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Spark Plugs Need to Be Replaced Periodically
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By Counterman
NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Inc. announced that effective April 1, the company name will become Niterra North America Inc.
Announced late last year, the name change will include a new corporate logo and identity as the organization follows a strategy to unify the global brand and promote efforts to transform the organization’s business portfolio. Accordingly, the global brand NGK Spark Plug Co. LTD will also begin operating under the English tradename Niterra Co., Ltd on April 1.
“It is an exciting time in the long and storied history of NGK Spark Plug., LTD,” said Michael Schwab, president, and CEO. “We are becoming an increasingly progressive corporation as we strive to meet our vision for the future. A future where we expand our core ceramic technologies, explore capabilities beyond our traditional areas, and challenge ourselves to develop solutions and services that use technologies to resolve social issues while contributing to a sustainable society.”
Niterra, a coined word, combines the Latin words Niteo, meaning shine, and Terra, meaning planet earth. The corporation chose the new name, logo and colors represented to present a broader image of its modern identity.
The company will continue to use the trusted NGK and NTK brands for its spark plug and ceramic-related product portfolio.
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By NAPA
Tread Carefully! It’s a Slippery Slope
If you live in an icy climate, you know the danger that comes with venturing onto roads layered with snow and sleet. Any slippery surface like that requires superior traction to maintain a sense of control. Without proper handling of your vehicle, you’re raising the risk of an accident, getting stranded and ruining the underbelly of your vehicle. That’s why it’s always important to have a
link hidden, please login to view. No matter if you feel confident trekking snowy terrain, loss of tire traction can result from a lot of things, including worn tires, hurried acceleration and climbing steep hills that cause wheels to spin. Even in climates where it isn’t the norm, having the right gear to handle those one-off snow days is critical! That’s when tire snow chains come in handy. Rather than investing in costly
link hidden, please login to view for your vehicle, link hidden, please login to view are a budget-friendly solution that improves the grip your tires have on ice and snow. These are chain systems help dig into packed snow and icy surfaces with spiked grip, improving the traction of your vehicle so you aren’t prone to skidding. Not a One-Size-Fits-All Solution link hidden, please login to view
Before you get started, you’ll want to know the right kind and amount of snow tire chains needed for your specific vehicle. It’s also important to check the legal restrictions of tire chain use as some states don’t allow them. Clearance heights and material restrictions also apply to certain vehicles. If you need a refresher on your specific needs, check your owner’s manual for details.
Once you’ve read up on OEM requirements and sizing, the next step is to look for chains that fit your application. For example, if you’re dealing with more icy conditions than snow, you want to look for chains that feature spiked ends, studs or “icebreakers” that can properly grip the slick surface. There are also
link hidden, please login to view designed with large, square links that are a bit more rounded, giving you a smoother ride over packed snow. You should also know chains aren’t the only option out there, but they work well for moderately snowy climates. There are also
link hidden, please login to view, which are long pieces of metal cables wrapped in plastic that are ideal for occasional use. They’re typically cheaper, easier to install and allow for higher speeds, but they’re not as durable as chains. We outline the differences in link hidden, please login to view so can narrow down the options for a better lifestyle fit. Survive Snowpocalypse with NAPA
For most snow drivers, chains are the happy medium. However, installing chains and pulling them apart is a process you’ll have to familiarize yourself with before you can use them without damaging your vehicle or road. You’ll need to drive slower than usual and always make sure to pull over and remove the chains when not directly driving over packed snow or ice. Using snow chains over bare pavement or gravel can result in serious damage to your tires and the road itself. For a more in-depth look into how you should incorporate tire chains into your gear collection, check out
link hidden, please login to view Depending on your vehicle’s build and the amount of snow you’re dealing with on a regular basis, your best tool for combatting snow chaos might look different than that of your neighbor. What’s most important is that you stay prepared for the days when you can’t stay indoors and hide from the blistering cold weather. Using traction-enhancing devices to stabilize your vehicle is the key to calm, collected snow driving. Let the friendly NAPA folks help you choose the best tire chains for snow or ice by shopping our selection of
link hidden, please login to view. If you still aren’t sure of the right fit, stop by your link hidden, please login to view to get expert guidance on vehicle-specific parts, tools and more. Photo courtesy of
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By NAPA
A long time ago headlight bulb options were pretty straight forward. You had round or rectangular headlight bulbs in just a few sizes that were used by pretty much every automaker. Basically you just had to match the bulb to the hole in the grille and make sure it was high or low beam (or a combination of the two). But in the early 1980s the Lincoln Mark VII introduced the idea of a headlight assembly where the bulb could be replaced like a flashlight, while the lens and housing stayed on the car. While this made service simpler, it didn’t exactly make finding the correct type of headlight bulb at the parts store easier. Let’s take a look at the different types of headlight bulbs available and where you might find them.
