Why does an ATV battery just die and then come back to life?
It’s quite puzzling, isn’t it? How can an ATV battery just die and come to life at its own will? It’s annoying and can become quite a problem as well. Your ATV battery works pretty much the same way your car battery works. If your car battery went dead for some reason unknown to you, try coming back later and cranking it up again. Chances are, the battery will come to life again. This is applicable to your ATV battery as well.

How does the ATV battery really work?
If you’re anywhere as old as I am, you’ve probably forgotten what your science teacher taught you. Here’s a short recap. On your ATV battery, you’ll see the and – sign. When you connect a wire between the positive and negative points of your ATV battery and submerge the end points into a solution, there will be a chemical reaction. The result of the chemical reaction is what powers your ATV.

Does an ATV battery have a shelf life?
It bothers you to know that when an ATV battery has been sitting at the top of the shelves for a couple of years, doesn’t it? Is it some sort of perishable product that cannot perform properly after it’s been left idle for some time? No, it doesn’t. as long as there is no chemical reaction, the ATV battery is just as good as new.

Is there a max to my ATV battery?
Yes, there is. The maximum voltage that your ATV battery can produce is set by the manufacturer. The current that can run through the battery per second depends on the ATV battery’s capacity. Therefore, it’s important to choose the right battery for your ATV. Using the wrong battery, there could be a lot of overheating and wastage of power.

Check with user manual before you buy your ATV battery
If you’re not sure the kind of ATV battery you should purchase, we would encourage you to either check the user manual for any indication, log into manufacturer’s website (if they have a website or if the information is available there) or call their customer service to find out more about the kind of ATV battery you should be purchasing. Batteries are very specific components of the ATV, hence, if you use the wrong one with wrong voltage and power, it could cause quite considerable and unnecessary damage to your ATV. Why take the risk?

Marsha Maung is an ATV enthusiast enthusiastically promoting ATV riding as a sport and family activity! She runs and is one of the staff for one of the hottest and fastest-growing ATV sites right now… atv4kids.com atv4kids.com Upload and share pictures, articles, views, advice, reviews, ideas, tips and tricks to ATV riding with other ATV enthusiasts through ATVspace, atv4kids.com/atvspace atv4kids.com/atvspace

The hoses, gaskets, radiator cap are among those that are subject to abuse and overuse. It is only right to give your car the best replacement Mazda cooling system parts. Now the good news is, everything you need from Mazda 323 parts to Mazda 626 parts, Mazda 808 parts, Mazda Protege parts, Mazda pickup parts to Mazda MX-3 parts, can now be easily and conveniently bought online.

What are the indications of a faulty cooling system? If you notice leaks, hoses are possibly broken. This is alarming since the coolant can escape and so the system can no longer cool the engine. This in effect, can damage the engine’s performance. If the water pump cannot turn, something might be wrong with the fan belt. It could be broken or severely damaged. If this happens the coolant won’t be able to circulate around the engine and hence, the engine overheats.

Leaking coolant can also indicate water pump failure. This is further manifested by a screeching sound and a pungent coolant odor. Meanwhile, if the head gasket is damaged, you will see white smoke coming out from the exhaust. This happens when the head gasket was not able to seal coolant passages, allowing it to enter the cylinder where it is turned into vapor as the engine burns the air and fuel mixture.

Overheating could also be caused by a faulty radiator cap. Getting a top quality Mazda radiator cap and all other cooling system auto parts from a trusted Mazda parts and auto parts dealer is a way to ensure your cooling system’s proper functioning and as well as your safety and driving satisfaction.

]]> http://www.automotiveskill.com/best-online-source-for-mazda-features-superior-quality-cooling-system-parts/feed/ http://www.automotiveskill.com/tips-on-how-to-change-oil/ http://www.automotiveskill.com/tips-on-how-to-change-oil/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:32:32 +0000 admin http://localhost/wpready/?p=16663 Some people in life like to get their hands dirty, and others just like to spend money. If you make the decision to change oil yourself in your vehicle, be prepared to get dirty, greasy and wear a little oil. You will get your tools dirty and will sweat in a hot garage for about half an hour.

