AUTOS AND MECHANICS

The Three W's of Oxygen Sensors

2007-01-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

Unless you are an automobile mechanic or work around car parts, you probably do not know anything about oxygen sensors. Of course, the name itself gives a pretty big clue, but still leaves a lot to the imagination. The fact is, oxygen sensors are very important to the overall function of a vehicle. The following are what could be referred to as the three W's of oxygen sensors:

What is an Oxygen Sensor?

An oxygen sensor is actually a probe that is mounted inside a vehicle's exhaust. This device is used to measure the ratio of air to fuel inside the exhaust after the combustion process. The sensor sends out voltage information to the engine's computer every few seconds so that it can make adjustments as needed. If there is a perfectly balanced mixture of air and fuel, the output voltage will be around 0.45 volts.

If there is less oxygen in the mixture than needed, it is said to be a rich mixture. The oxygen sensor will report a higher voltage reading of 0.8 volts or above. When the sensor reports a reading of 0.3 volts or below, the mixture is considered to be a lean one. Upon receiving a too high or too low voltage reading, the engine's computer will command the mixture to go either lean or rich, causing it to become balanced again.

Why Replace the Oxygen Sensor?

The function of an oxygen sensor is to measure the air/fuel mixture. It is important that this mixture stay as balanced as possible because it affects the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. The air/fuel mixtures in today's fuel injected vehicles can go back and forth between rich and lean very quickly. Therefore, it is essential for the oxygen sensor to be able to respond appropriately.

Along with better fuel efficiency, having a fully functioning oxygen sensor is good for the environment. A more balanced air/fuel mixture leads to fewer emissions and helps reduce air pollution. If you care at all about the threat of global warming, this should be as great of an incentive for you as getting better gas mileage.

The oxygen sensor can also harm a vehicle's catalytic converter if it is not working properly or has failed. This cannot only cause a decrease in power and gas mileage, but lead to expensive repairs as well.

When Should the Oxygen Sensor be Replaced?

Because emissions from vehicles play such a big role in air pollution, oxygen sensors have become standard equipment. In most vehicles made after the mid 1990s, there is a dash light or check engine light that alerts drivers when their sensor or sensors may not be functioning properly. When this happens, it is best to have the vehicle checked by a mechanic to ensure which sensor (there can be between 1 and 4 sensors) needs to be replaced. For those who do not have a dash light, an emissions test may be necessary. If your vehicle doesn't seem to be performing like it used to, (not as much power or getting worse gas mileage) a faulty oxygen sensor may be to blame.

Depending on where the sensor is located, the replacement procedure can be easy or it could be quite hard. Do-it-yourself mechanics will most likely need to purchase a special socket with a slit in the side for the oxygen sensor wire. Of course, any professional mechanic can perform this procedure as well. Replacing an oxygen sensor will cost somewhere between $50 and $300 but may be well worth the money because of better fuel efficiency.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what an oxygen sensor is, why it is important, and when it needs to be replaced. Pay attention to dash light warnings or other signals your car may be giving you through its performance or lack thereof. A properly functioning vehicle can save you money in the long run, and just might help save the environment.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker is an automotive writer. If you need an oxygen sensor or any other Honda parts, then please take a few moments to review the Drivewire.com auto parts catalog to see how much money Drivewire can save you. Most car owners will save as much as 70% on their auto part purchases.

Book Authors: How To Sell More Books & Get Your Publisher Active

2007-01-12T01:57:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2006-2007 Bill Platt

It is an unfortunate reality that most people who write books believe that their publisher will always put their best foot forward, to promote their book. In the real world, it does not quite work that way.

Let me put this in perspective for you.

THE PROFIT-LOSS EQUATION IN BOOK PUBLISHING

It is a financial matter of profits and losses. The book publishing world is much different than what many of us believe it is or that we believe it should be.

The average publisher will only print 1,000 copies of a book. They do this because the average book will sell an average of 400 or 500 copies.

When a publisher takes on a new title, it is a real gamble. Publishers are gambling that the books they take on will generate sales of 1,000 copies, and on rare occasions, they can hope for a book to sell a full 5,000 copies.

The book that sells 100,000 or one million copies is extremely rare.

With more than 100,000 books being printed every year, fewer than one percent of those books will see sales in the range of 5,000 or more copies. Every publisher has hopes that one of the 1,000 books every year that will sell at least 5,000 copies is one of the books sold through their publishing house. These are the books that will help the publisher to make a real profit this year.

One publisher told me that he lets his editors take care of the full book editing and development process. And, he said that he will not even pay attention to the book, until the book sells 5,000 copies. Only then will he consider reading the book himself and cranking up his marketing department to try to sell the book to a wider audience.

So, here it is in a nutshell. If you are a new book author, and you would like to see your book get some serious attention from your publisher and the public, then you need to step up to the plate and promote your book in such a way, as you can ensure that your book will sell 5,000 copies or more.

These days, most publishers will put up single webpages offering each of their books to the public. As a writer of the book, you should not believe that this page will be a well-written, well-optimized page on the internet.

Don't fool yourself... The webpage where your book is offered generally will not get great rankings in the search engines for the keywords relevent to the topic of your book. Additionally, the sales copy will not be set up in such a way as to give much confidence to your potential buyers.

Print book publishers don't do a good job building online promotional materials for a book, until they put their best people on the job. And, the publisher will not put their best people on the job until they believe that they have a winner in their stable.

As a writer, if you want your book to be anything more than a dust-catcher on your own shelf, you need to learn to be a book promoter also.

HOW TO SELL YOUR FIRST 5,000 BOOKS

As a book author, there are three basic steps that you will want to undertake to promote your book online.

1. Set up a domain website,

2. Promote your book with articles,

3. Promote your book with press releases.

In this article, I am going to take a look at how and why you will want to consider each of these steps.

1. SET UP A DOMAIN WEBSITE

Yes, you need a "domain" website. A free page on Geocities.com or Freeservers.com will not instill confidence with your potential customers. Let's face it, the most important marketing consideration for any product or service to be sold on the internet today is to build the "trust factor".

A person, who is being asked to take out their wallet, wants to know that they will get what they have paid for. Free sites cannot be traced to anyone in particular, and commercial websites on the free servers are considered in general to be owned by the fly-by-night outfits on the internet.

We have to give our potential customers the confidence they need to buy products and services from us. And, in order to give our potential customers confidence, we must be willing to spend a few of our own dollars to set up a website.

You can actually register a domain for less than $20 in most cases. Hosting for that domain can be picked up from hundreds of web hosting companies for as little as $10-$20 per month.

On your website, you want to tell readers about your book and why your reader might want to buy your book. On your website, be certain to also ask your reader for the sale, and give them a link where they can buy your book.

Including testimonials and book reviews on your website, will also help you to build interest and trust with your readers.

Sometimes, it can pay dividends to hire a web designer to design the visual template for your website, and to hire a sales copywriter to write your sales copy for the book.

One thing to keep in mind is that not all web designers can write good salescopy, and few copywriters make good web designers.

When you can afford to do so, you should seriously consider hiring a professional to do the tasks necessary to build a nice website and to put good salescopy onto your website. Great web designers will also help you by building your e-commerce system, so that your readers can buy directly from your website.

The professionals do not have to be really expensive. Both can usually be found for a couple hundred dollars. Of course, you could pay more, but you can still find some good people at these rates.

2. PROMOTE YOUR BOOK WITH FREE-REPRINT ARTICLES

Free-Reprint Articles are informational pieces designed to educate the reader about something of interest to the reader.

In an article, your goal is to talk about some topic that is related to the topic of your book. You don't actually want to sell your book inside the body of the article. Instead, you want to use your article to introduce your readers to concepts that might be covered in your book.

When you reach the end of the article, you want to include your About The Author information (often referred to as your Resource Box). Keep your sales material in your Resource Box, but keep in mind that your goal is not to sell your book in your Resource Box. Instead, your goal is to use your Resource Box to get the reader to your website, then use your website to sell your book.

Many people ask if article promotion will work for them. This is what I tell them.

The ability of an article to produce results for you will depend on your article. The internet is still a democracy in that people will make the choice for themselves whether or not they want to use your article.

Some articles get lots of reprints, some do not. The average outcome is about 40-50 backlinks and multiple publications in ezines.

Poor articles still get an average of ten reprints. Exceptional articles generate in excess of thousands of reprints. The results really do rely upon the article.

(One client of mine has one article that generated more than 5,000 reprints in two years time. This same client has written more than 100 articles. He is a well-known article writer and this fact does help his ability to generate more mileage from a single article.)

Just as important as the article itself, is the author resource box. The article is the vehicle to get your resource box seen. A good resource box offers just enough information to inspire the reader to visit your website to learn more about your book. A good resource box also offers a strong call-to-action to get the reader to your website. Let your website do the selling, but use the resource box to get the reader to your website.

