2.) Avoid smoking or having anything with a flame in the vicinity of the battery during the charging. Also keep anything which may spark (electrical appliances or electric motor) a safe distance from the battery.

3.) If you are using metal tools, avoid short circuiting between the battery terminals. Also avoid short circuiting between the terminals to the vehicle bodywork or engine.

4.) It is important that when car battery chargers are used, they should be connected to the car battery prior to starting the battery charger. Potentially dangerous sparking with the possibility of flammable gas ignition will be avoided.

5.) Always read the charger manufacturers instructions and adhere to them at all times. If you have a charger with no instructions you should obtain a copy of the instructions before first use.

6.) When opening up the battery’s cells for checking the levels of electrolyte or adding water, eye protection is a must and you should also put on protective gloves. The corrosive acid in the battery could potentially cause burns on the skin and eyes.

7.) If you are opening the battery cells, have some clean water available to hand. This can be used for rinsing eyes or skin if splashed with battery acid.

8.) Car batteries which have discharged are susceptible to freezing in low temperatures. If there is a possibility that the battery is frozen, thaw it before attempting to charge or it may burst and leak.

9.) Try to use the car battery charger on the lowest possible Amp setting. This will help to extend the battery life and avoid overheating the battery.

10.) Site the charger as far as possible from the car battery. You should also keep pets and people out of the area where you are charging.

Be safe, see Peter Martin’s site for more 12v charger information and essential 12v charger safety tips.

Some of you may be wondering what the ingredients of this bright substance are. As you fill up your windshield washer tank (and smell the strong odor), natural concerns about the safety of your loved ones and pets arise.

A majority of windshield washer fluid is constituted of methanol. It is an alcohol, and it is toxic. However, the reason it is still used is that it is probably the only thing that can break down dirt particles and bug splats on your windshield glass.

Sometimes, there are variations in the mixture due to concerns about methanol’s toxicity. These variations include ethylene glycol and ethanol, which is also an alcohol.

In powdered form, blue dye is used to make the windshield washer a deep bright blue.

Made up of methylated spirits, anti-freeze is included in a variety of windshield wiper fluid products such that the temperature at which it will freeze will be much much lower.

There are many people who do not agree with the usage of alcohol products in caring and cleaning for their cars. Either they are concerned with the environmental damage the blue liquid threatens to cause, or they are very worried about the lifespan of their car’s exterior paint in relation to the amount of alcohol that touches the car.

You will have to decide what is more important to you when buying regular versus eco-friendly windshield wiper fluid products. While the “green” products are biodegradable and non-toxic, they may not be as strong in breaking up the bug splats and dirt as regular toxic products can.

Also, you may be thinking the frugal route altogether and consider making your own windshield wash solution with items you can find at home. Items like dishwasher liquid and windex are household products that some people like to mix together and save money over time by using.

I have also seen suggestions on mixing rubbing alcohol with ammonia.

Ammonia is a commonly used house-hold ingredient for windshield wiper fluid because it does not leave a streaking residue on the glass. It does not freeze or leave detergents on the window as long as you choose a non-sudsing type.

For free tips on different windshield wiper fluid, come take a look at Ryland Jing’s blog on car windshield fluid.

The general opinion is that there has not been many eco-friendly products of the same cleaning caliber. It is thought that organic ingredients are not as strong as man-made ingredients in terms of cleaning and obliterating dirt off of anything. The same applies to windshield wiper fluid products.

Another concern grows amongst auto enthusiasts over these synthetic chemicals damaging the exterior of their beloved cars. As you know, the typical ingredients used to clean the dirt and bugs off of windshields are theorized to cause damage to car paint, the roads and the environment.

Until lately, there hadn’t been any eco-friendly windshield washer solutions. There have been people at home attempting to mix together basic household products, but probably to no avail. Up to this point there had been nothing but scientific guesses as to what alternatives to methanol could be used for the wiper blades to clean off the dirt without damaging a thing.

Apparently, Daimer Industries, which is a green-minded manufacturing company, has created a windshield wiper cleaning fluid. With plant extracts as the sole ingredients for this green solution, the company has made three versions of the fluid to cater to the hot and cold weather in addition to a combination of the two.

