearance to your automobile. The most typically used graphics are flames, peeping eye, broken glass, and so on.
Customized Colors
You have the option to ask for a customized one, if you do not want to select from the standard colors. The popularity of using these on automobiles is rising every day. These days, experts have the ability to mix and match any colors you have in mind. You can pick from flat, fluorescent, metallic or one-dimensional colors.
Match with Interiors
One important factor you need to take into account is that the car color should complement the interior. If you have selected a specific color for your exterior, it is advisable to have the same or corresponding shade to the interior.
Choose Reputable Used Car Dealer
The positive is that competition forces many to build their businesses on reputation, which means that you are often likely to find many helpful and very honest sales people in these areas. Again due to competition, however, prices can be driven down significantly, with some garages potentially embellishing the truth rather a lot just to get a sale.
Many people look for their vehicle based on seeing an advert for a vehicle online or in a local newspaper before they look at the reputation of the garage, and this is a perfectly normal way of approaching the situation. If you choose to find your vehicle in this manner – and you have found a car that you are seriously interested in – you next step is to look into the dealership’s reputation.
There are a couple of ways to do this, the first one being looking online for information about the company. The most professional dealerships will often have a website giving details about their services and displaying a number of vehicles that they have for sale. They may also have a number of customer reviews on display for you to see.
You can also search online independently for real client reviews of the dealership, as many people – both disgruntled and very pleased with their service provider – will use independent sites such as Trustpilot or various forums to give their honest feedback. Although negative feedback should not put you off completely, it means you should exercise a little more caution.
You can also choose to visit the dealership directly to see the vehicle that you are interested in. This can give you even more insight into how professional the dealership is. Although only a superficial indicator, you should be able to judge how successful the business is by how well organised the used car sales showroom is, how well vehicles are cared for and how well presented the salespeople are.
An alternative way of choosing your next vehicle is by finding a reputable dealership for used car sales before you settle on a car that you like. Ask friends and family for their recommendations, and then make an appointment to see what the dealer can offer you.
Recommendations are often one of the best ways to find a quality used car dealer, as people will be more than happy to recommend a good service once they have had a good experience there. Again, you can also use the internet to research the reputability of a company in your area by looking at customer reviews and recommendations left online.
The best way to find a good used car sales dealership is by taking the time to investigate each potential garage through word-of-mouth recommendation and by reviews found online. By visiting the garage itself, you should also be able to get an impression of how professional the service provider is, which is often a good indicator of if you will get a good and honest deal.
Dinghy Towing
Using a Tow Bar
When you see, for example, an RV hauling a sedan with all four tires making contact with the road, this is dinghy style towing using a tow bar. It is connected to the front bumper of the towed vehicle, and then trailer lights are attached to the back bumper. Although reliable, using a tow bar to haul cars can become complicated since cars are meant to drive on their own power, rather than be hauled on the ground.
Also, transmissions are designed to be turned by the car’s engine. But when a car is being hauled on the pavement, the tires will cause the transmission to turn instead, which could possibly lead to transmission damage. On the other hand, certain vehicles, like Jeeps, are designed with a 4WD mechanism that retains a transfer case, which places the car in neutral, isolating the transmission from the wheels. It is important to always refer to the hauled vehicles owners’ manual for manufacturer recommendations before setting it up for tow bar dinghy towing.
Using a Tow Dolly
In contrast to bars, tow dollies only allow the rear tires of a towed vehicle to touch the ground. When you see a car being hauled with its front wheels raised and its back wheels rolling on the ground, you are witnessing dinghy style towing using a tow dolly. Dollies are popular for RV’s that need to haul a car or SUV long distances. A notable downside to tow dolly hauling is uneven tire wear. However, routine maintenance and regular tire rotations can help slow this process down.
Keeping Tyres In Good Condition
Keep tyres align
Suppose one of your tyres has worn down and you need to replace it with someone else. If the new tyre is not in sync with the rest three, the tyres will wear down at different times! So you need to make sure that tyres are aligned and at least you can curb down the chance of accident while driving on the roads!