Also, you really should consider doing more than one article over a longer period of time. For example, six articles over six months. Each subsequent article puts your name in front of the publishers who will use your articles. Name recognition will help your overall ability for getting published.

3. PROMOTE YOUR BOOK WITH PRESS RELEASES

I always recommend a two-fold approach to any book promotion. 1) reprint articles related to the topic of the book. 2) Press releases distributed through a system such as http://www.prweb.com .

Press releases are different from an article. A good article will have an educational or informational slant to them. A good press release will be designed more as a news story. A good press release has the most noteworthy news in the first paragraph, the second most noteworthy information in the second paragraph, etc.

Additonally, the press release will provide a telephone number for news reporters to contact you for more information concerning your story, so that they can build their own news story from your information.

Although the premise of a press release is so that a reporter can learn enough to build their own news story, you have to remember that their schedule is tight as well. Build your press release in such a way that it can be used as THE news story. Many people will take your press release verbatum for their own use. They might take only the first paragraph, and then they might take the whole thing.

Build your press release with the hope that it will be used in full. Build your press release with the thought that the reporter may only use the first paragraph.

Be prepared to receive phone calls to answer questions about your topic. And, be prepared when no one calls.

I have sent out more than a dozen press releases myself. I have seen those press releases read thousands of times and used hundreds of times. And yet, no one has ever called me for more information.

IN CONCLUSION...

Book promotion should not be viewed as a one-time event. If you take the idea that I will try this once to see if it works, then you might as well save your time and money and not even try at all.

Promotion is an ongoing process. Nothing will happen until you do something. And then you will need to keep doing something to keep open the possibility of something happening to your benefit.

You need to build up a momentum, and then just keep on running.

You are more likely to get published and to sell books if people recognize your name. And, one-time out will not allow anyone to get to know you.

Book authors who can build up a promotional momentum for their book are very likely to find their first 5,000 sales. And as a general rule, once you have crossed that threshold, your publisher will be more than happy to help you to keep that momentum going.

About the Author:
Bill Platt is the owner of <a href=http://thePhantomWriters.com target=_blank>the Phantom Writers at: http://thePhantomWriters.com</a> He specializes in distributing free-reprint articles to help his clients to promote their online businesses or their books. Bill can be reached by phone at (405)780-7327, from 9:30am to 6pm, Monday through Friday.

Family Road Trips Go Hi-Tech: Discover the Rocky Mountains

2007-01-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta

It's a new take on traditional family road trips that just might save your sanity. As you tour the Rocky Mountains, you'll no longer find yourself fighting about who lost the driving maps, or who doesn't know how to read them. Or who refuses to stop for directions. Or who missed that once-in-a-lifetime scenery a few miles back. You can leave all the road trip planning and maps in the capable hands of your new best friend: the GyPSy.

The GyPSy Tour Guide is the first of its kind in North America, featuring breakthrough technology and programming. Bred in Alberta, it's now offering an up-close-and-personal way to tour the Rocky Mountains, while learning all the interesting tidbits and factoids that turn road trips into memorable family vacations.

Here's how this tour-guide-in-an-electronic-device works. A calculator-sized handheld device attaches to the inside of your car windshield with a suction cup, and is wired into the dashboard with a few easy connectors. As you drive along, your location (monitored with GPS or Global Positioning System technology) triggers the GyPSy Guide, which speaks to you through your radio.

When you enter an area of interest, the device plays audio commentary of information specific to that location interesting facts and stories, quirky tales and an array of tips and advice on how to best enjoy that area. It's really that simple. With this ultimate Canadian road trip planner, what you see on your family road trips (outside your car window) is what you get (with the audio you hear).

All the information lives in the PDA-like device, though the GPS signal comes from satellite. There are two cords: one for power and one for the FM transmitter. The OS (Operating System) is Pocket PC.

The scripts are interesting and engaging, providing the perfect commentary for your family road trips. "Immediately to your right is the scratching tree. It may even have some blue tape on it. If you look up this tree you will see distinct claw marks from the bear as it climbed up 10 metres or so. Can you notice the four-claw pattern of the front and back claws? This is probably a black bear because grizzlies don't often climb trees. Black bears have hooked claws which make them excellent climbers and they tend to scamper up trees at the first sign of danger."

Thanks to the GyPSy, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Rocky Mountains, all from the safety of your family car, truck or RV.

For instance, as you drive near the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, you will be told: "Straight through...almost there..." Besides the driving directions, it will tell you the travel tidbits and highlights of where you are, in an engaging voice that is not computerized, but rather features recorded scripts written by bonafide tour guides. At the Banff Springs, for example, you'll learn the geology and history and characters of the hotel.

Once there, as you drive in a semi circle around the imposing statue of Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, the GyPSy Guide tells you, just in case you missed it, "Van Horne, the statue guy back there..." and fills in the guy's background. Long story short, he presided over the expansion of the CPR in Canada and spearheaded the luxury hotel business in the Canadian Rockies.

Your Tour Guide Fits In Your Hand

So using this Canadian road trip planner is like having your own tour guide, but instead of them taking up a seat in your vehicle during your family road trips, or you having to tag along with them in a bus, you determine the time and place and pace of your journey. Not only does it relieve the burden of driving maps and planning guides, but it makes sure you don't miss any of the spectacular scenery on your Rocky Mountain vacation. And it's small enough to fit in your hand.

Rick Bulich, Director of Business Development for GPS Tour Guide, is part of the team that developed this unique device. "Our GyPSy guide allows you to travel at your own pace, visit the places you want to see and learn much more than a tour guide would be able to share with you,' he explains. "Think of it as a local friend, who will share interesting stories and entertain you along the way."

This is the new world of 'Location Aware Touring' which is more than just the navigational directions of a regular GPS. The usefulness goes far beyond just the road trip, and goes with you are you meander through the scenic towns and take in the beautiful surroundings. When you take the GyPSy out of the car, it transforms into a portable travel guide to help make decision-making easier. The Vacation Assistant can provide you with information about upcoming points of interest, towns, cities and entire regions to help you plan ahead and save precious vacation time.

In addition to providing a fascinating tour of the Rocky Mountain National Parks, the GyPSy has been programmed for other scenic routes, including Jasper to Banff (including the Icefields Parkway), Banff and Lake Louise, Calgary to Banff, Calgary City, and Edmonton. The most popular independent travel itineraries through to the National Parks in Alberta are all covered.

If you're going to stay in Banff, a great, centrally located hotel is Brewster's Mountain Lodge. It's a western style, 77-room lodge with hand-craft log furnishings and western décor, along with great historical photographs that detail the Brewster Family. The rooms provide mountain views but the best feature I believe is its heart-of-Banff location, putting you in walking distance to anything in this cosmopolitan and authentic mountain town in Banff National Park.

How To Get It

The GyPSy Guide is available this year for the busy Western Canada summer touring season. Initial pricing for the GyPSy is $49 for one day, $84 for two days, $119 for three days, $154 for four days, $179 for five days, $204 for six days and $229 weekly. Additional days beyond will be $15.

With the ultimate Canadian road trip planner, you can say goodbye to cumbersome driving maps and stop worrying about driving distances and planning guides. Thanks to the GyPSy, family road trips will never be the same again.

About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved

Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com

Avoid Flooded And Wrecked Autos Without Leaving Home

2007-01-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Raymond Nelson

Whether it's a matter of one hundred year or five hundred year floods occurring more frequently than that, more water damaged and wrecked vehicles than ever are being cleaned up ,repaired and resold without the buyer being informed of the autos history. In 2005 about 5 million autos were totaled by insurance companies, how many of that number have been resold to the unsuspecting public is undeterminable.

High water in or around any vehicle not designed and especially constructed to operate in such will wreak havoc on its major components: the engine, transmission, computer, electrical wiring,, entertainment systems, cell phone and navigation electronics etc.. The insidious thing about water damage to these and other parts are the problems caused by water may manifest themselves immediately upon exposure or possibly years later. Why such a variation? Among the primary reasons : how high the water came, how contaminated it was, how long the components were exposed , how long did it sit before repairs were made?

If an advertisement for a used vehicle is answered the first contact will likely be by telephone. Make the best of this conversation and it could save time in going to see the vehicle in person. During the conversation point out that only the owner on the title can be negotiated with, the auto will need to be inspected by a mechanic, and a car history report will be ordered. Some lending institutions may suggest if not require a history report. Also, before the transaction can be made the lending institution will need to see the title and if any terms such as rebuilt, salvaged, reconstructed, reconditioned are on the title the vehicle can not be purchased. If the seller can not comply with all of the above stipulations it should be suspected that even though the auto may not have been near high water it may have serious problems . The seller may decide to save himself time and energy by saying he can't comply with all your requirements. When the discussion ends draw a line through the adertisement as null and void.

The seller may want to save face and cause aggravation for someone knowing more than what they should by saying yes to the prerequisits, make an appointment to show the vehicle and fail to keep the apppointment. So be mindful to make the place to view the vehicle convenient and safe. Take a cell phone along to call back to find out what has happened. Don't expect to contact him. If someone does answer, he will have just recently received an offer he couldn't refuse and could not call back or some other lame excuse for not canceling the meeting.

