Category: ‘looking after your car’

The Solar Battery Trickle Charger

September 1, 2011 Posted by dyates

 
Hello! You are now in the car maintenance blog where you will find many and varied articles, about car maintenance skills and associated automotive information in general, like that below on the subject of the solar battery trickle charger.

On this site we intend to side-step all the back-yard experts, so that these matters will be clearer for those people that wish to have a better idea on things such as the following article on the subject of using solar battery chargers.

 

Using Solar Battery Chargers

One of the really frustrating experiences in life, is going to your automobile only to find that the battery is flat. For many of us, this will happen when the car is parked for extended periods of time. On top of that, there are other occasions when your car battery may have died on you.

A particular example might be that you left the interior lights on in the car overnight. Or perhaps you left your car doors ajar, possibly you left the the radio on. No matter what the reason, you should get a solar trickle charger.

The great thing about these units, is that anyone can simply plug it in to your cigarette lighter and leave it there all the time. It has an overload failsafe feature so that you won’t inadvertently over charge your batteries.

Consequently, you can have the unit set-up to be permanently activated. These units generally include alligator clips, letting you hook it up directly to the battery, which is a good option when you have other devices that also need to use the cigarette lighter.

Solar battery trickle chargers can be utilized in other instances besides your automobile. This is a great option for fisher-folk and fishing boats as it is weather proof. There is nothing more terrifying than getting caught in the middle of a body of water with a dead trolling motor and no means to recharge it.

By having one of these units you will not have to bother with that, as it will continuously keep charging your battery for your entire fishing trip.You can also use solar trickle chargers during the winter months, so that your batteries are always charged up and ready to go. Over the winter months, many people remove the batteries from their motorboats, ATVs and other vehicles they may not be using.

With a solar trickle charger you won’t have to worry about the batteries going dead, as you can simply put the unit in a window and use the alligator clips to keep your battery charged all winter long, without wasting mains electricity.

This could be one of the finest inventions in a long time. The only drawback is that some models are made from plastic, therefore not as durable as may be necessary for outdoor pursuits. But if you are only planning to put one in your car then it should be a foregone conclusion to get one.

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Solar Battery Trickle Charger

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When to Replace Your Brake Pads

August 27, 2011 Posted by dyates

 
Are you looking for some clear information on the whole car maintenance skills issue? Are you sick of all the instant experts? Here in this car maintenance blog, we will tackle the basics, different aspects and other points of view about matters similar to this article on the subject of when to replace your brake pads.

There is plenty of related information about car maintenance and associated automotive information, easily found elsewhere on this site. If you find this site has helped to make matters clearer, such as with this article on the subject of when should you replace your brake pads, please don't hesitate to share it with your friends using the buttons provided.

 

Time to Replace Your Brake Pads

When Should You Replace Your Brake Pads?
It might be hard to work out when you should replace your brake pads. But there are some signs that can indicate that you need to change them.

It is not a good idea to ignore it, as it can cause more trouble in the long run.

Worn brake pads can adversely impact your ability to bring your car to a halt. This can be especially dangerous in an emergency situation when adequately working brakes are a must to help you stop your car promptly.

There are some telltale signs of pending brake problems; do you know what they are? Awareness of a problem is the key to avoiding potential harmful consequences; let’s examine some well known warning signs.

Here are the most common signs of something wrong with your brakes: squealing brakes, spongy brake pedals, grinding of the brakes, wheel grabs, the car pulling from one side to the other, brake pedal pumping. Be sure to take notice if there are any of these signs when you are driving.

Once you notice any of these problems you should then have your car inspected. While some of these problems may necessitate you replacing other brake components, an inspection of your brake pads should reveal that they are worn and are in need of immediate replacement.

If you look around you can probably find a garage that will offer free brake inspections, which can help you determine what exactly is wrong with your brakes.

Ask your mechanic for a complete diagnosis of your brake system and an estimate on what parts and repairs will cost you. A good garage will give you a print out showing a fairly close estimate of what your costs will be.

Throw in your local taxes and the price quoted should be within 95% of the final cost, barring an unforeseen additional problem being detected [for example, brake master cylinder failure].

