The Most Common Problems With Your Automotive Brake System

June 16th, 2010

Its Monday again and the weekend is over. How was this weekend for you and did you drive a lot? Was it a smooth drive or you faced some problems with the brakes of your car. You must have felt the change if you have followed the DIY tips to change your car’s brake pads.

Brake system form an essential part of an automotive engine. Regular maintenance and check of car brakes is very important in order to ensure your safety on road. There are a number of problems that you might have faced with car brakes. Lets discuss some of the common ones.

Wear of the Brakes – One of the most common problem is the wear of car brakes. This is obvious and natural coz auto brakes are frequently used and do a lot of work. The brake pads of your car are consequently working hard as well. This leads to the wear of the brakes.

Squeaking or Grinding Excessive usage of brake pads leads to their wearing down. You might notice brake problems like squealing or increased stopping distance. Most of the cars have brake pads with a thin metal tab. When you brake pads wears down, this tab vibrates against the rotor which might damage it.

Sounds of Wear Indicators At times, the dust of brakes can be the reason behind some kind of sound or squeaking. This is a minor problem with the brake system and you can easy do without it by cleaning the dust. Using a brake cleaner spray is an easy way to do so.

Rotors Might Warp Often, you yourself must have felt the problem of facing warped rotor or heard you neighbour facing this problem with his new car. Warping of rotor is a common problem which might happen because of overheating. The other reason for warped rotors can be incorrect tightening of the wheel.

Thin Rotor Wrap Easily I have heard a number of car users facing warped rotors problem with their new cars. This is so because the he new cars have thin rotors that get warped easily. This problem can be rectified by repairing the rotors or by replacing them. Please ensure that you consult an experienced car mechanic before doing so. It is also important that you should understand how brake system work.

Loose Lug Nuts After Repair This is crucial and can be dangerous also. If you have got your car brakes repaired and the lug nuts are not tightened, it can damage your car brakes. Ensure that the nuts are tightened evenly so that the rotor doesn’t warp. It is important that the care repair mechanic uses a torque wrench.

These were some of the common problems that you often face with your car brakes. A little care and few preventive measures will help you avoid these problems easily. We’ll find out few preventive measures and DIY tips to keep the car brakes and the entire automotive brake system of our car functioning at its best.

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Well-Connected Automotive Security: Blending Multiple Products Into One Integrated Safety System

June 14th, 2010

Despite advances in technology and the development of new automotive security devices, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that auto theft occurs every 26.4 seconds in the United States. To put that figure in perspective, more than 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2006 alone.


Most likely, vehicle owners experience great distress with the loss of such an important possession. But according to a National Insurance Crime Bureau survey conducted in 2007, consumers are often unaware of the extent of the cost involved with a stolen vehicle. For starters, there’s the insurance deductible and the further expense of replacing uninsured or underinsured vehicles. Additional costs can also come in the form of insurance premium increases, the cost of time spent dealing with police, vehicle rental costs and the cost of time off from work.


While it’s imperative that car owners observe security measures to discourage theft, vehicle manufacturers possess a visionary understanding of automotive safety and security that reaches far beyond keyless entry and theft-deterrent systems. The concept of seamless blending of multiple products into one Integrated Safety System may further increase automotive security and a car owner’s peace of mind.


Perhaps one of the most reliable theft protection systems available, Vehicle Immobilization Systems use an electronic code transmitted from a transponder (tag) located in the vehicle’s ignition key to allow or disallow the engine management system to start the vehicle. To start a vehicle equipped with such a system, the driver places the tag near the ignition lock. Stored within the tag is a unique security code. The security code signal is sent via a transponder. When the correct code is received, the vehicle is allowed to start up.


In addition, the system can also allow personalized settings by an individual driver for memory seats, mirrors and keyless vehicle features.


Unlike Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) systems which operate with an ultra-high-frequency (UHF) carrier, immobilization systems operate at low frequency (125kHz). In most designs, the transponder is located within the head of the ignition key. However, vehicle manufacturers might also locate the tag in a key fob or card.


