Choosing the Best Color for Cars

When it’s time to repaint your car, there are several things that you need to consider. You want to ask yourself what you like and dislike about the current colors, and why. Are they too dark or too light? Too bright or too dull? The truth is, your choice of colors reflects your personality and idiosyncrasies. You might be taking colors for granted but without you knowing it, they tell stories about you.

Here are some tips to guide you all throughout the painting process.

• Check out the Colors Matter website. Scientific studies have shown that colors can make a psychological impact in your life.
• Choose a safe color. Studies show that the safest color for cars are lime yellow. This color is not widely available or aesthetic for most cars. White is highly visible at night and an appealing look on most cars.
• Choose a classic color. They say black is a classic color. This is true on cars as well. Black cars are easily visible in daylight, but they show dirt quickly and are less noticeable at night or in the rain.
• Go for a popular color. Silver has been the most popular car color for many years. This is said to be the best color because it reflects the light at night and is visible like white. However, due to its popularity, some people might shy away from the same color as everyone else and at dusk or in the fog it has been reported that the color tends to fade into the pavement and appear invisible to oncoming traffic.
• Go for a color that hides dirt. Sand and beige colors hide dirt, but do not draw much attention. Also this color leads to danger when you are out in traffic.
• Choose a color that stands out. Blue and green stand out more and are both well liked and calm colors.
• Go for sexy red. This popular choice looks great on sports cars, but also can imply speed. Study shows that red cars attracts the notice of police and leads to tickets and accidents reportedly more than any other car color. Fact: Some insurance companies even increase your premium if you choose to drive a red vehicle, something to consider.

 

Engine Drive Belt 101

Whenever you are having a periodic maintenance, the drive belt of your car should be a part of the routine check . This part is important to be in near perfect condition because it runs the alternator, water pump, air conditioner, power steering and, sometimes, the cooling fan. Here are the steps to do it.

1. Off the engine before getting in contact with the belt. There are times that you can’t see the whole length of the belt, you just need to bump the ignition switch a couple of times to get the engine to turn just enough to get all of the section of the belt exposed for you to inspect each part.
2. Look at the outside length of the belt to check for cracks or tears in the surface. It is important to check the entire surface.
3. Then view the underside of the belt. It should feel flexible and supple. A hard, shiny surface indicates the belt is old and brittle.
4. Inspect the entire inner surface carefully. Most belts have treads across the underside to help grip the pulleys. Look for frayed spots, cracks, tears or areas where the tread is worn or broken off.

In cases that you have discovered damage in the belt, it should be replaced immediately. For sure you don’t want to compromise yourself having a poor engine performance due to this deteriorating belt.

[credit: eHow.com]

 

Hassle-Free Towing Suggestions

Here are some tips for a hassle-free towing. Hope this one helps you.

1. If you are stranded near an intersection or an address, remember to give the address not the directions. The tow guy would surely ask direction later if they are unfamiliar about the site.
2. Do not assume that the towing guy would be there in less than an hour, unless otherwise if there is a emergency.
3. Make sure that your car is accessible for towing. If it is blocked by another car, clear the way if you can. However, if there’s a problem getting to the car, let the tow guy know in advance because sometimes he needs a different truck or will need to schedule for a later pickup time.
4. Locate the key of the vehicle before the truck pulls up to a house. If ever there are any keys on the ring, remove them. If the key are left for an unattended pickup, don not lock the door.
5. Be sure to remove important stuff before the tow guy hooks up and drive away.
6. If there are any instruction you want to give to a garage or a mechanic communicate with them or leave a note on the driver’s seat. Sometimes telling a tow guy to pass the message on to the mechanic gets lost in the translation.
7. Don’t assume the tow guy will take a check.
8. Do not stand in the way giving hand signals unless requested.
9. Mostly, trucks can carry one or two person, if there are four people in a vehicle make an arrangement for the overflow
10. Don’t wait until the car is already hooked up to say you are part of a motor club.
11. Don’t call for a tow/jump start if you are going to continue to try to fix the car/get it started yourself.
12. Don’t expect the driver to make a diagnosis or repair.
13. Make sure all the parts that you took off while trying to fix it yourself are reinstalled properly before the car is haul off down the road.
14. Don’t try to “help” by putting the car in neutral with the brakes off, the car will roll away into a house and it will be your fault.
15. Don’t tell the driver how to tow your car. He has probably done it a couple times more than you have.

