Car Parts and Accessories

Strike the arc by lightly touching the metal with the point of the carbon rod, then withdraw it slightly until you obtain an intense glow. On a 12 volt car battery the arc is extremely small and in fact the carbon pencil will be almost touching the metal. Maintain the arc and move the carbon rod in small continuous circles until metal flows from the piece of metal being welded and the car body. (more…)

Rubbing down

After the last layer has set properly (half an hour to an hour, depending on the temperature) rub down the filler until it is approximately contoured to the surrounding bodywork but still slightly proud.

At this stage power tools can be used but avoid bringing the edge of sanding discs into contact with the filler as this can cause quite deep grooves in a fraction of a second. (more…)

If you have ever looked at a motor insurance renewal form you will notice that if you elect to pay the first few pounds of any damage incurred, you will get a considerable reduction in premium. (more…)

Don’t Panic, calm down (a) look after the injured (b) move the vehicles off the road to lessen the chance of further mishaps.

It is worth trying to get the police to come to an accident but, failing that, go to a police station afterwards and make a full report. This, of course, assumes you are not hurt. If you or others are injured, the first priority is to get professional help. (more…)

If the motorist who has just smashed into your car jumps out and says ‘Don’t call the police, I’ll pay for damage’, don’t take the chance. (more…)

Many insurance companies quite reasonably refuse to pay up if the driver they have insured is breaking the law when involved in an accident. (more…)

A charity can receive a donated vehicle for internal usage or simply sold on auction which benefits directly from a car donation. The donated cars either were sold by the charity or by auto dealers to raise funds for the charity. In some extreme situation, auto dealer may only offer charity as little money per car.

Law sometimes has limitation on certain charities for the tax deductions from car donations.

Before have cars donated,

• Make sure the charity your car goes for is eligible to receive tax deduction to the price at which the car will be sold;
• Ask for you donation agent for a receipt from your car donation;
• Have a formal acknowledgement from the charity for declaring donor’s tax return requirement;
• Ask third party for documentation or records the value of your car;
• Take pictures and save your bills for your upgrades of your car for verifying your car value;
• Record the figure of the date and mileage, and condition of your car.
• Remember you are obligated to value the car but not the charity and you will be fined for any inaccuracy.

After the car donation,

• If your donated car was sold within 30 days; ask charity for a certification of sale
• If the donated car hasn’t been sold within 30 day; ask for a receipt for sale. (more…)

Measuring tools

For taking measurements that do not need to be accurate to more than 0,5 mm, a 300 mm steel rule is adequate. It can also be useful as a straight-edge for scribing out metalwork or checking the amount of distortion in a cylinder head.

For more accurate measurements use a micrometer, or a vernier caliper which will measure accurately down to 0,01 mm. A 0-25 mm micrometer is limited to a maximum range of 25mm. (more…)

What causes rust?

Moisture, dirt, industrial fallout, salt air, grit, cement dust, crop sprays and manures all help to speed corrosion.

Rust, an all-year-round menace in coastal areas, gains a foothold in any moisture or rust traps that feature in the design of modern car bodies. Door panels—particularly those of the driver’s door—are the most vulnerable components of a car. (more…)

Car Initial test

Check whether the distributor housing moves within its clamp. If it is loose, the ignition timing is probably incorrect. (more…)

Try before you buy

For the disabled driver, try before you buy is even more important than for the able-bodied driver. Never allow a salesperson to hurry you into the purchase, and take your time when you try out the vehicle.

If you need to import a specially manufactured vehicle, approach a centre for the disabled in your area for advice.

If you become disabled

If you or a member of your family has been disabled in an accident and you need to buy a replacement vehicle, carefully consider your needs or those of the injured person, whose new vehicle may require special mechanical adjustments. (more…)

The fixed-jet (or fixed-choke) carburettor incorporates various jets and an accelerator pump to alter the mixture’s strength according to engine needs.

As the airstream through a carburettor’s venturi speeds up, the air becomes ‘thinner’ and without some compensating device the mixture would become progressively richer until it was too rich to burn.

The fixed-jet carburettor solves this problem by air correction—mixing some air with petrol before the petrol is drawn into the venturi. On most carburettors, air correction is by means of a perforated tube which emulsifies the mixture. (more…)

The Problems of Auto Extra Weight

In most cars, the rear suspension has to carry the greater part of the extra weight of passengers and luggage. If the suspension springs are stiff enough only for the car with driver, they will be too soft for the car when it is fully laden. Conversely, springs that are right for the laden car will be too stiff with only the driver to carry.

Designers solve this problem in a variety of ways. In fact, the variety of rear suspension systems is greater than that of front suspension. Most designs use coil springs, but others use leaf springs, torsion bars, rubber, air or compressed gas. (more…)

Current to a car’s electrical system is supplied by the battery when the engine is not running and by an alternator (on older cars a generator) when the engine is running. An alternator is fitted as it more easily supplies the current at lower speeds for the ever increasing number of electrical accessories in modern cars. (more…)

The generator has two weak permanent magnets inside its round casing. When current flows through the coils of wire around the magnets, they are transformed into electro magnets. An armature— mounted in a front end plate and supported in a rear plate—generally containing about 28 loops of wire, is suspended and rotates between these field coils. The rear end plate of the generator contains two brushes which, under spring loading, make contact with the commutator of the armature. (more…)

• Battery hydrometer
• Coolant hydrometer
• Drain basin
• Droplight

• Emery cloth
• Fine sandpaper

• Fire extinguisher
• Funnel
• Fuse puller
• Jack
• Jack stands

• Jumper cables
• Lug wrench

• Needle-nose pliers
• Oil filter (strap) wrench
• Putty knife

• Rubber mallet
• Screwdrivers(Phillips and standard)
• Socket wrench
• Spark plug socket
• Terminal puller

• Tire pressure gauge
• Wheel blocks

• Wire battery brush
• Wire brush
• Wire feeler gauge
• Wrench (open-ended)