If you feel reasonably confident that you can do the work yourself, you stand to save yourself plenty of money, at least in labor costs.

You can save money with parts, too, by shopping around; the highest prices you pay will likely be through your dealer’s parts department.

Prices at a national auto parts supply store should be lower, while prices through an online wholesaler should be about the lowest available as they purchase directly from the manufacturer.

You should shop around to get a good deal on parts. A good place to check out would be the internet. Shopping online can give you more selections and save you a lot of money.

If you decide to purchase online, only obtain parts from a reputable dealer selling parts from trusted manufacturers. Be careful of those sites selling generic parts from overseas merchants.

In the end all that matters is that you have your brakes fixed, so you can get on the road again.

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 When to Replace Your Brake Pads

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What is an EGR Valve?

August 24, 2011 Posted by dyates

 
The following article on the subject of what is an egr valve has been of some interest. This is not all that surprising, considering how when doing any car maintenance or associated automotive tasks, you have to consider many different things that all contribute towards the end result.

While this article on the subject of your car's egr valve remains an important issue, this car maintenance blog covers many associated automotive tasks. Please feel free to check out the rest of the site and leave some feedback in the box provided.

 

What is an EGR Valve For?

You Can Replace Your Car’s EGR Valve
Located smack dab on your car’s intake manifold, an EGR [Exhaust Gas Recirculation] valve functions by sending exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber as “exhausted air”, and is much hotter than intake air. By bringing warmer gas into the combustion chamber, your engine operates much more cleanly and efficiently.

Like any part, your Ford EGR valve or Toyota EGR valve is subject to getting clogged with dirt or crud. A clogged unit may cause your car to stall, hesitate, or idle roughly.

Sometimes, simply cleaning the EGR valve with a product like STP carburetor cleaner will resolve the problem.

Still, if you take your car in for its MV inspection and the diagnostic tests shows that your EGR valve is not working, you will fail inspection and be forced to swap out the device before bringing your car back in for a follow up inspection.

What a hassle, but something you just don’t want to forget about.

Prices on replacement EGR valves are all over the place: some parts are reasonably priced while others will cost you a mint. Your Ford or Toyota dealer will charge you a mint if you purchase one through their parts department, as buying through any dealer can quickly turn into a financial nightmare.

Instead of going through all that aggravation, you can save big money by shopping online through a quality wholesaler. As is common with all high quality auto parts wholesalers, you can purchase an EGR valve at a huge discount and save a bundle over dealer mark up prices.

Leading wholesalers deal directly with manufacturers, buy in gigantic quantities, negotiate the lowest prices, and pass big savings on to you.

Replacing an EGR valve is a simple process and can be accomplished with standard automobile tools. With your handy Chilton repair manual at your side, you will quickly remove and replace the device and have a strong sense of accomplishment on a job “well done”.

Best yet, you will have saved yourself plenty of money which you can use for other parts, like the K&B cold air intake that you always wanted!

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51V87KFBKDL. SL125  What is an EGR Valve?

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There are other articles on this website, similar to this article on the subject of change your egr valve, that are also written in the the same simple style, making car maintenance skills and associated automotive information easier to understand.

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Tips for Winter Car Care

August 15, 2011 Posted by dyates

 
It's not surprising so many people are looking for information on car maintenance skills and associated automotive information, when everyone is an expert and even complete strangers are willing to offer advice, unasked. With articles similar to the one below on the subject of tips for winter car care, we hope to give you a clearer idea on car maintenance matters.

As you browse this car maintenance blog, you will find plenty of information is on offer, through articles similar to the following one on the subject of your winter car care. If you are after information not yet supplied, please leave us some feedback in the comments box below, so that we can address the matter.

 

Winter Car Care Tips

The cold weather affects your car too. Along with making driving more hazardous due to ice and snow, extreme winter weather can be stressful, especially on older cars.

As winter approaches, take you car to your trusty mechanic and have him check the following items: battery, wipers, antifreeze levels, heating system, brakes and defroster.

