Car and Truck Alternators

Has your vehicle's alternator failed? Are you absolutely certain that it isn't your battery or starter? Determining which part has failed is essential toward avoiding unnecessarily replacing something that hasn't failed, like your battery. Let's take a look at some steps you can take to determine that your alternator, in fact, has bit the dust.

If you own an alternator testing machine, you can test to see whether your car's alternator is charging correctly. For most people this isn't practical as few motorists own such an expensive piece of equipment. For everyone else, there is a practical way for you to easily check to see if your alternator is working properly:

Connect a volt meter to your car's battery

Start your car

Observe the voltage output on the volt meter so that you can make an accurate determination.

If there is an increase in voltage when you start your car, then your alternator is more than likely working just fine. Likely, you battery is the culprit; check the battery itself and the connections to make a final determination.

If there is no increase in voltage, you are likely looking at having to replace your alternator.

The next step, of course, is to determine whether you will replace the alternator yourself or have someone else do the job. Some things to keep in mind as you weigh your options include:

If you trust your vehicle to a mechanic, what will the total cost of the work be including the part and labor? Is there a guarantee?

If you decide to do the work yourself, do you have all the tools on hand to get the work done? Do you own a repair manual? Do you want to purchase a new alternator or will a remanufactured unit suffice?

Your choices today are much greater than they were ten years ago, before internet shopping became a strong factor in reigning in high auto parts prices. Several online wholesalers, including the Auto Parts Warehouse, are in business to sell auto parts directly to you. Costs are generally much lower than local retail establishments and parts are from well known manufacturers, names you can trust in the business.

Doing the work yourself can save you time and money as well as give to you a sense of accomplishment. With a trusty repair manual at your side you can replace your vehicle's alternator quickly and accurately.

Why So Many Tune and Modify Their Cars and Benefits of Doing So

As you are driving on your local highway, you take a look in your rear view mirror and spot a gorgeous car speeding up to you. Taking a closer look, you find that what you are seeing is not a regular "stock" car but the driver has taken the time to customize the looks and functions of the car completely!

Tuning your car is not limited to specific set of tasks that you should do, though, some modifications to the car are more common and popular than others. Starting from the basics, to tune one's car is to modify and customize the basic car ("stock car") and upgrade the parts and looks to increase the functions of the car to allow for a better handling, speed, or display.

Though everything sounds good, better performance, better handling, but to modify your car is not for the "average Joe". The process of taking out the parts such as the engine, brakes, and other important features and installing or upgrading higher quality and better performance cars is a tedious task that many are not capable of accomplishing. Now, if one has the skills and patients, it is a worthy investment to make and a great result will show.

When someone says that they have a tuned car, many will jump to the conclusion that they have made a sport car for racing. This is not always the case, to tune your car for regular day-to-day use is quite popular as well. Some will choose to switch engines to save gas, others may only tune as they are in need of a new audio system or display screen.

Even though some will tune their car when needed and only for every day use, the most popular and well-known tuning is for a better performance. Tuning can be done on many cars with various makes and models but common cars that are tuned and modified are: BMW 3-Series, Mitsubishi Lancer (Evolution), Honda Civic, Subaru WRX, Mazda (variety), Toyota Supra, Ford Mustang, and much more!

Those are only to list a few cars that are well-known to the select who tune their cars. They are also good choices as they all have fairly good performance, some of which, have a great price margin as well so even the people who have a 6 car garage can afford to have tuning as a hobby.

A few ways that people tune their cars are engine tuning, such as getting 1000+ Horsepower on a 4-cylinder engine, creating a "lowrider" car with hydraulic suspensions, modifying spoilers and body kits, having different tires for racing, and much more.

There are many styles and looks that people have accomplished when tuning their car, you can view photos and rate what you think of tuned cars at Tuned Car Rating.

Shopping this Holiday Season - Safety in Mind (Part 2 - Car and Driving)

Yep, this is another reminder that with the joyous season of
giving comes the increase vulnerability to those that would
do taking. In English: the holiday has increased crime
rates, especially theft. Keep in mind that crimes occur
when a would-be criminal finds a "weak, accessible target".
The distraction of holiday shopping, planning, traveling,
visiting, etcetera is a perfect back drop for criminal
activity. Not that that's going to prevent or change any of
our plans. Right?

Let's hope not. All the while, let's add a few items to
our planning list. They don't involve time or money, just
safety-minded eyes and ears.

Are you aware of "the Criminal Triangle"? It indicates
that a crime happens when Desire, Opportunity, and a Victim
meet. Well, that makes things simple, as long as we don't
allow an Opportunity, we won't become a Victim. Um... What
qualifies as an Opportunity to someone with extreme
Desire? Not sure, but I am sure that implementing
these tips will help reduce the opportunity of you
becoming a victim.

