Driving an automobile is a luxury that most of us take for granted. Automobiles are the primary means of transportation in United States, with ninety percent of American adults owning or previously owning a car or truck. What we don’t realize is that operating a car or truck is a responsibility that can bring serious consequences. Every year in the United States alone, more than ten thousand vehicular accidents occur. An average of four hundred Americans die each year as the result of automotive accidents. It’s a tragic figure, especially when you consider that many of these accidents could be prevented with proper maintenance and routine check-ups. Keeping your car well-maintained means reducing the risk of mishap or even death, and protecting your loved ones and fellow drivers.

Before hitting the road, be sure to conduct these checkups regularly:

Tires Most Americans use all-season tires. These tires should carry you safely from season to season, but it is imperative that you check the tires regularly for wear or damage. Ideally, tires should be checked on a weekly basis.

Brakes The brake system serves one main purposes: to slow down or stop the car when it is needed. If you step on the brake pedal and it goes all the way to the floor, you’ve got trouble. Late-model automobiles are equipped with a brake warning light. This dashboard indicator will light up if something is wrong with your brake system. If your brake warning light indicates trouble, it is imperative that you check the brake system immediately. Consult your owner’s manual for maintenance advice, and call an experienced mechanic for repairs. Brake repairs or replacements are no job for a weekend or hobby mechanic.

Headlights In 2005, over 2,300 pedestrians died because drivers suffered eye problems or had faulty headlights in the automobiles. Properly maintained vehicle headlights help you drive safely, and see more clearly. Replace your headlight bulbs at least once per year.

Wipers Many people don’t think of changing their wiper blades until it is too late. This is one of the easiest and most inexpensive parts of the car to maintain. Change your wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and just before winter.

There are 10 common reasons why automobile owners visit the mechanic:

1. Electronic/Ignition control 2. Suspension/steering 3. Electrical problem 4. Brake system 5. Oil change/filters/lube 6. Exhaust system 7. Radiator repairs 8. Fuel system/carburetor 9. Clutch/transmission 10. Air conditioning system

Routine check ups and proper maintenance of a car be expensive, and budget restrictions are often the leading factors in keeping car owners from living up to their responsibilities. This does not need to be a problem. The key is in knowing how to save on car maintenance and repairs. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) confirmed that $20 billion has been wasted on unnecessary auto repairs due to fraud and incompetence.

If your car is not performing to its full potential, remember the following tips to help you save money on repairs:

Preventive Maintenance Be your car’s best friend, and you can save a bundle. By conducting regular preventative maintenance, such as regular oil changes and radiator flushes, you prevent unnecessary damage to the car and save a lot of money in the long run. Regular checkups by a qualified repairperson will keep your car running better, longer.

Conserve Even automobiles need to take a break now and then. If you drive your car everyday the miles will add up quickly, and damage can occur prematurely. To avoid this, consider carpooling with friends and coworkers. Ask around to form your own carpool group. You’ll all save on maintenance, and you’ll be able to pool your fuel and parking expenses.

Estimate Before choosing a mechanic to repair your car, be sure to get a written estimate. If the mechanic wants more than your budget can afford, shop around. Compare estimates to find the best deal. Just be sure that you are paying for quality service.

Do It Yourself You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish after doing a little research. Read over your owner’s manual from time to time. Learn as much as you can about your car. Understand potential problems and how to solve them. For example, that mysterious clunking noise might be bothersome, but could be as simple to fix as tightening a bolt. Regular maintenance tasks like oil changes and radiator flushes are fairly easy to do if you understand your vehicle and take the time to do the job properly.

As an automobile owner, you have a responsibility to keep your car properly maintained at all times. Consider it an investment in your car’s future, and remember that it could save a life.

Learning a little more about how to better care for your vehicles is a good idea for any number of reasons. It allows you to know if an unscrupulous mechanic is attempting to gouge you on your repairs – and that will save you money. It can prevent you from making unnecessary repairs – and that will save you money. It can help you locate a problem and fix it early, thus saving more money – sometimes a whole lot of money. It allows you to be more independent in an era where people are entirely too dependent on others to survive.

We need to get started now, so that we have time to cover everything…

Some people are incredibly sensitive to the sounds their vehicles make. This is especially true of motorcyclists, those who refurbish vintage automobiles, and experienced mechanics. It’s a very worthwhile skill to develop. There are mechanics who can listen to a running car engine and tell if the timing is slightly off, or the injectors are not operating properly. While this is a very neat thing to be able to do, you do not have to elevate your listening skills to that lofty place in order to get benefits from listening to your vehicle.