There are good reasons for each of the above matters of concern (1) If the seller claims to be a close friend or relative of the owner on the title and the owner is unavailable for contact, the seller may actually be a representative of a used car dealer attempting to sell a vehicle that may have a list of issues that's made the auto unsaleable on the car lot and is now being advertised as a sale from an individual as is (2) If a seller has any problems whatsoever with having the vehicle inspected by a professional before the buyer agrees to purchase--warning sirens, bells, horns, should be heard in your head loud enough for the seller to be startled (3) Although an outlay of money on a car history report should only be made if serious consideration is being given a particular auto, the seller is informed the mechanics inspection will not be the sole source of information on the vehicle(4) Rebuilt,salvaged, reconstructed, reconditioned and such like terms on the title essentially means that for one reason or another this vehicle has been damaged to the point that an insurance company has deemed it a total loss and is sold as is. Extensive repairs may have been made and if it were test driven on city streets determining it had been in a wreck, or flood might be difficult and not worth the time to look at much less thousands of dollars to buy.

It should be noted some sellers have been deceived into buying a flood damaged or wrecked vehicle that has been repaired superficially and the title fraudulently cleaned. After buying the vehicle the seller experienced problems such autos exhibit and now wants to get rid of it. Most states require designations on titles that indicate significant damage and /or repairs made, but because of conflicting and confusing laws in some states its possible to get a fraudulent but clean title that has no mention of salvage/rebuilt, reconstructed, reconditioned etc. indicating a history of being totaled by an insurance company.

If there's reason to believe that prior to a vehicle being purchased it was flooded or wrecked, and the condition was not disclosed before purchasing , also there is no indication on the title of being previously damaged, call the state department of motor vehicles where it was purchased or the state that issued the title. Inquire about what legal recourse state laws make for victims who purchase such autos. Keep in mind that different states may have time limits during which victims must act to remedy being defrauded. The time may start from the day the vehicle was purchased or some other time that makes it important to find out immediately.

About the Author:
An e-commerce webmaster with many years experience making cell phone deals selling and buying anything legal. His website http://www.webdiscountdeals.com is a wholesale store with over 3,500 brand name products, 97% electronic.

How a Vehicle's Exhaust System Affects Its Power and Performance

2006-12-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

The stock exhaust on many cars is far more restrictive than it needs to be. Many years ago people seeking improved power and performance learned that they could achieve both by adding a larger, less restrictive exhaust system to their vehicle. Not only do new exhaust systems provide increased power, they can also generate that sound that many automotive enthusiasts like to hear from their vehicle.

It is important to note that many of the newer cars are coming from the factory with highly tuned exhaust systems. Therefore, on some newer cars, an aftermarket exhaust might actually result in a minor loss in horsepower. The main things you need to do is learn the dimensions of your current system and compare that to the dimensions of the aftermarket system. For example, if you currently have a 1.5-inch system, and you want to upgrade to a 2-inch system, you will need to ask yourself if this modification will result in added power or will it actually decrease the power your vehicle is producing?

In the past, cars were built without a lot of consideration given to the exhaust system. The system was simply built to fit the car, dependent upon the amount of space available left over for the system. This resulted in some pretty wild kinks and twists that were made in the exhaust system. These excessive kinks, turns, and bends resulted in the exhaust gasses running into extra roadblocks on their way out the system.

The exhaust system is actually comprised of many individual pieces. Most commonly, the gases will leave the cylinder head and enter the exhaust manifold or the header (depending on which part your vehicle is equipped). The gases will travel through a small section of pipe, then they travel through the oxygen sensor (O2 sensor) before finding their way to the to the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is where the gases are converted from harmful poisons into water and oxygen.

After the water and oxygen exits the catalytic converter, it travels through more pipe leading to the muffler. The purpose of the muffler is of course to muffle the sound of the exhaust as it leaves the vehicle. Without a muffler, the vehicle would be extremely loud, so much so that you can hear the operational motor from more than a block away. After the muffler is another small section of pipe leading to the rear of the car, where the exhaust fumes are discharged.

As you can see, there are many components that come into play when trying to modify your exhaust system. Replacing one exhaust system component and not the others can make the process of trying to increase power to your vehicle a futile endeavor.

Many stock exhaust systems are not "mandrel bent", but aftermarket exhaust systems are made with a mandrel bent. Mandrel bending is when a set of balls, called a mandrel, is inserted into the pipe during the bending process. These balls are positioned and pulled through the pipe so that the bends are not deformed and maintain a close-to-perfect shape throughout the length of the bend. OEM exhaust systems today are most often "CNC bent", which is a process where a computer-controlled set of motors controls the position of the tube and the rotation of one bend in relation to another.

The main advantage of mandrel bending is that the full-length of the tubing or pipe is the same diameter throughout, instead of having a smaller diameter of pipe at locations where the pipe is bent. Many have suggested that the best aftermarket exhaust systems utilize a combination process called CNC mandrel bending.

If you understand the concept that a cars engine is basically a big vacuum cleaner that takes air in and pushes air out, then you will be able to understand the importance of the exhaust system for the overall performance of your vehicle. If you cannot get the gases out of the engine quickly, then you cannot take in clean fresh air quickly either. If you watch professional drag racing on television, you will see that the cars typically only have headers and no other exhaust. The reason for this is that there are fewer restrictions on the gases as they exit the engine. Of course, this is for professional race drivers and would not be practical or legal for street-driven vehicles.

If you can, imagine what the stock Ford exhaust system looks like. The Ford parts are probably a very narrow diameter with many restrictions in the stock Ford mufflers, pipes and other exhaust system components. With a little bit of imagination, anyone could see how one might easily improve his or her Ford vehicle's performance with a higher flowing exhaust system.

In addition to the performance value, a new system can also give you that throaty sound that car enthusiasts yearn to hear in their modified vehicles. You know the sound; you hear it at car shows or when cars with aftermarket systems pass you on the road. You hear them coming and think to yourself, well this person means business and they really do have some extra power under their hood.

Overall, a new exhaust system will give you a good return of power on the amount for the amount of money spent, depending of course on your specific vehicle. A quality exhaust system will also compliment any future engine modifications that you intend to make, since more power in the engine means more gases are being pushed out of the exhaust.

If you intend on overhauling your vehicle's exhaust system, make sure that you do it right. Given the complexity of today's vehicle exhaust systems; cutting corners may be more expensive than doing the job right the first time.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars and trucks. When you are thinking about upgrading your vehicle's exhaust system, please review the DriveWire.com auto parts catalog. Drive Wire also has an extensive selection of stock and OEM Ford Auto Parts. You may reprint this article if the links are left intact.

Rev Up Your Western Holiday: Big City Summer Parties

2006-12-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved Written by: Travel Alberta

Alberta's international gateway cities of Calgary and Edmonton throw some wild Western summer parties. Learn how The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth turns everyone cowboy and why the newest Grand Prix race is revving some Hollywood stars.

The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede is known as The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth. For some 10 days in July, the entire city celebrates North America's biggest rodeo with chuck wagon racing, bucking broncos, white cowboy hats, polished buckles and arms-wide-open Western hospitality.

The Grand Prix of Edmonton revved up high stakes Champ Car racing in the city for the first time last year. It returns this year during July in the slipstream of a remarkable success. Even Hollywood veteran superstar Paul Newman was there to cheer on his team.

You'll find how you can vacation at both events (one leads toward the other) and how there is much to discover. You can even do some driving and two-steppin' of your own along the way.

The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, July 7-16

Okay, admit it. Any city where you're trying to make a right-hand turn while a beefy guy in fringed chaps and a red-and-white checkered open-collared shirt juggles a mocha frappucchino in one hand and a corn dog in the other as he clomps his cowboy boots past the yellow light well, you know you're somewhere interesting. Especially when you realize that he's your company accountant, you just didn't recognize him without his cardigan and grey slacks. What's he doing here? But darn if he don't look smart in that white ten-gallon hat!

Can a giant Western themed costume ball revved up on a crash diet of sugar-powdered mini-donuts and morning flapjacks be anything other than must-see? Many city residents shimmy out of their corporate persona and step into a Mardi Gras-like world of pure fun, going out of their way to show Western hospitality to travellers from the U.S., and visitors from Canadian provinces far to the east, such as Ontario. This more-than-a-week-long holiday provides exceptional talent in all the components you'd expect from a world-class festival. It is, after all, The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth.

The chuck wagon races are world renowned. Four horses. Four wheels. One big rush. What's not to love? John and Celeste Finnegan, seniors who grew up in the U.S. and who are now living in Ajijic, Mexico, are just one of the couples that are traveling a long way this year to see the Stampede. Calgary is the international gateway to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, just an hour's drive west of the city.

