My Automotive Repair – All Things Mechanical

Well, one of the things I am so luckly to have come up right after the holidays is Insurance renewal. I decided to give GIECO a shot and see if they would have a comparable rate to progressive. Wow – you would be amazed at the amount of informaiton GEICO has on you once you put in your address, car types, drivers license number and practically a quote ready to go. Well long story short is they came in about 20% less than I was paying before. So – like the commerical says it pays to shop around.

Car tyres in good condition are not an excuse for driving fast in heavy rain. There is a high potential of aqua planning, significantly reduced visibility and you may encounter a flooded road.This article provides advice about driving in heavy rain and what to do if you encounter a flood.During the winter months regularly check your windscreen wipers to ensure they can cope with heavy rain. If the rubber has deteriorated, replace it immediately. It’s very simple to do or local garage will be happy to help.If caught in a downpour then double the distance between yourself and the car in front. This is because stopping distances are increased on wet roads as your car tyres struggle to find grip. Visibility is also reduced which will lower your reaction time if required to brake suddenly.Even today’s modern road surfaces struggle to cope with a heavy downpour and standing water is a potential hazard. Try to avoid standing water and slow down. If you don’t there is a high risk of the car aqua planning.Aqua planning occurs when the car tyre’s tread pattern is unable to disperse enough water to maintain a point of contact between the tyre and the road. This makes the vehicle uncontrollable with the loss of steering, grip and a sensation of driving on ice. It can be a very frightening event as I’m sure anyone who has experienced it will agree. The best advice when it happens is to hold your steering wheel lightly and lift off the accelerator until your car tyres regain their grip.If you’re unlucky enough to break down in heavy rain, stay with your car but check you are not in a location that is at risk of flash flooding. Your engine may have been affected by the water and in many cases the car will restart when it has had a chance to ‘dry out’. If you have called for assistance do not prop the bonnet open until help arrives. This will cause the electrics to become rain-soaked and the car will be even harder to restart.The rain may be so heavy that you experience a flooded road. The AA provides some good advice about how to deal with this:1. Do not drive through flooded water unless you know how deep it is.2. Stay in the middle of the road. This is known as the crown of the road and should be where the flood water is shallowest.3. Drive slowly to avoid creating a bow wave, which can cause neighbouring houses to be flooded.4. Pass one vehicle at a time through flood water. Allow the oncoming traffic to pass first.5. Do not risk driving through fast moving water as your car can easily be swept away.6. Driving at speed through a flood can cause expensive damage. Even a small quantity of water sucked into the engine through the air intake will cause serious damage.7. As you drive through the flood water, keep the engine revving by slipping the clutch. This prevents water in the exhaust which may stall the engine.8. Test your brakes as soon as you leave the water.Car tyres in good condition will be able to cope with most wet driving surfaces. But with heavy rain or a sudden downpour extra care must be taken to avoid a possible accident or injury.

The manual versus automatic transmission debate is as old as automatic transmissions (cars were all manual transmission in the early days). So which is right for you?It is a question only you can answer. There’s no universal right or wrong about either type of transmission. You have to consider which factors count most for you, then buy accordingly.First, can you drive a stick? Perhaps that should go without saying, but if you can’t drive a manual transmission, none of the other arguments in favor of one make any sense. Of course, if those other arguments hold weight with you, then it might be worth your time to learn how to drive a manual transmission.Second, consider the cost. You will notice an immediate savings when you buy a stick, to the tune of $750-1,000. But the total cost of ownership counts more. Manual transmission cars typically require less service, so you’ll save money over time. And depending on how you drive (and road conditions), a manual transmission could save you 5-15% on gas.Third, consider whether or not you want the extra “control” a manual gives you. This is the biggest argument most manual transmission lovers offer: “It gives me complete control over my car.” Okay, that’s fine, but do you need it? Do you even want it? Modern automatics are just fine for most drivers, even if they have to merge onto the highway a lot. Unless you’re a Formula 1 driver, do you really need to be able to downshift or get more power on demand in tight corners?Fourth, consider the extra work involved with driving a manual transmission. Once you know how to drive a manual, it becomes second nature. You really don’t have to think about it. But it definitely is more work. If you deal with stop and go commuter traffic every day, do you really want to have to do all of that clutch work? This is probably the most practical consideration of them all.An automatic requires using two pedals-one makes you go, and one makes you stop. A manual throws an extra pedal into the mix, and you’ll be using it! If you have to stop and go, your left leg will get a workout. Not to mention the extra bother of accelerating from a dead stop on an upslope, or shifting while you’re merging.Bottom line, an automatic transmission is often a more comfortable drive, especially if you drive longer distances, or have to deal with lots of stop and go traffic. You’ll lose some fuel economy, and your maintenance costs might go up, but it’s a tradeoff.Realistically, a manual transmission lets you look and feel cool. It might even give you a sense of pride that you can drive one when some people can’t. But the manual versus automatic argument about having more control in a manual does not matter for most people.In the end, it mostly comes down to cost. If it is worth the extra initial and ongoing cost to you to get an automatic, that’s your choice. If you need to save some money, and you don’t mind putting up with the driving headaches of a manual, that’s the winner.