Sealed Beam Headlight Bulbs
We’ll start with the
link hidden, please login to view. These bulbs are large and usually round or rectangular. The lens, reflector, and filament are one non-serviceable assembly. The lens is usually glass. Most passenger vehicles moved away from sealed beam bulbs in the 1990s, but there are plenty of vehicles still on the road that use them. In particular the fleet vehicle industry stuck with sealed beam bulbs thanks to cheap replacement costs and ease of service. Today unless you have a vintage car or work truck you probably won’t be buying a sealed beam headlight bulb. But if you do happen to have one of these vehicles and want to move into the modern age there are actually
link hidden, please login to view versions of sealed beam assemblies on the market. Just remove your old halogen bulb and update your headlights to the 21st century. Halogen Headlight Bulbs link hidden, please login to view
By far the most common type of headlight bulb is the
link hidden, please login to view. If you are wondering “what headlight bulb do i need” the likely answer is a halogen bulb. These bulbs give off a nice bright long lasting light thanks to the presence of one of the link hidden, please login to view of gasses sealed inside. Their design makes for a much hotter bulb though, so the headlamp assembly has to be designed to handle the high heat output. Here’s a few common sizes and common vehicles where you might find them:
H11 headlight bulb – 2007-2020 link hidden, please login to view, 2005-2017 Ford Mustang, 2006-2021 Honda Civic 9003 headlight bulb – 2007-2020 Honda Fit, Harley Davidson motorcycles, Kawasaki motorcycles 9005 headlight bulb – 1987-2005 Buick LeSabre, 2001-2016 Toyota Corolla 9006 headlight bulb – 1995-2007 link hidden, please login to view, 2000-2014 Subaru Impreza 9007 headlight bulb – 1996-2003 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1996-2006 Chrysler Sebring 9012 headlight bulb – 2011-2015 link hidden, please login to view, 2004-2007 Nissan Maxima Some halogen bulbs work as fog light bulbs as well, so one bulb can be used for a myriad of applications.
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlight Bulbs
You probably heard about
link hidden, please login to view years ago when talking about luxury cars. While these link hidden, please login to view were once the realm of the high end market, now you can find all kinds of normal vehicles with the option for HID headlights. These lights don’t use a filament like a normal bulb, but use extremely high voltage to strike an electrical arc inside a sealed glass bulb. A separate ballast is used to get the lighting arc started, so this system is slightly more complicated. If your vehicle is equipped with higher end options then HID lighting is likely among those features. If your HID lights stop working, make sure to check the ballast as well. Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Headlight Bulbs
If you have a newer vehicle with LED headlights then you likely won’t need a new LED bulb for quite some time. LED lights have long service lives and are very energy efficient. For automotive use on modern vehicles the LED light itself is likely part of the headlamp assembly and not meant to be replaced by itself. So if you have factory LED headlights and are asking “what kind of headlight bulb do i need” the answer is the entire headlamp assembly.
If you have an older vehicle there are
link hidden, please login to view that simply plug in to the existing wiring and bulb mount. These let you use LED headlight bulbs in a vehicle that was not originally equipped with them. Figuring out what is the best type of headlight bulb really comes down to vehicle application. Typically it is best to choose the same type of bulb the the design engineers specified for the vehicle. While it is possible to upgrade headlights, remember that the NHTSA has strict guidelines that control not just the light type but also how it is projected. Just dropping a brighter bulb in a headlamp assembly can seriously impair the vision of oncoming drivers due to a mismatch in bulb and reflector.
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 answering “what headlight bulbs do i need” all the way to picking the best LED headlight bulbs, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your link hidden, please login to view. Photo courtesy of
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By NAPA
In some ways electric vehicles are just like any other vehicle on the road. Wheels are powered to move passengers from one place to another along a roadway. It’s the same basic principle that carried us past the days of the horse and buggy. In fact many of the early horseless carriages were actually electric powered. But modern electric vehicles deal in much higher voltages and amperages than anything on the road in the past few decades. Anyone who already works on internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles probably has a link hidden, please login to view, but when it comes to servicing hybrid and electric vehicles (EV) there are a few more things to consider. Let’s take a look at EV tools versus ICE tools and learn what you might need for your EV tool kit.
Hand Tools
Starting with hand tools the functions are pretty much the same. A screwdriver still has a handle and a tip, wrenches still have jaws, sockets still have six or twelve points. The big difference comes down to stopping the flow of electricity either through the tool or to the user. You’ve probably seen insulated tools before, likely a screwdriver in a set. These are pretty common for household electrical work. But did you know there are insulated tools and then there are non-conductive (composite) tools?
An insulated tool is typically made of metal (like a normal tool) which is then covered with a non-conductive substance like epoxy or rubber. This interrupts the flow of electricity from the tool to the user’s hand. But insulated tools need to be checked regularly to verify if the insulating coating is still intact. Some tools use different colored insulation layers to signal if a tool is ready for replacement. If the warning layer is visible, the tool is no longer safe to use. The last point is one that normally isn’t a part of hand tool ownership. Hand tools either work or they are broken. Insulated electric tools may still technically work as say a wrench, but they will not be safe to use around electrical components once the insulation has been compromised.
