Category Archives: Cars and Trucks

Having Car Problems

I was on the way driving to my sisters house when my car had a tire puncture. Most of the time when something like this happens especially when you are not driving it is the works of unscrupulous people which are trying to make a few bucks. As it seems there was a car workshop nearby the place. But before i sent my car there I had to see what was the cause of the tire puncture in the first place. It was due to a big ass nail. I am driving a Kelisa for your information. It is a local Malaysian car.

It took about 10 minutes for me to actually find a place to have my tire puncture repaired and another 30 minutes to actually drive the car there as they did not want to go and repair the car at the spot where I stopped. I am actually a member of a car service which I could have called them and they would come and repair the tire for me for free. But knowingly I knew that they would take about 2 hours even before they could reach me.

I hate having to waste time repairing my car especially when it is not due to an estimated service time. It is money out of the pocket. But looking at the need you would have to repair your car on an occasional basis as it is the main mode of transport these days. I cant wait till there will be some other major modes of transport. Something like tele-portation or like that. If I am still alive by then.

Let’s Take a Look at Children and Motorcycles

Many children grow up in families where motorcycles are a part of life. I can remember my husband taking our boys for rides as soon as they were old enough to walk. This was scary for me as I don’t have a great deal of motorcycle riding experience. However, my husband has been on them since he was a toddler so it was just a natural process for him.

Most children love riding on motorcycles, but the issue is very controversial. I am an overprotective mom, so it is hard for me too. However, all of my children love riding on them and I trust my husband to have their best interest in hand all the time. I really hate it when my children are on the highway because I know accidents can happen so quickly. We do make sure they were long sleeved shirts and pants. They also have helmets to wear that fit them properly.

They make motorcycles for children to ride on their own by the time they are four or five years of age. My children all learned how to operate one as soon as they were able to ride a regular bike without training wheels. Of course the motorcycle, called a 50, is very low to the ground and doesn’t go very fast. When I look back at it now, I think it was very good practice for them to learn about operating vehicles.

This is not to say that everything went smooth! My oldest son crashed his motorcycle into a fence when he was seven as he lost control. I think me tried to stop but panicked and pushed the gas more. My other son loved to go as fast as he could, so we were hesitant to move him up to a larger bike because with the size came more power. Children should never be left to ride a motorcycle without the proper safety equipment and without parental supervision.

Since children can’t legally ride their motorcycle on the street, they have to ride them on dirk trails or motorcycle trails. Make sure the type of motorcycle you purchase for them is designed for such rough terrain. You should also consider purchasing them a helmet that has a full face cover. It is common for children to crash their motorcycle, and hitting their chin or mouth on the handle bars is also common.

If your child is a rider on a motorcycle with another adult, make sure that adult has a license to operate a motorcycle. Smaller children can ride on the front of the motorcycle but they are encouraged to ride on the back. Make sure they always wear a helmet even for a short ride. Children are allowed to ride on a motorcycle on major highways, but this is a personal decision for the parent. I will tell you it is not one I am comfortable with for my own children.

Never allow your children to operate a motorcycle with another child on the bike. This can lead to the child trying to show off and for accidents to happen. It also shifts the weight of the bike when you add an extra person, and the child operating the motorcycle may not be able to handle the extra weight.

While operating or riding on a motorcycle can be dangerous for a child, it can also be a great deal of fun. They will have fond memories of it as well. Parents have a responsibility to keep their children safe while operating a motorcycle. Don’t share helmets among your children as they won’t fit each of them properly.

Many children enjoy operating a motorcycle, and parents will find that it can help them become more responsible. They also learn valuable skills about operating vehicles and safety at a very early age. Children who wear safety equipment as a child will continue to do so as an adult. They also develop skills to make them safer drivers so that when they are old enough to operate a motorcycle on the street, they have plenty of experience.

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs

Do you need insurance for your motorcycle? Find out more, visit: Cheap Motor Bike Insurance

HHO Car Conversion Kits The Details You Should Know!