Listen To the Engine (This is best done in relatively quiet surroundings until you get really good at it.) Open up the hood of your vehicle’s engine compartment. If necessary on your model, be sure to use the metal rod to lock the hood in the upright/open position. Now, start your engine. Allow the engine to run for 30-60 seconds before you start listening too hard. Also, there are many moving parts inside of engine compartments, don’t wear loose clothing, and mind all your fingers and hair! Safety first.

A brief word about engine sounds… All engines make sounds. Some sound like jets, and other have constant clicking noises, or humming, or clattering. Which sounds are consistently made, and are okay, are unique to your specific vehicle’s engine. The point being, don’t be alarmed the first time you really take a good listen to your engine. You’ll quickly learn the sounds that are okay, and the ones that are not.

You’re going to listen to your engine from three different positions: 1) Directly in front of the car. 2) On the left (driver’s side) side of the engine compartment. 3) On the right (passenger’s side) side of the engine compartment. I like to start I like to start on the left – right in front of the driver’s door.

Lean over the engine compartment (again – be careful with clothing, hair, and appendages) and listen carefully. Try closing your eyes to heighten your hearing. Listen for things that don’t sound ‘right.’ Such things might include: clattering, metal rubbing metal, clanging, and squeaks. If you hear such a thing, open your eyes and try to focus in on it – moving the position of your head and ears as your track the sound to its source. Repeat this process at all three positions previously described.

This method of checking your engine can reveal loose caps, loose fan belts, loose fans, missing bolts, nuts, and many other things. Correct what you are able to, and have anything else dealt with by a service technician. Don’t put your hands into your engine compartment to tighten something or check something while it is running. If you notice that the stays on the overflow tube are loose and rattling, turn off the engine before tightening.

Driving your car for a short distance over a good road with the radio and air conditioning off and the windows down is a good way to hear some other sounds. Clattering might mean you have a lug nut that came off, and it’s stuck inside the hubcap. A metal-rubbing-metal sound may be a stuck brake.

The last listening project/technique is the best – or at least so people tell me. This one requires a willing and able assistant. The two of you climb into the vehicle together – you drive, the assistant rides shotgun. The assistant will require four things: some WD-40, a notepad, a small can of 3-in-1 oil, and a good rag. Head for a road that isn’t so smooth, and simply drive along. The assistant listens for those irritating squeaks, squeals, and rattles.

The assistant should move around inside the vehicle, focusing on the sounds to locate their sources. One of the two lubricants will fix almost any squeaking – and the rag ensures a nice, tidy application of the chosen lubricant. Some things, such as loose or missing screws or bolts, should be recorded on the notepad for maintenance or repair later, when you get back home to the tools. You won’t believe how quiet your cockpit becomes after you perform this process once or twice.

Okay, you’ve completed another step in becoming a full-fledged automotive diagnostician – or something like that, anyway. You’ve definitely gotten your vehicle in much better condition, and you should have learned a thing or two. Check out Part I – See No Evil, and Part III – Smell No Evil.

The beginning of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in 1903 was very impressive. The founders, Bill Harley and Arthur Walter Davidson, began at a prototype with a small engine- so weak that it cannot conquer the Milwaukee hills. But, all things must have started from small beginnings. And that was exactly what happened to the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Schoolboys, as they can be considered, Bill and Arthur may have been born to give contribution to the motor industry.

The concept of the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle was very advanced at that time considering that fact that these two individuals were living in the period where horses were still the main form of transportation and automobiles were still developing. Bill and Arthur lived in an era where motorcycles were still in infant stage. What was more surprising was that, Bill and Arthur were still too young to be founders of a company then.

The prototype may be considered a success but could not produce more power to be efficient in hills. As resourceful as they were, Bill and Arthur made stronger engines that produced more power and speed.

That very same year, Harley-Davidson made its very first sale. Two years later they had made 11 motorcycles. And in 1908, they had made 154.

As the years went by, the company had produced and sold more and more units. Harley-Davidson, which started at a small backyard of a modest home, grew to become a motorcycle empire in a very short span of time.

Innovations after innovations and awards after awards, Harley-Davidson Motors had increased its reputation as the leader in the motorcycle industry.