Composite tools are actually made differently than normal tools. For example a composite ratchet will have a handle made completely of a strong non-conductive material with no metal inside. This prevents electricity from traveling from the head of the ratchet to the user’s hand. Composite sockets will still have a metal hex insert, but that metal is attached to a strong non-conductive composite, and then to the square drive. The non-conductive material breaks the circuit and blocks the flow of electricity.
Diagnostic Tools
Working on any modern vehicle requires the right diagnostic equipment regardless of the power source. While a
link hidden, please login to viewworking on an electric vehicle won’t be diagnosing ignition or emissions problems, they will be chasing down other normal issues like bad sensors or damaged modules. But one difference in EV tools vs. ICE tools is the power handling capability of the electric vehicle diagnostic tool. For example any link hidden, please login to viewintended to be used on an electric vehicle must be rated CAT III to handle the high voltages often found inside these vehicles. Likewise the link hidden, please login to view need to be also rated for higher voltage use. While internal combustion engines are starting to use 48-volt systems in areas, some electric vehicles operate in the hundreds of volts so special EV diagnostic tools are a must. Shop Tools
Your shop may already be well equipped to work on common internal combustion vehicles, but there are some special electric vehicle repair tools you may need to consider. For example, your two-post lift likely needs different footpads to correctly lift electric vehicles. You also need to make sure your lift can be configured to handle different vehicle weight biases (front to rear) for balanced lifting. Speaking of lifting, many electric vehicle and hybrid batteries weigh a considerable amount and are mounted to the bottom of the vehicle. Safely removing one of these batteries should be left up to a specialized lifting table designed for the task.
Most people are not aware that air conditioning compressors used in hybrid and electric vehicles have a special type of oil that is designed to be non-conductive. That means you will need an
link hidden, please login to view that can prevent cross-contamination between systems. Considering that the air conditioning compressor on a hybrid or electric vehicle is powered by a high-power electric motor rather than an engine pulley, the different oil requirement makes sense. Safety Equipment
It’s a good idea to wear gloves when working on any vehicle, but when working on an electric or hybrid vehicle it is mandatory. Specifically
link hidden, please login to view designed to handle high voltage. Gloves must also be tested before each use for any tears/cuts/leaks/wear that might allow a path for electricity to travel. A good pair of ASTM F 2413-11 safety boots with EH (electrical hazard) rating is also recommended. It is also important to let others know when a technician is working on a hybrid or electric vehicle. Placing
link hidden, please login to view around the bay and a line of link hidden, please login to view signals to others that the vehicle is not to be approached. The safety gear worn by the technician is only designed to protect one person, all others must keep their distance during servicing of electric vehicle components. Any shop that is considering working on electric or hybrid vehicles needs an insulated rescue hook. In the unfortunate event of a technician suffering an accident while working on an electrical component the insulated rescue hook allows the victim to be pulled away from the electrical source without endangering the rescuer. This also means that a technician should never work on a hybrid or electric vehicle alone, there should always be another person present in the shop.
Lastly anyone attempting to service an electric or hybrid vehicle should be properly trained. Old fashioned “on the job” training may be fine for most maintenance procedures on a normal car, the same cannot be said for electric or hybrid vehicles. The potential power output of an EV battery is just too high to risk working on a vehicle without at least basic training. Luckily
link hidden, please login to viewcan help anyone acquire the right training they need to become a successful technician capable of handling electric and hybrid vehicles. The post
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By Counterman
NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) has announced the appointment of two individuals to the leadership team.
Megan McDonald, an NGK associate for more than 23 years, has been promoted to general manager of corporate planning. In this newly created role, McDonald will serve as a leadership team member and be responsible for the successful execution of NGK’s critical business initiatives from planning through implementation, expediting NGK’s decision-making process, creating transparency and optimizing its risk management.
“I am pleased to announce that Megan McDonald has accepted the general manager of corporate planning position,” said Paul Abbott, NGK director strategic planning and administration. “Megan has played a vital role in developing and implementing the project management team, adopting a technical APQP skill set to support corporate and enterprise-wide projects. We are excited to have her in this expanded role as her skill set will be further utilized to support our company’s risk management structure.”
Alex Sanchez Salazar has joined the company as general manager of internal audit. In his new role, Sanchez Salazar is responsible for providing consult, audit and advisory services to effectively identify and address significant risks to the company across all business units. Sanchez Salazar joins NGK Spark Plugs with more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing finance and compliance.
“Alex Sanchez Salazar comes to us with extensive expertise in finance of the manufacturing sector,” said Ron Laboda, NGK vice president of finance and IT. “I am excited to have Alex join NGK and lead our internal audit team. I know his strong financial acumen will safeguard our company assets minimizing risk while continuously improving our internal controls and business processes.”
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