Archive for April, 2009
Car Heater Not Working – Blowing Cold Air!
There are several reasons why your car’s heater may be blowing cold air, instead of heat. It is important to understand how the heater works in your car before you can begin to try to diagnose why it is not working. First, there is NOT an electric heater element in the heater system in automobiles, like in portable heaters used in the home. The part that transfers heat into the passenger compartment is called a heater core. A heater core can be thought of as a miniature radiator. The car engine’s coolant flows through the heater core while the fan (also called a blower), blows air through the heater core fins. When air blows through the heater core fins, it is warmed, therefore warming the passenger compartment.
Start by checking the coolant. As we already said coolant is what warms the heater core. So if the coolant is low, there may not be a sufficient amount of warmth to transfer heat to the air in the passenger compartment. Since it ’s cold outside, low coolant may not effect the operating temperature of the engine significantly, so you won’t be alerted to a coolant problem by the temperature gage on the instrument panel. Once the coolant is full, feel the heater hoses that go through the firewall. With the engine at normal operating temperature, BOTH of the heater hoses should be hot to the touch. If only one is hot, this indicates there is is a blockage in the heater core or there is air trapped in the heater core. Using a Lisle coolant funnel is helpful in purging the air from the cooling system. If the coolant is really brown, has been neglected, or if “stop leak” has been used at some point, the heater core could be stopped up. The blockage can sometimes be unstopped by removing the heater hoses and using a garden hose with a sprayer to flush the heater core out. If neither of the hoses are hot to the touch, there could also be a malfunctioning heater control valve, if used on the model you’re working on. Check for presence of a heater control valve by following the heater hoses back to the engine. Sometimes, a vacuum line could have a break causing there to be no vacuum to operate the valve. Also it should be noted that if this is your first winter with this car (and you’re unfamiliar with the car’s repair history), the previous owner could have by-passed the heater core because of a leak. When a heater core leaks, usually they wet the passenger side floorboard. The labor cost to change heater cores is usually expensive, so sometimes people will loop the heater hoses and by-pass a leaking heater core instead of repairing it properly.
Next check for proper airflow. After you’re sure the heater core is getting hot water flow, read the following information. Doors within the heater case are either controlled by electric actuators, cables or vacuum motors. Adjust the heat control to both extremes while listening for movement of the blend door. With a cable operated heater door it’s easiest to hear the door thump when it closes. If the door is not operating, find the door that controls the airflow across the heater core. If there is an electric motor that controls the door, tapping on it can sometimes make it work temporarily for testing purposes. A vacuum operated motor needs vacuum to work, so using a handheld vacuum pump for testing is usually recommended. If the vacuum motor does not hold vacuum, the diaphragm is leaking requiring replacement. To go deeper into diagnoses of the control head’s function and diagnosis, specific vehicle repair manual information is needed. But hopefully the basics laid out in this article has helped to get you started on the right track.
About the Author. Hi I’m Dennis Bandy, thanks for reading about my background. I’ve been an ASE Master Auto Technician for over 23 years and have also sold professional auto tools since 2005. I am in a unique position to help readers on certain automotive repair related topics since I’ve had personal hands on experience with many auto repairs and automotive specialty tools. Let me just say, this is not a hobby for me, this is my business. Your feedback is really appreciated, if you thought this article was helpful or informative, please rate it below (thank you in advance).
Fat Loss 4 Idiots Vs General Motors Diet – Which is Better?
In this article I want to compare and review Fat Loss 4 Idiots and the General Motors diet. The reason is that both of these are programs that are well known and that people actually use to lose weight with. However, one is a free diet plan while the other does cost a little money.
So, which is better for you?
The General Motors diet is a program of unclear origins. Despite its name and rumors that it was created by the General motors company it seems that this is merely a myth. No one is really sure who came up with the diet and why it should even work.
This is a 7 day eating plan which are mostly low in calories and rich in fruits and vegetables. The idea is to get a quick and vast weight loss even if it means eating very strange things indeed. For instance, on the first 4 days, you’re basically limited to fruits and vegetables, something that brings to mind a detoxing diet. On the 5th day you can eat beef but you also need to consume 6 tomatoes. Not my idea of sensible eating.