They apparently have concentrated versions (which probably need to be diluted) as well as ready-to-use (RTU for short) versions. All of their Eco-Green line is for all transportation and automotive vehicles.

Like VOC-free paint, there is VOC-free windshield washer solution. VOCs are known as volatile organic compounds. They are pollutants that are dangerous to breathing and to the air.

As a nice benefit for the plants that live in the environment, the fluid is supposed to be biodegradable since it is made of plants and vegetables.

The green-minded windshield washer fluid is actually rated with all 0’s from the NFPA, which is the lowest (and best) safety rating for a product’s ingredients. That should be a nice benefit to have.

For free tips on different windshield wiper fluid, come take a look at Ryland Jing’s blog on car windshield fluid reviews.

First, just because you drive a big all-wheel drive SUV doesn’t mean you don’t need to do some winter weather maintenance. Pull out that dusty owner’s manual from your glove box and give it a quick read. There is valuable information in that booklet that can give you the proper time table for your car’s maintenance. Here are few simple things you can begin with for winter car care. During the cold months, put a bottle of fuel de-icer in your gas tank monthly to keep the lines from freezing. Make sure you also keep up with your oil changes. It is especially important in the winter. Check your manual, but cars usually require this maintenance every 3,000 miles or so.

During the winter, you are going to have to spend a lot more time defrosting your windows. So, it is important to make sure your heater and defroster is in good working condition. In addition to your heating system, be sure to check the levels of antifreeze in your cooling system as well. Checking both of these systems regularly will help keep your car in good balance. Another quick easy way to keep your car running well is to check and clean your battery regularly. If any corrosion has built up around the connections, clean them off and make sure all connections are tight.

One of the most important safety elements to check on your car for the winter is your tires. The roads can get pretty dangerous in the snow, ice and freezing rain so good traction is important. Check tire pressure regularly and make sure your tires don’t have any dangerous wear or nicks in the rubber. Just in case an emergency should arise when you are on the road, keep your car stocked with some winter essentials. Gloves, boots, a blanket, flares, a flashlight and a few energy bars could potentially save your life if you were to be caught in a winter weather emergency.

Taking a little bit of time to perform regular maintenance on your car can improve its life by many years. You can perform many of these maintenance essentials yourself. If you're uncomfortable performing these duties on your own, find a trusted local shop to take your car to. You will be glad you put in the time and your car will thank you with good performance throughout the frigid winter months.

This level of complexity often makes transmissions one of the least understood components to drivers. Adding to the confusion, they’re designed differently. Some are designed for front wheel drive while others are designed for rear wheel drive. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the differences. I’ll tell you all about your transmission’s job and help you understand the pros and cons associated with RWD and FWD.

Understanding Its Job

Your car’s engine generates power through its 4-stroke combustion process. That power must be delivered to your drive wheels in order to turn them. Also, it’s worth noting that your engine has a range of RPMs in which it operates at maximum efficiency. Your transmission has two jobs. First, it needs to deliver the power generated by the engine to the drive wheels. Second, it needs to perform this task while keeping your engine operating within its optimal range of RPMs.

This is accomplished through several gears. In low gears, the engine must turn more quickly in order to power the wheels. In higher gears, it doesn’t have to work as hard. The transmission helps the engine advance from first gear to higher gears while keeping your car moving at higher speeds.

RWD Versus FWD

If your car has rear wheel drive, the transmmission will be located on the back part of your engine. A drive shaft will connect it to the rear axle. As your engine generates power and turns the crankshaft, that power is transferred though the transmission to the drive shaft and ultimately, to the rear axle. The rear axle spins, which causes your tires to rotate.

While the concept behind the power flow is similar, a front wheel drive car works a little differently. The transmission is still located near the engine. With the final drive, it forms a transaxle. A front axle forms a connection with the transaxle, which delivers the power needed to rotate the front tires.

To keep the explanation simple, I’ve ignored the torque converter. In reality, power travels from the engine through the torque converter into the transmission. The other components work as described.

Is One Better Than The Other?