Keep in mind these Holiday Shopping Tips when
Driving :

Shop with the sun, friends and family. Repeat!
Try not to shop after dark or shop alone. Never park your
car in an unlit area, no matter how convenient it is. Look
for street lights even if the sun is up (just in case your
shopping trip is delayed and it becomes stormy and/or dark
outside).

Be prepared. Look around... Remember where you
park... Have keys in hand before you leave the virtual
safety of home, office, or store. Walk with your house key
or your car key and a safety device ready, such as
your key fob with the 'panic' or 'horn' button, a whistle or
other audible device. Whatever your choice, be ready to
react if you are approached and feel
threatened.

Don't attract attention. Drive on well traveled
streets and keep your car locked and in gear, even when
stopped. Allow at least one car length space between your
car and the car in front of you so you can escape if need
be. (By the way: Beware of fender-benders! You may be
bumped intentionally. If you suspect this, lock your doors
and do not get out of the vehicle. Speak through your
slightly open window, and contact the proper authorities.)

Be cautious, not tempting. Before getting in
your vehicle, check inside, under and around it to make sure
no one is hiding. Look for shadows! If you are uncomfortable
- go with your instinct! Go back to the store or office and
have someone walk you to your car. If at any time you
suspect you are in danger or are being followed, go to a
store employee or security guard, if you're in your car,
drive to the nearest well-lit public area, call the
authorities and/or drive to the nearest police
station.

Don't display your private information. Do not
leave mail or packages in your car. Anyone could look inside
your vehicle and use the address to break into your house
while you shop. On that note, always shut and lock your
windows and doors, even if you only plan to "run in and
out". It only takes a moment of vulnerability for you to
become a victim. Keep valuables out of sight, preferably
locked in the trunk.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Your best
defense may be as simple as being aware. Be aware of your
surroundings, your belongings and bystanders in the
vicinity. The above tips may reduce your chances of being
victimized, but will not eliminate the possibility entirely.

Identify areas of vulnerability and take action to remain
safe.!

Just in case you do find yourself in an awkward
situation, or (God forbid!) a victim, you'll want to report
the incident. When this happens, be prepared to provide the
following information:

o the race, sex, and approximate age, height and weight of
the suspicious person(s)

o what the person(s) were doing

o what the person(s) were wearing and any unique
characteristics (tattoos, scars, etc.)

o the location of the suspicious person(s)

o if the person(s) have left, how long ago, and in which
direction did the person(s) go

o the make, model, and color of the vehicle(s)
involved

FBI Crime Rate statistics indicate that 1 out of
every 25 people were a victim of crime in 2004 and 1
out of 250 people were a victim of a violent crime.

Your best defense against becoming a Victim of any crime
is knowing how to reduce or remove the Opportunity segment
of the Crime Triangle.

Do You Want an Adrenaline Rush for a Few Bucks? Try RC Cars and Trucks

Do You Want an Adrenaline Rush for a Few Bucks? Try RC Cars and Trucks

In all of remote control hobbies, a common opinion I've heard is that RC cars and trucks are easier to master for a beginner than flying machines. Planes, boats and helicopters can be great fun but having wheels on the ground means you can walk to wherever your vehicle is if you crash or it gets stuck or turned over. As a beginner, getting stuck may end up a common occurrence.

Newcomer or Master of the RC - It's fun either way.
One great thing about remote control vehicles is that newcomers have tons of fun just like long-time hobbyists. Remote control cars are among the best sources of a cheap, drug-free and safe adrenalin rush not limited by age or gender. It's one ride you that anybody can enjoy, without dangers or fear on being personally involved in a crash. According to the consumer report, 76.8% of males are Remote Control Car/Radio Control Car enthusiasts, especially when they were at the age of 5 to 34. Clearly there is no age limit and no gender barrier. And once you learn to control one it is much easier to learn to control others.

You can be in Control without Being in Danger.
Controlling an RC car can in fact be a lot more exciting than having a safe Sunday drive inside a full sized vehicle. Riding through a remote control can give you a feeling of security, while keeping your freedom to overdrive and over speed! Operating an RC car is quite basic; one only needs to know the fundamentals of RC driving. Using a joystick, a wheel or a trigger should be really easy once you get the hang of it. Sometimes it's tricky to turn the right way when the car is racing different directions.

There are numerous types of RC cars that you can choose from. The simple RC cars that can be simply described as living room toy should be the easiest to use, and you could say that it is the best for starters. Then there is also the RC race car that has superb features of complexity, speed and maneuverability. Finally there are some great pro models, that may have lots of features the beginner has no use for - yet.

Choosing your RC Weapon.
Overall, the most important thing to chose a rc car is: choose the one that suits your needs, budget, and the conditions in which you plan to run the kit. If you are a beginner, I suggest you start with an electric powered RC car. The gas powered cars have lots of power and if you are a more experienced enthusiast, you would start with a popular ready to run kit.