Alberta in the summer is fertile ground for rodeos that reach into every nook and cranny of the province. Some offer a charm not easily found elsewhere, precisely because of their local roots. It's often a community celebrating itself and its history, year after year. So you can get your cowboy mojo going with the Stampede, and you can also discover smaller rodeos that run throughout Alberta during the summer.

Grand Prix of Edmonton, July 21-23

The world's most beautiful hi-tech race cars, wreaking fun on a city centre airport race track: that's what's coming around the bend for summer in Edmonton at the city's City Centre Airport. The Grand Prix of Edmonton brings the Champ Car Series world-class racing to Alberta, building on last year's astounding inaugural success. Fans who knew about racing and new fans who just wanted to catch part of the rising buzz braved rain on one day and were ultimately rewarded with a magnificent, sunny race day.

This year there will be an opportunity for Albertans to race in front of home town fans during the CASCAR race that heats things up before the big one. CASCAR is Canada's version of NASCAR; it's what they call a super series so it competes across Canada. Not sure what that means? Get tickets now and you can learn more right at the track. This entire event absolutely rocks and you don't have to love cars or racing to enjoy it, because there is so much going on.

This specially-built FIA road course is one of the most fan-friendly circuits in the Champ Car series. Eighty per cent of the track can be easily seen from anywhere in the stands. You'll be able to track practice and qualifying, as well as watch multiple duels as race day unfolds. Speeds on the straightaway will exceed 320 km/h and several turns will offer prime overtaking opportunities.

Edmonton is the international gateway to the North, where Alberta's fly-in fishing lodges, wildlife viewing, fishing and hunting offer experiences that combine luxury with raw and rugged beauty. If you start or end your tour in Edmonton, this provincial capital is the home of innovative festivals, as well as the massive shopping complex (eight blocks long!) known as the West Edmonton Mall. Other year-round attractions include the Odyssium, Muttart Conservatory, Royal Alberta Museum, and the Alberta Legislature Building.

Get Capital EX-cited

Another major, family-fun holiday destination is added to Alberta's slate of summer adventures in Edmonton with the new Capital EX. This July 20-29 event offers innovative twists on a festival with a lively, 127-year history. Edmonton's largest summer spectacle previously known as 'Klondike Days' for the last 44 years - has traditionally drawn more than 800,000 visitors yearly. This year, the festival is renamed 'Capital EX' and there will be a new 9,000-person music venue that adds a major concert venue to the shopping and entertainment and international exhibits.

City Forts Disclose Western Tales

Alberta's two major cities arose in the West and the North from dynamic historical forces that found expression in forts. Fort Calgary, located on the site of an original North West Mounted Police Fort, preserves and interprets Calgary's history between 1875 and the 1940s. In Fort Edmonton Park, you can join the costumed historical interpreters and experience life as an early pioneer. Fort Edmonton is divided into four eras: an 1846 Hudson's Bay Fort, a frontier town, a 1905 city, and Edmonton in the 1920s. Activities include antique vehicle rides, pioneer children's games, playing pool, shooting gallery, and 1920s miniature golf. Steam train and streetcar rides are included with admission.

There are forts in other Alberta communities that provide a lively look at how the West was won and preserved, if you want to take trips away from Edmonton and Calgary.

Drive the Calgary-Edmonton Trail

It started as a wagon trail. Now, it's the royal ribbon that ties Alberta's two international gateway cities together. Renamed as Queen Elizabeth II Highway in honour of Queen Elizabeth's visit to Alberta during the province's Centennial in 2005, this highway can be taken as a three-hour drive or experienced as a more leisurely exploration of the attractions and areas that lie between the two cities.

Just north of Calgary are small farming communities. Innisfail is the site of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Dog Training Centre, the only one in Canada. And you can visit the Innisfail Historical Museum, a pioneer village that features the late 1800s to 1930.

Red Deer is in the middle of the route between the two cities. It's one of Alberta's major centres for conventions and meetings. Oil and gas, grain and cattle farming are among the industries, and you'll find shopping and entertainment and great cycling pathways The greater Red Deer area parks and trail system connects facilities such as Bower Ponds, Conquist House Multicultural Centre, Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary, and Waskasoo Park.

The town of Stettler is home to a steam train that can take you through rolling prairies while you enjoy great entertainment. And further north, Wetaskiwin is where the Reynolds-Alberta Museum provides one of North America's largest collections of antique and classic cars, along with many other exhibits.

About the Author:
Copyright © 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved

Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com

Low-Riders, Street Racers and Everyday Drivers Should Be Aware of the Camber in a Car's Suspension System

2006-11-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

If you plan on customizing the suspension of your vehicle, a new camber kit may be just what you are looking for. Many people love lowering their cars, but forget that doing so may impact the overall suspension of their vehicles. A camber kit will re-enforce the suspension system to deal with such changes. Drivers who enjoy road racing can also reap the benefits of improved suspension that a camber kit has to offer. While street racers and low-rider buffs are the people who could use the camber kit most often, everyday drivers often consider it to be an economical safety improvement for their vehicles.

The camber kit in your car's suspension system adjusts the angle of your tires, and increases the size of your tire footprint - how much of each tire comes into contact with the pavement. If you lower your car without installing a camber kit, there are some major handling problems that will arise.

The easiest way to see if your camber is out of alignment is by inspecting the wear of your tires. If the inside of the tire is showing excess wear, then your camber is likely misaligned. If you remove the wheel and tire from your car, you will see that the part of the tire closest to the suspension will be more worn-down than the rest of the tire. This is a clear sign that you need to readjust your camber angle.

People lower their cars using a variety of methods; some of these methods are more likely to cause camber problems than others. By using a damper kit, a coil over kit, or lowering your springs, you risk causing problems in your car's suspension. The only real solution to these problems is using a camber kit to compensate for the suspension changes made.

Engineers spend years developing an automobile, and they consider every element of that vehicle in their designs. When drivers alter the factory-selected ride height, they alter what automotive engineers have worked hard to perfect. One must consider that a car's original ride height is established for good reason. If you own a Dodge and remove the stock Dodge parts in order to lower its suspension, you must make sure that you replace the original suspension parts with a camber kit as compensation.

When considering a vehicle's alignment, one must consider three important components: the toe, the caster, and the camber. The toe is the adjustment that keeps your wheel pointed straight ahead by default. If you look at the front of your car and see that the tire is pointing slightly outward or inward, your car's toe is likely out of alignment. A caster is the part that moves each wheel forward and backward. By adjusting a caster, you can move the corresponding wheel side-to-side or front-to-back. The camber also positions each wheel vertically. If the camber is at zero degrees, the tire should be at a perfect 90-degree angle to the ground. If the wheel leans inward, you have negative camber. If the tire leans outward, you have positive camber.

When you lower your car but fail to use a camber kit, you will have increased the degree of negative camber on your tires. For safety purposes, a camber kit should be a requirement when lowering your car. If you do not use one, you risk not only your tires, but your safety as well.

A driver may want to alter the camber on a car's wheels simply to increase the vehicle's tire footprints; this results in improved handling. The commentary on NASCAR often features discussion about how a car's cambers impact tire wear. Generally though, this kind of alteration is best left to professional racers. On most street cars, it is best to keep the camber within factory specifications.

The difficulty of camber kit installation varies depending on your particular vehicle. In most cases, it is best to leave the job to a tire alignment specialist. Such installations must be taken very seriously, because if they are done improperly, your suspension can come apart when the car is in motion.The last thing you want to see is your car's tire rolling down the road ahead of your vehicle, during rush hour traffic on a major thoroughfare or on a dark deserted highway in the middle of the night.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker is an automotive writer. To find great prices on automotive suspension camber kits for a variety of automobiles, or when you are ready to save money on Dodge parts, DriveWire is a leader in its industry. For the best prices and selection on auto parts: http://www.DriveWire.com

Understanding the Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Ball Joints

2006-10-28T02:16:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

A ball joint is an important component of your car's suspension, located on the front end of the vehicle. Ball joints will wear out over time and cause handling problems as they continue to deteriorate. It is important that you have these joints inspected, particularly if you are experiencing handling problems with your vehicle.

If you think that your ball joint may need to be replaced, there are some symptoms that you can check for. You may hear a knocking noise in the front end of your car when you drive over small bumps in the road. Or, your car's alignment might be askew - if your vehicle naturally pulls hard to one side, it is most likely out of alignment. Uneven tire wear, a result of bad alignment, may also indicate that your ball joints are going bad. If you ignore bad alignment in your vehicle and continue to drive it, more problems can arise: damage can be done to a number of internal parts, including the tie rod.

It is best to have a qualified mechanic to determine if your car is properly aligned, and to see if your ball joints need replacing. There are many automobile repair shops that specialize in front-end repair, and these are often the best places to go for such diagnostics.

Depending on the year, make, and model of your vehicle, you may be able to extend the life of your ball joints by having them properly lubricated. Unfortunately, however, this is not an option with many newer cars - the entire ball joint must be replaced. The good news is that ball joints in newer cars, tend to last longer than those that were made for older models.