You’ll want to make sure your battery is fully charged as cold weather starting is a heavy drain on your battery.

You’ll want to make sure that your windshield wipers are in good condition as they’ll get a lot of use brushing snow off, and, make sure you have plenty of windshield washer fluid in the reservoir and carry an extra gallon in your car. Your windshield washer fluid will get used up quickly keeping salt off the windshield.

You will want to make sure that your antifreeze is at proper levels. Antifreeze can prevent freezing of your engine to about 30 degrees below zero. It should be replaced every two years.

Have your heating system checked, this will include your defroster, which you’ll really need during the winter.

Make sure you have good winter tires on your car. If you live in an area where you get a good amount of snowfall you may want to make a seasonal change from all season to snow tires. All season radials just don’t give you the same performance in snow and ice that dedicated snow tires do.

There are things that you should keep in your car during the winter. Snow scraper, de-icer, blankets, extra hat and mittens, small snow shovel, sand (to help with traction) and boots.

At all times you should have a small first aid kit, booster cables, small tools such as screwdriver, wrench and pliers a flashlight with extra batteries and extra water. Keep a can of de-icer in your home so you’ll be able to get into your car.

Remember before leaving home to make sure your car is completely cleaned off. Clear all snow and ice from your hood, roof, trunk and side. Make sure your headlights and tail lights are clearly visible. Drive slowly. The posted speed limits are for ideal driving conditions.

When driving leave plenty of stopping distance between you and the car in front of you. You may need to leave more distance in icy conditions. Make any turns slowly. Brake slowly.

By following these tips above you can have a safe winter driving season.

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 Tips for Winter Car Care

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Protecting Your Car From The Elements

August 6, 2011 Posted by dyates

 
Are you looking for some clear information on the whole car maintenance skills issue? Are you sick of all the instant experts? Here in this car maintenance blog, we will tackle the basics, different aspects and other points of view about matters similar to this article on the subject of protecting your car from the elements.

There is plenty of related information about car maintenance and associated automotive information, easily found elsewhere on this site. If you find this site has helped to make matters clearer, such as with this article on the subject of protecting your vehicles finish, please don't hesitate to share it with your friends using the buttons provided.

 

Protecting Your Car’s Finish

You Can Protect Your Car From Mother Nature
Mother Nature has it out for you – your car, that is. The moment you bring your vehicle home from the dealership, the assault has begun.

Sun, rain, snow, hail, dust, birds, debris, pollution, and a host of other elements and items can doom your “new car” look in no time.

What can you do? Fight back, that’s what. Let’s take a look at some smart ways you can protect your vehicle’s finish and keep it from looking old before its time.

Wash and wax.
Okay, so you don’t have a hose handy. If you go to the car wash, make sure that it is brushless, otherwise the circular marks on your finish will certainly do a number on your car’s appearance in no time.

As far as waxing your vehicle, polishes made by popular brands including Turtle Wax should do the trick. Yes, I know, a friend recommended a particular brand that can give your car a look that is better than new. Go ahead and use it – just follow the directions on the bottle – precisely!

Keep it covered.
Yes, driving down the street with a car cover on your car will certainly get you some attention! I do not recommend that you do that, but having a car cover available for your vehicle makes sense even if you keep your prized possession garaged.

Dust and indoor pollution can take its toll even when your car sits in your garage. Bird crap, moisture, hail, tree sap, the sun, and small impacts can hurt your car’s finish when parked outside.

The more layers your car cover has, the better the protection it will offer too. Select one that has mirror pockets for the best fit.

Minor details.
Other accessories that offer protection for your vehicle include: floor mats and liners, seat covers, vent shades, hood protectors, and brake dust shields. If you carry pets regularly then a pet pad or pet box can protect your interior like nothing else.

When purchasing cleaning products make sure you read all labels carefully. That cleaner you use may not be the best thing for your wheels and the interior of your car should have its own type of cleaner.

Check manufacturer’s recommendations to make sure that the product you use is the right one; some cars come with an initial supply of cleaning materials to help you properly treat your brushed aluminum or burl wood interior.

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