-
Welcome to Auto Parts Forum
Whether you are a veteran automotive parts guru or just someone looking for some quick auto parts advice, register today and start a new topic in our forum. Registration is free and you can even sign up with social network platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, and LinkedIn.
Maintenance tips of small refrigerated van
-
Similar Topics
-
By Counterman
We all have a cache of stories involving weird, wacky and downright strange customer parts requests, but the majority of them can be traced back to mechanical failure and/or human error.
You may be familiar with “Just Rolled In,” a YouTube channel highlighting some of the most terribly maintained and unsafe vehicles brought into shops across the country, along with strange “customer states … ” complaints that must be seen to be believed. While the worst damage is due to lack of maintenance and misguided DIY repairs, sometimes there’s no one to blame but Mother Nature.
Animals of all varieties can inflict serious punishment on your customers’ vehicles. Collisions with deer cost insurance companies more than $1 billion annually, the result of roughly 1.5 million accidents. Of these, nearly 200 people are killed each year, and (presumably) a much larger number of deer! West Virginians have a one in 37 chance of being involved in a deer-related accident, the best (worst?) odds of hitting the Bambi lottery in the continental United States.
Alaskans, New Englanders and our Canadian friends also need to watch out for moose. At nearly 7 feet tall and more than 1,000 pounds, a collision with a moose is more than 10 times as likely to result in a human fatality when compared to striking a deer. With long legs and a higher center of gravity, a struck moose often clears the hood and winds up in the windshield or on the roof of the car that hits it.
When Animals Attack
Smaller animals are capable of doing a lot of damage too. In Texas and across the South, road-killed armadillos are a common sight along the highway. With a Spanish name meaning “little armored one,” the armadillo’s hard plating has been known to puncture tires, and more than a few people have been struck by ricochets when attempting to shoot them.
These little tanks also have a peculiar defense mechanism. When startled, the armadillo jumps up to 3 feet straight up into the air! It may scare predators in the wild, but it also means that when a car or truck passes over one in the road, it’s likely to jump up into the underside of the vehicle, killing it and causing damage to vehicle components.
Even without the benefit of a shell, raccoons, woodchucks and other small mammals can wreak havoc on the underside of low-slung vehicles. One of my body shop customers shared an insurance estimate with me containing more than $3,000 worth of damage to a late-model Dodge Challenger. The owner had struck a raccoon, damaging the bumper cover, radiator, condenser and support. Fortunately, it wasn’t a skunk!
Proving that size doesn’t matter, some of the most common damage claims result from small rodents chewing on wiring, insulation and other underhood materials. Here in the United States, this damage is widely blamed on mice, rats, chipmunks and squirrels. In Europe, the prime suspect is a weasel known as the marten (marden) or stoat. These ferret-like animals are such a nuisance that many insurance providers offer “weasel policies” specifically to cover losses from marten and stoat damage. Claims in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium are equivalent to U.S. $60 million annually! Individual claim values average $500 per incident, but are increasing due to the complex interconnectivity between wired systems, and the higher cost of damaged hybrid and electric-vehicle components.
This is such a well-known and widespread problem that even the OEMs are designing electronic marten-repellent kits. Audi actually has a factory accessory (P/N 8U0054650) that the automaker markets “so that rodents do not make themselves at home in your Audi.” (For the record, martens are not rodents, but the deterrent annoys mice too!) Audi’s ultrasonic “anti-Marten device” will set you back around $300, plus installation.
Unfortunately, the damage isn’t just limited to chewing on tasty auto parts. Like others in the weasel family, these little guys also “mark their territory” once they’ve taken up residence underhood. Even after repairs have been made to the rubber, plastic and electrical components, the vehicle needs to be deep-cleaned to remove the residual “stoat-stink,” which can attract other weasels that start the process all over again! LIQUI MOLY also offers Marderspray, an aerosol designed for the express purpose of “reducing marten odor” underhood, which should be used every couple of weeks for best results.