With the increase in world gas prices, our dependence on fossil fuels has come under widespread public attention. Oxyhydrogen while not a new technology can be used to help cut daily commuting costs. HHO car conversion kits are easy to maintain. Their operating principles are simple and the basic fuel and parts are widely available. This article outlines benefits to the daily commuter of investing in an HHO car conversion kit.

Oxyhydrogen (HHO) is often mentioned as the next big thing in order to help improve the efficiency of everybody’s daily driver. Due to the rising cost of producing and supplying energy, many drivers have decided to leave their cars at home and take public transport. HHO gas technology is still considered experimental. It is a supplemental fuel additive that could help you increase mileage, increase horsepower, and reduce emissions while providing a quieter and cleaner engine.

HHO car conversion kits produce a supplemental fuel additive. Hydrogen is generated in a cell full of water and a catalyst such as backing soda. Also contained within the cell is an arrangement of plates, usually stainless steel, in a configuration that is similar to a battery. The cell is hooked to your cars battery to help with the process of electrolysis to generate the hydrogen gas. This gas is then channeled into the intake manifold of your car. By utilising this gas in its combustion process the efficiency of your engine increases.

HHO car conversion kits can be easily installed. Anyone who has even the slightest mechanical ability or doesn’t mind tinkering should have no problem building the kits. When the conversion is made to the motor very little modification is needed to the vehicle.

The HHO car conversion kits are easy to maintain. As has been widely discussed in the media and in the alternative energy forums the basic fuel – water – is readily available. Most of the components within the cells themselves are easy to obtain or manufacture by the home handyman. The best part of it is that it requires very little modification to your vehicle and can be removed within minutes and no one would even notice.

HHO car conversion kits can be readily purchased. These kits are being bought and sold in ever increasing quantities as the demand for products and solutions to the energy crisis is growing. The kits can be found online for just a few hundred dollars. Cost aware Americans are increasingly turning towards hydrogen fuel conversion kits.

A lot of industry analysts say that the price of gasoline is going to rise dramatically in the not to distant future. In contrast to a hybrid car, a hydrogen fuel conversion kit is less expensive. HHO car conversion kits as a cost effective alternative will be making their way in the automobile industry and revolutionizing it.

Bruce Rama is an avid follower of the alternative fuel movement. Bruce runs an informational website that provides advice on HHO Car Conversion Kits, and outlines the best places to make purchases that don’t hurt the hip pocket. To take advantage of this information and more make sure you check out
Bruce’s site at HHO-CAR-CONVERSION-KITS.

Run Your Car on Water with a Home Built Hydrogen Generator

A few months ago I bought a set of plans off the Internet that promised to show me how to build my own hydrogen generator to run my car on water… to actually use water for gas.

I had actually been looking for ways to increase my gas mileage and I came across this site that promised the hydrogen generator could cut your gas bill in half by turning your car into a water burning hybrid.

Okay, so which way was it, run my car on water or run it on water and something else?

I did some more research and found out that you actually use the homemade hydrogen generator to turn water into a form of hydrogen and oxygen gas called HHO, or Brown’s gas.

Through the process of electrolysis, you can separate the water molecules into a burnable fuel source. Pretty darn cool I thought… but was this a reality or was it a scam?

The current gas crisis was still a few months off so you had to look around for information on this subject. Today, every one and their brother are selling you a guide to build your own hydrogen generator to use water for gas.

But, back then, the information available was from actual researchers and scientist. One guy from Bell Laboratories claimed that the hydrogen generator actually produced enough HHO gas to supplement the fuel you already use in your car but gives it a bigger surface area to combust more completely.

The information made a lot of since and there was no one out there with ulterior motives claiming that the device did not work and was nothing more than a gimmick (like there are now), so I ordered the plans and built the fuel saving device.

I bought all the parts I needed form the local hardware store and for under $65. It took me a couple of days to get the thing built, but then again, I am a single mom with very little time on her hands, so I imagine it could be done a whole lot faster.

