Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
As long as there are sports cars, there will be Ferraris, and as long as there are economy cars there will be Hondas. Those two makes have defines their genres for so long -- even helped to create them in the modern sense -- that there's almost no separating the make from the niche. So, in that vein: as long as there are minivans, there will be Dodge Caravans. The Caravan has defined its genre since the market existed, and there's no reason to imagine it won't see it through to the end.
Call it "The Curse of the Cimmaron" -- it exists in the history of every manufacturer, not just GM. This curse is what happens when a single car -- a terrible, embarrassing, vile abortion of all things good and pure in a marque -- destroys every other car it's related to simply under the weight of its own awfulness. Was the Cavalier a bad car? Absolutely not; neither were the Pontiac Sunbird, Buick Skyhawk or Oldsmobile Firenza. But they did have the bad luck of being related to the Cimarron in the 1980s, and that was enough to sign the…
It is a unnerving feeling when your vehicle will not start due to a dead battery. In years past, you would simply open the hood of the car to locate the battery. With safety and space saving technology in today's cars, it can take some searching to find your battery. Vehicles like the Pontiac G5 have the battery in the trunk. Replacing the battery is something you can do with basic tools.
One thing's for sure about the modern Harley customer: he or she sure doesn't expect to ride around on a motorized bicycle. Harley generated a big following World War II, when pilots returning from the war found themselves with a bit of disposable income, no one to tie them down and an incipient craving for freedom, adrenaline and the rush of wind. If the modern Harley customer has one thing in common with those former fighter pilots -- apart from the leather jacket, of course -- it's that he doesn't feel particularly comfortable meeting the wind with no radio and…
Harley-Davidson has produced an array of engines to power its classically-styled motorcycles throughout the years, ranging from the original 25 cubic-inch single-cylinder engine built in 1903 to the massive 103 cubic-inch Twin Cam V-twin engine that powers all Harley Big-Twin models built in 2012. Determine your motorcycle's engine displacement -- or size -- by using the engine's bore and stroke specifications, the motorcycle's vehicle and engine identification numbers or simply through visual identification of the engine itself.
The 8-inch Ford rear axle was used from the early 1960s to 1980 in small and mid-size passenger cars with six- and small-block V-8 engines. The 8-inch rear axle looks very much like the popular Ford 9-inch rear axle. Both axles use a third member that contains the differential, which is made up of the ring and pinion gear, spider gears and various bearings. The third member fits in a banjo-type axle housing that does not have a rear cover.
The Pontiac Grand Prix was introduced in 1962. The 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix is equipped with a 2.8-liter V-6 in the base model, with the option of a 3.1-liter V-6 and a 3.1-liter turbo V-6. The alternator on the 1989 Grand Prix maintains the battery charge. If the alternator is bad, the battery rapidly wears out. Testing the alternator current allows you to know if the alternator is bad and needs to be replaced. An electrical fault or short also can resemble a bad alternator.
The history of the Ford Festiva, a subcompact car for the fuel-sipping, economically conscious market, spans over 15 years. Although the car's time in North America was brief, lasting only from 1988 to 1993, the Festiva left its mark on many corners of the world. Enthusiasts remember the Festiva as an efficient auto; in fact, the Environmental Protection Agency placed the 1988 Ford Festiva at No. 25 on a 2011 list of the most fuel-efficient cars since released 1984.
Ford's first inline six-cylinder engine was introduced in 1906. Production of this engine was stopped one year later because it produced more power than early transmissions could handle. Ford reintroduced inline six-cylinder engines in 1941. Early Ford six-cylinder engines utilized the flat head engine design. The first engine specifically produced for industrial purposes was the 254-cubic-inch engine designated the Rogue 254 or M Series.
Harley-Davidson uses a headlamp assembly within the headlamp nacelle to house and protect a quartz-halogen bulb on the 2009 Heritage Softail models. The Heritage also comes with a pair of auxiliary lamps mounted on the auxiliary light bar. Vibration and shock while riding with the lights on can cause the filaments within the bulbs to break and the lights to fail.
