Buying The Right Spare Parts For Your Car

All car owners want the best for their automobiles. Therefore, they are providing it utmost care through regular maintenance checks. The engine must be tuned-up and checked from time to time, the oil has to be changed, and spark plugs need to be replaced or repaired. This is only some of the ways you can ensure that your car is ready at all times and won’t present any problems when you need it the most.

Providing your car the necessary spare parts is very important in regular maintenance check-up. Despite the limited budget for it, you are still entitled to a cheap but good quality car parts.

Brand-New Car Parts

Of course, if you own a new sports utility vehicle, you also need to provide it with a new set of car parts once it needs repair.

Before buying brand new car parts, consider some important points. First is what parts do you need to purchase? You can refer to the catalogue or instruction manual of your car and list down the right model number of those car parts.

Next is where will you buy those parts? First option you can go to is your authorized car dealer where you have purchased the automobile. They can offer the right car parts plus discounts and guarantee for it. Aside from those, make sure that the parts they are offering are new and can last longer.

Second option is the assorted car parts center. There you will find different brands of car parts. You can ask their sales staff to help you find the right parts that your automobile needs. If you are in doubt that they are selling new spare parts, you can also ask them and let them assure you that they are selling such kind.

Second-Hand Car Parts

You can also opt to purchase second-hand or used car parts. Before venturing into such options, the following should be taken into consideration:

• Since you are looking for some used car parts, the reliability of its source should be considered. Try to look in classified ads for possible vendors of such old car parts, or you go around the neighborhood and ask for their location.

• There are times that such used parts are only available in dealerships and in a local mechanic’s shop. It will be challenge for you to look for them, and there is always a possibility that the part you need will not match with the part they are offering.

• Always check the compatibility of the old car parts that a seller is offering. Some parts that are needed do not have to be original. There are surplus items or a compatible part from another car brand that you can use. It will be able to save you money for other things.

• If you are having difficulty looking for the parts you need, browse through the Internet especially for some old parts unavailable in your locality.

Once you have found the right old car part dealer online, you can check their payment options. Be sure you are ready to accept their terms of reference of the parts that you want to acquire.

Either brand-new or second-hand car parts ensure of its quality. Because just like human beings, cars also tends to malfunction if wrong parts are provided to it. Be careful and meticulous in selecting the spare parts needed for your car.

Tips on What to Do After an Auto Accident

Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. According to Car-Accidents.net, they occur approximately 6.4 million times each year.

Although being involved in a car accident can be overwhelming, knowing what to do in the moments following a fender-bender can help alleviate some of the stress and confusion of the situation.

The service specialists at Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge offer the following tips on how to handle a car accident:

* Don't leave the vehicle. Following an accident, most drivers will want to exit their vehicles to check for damage or speak with others involved. Ideally, drivers should call the police and remain in their cars until the authorities arrive. Drivers can protect themselves - both physically and legally - by remaining in their vehicles and allowing the police to process the scene.

* Carry a disposable camera. Although the police report should capture the details of the accident, it is always helpful to take photos for your own documentation.

* After police are notified, call a towing service. You should know exactly who is towing your vehicle and where it will be taken. For easy access, keep a small business card in your wallet that contains the numbers of several tow-truck companies and your dealership's service department.

* Call your insurance company. Most people think of this as something to do later, but calling from the scene will help to expedite the processing and administering of your claim. And, you will be able to relay accurate information in real time instead of relying on memory.

* Get an estimate on vehicle damage. Insurance companies may require only one estimate on vehicle damage. However, it behooves the driver to get several estimates, which may vary greatly. Review these reports carefully to understand what you are paying and what the insurance company will cover. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Reputable repair shops will gladly address questions regarding the required repairs.

How Do They Make Auto Glass Bulletproof?

As you may know bulletproof glass is glass that is capable of stopping all sorts of bullets fired at it. This type of glass is made by using a strong but transparent material such as polycarbonate thermoplastic. Sometimes it’s constructed by using layers of laminated glass. 

The polycarbonate layer is often put between layers of regular glass. A bullet will probably pierce the exterior glass layer, but will be stopped by the really strong polycarbonate layer before it can pierce the inner layer of glass. There’s also what’s called bullet resistant glass that’s constructed of laminated glass layers. This is built from sheets of glass glued together using some sort of liquid rubber.

One-way Bullet Proof Glass

As technology advances in the field of bullet resistant glass we now have a new type of bullet proof glass called one-way bulletproof glass. These types of glasses are commonly used by armored cars. 

The beauty of this glass is that it will resist incoming fire arms striking the outside of the glass, while allowing those on the other side of the glass, such as guards, fire from inside the armored car, through the glass at the exterior threat outside.

