Overheating engine…… What to do???????
Posted on December 29, 2008
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You are driving as usual, stereo blaring and then all of a sudden your engine dies and hissing steam comes rushing from under the hood. What do you do? Steer to the side of the road and set the hazard lights on, place the EWD’s(the reflective triangles) in place, but don’t open the hood just yet. That steam is hotter than boiling water so kill the engine and let it cool a bit. If the hissing has stopped, the high pressure has dissipated and it is therefore safe to open the hood (but not the radiator cap!!!). Take a good look at the engine compartment and any visible problem would be apparent such as a punctured/cracked hose, a hole in the radiator, a broken fan belt (if your vehicle has one for new cars have totally electric fans) or it may simply be the radiator cap set improperly. Nothing out of the ordinary, get a towel or rag to protect your hand from the hot radiator cap, push down and twist ever so slowly (at the slightest hiss, twist back and let cool some more). Get your hands on some water but do not fill the radiator just yet, start the engine and once it idles, pour water till it’s full. Filling an overheated engine with water/coolant without the engine running is suicidal for the water circulation pump is not running. Hot metal plus cold water means cracked engine, and that’s bad(very very bad). Run slowly to the nearest garage but keep your eye on that temperature gauge, stopping and killing the engine to let it cool again. The engine cutting out is due to a circuit breaker that is set to cut electrical power to the engine protecting it from blowing up. Get to a garage fast and get the problem fixed quick for it won’t go away. Also replace the temperature sensor for they get cooked easily and may not work properly after an overheat as well as the radiator cap for good measure.
バッテリーの寿命
Posted on December 24, 2008
Filed Under Imp @ja | Leave a Comment
画像転載元:tayna.co.uk
自動車のバッテリーの寿命は使用する車の種類、アクセサリー、車の使用頻度、そしてバッテリー自体のタイプによって変わります。
最近、それを実感する出来事がありました。豪雨の中、筆者が車で仕事場から自宅に帰る途中のことです。 突然、車のワイパーの動きが遅くなり、ダッシュボードの光が点滅し始めたのです。 右に曲がろうとウィンカーを出そうとした時も、見えるか見えないかの光しか点かず、クラクションの音も出ませんでした。 ご想像のとおり、ひどく不安な経験でした。原因は幾つも考えられるし、何が問題なのかわからないからです。 幸い、その少し前に整備士が筆者の車のバッテリーが充電が必要になっているというアドバイスをくれていました。 さらに、信じられないことがありました。そのバテリーを買った時に、日付を書き込んでいました。 それを見ると、そのバッテリーの寿命は2年間でした。しかし、その型のバッテリーは15ヶ月程度しか持たないはずのものだったのです！
バッテリーの寿命を延ばすには、適切な整備が必要です。 バッテリーにメンテナンスが不要だというのは間違いで、定期的な水位チェックが必要です。 電極とリード線を常に綺麗にして、接続をよくしておくことも同じくらい大切です。 リード線はスチールブラシまたは専用の電極クリーナーで清掃できます。 バッテリー が正しく取り付けられていることも確認してください。走行中にバッテリーが揺れないように、ストラップで固定されていなければなりません。 バッテリーが安定していないと、でこぼこの道を走る時などの衝撃がバッテリーの劣化を招きます。 それだけで、バッテリーの寿命を6ヶ月から8ヶ月縮めると言われています。 自分の車に必要な電力量をカバーできるタイプのバッテリーを取り付けるとも大切です。 必要な電力より余裕のあるバッテリーを使う方が、足りなくなるよりいいでしょう。 最後に、バッテリーを買った日付けをシールに書いてバッテリーに貼っておき、正確な寿命を把握しましょう。バッテリーが切れたときに、寿命が適正だったこと、そしてあなたが頑張って稼いだお金が無駄にならなかったことを確認するためです。
Wiper Blades
Posted on November 23, 2008
Filed Under Car Parts | Leave a Comment
Image Source: bosch.com.au
Wiper blades remain to be the most neglected component of a car these days. More often than not, we tend to just ignore the wiper blades even if you can obviously see that there are cracks, tear or just plain worn out and basically needs to be replaced. or sometimes, you wont be able to see any torn part but it just doesn’t wipe well. It is important to take care of the blades most especially in the rainy season because your visibility conditions will greatly affect your driving. Ideally, car technicians recommend that wiper blades be replaced every 6 to 12 months. Rubber deteriorates over a period of time. So when you hear your blades chattering, squeaking or just not wiping properly, its a signal for you to replace them ASAP.
Battery Life
Posted on October 6, 2008
Filed Under Tips | Leave a Comment
Image Source:tayna.co.uk
Car batteries lifespan depends on the type of car we use, the accessory we added, how often we use the car and what type we buy.
