Everyday things that can ruin your car

By Lee Sue Ann 14 hours ago

Learn to avoid common mistakes that car users tend to do and save money on maintenance expenses. This small guide will remind you to avoid these costly mistakes.

1. Forgetting the parking brake

The parking brake is a little pedal near your left leg which is hardly used but extremely valuable. If you don’t use the parking brake when parking on an incline or a steady ground, the stress on your car will be passed on to your transmission. Reminding yourself to use this parking brake will release the stress off the transmission and prolong the life of your car’s transmission. Don’t forget to unfasten before driving again!

2. Not changing engine oil

Simply remember to change your oil every 5,000 miles at most. Changing the oil frequently can double the life time of the car and increase its performance.

3. Washing the engine with high pressure water

The modern engine is intricate because it is made of sensitive sensors, harnesses and components. It is not suitable for a jet of high pressure water. You can use a garden hose to wash it down but don’t use high water pressure to cleanse the engine.

4. Listen to your car

The sounds that your car makes indicate what needs to be fixed. Ignoring these sounds can put your life at risk. For instance, squealing brakes means new pads are needed and scraping metal means new rotors are required. This is a common issue and reacting to these sounds by sending your car to the repair shop makes a huge difference.

5. Starting your car the wrong way

Switching off your radio, wipers and other accessories will reduce the wear and tear on the engine when starting the car. Switching off these accessories ensure your engine doesn’t work as hard.

By abiding by these simple factors, your car will be in good condition and reduces your visits to a repair shop for maintenance. More significantly, this will ensure the lives of your passengers’ and yourself are safeguarded from preventable dangers.

Car buying guide for fresh grads

By Lee Sue Ann 8 hours ago

Image courtesy of www.bmwblog.com

Thinking about buying a new car but finding it difficult as a fresh grad? Worry not! We’ve got practical solutions for you to solve your woes.

Buying a new car is almost every fresh graduate’s, working man’s or father’s dream. The biggest doubt in one’s mind is the lump sum of  money that needs to be spent on that dream car. Starting from the deposit that we need to pay, the petrol that it’s going to cost you, maintenance and service charges, road tax… Just for that brand new car!

“Getting a Mini Cooper is my dream! But I do not have that money!”

Hence, the availability of a ‘cheaper’ option – or a more intelligent one in most occasions; the second hand used car.

Of course, more doubt is raised when it comes to purchasing something that has been used; what’s its condition, how long it has been used, how many miles it has traveled, the fuel consumption – the list just goes on.

For a working man, a fuel efficient car is top priority for sure, because they travel almost every day, as well as get stuck in traffic for hours.  Because of such scenarios, hybrid vehicles appear a more viable solution; it’s all about a long term investment paired with reasonable luxury. Getting a used luxurious car might save you as much as 50% of the price of a brand new one. The trick is to find a trusted dealer, and equipping yourself with the right knowledge.

The feeling of driving your dream car on the road is next to priceless. Nowadays, there are many options that prevent you from letting dreams be dreams. Also, science and technology today has made driving and navigation much easier.

So, owning a dream car shouldn’t be abstract anymore. Worried about getting lost on the road? “READY TO GO?” Sound familiar to you? Yes, that’s WAZE!

Worried of getting caught by speed traps or AES cameras? GPS and detection systems come in ONE! Worried of how take care of your little baby? Get a premium membership from famous car polishers and it will be sparkling perfect at the end of every day! Worry no more, because you always deserve something better, and cheaper!

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Bathing Your Car 101

By Lee Sue Ann 2 days ago

It must be embarrassing for you if someone were to tell you that your car needs a bath. Washing the car is indeed an easy task that we would have done it ourselves at some point or other, but there are ‘right’ methods that you might not have been doing all along.