Yes, you can lose weight with the GM diet plan. However, this is not a program that can be used over and over again safely. It’s low on calories and on major nutrients as well. It will not help you lose weight and keep it off in the long run. It can work as a crash diet for short term weight loss, but it won’t be much good in the long run.
Fat Loss 4 Idiots is a more organized, structured, and long term weight loss program. While it does have a one time fee, it is more dependable that the GM Diet, has multiple positive reviews and offers a more balanced and open approach to weight loss.
For instance, you do get to eat 4 meals a day while on the FatLoss4Idiots diet. You shouldn’t feel like you’re starving while on this diet. It’s based more on how you arrange your meals and types of calories than on portion sizes. In addition, you actually get to determine a great deal of the diet’s menu by choosing the foods that it will include in a special software that comes with the diet. This gives you more freedom and control and makes the overall plan more personal and easy to stick to.
Michigan Cheap Car Insurance
To get cheap car insurance in Michigan, you must first start with Michigan’s minimum car insurance requirements. After all, there is no reason to purchase cheap car insurance if it is not going to be deemed a legal amount of coverage.
With the exception of motorcycles and commercial motor vehicles, all cars in Michigan must carry no-fault insurance. You can not register your car in Michigan without first having no-fault car insurance. In a nutshell, no-fault insurance provides car insurance coverage for you, the policyholder. The other party involved is covered by his or her own car insurance company.
There are three kinds of car insurance coverage required by Michigan: personal injury protection (PIP), bodily and property damage (BI/PD) and property protection insurance (PPI). A car insurance policy in Michigan covering these three components is a basic car insurance policy.
None of these car insurance requirements provide insurance coverage in the event your car is damaged or stolen. In Michigan, you must purchase collision insurance coverage and comprehensive insurance coverage in order to insure your car in the event of damage or theft. Collision car insurance coverage provides coverage for damages to your car, while comprehensive car insurance coverage provides coverage for theft of your car or its components and contents.
Michigan drivers are able to get cheap car insurance when they opt to purchase only the PIP, BIPD, and PPI car insurance coverage requirements. Collision car insurance coverage and comprehensive car insurance coverage is not normally required of Michigan drivers unless they have borrowed money to purchase their cars and their lenders require those coverages.
Of course, there are many other ways to get cheap car insurance in Michigan without simply purchasing the minimum car insurance coverage requirements. Ask your car insurance company or agent about the various discounts for good drivers, good students, driver education course completion, and multi-line policies that they offer and whether you are eligible.
How to Inspect an Engine When Used Car Shopping
When shopping for a used car you should make an appointment to view a car for sale and specifically request that they do not have the car started or warmed up until you get there. When you arrive you can pop the hood and feel the engine temperature by placing your hand on or near the block which is the main component of the bulk of the engine. This large piece of metal will retain heat for hours after warming up. If the engine is still warm consider coming back another time or moving on to the next prospective car.
Starting a car from a cold start is critical in helping to gauge the condition of the motor. Difficulties in starting, or weak cranking or funny noises are all indications of systems in the engine which are no longer running optimally. Still, before you even want to start the car you need to do a complete inspection of the fluids in the engine.
The first thing to check is the engine oil. To get an accurate level reading the car must be parked on a flat and level surface and it is best if the car has been parked overnight and not running. The oil that is on the dipstick when you remove it should be amber in color and mostly translucent. The darker and more gritty the oil the worse the vehicle has been maintained. The level of the oil is also important as this will tell you if the car is leaking or burning oil as well as tell you a little about the maintenance history of the car. Ideally the oil level should be to the full line indicator on the dipstick.
You should check for oil leaks by inspecting visually the underside of the engine. If there is an oil leak it will be very apparent in the caked on grease and road debris stuck to the underside of the car. If there is not you will need to watch for burning oil. If the oil level is low it has to be going somewhere.