Usually One-way bulletproof glass is made up of two layers. A brittle layer on the outside and a flexible layer on the inside. If a bullet is fired from the outside it will hit the brittle layer first and will probably shatter an area of it. This shattering of the glass absorbs some of the bullet's energy, and spreads it out on a larger area. When the slowed down bullet hits the flexible layer, it will be stopped.

However, when someone fires a bullet from the inside it hits the flexible layer first. The bullet will then go through the flexible layer because its energy is focused on a smaller area. The brittle layer will then shatter outward because the inner layer flexes and doesn’t stop the bullet's progress.

A Look at Automatic Tire Chains

With technology always advancing, it is no wonder that automatic tire chains have made their way into the tire chain market. These tire chains take away the pain of attaching tire chains in wintry or wet conditions, and can save drivers a lot of time.

Automatic tire chains can be used on pickup trucks, RVs, mobile homes, trucks, and buses, and they offer the traction of a single set of conventional snow chains at the touch of the button, which means an end to stopping and getting out of the vehicle.

To install automatic tire chains, drivers mount an electric switch to their dashboard, which provides 12 volts to an air solenoid mounted on the vehicle's frame rail. Compressed air is then supplied from either the vehicle's onboard air system or a 12-volt compressor kit. When the dashboard switch is activated, the solenoid opens, thus allowing compressed air to enter the air cylinder and lower the chain wheel so that it contacts the inside of the tire. The friction between the tire and the rubber-covered chain wheel then causes the chain wheel to rotate, which creates enough centrifugal force to wave the chains out in front of the tire. Chain is spaced at 60-degree intervals in sixth lengths on the chain wheel. This guarantees that there are always two chains between the tire and the road service, regardless of whether the driver is accelerating or decelerating. The traction is obtained both in forward and reverse. When the dashboard switch is turned off, the solenoid exhausts the air, and the chain wheels are brought back to their resting position.

Automatic tire chains are a great new technology for anyone who wants tire chains -- but does not want the inconvenience of getting out of their car and installing the chains in adverse weather conditions.

Are You watching Your Fuel Gauge More Than Your Speedo?

Are You Driving on Fresh Air?

Do you travel miles to save pennies on fuel costs?

Do you watch your fuel gauge more than your Speedo?

Is the rising cost of Gas strangling you?

Fear not...Help is at hand...GET A BICYCLE!

Seriously, there are a few things that can be done without throwing your car keys away and walking everywhere. (PHEW)! A lot of the things you can do to save fuel are easy and free.

When was the last time you checked your tires to see if they were inflated to the correct pressure? Under inflated tires are one of the main causes of excess fuel consumption. It's easy to check your tire pressures daily with a cheap tire pressure gauge; if you don't know how asks your local garage mechanic to show you (A free beer works wonders). When you buy your fuel can have an effect on what you get. Gas is sold by volume and as we all know from school, liquids expand when warm, so if you buy your gas at the hottest part of the day you will get less than if you buy when it is cold. So the logical time to buy your gas is just before dawn (Who's Dawn?) when it's coldest.

With 24 hour shopping it would make sense to do your weekly shop while others are asleep and fill up your tank at the same time. The roads will be quieter so less traffic to get stuck behind and waste fuel.

There are various (free) websites that will tell you the cheapest gas prices in your area. How about just washing your car. It causes less drag, ... Honestly. Why do you think that swimmers shave their heads (i.e. Duncan Goodhew)? Or what about those skin tight smooth figure hugging suits worn by downhill skiers? (Just going for a cold shower).

Make car washing fun, get all the family involved. Hose down the dog, hose down the kids. Hose down the whole neighbourhood. (If winter you may ignore this one) Sitting at the lights revving the engine may impress the boy racers but it uses gas. Rev the engine 15 times and you use enough fuel to travel one mile. 

Remember this next time you have to push your car to the gas station. Is your car due for a service? (I know a good priest who can give the last rites at a reasonable price). I know it costs money for servicing your car if you are unable to do it yourself. But the cost in extra fuel if your car is not running right is even more. (Blocked air filter, worn spark plugs, sticking brakes, etc.) Best of all drive safely. Do not tailgate! if you do you will have to brake harder when the car in front does. Give some distance to the car in front. You will use your brakes less and still get there at the same time. Watch the traffic far ahead and try to read how they are going to act, if you see brake lights up ahead you can react a bit sooner. If you are driving in the wet you can sometimes see the reflections of brake lights on the wet road surface. This allows you to slow down sooner and avoid harsh braking.