Step 1: Prepare wash items.
You can’t wash as car just with your bare hands. You’ll need a sponge, brushes, hose, soap, buckets, some towels and water. Fill a bucket of water with car wash soap. Please follow the instructions of the bottle or box. In another bucket, fill up with just water.
Step 2: Park your car outside your house.
Make sure it is directly under the sun to prevent premature drying that will leave splotches on your car. Drying prematurely will make your car looks dirty.
Step 3: Wash time!
Prepare to get wet yourself. There is no way that you won’t get wet unless you hire somebody else to do the job. Here is what you should do:

• Spray water using the hose onto your car. This is to loosen any dirt that your car has. Never use a strong jet because strong water will remove grit over the paint and scratches the car.
• Soak a big sponge in soapy water and rub your car. Never use brush because it will scratch the car body. Use the sponge to remove dirt. Start from the top section first. Then move towards down. Make sure you rub your car in soapy circles a few times.
• Rinse every section with the hose before continuing. By doing so, there won’t be traces of soap left drying on the paint. Stained soap will make your car looks dirty too.
• Frequently rinse the sponge in the bucket of just water. This is to remove the dirt that the sponge has. Otherwise you will apply the dirt onto the car again.
• Keep the car wet all the time. This is to avoid any drying droplets on the paint.
• Scrub the lower body and the wheels too! They are the grittiest and dirtiest parts of a car. Suggestion is to use a different sponge for these areas.
• Use a wheel-brush to clean the wheels’ openings. Preferable a long and skinny one. If the wheels are too glossy, use a sponge instead. Sometimes a little scrub will remove more dirt.
• Use a plastic brush to clean tire sidewalls. Tires need cleaning too because dirt stick to them.
• Rinse the bottom of your car with a spray nozzle. Every angle of your car needs cleaning.
• Dry your car with clean towels. Wipe whole car dry and let it fully sun dried. That’s the reason why you should park your car under the sun.

Myths on Car Maintenance

yths on Car Maintenance

By Lee Sue Ann 21 hours ago

There are various car maintenance tips around, but how sure are you that all of them are true? The first rule in car maintenance is to ask questions. Though it might sound dumb, but do not hesitate to ask any question on the practised proposed. This is because, at the end, it is your car that will be damage and you that will suffer from all the repair jobs. Though some of the myth associating with car maintenance might sound harmless, it might cost you a fortune or even worst; compromise the safety of your vehicle. Everyone refuses to say that they are a fool when it comes to car, but at times, we really do not know what is right for our car. Therefore, the following will clear all the doubts on the proposed myth, thus putting your and your car at ease.

1. Waxing can remove scratches

The myth that says waxing can remove all unnecessary scratches is busted, because scratches can only be removed if the thickness of the paint was toned down. The usage of wax is only to cover up the scratches so that it will not be seen for a period of time. Once you move your car under rain falls, the solution will wear off, thus revealing the initial scratches that are plastered onto the paint work of your car.
2. Detergent is the best cleaning solution

This saying is also a misinterpretation. Dish washing solution or cloth detergents though are able to clean the car but they too force the waxes or other protective coating to be stripped off from the vehicle. After washing, the car might seem shining and clean but after using it for a long period of time, the oxidation process of the car will be enhanced, thus diminishing the life span of your car paint.
3. You need to warm up your engine

This is also not true, modern car technology does not need such process to be performed but it is still necessary if you are in a cold country/ temperature. But the best and most effective way is to move your car in order to warm it, since the warming up involves other part of the engine such as the catalytic converter and other significant components. Also, if you were to stay idle for more than 10 seconds, it is better to switch off the engine, because such practise will only drain you off your fuel while burning a hole in your pocket.

Saving Yourself from Tire Mishaps

aving Yourself from Tire Mishaps

By Lee Sue Ann on May 9, 2012 8:00 pm

It is not that difficult to get a driver’s license; all you need to do is demonstrate safe driving and a three point turn along with a parallel parking skill. But for race car drivers, they have to exhibit accident avoidance expertise as their lives are on the line when they move behind the wheel. Hence, we have gathered tips on how to react when you are faced with these 2 road emergencies.
1. Tire blow-out

