Thursday, August 16, 2007

Word Class Truck - Nissan Titan 2006

The 2006 Nissan Titan is a world-class truck. This full size pickup is at the top of its class with 379 lb-ft of torque. I had an opportunity to test drive and look at the Titan's when looking to purchase a full size truck. I looked at the Tundra, too. The Toyota is no slacker by any means, but this Titan is sharp.

Let's just start with the big silver 5.6 numbers you see on the back of the truck. That means it has the 305 hp V8 engine - strong enough to tow 9500 lbs. It does have a fully boxed frame, so give up on those Ford commercials. Notice they only compare the Ford to the Dodge and Chevrolet pickups? Wonder why? No, I don't.

Closest comparison I can find to the Titan's power is the F150 with the larger 5.4-liter engine. It has 300 hp and can tow as much as the Titan. But the tow package on the Titan comes with a lower final gear ratio to act more like a 4 speed automatic instead of a 5 speed. It also has a transmission temperature gauge and trailer brake controller prewired under the dash.

Now if you are more the off-roading type, you'll like the electronic locking rear differential and the Rancho off-road shocks. It also has fog lights and skid plates which are a must have.

The Titan boasts most modern conveniences as the Tundra like braking distribution and shifting on the fly 4wd.

In my inspection of the 2005 and 2006 models, I did notice a neat feature. The tailgate weighs a ton, but on the 2006 model, it appears weightless. Nissan added gas shocks to aid in lowering and raising the tailgate. Pretty slick. The other really neat feature I found in this truck was the locking outside toolbox. It's a lockbox under the left rear tire, up under the fender. There's a door and a locking latch to store other things, like tools and such. It's pretty cool. That has me on a bias towards the Nissan as if the other features didn't.

In the bed is a factory sprayed on bed liner and this neat utility track to hold stuff in place. Rather, it allows me to position ropes and tie downs where I need them. But inside, the interior has something to be desired. Looks like a 350Z nightmare. The steering wheel and gauge cluster is nice, but move over to the right of that and, I dunno, just not my taste.

There are 3 trim levels, XE, SE, and LE. The SE seems to be the most common and it's nice. Not much difference as I can tell between an SE and LE. It is a nice truck and should be considered if you are shopping around as I am and have been.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Choosing the Right Car the Key to Fall Adventure

Driving, across the country or merely a state line or two, is the quintessential sport. Our cars transport us to destinations like family reunions, vacations and honeymoons. You won't find it on the front page of the sports section, but driving, windows down, music blaring and sunshine hot on your face has become a tradition that's getting more popular every year.

Like lemonade stands and drive-in movies replaced by today's mega-theatres and air-conditioned malls, cruising has evolved to include not only today's safer convertibles, but other vehicles that lend themselves to the particular tastes of the driver.

They say getting there is half the fun, and if you're driving one of this year's newer vehicles to your vacation destination that really will be the case, says John Davis, host and executive producer of MotorWeek, a weekly automotive magazine show produced by Maryland Public Television.

Davis says you'll be seeing a lot of pickups, SUVs and convertibles out there; and unlike in past years when people might rent fun cars specifically to drive on vacation, the latest trend is for people to travel in their own vehicles. It's a comfort thing as well as being more economical, says Davis.

Besides, you can almost customize what you drive these days. People are buying vehicles that are good for more than just getting to and from work and running errands, they're buying cars that have a lot of storage space and are also fun to drive, says Davis, whose show tracks trends in the automotive industry.

So-called cross over vehicles, which combine the features of a car with those of a sedan, minivan or sport utility vehicle, are really gaining in popularity. They are the widest, most imaginative group of vehicles to enjoy in the history of the industry, says Davis.

Vehicles that fall into this category include the Pontiac Vibe, Subaru Baja, Honda Element, Scion xB, Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Matrix, and Chevrolet Avalanche. They cover a broad range of prices from under $15,000 to well over $40,000.

*Safety Issues

They are very versatile, there's no doubt about that, says Davis. But like the traditional SUV, they tend to be tall, and taller vehicles by their very nature can roll over easier, so you still need to be extra careful when taking corners.