Another fluid to check is the radiator fluid. For safety, the car must be completely cold before you attempt to open the radiator cap. The fluid in the radiator should be clean and clear despite usually being green. What you do not want to see is oil, debris or nothing. If you are comfortable working around cars and radiators you can start and run the car with the radiator cap off. If you have bubbles like a rolling boil when you rev up the engine then the car likely has internal failure in the form of lost compression in the engine escaping through the usually isolated cooling system.
There will likely be a brake fluid reservoir mounted to the firewall of the engine compartment. This would be the brake assist system and also may be utilized for hydraulic clutch assist in some vehicles. This fluid should be clear and mostly transparent. A leak in the braking master cylinder will manifest itself as a loss of brakes eventually but will start by visual fluid loss from the master cylinder.
All belts and pulleys should be in good physical condition free of cracking or worn edges. The wiring in the engine compartment should look clean and neat. Any signs of random wiring or messy wires is an indication that under-qualified hands have been working on the engine.
When you start the engine it should crank over, fire, and find a smooth and steady idle easily. Any hesitations, backfires or irregular idling are a sign of engine problems. Not all engine problems are serious and many can be simple such as a vacuum leak. Still it would be preferable to find a car with a great sounding and looking engine.
Smoke from the tailpipe will be burning oil, burning coolant or unburnt gasoline in some cases. Coolant burns white and smells like burning maple syrup. Oil burns blue/white/grey and can also be visible coming from the engine oil dipstick if you remove the dipstick while the engine is running. The term for this is “blow-by” which refers to engine oil blowing by piston rings which have become worn with age, heat and friction.
Is the Mini Motorcycle Right For You? Tips to Help You Decide
If you are looking at mini motorcycles for sale, then I am glad you are reading this article. The truth is, finding the perfect bike is not an easy thing to do, especially if you do not know if you should be getting one or not. In this article we are going to be talking about whether or not you should get one, and if you should, we will talk about what to look for in the mini bike.
1-Should you get one?
One of the most common questions we get asked if whether or not a person should get a mini motorcycle. In order to answer this you need to know what you need it for. Is it just for fun? Or are you going to be using it to travel to work every day? If you can’t come up with a good reason as to why you want one, other than the fact that you just want it, your probably should get one.
2-Check out the speed of the bike
If you decided that you want to get one, then you need to start looking at mini motorcycles for sale. The first thing you are going to want to check out is the actual speed of the bike. If you are planning on using this for local streets only, then it doesn’t need to go really fast. But if you are taking it on the freeway it needs to go at least 65 MPH.
3-The design of the bike
A lot of people believe the design of the bike doesn’t matter and it is all about performance. Although performance is important, I don’t want to be driving around a bike that I think is ugly and I am sure you don’t either. We recommend you first find a bike that you like the look of, then you take a look at the quality of it.
Used Diesel Truck
Consumers with their sights set on a “new” used truck have a number of choices to contend with beyond the preference between Chevy, Dodge and Ford. One of those choices is gas versus diesel. Diesel engines have a number of benefits over traditional gas engines, but they also have a number of drawbacks too. The consumer who has never owned a diesel may be unaware of all of these factors. Here’s a look at those pros and cons, which should help the consumer decide if a used diesel truck is right for them.
Cost of A Used Diesel Truck vs. Fuel Economy
The higher cost of diesel fuel in comparison to gas is a deterrent for many considering a used diesel truck. However, buyers should be aware that diesel has a higher energy density than gasoline. In order words, it takes more gas than diesel to achieve the same power output. Therefore, diesel is substantially more cost-effective than gas over the life of the truck in most circumstances. Gas trucks are more efficient if always driven very short distances.
Quiet vs. Noise
Some use aftermarket parts to increase the noise output of their trucks. For these types, the noise output of a diesel will be an unimportant consideration. Others live in quiet neighborhoods and have small children. If this sounds like you, then you might not want to wake the neighbors at 6 A.M. to the thunderous sounds of a diesel engine starting.
