Tag: Car Maintenance
The Keys To A Front Wheel Alignment
by admin on Jan.27, 2010, under Car Maintenance, Car Tips
The Keys To A Front Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignments are one of many maintenance items that drivers overlook or completely ignore. Unlike an engine that overheats or a transmission that suddenly whines, alignment problems are nearly imperceptible when they originally form. Plus, they build gradually over time, making them difficult to identify. Eventually, you discover that your front-end is so poorly aligned that your car can make a right turn on its own when you release the steering wheel.
Fortunately, the problem is simple for a mechanic to resolve. It’s usually a matter of adjusting the caster, camber, and toe. In this article, I’ll explain the respective roles played by each in the proper alignment of your vehicle.
The Role Of Caster
Caster affects the directional movement (and thus, handling) of your car. It is defined as the forward or backward tilt of the steering axis when viewed from the side. If the axis tilts forward, the measurement is positive. If it tilts backward, it is negative.
Caster is influenced by the height of your vehicle. That means lowering or raising your car will affect it. Automakers typically set caster between +2 and +5. If it is not positive enough, the steering response will be highly sensitive. What’s more, uneven caster between the two front wheels will result in pulling toward the side with the lesser amount. It’s worth noting that such problems rarely impact tread wear.
The Role Of Camber
Camber reflects the tilt of your wheels when viewed from the front or the back. If the top of the wheel tilts outward, the camber is said to be positive. If it tilts inward toward the center of your vehicle, it is said to be negative. The measurement is defined by the tilt off each wheel’s vertical axis.
Automakers usually set the camber between 0 and -2. If it is too positive, you’ll notice tread wear on the outside of your tire. If it is too negative, you’ll see tread wear on the inside. Both can cause excess wear and tear on your car’s suspension.
Toe In And Toe Out
Toe reflects how much the front of your wheels are turned inward or outward when viewed from above. If they are turned inward, toe is said to be positive (or, toe-in exists). If they are turned outward, it is negative (i.e. toe-out). The former leads to an understeer while the latter causes an oversteer.
Automakers normally set the toe near zero, which means the tires point forward. Any other setting will usually cause excess tread wear and lower gas mileage.
There are additional factors that influence the alignment of your vehicle’s wheels, such as the track, wheelbase, and ride height. However, these factors are related to the design of your car and are rarely adjusted. If you suspect your car’s caster, camber, or toe is off, have an experienced mechanic perform a complete front-end alignment.
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Making Sure Your Car’s Brakes Are Ready For An Emergency
by admin on Nov.12, 2009, under Car Maintenance
Making Sure Your Car’s Brakes Are Ready For An Emergency
Imagine that you’re driving at 65 mph and a young child suddenly steps out into the street directly in your path. Would you be able to stop your vehicle in time? How much time would pass before your brain would tell your foot to hit the brake pedal?
If we assume normal road conditions, you’ll probably need up to 200 feet to bring your car to a full stop. Given that a typical reaction time will be at least one second, you’ll use between 70 and 100 feet just to take action. That leaves very little room for error. And that assumes your braking system is working properly.
These type of emergencies occur every day to drivers who are unprepared for them. It can also happen to you. That’s why it is critical that you keep your braking system in good condition. In this article, I’ll explain why you shouldn’t wait for your ABS warning light to go on before having a mechanic inspect your brakes.
Don’t Wait For Your Warning System
Most drivers wait until their ABS lights come on before taking their vehicles to a repair garage. Or, they’ll wait until they hear the horrible grinding sound of metal rubbing against metal before asking a mechanic to inspect their brakes. The problem is twofold.
First, by the time the warning light flickers on, your braking system is already in dire need of attention. That means it already represents a safety risk. Given that most motorists procrastinate before visiting a mechanic, waiting for the light is dangerous.
Second, if you’re hearing metal grinding on metal, there’s a good chance that your braking system will need to be overhauled. Replacing the pads is one thing; replacing the pads and discs, and needing to have the rotor machined is another thing entirely. And it’s far more expensive.
Routine Inspections And Signs Of Trouble
You should have a mechanic inspect your brakes at least once a year. I would go further and suggest that you ask the technicians at the repair shop to inspect them whenever you have the oil changed, tires rotated, or the front-end aligned. The reason is because you’ll need to take the tires off to inspect the pads, discs, and rotors.
If a long time has passed since your braking system was last inspected, you may notice a few warning signs. For example, you might experiencing pulling to one side as you’re braking. You may also feel a vibration or pulsing when you press down on the brake pedal. If the pedal sinks without support when you press down on it, there may be a leak somewhere in the system. If you notice any of these telltale signs, have a mechanic take a look at the problem as soon as possible.
It is vital that you keep your car’s brakes in good working condition. That way, you’ll be ready for an emergency if it presents itself.
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A Closer Look At Your Vehicle’s Electronic Fuel Injection System
by admin on Oct.28, 2009, under Car Maintenance
A Closer Look At Your Vehicle’s Electronic Fuel Injection System
Automotive technology has eliminated most of the serious problems and inefficiencies that cars experienced three decades ago. From the brakes to the suspension and the engine to the ignition, vehicles today look all but unrecognizable when compared to their predecessors. The process by which gasoline is delivered to the engine has also gone through dramatic changes. Most automobiles that role off the assembly line today are now equipped with an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system. It’s far more precise than a carburetor. That means drivers enjoy better fuel efficiency and performance.
Below, I’ll provide a bird’s eye view of your car’s EFI. We’ll take a look at the main parts that are responsible for its operation, including the computer, sensors, and injectors.
The Brain Behind The System
Your vehicle is basically a computer on wheels. It considers a number of factors to identify the precise amount of gasoline that your engine needs in order to operate at an optimal performance level. For example, it watches the position of your throttle and the temperature throughout your engine. When these factors (and others) change, it makes instant calculations to determine how much gas is required for a given task.
Collecting The Data
Your car’s computer (it’s technically called the engine controller) can only do its job if it has the necessary data with which to make its calculations. Enter the EFI’s sensors. There are three of them: one to monitor the rpms, one to watch the manifold pressure, and another to note the position of your throttle. There are other sensors to monitor emissions, barometric pressure, and engine temperature, but those factors are not as important to the electronic fuel injection system.
If any of the three main sensors malfunction, your vehicle’s computer cannot receive the data it needs. As a result, its calculations will be inaccurate, which can cause performance problems or even engine failure.
The Workhorses Of The System
Lastly, we come to the injectors. They are the workhorses of your car’s EFI. The sensors collect data and send it to the computer. The computer uses that data to calculate precise amounts of gas that are needed to power your vehicle for any given driving condition. It sends the instructions to your injectors. The injectors receive these instructions and deliver the gas required to the combustion chamber.
Many things can influence whether the injectors can perform their job properly. For example, they can become partly clogged. Or, the pressure from the fuel pump may be insufficient to push enough gas through.
The computer, sensors, and injectors of your vehicle’s electronic fuel injection system must work together seamlessly in order for your engine to perform efficiently. When any of these components fail, you might experience a severe decline in horsepower and less overall fuel efficiency.