Harley-Davidson was one of the 2 motor companies that had been commissioned to mass-produce motorcycles for the government to be used for First World War and the Second World War as well.

Within the 100 years of the company’s existence, they had been challenged with so many trials. The company’s sale went off in some periods but they regained on the next. The company’s quality had been compromised but they had regained it. And like the toughness of the motorcycles they built, the company had remained tough.

After more than a century of motorcycle manufacturing, Harley-Davidson is among the most sought after motorcycle brands around the world. They have created several models that are truly world-class. Harley-Davidson will continue to manufacture quality motorcycles that are indeed an exiting machine to ride.

When it comes to RC cars, electricity saves you money, but gas makes it real. Gas powered RC cars go faster, sound more realistic and give you the thrill of the race in a way that their electrically controlled counterparts just can’t do. Of course, you have to understand that when you hear the term gas powered RC cars, you’re really not talking about gasoline.

Gas powered RC cars are actually powered by a fuel combination more often referred to as nitro. But even if you don’t actually put gasoline into the cars, gas powered RC cars still look for all the world like miniature automobiles as they zoom at high speeds around the track.

Gas powered RC cars have engines that require fine tuning and that roar with all the excitement of a full sized car. In fact, the faster they go, the louder they get, just like the real thing. The excitement of racing gas powered RC cars doesn’t end with the sounds however. As they face like lightning, vapor trails of exhaust shadow their route. That’s a sight that you just can’t get from electrically controlled RC cars.

Aside from the cool sounds and sights, there are some other differences. Typical gas powered RC cars get owe their higher sense of realism to an internal combustion engine. The “gas” is actually a nitro methane fuel mixed with lubricating oil to protect the engine. The replace for a real car’s spark plugs in gas powered RC cars is something called a glow plug.

This plug is heated by a battery-powered starter that continuously ignites the fuel, allowing gas powered RC cars to race far longer at a time than electric ones. Unless, that is, your glow plug goes out on you. Because this eventuality is not exactly unknown in the world of gas powered RC racing, it always pay to invest in a backup or two.

If you are still reading this, that means you are probably new to the world of gas powered RC cars and maybe haven’t even bought one yet. Rather than starting out with a top of the line model, you should probably go for entry-level car. Most of these models don’t need electric starters because they come with pull-starters like a go-kart engine. If you do get one that comes without this, you’ll have to invest in a starter. You have a choice here: either an electric starter box or a 12V starter with a car adaptor.

Gas powered RC cars bring the excitement of RC car racing to another level. The sounds, the sights and even the smells of a race between gas powered RC cars are so much more realistic than a race between electric cars. If you are looking to get in on one of the fastest growing hobbies in America and you truly want to experience it to the ultimate, then gas powered RC cars is really your only choice.

Can you remember taking trips by car trying to read those directions while trying to drive? Or perhaps you carried a bulky atlas or relied on your own intuition to get you where you wanted to go. Fortunately, your driving experience can be better now. Times have changed and GPS automobile navigation systems are readily available and perfectly capable of taking you wherever you want to go. Newer automobiles come complete with GPS systems built in but you can purchase a system separately for any vehicle you own.

Before even pricing a system, you’ll want to look into how easy a system is to use. If you find a system that’s too complicated to use, you’ll never be able to operate it within your vehicle, especially when driving. Nothing is more dangerous than trying to program your GPS system while on the fly. Try to find one you can use easily and that can be programmed with just a few touches of the buttons. A GPS system with a big display is important, too. If you find that the display is too small or the directions too complicated, this won’t be a user-friendly GPS system and you’ll want to look for another one.

GPS systems vary in the degree of precision they offer. You’ll want to find a system that gives precise directions that will take you where you want to go and that will update itself whenever new roads are built or when construction will change your driving route. Check to make sure that your system is capable of receiving regular updates and turn down one that isn’t capable of updating changes over time. You may find a system that receives regular updates or choose one that updates manually – such as before you start your trip.

GPS navigations systems are available at specialty stores, electronic stores and online. Make sure you shop around for a price you can afford and ask questions about your new system before you actually buy one. In some cases, there may be a monthly or yearly fee for updates and other services and you’ll want to know about those kinds of things in advance. Some models have extras, including mp3 players and the like. Look to see if the model you’re interested in has any of these types of extras. Check out how accessible the directions are and whether the GPS system you’re evaluating gives voice directions as well as visual directions. Often the screen is not visible in direct sunlight so the voice directions may be all you have to work with. Some models have different screen modes for daylight and nighttime viewing.