It is important to choose a reputable manufacturer when you buy a new ball joint. If you own a BMW, for example, parts from the manufacturer may cost more than you are willing to spend. As an alternative, you may want to consider an aftermarket manufacturer with a solid reputation. Buying through an aftermarket company can save you quite a bit of money when purchasing replacement parts.

Ignoring a bad ball joint can result in a truly dangerous situation, since it affects how well your car handles. Waiting until a ball joint fails may cause you to wreck your vehicle. Many drivers opt to have a professional mechanic install new ball joints. Following the replacement of the joint, your car will need to be realigned; many people find that it is easiest to have a mechanic do both. An alignment requires very specialized tools that the average do-it-yourself mechanic does not own. An alignment also requires a good deal of knowledge and training in order to be performed correctly.

As mentioned before, your car's tie rod must often be replaced along with the ball joint. Since these parts work in conjunction, some mechanics recommend that you replace both at once.

No matter what kind of ball joint your car utilizes, whether a new or old model, it is important that you have these joints inspected each time your car is brought in for maintenance. Keeping these joints lubricated and well-maintained are essential in maintaining a safe degree of alignment in your vehicle.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars. If you need to replace the ball joints in your car, Drivewire.com can help save you money. They sell auto parts for dozens of makes and models, including the hard-to-find BMW parts. Visit http://www.DriveWire.com today to see their low prices and selection.

Taking Care of Your Car's Braking System Can Prevent Accidents

2006-10-28T01:13:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

A brake rotor is a vital part of the braking system on your vehicle. A brake rotor, in conjunction with brake pads, brings your car to come to a quick and complete stop. If you have a worn brake rotor, you should have it replaced as soon as possible for your own safety.

When you apply your car's brake pedal, brake pads press down against the brake rotor. The rotor is part of the front wheel hub, and it stops the wheels from turning. Brake rotors are commonly referred to as "discs," and people often refer to cars with brake rotors as being equipped with "disc brakes."

In recent decades, most cars have been equipped with a brake rotor at the front of the car. Some cars are also equipped with brake rotors on the rear wheels for added stopping power. The older alternative to a disc brake is the drum brake; some cars are still made with drum brakes on the back wheels. As with front-wheel disk brakes, rear-wheel disk brakes are added for a more acutely responsive braking system.

After a period of standard wear, your car's brake rotors may need to be replaced. However, some conditions may wear down the rotors more quickly, calling for quicker replacement. For instance, if you allow your brake pads to wear down too far before you replace them, the brake pad can dig grooves into the rotors. These grooves must be repaired in order for your brakes to operate correctly. If your brake rotors have grooves in them, you can have them "turned" or resurfaced by a machine shop. This will remove the grooves and make the rotor itself thinner.

Warped brake rotors will also require premature replacement. Brake parts grow extremely hot during normal operation. If you have been applying your brakes heavily and heating them more than usual, this rapid heating and cooling may cause them to warp. Heating of your brakes plus water, snow, or ice will also warp the rotor. There is an easy way to determine if your brake rotor is warped: you may feel a shuddering as you apply your brakes. This vibration usually indicates that your brake pad is pressing against an uneven rotor. When this happens, it is time to either have your rotor turned or replaced entirely.

Most vehicles manufactured in the past five years or so have been equipped with composite brake rotors. It is strongly recommended that with these vehicles, you do not have the rotors turned. Turning these composite rotors will take the heat tempering out of them. It is best to simply replace the entire rotor in these this case, rather than trying to have it resurfaced.

When replacing brake rotors, you face a variety of manufacturer options. You can choose to purchase Chevy parts if you own a Chevy, or you can go with aftermarket parts that often outperform the stock Chevy parts. The primary consideration is to make sure that all of your brake parts are compatible with one another.

Finally, it is critical that you either replace or turn both of your brake rotors at the same time. Replacing one brake rotor and not the other can result in different heat dissipation rates - this will cause one wheel to stop turning sooner than the other, which could be very dangerous under hard braking circumstances. Remember that when you are working on your brakes. Your own safety should always come first - prompt response to any warning signs or problems is essential to the safe operation of your braking systems.

When you are talking about your vehicle's braking systems, an ounce of prevention is certainly cheaper than a pound of cure.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars. If you need to replace the brake rotor in your car's disk brakes, Drivewire.com can help save you money. They sell auto parts for dozens of makes and models, including the always popular Chevy parts. Visit http://www.DriveWire.com today to see for yourself.

Brake Pads Are An Essential Element of Your Car's Safety Equipment

2006-10-28T00:41:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

Brake pads are an integral element of the braking system in a car. As you use your brakes in everyday driving, you will slowly wear down, and, eventually, need to replace the brake pads.

Disc brakes have been used on the front wheels of cars for decades now - some models are even equipped with disc brakes on all four wheels. You will still find some cars being made with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes on the rear wheels. The reason for this is that the front wheels carry the biggest portion of the load under braking conditions, and disk brakes are more effective.

Since the front wheels, and thereby the disc brakes, carry the biggest portion of the load under braking conditions, it is critical that your front brakes are operating as well as possible. When it comes to your car's brakes, there is simply no room for substandard or worn out parts.

Older cars that had disc brakes on the front were equipped with what was referred to as a "squeaker bar" on the brake pad. This piece of metal would make an extremely loud squeaking noise once the brake pads were worn down. This was how you knew that it was time to replace your worn-out pads. Cars today come with an electronic sensor on the brake pad. When your brakes have worn down, you will see a warning light on your dashboard.

When this dashboard light is illuminated, or when you start hearing a squeak upon brake application, it is time for you to have your brake pads replaced. If you wait to do so, you are not only causing damage to the brake as a whole, but you are taking a big safety risk.

If your car is equipped with a wear sensor in the brake pads, you will want to have this sensor replaced along with the pads. The sensor is not generally included with the new pads. If you wait for your brake pads to wear down completely, they will begin to damage your disc rotor - the replacement of which is costly.

When you press your brake pedal down, the pistons on your brake caliper will push the brake pad down against the brake disc. Ultimately, the pads pressing against the disc is what slows and stops your car. As you can imagine, this process results in the deterioration of your pads. This is how brake pads are supposed to work; they are not intended to last the life of your car.

Brake pads are made from a variety of materials. You can purchase pads made from longer-lasting materials if you wish. Those of higher quality also help your car to stop more quickly under heavy braking conditions. Choosing the highest quality brake parts is a smart decision for your safety. Even if you own a Chrysler, you can use aftermarket brakes that will outperform the factory Chrysler parts. Chrysler parts work fine for most drivers, but performance enthusiasts and those who want extra stopping power, will often opt for aftermarket brake parts.

Be sure to use a great deal of care when replacing your brake parts. If you do not feel comfortable with your own mechanical skills, it may be best to have a professional install the new parts for you. Working on your own brakes is not the time to test your mechanical aptitude. If your brakes are installed incorrectly, they may fail and cause a severe accident.

It is recommended that you have your brakes checked each time your vehicle's oil is changed - about every 6,000 miles. This quick inspection, paired with proper maintenance of your brake pads, will prevent problems down the road, ensuring the safety of you and your family.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars. By planning ahead, you can save money by buying your next set of brake pads online, along with any other auto parts you might need. http://www.Drivewire.com doesn't limit their selection to Chrysler parts - they carry auto parts for dozens of makes and models. Quinton also writes for http://www.AutomotiveWebmasters.com

Big Brake Kits Offer Extra Stopping Power for Family and Performance Cars

2006-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

Customizing your car can be a fun and rewarding experience, with tangible results as the product of your work. Hobbyists spend a great deal of time and money on making their cars faster and sleeker. Unfortunately, few of these enthusiasts think about making their car safer in the process. Safety upgrades to a performance car are often seen as boring, bland, or unworthy of the efforts required.

From the car aficionado to the daily commuter, all drivers should consider improving the safety of their vehicles. One of the best safety improvements available on the market is the addition of a big brake kit. Brakes are obviously critical in any car. But if the horsepower in a vehicle has been amplified, and the breaks have not been adjusted to accommodate that horsepower, it is likely that problems will occur.

The only performance drivers who may immediately consider upgrading their brakes are road course enthusiasts. These drivers have known for years that the brakes that come stock on a vehicle usually leave something to be desired. Stock brakes work fine in most situations. But if you have ever wondered if your brakes would stop you in time, then you too may want to consider upgrading to a big brake kit for your vehicle.

Stock factory brakes generally have a rotor with a rather small diameter. The upgrade provides you with a much large brake rotor, which means that your brake pads will have more to grab onto when you hit the pedal. Stock brakes typically come with a 2-piston system that compresses the brake pad onto the brake rotor. Some big brake kits will upgrade this to a 6-piston system. More pistons mean more compression, resulting in better stopping power.

