Car Parts and Accessories

Fitting child restraints and seats for children

Children at particular risk when travelling in a ear. Sudden deceleration, an impact or even a violent change of_ direction can funnel a child, travelling in the back of a car, in between the bucket seats onto the brake/gear lever or dashboard or against the door frame withdistressing or even fatal results. (more…)

Wiring the car for warning and deterrent

MOST CARS and some LDV’s are fitted with mechanical steering locks during manufacture and, although many of these locks can be circumvented by the professional thief, if engaged they will pose a deterrent to someone trying to steal the vehicle. However, a survey carried out by the AA shows that very few of these locks were damaged when cars were stolen and this indicates that many cars are stolen with their own key or with a duplicate key. (more…)

Auto Emergency Trouble Lights

Coping with Auto breakdowns

SIMPLE equipment, such as a torch, a tow rope and a pair of booster cables, can avoid a long delay at the roadside after a breakdown. A fire extinguisher, red warning light and warning triangle give added safety in an emergency. (more…)

Countering the Auto Climate

Many of the devices that help to make a car comfortable—such as heater/demister, fresh-air ventilation and adjustable seats —come as standard equipment on today’s vehicles. Yet there are still other accessories that can be added to a car to make driving more comfortable. (more…)

A roof rack can be useful when touring with a lot of luggage, but an excessive load on the roof will affect a car’s stability and steering.

Before buying a roof rack, check that it is suitable for your model of car. On many new cars, gutters are being eliminated, while some manufacturers provide special mounting points for roof ‘racks. Many brands sold in kit form are simple to fit and remove and will fit almost any car. Others are made to fit a particular car. Racks are commonly made of galvanized steel though a number of more expensive brands have plastic-covered bars.

Fitting a roof rack Assemble the rack, leaving loose the adjustable struts that will secure the rack to the roof gutter. (more…)

Car jacking is a very real threat in our country. Lock your doors as soon as you get into your car. You may think this isn’t going to deter an armed criminal but you’re wrong. They pick the easiest targets, and an open door is always easier than a locked one.

Keep your car in good running condition and make sure you have enough petrol in the tank to get you where you’re going. Don’t take the chance of getting stuck without petrol in the middle of the night on the highway, or anywhere else for that matter.

Don’t stop for hitchhikers — no matter how cute they are or how sorry you feel for them. No one is cute enough to risk your life for. And don’t hitchhike. (more…)

If you have a spare moment with nothing better to do, open your car’s bonnet and have a peek around. It really is all quite fascinating, especially considering the fact that you probably get into your car every morning and drive to work, not having the faintest idea of what’s actually going on in there. We’re not saying that you should become the next neighborhood mechanic, but it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals — it may stand you in good stead should an emergency arise. The best bit of advice we can possibly give you is to go through the owner’s manual that comes with the car. We confess, it wasn’t until we did the research for some of the things in this section that we realized exactly how much useful information such a manual contains. So read it, if for no other reason than finding out where everything is. That’s the one thing we can’t show you. (more…)

If pushing, screaming, jumping and kicking have all failed, try connecting another car’s battery to that of your car. You will also need a driver in the other car. Park the second car as close as possible with the two batteries on the same side. Avoid any physical contact between the two cars; there may be freak little currents flowing about that are best avoided.

Most jumper leads have a red lead (positive) and a black lead (negative). Open the caps on the two batteries and identify the positive (+) and negative (—) terminals. Make sure that your car’s battery is properly connected and that the ignition of your car is turned off. (more…)

We’ve all experienced our car doing ‘funny’ things — most of the time they are quite easily explained. Now you can go to your mechanic, not dumbstruck, but armed with an entire list of conjectures.

Auto Vehicle Gauges and little lights

The owner’s manual will have a full explanation of what each light and gauge means and what should be checked should one of them light up. (more…)

Checking Auto Car Tyre pressure

Incorrect tyre pressure will affect the handling of your car, fuel consumption and how the tread wears. Check tyre pressure once a month and before leaving on a long trip. Also check the pressure of the spare wheel once in a while.

The best way to do this is with a pressure pump at a service station. Check what the optimum tyre pressure is for the front and rear wheels. It will be in the service manual, inside the driver’s door or on the inside of the flap over the fuel cap. Normally the front wheels need to be pumped harder than the rear wheels as they bear the weight of the engine. If the car is loaded, both the front and rear wheels will need to be inflated to their optimal pressure. If you do not know how to work the pump ask one of the friendly attendants to show you. Next time you drive in, jump out and use it feeling like a master. (more…)

All of the following fluids are essential for the proper running of your car’s engine. In older cars the gauges and warning lights may sometimes not be as accurate as you would wish them to be. As it is really easy to check yourself and will save you heaps of money by avoiding unnecessary strain on the engine, we recommend diving in once a month or so and just checking, or having it checked, to see that all fluids are at their optimum level. (more…)

This varies greatly from car to car and giving an estimate of how much your particular car should be using would be impossible. If you are not aware of any leaks and the car is not belching smoke, but it is using a tin of oil every 1 000 km, then that’s just the way it is. If you’re concerned, ask your mechanic to have a look. But if your car is using a lot of oil and smoking, you may need some expert advice, not only from a mechanic, but also from your bank manager. (more…)

Take pride! There is no reason why your old Beetle shouldn’t shimmer and shine as brightly as the Porsche standing next to it.