Used Diesel Truck Power vs. Torque
Essentially, gas trucks produce more horsepower while diesel trucks generate more torque. If you’re going to be driving your truck around town, then the gas truck will more effective. However, if you’re pulling heavy loads especially up steep grades, then you likely can’t do better than a used diesel truck. Decide how you’ll use the truck most, and then favor that aspect.
Cold Weather
Diesel engines don’t have spark plugs like gas engines do, which means that they can be difficult to start on cold mornings. This isn’t just a concern for those living in the North. Early southern mornings are cold enough to give a diesel engine fits. Therefore, this is an important consideration if you leave the house early in the mornings. It’s just one more hassle that you’ll have to deal with at a time when no one wants to be hassled.
Well there you have them, the primary considerations that should take place before the purchase of a used diesel truck. If you’re mechanically inclined and can get past these drawbacks, a used diesel truck will serve you well for a long time to come.
Buy the Car Parts Online
Buying the car parts directly from the dealer is considered quite expensive. Therefore, buying the different spare equipment and accessories for your vehicle from online can be the best place to buy automotive parts at very low rates.
When buying the automobile parts online, there are certain things that you should keep in mind. Even though, purchasing online is considered as an ideal way to get the best parts, you will not be able to see the equipments physically unless you buy them. Therefore, you must be very conscious while selecting the parts for your vehicle.
Several companies offer the car accessories online. Therefore, it is not at all a difficult task to get them through online these days. You just have to look for the company that provides the best parts at very reasonable price. It is better to purchase from some of the well-reputed companies in order to receive the features like insurance, warranty etc.
One of the major advantages of buying the car equipments from any good company online is that they provide the parts at very low price with the guarantee features. This will also allow you to find a huge selection of car parts that are not available in the stores. The best place to buy car parts, however, depends upon the rates and the wide variety of options available. So, any online source, which offers affordable car accessories, can be best chosen for all your car spare part needs. So, buy parts online for your favorite car!
Discount Tires, Wheels and Rims – Finding The Good Deals
We rely on our cars and trucks for so much these days. Life as we know it would cease to exist if we did not have them. Our cars and trucks are more than just transportation, in many ways they are extensions of who we are. You can change the look of your vehicle just by changing the wheels and it becomes more unique. Your tires will need to be changed fairly regularly to maintain good handling and help prevent accidents. Finding good discount tires and wheels will make these changes easier on the budget.
The Right Size And Load Rating
Before you start shopping for discount tires and wheels, you will want to check and see what size tires you will need for your particular vehicle. You can find this information easily either by looking in the owner’s manual for your car, truck, SUV, motorcycle or ATV or by looking on the sidewall of your current tires. You may also see a load rating on the tire such as XL and you should make a note of that as well. Once you know the size and load rating of the tires you need, you are ready to begin comparison shopping.
You may wish to call a few tire stores in your local area to request a free quote. It is fast and easy to get several prices on the internet and you will also be able to read customer reviews and have more control over your choices this way. There are many online tire sellers to choose from and will often find free shipping deals that sweeten the pot and make shopping online an easier and more economical way to purchase new tires and wheels.
Package Deals
When you purchase the wheels and tires together you will usually be able to get a package deal and free mounting and balancing will be included in addition to the free shipping offer. This is probably your best option in many ways since installing them will be easier and they will look great. This adds visual appeal to the vehicle as well as increasing its safety and fuel efficiency – tires that don’t stay inflated will use more fuel.
Safety Considerations
There are certain safety requirements that all tires must meet so you needn’t worry over whether discounted tires will be safe for you to drive on. As long as you get tires that are properly rated for the weight of your vehicle (larger, heavier vehicles require stronger tires) you should be perfectly safe. It is important to rotate your tires often to encourage them to wear evenly and make them last longer. This will provide an opportunity to check the wear on the tires and gauge how quickly they need to be replaced.