Check the tyre pressure
We all know that it is important for us to maintain a certain tyre pressure in the tyres we are using. Depending on the distance we are going to travel and the number of people travelling the pressure requirement changes. But it is important for you to make sure that there is a certain pressure exists in the tyre! The wheel and tyre companies of your locality can help you with it. He will be the best person to tell you the perfect air pressure that needs to be in the tyres.
Keep the second one
While you are travelling to a good distance, it is important for you to keep a spare tyre for your use. You never know what happens in the car. So it is important for you to keep an extra tyre in your car. No matter how far you are travelling, if you have adequate amount of fuel in your car and an extra tyre, you can drive with a contended heart!
Fuel Saving Ideas
Tire Pressures
Get used to checking your tire pressures regularly, at least once a week. Under-inflated tires cause excessive rolling resistance which results in burning more fuel. Conversely, the right tire pressures will reduce rolling resistance and therefore use less fuel.
How heavy is your load?
It makes sense that if your vehicle is loaded down with stuff your car is going to have to work harder in order to run, which means that it will take more gas to operate. Obviously there will be times when this cannot be avoided. But there may be an accumulation of stuff in your car that doesn’t really need to be there all the time, such as sporting equipment or tire chains. Lighten your load as often as possible and enjoy the perks of fuel saving.
Watch your lead foot
If you are one of those drivers who like to punch the accelerator to make quick manoeuvres, you are likely not going to enjoy any fuel saving. Try to maintain a more consistent speed, and even use cruise control when highway driving. These tips will help you to consume less fuel and may even have you arriving at your destination in a much calmer state!
It’s all about smooth
There’s a reason why jets are smooth and curved on the outside. They are specifically designed so that the air slides on by, rather than creating resistance to air flow. The same principle applies to your vehicle. If you have piled luggage on the roof and opened all your windows, the air can get “caught” and pull on your vehicle, slowing it down and causing it to work much harder to keep a steady pace. Once again, anything that works against efficiency will reduce your fuel saving.
Plan your trips carefully
Did you know that a cold car burns more fuel? Consider doing all of your errands in one trip rather than taking several trips from a cold start. A warm vehicle provides significant fuel saving over a cold one.
Premium versus regular fuel
Many people are under the impression that buying premium fuel improves their fuel saving. This is actually not true. Some studies have indicated that only about 6% of all vehicles on the road actually require premium fuel. If your car’s manufacturer isn’t recommending premium fuel then you are wasting your money!
Windshield Repair Kits
The basic windshield repairs kits available generally include a windshield resin that helps bond the glass, so that it becomes stronger and prevents further damage. Curing lamps are used to provide UV lights to ensure that the resin is properly cured. A bracket that has a built-in suction cup pump that adheres securely to the windshield is also provided. A drill bit that can create a tiny opening into the damaged area for the repair resin to flow into is usually included. Other items in the kit include a battery powered drill, mirror, pit, polishing wheel and compound, drill bits, 12-volt extension cord, misc. seals and glass pick.
Different types of windshield repair kits are available to suit the budget and requirements of different individuals. The cost of a windshield repair kit could range from $10 for a basic kit to more than $2000 for a professional kit. The number of windshields that can be repaired using one kit should be a criterion for selection of a suitable kit. One needs to evaluate the available windshield repairs kits in the market and find the most suitable one.
Install Car Amplifier From Start To Finish
- Step 1 – Choose your amplifier. No work should begin until you have found the best amplifier for your car. A good amplifier should make the sound louder and sharper and more crisp. The RMS power and number of channels are some of the considerations to make when choosing. Remember, a 4 channel amplifier is made to run 4 standard in-car speakers. A 2 channel or single channel/Mono amplifier is made to run one or more subwoofers.
- Step 2 – Identify the amplifier location. When choosing where to place the amplifier, remember that it should be within 12 feet from your stereo receiver to keep interference minimal. Ventilation should also be considered. The best areas for the amplifier include the rear cargo area or under the front seats.