Some cell phone services offer the option of getting directions to wherever you want to go right on your phone and you may not choose to spend your money on a separate GPS system you don’t really need. The cell phone service often costs extra but it may be your best option if you don’t do a lot of traveling and only need to find your way occasionally.

Luxury car is a term that is widely used, but does anyone truly know what it means? When it comes to cars, luxury is in the eye of the beholder. What a car dealer’s ad touts as luxury may be different from what a car rental agency categorizes as a luxury car, and both may conflict with your personal perception of what a luxury car is.

In economics, a luxury item is one that is in higher demand among people with higher incomes. A luxury car is a status symbol, and status varies depending upon the socioeconomic or demographic group to which is applies.

A luxury car may simply mean a high-priced car. A luxurious car may not necessarily be considered a luxury automobile. For example, because of its high price, a Hummer is often considered a luxury car, even though the original Hummers are heavy duty military trucks without emphasis on comfort.

A luxury car may also simply be an automobile made by a manufacture known for making luxury automobiles, even if the specific vehicle is less expensive than its usual models. For example, all models of Mercedes and Jaguars are considered to fall into this category, even the least expensive versions.

Most people would agree that an automobile costing more than $100,000 would be considered a luxury automobile. Almost all cars made by Rolls Royce and Bentley, for example, fall into that price range. Exclusivity is on of the few agreed characteristics of a luxury vehicle.

Typically, luxury automobiles enhance comfort and operation. Leather, adjustable, heated seats are an example of luxury appurtenances. High-performance vehicles such as sports cars, for example Corvettes and Vipers, are prestige autos, but not everyone would call them luxury vehicles. An automobile may be luxurious by virtue of its amenities and its comfort level without being expensive, even though to most people a luxury means something they really can’t afford.

By leasing a used vehicle, you can obtain a luxury model car or an SUV at much lower monthly payments than are imposed when you buy a new one. However, you must do your homework in order to find the best deal available.

When researching leasing costs, pay close attention to the initial market value and the estimated residual value of the used car you are considering. This value is more difficult to predict for used vehicles than for new ones because there is no "sticker price" as set by a factory on a used car. You can use a variety of sources to obtain a rough estimate of the used vehicle’s value, however. These include local dealerships and online car evaluation tools; a quick search on the Internet will find a host of these car evaluation tools and most are provided free of charge. You can also get a good estimate by comparing the lease on a used car to a lease on a new car of the same model and make. Used vehicle leasing is best when residual value has depreciated least. You’ll find better bargains at the luxury end of the vehicle market where cars retain their value better.

Initial mileage and overall vehicle condition should be two other things to consider when leasing a used automobile. With a used car, the maximum mileage should total no more than 12,000 miles per year. A car that is three years old with 50,000 miles is not a good leasing deal. You should also examine a vehicle for worn fabric on the seats, worn pedal pads, or a dirty engine. These are signs of excessive use and might indicate a rolling back of the odometer. If the used car has not been certified, it should be inspected. You can ask the dealer for a certification program sponsored by the manufacturer or have it certified by a qualified service or mechanic.

Most used-car lease arrangements do not include gap coverage. Gap coverage is a special kind of insurance that is usually offered on new-auto leases. It protects the consumer if the leased automobile is lost, damaged, or stolen. Car insurance policies usually only cover what the car is worth at the time of the loss or damage and not what you may still have owing on the lease. This difference could total thousands of dollars. Therefore, you shouldn’t consider a used-car lease that does not include gap coverage. This coverage can be arranged separately, either with the lease dealer or with your own car insurance company.

Forget about the old days when getting gas for your car was no problem at all. Lousy eight cylinder limos were the craze, no matter what big gas guzzlers these monsters were. Today their place has been taken over by the SUV and they are no small gas consumers either. If you think you are getting 40 miles to a gallon, you must be mad. The maximum that these wide-bodied thick tired vehicles are capable of is actually half of that. Still, people are crazy about the SUV for the mere look of affluence linked to these super models, ignoring the car fuel efficiency part of it. But today gasoline costs around 3.10 per gallon and the way these automobiles drink it down, there really seems to be no tomorrow. With skyrocketing fuel prices all over the States, SUV need not be the prudent choice for the average family yet the trend shows little decline in sales.

