| 291 | Your Cars Electrical System Preview: When the automotive industry was in its infancy, it used electricity only to ignite the fuel inside the engine. By the late 1920's, the electric starter replaced the hand crank, electric headlights made acetylene lamps obsolete and the braying of the electric horn drowned out the squeak of the hand-squeezed air horn. Today, an automobile requires ... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 292 | Checking Fluids Preview: Keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape requires constant monitoring of vital fluids. Read you owners manual and look for a diagram of the engine. Most times there will be a diagram showing where to check all the major fluids. This should be your starting point. If your manual is lost in the glove box or you never had one, then ask your mechanic or ... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 293 | The Suspension System On A Car Explained Preview: "Suspension," when discussing cars, refers to the use of front and rear springs to suspend a vehicle's "sprung" weight. The springs used on today's cars and trucks are constructed in a variety of types, shapes, sizes, rates, and capacities. Types include leaf springs, coil springs, air springs, and torsion bars. These are used in sets of four for ... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 294 | Auto Tools For The DIY'er Preview: If you are a car owner who occasionally works on his or her own car, please don't go out and spend thousands of dollars on high priced tools. Professional mechanics make a living with their tools and need the best. If you are doing minor repairs on your own vehicles a lower cost tool set will do just fine. We have teamed up with AutoBarn.com to br... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 295 | Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) Preview: Smart home mechanics use all the information available to diagnose problems with their vehicle. Below you will find the two most valuable sources of data available today. Most people know nothing about TSBs, but they should. Both of these excellent resources are available online from websites like AllData.com Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs): ... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 296 | The Exhaust System Preview: Your car's exhaust system carries away the gases created when the fuel and air are burned in the combustion chamber. These gases are harmful to humans and our environment. A frequent check of your exhaust system is a must to provide for you and your family's safety. Make sure there are no holes in the exhaust system or in the passenger compartment... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 297 | The Engine Explained Preview: The engine is the heart of your car, but instead of pumping blood, the engine pumps air and fuel. The engines main function is to convert air and fuel into rotary motion so it can drive the wheels of the car. How does it do that ??.... Well let's start with a cutaway of the engine and see all the major parts then we will get into the actual mechan... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 298 | Oil / Lubricants Preview: I receive a lot of questions regarding oil and the least understood part is the number system used to rate oils. Oil weight, or viscosity, refers to how thick or thin the oil is. The temperature requirements set for oil, by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is 0 degrees F (low) and 210 degrees F (high). Oils meeting the SAE's low tempera... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 299 | How to Change A Tire Preview: It always happens at the worst times! You need to know how to change a tire even if you have an auto club membership. Depending on where you get a flat, there may not be a phone nearby to call a tow truck. Let's take is step by step and always remember to read your owners manual, there will be detailed instructions relating to your car there. I sh... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 300 | A Cars HVAC System Preview: Not only do we depend on our cars to get us where we want to go, we also depend on them to get us there without discomfort. We expect the heater to keep us warm when it's cold outside, and the air conditioning system to keep us cool when it's hot. We get heat from the heater core, sort of a secondary radiator, which is part of the car's cooling s... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 301 | An Automobiles fuel system Preview: The fuel system feed your engine the gasoline/diesel it needs to run. If anyone of the parts in the system break down your engine will not run. Let's look at the major parts of the fuel system, Fuel tank: Basically a holding tank for your fuel. When you fill up at a gas station the gas travels down the filler tube and into the tank. In the tank t... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 302 | Test Driving A New Car Preview: One of the most important steps in buying a new or used car is the test drive. You can do all the research you like, but it all comes down to the test drive. Driving the car must be comfortable, easy, and enjoyable. Follow these few steps and get the most out of your next test drive. Check over the car before you leave the dealer's lot. Tires, fl... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 303 | Your Drive Train Explained Preview: The drive train serves two functions: it transmits power from the engine to the drive wheels, and it varies the amount of torque. "Power" is the rate or speed at which work is performed. "Torque" is turning or twisting force. Multiple ratio gearboxes are necessary because the engine delivers its maximum power at certain speeds, or RPM (Rotations P... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 304 | The Cooling System Preview: The purpose of the engine's cooling system is to remove excess heat from the engine, to keep the engine operating at its most efficient temperature, and to get the engine up to the correct temperature as soon as possible after starting. Ideally, the cooling system keeps the engine running at its most efficient temperature no matter what the operat... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 305 | Take Care of Your Body Preview: The winter months can be tough on your body... your car body that is. Salt and chemicals used in the colder climates can wreak havoc on your cars precious sheet metal. By doing a few simple things this winter, you can keep your car's body looking it's best. Put a good heavy coat of wax on your car before the winter storms hit. This heavy coat wil... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 306 | Winter Car Care Preview: As the weather turns colder, it is time to think about your car for a second. A little preparation can go a long way to making your winter travels a lot safer. Here is a checklist to get you started. 1.Check the antifreeze. The freezing point can be checked with a simple tool available at any auto parts store. Make sure you check the antifreeze... (more) Published By: Kevin Schappell Submitted: 23 December,2004 |
| 307 | Chevrolet Trailblazer 2005: The Weekly Driver Review Preview: With the addition of the 5.3-liter, 325-horsepower V8 extended cab (EXT), eight Chevrolet Trailblazer models are on the road in 2005. And as the largest and most powerful Blazer available, the new EXT has plenty to offer. It's comfortable and provides a confident drive. It offers vast cargo space, has an attractive two-tone interior, a well-desi... (more) Published By: James Raia Submitted: 28 December,2004 |
| 308 | Mitsubishi Outlander 2005: The Weekly Driver Review Preview: The 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander is the least expensive of the Japanese manufacturer's three sports utility vehicles. It's compact, nicely designed and offers more standard features than many SUVs nearly twice the price. But the Outlander faces a tough challenge. In a popular category that includes best-buy choices like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V a... (more) Published By: James Raia Submitted: 04 January,2005 |
| 309 | Recreational Vehicle Buyers Guide Preview: Recreational Vehicle Buyers Guide Service Records - If you're buying from an RV dealer and they can't produce something - you've got problems - possibly serious ones. If not, he'd be proudly displaying the records. There should at least be receipts for repairs, service work, and possibly old owners manuals. See http://busforsaleguide.com/rv_type... (more) Published By: Jason Odom Submitted: 04 January,2005 |
| 310 | Hybrid Vehicles Makes a Turn for the More Powerful Vehicles in the Auto Industry: Preview: It is common knowledge among car enthusiasts and car owners that the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the amount of fuel it consumes. With this in mind, several automobile producers have begun diverting a big chunk of their efforts to producing more hybrid 4x4s in the year 2005. Taking on the Fleet First. The big three - Ford, Dodge and General Mo... (more) Published By: Jenny McLane Submitted: 13 January,2005 |