Image courtesy of aa1car.com

What can you do when your tire blow out? It is time to pretend to be the bad guy in a car chase. How? All you need to do is continue accelerating and drive straight ahead. The worst thing you could do when your car tire blow is to slow your car down immediately and get off the road, hence causing the car to crash. Therefore, to survive this incident, first press on the gas pedal several seconds, allowing you to take control of the car. After so, release the pedal; since the drag force from the flat tire will be strong, it will not push the car to go faster. The most important thing is to keep your car at course and keep away from pressing the brake or clutch. Allow your car to cruise at a safe speed of around 30mph and turn towards the shoulder of the road which is at the same side as the blown tire. If situation requires, press on the brake gently to stop the car.
But in order to prevent such situations from occurring, before heading down the road, check your tire pressure especially if you are driving under a hot weather.
2. Tread separation

Image courtesy of blog.treadsource.com

Though identical, but the tread separation is much more severe than a blow out. This is because the tread rubber and the underlying steel belts are partially or completely stripped off from the tire. This causes the tire to spin at a speed of 1,000rpm, which will slice through fuel tank, brake lines, inner fender panels, rear seats, side windows and even human flesh and bones.
When you come across a loud thumping sound which is consistent, followed by a slapping sound, then a metal-tearing jackhammer pounding, then it is sure that you are facing a tread separation incident. Usually it will take days for it to occur but on a serious mode, it can happen in just a few seconds. So once you are aware of this sound, slow your car down and immediately bring your tire to a professional to have a look. If visible damage can be located, change to your spare tire before moving on.

Buying a Car Without Fraud

uying a Car Without Fraud

By Lee Sue Ann on April 24, 2012 4:30 am

In today’s world, whatever activities that we perform needs to be extra caution and careful in order to secure our own monetary position, such also applies when you are planning to sell or purchase a car through internet or newspaper advertisement. There are several ways to get you to stay away from being cheated / from fraud.
If you are the buyer:
1. Examine the car

Image courtesy of servicealberta.ca

Examine the vehicle under bright lights to acknowledge any damages that can be seen. Test driving had to be performed to ensure the engine of the car is at good condition. Bring along your mechanics or professionals if you are uncertain about your own judgement.
2. Inspect the car documents
Be sure that the sellers provide you with the proper car registration and insurance documents. Verification had to be made by checking the car variant, manufacturing years, owner details, etc. and cross check it with the advertised information to ensure it is legit.
3. Meet the seller personally

Image courtesy of fla.org.uk

The meeting with the seller is a crucial step in a car buying process, because if a seller is a caution and caring person, he/she tends to take good care of the vehicle, and vice versa. So based on your judgement, monitor the action of the seller before concluding your decision.
4. Safe transfer of money
Do not transfer any monetary to the seller if you have not inspect the vehicle or meet the seller in person. If the seller asked for an amount before you even viewing the car, turn this offer away and look for a new one. Also be extra careful if the price seems too good to be true, it suggests that further investigation had to be made.
If you are the seller:-
1. Meet the driver
The meeting of buyer in person is required before any transfer activities are made. Turn down the offer of a buyer if you are sceptical of him/her; trust your sixth sense on this.
2. Be cautious when dealing with money
The handling over of the vehicle can only be made when the buyer transfer a fraction of the money to you. If buyers were to hand you a cheque with a higher amount and asked to transfer back the balance, do not comply with him/her. If possible do not deal with him/her.
3. The transfer of title has to be done carefully
All the original documents had to be kept safely with you until all the required cash were handed to you. Upon delivery, ask the buyer to sign a delivery note which states that he/she has taken the possession of the vehicle and are liable to any problems faced in the future.

How Do Fuel Powered Cars Work?

March 4, 2012 by Joanna
Filed under: Green Drives

An essential exodus from a car that runs on a conventional combustion engine represents the fuel cell technology which was adopted by the automobile world. It is a new approach to power a car while using traditional technology. Cars can now operate on hydrogen or other renewable fuel instead of running on gasoline which are scarce. Therefore, to counter the shortage in oil, car manufacturer had come about this new creation and practise it on passenger cars, delivery trucks, buses, military vehicles and lift trucks. The aim for this creation/ production is to minimise the dependency of transportation on oil.