Ford’s F-series has been in continuous production since 1948. All the vehicles in the line are full-size trucks, and the chassis has proved a popular platform onto which numerous modified bodies have been fitted, a process properly called upfitting. The F-600 platform has seen duty in an extraordinary variety of applications: as fire engines, as flatbed haulers for heavy construction machinery and pretty much everything in between. The best-selling model of the series is the F-150, the lightest variant, which holds numerous records for sales.
Ford’s E-series debuted in 1961, and as of November 2011 is still in production. The van is widely referred to as the Econoline. Initially a compact, the line at time of publication features only full-size vans; it is built on a chassis that is also used for F-series pickup truck production. The E-series has been the best-selling full-size van line every year since 1980, representing almost 80 percent of all U.S. van sales in 2010.
The Dodge Intrepid, introduced in 1993, was a full-size sedan that replaced the Dynasty and Monaco as Dodge’s largest four-door sedan. As a front-wheel drive sedan, some of its engine properties were common to the 300M sedans, Chrysler Concord, Chrysler New Yorker and other Chrysler models. The early efforts of auto designer Kevin Verduyn introduced the aerodynamic design for which the Dodge Intrepid would eventually become known.
Ford was a leader in station wagon design and innovations, including the power window tailgate and dual-way tailgate. Ford’s woodie station wagons in the 1940s are pop culture icons popularized by early 1960s surf music, but the wagon reached its zenith in sales with Baby Boomers attracted to features like faux wood paneling, larger window space in the rear, the sporty compact Futura and the high-end Country Squire.
Realistic, colorful and pretty much unbreakable, cast-iron toys were popular and affordable in the not-so-distant past. The premier manufacturer of such toys was The Hubley Manufacturing Company, founded in 1894 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by John Hubley. Exclusive rights to produce toy versions of Harley-Davidson motorcycles was awarded to the factory in the late 1920s. By the 1930s, Hubley was the leading manufacturer of such toys in the United States. Even Popeye rode a Hubley-made Harley during the 1930s. Reproductions are often passed off as genuine, but there are methods of checking for an authentic cast-iron Hubley motorcycle.
The presence of oil leaking from your Harley-Davidson's air cleaner is the first symptom of a condition called "blowby," which allows the pressure generated within the engine's combustion chamber to blow past the pistons. This pressure forces oil out of the engine crankcase and into the air cleaner. Blowby affects the engine's ability to compress air and fuel to create the combustive force needed to operate. However, a similar oil leak can occur if the motorcycle's oil tank is overfilled. Though the second cause is not as harmful, it can cause blowby if it is not quickly dealt with.
The Arctic Circle may not be getting any closer to most of the planet, but try telling that to the people who must endure northernmost climes on a regular basis. For them, the words "bone-chilling cold" fall far short of describing the metal-shattering extremes of mid-winter. While few autos on Earth can bear the brunt of all that mother nature can dish out, it's best to know what will happen to the typical auto during those deepest of deep freezes.
Unpredictable behavior from a trusted old car can be disconcerting and possibly dangerous. Comfort derived from years of faithful service might become replaced by doubts in your Century's abilities. Thankfully, the components involved in such malfunctions are easy to get to, and inexpensive to replace. Engine options for the 1986 Buick Century include a throttle-body injected four-cylinder from the Pontiac Division of GM, a carbureted Chevrolet 2.8 liter V-6, and two versions of Buick's 3.8-liter V-6. When the 2.8-liter V-6 engine begins stalling, the first step in the repair is to troubleshoot the issue.
The 1925 Chrysler Six automobile rose from the ashes of the Maxwell car after the Maxwell Motor Company brought in Walter Chrysler to save the ailing company. Maxwell produced cars with Chalmers and Chrysler shuttered the Chalmers operation in 1923. Two years later, Chrysler cars replaced Maxwell. Chrysler in 1925, as in 2011, was a classy alternative to the blue-collar Ford and Chevrolet cars. The debut Chrysler featured several technological innovations, including a high-compression engine.
