Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Some people may think of a motor home when planning a camping trip. However, some people opt for a motor home when planning a cross-country trip. It serves as transportation and living quarters for those people who do not want to spend money on a hotel room. Additionally, it may seem exciting to plan an excursion in a motor home, but a motor home does have disadvantages -- whether renting or purchasing this recreational vehicle.
What happens when a car crashes at 55 miles per hour? The answer to that question may depend on the relative speed or relative velocity of the car and its target. For example, if it crashes into the back end of a car going 56 mph in the same direction, the results will be different than if it crashes into a car going 56 mph in the opposite direction.
Honda introduced the Accord sedan for the 1979 model year. The 2007 model received few upgrades from the 2006 version. A six-CD disc changer became an option for the 2007 Accord, but other sound system enhancements were neglected. Unfortunately for digital music lovers, the 2007 Accord did not come with an auxiliary (AUX) input for MP3 devices to be plugged into.
With some gas stations advertising considerably lower prices than others nearby, you may wonder if the cheaper station offers a product of lower quality. With fuel prices climbing, it is important that consumers understand a bit about gasoline and how stations obtain their product in order to make smart decisions -- and avoid getting duped by false claims.
Hydrogen is the most plentiful element on Earth; it consists of one electron and proton. An engine that burns hydrogen produces no emissions or pollutants. Used by NASA since the 1970s as a fuel source for the space shuttle, hydrogen is being developed for use in automobiles and as another power source beside fossil fuels. The use of hydrogen as an energy source does come with issues and concerns.
The wind through your hair and the exceptional speed has made you consider purchasing a motor bike. Though the thrill of riding a motor bike is always an advantage, there are both advantages and disadvantages to owning a motor bike. Before you make the big purchase, consider the pros and cons.
Installing a remote warn switch provides an additional location to control your winch. A popular location for a second switch is within easy reach of the driver's seat. This allows the driver to control the winch while steering the vehicle. Choosing a suitable location for the switch will require some thought because you will need to cut your dash to mount the switch. This task will require a few common tools.
Protecting your Jeep Wrangler from damage while off-roading is important to maintaining the investment in your vehicle. The sides of the Wrangler, between the front and rear tires, are a particularly vulnerable area. Large rocks tend to hit in this location, potentially ruining the body and paint job. The most effective solution for protecting this spot is to install Warn Rocker Panels to absorb any impact from rocks. You can mount the panels to your Wrangler with a few common tools.
Your Jeep can get pretty banged up when pushing the limits of its off-road capability. One of the most devastating situations is a high center on a large bolder. This will damage the body and paint in vulnerable locations between the front and rear tires. One way to mitigate the damage from this impact is to install rockers on the sides of the vehicle. With some common tools, you can accomplish this task in an afternoon.
Protecting your vehicle from damage when off-roading can be a challenging task. It's difficult to predict how mother nature will decide to punish your truck for challenging her. One vulnerable area is between the front and rear tires below the driver and passenger doors. If the vehicle is high-centered over a rock, this area will be subjected to grinding across the stone. In order to protect the car body and paint job you can install a Warn rocker panel.
The 12VoltGuy builds and sells a variety of dashboard mounted switches to control aftermarket devices. Winch control products give you the ability to control your winch via a dashboard mounted system. These can come in handy when you need to steer the vehicle while it is being pulled. Installing the kit requires cutting your dashboard and wiring the system. Some common tools and a basic understanding of how a vehicle's 12-volt electrical system works is essential to completing this task.
Warn began manufacturing recreational winches in 1959. A winch is made of an electrically driven motor used to pull in a wire cable. This simple device can be used to retrieve vehicles that are stuck in the woods or on the side of the road. Winches are typically controlled by a remote control connected directly to the winch when it is needed. Experienced off-road drivers often install dash-mounted winch controls to allow them to steer the vehicle while the winch works.
Burying your off-road vehicle in the mud, well away from civilization, can be a challenging experience. Without the help from a towing company you will need to figure out how to retrieve the vehicle on your own. A Warn winch can provide the pulling power needed in such a situation. Usually mounted on the front of the vehicle, a winch is an electrically powered device that us used to reel in a wire rope. By fastening the end of the wire rope to a solid and stable object, you can pull your vehicle to freedom.