Other motorists will simply take it to one of those convenient 15 minute chains that specialize in catering to don’t like to change oil. It’s clean, it’s fast and for the most part, it’s professionally handled. It usually costs around $30 but sometimes you can touch a special like I did and pay $19.95. Some people in life like to get their hands dirty, and others just like to spend money. If you make the decision to change oil yourself in your vehicle, be prepared to get dirty, greasy and wear a little oil. You will get your tools dirty and will sweat in a hot garage for about half an hour.

Other motorists will simply take it to one of those convenient 15 minute chains that specialize in catering to don’t like to change oil. It’s clean, it’s fast and for the most part, it’s professionally handled. It usually costs around $30 but sometimes you can touch a special like I did and pay $19.95.

If you are seeing private mechanic it’s a good idea to know his qualifications. Sometimes if you pay a mechanic to change oil he will do the job for a fair price—but then later you find out there’s an oil leak. Oil leak if you’re lucky! I know one individual that had shoddy work then which led to major mechanical failure.

When hiring a mechanic, make sure good communication is established, a set price including labor, parts and any extra services, and that the mechanic is reliable and respected in the community. Does he have many satisfied customers? You can usually tell this volume of work he’s currently doing.

Along with the worry of hiring a good mechanic, the $30 charge is simply too much for some drivers and they decide to change oil in their vehicle for free—with just a little bit of effort and one spent afternoon. If in fact you to decide to do it yourself you can expect to save a few dollars and you will have the satisfaction of learning a new skill.

There are other issues to consider when you decide to change oil in your car yourself. Are you equipped with the proper tools? Do you actually know what you’re doing? While you can learn how to change oil over the Internet, to do it properly takes study and practice. Don’t skimp on $30 if it means sending someone unqualified to do a professional’s job. Don’t make your car so for this because you’re looking to save a few dollars. Realize that in the end it could cost you a whole lot more if it’s not done right.

Another thing to think about is proper oil disposal. The safest way to dispose of your oil is to keep it properly contained and find a local shop to take it off your hands. The wrong way to do it is to pour it down a sewer or just throw it in the trash can. The EPA can give out large fines for improper oil disposal.

Would you like to know how to change oil yourself? Maybe you can find a mechanic friend that will show you or take a shop class at a local community college. While simple instructions can be found online, it’s a procedure you really have to understand and perform correctly if you want your car to run an optimal order.

Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding cars and driving. You can get interesting and informative information here at carsanddrivinginfo.com/cars–driving-information/cars–driving/change-oil.html Change Oil

Furthermore, until advances are made using water and solar energy (and why not also wind turbines beneath the hood to harness the energy created by moving vehicles?) to provide hydrogen to run vehicles, existing methods (e.g. through natural gas) can be used. New advances are being reported almost weekly — for example, German and Australian scientists just announced that genetic engineering of the ‘Chlamydomonas reinhardtii’ algae has increased its hydrogen output by 16 to 20 times.1

Gas stations should be given government grants to install hydrogen fueling pumps. If more than $120 billion can be spent on the Iraq War, a one-time investment of a similar amount would be well-spent in paying for installation of these pumps to create an infrastructure. A crash program, similar to the Manhattan Project, could likely result in completion within a year or two.

Next, instead of using water, an electrolyzer, and hydrogen fuel cells, vehicles could use existing internal combustion engine technology and hydrogen. “Internal combustion engines do not need gas to operate. Hydrogen can also power them.”2

With Honda’s invention of an efficient holding tank utilizing “a newly-developed hydrogen absorption material that doubles the capacity of the tank to 5 kg of hydrogen at 350 atmospheres,” hydrogen could power vehicles for up to 350 miles before the need to refuel, which is even beyond the Department of Energy’s (DOE)2010 target range.3 Of course, the question arises, would competitor automakers be willing to purchase hydrogen holding tanks from Honda to power their own vehicles? Such an arrangement, though, would be a win-win for both Honda and automakers who purchase their tanks since with a hydrogen infrastructure in place, consumers would likely purchase these vehicles knowing that they are not only saving money from the high price of gasoline but doing an socio-ecological service by weening the world from its addition to oil, which is likely to run out in 45 years.