If car fuel efficiency is the key word for choosing an automobile, what would you prefer – a six -cylinder affair or a four-cylinder jukebox would do. Obviously, the smaller the number of cylinders, better the mileage. Also, lighter the body, lesser the fuel consumption. But why the heck is fuel costing so much these days? Of course war is raging in the middle-east that produces most of the fuel the world consumes, but I was told that 80% of the fuel consumed in the USA comes from Canada. Then should we wage a war against them? I am really confused.

Japan, as I was told, is soon becoming a world leader in car manufacturing has now turned its head from making comfortable cars to economy models, car fuel efficiency being of topmost concern. Japanese engineers have done away with the age-old carburetor system for mixing air with fuel and have replaced it with a newer device that consumes lesser fuel. Also available in the market are a newer brand of hybrid cars, valued for their reported car fuel efficiency.

Another approach on the subject of car fuel efficiency is aimed at running vehicles with LPG (light petroleum gas). Cutting out the risk of sudden fire, in case of a gas leak, the LPG run vehicles are cleaner, pollution-free and may be termed as a model of car fuel efficiency. Let us see what the future holds for us in matters relating to car fuel efficiency – the battery-cum fuel operated car?

Are you currently looking for that certain something to kick your truck’s look and performance up a notch? Are you frustrated with the lack of options or selection that your local dealers provide? There is a world of products out there just waiting for you – we’re talking everything from exterior to interior, lights to suspension, and anything in between. In this article, we’ll show you where to find custom truck accessories that will give your truck the look and performance it deserves.

When looking for custom truck accessories, it is important that you first rely on reputable sources. If Joe Schmo down the street tells you about a great place to find designer grills, you probably should walk in the other direction. However, if you have friends or co-workers who you trust give you some tips, it may bear checking out. Word of mouth tends to be a very strong marketing tool, and acquaintances will be hesitant to provide you with a bum tip.

Another great resource is to look in your local print journals. Magazines such as AutoTrader and AutoMart are usually available for a very small fee in most convenience stores. These publications can put you in touch with the businesses you may have never found otherwise. One word of caution however: you should check out any new business before blindly doing business with them. Make phone calls and check references to ensure that you are doing business with an honest dealer.

Aside from local resources, the internet is filled with amazing dealers who offer custom accessories for any ride. Businesses such as JC Whitney and StylinConcepts (just to name a few) offer an incredible selection of sweet gear for all makes and models. Better yet, these businesses offer free shipping on all orders and have prices that trump most chain dealers. You would be doing yourself a huge disservice if you neglected to check out any of the custom dealers currently online. It is recommended that you do research on any internet company as well before purchasing. There a few essentials that you must look for. First, make sure that you can speak to a customer service representative who can answer any and all of your questions. Second, make sure the site uses some type of encryption service to protect payment information. This will ensure that you are dealing with a solid company who cares about its client base.

One last advantage to the internet can be found in the literally hundreds of message boards and communities. By signing up for a message board, you will be put in touch with people just like you, and you will be able to get valuable insight into the absolute best and worst places to find your custom truck accessories. This will further help you separate the high quality businesses from the low class dealers.

Now that you know where to find custom truck accessories, what are you waiting for? Your ride isn’t getting any younger, right? So get out there and get shopping for the items you need most to turn your truck into a complete monster.

Motorbike helmets serve one purpose - to protect. Reevu have taken this concept further, producing the world’s first motorbike helmets with an integrated rear view system that helps prevent accidents.

The innovative and World-leading technology allows the wearer to see the road behind as well in front of them by utilizing a system of unbreakable mirrors constructed out of ABS, which are fitted inside the helmet mould.

The team behind Reevu has spent ten years developing the helmets, which are designed to save lives on the roads by preventing accidents as well as just protecting the wearer during an accident (prevention is better than cure).

Having a third mirror to be used in combination with the standard mirrors on the motorcycle, this problem is reduced to a minimum. Given the fact that the mirror is fitted in the helmet, the rear view becomes flexible just by turning the head a bit.

Since the mirror is fitted right above the eyes, it only takes a split second to see what’s going on behind you, having an almost 180° overview. [PRWEB]

A helmet makes the same kind of a pair with a bike as does a car stereo with a modern car. Some of the latest models of the automobiles even come fitted with the lcd monitors and the hi-fi sound systems that produce high quality sound with crossover arrangement.