I installed the hydrogen generator and started the car. Boy was I nervous! I drive a ten year old Ford F150 that has begun to run a little rough, has lost some power and actually burns more gas than it used to.

The first thing I noticed after the hydrogen generator started to bubble and produce HHO gas was that the engine started to quiet down and run a lot smoother. Also, the engine temperature dropped and as I slipped it into gear, I felt more power under foot.

I suppose some of this could have psychological but I actually expected the device not to work so I don’t know why my mind would try and convince me otherwise.

After a few weeks of driving, I did notice a significant increase in my gas mileage. I’ve since added a device that tricks the oxygen sensor to allow for the maximum fuel savings and also installed a fuel line heater.

I’m really excited at the results I’ve achieved and have built hydrogen generators for my family members and the next door neighbor.

It is unbelievable the links that big oil and a tax hungry government have gone to squash this technology. In fact, the largest search engine on the web just banned advertising guides to build the home built hydrogen generator.

We do not live in a free world. We live in a world controlled by those that control the money and it should be a crime in my opinion… but you still can do something about it.

Want to build one yourself? Of course you do! I have a guide at my website that will show you, step by step how to make this
hydrogen generator to use water for gas. It’s freakin awesome and the government can’t do anything about it! Go to http://MylaMadson.com/hybrid

How to Extend the Life of Your Vehicle

When most people purchase a vehicle, they do so with the intention of keeping it for many years. While there are some people that will routinely purchase a new car every few years, the majority of the population cannot afford to do so, and instead hopes their car will last them for a long time.

Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of people want their car to last for many years, but do not realize that it takes routine and proper maintenance to make this happen. Without proper maintenance of the vehicle, and with poor driving habits, a car will quickly start to break down and start to suffer from mechanical issues.

Fortunately, it does not take much to properly maintain your car and practice good driving habits that will keep your vehicle running for a long time. This is not only extremely important when you purchase a new vehicle, but also good practice when you purchase a used vehicle as well. Even if you purchase a used vehicle that until this time has not been properly maintained, you can still extend the life of your car by starting to provide routine maintenance.

Many people seem to want to wait to take their car to a mechanic until something is wrong with it. They’ll wait until it’s not driving right, or making a funny sound, because they do not want to put out the expense of going to a mechanic. This however often ends up costing them a great deal more money than they actually would have spent by taking their car to a mechanic for routine maintenance.

Taking your car to a qualified mechanic for routine maintenance and tune ups will greatly help to extend the life of your vehicle. A mechanic has more knowledge and skill about what needs to be checked on a vehicle, and is better at checking the car for potential problems than the average car owner is. A mechanic is able to run diagnostic checks on a car that can help to catch problems your car may be having before things get really bad.

Practicing good driving habits will also help to extend the life of your car. There is no need to drive your car aggressively, which can quickly have negative affects on your cars performance. Driving at high speeds, waiting until the last minute to brake and other aggressive driving tactics will all drain the life from your vehicle. Drive less aggressively and more responsibly and you will help to extend the life of your car.

Providing proper and routine maintenance to your car from a qualified mechanic and practicing good driving habits are not that difficult to do and will dramatically increase the length of life your vehicle has. When your car is operating at peak performance, it puts less wear and tear on your vehicle, which will help to keep your car from breaking down. If you want your car to last for many years, practice these two habits and you’ll have your car for a long time.

We have been in business 20 years, 12 years at this facility. We are honest and recommend only the work that needs to be done. We have an outstanding reputation for helping customers prioritize repair needs. A stable staff, you will recognize the faces here year after year. Convenient location that is AAA approved. For more information go to automotiveconnectionct.com

Why Buy A Used Car?

Looking at buying a car, and trying to decide whether to go new or used? You’re not alone. Many people make this decision everyday. In this article, I’d like to convince you that buying used is the best way to go for most people. You may disagree, but you should at least think over the points represented here.

