2011 September | Automotive Parts Suppliers

The Top 10 Car Accidents

September 27, 2011 By

As drivers, we at times cannot avoid accidents on the road. This happens, especially, when we are not careful enough of our driving or the reckless driving of others. In 2006 alone, there have been 15,000 car accidents reported by the Philippine National Police. On average, there are 41 traffic accidents per day. It has also been reported that some of the causes of those car accidents are vehicle mechanical defects, speeding, cell phone use while driving, and drunkenness of drivers. These types of incidents often result to fatal damages, physical injuries, and even death.

Do you want to see how dangerous car accidents can be? Here are the top 10 car accidents that have happened in the different parts of the world.

#10: Drunkenness at Hwy 39

This accident was experienced by a girl last April 5, 2008 during a dark and rainy night in eastern Hillsborough County, Florida at the Hwy 39 and Sam Allen Road intersection. The girl, together with her friends inside the car was hit by a car driven by a drunk, who was unlicensed, uninsured, and undocumented. The impact of the collision pushed the girl’s car 170 feet away from its previous state. The good thing is everyone inside the car was buckled up, sparing them from major injuries.

#9: Sleep-driving

The driver of this car accidentally bumped into a post near Shell Telebastagan due to a significant lack of sleep. He was on his way home after dropping off his friends to their houses at past 3 in the morning, on a Saturday. While driving on the road at Sindalan, the driver fell asleep. This caused him to bump into a post. Extreme physical pain woke him up and it surprised at the sight of a shattered passenger’s seat, along with a dashboard located where it isn’t supposed to be.

#8: Highway Patrol Crash

Even the police could not get away from car accidents such as this. The highway patrol car got into an accident at Bell, Florida.

#7: A Rollercoaster Ride

This Red Jeep Wrangler crashed in Hillsboro, Oregon last July 21, 2007 at 4 in the afternoon. It hit the ditch at a speed of 80 mph, which caused it to flip several times, going between a fence and a telephone pole. After that, the Jeep hit the ground, and went back up in to the air flipping several more times. The driver of this car was admitted in ICU for 4 days due to neck and head injury.

#6: A Different Side of Parking

This accident happened on October 2008, in a village outside Exeter, U.K. The driver of this car tried to move down the hill, and lost control of the car; hence, making a different kind of parking.

#5: Driving Upside Down

A sharp, unmarked curve caused this car to crash down into the ditch, hit a driveway, and roll down the hill for 6 to 9 times. This happened outside Platteville, WI last September 2009. The different parts of the car were scattered on the road. Thank God for seat belts, because it saved the passengers from also being scattered on the road.

#4: How to Mash a Car

An unknown, drunk man accidentally bumped into a Toyota Corolla causing a 20-year old female passenger to experience unconsciousness and major physical injuries, while the husband/driver of this lady was dead on the spot. The rescuers tried to save the life of the lady but they weren’t successful. It happened on Highway 87 in Caplen, TX on July 04, 2004 at 1:30 a.m.

#3: Smoked Lamborghini

The 22-year-old driver of this Lamboghini lost control due to over speeding. 50% of the car was crushed after hitting the VW Golf at Johannesburg, South Africa on July 13, 2008. Everyone inside the 2 cars died in the accident.

#2: Sliced Golf 6 GT

Four young men inside this car died due to the accident on a Wednesday night. Results of the investigation show that these men have been traced to have alcohol and drug intake.

#1: FIRE ALERT!

More than 200 cars crashed in UAE (between Dubai and Abudhabi) on March 11, 2008 7 a.m. This accident happened due to a fog. Three people died from the accident while 286 people were injured.

Clips of accidents occurring in one of the most accident prone intersections in the world:

How to Choose the Right Mags for Your Wheels

September 23, 2011 By

You just bought a car. You take a good, long look at her. She’s beautiful. Like any beautiful woman in your life, you want to treat her, spoil her. And like the many beautiful women that you know, the first thing you should get them is a pair of elegant shoes.

Mags can make any car beautiful, and like any form of accessory, you should realize that they should match. Before we go on the aesthetics of your mags and your car, we have to look at the technical aspects.

Firstly, before choosing the actual mags, we have to look at the fit. Take a look at your wheels; you will find some markings. I’m not talking about the treads on the wheels, but the numbers and letters on the side wall.

There are two sets of numbers that we’re looking for. First is the mag size, and next is the thickness and width. If you see the letter ‘R’ and a number beside it, for example: ‘R13’ or ‘R15’, this indicates the size of the rims, which are the mags. The signs that I used as an example are read as: ‘thirteen inch mags’ and ‘fifteen inch mags’. So now you now know where to look if you’re wondering about which mag size you should be looking for.