Rollovers can also be a worry for another popular summertime car: convertibles. They tend to be slower to respond to driver inputs because they are heavier than your average sedan, but Davis points out, they have come a long way. Convertibles used to be flimsily made and clumsy to drive, and really rattled over rough roads. Now they are better built, with better suspensions, and are much safer. Along with front airbags, many convertibles can be ordered with side impact airbags, while a few have pop-up roll-over bars that automatically provide extra protection for occupants. Most also offer electronic driving aids like anti-lock brakes and electronic stability systems.

Cruising still has the devotion of the American driver as it has for years, but with some 210 million registered drivers on the road, it does require us to be more conscious. Not just about safety, but other drivers, and local laws as they relate to aggressive driving and cell phone use. So, toss the cell phone in the glove compartment, strap on your seat belt and enjoy your next road trip.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Go for Two Strokes for Bigger Power

What is a 2-stroke diesel engine?

As the name suggests, these engines work on reciprocating actions of pistons. One stroke means one linear motion of the piston in one direction. When the piston moves in the opposite direction, that is counted as another stroke.

For a 2-stroke engine, the piston has to move up, and then down to complete one cycle of the engine. In those 2 strokes of the piston, the crankshaft will have turned 1 revolution.

The 2 strokes of the piston is to complete 4 stages of the combustion cycle - air intake, compression, combustion and exhaust. As you might have known, in order for a fire (or explosion) to occur to power the engine, we need a fuel, a heat source, and oxygen coming together at the same time.

Remember how the crankshaft and the piston moves in a cylinder? The reciprocating movement of the piston is converted to rotary motion by means of a crankshaft. The piston reciprocates between Top Dead Center and Bottom Dead Center inside the cylinder liner.

One of the most prominent feature of a 2-stroke engine is the presence of air intake ports on the cylinder liner that will enable fresh air to be led in for combustion.

These air inlet ports are cut into the cylinder liner somewhere at the lower end of the latter. In a typical design, the air inlet port are located about 35 degrees from the Bottom Dead Center (BDC).

In many designs, the fresh air that is introduced into the cylinder is also used to drive out the spent exhaust gases inside it. Many designs make use of scavenging air fans like electric blowers or turbochargers to slightly pressurize the intake air before the latter is introduced into the cylinder.

In order to allow the exhaust gases to be expelled from the cylinder, exhaust ports are often cut into the cylinder just like the air intake ports. A typical design will have the exhaust port located about 50 degrees from Bottom Dead Center.

So, let's describe our engine stages at the combustion space between the piston top and the cylinder head.

From Bottom Dead Center (BDC), the piston, full of fresh air, moves up the cylinder liner until it covers up the air intake port. The air intake process stops.

The piston moves further up. It then covers up the exhaust port on the cylinder liner. The exhaust process stops.

The piston moves further up. The air inside the combustion space is compressed and becomes hot. The piston has nearly reached Top Dead Center at this point.

Highly atomized fuel is then injected into the combustion space. The fuel burns rapidly causing an explosion inside the combustion space. The explosion causes a tremendous rise in pressure and the piston is pushed down towards BDC.

As the piston moves down, the exhaust ports uncover about 50 degrees from BDC. Exhaust gases are thus led out from the cylinder. The pressure inside the cylinder drops immediately.

The piston moves further down. At 35 degrees from BDC, it uncovers the air intake port. Fresh air is then led into the cylinder.

The piston then reaches BDC. Because of the momentum created from the force of the explosion, the piston reverses in direction and moves upwards towards Top Dead Center (TDC).

The process then repeats itself.

In some designs, the exhaust gases are removed through an exhaust valve, located at the cylinder head and very similar to the 4-stroke engines. This type of scavenging is called uniflow scavenging. The timing of the valve opening and closing will be controlled by a camshaft, push rods, rocker arms or other similar devices.

Well folks, why do we want to squeeze all the strokes into 2 cycles? That could be discussed further...

"PRODUCE YOUR BEST WITH THE BEST!" Hard-to-find tools become easy-to-find.

Mercedes Car Technology Updated

Automobiles have become normal fixtures in our lives, and they will continue to be our daily companions in the decades to come. Since its earlier days, innovations on automobile technology have been continuous. Engineers and manufacturers have sought to give the public improved performance, more comfortable features and safer cars. And this goal continues up to now and the process has even become more meticulous as car buyers have started to become more specific about what they want from their cars.

