Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Do I Need A New Muffler?


It's not difficult to know if your muffler needs replacement, generally your car will be louder than normal. Mufflers are not repairable, they wear out, rust out or sustain damage and replacement is your only alternative.

Where should I take my car for a new muffler?

A few decades ago there were muffler shops all over town. Mufflers are better engineered and last longer than they used to, which has led to a decrease in the number of muffler shops across the nation. There are still plenty of places to get your muffler replaced.

Muffler shops still exist because not every auto repair shop is equipped to replace mufflers. Most mufflers need to be cut off and the new muffler welded in place. In addition to welding, muffler repair shops have tube bending equipment to custom bend a new exhaust pipe from your engine to your tailpipe if needed.

Some general auto repair shops will be equipped to replace your muffler. If you suspect you do need a new muffler, ask your mechanic if this is a service they perform. There are literally thousands upon thousands of muffler shops in the United States.

Choosing a muffler

Generally speaking, car mufflers usually don't go out while the vehicle is still under warranty. They last quite a bit longer. When it does come time to replace your muffler you have many choices. You can take your car to the new car dealer to get the exact replacement part for your vehicle, but be prepared to pay more than you would at a muffler specialty shop or a general auto repair shop.

You need not replace your muffler with the exact part number from the Ford dealer or Toyota dealer. Replacement mufflers are designed to replace the original mufflers from the vehicle manufacturers no matter what year, make and model of car you have.

There are also a wide variety of brands of mufflers, some are engineered to let the engine breath better giving you a boost in horsepower. Consult with the repair shop performing the repair to see which mufflers are available for your specific vehicle. Keep in mind, the muffler is part of the emissions system, you don't want to void your factory warranty or do anything to keep your vehicle from passing a smog check or emissions testing in the future.

Catalytic Converters

The catalytic converter is an integral component of your exhaust system. Its function is to convert toxic gases into less toxic gases before emitting them from your exhaust pipe.

Catalytic converters do fail. One of the most common failures is clogging. When the converter becomes clogged, you may find that your vehicle does not accelerate as well. If the fuel system cannot release burned fuel, it cannot take in as much fuel to burn.

If the converter rusts, you will also have a noisier exhaust system and may smell fumes in the car's interior. The converter is normally located just under the divider behind the front seats.

Don't try to diagnose a bad catalytic converter. Most often your car will have drivability problems that lead to diagnosis of a bad converter. Many times you will find out when your vehicle does not pass emissions testing or an annual smog check.

Some catalytic converters are bolted on and some are welded on from the factory. Either way a quality repair shop can replace the catalytic converter for you.

Muffler repair components

Pipes leading to a muffler, from your catalytic converter often rust out and need replacement. Tailpipes will sometimes rust the muffler connection. Hangers also break. If your exhaust system is lower than normal, or dragging under your vehicle, you probably need new hangers. This is usually a low cost repair, but should be performed quickly. Dragging exhaust system components will damage them. The metal can also produce sparks that might start a fire.

You can extend the life of your exhaust system by ensuring that you drive far enough during wet or cold weather to heat up and dry the exhaust system. If you only drive a few miles every day your exhaust components may actually wear out quickly. When you first start your vehicle in cold or wet weather, moisture forms inside the pipes. If the moisture is not removed by heating the exhaust system, the pipes will rust prematurely.

For a complete list of muffler shops in your area, visit http://www.autorepairconnect.com
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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Jaguar F-PACE - The New Performance Crossover



F-PACE is coming. The latest in our dynamic and seductive bloodline, F-PACE is a blend of exhilarating performance, intuitive technology and class-leading practicality. Underpinned by our Aluminium Intensive Architecture and based on the C-X17 concept, F-PACE is set to redefine the crossover segment. Offering a unique combination of sporting design fused with spacious luxury, the Jaguar F-PACE is the first of its kind. Watch the concept become reality #FPACE

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

The Importance Of Regular Brake Maintenance and Shocks and Struts Repair


Most drivers are surprised to learn just how quickly brakes wear down. They buy a new car, and before the warranty has even expired, their mechanic is telling them they need new brakes. More often than not, the problem is in the front brakes. Because most of a vehicle's weight shifts to the front when stopping, the front brakes absorb most of the impact. Friction does damage to the stopping system each and every time it is used. The good news is that this damage can be easily and affordably repaired if maintenance is done on a regular basis.