First of all, though, lets talk about why you might want to buy a new car. For many, the best reason to buy a new car is the peace of mind you get from getting a never used vehicle with a warranty, support plan, and everything. You know that the car has never had any major problems, been in an accident, or anything, which is a really great feeling.

Others like owning a car with all the latest features. A new car will stay up to date longer than a used one. New cars often come with really good finance plans, as well, which make then easy to buy for many. In short, new cars have quite a few positives going for them.

In fact, there is only really one downside to buying a new car, but it’s a big one. That downside is money. All other things being equal, you will spend much, much more on a new car. How much more? Well, it’s impossible to say in every case, but the main concept to consider is the a used car will sell for sixty five percent of its original value after five years. This means that if you have a $30,000 car, it will sell for about $10,000 in five years, meaning you’re loosing $4000 dollars per year in depreciation. Ouch.

Buy a used car, and you get to save all of this money. What’s more, you’ll also save on insurance, because you’re insuring an older car. If you do the math, you’ll find this savings is huge.

What about reliability? One of the best parts about a new car is the fact that you’re covered by a warranty for all repairs. However, I think you’ll find that incredible cost savings will more than cover any conceivable repairs you might have to perform. Also, a car just five years old isn’t likely to have many problems, assuming the car is generally reliable.

So, I think you can see how much you could be saving by purchasing your next car used. It won’t be for everyone, but for the majority of people will be making a wise choice if they choose to buy used.

David Wilson is the owner of Cheap Used Car Central. Visit to learn more about buying used cars, and browse our great selection of used car listings.

Why Should I Get a Turbocharger?

For quite some time, the only way that engine designers knew how to make power was by adding displacement. The bigger the engine, the more power it could make. While this type of design was acceptable in the 50s and 60s, as technology moved on and fuel became more expensive, it became clear that smaller motors could be made to develop healthy power too.

There are plenty of imports out there with 4-cylinder motors in the 2 liter range. If you have one of these engines, then you know that while it might be fun to drive it in the higher rpm range, it does not have a lot of grunt down low, and it tends to run out breath pretty quickly in top gear. You might have seen some sporty-looking compacts zoom by you on the highway and heard a distinctive “pssh pssh” sound when they shifted gears. That is the sound of a turbos blow-off valve. A what?

A turbocharger is a device that crams more air into your engine by compressing it as much as possible. A quick lesson on how engines make power: they take air and fuel, combine them together, and then ignite that mixture to create an explosion that turns your cars crankshaft. This generates horsepower. Now, if you can figure out a way to get more oxygen into that mixture before the spark plug fires, then you can add an extra amount of gasoline and create an even more powerful explosion. Thats what a turbocharger does, through compressing air so that it contains more oxygen per cubic foot than the air around us in the atmosphere.

In order to do all of this compressing, a turbo has to spin pretty fast actually, really fast. Most turbos spin above 20,000 rpm, and this allows the blades inside the device to compress air incredibly quickly. Turbochargers are really efficient devices, as they are driven by the exhaust gases of the engine itself. These gases exit the engine at great speed, and this speed is translated into the high rpms of the turbo itself.

However, this design is also the source of one of a turbochargers greatest downsides turbo lag. Since an engine running at a low speed does not produce a significant amount of exhaust, when you mash the gas, it takes a little while for the turbo to spin up to maximum power. The time it takes between the pedal being depressed and full power being available is known as lag. This can be a frustrating experience when running the stoplight grand prix, as some turbo cars are a bit slower off the line than their more torquey opponents. Once that turbo kicks in, though, all is forgiven.

A turbo can be a great way to add some real punch to your imports engine, but its important that you take the time to install everything properly, and make sure that your fuel delivery system is up to the demands of all that extra air rushing in. Turbochargers add extra pressure to many engine components, and its far better set things up well at the beginning than it is to have to call a tow truck to take your baby back to the garage.

Justina Mathews writes issues that currently affect the performance car enthusiast. She also writes about issues that affect the street tuner industry, as well as import scene lifestyle. She’s a staff writer for fuel systems.

