Automotive Information
List number 1

Saving Teen Lives

The National Highway and Traffic Safety estimates that of the 26 million 15 - 20 year olds, 7500 of them will be involved in "fatal" car accidents. Of the reasons cited are inexperience, risk taking behavior and immaturity. All of these lead to a greater exposure for car accidents. The fact is, automobile accidents are a serious problem for teenagers. Safety experts are trying to change that by. . .

Parents of Teen Drivers

After the Driving School So, what does a parent think while sitting in the passenger seat and their teen is driving with a permit license? A “bump” in the parking lot with another car? Traffic tickets for moving violations? Insurance rates sky-rocketing? If you visit search engines you can find several resources to assist you on this subject. Try searching on the phrase “parents with teen dr. . .

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) for Teen Drivers

The crash risk is highest for drivers 16 years of age due to their immaturity and limited driving experience. A series of five research papers published in a September 2002 supplement of Injury Prevention address reducing the crash risk among young drivers. The papers make a compelling case for graduated driver licensing (GDL), the system of laws and practices that gradually introduce young dri. . .

Teen Driving Statistics

As a parent, if you search for any information about Teen Driving Statistics you will find statistics similar to those below. I have reviewed various websites to summarize the information from these sources, however, please feel free to search the web for “teen driving statistics” for more websites and information on this subject. The information allows us to ponder if teen driving needs to be. . .

Automotive air conditioner basic troubleshooting tips.

If your automotive air conditioner isn’t working quite right, here are a few ideas to begin. First of all start with the control panel on your dashboard. Most automobiles have an A/C button that actually turns the compressor on and allows cold air to be circulated. You might have accidentally hit the recirculation button instead of the A/C button. (Don’t laugh, I had a friend that spent a week . . .

Raising the Teen Driving Age to 18

This article is designed to raise the concern about teen driving fatalities and what can be done to drastically reduce this alarming statistic. While this article may be sensitive to some readers in certain industries, we would like to raise the question as to what can be done to make our teens better drivers and how to alert others on the road that a new driver is behind the wheel. Our previo. . .

Your Engine, Your Baby: Synthetic or Conventional Oil

One central argument between car enthusiasts and on Internet car forums alike is what oil is better for your car, synthetic or conventional. Before synthetic oils became available for regular automobiles, the argument centered solely on brand types and weight. But now, with the advent of these synthetics all over the market, what is truly the best choice for your engine? Let’s explore both of t. . .

Why use an air ratchet wrench?

I must admit that at first I thought an air ratchet was a poor man's impact wrench. I couldn't have been more wrong! Basically an air ratchet wrench is more powerful version of your trusty handheld socket set. However, after using this air tool a few times, you be tempted to throw that old socket set in the trash. A 3/8" Ingersoll Rand air ratchet wrench is great tool to start with in your coll. . .

Be careful not to over tighten your lug nuts!

A common site in your neighborhood auto garage is a mechanic tightening up the lug nuts on your car with an impact wrench. You hear the common screech of the impact wrench as it makes quick work of the lug nuts. You also probably rarely see that same mechanic actually use a torque wrench. Impact wrenches are great tools but they can and will over tighten the lug nuts on your car. At first that . . .

How to prepare your automobile for long term storage.

If you are leaving town for an extended period of time or are storing a vehicle for seasonal use, there are several things you can do to protect your automobile and insure it will be ready for use when you retrieve it. Taking the time to prepare your car right will save you a lot of grief and money later on. The first step is to find a suitable location for long term storage. This is critical. . . .

A few easy steps to flush your automobile’s radiator and coolant system.

One of the most overlooked maintenance items on your car is the coolant system. Most people don’t even think about it until they are on the side of the road with the hood up and steam pouring out of the radiator. This traffic nightmare can be avoided by some simple routine maintenance. Your coolant system should be flushed every two years and the anti freeze replaced as well. The chemicals in a. . .

Hybrid Hype and a Small Price Hike

Drive by any car lot in the United States and ask to see the latest hybrid car models. Don’t be stupefied if eight out of ten tell you that they can’t seem to keep them on the lot—that they’re just selling too fast! There is reasoning behind the hype: consumers believe in one (or all) of three things, that they’re going to be getting a better deal once gas prices hit $2.50 a gallon, that they’r. . .