Drag racers are probably the worst offenders when it comes to not upgrading brakes as they add horsepower their cars. Larger brakes will certainly not make your car go any faster. For safety's sake, however, it is important that your car has adequate braking power to counteract the speed that you intend to achieve. Road racers, for this reason, may go so far as to opt for a big brake kit that has cross-drilled rotors. These rotors have holes drilled into them, allowing them to remain aerated and cool, even under racing conditions.

Cross-drilled rotors are not necessary for street cars, but if you want the best possible brake performance, they certainly do the trick. Keep in mind that having an upgraded brake system will even help as you drive around town. Good brakes are also especially important in harsh weather, and not just on a racetrack.

When you buy a big brake kit, you will want to purchase from a high-quality manufacturer. You could get your brakes from the maker of your car. For example, if you own a Buick, you could buy replacement brakes from your Buick parts dealer. Buick parts will probably not, however, offer the level of upgrade that you are looking for. Automobile manufacturers go with parts that are cost-effective to make and put in cars; this will not provide you with the best brake system available.

If you are looking to customize your car or to restore an older vehicle, it is smart to start with the brake system, so that you do not compromise your safety when you amp your car's performance. With larger brake systems, simply make sure that the device clears your wheels. Again, automobile manufacturer parts for cars are good enough for most people in most driving situations. But if you want the added security of knowing that you can stop in a shorter distance, then upgrading to a big brake system is the best decision you can make.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars, trucks and automobiles. It is always important to consider your own safety, as well as the safety of your family and those who may enter your path, while you are driving. Big Brake Kits are the one safety improvement that all drivers can afford to make. To find general auto parts and other safety or performance equipment, please visit: http://www.drivewire.com/

2006-10-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

Issue Number: IR-2006-165
Inside This Issue

Ford Hybrid Vehicles Certified for Tax Credit
IR-2006-165, Oct. 20, 2006

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has acknowledged the certification by Ford Motor Company that two of its 2005 vehicles meet the requirements of the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit as qualified hybrid motor vehicles. The tax credit for hybrid vehicles applies to vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2006.
The hybrid vehicle certifications recently acknowledged by the IRS and their credit amounts are:
• Ford Escape 2 WD Hybrid Model Year 2005 $2,600• Ford Escape 4 WD Hybrid Model Year 2005 $1,950
The 2006 Model Year Ford Escape Hybrid front wheel drive and 4 WD models previously were certified in the amounts of $2,600 and $1,950 respectively.

Consumers seeking the credit may want to buy early since the full credit is only available for a limited time. Taxpayers may claim the full amount of the allowable credit up to the end of the first quarter after the quarter in which the manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th vehicle. For the second and third calendar quarters after the quarter in which the 60,000th vehicle is sold, taxpayers may claim 50 percent of the credit. For the fourth and fifth calendar quarters, taxpayers may claim 25 percent of the credit. No credit is allowed after the fifth quarter.

The total number of qualifying Ford hybrid vehicles reported sold as of June 30, 2006, was 11,885. Therefore, purchasers of Ford’s qualified vehicles may continue to rely on the previously issued IRS certifications under Notice 2006-9 concerning the vehicle’s qualification for the credit.

More information on hybrid vehicles and other alternative motor vehicles can be found on the IRS web site.

Don't Let Your Car's Alternator Leave You Stranded

2006-10-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

An alternator is one of the most commonly dysfunctional auto parts. Without a properly functioning alternator, your car will simply refuse to run. A faulty alternator can leave you stranded, but luckily, a low-performing alternator often shows warning signs that indicate its malfunction before it ceases to work. Being able to recognize these warning signs, and knowing what to do next, may prevent you from getting caught in an inconvenient or dangerous situation.

One sign that your alternator is going bad is that the battery of your car will frequently go dead. Though there can be other causes for a dead battery, an underperforming alternator is often the case-this lack of a power source will prevent your battery from recharging. Another warning sign may be a metallic clanging that changes with your engine speed. Often, this indicates that the shaft bearing on the alternator is about to break. This is a relatively common problem with alternators that have been in use for a long time.

The best way to prevent being stranded by a bad alternator is by having it tested on a regular basis. It is recommended that you do so every time a tune-up is performed on your car-about once every year. If you drive your car more than the average person, you may want to have a tune-up or maintenance service completed more frequently. A technician can easily test the output of your alternator. If you suspect that yours is going bad or not charging your car properly, you can have it tested free of charge at many automotive parts stores. In most instances, mechanics can even test the alternator while it is still installed in your vehicle.

With the advancement of technology, a car's alternator is more important than ever. Taking a look at the newest cars on the market, many feature a wide variety of electronics; all of these require battery power to operate. The computer in a newer car needs power operate spark plugs, fuel pumps, and the engine, among other things. To illustrate how much pressure an alternator must handle, let's take a look at all of the mechanisms it must provide power to: digital gauges, headlights, stereo systems, in-car DVD players and televisions, just to name a few. All of these rely on the vehicle's alternator for power.

Older cars, such as a classic Austin Healey, do not place as much stress on their alternators. An older Austin Healey relied more on mechanical systems than electrical systems to operate, and therefore did not require as much electrical power to run.

If you like to do your own auto repair, and you have some experience with working on cars, then replacing your car's alternator may be a feasible process. The hardest step in completing this task is being able to access the mounting bolts. The difficulty of this varies with the year, make, and model of the vehicle that you are working on. Older cars often have the alternator in the front of the engine, toward the top, making for a very easy replacement. Newer vehicles, especially those with front-wheel drive, may not have such an accessible alternator. Front-wheel drive cars usually have the engine installed sideways, meaning there is little room to access the mounting bolts.

Whether or not you should pay a professional to replace your alternator is purely a matter of confidence in your own mechanical abilities. Don't forget that you will have to remove the serpentine belt in newer models. This may be a good opportunity to replace your serpentine (alternator) belt.

If you are experiencing electrical problems with your car, or if you frequently find yourself with a dead battery, then it is time to have your alternator tested. A faulty alternator may be the source of your problems.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars, trucks and automobiles. To find some really attractive prices on a replacement alternator for a variety of automobiles, or when you are trying to find those hard-to-locate Austin Healey parts for your model of Austin Healey, then please visit DriveWire.com. You can find more of Quinton Becker's reprint articles as the become available at: http://www.AutomotiveWebmasters.com You may reprint this article if all links are kept intact.

Do-It-Yourself Automotive Axle Assembly Repair Tips and Tricks

2006-10-03T01:29:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

Replacing an axle assembly is not as difficult as you may think. For front-wheel drive cars, and for some rear-wheel drive cars, this can be a do-it-yourself job. You will want to review the repair manual of your vehicle to decide, based on your own mechanical skill, whether you feel comfortable tackling this project yourself.

A common repair that often must be done after general wear on a vehicle is the replacement of a CV joint. In many cases, it makes good financial sense to replace the entire axle assembly instead of repairing the joint alone. Since replacing a CV joint can be a labor-intensive job, it may also be easier to replace the entire axle assembly. Doing so will save time and thus cut labor costs-you can often replace the entire assembly for the same cost as replacing only the joints. This will, however, depend on how much your mechanic charges you-unless you decide to attempt the installation on your own.

New axle assemblies generally come with fresh CV joints and boots already installed, so you do not have to buy both the assembly and the joints. Since the entire assembly works through the boots, it is important that all parts are well-maintained and work in harmony with one another.

Again, read the installation instructions for your vehicle's make and model. If you are fairly comfortable working on your own car, then this may be a project that you want to tackle yourself. Doing so would save you the money you would otherwise pay a mechanic.

An axle assembly is used mainly in front-wheel and four-wheel drive cars to transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. Most rear-wheel drive cars do not use an axle assembly, though there are a few exceptions, primarily high-end German sports cars. One reason that CV boots and axle assemblies fail, is due to the access of debris and contaminants. Debris can get inside of the boot if the boot comes loose or becomes cracked. When this happens, CV joints will quickly degenerate and fail.

If you own a four-wheel drive vehicle and take it off-road on a regular basis, you are more likely to experience problems with debris getting inside of the seals. This is even more common if you like to go "mudding" and do not wash all of the mud out from the undercarriage of your vehicle.

Choosing a manufacturer for your new axle assembly is important. For many vehicles, you can go with OEM or aftermarket parts. If you own a specialized vehicle like a Bertone, you will want to go with Bertone parts, because keeping original Bertone parts would help to maintain such a vehicle's value.

If maintaining all original-brand parts is not important to you, then you have many choices when it comes to replacement manufacturers. Many of these aftermarket replacement parts can be found at a lower price-sometimes of a higher quality, as well. When buying auto parts, it pays to shop around and find the best quality and price.

Most of the time, a new axle assembly will come with a solid warranty, so that you do not have to be concerned about part failure in the immediate future. It is important as both a buyer and a mechanic to be selective and to get the right part the first time. Doing so will prevent having to remove newly-installed equipment, because it is not the right one for your vehicle.