Modern vehicles usually have front wheel drive. An FWD weighs less, costs less to manufacture, and usually delivers higher fuel efficiency. On the other hand, an RWD distributes the weight more evenly across a car’s frame, which improves braking ability. Plus, because the design is less crowded than an FWD, it’s easier to service without taking everything apart. In the end, when choosing between RWD and FWD, consider your driving needs and the factors on which you place a high priority.

Even though manual trannies are becoming rarer each year, they continue to be the main ingredient in performance vehicles. We will cover the basics of your automobiles manual transmission. I’ll describe the basics regarding how they work, including how moving the shift knob through the gears translates into drive power to the wheels.

Keeping Below The Redline

The Red Line is the limit as to the automobiles engine capacity.” When you put pressure on the gas pedal, you’ll hear the engine grow louder as the RPMs climb. The redline is the point past which your engine becomes in danger of failing – or blowing apart under the stress.

Most engines enjoy their peak performance at approximately 5,500 RPMs. For efficiency the goal is the reach as close to that level as possible with out ever crossing it. That’s what a manual transmission does. It lets the driver set the gear ratios that allow the engine to operate within its optimal RPM range without exceeding the redline.

Clutch And Gears

In a manual 5-speed or 6-speed, the driver controls the gear ratios through the clutch, a component that connects the engine with the transmission. When the clutch pedal is pushed down, the connection is severed. When the clutch pedal is released, the connection is reestablished. When connected, engine powers the revolutions of the output shaft which in turn powers the layshaft. The geers teeth interlock with the spinning gears to coincide with the engine spinning.

How The Shift Knob Contributes To Gear Selection

From a top-down perspective, the positions of the shift knob look similar to an “H” formation. When you move the stick shift into one of the possible positions, it powers the gear selector fork. The fork enables a collar inside the tranny. The collar is outfitted with dog teeth that fit into the grooves of the 1st through 5th (or 6th) gears. Depending upon the position into which you move the shift knob, the corresponding gear will be engaged.

A car’s manual transmission follows a beautifully graceful design. That is not to suggest its design is simplistic. On the contrary, like a Swiss watch, the gears, dog teeth, and other components adhere to a well-honed precision. For car aficionados, that level of precision translates into irreplaceable engine performance.

Today, I’m going to describe 2 more common fallacies about car maintenance. These are myths that are perpetuated not only by your local mechanic, but by your dealership’s service technicians. Learn them and save your money.

#1 – Frequent Tune-Ups

Unless you’re driving a vehicle that was built when disco was still the rage, your car’s engine probably doesn’t need a tune-up. The service was performed in order to adjust the engine and moving car parts during a time when carburetors were installed in every model. Today, the only car parts that need “tuning up” are the spark plugs. And those just need to be replaced every 50,000 miles. Everything else – the ignition, fuel injection, and idling of the car engine – is controlled by computers.

Unfortunately, dealerships continue to tell their customers that they need to bring their vehicles in for a tune-up after 60,000 miles. It is not surprising. After all, it increases their revenue.

#2 – New Air Filters

Think back to the last time you took your vehicle in for an oil change. Did the mechanic suggest a new air filter? Did he subtly imply that your car might sustain damage if you neglected to replace it? This is a frequent misconception. First, the air filter catches debris before it can enter the engine. Over time, the filter can accumulate so much dust and dirt that very little air can flow through. At that point, it’s a good idea to replace it. But, it takes a long time for the air filter to reach that stage.

Of course, that doesn’t stop auto technicians from recommending the replacement every time you visit. From their perspective, you come to their shop ready to spend $20 on an oil change and end up spending $40. It takes money out of your pocket and puts it in theirs?

Auto Maintenance Education Saves Money

Your vehicle requires ongoing preventative maintenance. This is what will help make it last longer. But, it’s too easy to waste valuable time and money following bad advice from mechanics and dealership technicians. Remember, their goal is to increase their sales; many of them are willing to do it at your expense.

Chances are, your vehicle doesn’t need regular tune-ups. You do not have to replace the air filters as often as the auto mechanic suggests. As always, follow your owners manual. It’s the best way to keep your car in great condition.

You have to be careful though or you could get taken. And that’s why one of the best places for buying used parts is the Internet…when you know what to look for and the sites to trust.

The junk yard can serve you because they offer a wide variety of used vehicle parts but the quality and guarantees are spotty at best.