This happened to me just recently, when I was going home from work and it was raining hard. My wiper suddenly starts to slow down and my dashboard light was blinking. When I tried to use my signal light to turn right, it was vague and my horn hardly made a sound. Yes, it’s terrifying when you don’t know the problem because their maybe a lot of reasons to think of. Good thing our mechanic warned me already that my battery needs to be changed any moment now. To top it all we even marked the battery when it was bought. Unbelievable! It lasted two years when the kind of battery I bought should be for fifteen months only.
To extend the life of the battery we need to make sure that the battery is properly serviced. If it is not maintenance free, make regular water checks. Every so often battery terminal and leads are to be cleaned to ensure a good connection. Leads can be cleaned with a steel brush or a terminal post cleaner. Check if battery is properly installed, battery straps should keep the battery from rocking. An unstable battery will receive bumps, especially from driving through potholes. It will knock about 6-8 months off the life of the battery. Install the appropriate battery to meet the power requirements of your vehicle. It is better to have reserved capacity than too little. Lastly, label your battery from the date purchased so you can be sure that when it dies it is the time expected and your hard earned money was well spent.
Indicator is blinking fast
Posted on July 4, 2008
Filed Under Warnings | Leave a Comment
This has happened to me once. I was driving and signaled a turn but then the indicator was flashing fast like hell the other way. I thought I’d be zapped into a parallel universe that I scurried off to a garage. My mechanic assured me however that the bulb has blown and had to be replaced. Now, if ever this happens to you, the first time, go to your friendly service station and take note of which type of bulb your car carries as it is different in every make and model. Watch as they replace the bulb and ask questions.
Save more money on fuel
Posted on June 1, 2008
Filed Under Fuel, Tips | Leave a Comment
Here are a few tips on how to save fuel:
If you drive a stick-shift, do not press on the clutch too much.
Know the speed limits and stick to them when driving. Why drive 40 when it should only be 20?
Schedule your car for regular tune-ups.
Avoid extra weight. Remove unnecessary tools such as an empty roof rack. The heavier the load is the more fuel it takes to keep the car going.
Check your tires. Did you know that under-inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by 5%?
Have your vehicle serviced at least once a year.
Vacuum magic
Posted on May 30, 2008
Filed Under Cleaning, Information | Leave a Comment
People who keep a mini portable vacuum cleaner in their cars have good reasons for doing so. For one thing, it allows them to not only keep the interiors of their vehicle free from unwanted dirt and dust, they are also able to save their lungs from a lot of unhealthy clogging from said substances. It is most especially useful when you have kids, because as you know, they tend to eat all kinds of junks which just so happens to always find itself all over the floor. Unfortunately, the crumbs aren’t easy to pick up with your bare hands and leaving them to stay till next month’s all over cleanup can get them stuck on your car’s interior cover, especially if you have rugs. So join in the band wagon of the OCs and invest on a good vacuum.
Protecting your car from a your trip-kit
Posted on May 28, 2008
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Put all paper materials inside a plastic-zip bag and make sure that you tie a rubber band around the driver visor to hold on to your parking tickets (avoid them though) maps, to do lists and other reminders for the day’s destination. If it’s going to be a family trip, we recommend you soften the cushions of your car seat by dipping it in fabric conditioner. This will make sure that those who ride along catches the good scent of the conditioner which if you must know, releases a calming aroma which helps long drives become bearable. After all, you don’t want your passengers, (especially if they are kids), to be uncomfortable on the way do you?
First aid
Posted on May 22, 2008
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Be paranoid, accidents and mishaps occur when you least expect it, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Do yourself a favor and put up a small survival kit; this will include a compass, a map, a flash-light, candles, lighter, granola bars or energy bars, garbage bags, portable shovels, cat-litter (when its pouring hard), sleeping bags, an extra cell phone battery and keep them all inside a duffel cage which you will be keeping in the trunk or under the seats. These are called survival items, you never know when a simple road trip could get bumpy and you end up all alone and stuck under a bad weather.
Neat freak
Posted on May 21, 2008
Filed Under Cleaning, Information, Storage | Leave a Comment
Prevention is much cheaper than cure, hence, it pays to be OC with regards to the cleanliness of your car as it will save you from all the unwanted bills supposedly spent on actually cleaning them. First, do make sure you reuse plastic bags by making sure you store a few in your compartment, just in case you need an impromptu trash bag. Don’t underestimate the power of towels in your car. After all, you are bound to take something that isn’t totally dry inside one day. Think ahead by stocking some extra towels, this will prevent stain and rumpled covers in the future. With this said, keep small hand towels just in case anything spills.