Getting rid of Auto Small Scratches

You should treat small scratches as soon as possible. They could very easily lead to rust and eventually your car may be falling apart right in front of your eyes — all because someone was careless and let her (or his) shopping trolley connect with your precious car.

You should be able to get a touch-up kit from your local dealer or garage to match the colour of your car. If you need any further instructions on how to proceed, we suggest you rather have this done by a specialist. (more…)

Use of the Clutch and Gearbox

Because of the additional mass of a caravan, a higher wear rate on some of the components of the towing vehicle, such as the clutch on manual drive vehicles, is inevitable. An experienced caravaner, however, can reduce this to inconsequential levels by always moving off from rest in the lowest gear and changing down on hills early.

Don’t place undue strain on the clutch by stopping against steep hills unless you really have to. When forced to do so, let the caravan run backwards and then turn the steering on the towing vehicle slightly so that the caravan takes up a position at an angle to the direction of travel. This will ease the load on the transmission of the towing vehicle when you move. (more…)

Two decades ago caravanning was a pastime in which a relatively small number of people indulged. It required the will to ‘rough it’, a large, rugged tow vehicle, the skills of a safari driver, and the ingenuity of a competent mechanic. In South Africa today, caravanning has become a way of life for about 130 000 families. Pressured by rising inflation, drawn to the carefree and relaxed life style of a friendly community, and impressed by the fact that even the lightest passenger car can be suitably matched to a caravan, the number of motorists joining the ranks of caravaners is increasing annually. (more…)

Safety aspects to do with roadworthiness are well taken care of in the modern caravan. When you hire a van, you should notify the company with whom you insure your car but they will not normally require an additional premium. The insurance for the caravan will be part of the hire charge so you need only discuss with the hire firm what exactly is covered.

Your main contribution to safety — and unavoidable expense — will be to have a properly designed towing bracket fixed to your car. On no account should you try to construct the bar yourself. Towing brackets are designed in close liaison with car manufacturers, who know exactly what stresses their vehicles can accept — and where. The fitting of the bracket is a job you can carry out yourself but this too is probably best left to an experienced mechanic who has the right tools and can usually complete the work in less than two hours. (more…)

A well-matched combination is little different to drive than a solo vehicle. However, towing does reduce engine performance, so provide for this when attempting to overtake. Provided the caravan’s brakes are operating properly, braking should not be affected appreciably, but care should be taken nevertheless as braking characteristics differ from vehicle to vehicle.

When turning, or overtaking a slower vehicle, remember to provide for the combination’s extra length. Never coast— with or without a caravan in tow and, on long downhill runs, engage a lower gear rather than overheat the brakes by constant application—a practice which could lead to brake failure, especially in vehicles where the brake fluid has been used for a number of years. (more…)

Installing Auto speakers for the best sound

There is usually space for a speaker behind the dashboard or under the shelf behind the back seat, but if you are fitting speakers yourself, fit them into the doors for best results. However, when drilling holes in the bodywork or door panels, remove the metal filings with a vacuum or compressed air. A AA survey showed that the filings often start severe internal rusting.

There are many different car speakers on the market, some cheap and others more refined. Poor speakers are tiring to listen to, so it is best not to buy a very cheap set.

If your car does not have ready-cut apertures for speakers in the doors or in the back shelf, you will have to cut them yourself. This needs care. (more…)

When you turn the key and start your car, an electric motor (the starter) turns the crankshaft inside the engine. Rods connected to the crankshaft move pistons up and down inside hollow cylinders. At the same time, electricity is supplied to spark plugs mounted in the top of the cylinders. A mixture of gasoline and air is drawn into the cylinders and ignited by the spark plugs. The explosion forces the pistons down, in a designed order, turning the crankshaft. A fuel pump delivers gasoline from the gas tank to the carburetor. The carburetor mixes the correct amount of air with the gas being drawn into the cylinders, and the engine runs.

When you put the car in gear, the transmission moves the power from the engine down the drive shaft to the differential (rear end). The differential transfers the power to the axle that turns the wheels. Because of the extreme heat generated by the engine, the engine temperature is stabilized by a cooling system. (more…)

When you have your oil changed by professionals, they probably add a small charge to your bill to cover disposal of he old oil. Used oil is a hazardous waste. One pint of oil can contaminate 750 gallons of ground water. If you decide to change your car’s oil yourself, consider buying an inexpensive oil-change kit from an automotive store. These kits have basins into which you can drain the used oil; then you can take the basin to a collection center for recycling. Usually larger service stations take used oil.

Before changing your oil, run the engine a couple of minutes to warm the oil. Warm oil drains faster than cold oil.

Auto Car Tools & Materials

• Wheel blocks
• Socket wrench
• Jack
• Oil filter (strap) wrench
• Jack stands
• Funnel
• Clean rags (more…)