Auto Fixations car repair shop

Dirty cars are without a doubt unsightly and the key to a successful car washing is working from top to bottom and one side at a time. Confused? Here are a few easy steps to get your car looking like new.

• Choose a shady spot, preferably away from trees that are dripping sap or dropping leaves.
• Make sure all doors and windows are closed.
• Put one capful of car soap into a bucket and fill it 3/4 of the way with warm water. Set the bucket aside.
• Hose any excess dirt off the car, beginning at the roof and working down to the tires.
• Lather a sponge or terry cloth rag in the bucket of soapy water and sponge the roof of the car. Spray off excess soap when the entire roof has been cleaned.
• Repeat for all four sides of the car, washing one full side including windows, fenders and tires and rinsing completely before going to the next side.
• Give the car one final rinse with the hose to get rid of any water spots when all four sides have been washed and rinsed.
• Take a chamois leather (“shammy” leather) or towel and dry the car thoroughly by setting the towel flat against the surface of the car and dragging it along the surface to pick up any water spots. Start at the roof and work your way down to the tires.
• Wash the windows with a rag soaked in plain water and dry them with a dry rag, or use window cleaner and pieces of balled-up newspaper on both the inside and the outside of the windows.
• Give any metal or chrome an extra rubdown to get rid of water spots.
• Clean the interior if you have time (see “How to Clean a Car’s Interior,” under Related eHows).

Why You Should Replace Your Wipers Today

Why is it that we never seem to remember to change our windshield wipers? You know you need ‘em, you know they’re cheap, you know how easy it is to install new wipers, but your windshield is still carrying those worn out, useless strips of rubber.

There’s one time we always remember to change our wipers – when it starts to rain. Unfortunately that’s the worst time to tackle such an easy job. The next 10 minutes of your time, outside in the dry, sunny weather, should be spent replacing your windshield wipers, so check out these easy steps.

Removing the Old Wipers

The first step to replacing your windshield wipers is getting the old worn out wipers off. Be careful when removing them, the wiper arm is metal and your windshield is glass. One clumsy move and you could scratch or crack the windshield – not good.

To remove the old wiper, pull the entire assembly away from the windshield, it will prop itself in the raised position. With one hand holding the wiper arm, use your other hand to depress the small tab on the underside of the wiper where it meets the metal arm. With the tab depressed you can slide the wiper off the arm by pulling the center toward the bottom of the wiper arm.

Safety Step: Don’t Crack Your Windshield!

The metal windshield wiper arms that hold the wipers are spring loaded so that they keep your wipers pressed to the windshield in a storm. Unfortunately this means that without the soft wiper on the end, that metal arm can do some serious damage to your windshield!

Prevent the wiper arm from snapping back and hitting your windshield by carefully resting it against the windshield while you are getting your new wiper ready to install. Even if you just turn around to grab it, play it safe and “park” the arm in the down position.

*Park the wiper blade against the windshield to keep it from snapping back.

Lining Everything Up

Looking at the empty wiper arm and the new wiper, especially the attachment point, can be a little daunting. It can be hard to picture how it all goes back together. The key to getting it done quickly and easily is to line everything up before you start trying to click it all into place.

Looking at the side of the wiper where it attaches to the metal arm, you’ll see that one end of the plastic clip is flat and the other has a curve across the top. Rotate the plastic clip until this curve is pointing toward the wiper blade.
Now hold the wiper upside down next to the metal wiper arm, where you’ll see that the curve in the arm (hook shaped) matches the curved top of the plastic clip.

Clicking the New Wipers Into Place

Now that you’ve lined everything up you can put it all together. There’s a trick to this part, too.

With everything lined up, lower the wiper over the wiper arm, putting the arm between the sides of the wiper and with the open end of the “hook” facing the plastic clip.
Move the hook over the plastic clip, then pull the wiper upward so that the clip’s rounded edge slides into the hook.
Pull it tight so the assembly clicks into place.
Carefully lower the wiper back to the windshield.
Repeat the whole process for the other side and you’re done!

Polishing a car can be a lot of work, but the results will be well worth it. Polishes come in liquids, pastes and “systems” of two or more products to be used consecutively. Here’s what to use and how to use them.