Using basic winching techniques, you can free your vehicle from some troubling situations. A winch works by connecting the winch's wire rope to a secure object, like a tree, and winding in the rope with a powerful electric motor. A winch is typically mounted to the frame of the vehicle near the front bumper. This location provides a strong connection to the vehicle to support the 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of force it can generate. Wiring your winch is the last step in the installation process.
Having an auxiliary port with an AUX switch on your car's audio system allows you to connect an external audio device such as an MP3 player. The 2005 Ford F-250 truck includes an auxiliary port on audio systems equipped with the CD player. With an external audio device hooked up, you will be able to listen to that device's music through your F-250's stereo.
Getting stuck in your all-terrain vehicle or 4x4 truck when you're away from civilization can be a daunting experience. One way to retrieve your vehicle from its predicament is with a Warn winch, a device used to pull a wire or rope with tremendous force. With a Warn winch fastened to the front of your truck, you connect the cable to a stable object and the winch will pull the truck out. Wiring the Warn winch is the final step in the installation process.
James Watt defined horsepower as 33,000 pound-force-feet per minute, the amount of power that he estimated the average horse was capable of producing. The manufacturer of your vehicle probably lists its horsepower rating in its specifications, but if it does not, you can calculate it from the engine's other specs. Torque and engine speed determine horsepower. You can find your vehicle's torque from its listed specifications, and determine its engine speed from the instrument panel's rpm gauge.
The thrust bearing is part of a vehicle transmission system. When the thrust bearing fails or does not work properly, it can cause problems for the vehicle. Preventing the failure of a vehicle thrust bearing can minimize problems and ensure the vehicle runs smoothly for a longer period of time.
Hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, can release large amounts of energy under the right conditions with no polluting byproducts. These qualities make hydrogen an attractive alternative fuel source, especially for powering vehicles via hydrogen fuel cells. Using hydrogen as a fuel presents several disadvantages and challenges, though, which must be worked around before it can be widely used to power vehicles.
Chrysler first released the PT Cruiser in 2001. The vehicle's retro look caught the attention of many buyers. The PT in the name stands for "Personal Transport" and served as the car's production code. In 2005, the PT convertible joined the lineup for a few years before being discontinued in 2007. In 2009, Chrysler announced the gradual discontinuation of the main model.
Instead of running on gasoline, hydrogen vehicles use hydrogen as their fuel source. According to the California Energy Commission, hydrogen is one of the most common elements in the atmosphere. Several advantages exist in using hydrogen-powered vehicles: they are environmentally friendly because they emit fewer emissions and pollutants, easy to refuel with a renewable fuel source and as safe as gasoline-operated vehicles.
Rising fuel costs and environmental concerns are just two influences on the search for alternative sources of energy. Hydrogen fuel was once considered a promising energy source because it does not produce harmful greenhouse gases when used. There are, however, several important factors that stand in the way of making hydrogen fuel a primary energy source.
Automotive batteries are critical to your car's optimum performance, so it's important to have the correct type. Size and terminal placement are key factors in grouping batteries, as is the amount of maintenance the battery requires.
Sunoco is a company based in Philadelphia that manufactures petroleum-based products and refines and distributes gasoline at Sunoco gas stations and convenience stores. Sunoco has also been the official fuel supplier for NASCAR since 2004. The company has approximately 4,600 gas stations in 24 states. It also has repair facilities under the Sunoco Ultra Service Center brand in some areas.
Sold under both the Geo and Chevrolet brands, the Tracker was first introduced in 1989. Eventually, the Tracker was sold as a Chevy, and later, as the Suzuki Vitara. Throughout the years, each Tracker came equipped with a four-cylinder, 1.6-liter engine. Given the smaller engine and compact size of its frame, the Tracker managed to achieve respectable gas mileage, usually posting numbers in the mid-to-high 20s for highway driving conditions.