The Jeep dates back to July of 1940, when the United States military needed a replacement light reconnaissance vehicle to replace the modified Ford Model-T. The requirements set out by the military required that the engine run smoothly, and the body needed to be rectangular-shaped, with a fold-down windshield and three bucket seats. Although called a "Jeep” while of service to the military, the name stuck after the war and eventually became an important part of the Jeep logo.
Many of the transmission problems you may experience with your 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier can be diagnosed by recognizing the symptoms of the problem, such as noise and performance issues. This allows you to troubleshoot the malfunction without performing any mechanical inspection. Additionally, many transmission problems will activate the "check engine" light on the Cavalier's instrument panel. If this is the case, you can pinpoint the problem by hooking up a diagnostic reader to your Cavalier. The device will then give you a readout of the ECU error code recorded, as well as a brief description of the transmission problem and/or…
A malfunctioning battery or charging system in a car can create an array of symptoms: no starts, electronics malfunctions and complete vehicle shutdown are just basic examples of what a malfunctioning battery can do to a vehicle. All three versions of the 3.0-liter V-6 in the base model, as well as the 3.4-liter V-8 in the 1999 Taurus SHO utilize the same battery sizes. The 1999 Ford Taurus uses a standard 36-series battery, but has the option of a 34-series, as well. Proper protective equipment is essential to performing this project in a safe manner.
The GMC Astro is a heavy duty truck with a cab-over-engine design that was produced by General Motors beginning in 1969. It replaced GMC's earlier line of cabover trucks, the "F" models, whose angular profile led them to be nicknamed "Crackerbox" trucks. The Astro line was discontinued in 1987 along with the conventional-cab General and Brigadier lines.
Running boards on a Harley-Davidson are not only a terrific custom feature, but they are truly functional as well. They significantly reduce fatigue in the lower leg caused by foot pegs. Be aware that some custom running boards require modified brake and shifter arms. Ask the retailer if this is the case with the boards you choose. There are countless different manufacturers of custom running boards for a Harley-Davidson. Research the manufacturers and view their products so that the chosen running board design blends with the customizing concept. The running boards must be purchased for the specific model they are…
While Ford's 351M and 400M engines (as used in F-150s of this vintage) may have gotten something of a bad rap over the years, their basic architecture does hearken back to the company's legendary Cleveland block. Essentially, a Cleveland block and heads with Windsor internals, the 351 "modified" engine is in some ways the best of both worlds. After all, that's the same basic recipe used for Boss 302s (except for the Windsor block), and you'll have a hard time finding anything bad to say about that.
The 1999 Dodge Intrepid was equipped with a 2.7-liter V-6 engine in the base model. A 3.2-liter V-6 was available as an upgrade. The tie rods on the 1999 Intrepid are responsible for the toe alignment of the vehicle. The toe is the turning of the wheel inward or outward on a horizontal plane, and is judged by the front and rear treads of the tires. When the inner or outer tie rods go bad, it can make the tires wear unevenly on the inner or outermost tire treads.
The Oldsmobile Cutlass was produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. It started out as a compact car, but by 1964 it was considered an intermediate or mid-size luxury car. The 1986 model was part of the fifth generation of Cutlass models. Customers could choose from the Cutlass Supreme or the Cutlass Salon
"FaceBreaker" is an arcade fighting video game released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii consoles. The final boss fight is against a powerful robot called BFR. In order to unlock BFR as a playable character you must defeat him in the "Brawl For It All" tournament on the "Heavyweight" difficulty setting.
Changing camshafts is a common modification when increasing an engine's horsepower, especially on the Ford 351 Cleveland engine. Manufactured from 1969 to 1982, the 351 Cleveland was one of Ford's top-performing engines of the 1970s, before emissions regulations took out much of the engine's punch. Camshaft modification is a good way to improve the performance in a 351 Cleveland. A number of roller cams that improve 351 Cleveland performance are available, depending on your particular camshaft needs.