• Wash the car out of direct sunlight.
• Read the car polish label carefully. Some products will stain plastic trim; others must be applied within a certain temperature range.
• Work on one section at a time.
• Apply a 1-inch circle of polish to a dampened, clean, 100 percent cotton terry cloth towel.
• Rub the polish onto the car body in a circular motion.
• Let the polish dry to a haze.
• Use a different towel of the same type (dry this time) to buff the polish.
• Move to the next section of the car.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid swirl marks by washing all the dirt off of the car first and by using a 100 percent cotton terry cloth towel to apply and remove the polish.The nap draws grit up into the towel instead of rubbing it into the finish.
• Wash your towels with liquid fabric softener–this will keep them fluffy for best results.
• Avoid using too much elbow grease on ridges and corners. Your car’s paint is thinner in those spots.

Keeping your tires at their recommended pressure will increase their life span, improve your car’s gas mileage and give you a smoother ride.

1. Let the tires cool before checking their pressure (tires are more inflated when warm, less when cold).
2. Remove the cap from the valve on 1 tire.
3. Press a tire gauge hard onto the valve and note the reading. The sound of escaping air means you haven’t inserted the gauge properly: it’s either pressed on askew or you’re pressing too lightly.
4. Add air to achieve recommended pressure, which is listed on a sticker on the driver’s side doorjamb and in the car’s manual. If you overfill, you can release air by pushing on the tiny metal stem in the center of the valve with a fingernail or the tip of a pen or pencil. If you need to guess, 32 psi (pounds per square inch) is a good rule of thumb for most passenger cars with standard tires.
5. Replace the valve cap.
6. Repeat with each tire, including the spare (the status of its pressure is often forgotten until it’s needed, and then it’s too late).
7. Check the tread depth. Recommended depth differs with types of tires. For a standard sedan tire, a penny pushed into the tread can give you a rough reading. If you can see any of Lincoln’s head, it may be time to replace the tire. A $15 tread-depth gauge can give you a more accurate reading. There may also be wear indicators built into the tread; if they show, replace the tire.
8. Check for even wear (see “How to Interpret Your Car’s Tire Wear.”) If the treads on the outside or inside are particularly worn, you may need to rotate your tires or have your alignment checked.

Checking your engine oil is an essential for your car maintenance.

Without enough oil, your engine can become damaged drastically. It is highly recommended to check your oil twice a month.

This is how to do it:

1. Park the car on a level surface.
2. To get the most accurate reading you want to check your oil when the engine is cold.
3. Pull the hood release lever under the dashboard.
4. Walk around the front of the car, reach under the hood, find the latch and squeeze it. As you squeeze the latch, open the hood
5. Find the dipstick. This is a long piece of metal sticking out of the engine with a loop at one end, usually located near the center of the engine. Many times it will be labeled with the word “Oil” or brightly colored.
6. Pull on the loop and draw the dipstick all the way out.
7. Wipe the oil off the dipstick with a paper towel or shop rag.
8. Replace the clean dipstick, making sure to push it all the way in, then pull it back out and hold it horizontally in front of you.
9. Look at the pointy end of the dipstick. If the oil on the dipstick is below the line marked “full,” add a small amount of oil. Many dipsticks simply have 2 lines with a cross hatch design in between. The oil level should be halfway between these 2 lines.
10. Add the oil by unscrewing the oil filler cap, which is about 3 inches in diameter and located on the very top of the engine. It will usually be marked with the words “Engine Oil”.
11. Check the oil level with the dipstick after adding oil. Add more if necessary. It’s easier to add more oil several times, then to take oil out.
12. Put the oil filler cap back on and secure it tightly.
    

Tips and Warnings:

• Your owner’s manual will tell you what type of motor oil your engine requires. Many cars and trucks use either 5w30 or 10w30
• It is not recommended to mix different brands of oil. Each company puts different chemicals and additives in their oil. Some oils will react negatively with other oils causing them to brake down and reduce their life and effectiveness.
• Always keep 2 quarts of oil in your car.
• The oil lubricating system is a closed system: The oil does not get used up or go anywhere. If it’s consistently low, there may be an oil leak. Leaks always get worse, and losing all the engine oil will require expensive repairs and/or replacing the engine.

MICHAEL BETTENCOURT

From Thursday’s Globe and MailPublished on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 12:00AM ESTLast updated on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009 5:04AM EST

After embargo-breaking reports surfaced on Facebook, then InsideLine.com and Autoweek magazine’s website, it’s now out there that a new, much more competitive V-8 engine is coming for the 2011 Ford Mustang next year.

The 5.0-litre V-8 will produce 412 hp, 10 less than the big V-8 in the manual version of the Oshawa, Ont.-built Chevrolet Camaro SS, but 12 more than the automatic version of the SS.