The Geo Tracker is a car that's been on the market for years, with the first models coming onto the automotive scene in the 1990s. The specifications of these cars often make them desirable, but it's important that you know all of the potential features before you shell out money for one.
Cadillac automobiles are luxury sedans that were first built in 1902 and evolved to become a symbol of status that influenced other American automakers. For instance, when Cadillac introduced the tail fin in 1948, other manufacturers incorporated the look into their designs. Cadillac is made by General Motors.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is one of the cleanest-burning alternative fuels available for vehicles, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The agency adds that while few cars are available with this technology as of 2010, you can retrofit gasoline and diesel vehicles to use CNG. After securing a car that uses this fuel, your next challenge may be locating a filling station that sells it.
In 2010, hydrogen is being explored as an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Since hydrogen can be distilled out of water, it is a very viable option as a fuel. Researchers at various institutions are exploring, and have explored, how internal combustion engines can use this fuel. Research is ongoing, but as of November of 2010, it is not a commercially feasible fuel source for widespread use. Injection kits are available commercially that will add hydrogen to gasoline, making it burn more efficiently than plain gasoline, but evidence that these devices significantly improve performance is anecdotal at best and some believe…
The clutch in an automobile is comprised of several components that must work in tandem in order for the clutch assembly to operate properly. The clutch assembly is the direct link between the engine and the transmission and is responsible for transferring power to the vehicle's rear wheels. As such, problems like a worn out clutch thrust bearing can produce pronounced symptoms that indicate service is required.
The Miata has been in Mazda's lineup since 1990 and never has it performed like the 2004 and 2005 years. In these years, Mazaspeed, Mazda's high-performance department, rolled out a Mazdaspeed Miata. This vehicle was powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter, double overhead cam (DOHC) engine. In addition to the enhanced engine, Mazdaspeed added stiffer suspension components, 17-inch wheels and Billstein shocks.
The Jetta has been a part of Volkswagen's lineup since 1980. The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta is available in many trims with several engine options, one of them being a 1.8-liter, double overhead cam (DOHC), turbocharged four-cylinder. The Jetta was classified as a compact sedan in the 2001 model year.
OPTIMA batteries, made with the company's proprietary Spiralcell technology, are available in three types: RedTop, YellowTop and BlueTop. The RedTop is a battery made to work in most automobiles, while the YellowTop is a more powerful version, made to power larger vehicles or those with accessories that drain a normal battery. The BlueTop battery is the most powerful in the series, commonly used in marine applications. Specifications for the RedTop are listed here.
The Geo Tracker is a vehicle that's built on a sport utility vehicle frame which was popular during the late 1990s. While only used models are available now because production of new models has stopped, the specifications for the Geo Tracker's engine, still used in other models, can be easily found.
The 2005 Hyundai Accent is an affordable and compact vehicle, available as a three-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. Both are easy to repair and maintain. When the Accent's headlight is damaged or broken you will need to be replace it. This is a fairly simple process.
Hydrogen can power motor vehicles either by being burned in an internal combustion engine, or combined with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity and water. Either way, hydrogen power produces virtually no pollution. However, hydrogen has other serious problems that have so far prevented it from developing into a viable source of energy.
In 2003, President George W. Bush announced an investment in building an expensive network of hydrogen infrastructure across the country. Hydrogen was portrayed as being the future for a non-fossil-fuel-dependent nation. Many people must be wondering why every car isn't powered by hydrogen yet. The answer is that the negatives of hydrogen power currently far outweigh the positives, especially when compared to cheaper more readily available fossil-fuel alternatives. The chief problems with hydrogen power are how it is produced, stored and distributed because of costs and energy inefficiencies.
Because of declining supplies of cheap fossil fuels and their effects on the environment, hydrogen has received much attention as a possible future solution to Earth's energy problems, according to the New York Energy Smart website. The idea of using hydrogen is not new, however.
Pure hydrogen appears to be the ideal fuel. Plentiful, renewable and containing tremendous potential energy, hydrogen could answer many questions for today's automobile market. Hydrogen, however, has drawbacks detracting any claim to being the perfect fuel. The science and engineering to overcome these drawbacks continues, and eventually hydrogen may be the long-sought replacement for oil and gas. In the meantime, however, its negative aspects equal if not surpass the positive attributes.
