Taking Care of Your Car’s Battery

Every car comes with one, but some motorists act as if this particular component is completely maintenance free. What am I talking about? Your car’s battery. Technological advances have made “maintenance free” batteries standard equipment on virtually every vehicle produced today. However, the term “maintenance free” is a misnomer, one that can leave you stranded if you do not perform proper and regular maintenance. Battery maintenance isn’t difficult to do, so let’s take a look at what you can do to keep your car running. Before discussing battery maintenance, please make sure that your battery is, in fact, the sealed type. If it isn’t, then the “maintenance free” label certainly does not apply and you will need to add water on a regular basis. Unsealed batteries are easy to spot as they have small vent caps on top of the battery which can be twisted open. You will need to periodically add distilled water to maintain water levels; more so in the summer months as water tends to evaporate quicker. Do not let your battery run low or run out of water as the battery’s cells can be ruined. If your battery is of the sealed variety, then the “maintenance free” label is still only partially true since the term only extends to you not needing to add water to the cells as you would with an unsealed battery. With any type of car battery - sealed or unsealed - you must do the following to help keep it working properly: 1. Clean the cables. Disconnect the cables from the battery and clean them with a wire brush that has been doused in a home made mixture [the mixture combines one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of water]. Use this same mixture to clean off the top of the battery; use a small and clean paint brush to apply the solution where needed. 2. Lubricate the posts. A small dab of petroleum jelly on each post will help keep your cables clean and free of corrosion longer. In addition, the jelly will make it easier for you to slip the cables back onto the battery. 3. Check connections. Besides the connection between the cable and the posts, make sure that the battery hold down bar is securely in place. Not all cars have or need a battery hold down bar, but if yours has come so equipped, you will need to put it back in its proper place. That’s it! Car battery maintenance is an easy task and one that should be performed on an annual basis. If you keep your battery properly maintained, you will extend its life and greatly reduce the chance that your battery will fail you at an inopportune time. Yes, the “maintenance free” label is incorrect, so please don’t be lulled into forgetting to do something that should never be overlooked.

Read More

Light Your World With Xenon Headlamps!

Lighting has certainly changed over the years...for cars, that is! No longer do drivers have to rely on halogen headlights as Xenon lighting is coming into vogue. Nor do owners have to go with stock tail lights, as European [or Altezza] lights are in fashion. Even fog lights have come a long way, baby! Let’s take a look at the newest kid on the block, Xenon headlamps, and how they can light up your world of driving. If you could have a set of headlamps that produced twice the light of Halogen bulbs while expending only half the power, that would be a good thing, right? Yes it certainly would and that is the idea behind Xenon headlamps which are fast gaining acceptance as standard equipment on luxury vehicles from around the world as well as finding their way on certain popular, mass production vehicles too. A key feature of Xenon headlamp technology is that they produce a clear white light closer to natural daylight, which has been proven to improve driver concentration. Lessened eye strain means that drivers can do what they need to do best: get to where they and their passengers are going, safely and securely. Road markings and signs are easier to read with Xenon headlamps compared to Halogen bulbs. Indeed, Xenon headlamps are a strong, safety improvement as the field of vision for the driver increases sharply, thereby improving reaction time in emergency situations. Traveling along dark, unlit back roads can be a safety hazard even in broad daylight. However, with Xenon headlamps that buck you might have hit with your halogen-powered car will enter your field of vision much sooner with Xenon lights installed, allowing you to avoid potentially deadly contact [for the buck definitely!]. Popular surveys reveal that as much as 80% of all accidents occur because of poor visibility. In European markets, cars with Xenon technology also come equipped with a headlamp cleaning system to ensure optimum visibility as well as an automatic leveling system to allow limited swiveling of the headlamp projector as you turn your vehicle. Some systems take Xenon technology one step further: Xenon Dynamic Bending Light or DBL technology are special headlamps that rotate the light beam according to the angle of the steering wheel. Working in both high and low beam mode, bi-Xenon headlamps help to enhance vision in wide curbs by up to 90%. Naturally, Xenon technology is expensive and you cannot convert halogen powered headlamps to Xenon or Xenon to bi-Xenon...yet. However, some manufacturers are selling auxiliary lights that can be added to your bumper to give you an alternative. Of course, price is one factor why Xenon technology isn’t yet widespread. Even on luxury cars I have seen bi-Xenon headlamps offered as an option, to the tune of $750 extra! As with all technological advances, you can expect that some one, somewhere is refining the technology – which hit the market in 1992 – in order to bring Xenon headlamps to the masses. This is good news for everyone as accidents associated with poor visibility should begin to drop accordingly.

Read More

Floor Mats and Liners for Your Vehicle

Your Ford F Series, Toyota Tundra, Dodge Ram, or GMC 1500 pick up truck gets the job done when it comes to moving people and your stuff. Likely, your truck’s cargo bed is utilized frequently as you use it to transport wood, gravel, household items, or even food items. To protect your cargo bed and the truck’s interior from mistreatment, custom made liners and floor mats offer extraordinary protection for your vehicle that no stock product can possibly equal. Let's examine some important features that custom made liners and floor mats have to offer.

Custom made liners offer the best protection for your pick up truck or SUV because they feature the following characteristics:

Each liner is custom made to the specific specifications of your truck’s cargo area.

Liners are made from rigorous polyethylene material to stay supple in intense weather conditions: from the heat of summer to the worst of winter's extreme chill.

Liners resist snow, ice, hail, sleet, rain, mud, dirt, gas, oil, and battery acid.

Liners include molded-in tread pattern cargo grips to lessen the movement of your passengers, pets, and other stuff.

Are available in three important colors: gray, black, and tan to match mostly any vehicle.

Likewise, custom made floor mats offer the following significant features:

Are constructed with the toughest rubber to endure abusive foot traffic.

Warranted to not crack or break; compare that with one year limited warranties from off the shelf competitors.

Contrasting to clumsy fitting off the shelf models, custom floor mats offer an exact fit. No dangerous folding or slipping while operating your car!

Withstand snow, ice, hail, sleet, rain, mud, dirt, gas, oil, and battery acid.

To purchase a cargo liner or floor mats through an online wholesaler, you can get the finest service, the lowest prices, and the best selection especially if the following is offered to you:

A toll free number; competitive prices; online ordering with assistance, if needed; free and quick shipping and handling.

Besides serving full sized truck and SUV offerings, custom liners and floor mats can be made for a wide range of other vehicles, all the way from the compact Kia Sorento to a Land Rover and beyond. Protect your vehicle today and order the mats and liners that are right for you.

Read More