WHEN IT LIGHTS… You’re driving along enjoying the nice day, when…BLINK, the “CHECK ENGINE” light pops on. Great, what do you do now? After you stop swearing and your heart rate slows down, the next thing to do is make a decision. Can this be serious or a simple problem? Should I keep driving? Call a tow truck?SERIOUS… On current automobiles, all the SERIOUS engine functions that could lead up to a possible engine failure are monitored with INDIVIDUAL lights and a water temperature gage. We have a low oil pressure light, usually behind an image of an oilcan, and a battery low charge warning light behind a battery icon. Any of THESE lights and the water temperature gage can pre-warn the driver of a possible engine malfunction that requires IMMEDIATE dealer attention to prevent causing engine damage or being stranded.OR SIMPLE… I’m just old enough to remember that cars had real gages in the dashboard. There was a temperature gage, an oil pressure gage and a battery gage to monitor the engine functions. With these gages you could be aware of a potential problem that may be creeping up on you as the gages slowly changed from normal. Now we have a silly “check engine” light that is either on or off, and tells us nothing about the problem. But, other than the INDIVIDUAL warning lights in the above section, the “Check Engine” light is usually used to indicate an environmental emissions problem. Could be a loose gas cap, faulty fuel mixture, inefficient engine idle, one of the dozen monitoring sensors that is out of spec, or another simple, correctable item.WHAT TO DO… If your car is running smoothly with no indication of a major problem, bring your vehicle to your dealer and they will plug your vehicle into an error code reader, probably a diagnostic computer, to identify the problem. Usually the fix will require a new gas cap, a filter, a new sensor, a leaky hose piece, or other corrective item. If you want to avoid any excessive dealer charges for the diagnostic test, you can have the error code read for free at one of a few new auto parts stores. Call them to see if the service is available.FOR THE INQUISITIVE… If you are curious about the reason for the “Check Engine” light, you can purchase a simple handheld error code reader from any number of companies for around thirty or more dollars. In minutes, using the reader and its error code manual, you can zero in on the problem and, many times, effect a simple repair economically. Having an error code reader is a big plus if you have a few vehicles in the family. But REMEMBER, if there is ANY doubt about the cause of the “Check Engine” light going on, get thee to the Car Dealer.!

Buying a new car can be exciting- splashing out your hard earned money on something which could improve your life. This excitement can be short-lived, when the reality of the actual purchase sets in. There are so many things you should think about before buying a used car, so hopefully these tips might helpɉۢ Shop around. The internet has changed the way people shop- in just a few clicks you have access to thousands of car sale sites, whether it be commercial or independent. The beauty of looking for a car on the internet means that you have unlimited choice, and even more unlimited choice if you have the means to travel to view a car. When you have found a car make sure you research the model and how expensive it will be to run.
• When you have chosen a car you wish to purchase, make sure you take it for a test drive first. Just because the outside is attractive doesn’t mean underneath the bonnet will be. Test drive the car on a variety of roads and even take it down the motorway so you can really get a feel for the car and know that its for you.
• Read through any documentation rigorously. Any documents or contracts that come with car should be read in full. Make sure you check that the information on the official documentation matches with the car, and always check the car’s identification number.
• Get the car checked out. For a small fee you can arrange with a company like the AA to check over the car’s engine and body to make sure there are no complications that will cost you money if you decide to purchase the car. This fee is worth the money as it will give you peace of mind that the car you are buying is worth your cash.
• Don’t forget insurance. The model of the car determines how much your policy will cost, so make sure you will be able to afford the insurance. Make sure you are aware of any modifications made to the car as this could increase your car insurance considerably.

