Archive for the ‘Car Safety’ Category
It’s a sobering statistic from the National Traffic Safety Institute – trucks are involved in more than 200,000 accidents annually with passenger cars. Everyone needs to take responsibility to drive safely but since trucks are bigger and more unwieldy on the roads, it’s truck drivers’ responsability to adopt safe habits.
Truck safety basics
Driving at high speeds, using a cellphone while driving, failure to heed traffic signals, not leaving sufficient space between your vehicle and the one up ahead are some of the major causes of traffic accidents. Because of their size and sheer weight, trucks need more leeway room to come to a complete stop, so driving at posted traffic speeds and not exceeding the speeding limit becomes an essential cornerstone of driving trucks safely. Whether on the highway or maneuvering around city streets, be careful not to tailgate, one of the major causes of rear-end collisions. Read the rest of this entry »
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Car accidents and breakdowns are not things that are uncommon. We see or hear an accident often when we travel outside or while watching a news channel in TV. This article solely focuses on how to handle the situation if you car breaks down.
The first and foremost reason for the occurrence of a breakdown is the lack of maintenance of your car. If you check your vehicle often with due care, you will never end up in break downs. Your vehicle breaking down is not a magical situation which occurs out of nothing. Whenever your vehicle breaks down, be calm and relaxed. You are never alone. With the advent of new systems and methodologies, you can find many service centers and automobile shops if you are in a city or an area near to city. Keep watching your vehicles important parameters like engine oil level, brake oil, brake stiffness, horns, ignition system etc, which are very vital parts in your vehicle.
You should make sure that you carry all the pre-requisite materials that would help you when in a break down. These include blankets, warning triangle, mobile phone etc. You should always be easily communicable. Whenever your vehicle breaks down, park your vehicle at a safe location on the road. Turn on the flash lights to notify everyone that your vehicle broke down. Immediately call the police or emergency help centers so that you get an assistance which would reduce the time consumed and wastes incurred. It is advised to fix the warning triangle at your boot so that the vehicles coming behind you can see it and help you to tackle the situation. Read the rest of this entry »
I won’t go into details with this job, but I want you to think about it.
Your brakes are very important. Your life depends on them.
When you have to have brakes repaired on your favorite vehicle, don’t skimp.
Sure, it looks like all you need is a set of pads, or shoes.
But, if the pads or shoes are wore out, what about the other parts?
I don’t recommend having the rotors or drums turned.
I know, a lot of technicians will tell you that you will have better braking if you turn them.
On the small cars with the removable rotors on the front, I have had some turned, and then I had to buy the customer a new set of rotors and pads!
For some reason, the little rotors seem to eat the pads, after you have them turned.
They are not that expensive. Go ahead and replace them if they are not usable.
By that, I mean, if the pads were down to the metal plate and rubbing on the rotor.
Another thing to take into consideration is the rubber line coming from the caliper to the metal line that goes to the master cylinder.
If your vehicle is several years old, those lines are, too.
Those lines tend to deteriorate inside.
With the heat from the outside air, and from the engine, and the rotor when you apply your brakes, the fluid gets rather hot.
If you don’t replace those two lines on the front you may have to replace a lot more parts.
The particles from the inside of the hoses will get into the master cylinder and the caliper.
The master cylinder can cause a major malfunction and not apply the brakes when you need them.
See the little child playing ball in the street?
If the particles get into the caliper, they can cause it to “stick” in the outward position.
That could happen, and I’ve seen it, when you apply your brake, and release them.
Only thing, the caliper doesn’t release.
This causes the piston in the caliper to keep pressure on the pads against the rotor.
It will cause the vehicle to pull to one side upon braking.
It will burn the pads before their time.
It will probably overheat the rotor and cause it to crystallize, causing it to loose its braking power even if you put new pads on it.
It can also cause extreme heat through the system.
Causing the grease in the wheel bearing to melt and run off the bearings.
Then you have a wheel bearing to go out.
Is a $39 hose worth it?
Replace it the next time you have a major brake repair.
Have the master cylinder and brake lines flushed, and new brake fluid added every two or three years.
I don’t want to lose a reader just because the brakes failed in a curve with a high-line pole in the way. 
Tommy Sessions has been in auto repair since 1970. He publishes Auto Repair Answers Newsletter so you can learn how to keep your vehicle looking new, running safely and efficiently, while you save money and time…also, learn how to avoid shop rip offs. Don’t be at the mercy of the dealerships and auto repair shops…they will have more respect for you.
http://www.auto-repair-answers.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tommy_Sessions
http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Life-Depends-On-This-Little-Hose-Being-In-Good-Shape!&id=2856
When I first started doing mechanic work in 1970 (we
weren’t known as *technicians* then) I learned a great
*trick-of-the-trade*.