My favorite thing about this industry is that no two days are exactly alike. Sure, our jobs can become a bit repetitive; you may have pads and rotors for their BMW, and control arms for their Audi. But how often do you get the opportunity to upsell a customer on weasel spray?
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By Counterman
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recently introduced ProProctor, a remote testing option available for all ASE recertification tests, except for the L1 and L2 tests. ProProctor makes it more convenient for service professionals to take recertification tests without visiting a test center. All tests must be scheduled in advance, and test takers are continuously monitored by multiple live proctors during the testing process.
ASE offers five helpful tips to make the ProProctor test-taking process easier and less stressful:
Consider selecting a test date more than four days in the future to allow time to download and install the Chrome browser and ProProctor application, complete the system readiness check to confirm that your computer or laptop meets system and resolution requirements, and connect a movable web camera. Read the appointment confirmation email or registration ticket to confirm that the selected date, time including AM/PM, and test(s) are accurate and for important need-to-know information. Before the day of your scheduled appointment, select a room in your home or business that is well-lit with solid walls (no window walls or window doors) and a solid door that can be closed. Ensure the room and workstation are clutter-free. Read the remote testing rules to adjust the testing environment accordingly. Be sure that no person or pet is present in the testing environment or enters the room once testing has begun. Review the remote testing user guide before the day of your scheduled appointment. The guide link is included on the appointment confirmation email and registration ticket.
link hidden, please login to view to view a fact sheet about remote testing and to learn more about the ASE remote testing option, visit link hidden, please login to view. The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
-
By NAPA
What Maintenance Does a Hybrid Car Need?
While standard vehicles that rely only on combustion engines do suffer from more wear and tear under the hood due to high heat and intense vibrations, hybrid vehicles still require routine maintenance and repair. A hybrid vehicle combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. Hybrid vehicles can go anywhere without requiring a charge because they are started with a fuel injection to get the motor running. The electric motor in a hybrid vehicle reduces the work the vehicle must do, making fuel consumption minimal.
Due to the advanced technology of regenerative braking, a hybrid car is designed to capture excess engine power to improve vehicle efficiency and mile per gallon (MPG). Hybrid owners benefit from less frequent brake part replacements because the regenerative braking system redirects the friction involved in stopping your vehicle. While the brake pads and brake rotors on a hybrid do not wear as quickly as standard combustion cars, it is still important to have them routinely inspected, cleaned and replaced when advised by a professional technician at a
link hidden, please login to view. The maintenance needs of your hybrid vehicle still include tune-ups. Don’t skip out on those routine oil changes and fluid top-offs, as well as replacing
link hidden, please login to view, link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view. A proper wheel alignment and tire rotation is still recommended each 5,000 miles or every six months for daily commuters in hybrid vehicles. During those service appointments, your technician should also check the condition of your belts and battery. You are possibly wondering about the cost to maintain a hybrid vehicle. The cost covers a large range because of factors like the type of hybrid you own and the advanced level of service required to work on a hybrid vehicle. Fortunately,
link hidden, please login to view to comprehensively perform your hybrid vehicle maintenance. NAPA is committed to keeping maintenance costs affordable for drivers while offering state-of-the-art vehicle parts, services and support. Different Hybrid Vehicles for Different Drivers link hidden, please login to view
The burning question remains: Do hybrid vehicles cost more to own? The good news is that most hybrid vehicles do not need any special maintenance. And the great news is that investments in the upkeep of a hybrid vehicle are often balanced by the savings at the gas pump, as well as the long intervals between routine servicing. Keep in mind, the replacement parts of a hybrid, from popular makers like Toyota and Lexus, can cost more at checkout due to their advanced functionality.