Replace the Pads

The single most common maintenance task is replacing worn-out pads. These steel cushions are attached to the calipers that clamp down on the brake discs and bring the vehicle to a halt. As you might imagine, they experience an awful lot of wear and tear during normal operation. But because they are inexpensive, pads should be replaced as often as needed.

Failure to replace pads can and will damage other parts of your braking system. Most mechanics will recommend replacing them when they wear down to less than 1/8th of an inch. Depending on your driving habits, this can take anywhere from two to five years. Good pads will last about forty thousand miles. When they are replaced on a regular basis, steel pads will protect brake discs, which are far more expensive. Worn-out pads will not provide the protection needed to prevent calipers from cutting deep grooves in discs, grooves that may cause the pedal to pulsate or seize when applied.

Shocks And Struts Repair

It might surprise you to learn that components outside of your braking system can have a dramatic effect on stopping distance. In particular, your shocks and struts are responsible for maintaining an even, steady ride. If your vehicle requires shocks and struts repair, it simply will not be able to stop on a dime. The problem? The excessive swaying and bouncing that commonly occurs when these components go bad can rob your car of at least 10 feet of stopping distance, according to testing.

The good news is that the average shocks and struts repair is a relatively simple, affordable automotive procedure. Even if the parts need to be replaced, the job shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred dollars. That is a small price to pay for improved braking and driving performance. It is important to add that automotive professionals recommend getting these important components checked every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. On average, shocks and struts repair or replacement is needed every 50,000 miles.

In the end, taking proper care of your braking system and the components that affect it saves time and money. It also ensures that your vehicle will be safe to drive for years to come.

When in need of shocks and struts repair, Las Vegas residents go to Tire Works Total Car Care. To learn more, visit http://www.tireworks.co/service-description.htm?id=121338&name=suspension-shocks-and-struts.
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Thursday, June 18, 2015

Mercedes-Benz TV: World premiere of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC.



In Metzingen Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the all new GLC at its world premiere. Certainly, Mercedes-Benz Reporter Torie is amongst the very first to discover the GLC. The second generation of the mid-size SUV from Mercedes-Benz not only impresses with its clear and sensual design idiom, but also clearly makes its mark with outstanding energy efficiency.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Preventative Car Maintenance in Summer Helps to Avoid that Sudden Breakdown


Preventative car maintenance in summer months is not much different from what it takes to maintain cars in winter. In summer, you have to regularly check and maintain the mechanical components of the car to tackle the rigors of the hot summer conditions. The following tips on preventative car maintenance in summer assures you trouble less rides:

The very first thing you need to take care is the cooling system. During the hotter months, the cooling system works more intensely to prevent overheating of the engine. For the mechanism to work effectively, the coolant and water mixture for a vehicle's radiator should measure to 50:50.

The next point about preventative car maintenance in summer is tire pressure. Tire pressure is important in all contexts - irrespective of whether it is for speed or for safety reasons. If you need your car's tires to last long and perform efficiently, you will need to inflate them properly. Properly pumped up tires help maintain the best possible contact with the road giving the vehicle steadiness and speed. Inflating tires improperly, on the other hand, leads problems like punctures.

Refer to your owner's manual for the ideal air-pressure for your vehicle's tire. Remember, summer heat causes the pressure within the tire to rise; hence, you will be required to check the air pressure when the tires are cold.

The subsequent preventative measure for your car's maintenance involves engine oil. The owner's manual specifically mentions the best engine oil for your vehicle during hot summers. Yet, the general rule for engine oil necessitates you to use a little thick, viscous oil, which lubricates the integral parts of the engine.

Next in order of importance is the car's battery. Car batteries hardly signal failure well ahead of time. It is advisable to leave all cares of car-batteries to professionals, especially in summertime when the excessive heat causes further damage to it. Changing your car battery every three years will save you a lot of trouble.

Beside these essential tips about preventative car maintenance in summer months, your cars need some lesser yet significant maintenance programs too. Replacing belts and hoses is one such car-care as is inspecting the wipers and wiper fluids.

Round up your preventative car maintenance in summer time by placing an emergency kit including basic tools like flashlights, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. inside your car. With your car ready to budge, you can hoard some rations if you are really thinking of a long journey. Placing a first-aid kit in the car will make your journey 100% safe.