Vehicles built in 2007 and later have different characteristics from those built before them. Among these characteristics are the number of entertainment options in the car. Most vehicles from this era feature, at the minimum, a CD player with an AM/FM radio. Some vehicles, such as the 2007 Chevy Tahoe, offer an auxiliary (AUX) input that can be used to connect an external audio device such as a portable audio player.
A common misconception of automotive electrical systems is that the battery supplies the electrical power for the vehicle. In reality the battery is primarily the source of power for starting the vehicle, and the alternator provides energy for running the electrical systems and keeping the battery fully charged. Because of this, the alternator has a direct effect on all the electrical components of the vehicle. Several things happen when an alternator dies.
Hydrogen power is one possible option for an alternative energy source. Some automakers are considering using the electrical output from an internal hydrogen fuel cells to power automobiles. Hydrogen-powered cars differ from other electrically-powered cars, as the electricity is produced from the hydrogen and oxygen from the fuel cell, as opposed to previous charging. You should consider the advantages and disadvantages associated with hydrogen power when considering how you may be able to leverage hydrogen power in future daily use.
An electrical power supply can be used to power many different types of electrical circuits. Some power supplies (desktop computer power supplies, for example) are capable of powering devices with several different voltage requirements. Most power supplies, however, are single-voltage power supplies. An available power supply (such as a 6V power supply for a 12V circuit) may not match the needs of the electrical circuit to be powered. In this situation, you must modify the power supply for the circuit to work properly.
Hydrogen has the simplest structure of any element and is the most common gas in the universe. The sun uses hydrogen to power itself and heat the earth, and car manufacturers are beginning to use it as a fuel to replace gasoline. In addition to producing less pollution, hydrogen has more power than gas when measured by weight.
Just as there are many different vehicles on the road, there are also many different types of automobile batteries that help power certain functions of the vehicle. These batteries are different in physical properties as well as function. Batteries range from different sizes, terminal types and internal characteristics. Selecting the right battery for the vehicle is important.
Many companies worldwide are seeking to develop alternative fuels for automobiles. Some hybrid vehicles already use biodiesel fuel and electric power. Hydrogen, another potential source, has advantages and drawbacks.
Both gas power and fuel cell technology have drawbacks. Gasoline is dirty, bad for the environment, inefficient, but also cheap and plentiful. Fuel cells, on the other hand, are rare, expensive, not yet perfected, but environmentally friendly, quiet, and may represent the future of the automobile industry.
A hydrogen power cell, also known as a fuel cell, is a form of energy that uses hydrogen atoms as a fuel. Because hydrogen doesn't exist as a gas on Earth, it must be extracted from gases that contain the element hydrogen.
One of the biggest and most consistently cited examples of why hydrogen power hasn't been adopted (other than the technological road blocks that haven't yet been overcome) is the infrastructure requirements. One major reason that gasoline-powered engines and hybrid engines have stayed the top options is that the infrastructure for these vehicles is already in place. This challenge for hydrogen power, though, should also be overcome in time.
The electromagnet has led to inventions and breakthroughs in energy and medicine that are far-reaching and far from fully realized. Its power is limited only by the human imagination, with implications as a renewable source of power for vehicle propulsion and imaging technology. How we use this technology going forward may be the key to energy independence and perhaps longer life.
Wiring your winch to the electrical system of your truck or SUV is straightforward and can be done in just a few minutes. Decide whether you want it permanently mounted and wired or if you would rather use a disconnect so you can unplug the power to the winch if needed. Running the wires from the winch to the battery of the vehicle will require a little planning to keep the wires from becoming damaged or exposed to heat.
The current fight against global pollution has many people thinking about purchasing cleaner-burning cars such as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Hydrogen-powered cars offer several advantages over modern fossil fuel combusting automobiles in addition to pollution reduction. Although fuel cells are not commercially available now, current research needs only to solve a few problems before hydrogen becomes a more viable source for fueling automobiles.