Best Case Scenario: The 2004 British Petroleum “Statistical Review of World Energy” predicted that global oil reserves will be gone in 2045, based on known reserves and current rates of consumption, called the R/P ratio. By the same measure, US reserves will be exhausted in 2015.

Worse yet, global oil reserves are likely to be depleted even sooner since the rate of consumption is dramatically increasing due to China’s rapid industrialization and economic growth and the developed world’s efforts to maintain their own economic expansion. With such dire prospects, it is imperative that a switchover to hydrogen-based fuels be made now rather than a decade or later from today.

The red “oil light” is already on, demanding urgent attention. An immediate transition utilizing existing technologies is necessary to prevent the “engine” that runs the economy from locking and to guarantee a continuation of the state of mobility and standards of life enjoyed today.

_________________________________________________________________

1 Hydrogen from algae – fuel of the future? DNA Evolutions. 16 May 2006. 16 May 2006. dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1029553&CatID=5 dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1029553&CatID=5

2 W. “Skip” Hauth. Hydrogen should be the fuel of America’s future. Opinion. The Buffalo News. 15 May 2006. 16 May 2006. buffalonews.com/editorial/20060515/1037599.asp

3 Honda’s More Powerful Fuel Cell Concept with Home Hydrogen Refueling. Green Car Congress. 19 October 2005. 16 May 2006. greencarcongress.com/2005/10/hondas_more_pow.html

William Sutherland is a published poet and writer. He is the author of three books, “Poetry, Prayers & Haiku” (1999), “Russian Spring” (2003) and “Aaliyah Remembered: Her Life & The Person behind the Mystique” (2005) and has been published in poetry anthologies around the world. He has been featured in “Who’s Who in New Poets” (1996), “The International Who’s Who in Poetry” (2004), and is a member of the “International Poetry Hall of Fame.”

Before pump failure becomes obvious, you will usually hear buzzing or whining noises coming from underneath the hood. On the other hand, if you notice a gradual loss of power as evidenced by an increasingly difficult time moving the steering wheel [as when attempting to parallel park] or if you notice the problem when you first start up your car in the morning, then your steering rack may be going.

Steering racks fail gradually, but when they do you must take action before total failure occurs. Otherwise, control of your car becomes impossible and failure could then happen at any time, as in those times you are on the interstate. A real threat to your safety and to the safety of other drivers!

To find out if it is the steering rack causing the problem, check the power steering fluid closely to see if you notice small metallic pieces of metal floating around in it. If you do, then your steering rack is wearing out and the metallic pieces are the evidence that the rack is coming apart piece by piece.

Either way you slice it, you can expect that a major repair bill is looming for you. Not the news you want to hear, but not the news you have to hear either. Yes, taking your car in to your local garage or to your dealer’s repair department will cost you dearly. You will pay a mint for labor and pay a premium for a replacement steering pump or steering rack. High labor costs and huge replacement parts price mark ups are all part of the equation.

Fortunately, if you are even somewhat handy you can do either job yourself. Many weekend mechanics love grabbing a hold of their Haynes repair manual and with the replacement part at their side, go after the job. Of course, where you buy the replacement part can really matter, but strong savings can be gained if you shop online. Yes, auto parts wholesalers such as the Steering Rack Pros have what you want and at deep, discount prices. Reputable online wholesalers buy directly from the manufacturers and pass on big savings to you. No dealer mark ups, no third party charges. Just every day low prices on the parts you want and need.

So, go ahead and replace your power steering pump or steering rack today and save big on labor costs and replacement parts. There isn’t much better in life than to do a job yourself and gain a strong sense of satisfaction when you know you have successfully overcome a challenge and saved a bundle of money in the process.

Copyright 2006 – Matt Keegan is a freelance writer covering important automotive topics and products including steeringrackpros.com rack and pinion steering, steeringrackpros.com/bmw.html BMW steering rack and steeringrackpros.com/honda.html Honda steering rack parts.