Next is a set of numbers divided by a slash, like a fraction. It would appear something like ‘165/55’. This indicates the thickness and width of your tires. Normally, you can shift the mag size up or down; it’s the width and thickness of your wheels that will allow you to have a snug fit. Bear in mind, that although you may shift the size up and down, this action can cause your tire to become too stretched or too loose. If it’s too stretched, then a small bump on the road in high speeds could puncture your tire. On the other hand, shifting the size down could give you an unreliable grip on the road.

Because we are now finished discussing the technical aspects, we can now take a look at the aesthetics. As I mentioned previously, you can stretch out your wheels and have that thin look so that you have that thick bubbled look that is famous for something like a monster truck. You also have to consider the design of your car. If you want to go for a classic look or a modern look, you have various options. An example is a car with chromed wheels, painted in gold, red, black or a multitude of colors.

If you’re feeling a bit more daring, you go ahead and try spiked mags, with thick or thin spikes. An additional consideration is a white-walled wheel, something famous in classic cars. Definitely the designing could be done in a hundred ways, and it’s really up to you how you want to go about it. The designing of your mags should represent a side of your personality.

Go nuts with it and enjoy.

Why Do We Use Leaf Springs for Heavier Vehicles?

September 20, 2011 By

A leaf spring, or a carriage spring, is a simple type of spring usually utilized for wheeled vehicles. Also, it is one of the oldest sorts of springing in medieval times. One the advantages of a leaf spring over a regular spring, which is helical, is that the leaf spring’s end might be directed along a specific path. Leaf springs for heavier vehicles can be fixed to the frame, or it can be fixed at one end directly, with the frontage normally fixed through a bind, which is a small swinging arm. The bind takes up the inclination of the leaf spring to lengthen if compressed. This causes the supple springiness.

The suspension is the main feature which contributes to the suppleness of your car. As of this time, leaf springs are the commonly used in the suspension schemes of motor vehicles. In addition to this, it is recognized as a cart spring or semi elliptical spring, like an arc-figured length of a steel coil with a rectangle cross-section. As mentioned earlier, you can fix this leaf spring straightly to the both sides of the frames or straightly to the one side, the front end in particular as the other side is fixed with the shackle or bind, a small swinging arm.

Also, a leaf spring made out of many leaves in various layers piling at the peak of each other frequently began with progressively smaller leaves. These were eventually utilized to give comfort to passengers riding heavier cars. As of this time, leaf springs are detained to big commercial cars and some SUVs. The parabolic type is the latest design of the leaf spring, which is frequently utilized in buses for the reason that it gives a more amusing riding experience. Though it is known as a leaf spring, it doesn’t truly have much impression to a leaf. Basically, it is composed of a big portion of steel which has other smaller ones fixed to it. The sheets are centered on the piece to give a broad and uneven “V” shape.

Using leaf springs for heavier vehicles is ideal at dispensing weight well over a big place, and that is the reason why they are perfect on heavier vehicles. Leaf springs are also found in traditional vehicles because of the significant role they have in the suspension scheme can’t be overlooked. Some other advantages include: better fuel economy, cost efficient, improved load carrying capacity and decreased road break for an equal axle weight.

It is recommended to do some research on leaf springs for heavier vehicles to avoid unwanted damage on your vehicles, which would eventually lead to expensive repairs along the road. Your main concern must be general ride performance, stability and safety during deep towing. You have to be certain that you are purchasing an air ride suspension scheme if you are sincere about towing, which can do more than rank the ride; it must be suitable for deep towing. As several of many things in the industry of automotive, using a cheap aftermarket part frequently yields less than the finest results.

Why You Shouldn’t Pull Your Handbrake While Driving Fast

September 17, 2011 By

Deep within you may lay a desire called, “The Need for Speed”. I don’t blame you; such a thing can be called the driver’s guilty pleasure. You love the thrill of pushing your ton of steel down an empty road, or snaking your way in between sleepy drivers and startled passengers. While this is all fun and exciting, you would require a very good control of the wheel accompanied with near-perfect foot pedal control. Never think that what you see on the movies or on your favorite racing games is easy. There is a lot of skill involved.

But! I have all the driving skills in the world! Not even Michael Schumacher can touch me!

This is probably the response from a few of you. You might even want to drift your car by pulling on the handbrakes while still at high speed, so that you can skid in around the edges of the road, fulfilling that near-death thrill that you are looking for.

As I said earlier, this may be really cool to watch, and even cooler to imagine yourself pulling it off. But, before you hop into your car and step on the gas pedal, remember that in most vehicles, the handbrakes are linked to the rear brakes. To use your handbrakes when driving fast is to subject yourself to the possibility of two dangerous consequences. The first is that you would definitely wear out your brakes. Sure, breaks are designed to wear-and-tear, but it has its limits.