In winter, the weather conditions are rarely favorable and the roads are slippery and icy and in these circumstances, it is important that you keep your car well checked and have the emergency equipment to help you stay out of trouble. The snow on the road makes you lose traction, and so does increased speed. Therefore, you should be careful not to further reduce the already lost traction by increasing the speed. When there is ice, don’t rush yourself. If there is somewhere you need to be on time, you should leave early to leave enough margin for the delay caused due to the ice on the road.The accelerator should be pressed only lightly and you should drive the car at a smooth and steady speed. You should avoid using any kind of jerky motions during driving. Don’t turn the steering wheel with a jerky movement and if you want to take a turn, do it smoothly and slowly. Bring the car almost to a stop when taking a turn that is a right angle as it is while taking this kind of turn that the car is most likely to skid.You should try to avoid going on roads that are not used frequently. This is because the conditions on these roads are more dangerous. Other than that, you should also be extra careful when passing bridges, overpasses and shadowy areas. You should scrape ice from your windshield to make sure that your visibility is not affected. You should keep yourself on the lookout for black frost, which can suddenly catch you off guard. Bridges and intersections are places that are the most treacherous of all, in terms of icy conditions. Be careful of spots where the water runs across the road as these spots are likely to have black frost. The black frost is transparent and invisible and can mislead you.Be sure to keep the headlights and taillights of the car free of any ice or dirt so that the other motorists can easily see you when you when the lights are turned on. Scrape the ice from the windshield, but never use hot water to remove the ice as this can cause the windshield to crack.No matter what type your car is, it is important to keep the car in complete control and handle it as required by the road conditions. This is because it is the skill and practice of the driver that counts more.The important thing is not to let your attention on the road get diverted, as this can cause accidents. If there is a slide, you should not overreact and should ease on the accelerator and let the car come out of the slide naturally. Turning the steering wheel unnecessarily will only make the slide worse, and the car will take much longer to get to its normal condition. If you feel your nervousness is increasing, you should pull the car over to a side and should proceed when you feel calmer.

Both types of cars were designed by authoritative figures in the auto industry, both types are backed by strong styling and engineering integrity, both have been around for over fifty years, and they both a strong presence on the racing circuit. As a result, both the Porsche and the Ferrari have been closely compared in a variety of places as they both have a reputation for great performance as well as style. Let us make a specific comparison between the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S and the Ferrari F430 since they both give outstanding performance as sports cars whilst also being suitable for the public roads.There are a number of features that should be found in a sports car, such as: road-holding [stick to the road like glue], it should manoeuvre well around town, it should be responsive and pick up speed when you put your foot down, and it should be safe on the road.The use of performance figures is the easiest method of comparing these two cars any other comparison would be subjective and then dependent on human opinion. The Ferrari goes from a standing start to 100 km/h within 4 seconds, with a very satisfying tone of the exhaust. The 4.3 litre V8 engine delivers 368 kilowatts while the passengers are held safely in their seats.The Porsche also has a very good acceleration, being slower by 0.8 seconds from a standing start to 100 km/h. Having such accelerations, it also follows that these cars should have very good braking systems, and they both use optional ceramic discs in order to achieve great performance.When it comes to fuel consumption, the Porsche emerges the better performer, taking just 11.8 litres for every 100 km, while its rival takes 18.3 litres for the same distance. Now think about that for a second. The Porsche is almost twice as economical as the Ferrari. Now while it may be true that if you can afford a Ferrari, you’re not really ever going to be concerned by the price of fuel, as the world becomes more environmentally aware, it may be a factor in your consideration. Both cars use 6-speed gearboxes with high handling performance.Both cars have somewhat limited space but they are quite comfortable. The Ferrari employs a combination of carbon fibre, aluminum, and suede, although the Porsche still has a finer finish. When it comes to appearance, the Porsche performs well, but it does lag behind the looks of a Ferrari. 