- Step 3 – Get your amplifier wiring kit. There is no way you will get the work done right without the right tools The wiring kit should include important items such as grounding cable, power cable, signal cable, fuse, ring terminals, turn on wire, self-strapping screws, fuse holder and grommets. Other tools needed to install a car amplifier are wire strippers, wireless drill, panel removal tools like screw drivers and a digital multi meter.
- Step 4 – Start the installation. Disconnect the negative terminal of your car battery to avoid electrification. The battery will of course be the power source for the amplifier and should remain disabled. You can then connect the power cable to the positive terminal of the battery ensuring the fuse isn’t connected to your fuse holder without a ring terminal. Drill a hole in the fire wall in a safe location at least 4 inches away from the vehicles main harness. After you’ve drilled the hole safely use a grommet that matches the size of your wire and slide it into the hole. You can run it through a firewall hole and under the carpeting along the floor edge before resting it besides the amplifier.
- Step 5 – Set up a signal cable. Run the cable behind the empty stereo head compartment under the carpet and to the amplifier. Connect the turn on wire to the receiver and signal cable to the stereo receiver’s back and replace the receiver in its place.
- Step 6 – Connect your grounding cable. Grounding is important to keep electrical hazards at bay considering that the amplifier does produce electricity. Attach an end to a spot on the amplifier and secure the other end using a ring on the car chassis.
- Step 7 – Connect the car speakers. This should be done with a high quality speaker wire through the designated outputs on amplifiers and inputs on speakers. You can connect as many speakers as the amplifier can hold.
- Step 8 – Finish the installation. Mount the amplifier using the self-tapping screws and attach the power cable, signal cable and the turn on wire to your amplifier. Install the fuse on the battery and close the protective sheath covering wired connections to it in case there is a sheath present. Start enjoying your sound blasts.
Get the Sound Quality in Car
Consider replacing your car’s speakers
While car sound systems have significantly improved over the years, some manufacturers still use relatively cheaper speakers and amps that do not offer the best sound quality. You might hear noticeable improvements by assembling a better set of aftermarket speakers. You will probably even get a tighter bass and enhanced clarity.
Download music files with higher quality
Downloading higher quality music files does not help you save some memory space in your music player. However, be wary not to compress your music files too much, as you will lose high and low-frequency information that makes a song interesting. In a car sound system, you will be able to tell if something is definitely missing.
It is a well-known fact that the higher the bitrate, the better the sound. So, if you are playing music through an iPod, or your smartphone, you need to use a little compression, but don’t use too much. Another option is to stream music, in which you can explore the settings to improve the sound quality. You might want to try getting an Android auto head unit that offers a wide range of music apps.
Bypass the built-in digital-to-analog converter
Your music player’s DAC does not deliver the same performance as your car’s DAC, in which case an advanced converter would normally do the job right. You’re lucky if you can connect your music player to a stereo via USB because you can successfully bypass your device’s DAC. But you will need to confirm if the Hands-on Research information is available in the stereo unit.
Get a car amplifier
A separate amplifier is able to provide cleaner power than your built-in car stereo and you will notice the big difference in terms of sound quality. It does not matter what genre you listen to, whether it is pop, rock, or even classical music. Getting an amplifier for your car’s audio system is essential in getting a better sound in your car.
It is also advisable that you first know the difference between the volume level and the amp level. You might find yourself getting annoyed with a nasty and distorted sound when you set the amp level way too high.
Add an equalizer
You are going to need an equalizer to get rid of treble, midrange, and bass peaks. It is either built into the receiver or it can be mounted on a processor in your dashboard, or near the amplifiers. An equalizer will offer multiple points for frequency response adjustments and it can kill peaks and improve bass response.
Buy or build a sub box
Another great way to improve your car’s audio system is to get a subwoofer. If you’re building one, just make sure that it has been properly sealed because air leaks can significantly hurt the sub’s overall performance. To add, ensure that you build a box that has the correct interior volume for the subwoofer you have chosen.