One of the best things about the web is the amount of information that is available to you and that includes information about tires, so take advantage of that and read all the reviews about the tires you are interested in before you purchase them. Some tires are better in dry conditions and others work well in bad weather. Depending on where you live, you can use this information to get the least expensive tires and wheels that will work for your vehicle where you live. Buying discount tires and wheels online is a great way to keep your car or truck safely on the road and avoid unnecessary accidents.
Do Your Bit For the Environment With Used Car Parts
There is only one place you should go to if you are in the market for used car parts. And that is auto salvage yards. Auto salvage yards are known to have the best inoperable parts stacked up from cars that have been torn or beaten down into shreds after being salvaged of the best parts. Also known as auto recycling it is a great way to be environmentally friendly. By reusing car parts you are not just saving money but also helping in conserving the resources of the environment.
Getting spare parts for your vehicle can get very expensive if you are driving an expensive car. From compressors, to rear view mirrors to even window handles, you can find all these used car parts at auto salvage yards. They are indeed the best place to look if you need to replace a part of your car that has been giving you trouble. Recycled car parts are easy to find if you look in the right places. Going from one salvage yard to another can get a little tiring and if you are looking to just replace a small part, it is not really worth the effort. To make life more convenient for you, let us tell you that you can find used car parts online now.
There are a number of websites today that feature a list of auto salvage suppliers who can hook you up with the used car parts you need. The process is simple and you can find what you are looking for from the comfort of your own home. Searching for options online can save you the trouble of running from one salvage yard to another or making unnecessary calls to salvage yards you know nothing about.
These websites have lists of suppliers that are credible and have a good reputation in the market. So you can be assured of getting the best service at the best price. When looking for spare parts on these websites, all you have to do is type in the part you are looking for and you will get a list of suppliers. You can call them up and inquire about the used car parts. Most suppliers today are very organized so they will quickly tell you if the have the part in stock or not. This makes your process of elimination much smoother and helps you achieve results faster.
Once you find a supplier that has the part you are looking for, you can go and pick it up or they will hand deliver it to your home. Since the process is online, you could also look for multiple quotes to ensure you make an informed decision. After all it is just one or two parts; you do not want to land up paying too much money.
So go ahead and look for used car parts that will bring your favorite car back to life. It does not matter how big or how small the part is, salvage yards make every effort to salvage as much as they can from every car that is parked in their yard to be recycled.
The Increased Popularity of the iPod Car Accessories
In the recent days the popularity of the popularity of the iPod car accessories has increased to a great extent. The main reason for the popularity is the tremendous utility value that it serves. They are actually extremely useful in case of long journeys.
There are different kinds of accessories available and based on your requirement you can purchase them. The iPod car accessories are really versatile gadgets and here is a list of some of the most popular types.
* The car stereos: The car stereos are perhaps the best types of iPod car accessories available. A car stereo which is built up with iPod compatibility would be suitable in that case. There are several companies that produce the stereos. You can choose a good company in order to purchase a good quality car stereo. With the stereo system, you would be able to control your iPod through the head unit of the stereo. This can also be controlled with the help of steering wheel buttons.
* The FM Transmitter: This transmitter is a great accessory through which you can connect your iPod to the car stereo. The information from the iPod is transferred into an analog signal which in turn is picked up by the radio. The length of the transmitter antenna would greatly determine the amount of efficiency. The features and facilities however vary from one model to another. These are wireless and are very much portable. As a result they can be easily carried from one place to another. Installation and usage of this transmitter is not much difficult but the quality of sound might be slightly low.
* Mount: It is the mount that holds up the iPod in place. If you purchase the mount it would not take much effort on your part to control them. Not only do these mounts protect the iPod but at the same time the iPod would also become accessible. There are different designs of mounts available and you can make the selection based on your requirements.
You may buy any of these accessories for your iPod in the car. However, while you purchase them you should always try to check the compatibility of the accessory first. There are actually certain accessories that are compatible only with the specific generations of the iPods only. So you need to be careful while the selection.
These accessories are available with the iPod car kits and one of the major iPod car kits is the Dension Gateway 500. The Dension Gateway 500 is a really unique and useful device and can be called as a wonderful invention of technology.