The foundation of a fuel powered car are somewhat the same as electric vehicles, the only difference is that power/ energy can be released as an effect of connection between gasses rather then depending on the batteries installed to supply sufficient energy that is required to operate the car’s motor. Energy that is generated refers to the electricity that is produced due to the coalition and chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. However, only one resort of such reaction is not sufficient, therefore car manufacturer had slip in few fuel cells as the main power source of a vehicle.

Image courtesy of 3wheelssvehicle.com

The power system of a fuel cell consists of an electric motor, a battery, a hydrogen tank and a fuel cell stack. After some chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell stack, electricity can be produced which in return will move the car’s wheel and launch the car forward. The battery however acts as a backup powered source for the vehicle. Besides, regenerative braking is being used in a fuel cell powered car where the motor will evoke energy generated while slowing down or stopping and uses such energy to charge the battery. It acts as a life cycle to keep the energy going, thus allowing the car to move forward without any problems.

Hydrogen can be refueled in hydrogen fueling station similar to the conventional petrol station which will be set up when the demand for such usage increases. As documented, in southern California during 2003, an experimental home fueling station was built to collect hydrogen from natural gasses and allows drivers to refuel right from their garage.

Image courtesy of hydrogenthusiast.com

Since 2008, two major automobile makers had tested their fuel cell passenger vehicle namely the Chevrolet Equinox and the Honda FCX. According to Honda, the FCX can runs up to 240miles before needing to refuel while the Chevrolet is able to reach 100mph and runs up to 200 miles before the next refuel. Both are still in the stage of testing, so stay tune for more information and news about the new and improved version of fuel cell powered car!

Image courtesy of blog.norcalcars.com

The Best Ways to Clean Your Car

February 20, 2012 by Joanna
Filed under: Helpful Tips

Yes, I know most of you know how to clean a car, but what is the best way to clean it? We all know that it is necessary to clean it because any nice looking car will appear rough when it is all dirty. Therefore, I have compiled some tips in this car cleaning process. But bear in mind, do not clean your car under a bright hot sunny day. Reason is because the water stain can be visible when you are done, which leaves you in vain as you need to redo the whole process again. Hence, remember to only start your cleaning process during evening.

The goal of cleaning is to minimize the scratches on the paintwork, therefore it is best to start from the top and work down to the grittiest part. Most of the scratches happened due to careless cleaning as cleaning cloth will pick up grit from any part of the car and add a little scratch to the paint job when it is wiped over.

The first step is to rinse and wet the body frame of the vehicle with normal tap water, and do not use a sponge during this process as it might pick up unnecessary grit. It is recommended to use a high pressure hose; however, a hose with strong jet can also be used. This process is crucial as it loosens and washes away any grit from the car, besides, other dirt like mud or sand will fall off when water gets into it. After so, clean the inside of the car, as it gives time for the water to dissolve any dirt from the exterior of the car.

Image courtesy of worldofstock.com

Any unwanted wrappers and paper should be discarded while you’re cleaning the inside of the car. Also remove and vacuum all mats to eliminate sands and dirt that was stuck there. Using a damp cloth, wipe the dashboard, console and plastic area of the vehicle. While doing it avoid using silicone as it will leave a greasy residue. Finally wipe the sills, boot seams before proceeding to the exterior of the car.

Hose the car one more time before wiping it with a soft fluffy wool cloth to remove all unwanted reside. However, the scrubbing part should not take place at this time. Start on the top in a circular motion until you are through with the whole car.

After so, mix water and pre-wash product in a bucket. Avoid using products that does not foam up or create a lot of bubbles, also don’t choose a product that incorporates built in polish as it will lock the dirt under the polished layer which makes the cleaning process 10 times harder. For stubborn stains, opt for a tar and bug removal spray.

Use a slightly harder sponge with quality car shampoo to scrub off unwanted stains. If stains refuse to come off, opt for a scrub pad but it is limited to the sills and lower front bumper. For the wheels and tyres, brush off the stains with a scrub pad. Avoid using the same cloth that you use for the body to clean the wheel of the car as it will damage the paint job of your car.

Image courtesy of kia-buzz.com

Now its time to rinse your car with clean water. After so, dry it using Chamois leather; damp it with a little water for excellent finishing. Your car should be looking bright and vibrant after all the tedious actions.