Performance Brakes for Muscle Cars

You might have heard the old saying that before deciding to increase the horsepower of your vehicle, it is a good idea to bump up its stopping power. This is particularly true when it comes to muscle cars. Although muscle cars frequently come with gobs of V8 power, they are rarely champions at bringing all of that speed back down under control. You have to be even more wary of muscle cars from the 60s and 70s, which in some cases used drum brakes at all four corners.

Fortunately, there are some fairly inexpensive ways to improve the braking system of your car, and keep things from getting too out of hand at the end of the quarter mile. The first thing to start with is the brake pads. Stock brake pads are seriously incapable of handling high performance driving. The organic materials used in these types of pads are designed for low dust and long life perfect for a dealerships service department, but definitely not suited for giving you the bite on your brake rotors that you are looking for. It is very easy to exchange these for semi-metallic or ceramic brake pads, which cause more dust and are noisier, but which also dissipate heat much better. This means that there is less chance that the brakes will fade when you brake frantically while coming down a twisty mountain pass, ensuring consistent stopping power throughout a stretch of spirited driving.

You might want to add slotted or cross-drilled discs to your braking system as well. These types of discs have either etched grooves, or a pattern of holes drilled into them. Sometimes, they will have both. The theory behind this modification is that the slots and holes will help the brake to dissipate heat. On the street, you probably are not going to require this level of heat management, but if you like the look of this type of brake rotor, feel free to add it on as an aesthetic mod.

As mentioned above, if your muscle car harkens back to a bygone era, you are probably riding on drum brakes. These brakes are completely inadequate when it comes to stopping heavier performance machines, and are next to useless when mounted at all four wheels. There are several conversion kits available to add disc brakes to your cars front end, often using mounting hardware from similar models that came with the feature. Discs can also be added to the rear wheels. If you race your muscle car, then a disc brake conversion is a no-brainer.

Finally, while keeping on the subject of competition, brake fluid is something that you need to regularly change, particularly if you have been flogging your ride. Racing is hard on brake fluid, as the heat can cause it to vaporize and absorb moisture, making it less than effective. There are different types of performance brake fluids available with higher boiling points, making them excellent choices for track use. Make sure before you bleed and pour that any new brake fluid is compatible with your vehicles braking system as some types of fluid may have a detrimental effect on system hardware and seals.

Justina Mathews writes issues that currently affect the performance car enthusiast. She also writes about issues that affect the street tuner industry, as well as import scene lifestyle. She’s a staff writer for fuel systems.

Cool Cold Air Intakes

Your engine needs to get as much oxygen as it can in order to perform to its maximum potential. One of the best ways to maximize the amount of oxygen entering your motor is to make sure that the air coming in through the intake is as cold as possible. Cold air is denser than hot or warm air, and this extra density translates into a lot more oxygen per cubic foot.

Your sport compact car might be outfitted with a smaller, 4-cylinder engine. These engines rev fairly high, making the ability to draw in as much cold air as possible a priority. One really simply and inexpensive way to chill out the air hitting your engine is to install something called a cold air intake. This intake is designed to replace the factory air filter, and a section of the intake piping that is usually located towards the front of the car.

Boiling it down, there are three different concepts underlying a cold air intake’s design. The first is the piping. Most intakes are created in order to form the straightest path possible from the air filter to the intake. Obviously, in some vehicles engine bays are cramped and some curvature is required, but in general, designers attempt to limit 90 degree curves in the pipe that may impede air flow.

The second concept is the idea of an open element air filter. Your car’s stock air filter is protected inside of what is called an air box. This helps to keep it from getting too dirty, but it also muffles the noise of the air intake, making for a pretty uninspiring sound when you rev the engine. A cold air intake usually uses a cone filter which is not enclosed, allowing it to draw air from all sides. These filters, as in the case of companies like K&N, are washable and contain a thin layer of oil that helps trap dirt. The airflow of these cotton filters is also usually greater than a stock paper filter, so you end up trading a bit of engine protection for increased oxygen.