The new Mustang engine’s output is also slightly lower than the Brampton, Ont.-built Dodge Challenger SRT8’s 425-hp V-8, although Ford can still claim overall muscle-car bragging rights with its supercharged 540-hp V-8 Shelby GT500 Mustang, even if it’s priced way above the others.

Tire-burning torque for the new 5.0-litre V-8, a key figure for muscle-car fans, is rated at 390 lb-ft of torque, at least one outlet reported, also down on its larger-engined but heavier Detroit rivals.

Ford had set an embargo date of Dec. 28 for news of the 5.0-litre to come out, a couple of weeks before the 2011 Mustang will be previewed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. But at a Ford Detroit show preview in Dearborn last week, Ford conceded even then that the news of an upgraded V8 would not surprise many Mustang fans or industry watchers.

“This is one of those secrets that’s not so secret,” acknowledged one Ford exec in his Mustang 5.0-litre V8 presentation.

Ford already gave potential new Mustang buyers something to ponder when it announced a few weeks ago that a thoroughly updated 305-hp V-6 would become the standard Mustang engine for 2011.

The new Mustangs featuring both new engines will go on sale in the spring of 2010.

Hyundai adds four-cylinder to refreshed Santa Fe

The reskinned 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe that’s in dealers now has received a new four-cylinder base model to better compete with the many four-pot models in this segment.

The new four will be a 2.4-litre unit making 175 hp and 169 lb-ft of torque, and will be offered in the front-wheel drive GL base model only. It will also be the only Santa Fe to offer either a manual or automatic six-speed transmission, as a six-speed auto is standard on all other trim levels.

Surprisingly, the manual (at 10.7 L/100 km city/7.5 highway) is actually thirstier than the automatic (10.2 city/ 7.2 highway).

There also aren’t major gas-budget gains in opting for the four over the V-6, at least according to Hyundai’s official fuel economy figures, given the larger V-6’s 10.1 city/7.6 highway ratings. The optional AWD will bump each of those figures up another one- to four-tenths of a litre, giving the Santa Fe what promises to be class-leading fuel economy, especially for the V-6.

Hyundai Canada expects about 80 per cent of Santa Fe buyers to opt for the 276-hp V-6, a second-generation Lambda unit, which uses a selective alternator feature to help reduce its use and therefore fuel consumption. The V-6 models start at $28,999, while a base Santa Fe now starts at $25,999.

The firm’s safety focus continues, with ABS, active front head restraints, electronic stability control, side and side curtain airbags all standard, although you won’t be able to get a third row in the Santa Fe any more; Hyundai Canada vice-president of marketing John Vernile said the option wasn’t very popular.

“We offer the Veracruz, which is where we’ll move our third-row seat customers, which will give you more room than a briefcase behind the rear seats,” Vernile said this week.

Electric cars for Canada

While seemingly every new electric car announcement includes word of e-cars making it to the United States, relatively few manufacturers have extended those efforts to Canada.

The recently announced Smart fortwo Electric Drive and the Nissan Leaf are the only mainstream plug-in electric-only cars officially confirmed for Canada right now, not counting the available 100-grand-plus Tesla two-seat electric sports car.

At the recent Canadian preview of the Nissan Leaf in Vancouver, the company reiterated that it would bring the all-electric Leaf to Vancouver by the end of 2011, although it didn’t confirm any other Canadian cities.

However, right around the same time, at the climate summit for cities in Copenhagen, Toronto was confirmed as one of 14 cities that would take actions in the next year to upgrade electric-car infrastructure as part of a global “C40 Electric Vehicle Network,” a plan to get 40 of the world’s largest cities to commit to new measures to increase the feasibility of e-cars where pollution and environmental damage is highest.

Four companies so far have partnered with the C40 group, currently chaired by Toronto mayor David Miller: Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi and China’s BYD.

Given that Nissan Canada has already said that the Leaf would only be introduced into markets with infrastructure initiatives to support plug-in electrics, such as public charging stations and e-car parking spots, Toronto’s commitment likely guarantees that Canada’s largest city will see the Leaf, likely early in 2012.

Mitsubishi is another company that has confirmed that its i-MiEV electric four-seater will be sold in the United States “before 2012,” but still with no word about Canada.

However, rumblings among government, utility and electric car proponents in B.C. last week was that Mitsubishi would also come to Canada, perhaps as early as next year, given that three bubble-like i-MiEVs are already tootling around Vancouver as part of a pilot project with the city and B.C. Hydro.