When your friendly tow truck driver gets to your vehicle, remember that he is there to help and not piss you off.

 

Auto Lights 101

Maintaining and upgrading vehicle headlights is more than just a bright idea. It can be an inexpensive way to help keep you, your family and others safe. Upgrading your auto lights is the best way to help you keep you your family and other safe. Here are a few tips to keep you headlights properly working.

• Replace your headlights in pairs about once a year. The halogen in headlights dims in a long period of time. Replacing them in pairs helps avoid uneven illumination. You can be sure that you drive safely at night having reliable headlights in your car. Don’t wait for your headlights to dim; upgrade your headlights.
• Clean your headlights regularly. Remove accumulated dust and dirt in its surface. This small task helps prevent glare, which can be intensified by dust and dirt on the glass.
• Check your headlight alignment. If you know how to do it you don’t need assistance with a professional mechanic. Headlights can be knocked out of alignment by rough driving, creating a distraction for other drivers.
• Periodically ask a friend to walk around the outside of your car while you turn on the headlights, brake lights and turn signals to confirm they’re in good working order.

Remember, your lights are the only way you have to communicate with other drivers. By means of regularly upgrading headlights with new ones, you can help make driving safer.

 

Tinting Lights

One great way in customizing your car is by tinting the lights. To do this, there are a few steps to follow. It can be done in less than an hour provided with the right things needed like:

• VHT Niteshades (or other black transparent paint)
• 1 can of clearcoat paint
• 600 & 1500 grit sandpaper
• painters tape

Follow these steps and you’ll surely attain the best tinted lights ever!

• The first thing you need to do is to scrub the lights and make it clean. Just be sure not to get the electrical components wet.
• With the use of 600 grit sandpaper sand the light in the desired areas you wish to tint.
• Then wipe away any plastic debris removed during the sanding process with the use of a wet rag.
• Tape-off the areas which you do not wish to be tinted in the light assembly.
• Place lights in a well ventilated area with as little dust as possible.
• Hold the can UPRIGHT about 12-15 inches away from the lights. Apply the basic coat. Don’t go too thick on the coats.
• Wait for 15-20 minutes between each coat. Sand the coat with 1500-2000 grit sandpaper if desired to remove any imperfections in the paint job. Apply as many coats as you wish until desired darkness is reached.
• After letting the final coat of nightshades dry for 30 minutes or so. Then you can now apply clear coat in the same manner as the tint spray. Apply 2-3 coats of clear coat. Let the lights dry for a few hours after the process is complete.
• Then reinstall the light in your car.

Warnings and Tips

• When using the spray tint, spray many light coats instead of heavy ones because the tint will easily run.
• You can put stickers to add designs in your light. Remember to remove it before you spray the clear coat.
• Don’t spray heavily. Many light coats will render a much better project.

 

Computing Gas Mileage

Now that gas prices are peaking, many people are considering their driving habits or even investing on a car with better gas mileage. As a starting point for those kinds of measures, it helps to know what kind of gas mileage you’re actually getting right now. You need a car odometer in good working condition and a calculator to measure your car’s gas mileage. Then do the following steps.

Fill your car’s tank to capacity and note the mileage on your car at that point in time.

1. Drive as usual, until your tank is on empty or near that point.
2. Again, fill your tank to capacity.
3. Note the number of gallons and the mileage on your car at the time of this second fill-up.
4. Subtract the mileage at your second fill-up from the mileage of your first to determine the number of miles you drove on that tank of gas.
5. Divide the miles you drove by the number of gallons it took to fill your tank.

By following the steps, you now know how to compute the gas mileage of your car. Hope this one will help you in acquiring a solution that will help you improve the gas mileage of your car.

 

Choosing the PERFECT Car Seat

Choosing the best car seat is a tough one especially if you don’t know what exactly you want your car to have. In my personal experience, I did had a hard time choosing the best one.. know why??? Because I didn’t know the type of seat will best suit my car.

For you to know there are several types of car seats and all of them have different configuration. The first thing you need to consider is what the right seat is for you…. (For me it should be comfortable, soft and have good material) but then to mothers driving along with their children it’s a different case. The first thing that they consider is whether the car seat is suitable for their children.