Off-Road, On Road and Rock Climbing.
There are three basic types of R/C Cars to choose from: Off road, On road and Climbing. Some of these can jump and others are meant more for racing and drifting. Models suitable for first-time hobbyists are available in every one! Racers love speed and bashers love tricks and jumps, and seeing how much a machine will survive. Both types may need a constant supply of replacement parts, just different ones.

Choosing between Gas/Nitro and Electric Vehicles.
You can choose between an electric or a fuel type RC vehicle. The variety of other parts on an RC might also impress you, as many RC cars are now fully customizable, one can make a car or truck simple and have a smooth cruising machine, or you can make it real fast and with enhanced suspensions just like a real race car. Even the simple ones can come with adjustments for steering.

There's more to running an R/C car or truck than the vehicle itself. Both Gas/nitro and Electric vehicles require a 2-or 3-Channel radio, motor(s), speed control and battery. And if you decide to race with electric you will need chargers and batteries and tire glue and you should be just about set to run.

Nitro vehicles require a radio, engine, fuel and muffler. Some or all of these items may be included with the vehicle, so read the product description carefully for details. Your model may also require items such as pinion, tires, wheels and body. Again, find the details about a rc car before you buy it. If you order by phone, ask the sales reps what is included and they should be able to tell you exactly what you'll need for each specific car or truck. If you buy at a hobby shop, the owners or clerks should have advice about styles and prices and what comes with a purchase. If you are into jumping and climbing and running through the grass then you should look into remote control monster trucks. There are many out on the market and many more that you can make custom.

Some things to keep in mind are:
Price! I've seen vehicle that cost over $2000 dollars. But you can have fun with something under $50 if you just want to kick around.

You may want to be sure you can get parts before you buy. Down time waiting for parts is no fun. Check your local hobby shop for availability of parts either aftermarket or stock replacement, there is nothing worse than having a brand new truck that you can't run because no hobby shop around has the simple part you might need.

Different machines have different starting styles....These can range from easy starts to pull starts and everything in between. If you are brand new to the sport then you should think of getting something that is a simple start or is not too hard. Even the electric cars and truck may require you to turn on your controller before you start power to your receiver on the car. You don't want it to go crazy.

Batteries. The electric RC cars need extra batteries and they will also need a charger. Nitro or electric, they both have many pros and cons and this is really up to you and your needs because nitro will cost more to run. But electric isn't without its price. And it doesn't matter how tough your truck it is, parts are going to break when you have a big crash! Make sure you get it on video.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to have fun, because that is the point, really. The best RC Car, RC Buggy or RC Monster truck is the one that makes you happy.

Rodg Larson

Electric Cars and Hybrid Cars To Save You Money

Electric cars are designed to run by the use of a battery or 'electric' parts rather than from fuel like gasoline. Electric cars don't pollute like gasoline ones do so that makes them environmentally friendly. I believe in the future of electric cars. But there are some draw backs.

Costs

Are they expensive? Yes. The return on investment is not there. A hybrid runs on dual fuel of battery and gasoline. It runs primarily on battery but when the batteries get low, they will switch to gas. I saw one site that listed hybrids ranging from $40,000 to $60,000. You can buy 2 or 3 trucks for that but you won't get the mileage. The Volt gets really good mileage. Since it's a hybrid - both gas and battery for fuel, it works on both worlds.

By changing to a hybrid vehicle, it will help erase some of your gasoline bill while helping the environment. If you spend $300 to $400 a month (or more) on fuel, multiply $400 a month times 12 months, that's $4800 a year on fuel. It would take several years to pay off the Volt. By that time, the car may be shot. You won't erase your entire gasoline bill - because you use both battery and gasoline - but it will help reduce it. I think purchasing a hybrid is a good thing but it's too long for a payback. I know the technology is available but the ROI, return on investment, is not there. If you spend $40,000 to $50,000 you may not be able to get that back within 5 years or longer.

Batteries

A hybrid car running on batteries need to be plugged in to recharge your car batteries. So, you are using your house electrical power to recharge your batteries in your car. You probably use 15 amps over a period of 3 to 8 hours. I know you can use solar to recharge. It depends how far you drive during the day whether you would need to recharge them every night.

Do batteries need to go completely dead before recharging? No, the batteries will deplete to 80% of their discharge rate before it will automatically change to gasoline fuel. Most batteries even though they say they don't have memory, they do - even lithium-ion batteries. They are very good but I've recharged some that do have a memory. Some people say they will forget and have no memory but you must run them 100% down before recharging. I have power tools that can run for 10 minutes before needing to be recharged. Then, I have some tools that can run for hours before needing a charge. I know it has to do with the rate of discharge on the lithium-ion. Even though they say they don't have a memory, in my case, they do.