“An average of 9 out of every 10 cars on the road today has dirty or yellowed headlights that greatly reduce vision and need to be replaced, cleaned, and/or repaired.” -AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

“Your night vision can be reduced by as much as 90% by dirty headlights. Get your headlights restored with headlight repair, cleaner and restorer by mdwholesale.com - Their product works!” - Road & Travel magazine.

“Clean the headlights or have them professionally restored and repaired(our department uses New Lite headlight repair and cleaner on all our police cruisers and department vehicles- www.mdwholesale). Dirty headlights will decrease visibility by as much as 90%.” - New York Broome County Police Traffic Division’s Traffic Safety Team.

So it is obvious that it is vitally important to have clean, functional headlights.

Headlight replacement was the only option available until recently. Due to technological advances and extensive research there are products available to clean, restore and even repair worn headlights. Even cracked, leaking headlights can be repaired.

If there is water or condensation inside it must first be removed. This is accomplished by using a small drill bit and drilling a small hole in the bottom of the headlight assembly. It is easiest to remove the lens first and make sure the hole goes all the way into the headlight chamber. Drain all water and then place the headlight assembly next to your air conditioning ducts in your house or a dehumidifier to remove all moisture. Reseal with silicone seal (at all automotive stores - glues will crack and leak). Its also a good idea to check the whole seal that attaches the outer globe to the headlight assembly - reseal if necessary. Then reinstall.

If you have a large crack, or a s hole from a rock or such, there is plastic resin which will seal the lens and increase its integrity. Plastic resin will also maintain a clear and safe appearance so it can pass inspection. Plastic resins can be found at your local hardware store or on your favorite internet search engine.

The biggest problems with plastic lenses is that they get cloudy and worn. This is usually caused by sun or UV damage and a mixture of acid rain or road debris and dirt. The sun breaks down and dries out plastic. It turns them cloudy and yellow and it only takes 2-3 years for this to happen on plastic headlight lenses. Acid rain will usually leave a characteristic line and either the top half or bottem half will be etched from it. Road debris and dirt will basically have a sand blasting effect on the lenses. All these conditions are considered severe weathering and will break down and ruin your headlights - it is just a matter of time. Its like cancer, once it starts to show it will get worse and worse. It will affect your night time visibility and has been proven to cause accidents due to poor visibility.

In the past you had to replace the cloudy headlights with expensive replacements at your local dealer who would charge $400 and that doesn’t include installation. Now there are headlight repair, cleaner and restoration kits that will do this. In under 20 minutes, in most cases, you can have new looking headlight lenses. One company is even backed by the U.S. government and was awarded a patent by the U.S. government - thats us (www.mdwholesale.com).

So there you have it - the best in headlight repair and headlight restoration. You now know how to remove condensation and water, how to patch scratches and holes, and how to get rid of the cloudy haze that affects 90% of plastic headlights. So go repair your headlights and increase your driving safety at night - you will be glad you did - the life you save may be your own!

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight repair, cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: mdwholesale.com mdwholesale.com

Cleaning can be something that you may not want to do. However, keep in mind that it would cost you a couple hundred in cash to have everything cleaned up by a professional service center. Remember, though, that you can actually do it yourself and just sacrifice a couple of hours to do this type of work. You will not need anything sophisticated or high technology. Just get out your vacuum cleaner and a couple of other household products and you will be on to a start to cleaning up your car’s interior.

You should first remove the floor mats from your car. Then, once outside, shake them off. Try to remove any kind of debris that could have stuck itself on them. Your car’s carpets are one of the most likely things where dirt gets accumulated.

After that task, use your vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment. Use this to vacuum any dirt on all the seats of your car. Pay close attention to the crevices and the spaces between the cushions. Dirt also likes to hide there. You would also need to carefully vacuum the bottom of your seats as well as the back. Be sure that before you do any vacuuming, your seats are free from trash and coins. These could clog up your vacuum and delay your interior cleaning duties. After that, it is time to turn your vacuuming to your car’s floor as well as the floor mats. When clean, put the floor mats back in.