The third, and probably the most overlooked aspect of a cold air intake, is placement. You might have seen some kits installed in such a way that the filter is simply dropped directly into the engine bay. This can actually reduce the performance of your motor, because the air near an engine is quite hot, and does not contain nearly as much oxygen as air from the outside. If you want to place the filter inside your engine bay, you can but you need to take steps to ensure that it is insulated from engine heat.

You can do this by building a small enclosure that makes a seal with the hood when closed and keeps hot air from reaching the intake. You also want to make sure that there is a flow of fresh air from outside the car that is actually directed towards the filter itself. Some people install the filter outside the engine bay, in one of the front fenders or just underneath the front bumper. This can be risky, as large puddles of water can force moisture into the intake. Filters in this position also tend to get dirty much more quickly. It’s really up to you how comfortable you are with your air filter’s position.

Cold air intakes are an inexpensive way to add a little bit more performance and a much more aggressive sound to your compact car.

Justina Mathews writes issues that currently affect the performance car enthusiast. She also writes about issues that affect the street tuner industry, as well as import scene lifestyle. She’s a staff writer for fuel systems.

How to Lower Your Import Car

One of the best visual and performance modifications that you can make to your import vehicle is to lower it.

Lowering your car gives it that slammed, aggressive stance, and also helps improve its handling. This is due to the lower center of gravity and reduced suspension travel. You’ve probably given quite a bit of thought to lowering your import, and you might be ready to start looking around for the parts you’ll need to get the job done. This kind of mod does make some fairly serious changes when it comes to both your car’s driving characteristics and the durability of certain automotive components. When you do decide to lower your car, it is important to do things properly and not cut corners no matter how tempting it might be to save a few dollars.

There are a lot of suspension companies out there that offer quality lowering kits. Eibach, Koni, Bilstein and Tokico all sell products that will both slam your ride and also increase its performance. When lowering your car, there are two main components that you will have to replace: you are going to need to install shorter springs to decrease your cars ride height, and you’ll have to switch the shock absorbers to a model which can handle the new suspension travel.

Shorter springs are going to drop your car down to its new ride height, but its definitely a mistake to trim or cut standard springs in order to achieve the same effect. Stock springs are designed with a specific spring rate that allows them to respond to the movement of your car as it drives down the road. No matter what your buddies might have told you, by shortening these springs that rate is changed, and your car’s performance will become a nightmare.

Body roll will get out of control, and your suspension may react in an unpredictable manner over rough patches. No one wants to end up in the guard-rail because they followed the wrong advice. Lowering springs incorporate a performance-oriented spring rate that will enable your car to respond quicker and with more stiffness when it comes to handling.

Likewise, shock absorbers need to be upgraded in order to better deal with your newly-reduced suspension travel. Performance shock absorbers will be able to handle the stiffness of the new suspension, and while you might notice a drop in comfort, your car will not pitch up and down nearly as much as it would with a stock suspension setup when the road changes elevation.

You should keep in mind that changing the ride height and the handling aren’t the only things that a lowering kit will do to your car. For example, more extreme lowering can tilt the angle at which the tires contact the road. This is angle is called camber, and too much in either direction can be hazardous for your street-driven import, since it reduces the contact patch that your tires make with the pavement. If your camber is too extreme, you might have to install something called a camber plate in order to re-align the wheels so that they are oriented correctly. Your lowered suspension’s new stiffness can also put increased strain on parts such as bushings and end links, causing them to wear out faster. You can sometimes solve this problem by using polymer bushings instead of rubber.

Replacing a stock suspension with a high-performance lowering kit can be one of the best modifications that you’ll ever make to your import. Not only that, but these kits are often the same price as stock suspension components, making them hard to say no to when it comes time to update an older set of shocks and springs.

Justina Mathews writes issues that currently affect the performance car enthusiast. She also writes about issues that affect the street tuner industry, as well as import scene lifestyle. She’s a staff writer for fuel systems.