In this high-tech, computer-driven world car makers are striving to produce the best technologies to make their cars safer and more enjoyable to drive. Mercedes leads the pack in engineering technology as it has managed to feature in its vehicles some of the most precise, up-to-date and excellent quality car parts, accessories, safety features and entertainment systems. But not to be outdone, Mercedes still continues on its quest to give its patrons nothing but the best. Below is a list of the up and coming state of the art features engineered by Mercedes.

Latest Mercedes technology that will be used in its future cars:

1) Safety systems with radar and cameras that watch out for danger as you drive. These safety equipment will be able to warn you of imminent danger by using advance mathematics to calculate the possibilities and the chances of danger occurring. This will be the future's way of fortune telling!

2) Keyless entry is already being used on other vehicles like the Cadillac, Infinity and BMW models, Mercedes on the other hand is on its way to using a credit card style system which will replace car keys in the near tomorrow. That will make for lighter pockets!

3) Highly improved navigation console systems that includes computer-like screens on the dash, global positioning satellite and on board DVD's which can easily flash directions, maps, vital information on businesses like hotels, hospitals etc will be installed in every Mercedes. Getting lost will be a lot harder with these in your car!

4) Wi-Fi hook-ups in almost every vehicle will provide weather, news, and other information. Long trips won't be the same with these kinds of entertainment on board!

5) Various parts of the vehicle will be connected to a computer program which will be able to store relevant data to aid dealers, manufacturers and your mechanic in diagnosing the problem. With a handy cellular phone or laptop, you can transfer the data to the Internet and get a long-distance troubleshoot for your Mercedes. New technologies such as these, nothing IS impossible!

6) 40 Volt Electrical Systems will be a standard feature on the Mercedes which will allow for more electrical equipments to be brought into the vehicle.

7) Voice prompts allows you to talk to your car and command it to operate various basic functions such as locating a radios station. This technology is already used in certain BMW's, Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes models and will continue to be used and adapted as standard features on all trims and models.

8) Electronically controlled pedals, already used by Mercedes, will be installed in more of its vehicles. It sends an electronic signal rather than set the brake or accelerator in motion through physical contact which allows a split-second action.

9) Programmable Mercedes vehicles will arrive in the foreseeable future. It allows the driver to choose the type of vehicle to drive and uses electronics to adjust his Mercedes according to his personal preference like lowering or raising ground clearance for varied ground effects. The choice between sporty and luxurious, stylish and chic has never been easier!

With these technological breakthroughs, you need an auto parts store that updates its stocks along with the non-stop evolution of the vehicles in the market. Most importantly, you need an auto parts store that is reliable yet affordable. At Auto Parts Train, you will find prime quality, genuine Mercedes parts at very reasonable rates. To browse through the most complete and comprehensive catalogue of superior quality Mercedes parts, click on http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/MERCEDES_BENZ and experience how shopping for car parts online should be like.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Replacement Parts for Mazda5

The MAZDA5 is powered by an all-aluminum 2.3-liter, four-cylinder MZR series engine shared with the popular MAZDA3 subcompact, producing 157-horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT) provides brisk throttle response and plenty of torque both under acceleration and at cruising speeds. Transmission options are a five-speed manual or four-speed Sport AT automatic with manual shift mode. The MAZDA5 will be available in either Sport or Touring trim levels. The Sport trim level includes an AM/FM/CD stereo, power windows and locks as well as cruise control. Touring trim includes all of the amenities of the Sport level and adds climate control, front fog lamps, attractive rear spoiler, sleek side skirts, an in-dash six-disc AM/FM/CD changer and a power moon roof. Striking 17-inch alloy rims and a comprehensive airbag safety system are standard on both models. To suppress body roll, Mazda 5 has MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear. The high-performance suspension combination limits the natural body-lean effects of the relatively tall height when cornering, yielding predictable, neutral handling.

Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) combine with Mazda's own Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system ensures stability and control under braking, regardless of load or weight distribution. EBD with ABS minimize stopping distances. Mechanical brake assistance boosts braking force to ensure a shorter stopping distance in emergencies. Mazda has Advanced Impact-energy Distribution and Absorption System. Other safety features designed to protect vehicle occupants include an airbag-supported supplemental restraint system, front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, and airbag curtains large enough to protect all three rows of seats.