Check your car seat cushions. If you see any stains, you can use a damp towel to apply carpet shampoo. However, make sure that you use only a small amount and work it up into a light lather. And when done, you can wipe the shampoo away. Let it dry.

As per your car’s windows and glass, you can use a window cleaner. A newspaper would do the best job in cleaning these.

And the best of it all, let the air in. This would throw away any kind of funny smell out of your car.

]]> http://www.automotiveskill.com/the-process-of-car-interior-cleaning/feed/ http://www.automotiveskill.com/ford-to-trim-vehicle-offers/ http://www.automotiveskill.com/ford-to-trim-vehicle-offers/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:32:32 +0000 admin http://localhost/wpready/?p=16653 To reduce costs, the Ford Motor Co. plans to trim buildable choices on the 2007 Mustang. Given engine choices, color choices, interior trim level choices and other packages and options, a Ford vehicle like the Mustang can accurately come in thousands of configurations.

The competition is getting tougher and tougher each day and Ford takes it seriously. For this reason, the Detroit automaker is exerting noteworthy effort to drastically lessen its product line configurations. This move could reduce complexities in both the manufacturing and purchasing processes. It could also save a significant sum.

The goal was outlined in a new internal document titled “Ford North America, 2007 Objectives at a Glance.” The one-page report sets forth an outline of each department’s goals and objectives for the year in four key areas. The areas were identified by CEO Alan Mulally as the pillars of his turnaround plan. They include resizing the company to blend the reduced demand for its vehicles, securing financing, improving product development while decreasing manufacturing complexity and improving camaraderie.

It has been quite a century since Henry Ford, founder of the ailing auto manufacturing company, told enthusiasts they could have their Model T in any color they wanted, as long as it was black. Nowadays, the automaker offers motorists a dizzying repertoire of trim lines, packages, and options on product lines. At present, there are currently 16,000 buildable combinations of options and color offered on the 2007 Ford Mustang V-6 deluxe model.

But according to experts more is not always better. Fulfilling is the buzzword, they said. BMW accessories, for example, are just enough to trigger fulfillment. With so many options available, dealers do not always order product lines with the accurate mix for purchasers in their area. Experts added consumers can also get confused by so many choices.

Mulally found that out recently when he tried to purchase a van for his mother’s senior center. “There’s 185 different options!” he told analysts at an investment conference in New York last month. “They just want an Econoline for 15 people.”

The Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and other Japanese automakers, have traditionally offered far fewer options, according to Stephanie Brinley, an analyst with AutoPacific Inc. in Southfield. “Honda and Toyota keep it pretty simple,” she said. “It’s a good idea to reduce complexity, but it’s also a balancing act. You still have to give consumers what they want.”

But according to spokeswoman Sara Tatchio that is exactly what Ford aims to do with this program. “We won’t take things away from the customer, but we will make things easier for the dealers and for the plants,” she said. “By reducing the number of different combinations, workers have to contend with, Ford can also save money in its assembly plants.”

The automaker intends to take advantage of model year changes to simplify its vehicle offerings. The soon-to-be-released 2008 Mustang V-6 deluxe will only be available in 200 buildable combinations. “We’re actually going through and looking at how we bundle and package options to make it simpler for our dealers and our customers,” said Ford’s Jim Cain.

Ford used its weekly employee Webcast Wednesday to stress the progress of its turnaround plan, but some engineers said privately that they still spend more time in meetings than they do designing cars and trucks. On the other hand, Tatchio acknowledged that Ford’s turnaround plan is a work in progress. “We’ve done a lot of work to put our goals in place,” she said. “Now, we have to meet them.”

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive.buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

stanscycle.com/bmw-accessories.html” title=”BMW accessories BMW accessories

Nonetheless, the cliché “Prevention is better than cure” is also true to automobiles especially during spring season. It is important to know how to take care of your VW car on a spring season. This is to prevent your car against any undesirable severe car defect. After all, you do not want to spoil your car investment, right?

Summer driving conditions are tough on motorists and vehicles; and motorists can be safer if they observe and practice hot-weather car care tips.

