Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Here's What to Do If Your Car Is Affected by the FCA Cruise Control Recall | Consumer Reports


Fiat Chrysler has announced a recall of around 4.8 million vehicles after discovering a software glitch that can prevent a driver from disengaging cruise control. Consumer Reports demonstrates what to do if your vehicle won't exit cruise control mode, and gives owners of the affected Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler models advice on what to do with their vehicles.

Sunday, May 27, 2018

10 Reasons Why Engines Lose Power Over Time


There are four things a gasoline engine requires to generate power and almost any engine problem will come down to something relating to one of these four factors. 1. Air 2. Fuel 3. Compression 4. Spark

Dirty Air Filter
A clogged air filter makes the engine work harder to pull in air, and can restrict the maximum amount of air let in. Less air means less power.

Exhaust Restrictions
The engine will have to work harder to push out exhaust gases, limiting power. Catalytic converters can clog up on engines with an improper air/fuel mixture or as a result of fuel additives reacting within. Mufflers can also fail internally, and alterations of the internal piping can result in an airflow restriction.

Fuel Injectors
Deposits can build up on the injectors over time from heat soak or poor fuel. Small restrictions can cause the O2 sensors to read a lean mixture, and so more fuel will be added to compensate. This can result in a rich mixture for the cylinders without injector problems, or even misfiring if the injector isn’t capable of injecting enough fuel.

Fuel Pumps
Overtime the fuel pump can wear out, but it might not necessarily fail catastrophically. While it may still be able to supply fuel at lower pressures, it may begin to struggle to provide fuel at higher pressures or for longer durations.

Worn Piston Rings
One of the major things that can happen over time is the piston rings will wear down, and this will allow for blow-by. Some of the high pressure air and fuel mixture combusting will pass by the pistons and travel along the cylinder walls into the crank case. This is pressure that should be pressing the piston down, so power is lost. It also means less compression as some of the air can escape as the piston travels upward on the intake stroke.

Carbon Deposits On Intake Valves/Valve Seats
If carbon deposits build up on the valves or valve seats, this can prevent the valves from closing properly. If an intake valve cannot fully close, it will allow air to escape during the compression stroke, effectively lowering the compression ratio.

Carbon Deposits On The Piston
If deposits build on the piston or cylinder walls, these deposits can create hot spots. These hot spots can result in engine knock if conditions allow for it. If the engine is capable, it will retard the ignition timing to reduce the likelihood of knock. By retarding the ignition timing, power is lost.

Fouled Spark Plugs
Spark plugs can build deposits with time. Inconsistent spark plug firing means you’re likely to misfire. Maintaining clean plugs ensures that the spark part of the equation doesn’t result in a loss of power.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

The Family Road Trip Survival Guide | Consumer Reports


At times the bumpiest part of the family road trip is well, the family. Consumer Reports spoke with family therapist Rachel Sussman to identify five tips to help save your trip and your sanity.

Monday, May 21, 2018

How to Change a Tire: A Step-by-Step Guide— Cars.com


1 in 5 American drivers don’t even know how to change a tire. But not to worry, we show you how to safely change a tire in the video above.

Friday, May 18, 2018

Dashboard Headlights


Do you know what these dash lights mean? Watch the video to take the quiz and tell us how many you got right!

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

How to Inspect and Replace Your Car's Cabin Filter


Help keep your car's interior clean by replacing the pollen filter. The Humble Mechanic will show you how to inspect and replace your vehicle's cabin air filter.

Saturday, May 12, 2018

How to Remove Swirls with Meguiar's


Having swirls is one of the biggest concerns that everyone deals with at some point. Ultimate Polish Pre-Waxing Glaze is the perfect solution for removing fine swirls and towel marks while Ultimate Compound removes more noticeable swirls. Both products remove swirls in shiny paints and clear coats without micro marring or hazing, and bring up a high gloss making your paint look its best.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Study Highlights Rising Pedestrian Deaths - IIHS News


Study highlights rising pedestrian deaths, points toward solutions

Pedestrian deaths have jumped 46 percent since reaching their lowest point in 2009, as pedestrian crashes have become both deadlier and more frequent. The increase has been mostly in urban or suburban areas, at nonintersections, on arterials — busy roads designed mainly to funnel vehicle traffic toward freeways — and in the dark, a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows. Crashes were increasingly likely to involve SUVs and high-horsepower vehicles.

A total of 5,987 pedestrians were killed in crashes in 2016, accounting for 16 percent of all crash fatalities. The number of pedestrians killed each year has declined 20 percent since 1975, but the 2016 toll was the highest since 1990.

For the new study, IIHS researchers looked at pedestrian crash trends during 2009–16 to pinpoint the circumstances under which the largest increases occurred. Using federal fatality data and crash numbers, the researchers looked at roadway, environmental, personal and vehicle factors to see how they changed over the study period. They also looked at changes in the number of pedestrian deaths relative to the number of pedestrians involved in crashes.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Under The Hood - Spare Tire


Don't forget to check the air in the spare tire and the mechanism that lowers it to the ground.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

5 Car Care Hacks: What Your Auto Body Shop Wants You to Know


While auto body shop professionals are happy to help with tiny and large problems alike, some car problems can be prevented or at least delayed. A great mechanic wants to empower car owners with knowledge of how to take great care of their vehicles. They should follow these five car care hacks to enjoy logging many miles to come in their automobile.

1. Tending to Tires

It's easy to trust that tires will keep spinning until the driver feels one go flat, but car owners can extend the longevity of their tires with a bit of extra care. They should wipe off brake dust on a regular basis, meaning at least once per week. If brake dust builds up, it's a little-known fact that it can bake into the wheels of an automobile if left on for too long. They should rely on a damp sponge and soapy water to clear off the dust.

That's not all it takes to keep tires in great shape. They should check the car's tire pressure regularly, or have a professional mechanic do so if they're not familiar with the ins and outs of tire pressure. Also, having their tread depth checked and tires rotated regularly is advisable.

2. Keeping Their Cool

Many people don't know that it's important to flush their motor vehicle's cooling system at least once per year, and they should change the coolant then as well as whenever it's needed throughout the year. Automobile owners need to trust a professional mechanic for this job, and they can ensure that grime, corrosion, and other deposits don't build up in the car's cooling system.

3. Letting Their Light Shine

Car owners should check their headlights and brake lights regularly to make sure these lights are in excellent working order. Not only can broken lights result in tickets, but they can also present a hazard on the road. Both the headlights and brake lights can be quickly tested at an auto body shop, and when there is a problem, it's usually easy to fix as long as vehicle owners catch it before it causes problems on the road.

4. Showing Pride in the Car's Appearance

One crucial aspect of taking the best care of a car is also keeping it clean. Whether they own a small car, a huge SUV, or anything in between, automobile owners should get a regular car wash and wax. They need to schedule a vehicle wash every week or at least every other week. Also, if they notice immediate issues, such as a bird relieving itself on the top of their car, it's important to wash the excrement away as soon as possible. Bird waste can actually damage a car's paint job, so cleaning up the mess right away is essential.

5. Paying Attention to Warnings

If drivers notice a warning light on their dashboard, they need to resist the temptation to look the other way. Whether it's a check engine light, a temperature light, an oil light, or something else, car owners should take their vehicle to an auto body shop to check on the problem right away. The earlier they catch an issue, the easier and less expensive it may be to fix.

Finally, automobile owners need to keep in mind that they can prevent some trips to the auto body shop for repairs by taking optimal care of their car. They need to take action today to keep their vehicle in pristine condition.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Anders_Abadie/1022510

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9461614