Return On Investment

Electric cars are great but the ROI is not there. Should people hold off on purchasing them? That's your decision. The gas industry is a lifeline for many people. But the gas industry is making record profits on hard-working people. If fuel was cheaper, we could be driving our big gas guzzlers and SUVs. But the gas industry is making it more difficult for small businesses especially in a time where they can't hold on in this economy. The gas companies say it's due to government industry standards. But they knew about the standards years ago. In fact, they know when government is changing the rules and regulations because they have lobbyist they try to block them.

Solar has come a long way. The electric cars use too much energy too fast so it has to be recharged quickly. We use too much power in too short a time. We want to drive 60 or 70 miles an hour on a highway everywhere we go. In order to get up to that speed and keep the energy going, it uses a lot of power. In order for you to get the recommended MPG on a vehicle, it would depend upon your driving speed. So a gasoline car for the dollar is still worth the money now, unless they improve on the electric cars. And I'm hoping they will!

How to Find Genuine JVC Car Audio Parts

Surfing through the internet will find you multiple JVC car audio parts and accessories. From DVD players to display screens, every part is available for you to choose. The stores that stock JVC car audio parts are many both online and off line. You need to put in mind the kind of JVC part you want and when you have the idea, go out and start searching. You are looking for the functions that will suit you and you are also looking for new features that may inspire you. Take time to study the various specifications and if the terms are difficult to understand, ask the store staff or any attendant. It is therefore necessary to shop in a place where you have known well the kind of service they offer and how they offer that service.

If they are first and foremost registered, you should be able to tell. You also want to shop in a store where they are authorized to sell JVC car audio parts. Those details determine whether you get the right kind of of JVC car audio part. Other things are terms and conditions, the warranty and the company policies. The price cannot escape from the minds of customers. You need to buy affordable products and this means that you have to search from all sources to get the two most important aspects in any product which is the quality and the low price. JVC car audio parts come in a high quality and you should be able to find them without any major hassles.

There are car audio parts specially made to withstand bad whether. This products are speakers and others. They are designed in a durable material and they can withstand rain, high humidity and heat. They have in built grilles and rain guards to help perform their function properly. There are many other enhanced JVC parts for car audio and all you need is available for you to purchase. Online purchases might prove cheaper depending on your location. They are certainly more convenient and time saving. The online stores should be credible and there should be nothing suspicious about them. They should have some experience in the business and they should have proof of that.

JVC car parts have made their name thanks to their years of experience in the business. The Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan was founded in 1927 as a subsidiary of the U.S based company Talking Machine Company limited. Over the years the company has outdone itself winning an Emmy award for outstanding achievement in technological advancement in October of 2001. It was probably known for its support for football since 1982 having sponsored the Arsenal team. They also have a strategic capital alliance with Kenwood. Therefore this proves that when you are getting your JVC parts, you can be sure that all you want in the product will be delivered in the brand name. Enjoy your products as you make your car audio even better.

Water Into Hydrogen Fuel For Cars and Trucks - A Myth?

Would you like to know if water Hydrogen fuel is a myth? Is it possible to actually do this? Yes! The whole process comes from a 100 year old proven technology call electrolysis.

Electrolysis is when you insert two pieces of metal into water then apply an electric charge. When applying the charge, The molecules are separated from H2O to HHO, which is water separated into its elements, thus becoming a very power fuel. This fuel is stronger than gasoline alone.

How much gas will I save? Customers that have purchased these water conversion generators, yes, these generators are available right now and have doubled there gas mileage or even more. So, yes, it's well worth the purchase of the generator.

How does water effect your engine? There is some speculation that the water creates more friction in the engine. Well, this speculation is merely that, just speculation. The process actually steam cleans your engine of gunk and creates much cleaner emissions. So far, there have not been any proven damaging effects of using this system.

Can you use parts from the local hardware and plumbing store to achieve Hydrogen fuel for cars and trucks? Again, yes you can if you have the proper instructions. As far as how easy it is to convert your engine, people claim it is step by step instruction and some places even offer technical support when you buy there manual plus several free gifts for fuel economy and other processes you can learn for around the house. Seems to me that unless you like paying for gas when you could cut it in half. Especially for people that commute or own very large trucks, SUV's, Deisel trucks and even RV's.

When you convert and turn your vehicle or any engine into a water Hydrogen [http://1stopshoppingsource.com/waterfuel/waterfuel.html] fuel car or truck, you should expect at least a 75% increase in fuel economy. This is the biggest thing to happen in decades even after the creation of the hybrid. Anyone can have fuel on demand with the process of electrolysys. Having the opportunity to use the water Hydrogen fuel generation, is a gift. We all need a break from this economy and owe it to ourselves to save the environment and money.