Posted on 1/28/2016
Let's talk shocks and struts. Shock absorbers last a long time and wear out pretty slowly, so I guess you could say they're easy to take for granted. But your shocks and struts do a very important job, so you need to pay attention to them. They keep your tires on the road, and your tires are what connect your vehicle to the road and allow you to safely handle your car through turns, over bumps and even stop efficiently. So what happens when your shocks or struts are worn? When your shocks and struts are worn, your tires bounce excessively over bumps. Your vehicle will wallow through corners. Your front end will dive when you stop, and your rear end will squat when you accelerate. All this hurts your ability to control your vehicle, and your ride just isn't as comfortable. In a nutshell...bad handling and control. You may have also heard that worn shocks or struts cause excessive tire wear, so you'll have to replace your tires sooner then you should. That's very true ... read more
Posted on 1/26/2016
The North American International Auto Show has reigned for decades as the premiere industry event, but Silicon Valley is threatening the crown An unspoken question hung in the frigid air of Detroits largest auto show, as work crews fastened the last few bolts and polished down the displays. How long can the North American International Auto Show reign supreme? For those who like the status quo in the auto industry, these can be unsettling times. Gas prices have hovered at remarkable lows, Silicon Valley giants are breaking into the business and if some criers are to be believed, the revolution of self-driving cars is near. Most agree that autonomous driving technology the stuff of self-driving vehicles[autonomous vehicles] is the force most likely to significantly change how people get around. The new challenger to the Detroit shows dominion over ... read more
Posted on 1/7/2016
We just passed the 30th anniversary of the original Back To The Future movie. (30 years?! Seriously?!) Obviously, for car buffs this immediately brings to mind the ultimate time machine...the DeLorean! (With the flux capacitor option, of course.) Today we look at the history of that iconic car, made in Belfast, with its sleek stainless steel exterior and gull wing doors. Every once in awhile you can even find one of these for sale on the used market! Your next car maybe? :)
Posted on 8/20/2015
By: Nick Carey and Deepa Seetharaman DETROIT | Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:00pm EST DETROIT (Reuters) - The American auto industry will change more in the next dozen years than it has during the past 50, said the U.S. Treasury official charged with overseeing the government's investment in the auto industry. [caption][/caption]In 12 years, vehicles will be more fuel efficient and be far more computerized, Ron Bloom said on Tuesday in prepared remarks to the Automotive News World Congress. "We will take substantial steps toward using electricity, bio-fuels, and natural gas to power our cars, and those vehicles still using oil will consume far less of it," Bloom said. While the percentage of cars using alternative fuels a dozen years from now will still be relatively small, Bloom said, "the shift will be viewed as inevitable, and the trajectory of change will be accelerating with ... read more
Posted on 6/11/2015
You probably take them for granted. You're constantly checking it to see how fast or slow you're going. You check it to see how much gasoline you have left, or how far you've traveled. It's your instrument cluster! They range from the clean and simple to astoundingly complex. Ever wonder what all those indicator lights in the instrument cluster mean? What other functions does it perform? The instrument cluster typically displays vehicle speed, engine speed, coolant temperature, fuel level, oil pressure, gear range, elapsed distance and battery voltage. Some vehicles may not display all of these parameters. Indicator lamps alert drivers to conditions such as low fluid levels, overheating, and other potential issues. Also, the instrument cluster may be part of the vehicle communication network where it coordinates information from various vehicle computers. Key components of the instrument cluster include: - Gauges - Warning Indicators - Switches - S ... read more