Another opportunity to increase automobile security and convenience may be the elimination of keys. Since the inception of the automobile, drivers have fumbled around in pockets and purses, trying to locate their keys – a potentially dangerous task in a dark parking lot. With RKE systems technology, the vehicle recognizes a driver’s fob and unlocks the door. The system also allows drivers to start and drive cars without inserting a key. For additional security, proprietary communication algorithms help ensure that the authentication codes contained in the fob will not be intercepted.


One keyless vehicle system uses a start/stop button enabled with a fob. Another uses a fingerprint scanner that allows only people whose fingerprints are stored in the system to start the vehicle. Systems also offer seat and steering column position and radio station features. A passive entry back-up provides for low-battery conditions.


Another choice for automobile buyers, RKE systems may assist in reducing car theft. Among the vehicle features that can be controlled from a distance are central door locking/unlocking, a panic alarm, an anti-theft warning system, a courtesy light and seat/mirror adjustment. Additional conveniences include integration of keyless actuation and tire pressure monitor and a variety of button configurations for customization.


Drivers not only have to be concerned with theft of a vehicle but also theft of its content and components, such as wheels, radios, and personal possessions. Technology for an Ultrasonic Interior Protection system triggers an alarm when movement in the vehicle’s interior is detected. Any changes in inclination (tilting) also trigger a warning. The microprocessor with digital signal processing requires low power consumption and is integrated into one control unit – making it an attractive safety feature for manufacturers and consumers.


Products and new automotive design features can help consumers protect their vehicles from theft and improve safety. From simple components to fully integrated systems, safety technology continues to be explored and innovated.

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Automotive Air Conditioning Repair ? Car Conditioning System Parts

June 9th, 2010

It’s always a pleasure to enjoy the fall of cool air on our body especially during hot summers. So you can attend marriage or any other personal functions or meetings with your face radiating beams of freshness. A powerful car air conditioner could greatly bring down the weariness caused by long drives especially automotive air conditioners in many cars which would be the dream cars of today’s youngsters.

However, automotive air conditioning is always not a standard addition provided in a car. Cars manufactured before 1940 lacked the feature as it was not invented by then. Gradually several enhancements were done to the system. The repair requires a trained professional’s help. People curious to get to know the bottom of things may attempt to do some repairs by themselves exercising caution.

In small air conditioned cars, there may be a slight drop in pick up of the vehicle but this will not be the case with big cars.

The Standard Parts of Automotive Air Conditioning

The automotive air conditioning system comprises seven major parts.

These parts are:

1) Compressor – As heart is to the human body, so is compressor to the AC system. It is basically a pump connected to the engine whose chief function is to compress the refrigerant from the evaporator coils and the compressor, or the heart of the system, is a pump that is attached to the engine. Its purpose is to compress and transfer refrigerant gas. The compressor has both an intake and a discharge side.

2) Condenser – It functions very much like the radiator and will most often have a similar appearance. The purpose of the condenser is to radiate or to give away heat, so whenever the AC is switched on condenser must have good supply of air for cooling purposes.

3) Evaporator – Its chief duty is to absorb heat. Besides getting rid of heat from inside your vehicle, it is also responsible for dehumidifying the car. In order to regulate the temperature of the evaporator, pressure introducing pressure regulating devices like orifice tube is necessary

4) The receiver is used in automotive air conditioning systems that employ thermal expansion valves as pressure regulating devices to ensure that this pressure regulating device receives the liquid refrigerant that it needs in order to function. In order to do so, it must separate gas and liquid.

5) The accumulator is used only on automotive air conditioning systems that have the orifice tube as the pressure regulating device, and its main function is to store surplus liquid refrigerant. In doing so, it prevents any liquid from entering the compressor, which could be detrimental to the system.