In the Nick of Time: Your Car’s Serpentine Belt

Recently, my friend called me from a roadside Dairy Queen in frenzy. His dad had been driving his Ford car down the highway and heard and awful noise. First, there was a squeal and then what sounded like a whip smacking the underneath of his hood. They weren’t sure what was happening, but after investigating, found that a black rubber belt was half-eaten off its pulleys. “Is the belt still on . . .

Pssst: Wanna (not) Buy a Stolen Car?

Internet: **************************************** You are welcome to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the byline resource box is included--with hyperlink active.************* Pssst: Wanna (not) Buy a Stolen Car? Would you buy a used car--with cash--from someone you just met in the bar, and who walked you down a dark alley to show you the car? Not . . .

Troubleshooting your air impact wrench.

If your impact wrench is not working like it used to, there are a few things you may check before you throw it in the dumpster. If you are experiencing low power on your air impact wrench, here are three easy steps. The first problem could be a dirty inlet bushing or air strainer screen. Just simply clean both of these with a suitable cleaning solution. Next, examine the cylinder. Replace it i. . .

Air tools or electric power tools? Which is better?

Many people wonder if using air tools is worth the cost purchasing an air compressor, hoses and the air tools. Why not just get an electric impact wrench or electric drill? Sometimes electric tools are a great choice but there are many reasons why air tools are superior. First of all, you have the option of using air tools in a wet environment. You can't get electrocuted with an air tool. Feel. . .

The Basics for Choosing the Right Air Compressor

There is a lot of confusion out there about selecting the right size air compressor to run your air tools. Basically, there are several factors to look at when choosing the proper air compressor for your shop or garage. The first criteria is horse power rating. Most people assume the higher the horsepower rating on the box, the better the air compressor. However, all horse power ratings are no. . .

Turn air into gasoline! Tire pressure and better fuel efficiency.

One of the easiest ways to improve the gas mileage for your car is checking the tire pressure in all four tires. Simply doing this routine tire maintenance can save fuel and increase the life of your tires. A government study concluded that by correctly maintaining your tires is like getting 2 “free” tanks of gas a year. With today’s fuel prices that could easily be $140! You will also increas. . .

Air Sanders: Forget electric, go air!

An air sander is a common air tool often overlooked by most people. If you already have an air compressor to run your impact wrench, you may consider purchasing an air sander instead of an electric model. Your average off the shelf electric sander is fine for little home projects. But if you are really concerned about production and speed, an air sander will blow it away. These tools are also. . .

Water contamination - the enemy of your air tool

Water contamination is the great enemy to your prized impact wrench and other expensive air tools. The common misconception is that if you just drain the air supply tank in your air compressor of excess water, you are protecting your air tool from water damage. While draining your air supply tank is good, you are only preventing rust damage in the tank. The air outlet is generally at the top of. . .

The Versatile Reciprocating Saw. The power tool of your dreams.

A reciprocation saw is simply one of the handiest tools you can own. These tools are great for applications in the home or the jobsite. Milwaukee actually invented the first reciprocating saw and is still considered one of the best saws on the market. The Milwaukee Sawzall is the “Zerox” of reciprocating saws. Just go to your local hardware store and ask for a Sawzall, the salesman will know ex. . .

How to jump start a dead car battery.

Here are few tips and instructions on jump starting a dead battery. First things first, though. You need to inspect the dead battery. If you see any damage such as leaks or cracks. DO NOT go any further. Put away the jumper cables and call a wrecker. A damaged battery can explode and really hurt you. If the battery looks ok, then park the cars close enough to each other for the jumper cables to. . .

Tips for maintaining your car battery.

You seldom think about your car battery until you are in a deserted parking garage late at night and your car won’t start. Then it becomes very important in your life. Car batteries require simple and routine maintenance in order to work properly over their lives. If you can open your hood and use a wire brush, you can maintain a car battery. First thing is to pop open your hood and locate your. . .

Cordless Impact Wrench - Not the same tool as your cordless drill.

The cordless impact wrench is quickly gaining in popularity among professional mechanics and the hobby mechanic as well. You may be thinking "I already have a cordless drill that I use for impact applications, why do I need a cordless impact wrench as well?". I thought the same thing. The first difference is on the inside. A cordless drill creates continuous in-line torque. A cordless impact wr. . .