With an increase in pollution and the rise in costs of fossil fuels, scientists are looking to hydrogen-powered vehicles as a way to reduce pollution, as well as use it for a more renewable source of energy.
Sold between 2002 and 2009, the GMC Envoy is a midsize, five passenger luxury-oriented SUV from American automaker General Motors. Beginning with the 2005 model year, the Envoy was offered with a special Denali luxury trim package. The Denali Envoy is notable for its luxury features, but suffers from many of the drawback associated with larger SUVs.
Find out the torque of your engine. You'll need access to a dynamometer or "dyno" for short. Only a professional dynamometer technician can operate these. Normally, this involves locating and scheduling an appointment with a shop or garage that has a dyno in-house. Your vehicle is put on a flat bed with a rotating wheel underneath your vehicle's drive wheels. As you accelerate the vehicle on the dyno, your vehicle remains stationary and the dyno wheel spins, measuring the power output and torque of your vehicle. Once the technician has calculated the torque for your vehicle, make note of this…
Power inverters are designed to take DC (direct current) voltage from the alternator and convert it to usable AC (alternating current) in the 110- to 115-volt range. Each inverter has a specific output in terms of wattage. Two figures are important concerning output: One gives the total flash for a few seconds of wattage and the constant operating wattage -- this is the most important of the two. The other tells how many watts the inverter can put out without heating up and failing.
Brake systems are essential in every vehicle. Without such, accidents would be inevitable. For bigger types of vehicles that perform special types of purposes like towing or carrier of trailers, brake systems usually involve brake controllers. Brake controllers are special devices that control that amount of brake power needed by a certain vehicle in a particular instance. Mostly used for towing and hauling vehicles, they serve as safety devices for braking. To analyze how a brake controller works, picture several people doing a human train in a game. The person in front of the line usually controls the speed and…
A split torque transmission is a form of automatic motor vehicle transmission which is able to send power to two separate places at once, and even control how much power is sent to each output source. Such transmissions were first invented for use in helicopters, to control both main and tail rotors at once. However they've become popular with all-wheel drive vehicles as well. New models incorporate an onboard computer that senses how much power is needed in each drive axle to maintain maximum traction and adjusts the power distribution to compensate.
Having a vehicle that is four-wheel drive can be convenient, as well as necessary, depending on the conditions where you live. It used to be that vehicles were either four-wheel drive or two-wheel drive, but a new option was added several years ago that gives drivers the option of having an all-wheel-drive vehicle. Instead of having to engage the function, as is necessary with four-wheel drive vehicles, all-wheel-drive vehicles function by having all four of the wheels powered at all times.
CNG stands for "compressed natural gas." It is a substitute for gas, propane and diesel fuel. CNG is made when natural gas is compressed to less than 1% of its volume at standard atmospheric pressure. CNG is cheaper than gasoline, and therefore a more popular alternative to many. While CNG vehicles are not as numerous as regular gasoline powered vehicles, many people today are converting their gas cars to bi-fuel vehicles. This can be done with a kit, but should be done by a professional. An extra tank needs to be added to the car and takes up some room,…
Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles are more energy efficient than their gasoline powered cousins. Using a vehicle that runs on this alternative fuel source is also a boon to the environment. In the United States, the supply of natural gas far exceeds the available supply of gasoline produced from dwindling oil supplies. Finally, natural gas vehicle have lower emissions, giving you a smaller carbon footprint. By driving them, you contribute less to global warming. The benefits of CNG-powered vehicles outweigh any inconveniences.
Snowmobiles, also known as snowmachines, snowsleds or by the brand name "Ski-doo," are land vehicles designed to travel over snow and ice. Modern snowmobiles are propelled by continuous tracks at the rear of the vehicle and steered by skis in the front.
While a compressed natural gas (CNG) powered vehicle may be tempting due to fuel economy and a low pollutants, you must consider the rather tricky business of refueling the vehicle. In the United States (and a few other countries), you may refuel at home using your municipal gas line in your home. You will need a few added components to tap into that line.