Research and investigation can help you determine the best replacement parts for your vehicles. And using the internet to make your purchases will allow you to save a lot of money, while improving the quality of products you are able to buy within your budget.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars, trucks and automobiles. To find some really attractive prices on axle assemblies for a variety of automobiles, or when you are trying to find those hard-to-locate Bertone parts for your Nuccio Bertone designed automobile, start your search at: DriveWire.com. You can find more of Quinton Becker's reprint articles as the become available at: http://www.AutomotiveWebmasters.com You may reprint this article if all links are kept intact.

Car Antenna Replacements Are Quick & Easy When You Know What To Do

2006-10-03T00:57:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

The car radio antenna has undergone many changes over the years. For a time, they appeared to be an afterthought in the construction of most automobiles. Antennas were not integrated into the design of the car as they are today, and they provided poor reception to boot. Much has changed in terms of effectiveness and design since the standard vehicle antenna's invention. As the radio has become an essential part of the driving experience, the antenna has advanced to allow for greater durability and sound quality.

In the 1960's, many cars simply had an antenna attached to the front fender. As the years passed, some manufacturers placed them on the windshield. If the windshield had to be replaced, however, owners often lost the only antenna available for their car. Today, replacement antennas are mass-produced and easily attainable-whether your car implements an automatic or manually retractable model.

Antennas are not the most durable parts of a vehicle, and are prone to requiring replacement or repair. There are many ways in which a car's radio antenna may be damaged. Unfortunately, one of the most common causes for antenna damage is vandalism-the antenna is simply snapped from the car's body. Another common cause may be if the driver forgets to retract their car's antenna when entering a car wash. On some vehicles, the antenna may be retracted at the push of a button. On less expensive models, however, this task must be performed manually. Either way, it is easy to forget to do so when entering a car wash; once you enter, the antenna can easily be damaged or broken off.

Replacing a broken antenna is a relatively easy process, depending on the year, make, and model of your vehicle. An antenna that is retracted by motor will be a bit more difficult to replace than one that is manually retractable.

To replace a broken motorized antenna, simply remove the outer top nut of the antenna mast. This will allow you to remove the old mast. Next, you must remove the inner top nut and turn the radio on. You may discard the inner nut and the nylon wire that is attached. To install the new antenna, simply push the new nylon wire down through the assembly hole until it stops. Turn your car's radio off. You will then hear the motor and should see the cable recoil as the motor pulls the cable inward, as if to retract the antenna itself. Once the motor has stopped, you may attach the metal mast into the motor assembly. Then, reinstall the gland nut atop the antenna.

Whether you own a Kia or a Bentley, having a functioning antenna is essential if you want to tune in to local radio stations. Replacement Bentley parts, of course, can be quite expensive. When you replace a Bentley's broken antenna you may choose between manufacturer parts or aftermarket replacements. You can save a good deal of money, regardless of your car's manufacturer, by opting for aftermarket parts. This is true when you are replacing something like a broken radio antenna, and it applies for larger replacement parts as well.

If you find yourself needing to replace your car's antenna, you will probably want to do so quickly-for many people, being able to listen to music and news is a big part of the overall driving experience. Be sure to check your owner's manual before starting the repair process, and check for any specific instructions on how to replace your car's antenna before getting started.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars, trucks and automobiles. Let's face it, some replacement parts are hard-to-find. If you are looking for a replacement car antenna for a variety of automobiles, or when you are trying to find those really hard-to-locate Bentley parts, then please visit DriveWire.com. You can find more of Quinton Becker's reprint articles as they become available at: http://www.AutomotiveWebmasters.com You may reprint this article if all links are kept intact.

What Are OEM Auto Parts? And Why Should They Be Considered?

2006-09-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

Purchasing OEM auto parts is an excellent way of ensuring that the replacement parts you buy will fit your car. OEM auto parts are particularly important if you own a high-performance automobile such as the Alfa Romeo.

OEM products come from the Original Equipment Manufacturer. This means that as a car owner, you can get limited availability parts when you need them. You can buy from another manufacturer, but there are many reasons why you may choose to stick with OEM auto equipment.

For many owners, OEM car and truck parts will be an exact fit for their vehicle. Aftermarket products, for example, are often created to fit a variety of makes and models; occasionally, they will require some slight modifications by the installer in order to fit correctly. Though these parts claim to fit any make or model, it is often not the case. There may be complications with installation of the part, and it may require major modification in order to operate in your specific vehicle.

Another reason why consumers choose OEM auto parts is because they trust the manufacturer. If you need specific parts, and you buy them from directly from the manufacturer of your vehicle, then you know that you can trust the brand. You can also trust that the replacement parts were not cheaply made.

When you choose car parts that are not made by the vehicle's brand company, you may find yourself buying from a multi-purpose manufacturer. This will mean that they do not specialize in your car's specific model or edition parts; instead, they will carry a variety of parts for different vehicle makes, models, and editions. Outside manufacturers are not experts in your car's parts, and cannot provide you the same level of authority that OEM can.

Dependability is another reason why one might choose to purchase OEM parts over components produced by another manufacturer. Since OEM built the car, it is safe to assume that the manufacturer knows the tolerances and specifications of each part. The manufacturer that made your car will create the most dependable parts possible for your particular vehicle.

Originality is yet another reason why consumers choose OEM auto parts. Let's face it, if you own a vehicle like an Alfa Romeo, there is no need in trying to improve perfection. Installing Alfa Romeo parts is the best way to maintain the caliber and resell value of your car. Purists despise cars that are repaired with parts not from the Original Equipment Manufacturer.

Take a look at some vintage Alfa Romeos and compare the prices of the ones that were kept completely original and repaired with non-OEM parts. These different levels of vehicle "purity" often draw the distinction between vintage originals and vintage cars that have been restored with the parts of an aftermarket company. The cars that have been kept as close to their original condition as possible will warrant a much higher value. Enthusiasts will generally pay top dollar for a vintage vehicle, but they will often turn away from a car with mixed and matched parts that have been installed.

No matter how well a car is made, it will not escape the occasional need for repair. When your car needs to be worked on, you will be faced with many options for replacement parts. How much you want out of your car will often determine which replacement parts you should purchase.

Much of this has to do with your attitude about your car. Some people view their cars as an extension of their personality, while other owners simply see their cars as a way to get from point A to point B. Regardless of which end of the spectrum you lean toward, you can rest assured that OEM auto parts will perform in the manner that you expect them to. In addition, they are typically similar or less in cost than competing, one-size-fits-all parts.

In a perfect world, you would never have to replace any parts on your car. But since normal usage will cause some wear and tear, you will eventually need to replace some parts. When this happens, you should consider OEM automotive parts as one of your choice options.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars, trucks and automobiles. To find some really attractive prices on OEM parts for a variety of automobiles, or when you are trying to find those hard-to-locate Alfa Romeo parts, then please visit http://www.DriveWire.com. You can find more of Quinton Becker's reprint articles as the become available at: http://www.AutomotiveWebmasters.com You may reprint this article if all links are kept intact.

Performance Parts Can Help With Better Horsepower Or Gas Mileage

2006-09-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Quinton Becker

Today there are more performance parts available for your Acura, and other high performance vehicles, than ever before. Finding Acura parts or parts for other premium automobiles can be a little bit of a challenge, but once you find the right performance parts, your car and your ego will thank you. There is a lot of satisfaction in knowing that you have found the best performance parts money can buy, for your car.

Considering the Required Skill Set for Do-It-Yourself Mechanics

Deciding on which of a variety of performance parts to choose depends on what type of power you are looking for and if you plan on installing those parts yourself. Everyone has their own level of mechanical ability, and if you decide to install the parts yourself, you will need to be comfortable with your mechanical skills.

For example, installing larger fuel injectors can be a lot of work for the backyard mechanic. To complete an installation of larger fuel injectors, you will need some specialized tools and you will need to have a fair amount of time to dedicate to the project.

Other projects are much simpler and can quickly and easily be completed by the backyard mechanic. For example, if you purchase a high-flow air filter for your car or some rapid-fire spark plugs, you will not need any specialized tools. Installing performance parts such as these does not require a lot of time for most people either.

Increasing Your Horsepower

Some performance parts can result in great gains in horsepower for your car. Some of the types of performance parts you may be considering can include camshafts, high flowing cylinder heads, nitrous oxide, etc. However, you can also add parts that will result in smaller gains, but will provide great payoffs in the long run.

For example, a higher flowing fuel pump may only result in a small immediate horsepower gain, but if you decide to add a larger throttle body at a later time then the high flow fuel pump will be well worth it. These performance parts, much like all of the parts of your car work in sync with each other and adding one without the other may not provide as good of results as you had expected.

Measuring Your Performance Gains

Adding one of these performance parts at a time can be a great option for those who are on a budget. Adding one part at a time is also a great way to measure the horsepower gains that each of the individual parts provide to your car. Further, if you install one part at a time and you experience any operational problems, it is easy to track the problem down to your latest modification. If you add a handful of parts all at once, it can be difficult to determine which one was the culprit.