My boss and I were replacing the clutch on this 1969 Chevy pickup.
After he had put the line-up shaft through the clutch plate
to get it lined up, so the transmission shaft would go
through it, we bolted the pressure plate up to the
flywheel.
I pushed the jack, with the transmission on it, up to the back of the engine.
The transmission still had the bell-housing on it.
My boss was at the back of the engine. He guided the bell-housing up to the engine block.
We were very lucky; the transmission went right up to the block.
Well, almost.
It would not go the last ½ inch.
We put a couple of bolts in and tried to draw it up, but it was in a bind.
Removing the bolts so we could *shake* the transmission; sometimes this will cause it to line up with the pilot bearing.
We pushed up and down, right and left. The transmission was off the jack but we left the jack there so we could set the transmission back down on it and rest our arms.
We tried several times, and for several minutes (2 days to be exact, I think), but the transmission just wouldn’t go in that last half inch.
My boss had a large amount of tobacco in his mouth. He motioned for me to rest, spit a long stream of juice toward the left front tire, and said, “Let’s go get a cup of coffee.”
He was the boss, who was I to complain?
When we returned from the café he said, “Now it will go in.”
I thought… no, I won’t say what I thought.
We returned to our creepers, slid back under the truck.
He took the tail of the transmission and raised it up just a little bit and pushed the transmission all the way up to the block.
“Now put the bolts in.” he said with a silly grin.
“What did you do!?” I asked.
“Nothing, we were just too tired to get it lined up. That’s why we got a cup of coffee…to rest up.”
Well, throughout the years, I’ve never forgotten that, and I’ve used that technique several times.
I’m not sure if I stopped working on a project to rest up or just show the vehicle that I’m smarter than it is. ?
Tommy Sessions has been in auto repair since 1970. He publishes Auto Repair Answers Newsletter so you can learn how to keep your vehicle looking new, running safely and efficiently, while you save money and time…also, learn how to avoid shop rip offs. Don’t be at the mercy of the dealerships and auto repair shops…they will have more respect for you.
http://www.auto-repair-answers.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tommy_Sessions
http://EzineArticles.com/?Lets-Get-A-Cup-Of-Coffee–It-Will-Work-After-That!&id=9137
By Dan Baldyga
Handling a property damage and/or personal injury (motor vehicle) claim yourself is a simple and routine procedure for ordinary individuals to process on their own ! The vast majority of motor vehicle accident claims require no specialized expertise which allows one to successfully settle it.
There are five characteristics found which makes them easy for one to undertake without handing their case to a lawyer:
#1. The vast majority of them are “Ordinary” in character.
#2. By and large they don’t involve serious injuries.
#3. More often than not (in comparison to the 10 to 15 percent that do) their are relatively low financial stakes and also minor economic losses involved.
#4. They’re processed by the insurance company (who will ultimately be responsible for a payment to be made) in a highly routine, assembly-line format.
#5. Both parties are ordinary citizens (rather than institutions) and demand no specific expertise to undertake. Read the rest of this entry »
By Tim Gorman
As I stated in my previous article – It’s no big secret – gas prices are rapidly rising. This additional cost for fuel has become a financial burden for many consumers. This second installment to my first article gives more tips and advice on how to save money when filling your car up with gas.
Previously I mentioned the merits of performing regular routine maintenance on your vehicle. The benefit to do this will greatly reduce your fuel costs and save you money. It’s also a good idea to start a fuel log. The rational behind this is simple if you record all of your gas purchases and the mileage you travel you will start to develop the habit of knowing exactly how much that you are spending in fuel costs. Make sure to keep notes on where the cheapest gas stations can be found. You’ll want to use this log to see patterns of driving that you can change in order to cut down on your fuel costs.
Did you know that the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks in the United States and Canada has increased by over 130 percent for cars and 75 percent for trucks? This means that you are driving a better more efficient vehicle, which should equate to a lower fuel bill. However this depends on the level of maintenance you perform on your automobile. If you notice that your gas efficiency is decreasing it could be an indicating factor that your car needs servicing. Don’t hesitate to perform your routine maintenance. Do so will end up costing you more money then you need to spend on gasoline and could ultimately lead to more expensive car repairs. Read the rest of this entry »