The Detroit Big Three -- Chrysler, Ford and General Motors -- went kicking and screaming into the 1970s small car market, but there was no mistaking the handwriting on the wall. Higher insurance premiums on performance cars and stricter emission controls doomed the gas-guzzler. The oil crises of 1973 and 1978 demanded a compact fuel-efficient car. Chrysler's Dodge truck division responded by importing Mitsubishi pickups rebadged as the Dodge D-50, and later, the Ram 50.
Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth have a long and illustrious history in NASCAR, particularly during the company's muscle-car glory years. Dodge has been, in many ways, a victim of its own success in America's most popular racing series. It might even be fair to say that Chrysler's aggressively competitive performance division and its engines have made NASCAR what it is today.
Not all Ford customers are looking for a traditional passenger vehicles. Racing and muscle car enthusiasts also build, modify and restore Ford vehicles or their own creations using Ford racing parts. Although anyone can purchase Ford racing parts directly from Ford, many prefer to work with local mechanics and parts shops. Ford does not sell franchises, but it allows mechanics and retailers to sell authentic Ford merchandise and align themselves with the Ford line of performance and racing products.
Ford began equipping its Ford F-Series and compact Ford Ranger pickups with diesel engines in 1982. Ford initially used the International Harvester IDI indirect injection engine and later Navistar diesels in the F-Series pickups. Ford marketed these engines as the Power Stroke. Ford developed its own diesel for its 2011 trucks. For the compact Ranger, Ford used 2.2- and 2.3-liter four-cylinder diesels from Mazda and Mitsubishi.
In 1984, Jeep released an all-new compact SUV: the Cherokee. Prior to 1984, Jeep used the Cherokee name as the sporty trim level of the Wagoneer. The 1985 Cherokee had three engines available: a 2.1-liter four-cylinder, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 2.8-liter V-6. All three engines use similar cooling systems and can develop similar problems.
Cast crankshafts are typically used in low-horsepower applications. They are the least expensive to produce and wind up in all but high-performance vehicles. Steel crankshafts are capable of handling a lot more twisting force and higher rpm than a cast crankshaft. A cast-iron crankshaft is made in a mold, after which it is installed in a lathe and ground to specifications. A steel crank is forged and twisted and hammered into shape.
An FXST is a kind of Harley-Davidson motorcycle. F means "big engine motorcycle" and X indicates "sport." The original FX in 1971 was assembled from F and X parts. "ST" stands for "Softail," which is a suspension system without visible shock absorbers. This bike was manufactured before 2007 because starting in that year all new Harleys came equipped with fuel injection. The carburetor, or carb, is a constant-velocity Keihin carb and it is easily replaced in one lazy afternoon.
As cam bearings are made out of a very soft metal, when inserting them into an engine great care must be taken; you can't simply pound them in with a hammer, as they will bend. Furthermore, cam bearings have to be aligned perfectly straight when inserted into the bore. Expensive, specialized cam bearing tools are commercially available, but home mechanics can duplicate these tools with a little ingenuity using common materials found around the shop.
Riding a motorcycle requires learning a whole new skill set. For instance, new riders must master the friction zone, the area of clutch travel where the clutch is partially engaged and enables precise control of power delivery to the rear wheel during a smooth start from a full stop. Accelerating, shifting and braking all require the rider to coordinate foot and hand movements to control the motorcycle. To make the motorcycle go in the desired direction, a rider must learn how to counter-steer. This is counterintuitive for many people.
Chevrolet based the original 1936 Suburban off its commercial panel van, by adding widows to the rear of the van and placing seats in the large cargo hull. The 2006 Suburban 2500 is a far cry from its predecessor in appearance, but still has the same basic function -- move as many people as possible. Another feature the 2006 Suburban 2500 had was the ability to tow heavy weight behind it. Knowing the exact towing capacity of your 2006 Suburban is important before attempting to tow with it.
The Chevrolet Camaro, built by General Motors, was first sold to the public in 1966. That first-generation model, however, is considered a 1967 car. That's because, at the time, many auto makers introduced a model offset from the year it was to be introduced. Most models then, and many now, are introduced in August of the year preceding their actual model year. While available to the public in 1966, customers were actually buying a 1967 Camaro.
