Archive for March, 2010
How To Check A Used Car In Minutes
These simple checks when carried out can save you a lot of hassles further down the road.
Stand ten to fifteen feet away from the car in a good light. Watch to see whether the light catches any bumps or dents in the surface. Such irregularities very often mean that the car has been in a major accident. Look too for weld marks in the frame of the car or have a mechanic check for them. These condition show that the car has been in a bad accident and are good grounds for rejecting it without further examination.
Try to find corrosion at the bottom of fenders around the head and taillights and along the bottom of door and body. Small blisters in the paint are sure signs of rust underneath. You should refuse at once any car that is too rusted.
Check to see that the wheels are straight first when the car is standing still then when it is driven directly away from you. If you find the wheels are headed in slightly different directions pass up the car immediately.
Let the car’s engine warm up for at least 15 minutes. Then pull up the oil dipstick. If the oil looks white or is filled with white bubbles this probably means the car’s cooling system is leaking into the engine block; and this means a serious problem.
Check the exhaust by holding a matchbook cover over the tail pipe. It should flap in a steady rhythm. Also look out for wisps of blue smoke both while the engine is idling and when it is raced. Black smoke is a sign that the gas is of too rich a mix. This fault can usually be corrected by a simple adjustment of the carburetor.
When you test drive the car turn a few corners sharply. The steering wheel should work smoothly without squeaks groans or shimmying. Make sure you testdrive the car over a rough potholed road. If there are any defects in the body and suspension this test will show them up.
To test the brakes first press the pedal down while the car is immobile. If the pedal goes almost to the floor this means the car probably needs new brake shoes. When you are test driving accelerate to about 40 mph and brake suddenly. Squealing or pulling brakes may mean a minor problem but sudden swerving or grabbing are always warnings that serious repairs will be needed. The emerging brake on the car should be checked by halting on a steep hill. If the brake fails to hold this may mean only minor adjustment but it could also indicate major trouble.
Check the car’s engine by accelerating suddenly from about 20 to 60 mph. This may be a strain on the engine but even so it should not buck hesitate or miss. Another good engine test is to accelerate from slow to moderate speed while driving up a steep hill. The engine should pull easily.
About the writer: Used cars can be bought and sold with free auto ads from Used Car Park. Visit http://www.usedcarpark.com
How Much Do Car Repairs Really Cost You?
We all have problems making ends meet from time to time but if its a constant worry it could be time to take a long hard look at your money situation.
The biggest area for making changes is often in the everyday expenses incurred by getting to and from your place of work. Sometimes the best way to get to your job is by driving there but this does of course cause plenty of wear and tear on your vehicle.
Over time this will cause problems as parts wear out and need to be replaced but even if the time for getting a new car is getting closer you might be tempted to keep repairing your current model when you start thinking about the cost of replacing it.
You should always consider all your options however. When you add up the cost of repairs over time you may well find youd actually save money by getting a new car.
First of all sit down and look at where your money goes each month to see where you could make savings. By cutting down in certain areas you will often find you have enough cash left over to get a car finance deal on another car. You wouldnt be paying out for frequent repairs any more and depending on the make and model you buy you might find your car insurance may well be cheaper too which will save you even more money.
As with any finance deal its important to think of the long term effects and benefits of taking one on. It will enable you to get a much better and more reliable car which can have a real impact on many other areas of your life.
If youve been constantly late for work because your current car keeps breaking down your bosses certainly wont be that pleased. With a new car that you can rely on youll be back in their good books again in no time.
As you might imagine constant car repairs can cost you much more than just money they can cost you your peace of mind as well. Thats why its better to sit down and work out what kind of car youd like next before you go out and buy one especially if money is a big factor.
If you use your car every day look for makes and models which have good fuel consumption. Try and find out which ones run better over time as well; this will help you to avoid having to put it in the garage for repairs in the future quite as often as your current one.
In the end so long as you plan your finances properly and choose the best car for your needs upgrading to a new model offers far more benefits than trying to keep your old one on the road.
About the writer: Andrew Regan is an online freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
How Hybrid Engines Work
With the soaring cost of fossil fuels engines that combine more than one source of energy have been gaining popularity rapidly. A hybrid engine is any engine that runs on more than one source whether it’s a combination of diesel and electricity gasoline and electricity gasoline and solar power or any other multisource option. The benefit of combining multiple energy sources in a hybrid car is that heightened fuel economy is realized and thus the vehicle is able to run far more economically.
A hybrid car can combine multiple energy sources in two different ways. The first option called a parallel hybrid calls upon both the fuel tank that supplies the gasoline or diesel power as well as the battery cells that supply the electric power to work simultaneously in propelling the vehicle. By reducing the vehicles dependence on gasoline or diesel and utilizing batteries to supply a large percentage of power huge cost savings in operating the car can be realized.
The second option is called a series hybrid. With this type of hybrid engine the multiple fuel sources are called upon in series in other words separately to provide propulsion power to the vehicle. It’s not a simple matter of the various power sources taking turns however. The gasoline or diesel engine is tapped to provide power to a generator within the vehicle. That generator then charges the battery cells or powers them directly giving the car enough energy to drive. Because gasoline or diesel is only fueling the generator and not the car itself a high level of fuel economy can be realized.
You can find out more information about Hybrid Cars at www.prohybrid.com along with video news reviews and tools such as price quotes and an automotive loan calculator.
About the writer: Article provided by ProHybrid.com