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous patents and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and restorer. For more information please visit: http://www.mdwholesale.com
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Friday, June 12, 2015

The All-New BMW 7 Series. All You Need to Know.



Be one of the first to have a closer look at the all-new BMW 7 Series. Explore some never-seen-before features.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

BMW - History Of The Car Company


When it comes to the automotive industry, BMW is undoubtedly one of the most-known acronyms in the world. In a nutshell, BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, or simply Bavarian Motor Works, and it is a world-renowned manufacturer of motorcycles, four-wheeled cars as well as airplane engines. What makes BMW so popular and respected in the automotive industry is its commitment to excellence and quality, and it all started almost a century ago, back in 1916. It was then when Bayerische Motoren Werke was founded, and it was also then when engines have entered a whole new era. BMW initially started as an engine-focused company that studied and tried to enhance the performance of engines as we all know them - slowly but surely, the company moved from basic motorcycle engines to airplane engines that would revolutionise air transport.

It all started with Karl Friedrich Rapp's ambition to improve and reinvent the engines and to make them more powerful than ever before - and it was also Rapp who actually laid the groundwork for BMW. Right before the first World War, the demand for high-performance aircraft engines has sky-rocketed, and this is how Karl Friedrich Rapp's ascension to success started. The BMW company is actually the direct result of merging three different manufacturing companies in one: The Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach which was located in Thuringia, the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke located in Bavaria (which specialised in aircraft engines) and, last but not least, the Rapp Motorenwerke company which specialised in vehicle engines - the latter soon became Bayerische Motorenwerke.

As mentioned above, BMW started as an aircraft engine manufacturer, and it did that for more than a decade - it was not until the late 1920s when BMW actually became a full-time automobile manufacturer that also offered BMW servicing, upon purchasing one of the factories mentioned above (the Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach). Rapp's dream was to push the performance of its engines to a whole new level, and this is how the first line of luxury vehicles emerged, back in the 1930s. These vehicles radically changed the way people saw cars and, most importantly - comfort. Featuring no less than six cylinders, these luxury car line was actually the predecessor of the first sports car manufactured by BMW, a car that quickly gained notoriety amongst sports enthusiasts due to its state of the art engine combined with its aerodynamic design. Nonetheless, the joy of BMW as an automobile manufacturer was short-lived, as the company had to stop its production of motorcycles and automobiles when World War II started, as the company started to manufacture aircraft engines yet again.

It was not until the late 1940s when BMW was back on track and it re-started its production of motorcycles and automobiles: BMW started to focus more on automobiles rather than motorcycles, given the high demand for four-wheeled cars. It must be said that BMW enjoyed a great success in the motorcycle manufacturing field, given the fact that it managed to set the first world record-breaking speed towards the end of the 1920s, with its 750cc bike that reached the staggering speed of 216.75km/h. Less than a decade after that, BMW officially released its first roadster, the well-known 328 model. A few years after restarting its automobile production, BMW focused on luxury saloons which became tremendously popular within less than a year. Over the next few years, BMW became stronger and more popular, and it eventually received the license to start building vehicles under the reputable and immensely popular Rolls Royce brand.

Most Important Milestones For BMW

Throughout its 99 years of existence, BMW has enjoyed a wealth of groundbreaking achievements, and everything started with the establishment of the BMW company as we know it today, which took place in 1916. The second most important milestone was the manufacturing of the first motorcycle carrying the BMW logo, the famous BMW R32, which took place in 1923. As mentioned above, BMW stopped manufacturing automobiles and motorcycles during WWII, and the first BMW automobile (the 501 model) was manufactured in 1951, which also marked the beginning of new and promising era for this automobile manufacturer.

In 1972, the BMW Motorsport GmbH was founded, and one year later, so was the renowned BMW museum along with the company's headquarters. In 1994, the company started to expand its business to the United States of America, and it was also then when the company bought the Rover Group. Four years later, Rolls-Royce would come to the company, and one year after that the first automobile of the BMW X-series was manufactured. In 2004, the company released a very compact class of automobiles known as the BMW 1-series, followed by the release of the BMW I-series in 2013, the world's first line of electric cars that did not release any greenhouse gases, as they were entirely propelled by an 100% electric motor.