Getting used Honda parts has always been a process treated with skepticism. People misconstrue and believe recycled auto parts are unreliable and that they may konk out after only a few days or worse be dead on arrival.

But lately, companies are changing their policies and increasing the quality and testing which provides assurances to you before buying. The parts undergo thorough testing, which proves their quality and helps you rest more comfortably. These Honda parts are molded again in their new shape which makes it very difficult to identify the old ones from the new ones.

Recently, the Internet has become the latest place for buying all types of products including used Honda parts and other types of used car parts. So, for getting cheap and high-quality used auto parts, the Internet has come of age and is more than a handy option because the quality remains and you get the product shipped right to your door.

So, now it becomes important to select the right site for buying and getting the parts at affordable rates.

When you look to purchase something you might consider:

1. Easy Buying Procedure: In today’s world every human being faces the problem of lack of time so you want it to be dead simple and fast.

2. Wide variety of Products to cover the majority of your potential customers.

3. Safest Place: It is one of the safest places to buy good quality used auto parts as well as other used parts. And look for an iron-clad guarantee so your site visitors have no hesitation entering their credit card information and hitting the buy button.

Purchasing used car parts in working condition is much better than spending all the money for a new Honda car or even new Honda parts at retail prices.

You cost include shipping , transportation and other overhead costs that are tacked on by retailers.

This is where recycled parts purchased through reputed online sites are reliable and also maintenance free. And you can get more life out of the car you have already depreciated rather than throwing away good money on new cars and new parts.

With the advent of Internet, refurbished car parts are bought more now than ever before. This includes both foreign and domestic.

Even with the struggles Honda is having and the car dealers are having the maintenance and parts businesses are thriving. It’s one of the bright spots for auto dealerships.

Of course, savings is the major advantage of buying used Honda parts. New parts have much higher markups and profit margins than old. So do you want to pay for a retailers overhead?

Because online sellers operate with very low overhead, prices can be kept low and affordable for various auto parts including engines, alternators, and transmissions.

There is a big market worldwide for used auto parts.

I highly recommend purchasing used transmissions and engines because they’re reliable. Also used side panels and bumpers are other big ticket items you can save on without loss of function or looks.

Since online barriers to entry within the used auto parts business is low, many services have popped up opening a lot more choices for consumers. Also there is plenty of material readily available to help you research and make a qualified and educated decision. The only thing left for you to do is read all required notices and terms and then make your choice.

Plenty of things can go wrong under your car’s hood which will immobilize it. The trick is knowing how to narrow down the culprit so you can either fix the problem or have your mechanic do it for you. We examine several of the potential reasons your vehicle will not start.

When The Car Engine Doesn’t Crank

If you turn the key and your engine fails to turn over, the problem is usually located in the ignition system, starter, or the battery. If your battery is the source of the issue, it may be because of low voltage or a bad connection between the poles and terminals. A low voltage problem can usually be fixed by jump starting your car and driving it for twenty minutes.

If you believe the car’s starter is the culprit, examine the wires first. If they’re clean and tight, the relay or solenoid may be bad. Otherwise, you may need to replace the entire starter. If your battery and starter are fine (your mechanic can test them for you), the problem is likely in the ignition system.

When The Auto Engine Does Crank

If the engine turns over when you turn the key in the ignition, but it doesn’t actually fire, the cause is a lack of spark, a lack of gas, or lack of sufficient compression. The fact that your engine is turning means that your battery is delivering voltage and your starter is being triggered.

You can purchase a spark testing device from most auto supply shops. Assuming there’s fuel in your gas tank, check to see whether your fuel pump is working properly. The vehicles which are rolling off the automakers floors today come equipped with fuel injection systems. While they’re more precise, they’re also more sensitive to pressure variances. The most likely cause of fuel pressure problems are located with the fuel pump.

To check the compression level, you’ll need to have access to a special testing device. Most auto repair shops have the device for their own use, not for public use, so testing may require a paid visit to the local garage. The mechanic will probably remove the spark plugs in order to check all of the cylinders.

As noted above, some issues are easily solved. Others will require help from your auto technician. The next time the car doesn’t start, you have an idea of some of the causes, reasons and explanations.