Ford has also recently confirmed that the all-electric version of its next-generation Focus will come to Canada, likely in 2011 as a 2012 model, or right around the time the plug-in Chevrolet Volt with its gasoline-powered backup generator is scheduled to make it here as well.

Reducing costs is necessary

However, the author of the study, Sabrina Browarski, adds that production will remain below historical levels. “Manufacturers must take concerted action and make constant efforts to streamline their product, control costs and innovate to maintain their profitability,” says she.

Cost reductions, including an agreement between the three major manufacturers and the unions is important to reach and maintain profitability. The Canadian car industry received 13 billion dollars in loans from the Canadian and Ontario governments.

The Conference Board expects sales of 11.6 million cars in the United States in 2010. These figures should help boost production, it had dropped to 26% capacity last January, the study says. This is far below the historical high levels, but enough to reach profitability of the Canadian car industry.

By Armen Hareyan
With Radio-Canada.ca and Canadian Press

LED Work Light

It’s one of my favorite gifts, I am constantly suggesting it when somebody asks what they can get their home mechanic. Too many car lovers are working without adequate lighting. Old school lights can go dead if dropped or knocked. An LED work light will stay bright no matter what you throw at it, and they’re much safer than most older work lights. Even if your car person already has a work light, a new LED light will be an appreciated addition to their tool box.

Torque Wrench

Too many home mechanics are working on their cars and trucks blind. They may be able to see, but what they don’t know is that they are overtightening their nuts and bolts creating dangerous situations. An overtightened nut can become fatigued and fail, which can cause a breakdown or a serious accident. A good dial-type torque wrench can turn a problematic repair into a proper one. No mechanic should be working without a torque wrench. It’s a great gift that will be appreciated.

Cable Operated Hose Clamp Pliers

This gift is more for the seasoned car guy who seems to have everything in his tool box already. Chances are he doesn’t have this. It’s a special pair of pliers used for installing and removing spring-type hose clamps. It’s cable operated so you can really get into some tight spaces and still have the strength to compress one of those big steel clamps. If you’ve ever seen somebody trying over and over to stuff their Channel-Locks between the radiator and frame you understand why this tool could make a great gift.

Flare Wrench Set

Flare wrenches are must-have tools if you’re working with brake or fuel lines. A standard open end wrench can easily strip a hydraulic or fuel fitting. Unfortunately many home mechanics find this out the hard way. A good set of flare wrenches can save some serious time, money and frustration by doing it right the first time. Save a loved one some damage by giving this very useful car gift.

Stubby Ratchet

Tight spaces are a mechanic’s worst enemy. But with the right tools in your box you won’t be slowed down by a close fit. If your gearhead loved one doesn’t have one of these stubby ratchet wrenches in his or her arsenal, you’ll be saving time and knuckle skin by giving this great gift.

Detroit • The new, trimmed-down General Motors held a teaser party in the Motor City last week to show off some of its newest products leading up to next month’s North American International Auto Show. No specifications or other details such as launch dates or pricing were offered, simply a “look-at-me session … and no, don’t take my picture.” But I can tell you what I saw.

Now that the General has cut its list of brands to just four nameplates, Chevrolet is expected to account for about 70% of GM’s overall sales. So, the division is revamping its lineup with new products to help it meet that goal.

Some of the models shown have already had their debuts – such as the electric Chevy Volt and the Traverse and Equinox crossovers. The latter two are already proving to be so popular with buyers that GM has added a third shift at its Ingersoll, Ont. assembly plant. Other products shown here, however, were totally new and will be making their public debuts during the Jan. 11 to 12 media days at the Detroit show.

There will be a new entry model at your Chevy store – the Spark. It’s a Korean-built four-door with a small footprint but loads of space for four adults. Its interior has a funky decor that will appeal to younger buyers in particular – its exterior hue is carried over inside, creating splashes of colour on the doors, instrument panel and even the seat coverings. Choose your colour choice carefully as you’ll be seeing a lot of it over the years if you own a Spark.

Chevy’s previous smallest car, the Aveo, has been redone, growing a bit in size and broadening its shoulders to deliver a more muscular, sporty look.

It shares the brand’s new signature front end – twin grille openings, divided by a horizontal bar with the Chevy bowtie badge prominently placed.