Active safety measures include a driving position oriented for safety with minimal blind spots and maximum visibility through the side windows and an extremely capable braking system. Mazda firmly believes that a responsive, easy-to-drive vehicle makes it easier to avoid accidents, and minimizes the chance of occupant injury. Mazda's commitment to safety reflects its efforts to protect both driver and passengers through both active and passive measures. Partstrain has a vast array of well crafted Mazda Replacement Parts, Performance Parts, Aftermarket Parts and accessories to choose from its online store at http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/MAZDA available 24 hours a day to serve your most demanding auto parts needs. It has in its stock highest quality Mazda body parts that will retain the Mazda's driving dynamics bundled-in technology and its design. Excellence is synonymous to service for all of Parts train's customer service staff in dealing with all of your auto parts inquiries.

How to make sure your parking lots

If you are considering the option of opening a parking lot, you should always think about the security measures and their costs, of course. Security measures don't seem like a big thing, but they are extremely important. If an aggressive incident takes place in your parking lot, people will soon start looking for other places to park their cars. This mean loss of income, business may face the risk of losing the clients. So, always pay attention to good parking lot security measures.

In order to decide on the best security measures, you should first identify the risks involved. The emergency issue is very important. Strict security problems or severe medical emergencies should be quickly located and solved in your parking lot. You should think of ways of letting the parking services' providers know of the critical situation which is occurring. A visual signal, a light, a strong sound would be a good measure for informing the parking security staff that a sensitive situation needs to be handled.

Another important problem is finding a fast way of servicing a driver that is facing a technical problem like a flat tyre or a dead battery. Or how to give assistance to a driver that has confused the place where he/she has parked the car in a huge, multi-story parking lot. Therefore, the parking services should be very friendly and helpful.

The best way of combating situation of any origin in your parking lot is to have a video surveillance system, access control and an intercom. Actually, combining these three systems and adding a good lighting system is the best measure. For better results, these systems shouldn't be limited only to the inside of the parking lot; they should be extended to the outside of the parking lot.

You should also equip your parking lot premises with emergency phones, for a better communication between your security staff and the driver in distress.

And remember to always train your security staff on issues about how to react properly and efficiently to a critical situation or an emergency.

All these measures should ensure a better security for your parking lot. But keep in mind that fast and accurate reaction is the element that is making the difference between a severe, violent incident and a minor happening!

How To Getting The Best Automotive Service

Just as clear communication between you and your doctor can equal better care for your body, communicating carefully with your mechanic means the best care for your body of your car!

When you think about it, you know your car better than anyone else. You drive it every day and know how it feels and sounds when everything is right. So don't ignore its warning signals. If something doesn't feel quite right, get your car checked out.

The following tips should help you along the way:

Preventative Medicine

Follow the recommended service schedules.

Keep a log of all repairs and service.

Check your car for:

unusual sounds odors drips leaks smoke warning lights changes in acceleration changes in engine performance changes in gas mileage changes in fluid levels worn tires, belts, hoses. difficulty in handling, braking, steering unusual vibrations

When there is a problem…

Write the information/symptoms down to give to your repairman. When did the problem first start? Exactly when does the problem occur? Is it constant or does it occur now and again? Does the problem happen when the vehicle is cold or after the engine has warmed up? Is the problem noticeable when you accelerate? When you brake? At all speeds? When shifting?

Remember to let the technician diagnose and recommend a remedy, even if you think you already know what the problem is. Plus, it's important not to demand an on-the-spot diagnosis. The technician needs to thoroughly examine the vehicle before knowing what's really going on.

Stay involved. And don't be shy about asking as many questions as you need to understand the problem. Mechanical terminology can be confusing to the layperson. Ask for simple definitions of technical terms you're not familiar with.

It's hard to be patient, as most of us feel completely incapacitated without our vehicles. Make sure you ask to be called and informed of the problem, recommended action, and costs BEFORE work begins.

Before you leave, ask about labor rates, guarantees, and what methods of payment are acceptable.

Leave a telephone number where you can be called.

The information you share with your auto technician will enable him to more easily locate the problem, diagnose it, and repair any damage. Then you and your car will be on the road again!

Your auto insurance.