The following things must be kept in mind:

Replace your winter tires with spring tires. But say you do not have winter tires, it is still equally important to have all season tires rotated. Driving in the winter weather can be hard on tires due to huge bulk of snow. Rotating tires regularly extends their life. Eventually, these will give you better braking and handling. When you are driving on wet roads that are typical during spring, better braking and handling is especially important.

Check your wiper blades. Your wipers work hard all winter removing away dirt and debris that stuck on your windshield. It is also a good idea to replace them in the spring to be prepared for rain showers.

To avoid erosion and rusting, cleaning the underbody must be done. In addition to washing the exterior, car owners have to be sure to spray the underbody and underneath the rear and front bumpers to rinse away any salt build-up. It is best advised to use a high-pressure sprayer or garden hose for high quality results.

Vacuums are not only used in house cleaning. These are also great cleaners of car interiors. It is also advised to throw away any unwanted garbage that was left under your seats over the winter. And since the country is now experiencing the spring season, now is the time to store your winter car mats in the garage.

Apply a something to protect the vinyl surfaces of your car including the dashboard, seats and the steering wheel. These are susceptible to cracking, sun damage and fading. A protectant must be applied at the beginning of the season and touch it up regularly.

Change the oil of the car engine. Spring season is not the time for thinner oil like 5W30. Return to 10W30 for warmer weather. However, just make sure you stick to the manufacturer’s recommended oil type for your car to avoid inconveniences an engine damages.

To make sure all fluids are topped up, check them all. During winter season, fluids are easily depleted as your engine works harder in the colder weather. Make sure to double-check all the car’s fluids regularly.

Regardless of what kind of weather the atmosphere has, always check the brakes. One of the warning signs of a damaged brake system is brake noise, including excessive grinding, squealing, screeching or chatter.

Since it is a hot season, regularly wash your car. All vehicles regardless of the finish (clear coat, acrylic, enamel, etc.) require regular washing throughout the year to preserve the car’s exterior. And, for the preservation of the shine and protection of the surface of the vehicle, wax your vehicle once it has dried completely.Keep cars washed and waxed to help prevent rust and paint damage.

Those mentioned tips are simple yet you are assured of those less costly repairs or none at all.

For more about your vdubpartsdirect.com/vw_repairmanuals.html”title=”VW repair manuals VW repair manuals needs like , visit your trusted online source.

Benjamin Hudson works as a supervisor at one of the top engineering firms in the business district of Louisiana. He is also a freelance journalist and has passion for anything automotive.

VAC cuts down the expenses allotted for Ford car parts design purposes. Aside from that, the trial and error stage is spared. Hence, the automaker can save so much time which can be used for other vehicle manufacturing needs and demands.

The VAC software has helped Ford create the new 3.5-liter V-6 engine’s cylinder head. It is used to power the new Ford Edge. With VAC software, the process for casting engine parts is made easier and uncomplicated. The traditional and complex process which includes designing a mold, filling it with hot liquid metal, cooling and more is made undemanding. VAC uses advanced thermodynamics, metallurgy and design to make the previously complex and expensive undertaking, simple and easy.

According to Steve Matera, Ford’s systems supervisor for the engine, “The use of VAC enabled a flawless launch, and reduced our development time by four months.”

John Allison, senior technical leader at Ford Research and Advanced Engineering also noted, “VAC is revolutionizing the way Ford develops cast aluminum components. We now have the capability to ensure the feasibility of a given design without actually casting a part. The result is increased quality and significantly lowered costs.”

VAC technology was used in developing more than 10 engine programs and it was reported that the total amount of savings amounted to more than $90 million.

Dr. Charles Wu, director of Manufacturing and Vehicle Design Research and Advanced Engineering “VAC is a major accomplishment which demonstrates how Research and Development can work collaboratively within the Ford technical community. It is user friendly software that has been transferred to computer-aided engineering groups worldwide.”

premiumcarparts.com/ Ford car parts

Jason Moore, a 35 year old freelance writer from Austin, Texas. He also works as a marketing analyst for an established auto parts store in the country.