The Aveo will be offered as a four-door sedan and a hatchback. A hot hatch that’s been given the tuner treatment is expected to be shown at the Detroit show as a concept.

The Cruze is the next stop along the Chevy product walk. It’s listed as a compact sedan, but it is at the large end of that scale. Again, its styling shares the same brand DNA, with the corporate nose, lots of sculpting in the body panels and twin tail lights.

If something with more room and functionality is preferred but you still want a trim overall product, the new Orlando may be the answer. It’s a seven-passenger compact crossover and its shape resembles the Dodge Journey’s. It offers the functionality of a minivan, but with more styling edge. It is designed to make the most efficient use of the available interior space despite its compact exterior dimensions.

Chevy will continue to nurture its performance image in the new era. It will be taking the wraps off the production version of its Camaro convertible at the Detroit show, where it will be joined by the new Corvette Grand Sport, a high-performance edition of what Chevy bills as America’s sports car.

The biggest surprise of this preview, though, was the unveiling of the next-generation Malibu. Although the current iteration is still relatively new, Chevy is giving it a complete makeover for 2011. The familiar attractive profile remains, but this edition has more sculpting, with more defined edges and character lines on the hood and side panels, while the rear end is totally new, with a high bustle look that stirs memories of a BMW sedan.

Interestingly, no mention was made at this product reveal about Chevrolet’s flagship Impala sedan, although one corporate official hinted we should stay tuned for more on that topic.

Trucks, too, will continue to be a significant part of Chevy’s sales strategy and, peeking a bit further down the road, we can expect to see a new heavy-duty lineup introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in February.

Buick and GMC also provided an advanced look at some of their products.

Buick will be giving show goers an opportunity to check out the new Regal mid-sized sedan introduced at the recent L.A. auto show. Based on the Opel Insignia, which has received more than 30 awards including European Car of the Year, the Regal will initially be offered with a 182-horsepower, 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. In the fall, a 2.0L turbocharged four packing 220 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque will be available with either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. Initially, the Regal will be built in Germany while the Oshawa plant prepares for production, which is expected to start there with the 2012 model year.

The preview also provided a sneak peek at a sportier edition of the Regal, which is based on the Insignia OPC, a European performance model with such go-fast features as all-wheel drive, an advanced suspension system and manual gearbox. Specific details are embargoed, so you’ll have to wait until the Detroit show to find out which performance features are carried over to the Buick version.

GMC is adding a top-of-the-line Denali version to its 2011 Acadia crossover line. It will be available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions, powered by a 288-hp, 3.6L V6. Standard features include eight-passenger capacity, perforated leather trim with polished mahogany accents and 20-inch alloy wheels.

GMC will also be introducing an urban utility concept at the show that resembles a more stylish version of Chevrolet’s new Orlando compact crossover.

National Post

cdear@sympatico.ca

Amid signs of impressive recovery by the auto sector from recession, global automakers as well their Indian counterparts will unveil at least 10 new car models during the forthcoming Auto Expo 2010.

Starting January 5 at Pragati Maidan here, the seven-day mega event will see top auto players as well as leading automotive component manufacturers showcasing their products and technologies to woo buyers of one of the world’s fastest growing auto market.

Over 2,100 participants from 30 countries will be taking part in the show. The focus of leading car manufacturers will be mainly on compact cars as India has emerged as the leading destination for its manufacturing, sale and export. Through global launch and unveiling of small cars, auto majors will not only try to woo Indian buyers but also promise cost-effective and mileage-friendly products to their global buyers. Interestingly, the Auto Expo in Delhi has gained importance after the last event in 2008 that saw unveiling of world’s cheapest car Nano by Tata Motors.

While car majors like Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Volkswagen and Skoda will be unveiling their compact cars, luxury carmakers like Audi, Mercedes and BMW might also come out with new offerings from the Indian market.

However, it will be top three car companies – Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors – that will come out with some surprises to consolidate their positions even as other global players continue with struggle to increase their share in the fast-growing car market.

One interesting entry this time would be presence of the iconic Harley Davidson bikes as the company plans to unveil its India strategy during the event.

Another crowd-puller this time would be display of green technology with emphasis on hybrid vehicles and ‘green’ engines.

While auto companies will be showcasing their concept and hybrid cars, a special pavilion focussed on engine and its technologies will be a unique addition to the event where companies such as Greaves Cotton, Kirloskar Engine, Mahindra Navistar, Honeywell, Cooper Automotives and Q-Shield will be showcasing their products and technologies.