As the future of car driving, ownership and maintenance moves toward all things electric, the experts at The NAPA Network are here to guide you as you debate if it’s worth making the switch to hybrid, a hybrid plugin or a fully electric vehicle. Remember, an EV draws all of its power solely from an electric battery system that needs charged regularly. For more information, checkout “
link hidden, please login to view” on our NAPA Know How Blog. Another factor when gaging if a plug-in model will work for your lifestyle is determining if there are charging stations in your area, at home and at work or if you will take the leap by installing an at-home charging station in your garage. NAPA offers electrification installation services powered by
link hidden, please login to view, which provides all of your home-garage EV charging station needs. Whether you are cost-saving or trying to save the planet, the evolving hybrid and EV market offers fascinating technological advances and fun ways to save money while still exercising your freedom to take on the open road. Remember, you can order all the hybrid replacement parts you need from NAPAOnline.com or visit
link hidden, please login to view. Featured image courtesy of
link hidden, please login to view. The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view 
-
By NAPA
Some people have been asking, do electric cars work in cold weather? Absolutely they do! But winter driving doesn’t always mean a winter wonderland, sometimes it just means preparing for the cold. People have been link hidden, please login to viewelectric cars in cold weather for years with little or no trouble other than potentially shorter battery range. Here’s a few tips about driving an electric car in winter.
Preheat Before You Leave
One advantage to plug-in electric cars in the winter is they can use grid power before you drive. It makes far more sense to prepare for your drive while connected to grid power than use up battery range. If your electric car has the option to preheat the cabin while link hidden, please login to view take advantage of that feature. Vehicles like the link hidden, please login to view and Nissan LEAF can be toasty warm for your departure. Use seat heaters if so equipped as they are more efficient at warming the occupants directly. Once you are on the way it will take far less power to maintain a comfortable cabin than if you had started cold leaving you parking spot.
Use The Right Tires
If you live in an area where winter tires are recommended, by all means use them. Snow tires are able to stay pliable in low temperatures and typically feature a special tread design that helps grip the wintery roads.
While it is common for electric vehicles to use special low rolling resistance tires, during the winter months you want all the grip you can get. Luckily with the growing popularity of electric vehicles there are now specific link hidden, please login to view made for EVs. These EV winter tires are designed specifically to address the needs of an electric car by balancing low rolling resistance while still offering winter weather traction. Just make sure to change into winter tires before the weather shifts.
Drive Easy
If your warm driving style is already easy going to maximize battery range, driving an electric car in cold weather will be an easy transition. The roads will likely be slippery so easing into acceleration and braking will help keep things under control.
Keep in mind that most electric vehicles are fairly heavy, so there is a lot of momentum built up even under normal driving. Loads of low-end torque make for spirited driving in warmer months, but you will need to dial back the accelerator pedal in slippery conditions. If your vehicle has “ECO” mode, use it. You may have a winter/snow driving mode as well so check your owner’s manual.
Turn Off Regenerative Braking
As amazing as regenerative braking is at recouping energy and extending driving range, it can also cause problems on slippery roads. Normally when the driver lifts their foot off the accelerator pedal the regenerative braking system kicks in to help slow the vehicle. This is great in dry weather, but the braking action that recovers electricity can cause the wheel to lose grip on slick roads making for erratic handling. People driving electric cars in winter conditions need to pay attention to the road surface. If the road conditions are slippery, it is best to turn off your regenerative braking system and go back to using your trusty brake pedal.
Your Range May Vary
Depending on your vehicle, electric car battery life in cold weather will vary. If you have an older electric vehicle with less than 100 miles of range you will need to be as sparing with power as you can. Things like headlights, link hidden, please login to view, radio, seat heaters, battery heaters, fans, even power steering all take previous battery power. On the flip side, if your vehicle’s range is in the hundreds of miles and your trips around town are short, there’s no reason to skimp on the power. Of course this assumes you will recharge once you are done driving for the day.
Plan For An Emergency
This tip applies to everyone on the road, but in an electric vehicle your
link hidden, please login to viewshould include a portable 110v charger if you have one. Sure it is the slowest way to recharge, but it beats no charge at all if you are stuck at a friend’s house. Check out all the
link hidden, please login to view available on link hidden, please login to view, or trust one of our 17,000 link hidden, please login to view for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on taking care of an electric car battery in cold weather and learning more about electric cars in winter driving, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your link hidden, please login to view. The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view
-
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.