BMW Outside Of Germany

Although BMW was only producing and selling its aircraft engines, motorcycles and automobiles locally, it slowly started to expand its horizons throughout Europe, followed by Africa and, eventually, by North America. BMW opened its first manufacturing plant in South Africa back in the 1970s, and it quickly became one of the company's pillars, with tens of thousands of automobiles manufactured each year. More than two decades later, BMW opened yet another manufacturing plant in South Carolina, which became famous for two of the brand's bestselling models: the BMW X series (X5 and X6 in particular). The South Carolina manufacturing plant is one of the company's most productive plants, as it produces more than 100,000 cars each year (approximately 600 automobiles each day). Last, but not least, the British factories should not be neglected either (especially those located in Goodwood and Oxford), as they specialize in manufacturing high-end 4-cylinder BMW engines.

To sum it all up, this is the brief history of BMW cars and how they rose to fame throughout the decades. Car owners should know that BMW repairs are conducted in all countries where the company's subsidiaries are present, and it is of utmost importance to opt for the services of a fully-certified and expert BMW repair center such as AP Autocare, as this is the only way to be sure that your current car parts are replaced with genuine, high-quality components that come with the BMW quality guarantee!

AP Autocare, based in Bristol, are specialists in the repair and servicing or prestige cars including BMW. For more information on their BMW car servicing and repairs in Bristol, UK please visit http://www.apautocare.co.uk or telephone 0117 963 8916
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Saturday, June 6, 2015

Spheres. BMW Design cooperation with Alfredo Häberli.



For this year’s Salone del Mobile, BMW Design joined forces with Alfredo Häberli. Inspired by the BMW Design leitmotif “Precision & Poetry”, the Swiss designer invites to a philosophical journey into the future of mobility. The film documents the intense personal debate and the development process with the aid of numerous research documents, sources of inspiration, drawings and sculptural objects

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

The ABC's of Car Service


When you buy a car, it's a given that it will need service at some point. That said, those who take care of their vehicle can extend its life and avoid service for many years. For new car owners, it's helpful to know what proper care looks like, and for experienced owners, it's nice to have a refresher about the ABC's of car care.

A - Always Follow a Preventative Maintenance Plan

One of the most important parts of vehicle maintenance is following its manufacturer's recommended maintenance plan. The core component of that plan is regular oil changes, but drivers have more to do than that. In addition to oil changes, drivers should change the fuel filter, check the battery and keep the terminals clean, change automatic transmission fluid and filters, and occasionally change out the spark plugs. The car's manual comes with a suggested schedule for all the preventative maintenance that it needs, so it's a good idea to become familiar with it.

B - Be Sure to Take it to a Professional When You Suspect a Problem

Drivers can save themselves a lot of money by taking their vehicles to a professional when they suspect something might be wrong rather than putting it off because they don't want to spend the money. Putting off repairs often makes things worse, as wear and tear can exacerbate the problem, which leads to higher repair costs. Whether it's a weird sound or a component that stops working suddenly, take it to a repair shop and have it checked.

C - Correct Problems to Avoid Potential Safety Hazards

After drivers go to a repair shop for service, they should fix the problems. Sometimes that's easier said than done as money is usually the only reason people choose not to complete the service. However, the risk of putting off repairs could result in higher costs and potential safety hazards. Not only do they risk breaking down away from home, but they also risk more detrimental damage that could ultimately put the vehicle out of commission.

D - Don't Ignore Your Tires

With all the talk of engine care, another component that needs attention is the tires. Keeping them properly balanced, filled with air, and rotated can extend their lifetime. When the tires are in good shape, they help improve the vehicle's mileage. The owner's manual should include recommendations on how often to rotate and balance the tires. In general, drivers should rotate them every other oil change and balance them every 3,000-6,000 miles to keep wear evenly spread throughout the tread. It also helps if drivers check the air in the tires each time they fill up with gas, and refill as necessary.

Before you buy a new vehicle, you should understand the essentials of taking care of the car. Keeping the ABC's of car care in mind can help you make the best maintenance decisions for your vehicle, which will help keep it on the road longer. Always check the owner's manual for recommended schedules, and stick to them when possible. Even when money is tight, making your vehicle a priority will extend its life and performance throughout the years.

When considering car service, Belleville, MI residents visit Atchinson Ford. Learn more about them at http://atchinson.net/Service.aspx.
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