Whether you are looking for a quarter mile monster, or simply want to have a little more acceleration when entering the freeway, some of these performance parts may be just what you have been seeking to make your car come to life.

Fuel Efficiency Gains

Performance parts can not only add to your horsepower, they can also add to the efficiency of your car. This means that some of the performance parts can actually improve your gas mileage, if you can keep your foot off the gas! A more efficiently operating vehicle will also last longer if you keep it well maintained.

Replacing Factory Parts With Performance Parts

The inevitable reality is that at times you will need to replace some of the parts on your vehicle. Due to general wear and tear, parts will need to be replaced. It makes good sense at these times to upgrade to high performance parts instead of going with the standard factory parts, especially if you are looking for that extra boost in your horsepower.

These performance parts are often better in quality than the factory replacement parts. The cost difference is generally minimal, and when you add in the fact that they outperform the factory replacement parts, it is really no contest. The companies that produce the high performance parts know that you have choices as to which parts you buy for your car. Because of this, they go the extra mile to not only add power, but also to also create parts that are a higher overall quality than the factory parts.

Check out some of the performance parts available for your automobile and get that boost in power that you want.

About the Author:
Quinton Becker writes about cars, trucks and automobiles. To find some really attractive prices on performance parts for a variety of automobiles, or when you are trying to find those hard-to-locate Acura parts for your model of Acura, then please visit DriveWire.com. You can find more of Quinton Becker's reprint articles as the become available at: http://www.AutomotiveWebmasters.com You may reprint this article if all links are kept intact.

Customizing Your Vehicle In Unique And Interesting Ways

2006-09-12T02:30:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Thomas

Customizing your vehicle has long been a tradition and hobby for many people. You know a customized car or truck when you see one, because it is the one that makes you take a second look. Using truck accessories to your truck is one way to make it stand out from the drones of other trucks that you see going down the road. Customization is not just for cars and trucks though, basically any type of vehicle that you own can be customized to suit your personal tastes and create a little flair.

One way that many people are choosing to customize their trucks is by using spray in bed liners. These spray bed liners are a smart idea, because they help to protect the bed of your truck from damage. If you own a truck, it is likely that you are going to use it to haul things on a regular basis and that you will have friends that want you to help them haul things. Even when you are very careful, it is still possible to get unsightly scratches in your truck's bed.

Truck bed liners are frequently used as a way to maintain the resale value of the truck, because the scratches in the paint will quickly rust and will prematurely devalue the worth of your vehicle. Truck bed liners are so common that many buyers more or less just expect them to be installed on the truck. If you do not use a bedliner, then you may end up getting your truck bed painted on a regular basis. Getting a professional paint job can be very costly, much more than a bedliner would cost.

A spray in bed liner will not only protect the bed of your truck, but they can also add some spice to the look of your truck. You can get truck bed liners that come in a variety of colors. If you want something that will make your truck stand out then you may want to consider and alternate color for your spray bed liner. Most bed liners that you see are black, but you do have plenty of choices as to the color of your bed liner.

Some people get even more creative and opt to put designs into their bed liners. An example of this may be to have the logo of your favorite sports team painted onto the bed liner. Of course you are not limited to sports team logos, you can have any design that you wanted painted on top of the spray bed liners to help make your truck stand out from the crowd.

Now if you do not own a truck, you may think that a spray in bed liner is not for you. The good thing about them being a spray on liner is that you can use it on nearly any surface of your vehicle, not just truck beds. An example of this would be getting the front bumper of a motor home sprayed to help protect it from rock chips, road tar, insects, etc.

If you have an off-road vehicle you can spray this coating on the not only the bumpers but on anti-roll bars also. Some people even see a spray on liner as an inexpensive option to having an entire vehicle repainted! If you own a cargo van and haul things on a regular basis you may consider a spray in liner for the floor of the van interior.

As you can see, there are many different ways that you can use spray on liners to customize your vehicle. Basically if you can think of it, it can be done. If you want your bumpers sprayed, your grill sprayed, the bed of your truck, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

You will want to have a professional install your spray on liner in most cases, because it does require a good amount of large equipment and preparation work. Most people do not have this type of equipment sitting in their garage at home. The cost of paying a professional is a small price to pay to customize and protect your vehicle for years to come.

When you are ready to get serious about customizing the look or your vehicle, check out spray in bed liners. You could spend a huge amount of money on a paint job and an expensive set of wheels for your vehicle to help customize it, or you could turn to the more economical option of using a spray on liner. Not only will a spray on liner help your vehicle stand out, they will also assist in helping to protect it from damage at the same time.

About the Author:
Thomas "Maverick" Tucker writes about automobiles and trucks. He also reviews truck accessories and other automotive products. In his 17 adult years, he has modified and customized three of his own vehicles. To see some really novel spray in bed liner examples, take a look at: http://www.speedliner.com/bed-liner-examples/ . Visit the Speed Liner website at http://www.speedliner.com to find a dealer near you. Feel free to use this article on your website, so long as all links remain clickable.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Types Of Truck Bed Liners

2006-08-29T04:20:00.000-07:00

Article Presented by:
Thomas Maverick Tucker

A vehicle is typically the second largest purchase that a person will make in his or her life, second only to a home. Because of the high cost of automobiles, it makes sense that you would want to do the best job that you can to protect your investment. There are many ways that you can protect your vehicle and if you have a pick up truck, you will most likely want to protect the bed of your truck with a bed liner.

If you have ever seen a truck that did not have a bed liner, then you know just how ugly a scratched and rusted truck bed can be. Not only is a truck without a bedliner unsightly after a few years, but it also lowers the resale value of the truck. If you use your truck for hauling items and you do not use truck bed liners, the bed of the truck will get scratched no matter how careful you try to be.

Do Your Friends Call YOU When They Need To Haul Something?

If you own a truck now, or have in the past, then you know that owning a truck is a magnet for your friends who need help hauling things or moving. That's right, just because you own a truck, all your friends that don't own one will be calling you up and asking to borrow your truck or asking you to help them "go pick something up." These are the times that your truck bed is most likely to get scratched up.

Unless you want to repaint your truck bed on a regular basis and shell out hundreds to thousands of dollars to get it painted, then it is best to utilize bed liners to protect your truck's bed. There are a few different types of bed liners that you can choose from.

Truck Bed Liners: Rubber Mats

You can choose what is basically a rubber mat to protect the bed of your truck. These are inexpensive and make for an easy installation. All you do is order the appropriate size liner and put it in your truck's bed. There are problems with these types of bedliners though. One is that they are apt to move around the bed since they usually do not fit exactly right. Another problem with these is that water can accumulate under the bed liner and that will lead to rust on your truck bed. Yep, they prevent scratches, but these bedliners offer very little protection in the battle against rust.

Truck Bed Liners: Hard Plastic

Another truck bed liner option is the hard plastic bed liners that not only cover the bed of the truck, but the sides of the truck bed, the tailgate, and the back of the cab. These require that you drill holes or use screws to install it. They are a better choice than the rubber mat type of bed liners, because they offer more protection and they are more durable. But, you still need to be concerned about water seeping in under the bed liner. This type of bed liner is also prone to getting cuts and to deteriorating if chemicals are spilled on them.

Truck Bed Liners: Spray-In Bed Liner

For many people the best choice for a truck bed liner is a spray-in bed liner. A spray-in bed liner offers all of the protection that a thick plastic bedliner offers, but without all the hassles. You will not have to drill holes or use screws in order to have this installed. Since it is a spray bed liner, there is no chance that water will be able to get underneath of it and cause rust. This is because it is actually adhered to the trucks bed, sides, tailgate, and the back of the cab much the same way that paint is. Spray in bed liners also resist tears from sharp objects better and are not as likely to be damaged by chemicals.

Spray-in bed liners are made to last for the life of your vehicle. You will not need to replace a spray bed liner in a few years, as you might have to do with a rubber mat or thick plastic truck bed liner. A spray-in bed liner helps you maintain the full resale value of your truck and can even increase the resale value since many buyers see it as favored truck accessories. In fact, bed liners are so common these days that it is seen as a necessary truck accessory for many pickup truck buyers.

The only thing that some people may not like about a spray-in bed liner is that it generally is not a do-it-yourself job. It is typically easier and more economical to pay someone to install your spray-in bed liner, unless you already have all of the needed equipment. Paying someone to install a spray-in truck bed liner is a small price to pay in order to protect your second largest investment and to keep it looking like new for years to come.

About the Author:
Thomas "Maverick" Tucker writes about automobiles and trucks for http://www.PenCircles.com . He also reviews truck accessories and other automotive products. Maverick has used several spray-in bed liners, but the Speed Liner bed liner with his most recent Chevy pickup truck has proven to be one of his better truck accessory decisions. You can visit the Speed Liner website at http://www.speedliner.com to find a dealer near you. Feel free to use this article on your website, so long as all links remain clickable.