Here are the basics about the different types of seats and some of their features:

• Rear-facing infant-only seat This type of seat has a handle that allow you to take the seated infant with you, and then snap the seat into either a frame or stroller. There are several models which has a detachable base that stays in the car which allows you to easily snap the car seat in without fooling around with the seatbelt. REMEMBER that it is very important that the seat is positioned correctly to protect the infant. The desired angle for seat suitable for infants is 45 degrees. That is why there are some seats come with angle indicators and built-in angle adjusters. Also look for harness adjusters and head support systems.
• Convertible seat this type of car seat can face rearward or forward. This is suitable for toddlers weighing 20 to 40 pounds there are some models that go up to 65 pounds. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you should keep your child rear-facing until he is at least one year old and has reached the highest weight or height allowed by the seat’s manufacturer (refer to the manual).
• Combination seat, which can be used with a harness or as a booster. It has the capacity to hold children ranging at least one year old and from 20 to 100 pounds. The weigh that this type of seat can carry varies from different model. Sometimes called toddler/booster seats, these forward-facing seats can change from a five-point harness to a belt-positioning booster seat.
• Booster seats. Will hold a child from 30-100 pounds, depending on the model. REMEMBER: Children should not move from a full harness to a booster seat until they reach the top weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. High-back boosters are used in cars without a head rest or high seat back. They are also a good idea if your child always fall asleep in the seat, or if the seatbelt still doesn’t fit properly with a backless booster. WARNING: Avoid shield boosters altogether.Built-in (Integrated) Seats. In models like Volvos and Chrysler/Dodge minivans offer built-in booster or child seats as factory options. This definitely makes life easier, though you need to check carefully with the manufacturer to see what weight, age and height limitations exist

Aside from the type of seat, there are other factors to be considered.

Will the seat grow with your child? What are the manufacturer’s limits for a child’s height and weight? Make sure that if you choose a car seat… it should have a higher weight limit.

Will it fit in your current or future car? Here’s a few tips you have to consider before deciding to buy a new seat.

• Is the seat bottom flat enough to allow the car seat to fit snugly?
• Do the belts allow you to secure your child’s seat properly?
• Is there enough clearance for rear-facing seats in the backseat?
• Is there enough legroom for older kids in front-facing seats, or will they always be kicking the back of your seat?
• To be sure a car seat will fit properly in your vehicle, try installing it before you buy it.
• Bear in mind that the third-row seat of any vehicle is extremely difficult for any adult to get to, and is best left to the booster seat crowd if possible.
• Make sure that the seat is easy to use.

After you already have decided what type of seat you want, install it.

 

How to Prevent Carjacking, Abduction and Other Crimes Part II

Here’s the second part of my post last week about tips on avoiding carjacking, abduction and other crimes when women are traveling alone.

1. Keep your vehicle well serviced. A poorly maintained engine can let you down at exactly the wrong time and place. So, a well maintained car is a good road buddy. There are particular parts in the car that should be given much attention like the batteries that should be charged recently or tested in cold weather. Also, the tires that are long in the tooth and short in the tread can go flat just when they’re needed most. So keeping up proper maintenance on your car’s vulnerable parts can go a long way toward avoiding a bad situation.
2. Use all of your car’s safety and security features. Your car which is employed with security features should be used in moment that you need it the most or when you sense the first sign of trouble. There are cars equipped with modern safety equipments like the one made by General Motors and Volvo Cars. Each car by GM is employed with OnStar and other telematics systems let you call an operator at the first sign of trouble and can be used to pinpoint your location. They also alert police and medical authorities if you are in a serious crash. Volvo, a Swedish luxury auto brand, is also famed for safety. No wonder their cars top crash tests. To learn more about your car’s feature…. Read the manual — you may not even know how your car can help protect you. REMEMBER: When you’re buying a new car, factor both vehicle safety and personal security options into your decision.
3. Have a plan when trouble arises. If confronted by a potential abductor or carjacker while you’re in or around your car, drop your packages and run, while making lots of noise. This strategy is effective according to experts. They say most criminals will quit right there. What you want to avoid at all costs is going with them to another location, even if they say you won’t be hurt. In moments that you no longer have control of the situation, you have few options: (1) If you’re being followed by another car, head to a police station (2) Call 911 for information on how to get there or a gas station. (3) If you are driving and you discover someone hiding in your backseat, slam on your brakes to throw them off balance, put the car in park and run.
4. Always let someone know where you’re going. Frank Scafidi, spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and a former FBI agent, recommends that kind of caution for far shorter trips when women are driving alone. The back-up person can alert police quickly if you fail to return on schedule, saving critical time — and perhaps your life.