In the 1920s, Porsche was the chief engineer in the famous Mercedes-Benz Company in Stuttgart. He later started his personal engineering plant where he developed a number of designs such as the Volkswagen. This was in Wolfsburg, where he was the head of operations. Volkswagen [VW], is now majority owned by Porsche. At the time of writing this article, there is worldwide crisis in the automobile market. The share price of VW rocketed, when it was announced that Porsche would be buying a larger stake in VW, thereby securing VW for the longer term. This now gave Porsche a foothold into the car companies owned by VW, like for example Audi.When the Great War came to and end, the Allies imprisoned him. Several years later, he was released and was thus able to design his maiden car with the help of his son, Ferry Porsche. This design was known as the Porsche 356, which was a sports car that was similar in design to the VW. For example, they both used a four-cylinder boxer engine that was mounted in the rear. Although this model was a sports car, it is was a powerful race car, having a speed limit of 87 mph and 40 bhp. In addition the 356 was developed as a convertible but was later redesigned as a hard top car.The car was produced in the workshop of an expert at restrained streamlining, known as Erwin Komenda. Erwin had been responsible for design techniques and sheet metal assembly at Porsche from the time of VW Beetle [a VW Beetle was in the 'Herbie' films of the 70s]. He was the one who came up with the design of the closed coupe, which started a tradition of sports cars. This fastback design was enhanced both by Erwin and Ferdinand ‘Butzi’ Porsche, Porsche’s grandson, when they designed the 911 series. There were a number of distinctive features that made the Porsche 911 stand out. It had a sloping bonnet that resulted in the ‘frog-eye’ headlights and curves running in straight lines from the windscreen’s top edge up to the rear bumper.

The greatest thing about my Jeep Cherokee is that I often feel like it transports me, not just physically but emotionally, to someplace I would rather be. Commuting to and from work in a major metropolitan area, I’m often stuck in traffic – in fact much more than I’d rather be. Luckily, with this vehicle I have a better view of the road, other cars and trucks than if I had been driving a sedan.The Jeep Cherokee seems to be really popular around here too, but maybe that is just because I drive a one, so those are the ones that I pay the most attention to. Its really interesting to me that you see so many different types of people driving around in Jeeps – from businessmen in expensive suits and women in beautiful dresses and high heels to long-haired Baby Boomers looking to regain their youth in a fun vehicle that reminds them of their past.If you like a bigger vehicle that still gets pretty good gas mileage, then you’ll love a Jeep Cherokee too! Really, compared to many of the larger trucks on the road, the Jeep is not that bad. The Jeep Cherokee also sits relatively high, so that you can easily see over the other traffic and not feel like you will be run over because the other drivers can’t see where you’re at. I have to admit though, the overall ride of the Jeep Cherokee isn’t the luxury smooth ride of some other vehicles on the road, but it is pretty nice and all its positive features far outweigh any negatives that it might have as far as I’m concerned.Whenever I’m in my beautiful blue Jeep Cherokee, I often think about being somewhere in northern California, driving along Pacific Highway 1 and watching the waves crash up against the rocks over and over. Usually when I’m out and about, I have my window down and the radio blasting, enjoying the ride to wherever I’m going. If I’m not fantasizing about driving along the ocean, then I’m very content with thinking about driving through a vineyard with a couple of bottles of great wine in the truck along with a picnic basket full of great food – cheeses, vegetables, fruit and maybe even smoked salmon, and a very special friend.Somehow, driving my Jeep Cherokee everyday helps me pretend to be on vacation even when I’m not. Overall it’s a great ride – comfortable, roomy and with excellent pick-up whenever I need to really move along and with the ability to get me to where ever I need to be, be it at the boardroom or at the boardwalk. What more can I say – I simply love my Jeep Cherokee!

As we all know lights are important no matter where you are. Sunlight is the very thing that makes the day and during night we need all the artificial lighting sources to help us see. The artificial light is the resource which we need when the Sunlight is not present. This is exactly the case when we are on the road at night. We need to see a few very important things out there: where we are going, where others are going and the way they are moving. We should be able to see if someone is crossing the road or another vehicle is stopping right in front of us. We also should see that on time in order to adjust to the new situation.Audi tail lights are made to provide very specific information that is critical when we are on the road. However there are some cases which will prevent these important light sources from providing the light we require.When the tail lights are aging they will corrode like everything else which is based on metal. The problem with corrosion is that it will “eat” the metal parts of your car because of the oxygen in the air. This is hard to avoid. The only real protection is to prevent the oxygen from reaching the metal surface which is possible only for limited time.