The Ford-New Holland 1920 with an optional 7308 loader was part of the Twenty Compact Series of utility farm/agricultural tractors. Ford-New Holland produced the model 1920 tractor from 1987 to 2000. The company produced the 1920 tractor after Ford's tractor division purchased New Holland in 1986. The 1920 model replaced the Ford-New Holland 1910 and was a larger version of the Ford 1720 model. The 1920's retail price in 2000 was $15,500.
The Ford Motor Company started producing tractors in 1917 with the introduction of the Fordson F farm tractor. The company quickly established manufacturing plants in Dearborn, Michigan; Cork, Ireland; and Dagenham, England. The manufacture of industrial tractors dates back to the 1920s -- most notably International-Harvester -- but Ford industrial tractors didn't arrive in the United States until 1953. However, Ford industrial versions were developed in England as early as 1945.
By 1994, the Dodge Shadow had overstayed its welcome and Dodge had plans to replace it in 1995 with the more sporty and modern Neon. The 1995 Neon didn't disappoint, as it came standard with a 131-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and had an optional 150-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine available. The cooling system on the 1995 Neon uses a temperature-activated valve -- the thermostat -- to regulate the flow of engine coolant through the engine.
Stop 'n' go spinners take the place of a hubcap, adding visual interest to a car. The spinners come in a range of styles allowing you to select a distinctive look on your vehicle. The spinners operate with sealed bearings in the interior and create interesting effects when in use. After installation, have a friend drive your car around the parking lot so you can see them in action.
The state of Florida has toll roads that crisscross east to west, north to south. Although you still pay with cash, many residents use a SunPass to zip through without stopping. The SunPass uses radio transmissions as it goes through the toll booths; your SunPass is charged a reduced toll which you can pay with your credit card. There is a large transponder that can be moved from car to car within the family, or you can get a smaller sticker that must stay in one car.
The differences between a 4X2 sport utility vehicle and a 4X4 are vast, and prospective buyers should consider their driving needs before deciding which type of SUV to purchase. The 4X2, or two-wheel-drive, features a drive system that transmits power to either the rear or front wheels. A 4X4, or four-wheel-drive, has power delivered to all four wheels via a transfer case. All-wheel drive is different from 4X4, and the two shouldn't be confused with each other.
The Caterpillar company's core line of products revolves around heavy machinery and earth moving vehicles. These vehicles and trucks are relied on by many companies to get work done in the construction industry. Profits and productivity rely on smooth and reliable motors to allow for less down time and money loss. While operators can expect the best technology out of the Caterpillar brand, there are things they can do to ensure smooth and continued operation out of their machines.
William S. Harley and Walter and Arthur Davidson founded the Harley Davidson Company in 1903. This company has manufactured motorcycles in a number of styles and product lines and continues to manufacture motorcycles at a number of plants in the United States. Although HD has experienced periods of stagnation and even decline, the company has returned to a position of leadership in its field, and as of this writing, displays a number of strengths.
The 2002 Sportster models used the same polymer drive belts found on the rest of Harley-Davidson's newer machines, providing the rider with several thousand miles of quiet, nearly maintenance-free rides. Drive belts do have a disadvantage however, especially when replacing a worn belt -- unlike a traditional drive chain, which can be separated and joined after installation, the belt must be removed and installed as a whole. The job calls for basic hand tools and a motorcycle jack, but will take several hours to complete.
The 1989 Bayliner Quantum combines the best of two types of boats. The Quantum is a sleek looking bass boat that doubles as a ski boat. In order for a 1989 Bayliner Quantum to run, it must have gas -- no gas, no good times on the boat. To put gas into the gas tank, it is imperative that the Quantum's owner knows how to remove the gas cap. Although very simple, removing the gas On the 1989 Bayliner Quantum boat does require the use of one specialized key. Without it, the weekend could be sunk.
