Know About Your Car

Stability

If you're looking for ways to improve the stability and handling of your car, here's a few.The most common method is to replace the existing rims with bigger diameters rims and tires. If bigger tires are insufficient, then try installing shorter absorbers and springs. The lower the car, the surer the handling. To gain even better handling, combine this with performance shocks that allow for height adjustment and the quality of the shock absorber. Another alternative would be the installation of anti-roll bars. This device works by balancing out the load difference between the tires when the vehicle is taking a corner.

Clutch

Ever wondered why manual cars have a clutch pedal while automatic cars don't? Well here is what a clutch does. When you step on the clutch pedal in a manual car, the clutch disconnects the engine from the transmission to allow the car to change gears and then it connects again allowing the transmission to resume and powers the car at a new speed. All that is done in a split second, the automatic does the exact same thing but it does it all, by auto transmission itself. You don't need to do anything and that's why you don't have a clutch pedal.

Alternator

I'm sure you would have heard the term alternator before. Do you know what it does? The alternator generates electrical current that's stored in the battery and is used to start the car and run all electrical equipment in the car. Alternators generate alternating current (AC) which is converted to direct current (DC). The current is then fed to the battery. When it's generating current, its called charging. Therefore when a spoilt alternator stops charging, the car battery will be forced to supply the electricity and eventually the battery will go flat. A faulty alternator needs immediate attention
Shock Absorber (SA)

Did you know your car's shock absorbers have to be checked annually or every 20,000km? Good shock absorbers give you comfort and safety. They absorb vibrations off your car caused by uneven roads and driving conditions. Worn off shock absorbers cause vehicle instability, bad road handling and pulls the car to one side and this could cause an accident. If you notice that your shock absorbers are leaking or your tire wear is uneven, chances are, that your shock absorbers are worn out and need to be replaced. You should have your shock absorbers checked by a certified shock absorber inspection center.

Radiator

The radiator in your car keeps your engine cool and needs water to function. All new cars have a reservoir system, which is a plastic bottle that holds extra supply of water and it's connected to the radiator. So this way you won't have to open the radiator cap when refilling. Always try to use a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water to fill or top off the cooling system. Important reminder: NEVER EVER ADD COOLANT TO A HOT ENGINE. If your car needs more liquid, wait about 20 minutes until the engine has cooled down to avoid the possibility of being scalded or worst - cracking your engine block.
Opening A Radiator Cap Safely Now if your car doesn't have a coolant reservoir, don't rush out & buy a new car just because you don't know how to open your radiator cap. Never try and remove a radiator cap from a hot engine because the escaping steam can scald you. If your engine is still warm, place a cloth over the radiator cap and unscrew slowly about (90 degrees). This allows the pressure to escape. Otherwise proceed to unscrew the cap and tilt the cap away from you when removing it. If the liquid inside is below the fins of the radiator or if you don't see any liquid at all, then the level is too low. Proceed to add water or a 50/50 mix of coolant & water into your radiator. If you notice that you have to top-up water often, your radiator could possibility have a crack in it.

CAR CARE TIPS Air- Conditioning


All cars these days come with air conditioning. There are 6 basic components in this system, the compressor, the condenser, the receiver-drier, the thermostatic expansion valve, the evaporator and the refrigerant. The gas used in the system is known as "R-134A". It is environmentally friendly as it does not contain any ozone depleting gas. When there's no cool air coming out of your AC vent, it could be due to one of many reasons. Please get a certified AC technician to check your vehicle immediately and remember, it is good practice to always have your AC system checked annually. By the way, did you know that you use less petrol when your AC is switched on, because wind resistance from open windows causes greater power loss..