Your front brake, which is linked to your brake pedal, is a lot tougher than your rear brakes, which could get stuck up with continuous wear and tear faster than your front brakes. This leads me to consequence number two: Fishtailing. Using your handbrake, which utilizes the rear brakes, would mean that your car would skid from the rear, thus cars would drift like you see in the movies. The problem with this is that skidding from the rear means that you don’t have control over your car, and if you are skidding toward a barrier or wall, then you would crash.

Furthermore, if you are travelling at very high speeds, then there is a chance that your rear brakes would lock up, which would compound your fishtailing to an even greater risk. Leave your dangerous driving to your game consoles. Rather, impress your friends by driving home safe at the end of the day.

How to Properly Install Mags to Your Wheels

September 15, 2011 By

Recession has hit all of us pretty hard, and in times like these, a task that we normally have the experts carry out for a certain fee can now be done by none other than ourselves. It always helps to be able to save a few bucks. A process in which we would initially think is a hard and daunting task is fairly easy if done correctly. This will serve as a guide for all people out there – including me. This should be able to let us prove to ourselves that what they can do (for a price), we can do also… for free! Ever wonder how you can, on your own, install the mags to your wheels?

First off, every car should have a wheel jack. Use that wheel jack to lift up the tires. Since the wheel is free for work to be done on it, take out the cap that secures the air in it and let all that good old air out. You won’t need them. Having done that, you can now take out your other tools and start unscrewing the bolts that keeps the tire secure. Of course, I am sure you know what the next step will be, take the wheel off so that you can take out the old car mags or, as we say, wheel rims. This step may require a bit of effort, so it is of importance that you are fit enough for some “wheel rim manipulation”.

Make sure you do it as carefully as possible, just so you do not end up marring any edges or any other parts of the wheel. Once you have it out, proceed to putting in the new set of babies that you have. Go easy on it; a little patience goes a long way. When you get it in, get the bolts again and secure them once more on the wheel. This is a very important step, and I urge you to securely screw it back on. Your safety should still be first on the list.

You may use a tire compressor for putting air back into the wheels. Make sure that you have a pressure indicator so that you may tell if you have the right amount of air in your tires. All you have to really do now is to lower the tire jack and move on to the next wheel. Repeat the same process until you have successfully changed the mags of each of your wheels. I suggest that you give it a test run afterwards, just like breaking in a new car. Make sure you do not speed off on the first run. Go around the block a few times then check the wheels afterwards if they still are securely attached. If they still are, give yourself a big pat on the back.

You have just successfully and properly installed new magazine rims on your car. The next thing I suggest you do is drive to your best bud’s house and show them the feat that you have just overcome. Oh, and show them your fantastic new babies while you are at it.

How to Properly Wax Your Car

September 9, 2011 By

Justin was just 17 years old when his parents gave him a car. He totally loved it. He’ll drive around all the time, going on road trips with friends, traveling anywhere. He became so busy going to places that, when he finally had the time to settle in the house, his parents noticed that Justin’s car is in dire need of a good washing. “Your car is your responsibility son,” his father jested, “You should be able to take care of it as much as you enjoy using it. Now go clean it up, and make sure you wax it too.” So he walks outside, looks at his car and wonders, “How will I do that?”

Having a car is like having a pet… or even a kid. It’s not only fun and games with them. The owner has the responsibility to take good care of it if he/she wants to avoid getting it sick… I mean, broken.

The popular saying never gets old. “Prevention is better than cure”. So, before you even have problems with your car, one must be able to be attentive about it. It all starts with a good cleaning. Make sure to give it a good washing, especially after a hard rain where you have all the mud stuck on the side or the back of the automobile. Of course, it will be best to have it waxed and polished after a nice wash.

Let’s help Justin have a clean, sparkling car.

Car Wash

Before you can wax your car, make sure you have it cleaned first. Do not use random soaps like dish washing soaps, as these have different Ph than that of car soap. In cleaning your car, start from the top, heading downward, making sure you clean all sides and panels of the car. Wash it under a shade, because water spots may stain on your car if you wash it directly under the sun.

Car Wax

After getting your car cleaned, dry it thoroughly to prepare for waxing. Again, keep it under a shade so the sun would not bake the wax on your car. Extreme temperatures can cause damage to the car when waxing it.

In waxing your car, it is best to use a non-abrasive wax to avoid harming the paint job of the body of the car. Also, prepare a wax sponge, cloth diapers/towels, and a soft toothbrush in case wax gets into hard-to-reach places.