I have this familiar experience two years ago when I moved in my new apartment few blocks away from my dad’s place. It was Friday evening when a stranger keeps on following me on my way home. I immediately call my dad and tell him about the situation. He gives me an instruction to go on the nearby gasoline station and call 911. Good thing my brother John was on that gas station that night, he’s really a blessing in disguise. Immediately we reported what happened in the nearby police station. From that experience, I see to it that my dad or my mom knows where I am going. Sometimes I leave a note on my desk for my secretary to know where I am going. From these I can be sure that whatever may happen on the road, somebody knew the place where they will look for me when emergency arises.

 

How to Prevent Carjacking, Abduction and Other Crimes

How to Prevent Carjacking, Abduction and Other Crimes

For us women it is very it is very risky to drive alone most especially at night. Carjacking, abduction and failing prey to a police impersonator are hazards for women who are more apt to be a target by sexual predators. According to the president of International Association of Chiefs of Police Ron Ruecker most crimes involving women drivers occur when they are heading to or away from their cars, particularly in parking lots, where thieves are tempted to steal both cars and property. So for women to be tough and always prepared here are 10 ways to stay safe when traveling solo.

1. Be careful where you park. Experts propose that finding a well-lit spot or lot, whether it’s indoors or out is best way to prevent hazards.

· Avoid spots where few other vehicles are parked.

· Steer clear of vans, especially commercial models that lack glass side panels, where wrongdoers can hide.

· Lock your car, and memorize or jot down its location.

· Pay lots with attendants are less likely to play host to criminals. Also let the attendant know where you parked your car as you return He’ll know something’s wrong if you don’t come through the pay window shortly,

1. Have your keys handy. Looking for keys in a handbag can give a criminal the time that he needs to pull off an assault, abduction or carjacking. Consider attaching a canister of pepper spray to your keychain. Make sure the car is locked once you are in. also program your key fob to open only the driver-side door for safety purposes.
2. Pay attention to vehicles near yours. As you are heading back to your vehicle, observe its surroundings. Is someone sitting in another vehicle’s passenger side, next to where you’ll be getting in? Is the vehicle pulling out, or just idling? If it’s the latter, back off. This could be trouble.
3. Avoid playing Good Samaritan. Since women are soft-hearted most often, they always offer help. However, you should avoid doing it most especially if you’re waved down by a lone man in a remote location whose car seems to have broken. BEST THING TO DO: Use your cell phone to call his location in to the highway patrol or police. They can help him out. Most 911 operators can also connect you quickly to a non-emergency line.
4. Think twice about pulling over for an unmarked police car. If you don’t think you’ve done anything wrong or think the “officer” looks suspicious, call 911 and ask for the local police authority. Ruecker said that if you are not sure, turn on your dome light and wave to acknowledge that you see them. Then drive slowly to a well-lit and populated area before pulling to a stop. REMEMBER: Don’t leave your car or roll down the window. Make the officer show his official identification card. Don’t settle for a badge or an official-looking hat. And make sure he’s in uniform and that the uniform parts match. Police departments use unmarked cars but rarely staff them with plainclothes officers for traffic patrols, added by Ruecker.
5. Know where you’re going at all times. Have directions handy whenever you’re going somewhere new. Keep a GPS device in your car if it doesn’t have a navigation system with this, you always keep tract to where you are heading. Potable navigation system is available in the market for less than $200. The device will allow you to be tracked and to call in your precise location if you become lost or just aren’t good at reading maps.

Source: Edmund.com

 

Ford Flex 2009 In-car Fridge

Isn’t it nice driving in a long winding road under the hot summer sun while drinking a cool soda… or seating comfortably in your car eating your favorite flavor ice cream. For sure, you can’t help it hitting the road anytime! Here’s good news! The innovative technology offered in the new Ford Flex 2009 the in-car refrigerator. FEATURES! As a $760 option, Ford isn’t simply giving you a plastic compartment cooled by the air conditioner, which can drop the temperature of a beverage up to 20 degrees. This refrigerator uses a compressor to create chilled liquid that can lower the temperature of a beverage 41 degrees in two and a half hours. It also has a freezer option that can chill to 23 degrees Fahrenheit. AMAZING isn’t it???

Here’s more! The compartment is small — capable of holding seven 12-ounce cans, four half-liter bottles or two orders of vegetable maki — but the utility is also evident. For drivers who live in hot climates, it might save a gallon of ice cream on the way back from the store or allow drivers to run other errands while keeping raw meat at a safe temperature.

SOURCE: http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/car_gadgets/