As you start waxing, moisten the sponge then dip it onto the wax, getting a small clump of wax onto it. Then start applying it in circular motions, covering one section at a time. Remember the path you went through as this is the same path you will use in removing the wax.

After covering the car with wax, it will be ready to be cleaned up again. Use the cloth diaper to wipe off the wax. Like I said, take the same path as you did in applying the wax. While removing the wax, use different sides of the cloth to avoid wiping wax build ups onto the car. Make sure you do not leave wax residues on the surfaces. You may now polish your car with a new set of cloth diaper. Remember, used cloths and sponges should be washed as well to avoid scratching the car with it the next time you use them.

Justin’s parents were so proud to see the sleek look of their son’s car. Waxing it simply made the car looked brand new over and over again.

All of us are responsible in keeping our belongings and properties look new as much as we can. These cars are one of the biggest assets we can ever have aside from our homes. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to look at its sparkling surface and always feel as if it was the first time you laid eyes on it?

Affordable Ways to Pimp My Ride (Part 2)

September 5, 2011 By

Welcome to Part 2 of Affordable Ways to Pimp My Ride. I do hope that you got some ideas on how to improve your current sound system so you could further enjoy your times of driving. With this article, I shall advance our discussion by giving you ideas on how to improve your exteriors.

Like in my previous article, I mentioned about the potential influence of many racing games and car chase movies. By the impact of these products of media, you must have told yourself: That looks cool! These things might have sparked a desire within you; a desire to make your car look more aesthetically pleasing without having to spend too much cash.

A lot of what you see on these games and movies are called additions. Such things can include spoilers (those arched parts snapped on the rear hood), skirts (extensions below the door panels), chins (extensions below the bumpers), neon lights under the car and many others. These all look good, and investing in the proper exterior can make your car beautiful, especially if it reflects your own personal style. However, not all exterior additions are affordable. Here are a few exterior additions you could try out without burning a hole in your pocket.

1.) Tints: Like I mentioned in my previous article, window tints not only provide functionality, but also provide visual appeal. You may choose different colors, from gray, smoke, silver, gold, etc. Reflective or not, the type of tint is really all up to you. The beautiful thing about tints is that they are not expensive and, at the same time, have a lasting impact.

2.) Headlights: You have your basic lights, but you can also use a halogen light with a blue tint that can give you that glow as you drive your car up at night.

3.) Moonbeams: These are the little oval stick-ons that you attach at the edge of your hood just above the headlights. They provide a slight glow at night, giving your car a classy look.

4.) Vinyl Stickers: This is how you add design to your car. Repainting it will obviously be expensive, so adding a little flair here and there can be achieved easily. You can place them strategically on your fuel cover and/or your windshield. If you are more adventurous, you can paste larger vinyl stickers across your doors, hoods and even your roof.

In addition to these affordable options, you can also change the height of your car by buying: adjustable spring, new rims, new tires with white walls and even a new muffler. These, however, will be a bit more expensive and should be considered in a staggered phase to fit your budget.

I hope that you have enjoyed my two-part pimp-your-car series. Remember, “pimping” your car can be exciting, fun and rewarding. It doesn’t have to be difficult; use your imagination and let your creativity flow.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Used Tires

September 1, 2011 By

Maintaining your car can be quite expensive. And throughout the life of your car, there will definitely be times where you’ll have to replace different parts to keep your car in perfect shape. When this particular type of situation calls for your attention, it may be very easy to just say: Hey, second-hand parts could still go on for some time right? You might think that this isn’t so bad, especially if you’re planning to sell your car in the not-too-distant future anyway. Well, think again, because this is not a very good idea.

For purposes of this article, we’re going to talk about tires. Now we all know that tires are very expensive, but we also know that they are one of the most important parts of our car. They are built to last through different environments and climates and, oftentimes, it is easy to believe that they will last forever no matter the situation. What we don’t realize is that, like all other parts of our car, tires are subject to intense wear-and-tear.

If you are considering on saving some money by buying a second hand tire, think twice. Let me explain the way tires work. They are made from rubber. This provides traction, and therefore, prevents skidding. As a result, there will be zero extra burdens on your engine to drive your car forward. Do you notice those markings on your tires? Those are called threads; they are designed to give your car traction. Each time you drive on the road, the threads wear out. You can notice this by using a ruler and taking note of the depth of the threads. After some time, measure it again and you should notice that the threads has become significantly less deep.

If you bought surplus or used tires, then chances are, the threads are already worn out and you would have little or no traction on your tires. I don’t need to tell you that this is very dangerous, especially if you’re driving at high speeds or are sloshing your way through wet, rainy roads. Remember, safety first and it’s better to buy new tires and maintain them properly rather than spend on tires that wont work when you need them to.