In spite of the modern advancements that have been made in the automotive field since the introduction of automotive air conditioning, it is still possible to maintain your own system even if it is an olden day style.

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Six Tips for Thwarting Auto Thieves With an Automotive Security System

June 7th, 2010

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (www.ojp.usdoj.gov) over three quarters of all crimes in the U.S. are made up of property crimes and certainly automobile theft is among the most prevalent. Automobiles are easier targets than homes in many cases as they are high dollar items, in high demand, and can be driven away within seconds leaving behind virtually no clues as to the identity of the thief.

Although manufacturers have continued to provide basic automotive security features, additional measures are needed as thieves continue to adapt to devices on the market.

For first time buyers unfamiliar with the options, the decisions related to purchasing an automotive security system can be daunting. However, there are a core set of features that should be considered which will help consumers select an effective system with less frustration.

An automotive security system should provide a first line of defense that warns would be intruders that a particular vehicle is protected. Some type of visual reminder such as a flashing light on the dash or stickers that indicate security are simple deterrents.

A second line of defense is audible alerts; sirens and alarms that sound when a breach is attempted. This security feature brings unwanted attention to the break in and slows the thief down in attempts to eliminate the sound. These should be sufficiently sensitive and should detect any breach. They should trigger when windows are broken, doors are opened, the hood is raised, and so forth. Motion detectors and infrared sensing are common. A good siren will continue to operate even when power from the battery is cut off in attempt to eliminate the warning. Some of the best automotive security systems will also notify the owner when a breach occurs so that they can check on the vehicle or notify law enforcement.

Another feature of an effective automotive security system is an immobilizer or kill switch to shut off the ignition/starter or perhaps the fuel pump. Certainly, such features make driving off with the car extremely difficult. Some systems will even lock the hood when activated to prevent access to the engine and other mechanical components. At this point it is also important to consider that a device that is located so that it is difficult for thieves to find and disable can be critical as well as this can additionally delay the thief.

As thieves have continued to adapt to newer automotive security systems, higher tech methods are employed to gain access to vehicles. Code rolling is an excellent feature that prevents thieves from picking up the codes used to gain entry to the car by using a type of code grabbing device. Code rolling changes the codes used by a driver’s keyless entry device each time it is used.

Another option to consider is a tracking system. As far as automotive security systems are concerned these are not a deterrent but a retrieval system. This type of security system allows a vehicle to be tracked and recovered if it is stolen. Some systems are activated only once law enforcement is notified but ideally the system would activate immediately once the car is taken. Some of these systems will notify the owner by e-mail, pager, or phone when the car is moved.

A final consideration when purchasing an automotive security system is how effective it will be in avoiding annoying false alarms. Some systems can have the sensitivity adjusted to keep false alarms to a minimum while others are able to identify malfunctioning sensors and shut them down until repaired. Newer automotive security systems also offer dual zone sensing which produce only a small chirping alarm for minor occurrences, such as a bump on the side of the car versus a full blown alarm for more intrusive occurrences.

Certainly cars are a significant investment that is attractive to amateur as well as professional car thieves but consumers can tilt the odds significantly in their favor with the addition of an up-to-date automotive security system.

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Automotive System Integration Growth Advances

June 6th, 2010

It doesn’t seem too long ago that the electrical system in a vehicle was mostly concerned with lights, starter motors, radios and windshield wipers. Those days are long gone. The automotive industry is currently realizing a dramatic increase of electronic equipment for onboard vehicle control. In modern cars, a variety of electronic control units (ECU) delivers sophisticated real-time control functionality.

In the automotive industry, there is little doubt that electronics growth will continue. To remain competitive, it is crucial to seamlessly integrate the new technology. Whether it’s an entertainment system, keyless entry, a back-up camera or touch screen navigation, the role of the automotive manufacturer is increasingly becoming that of a system integrator working closely with its suppliers.

There is a long tradition in the industry of working with suppliers, and a number of suppliers that exist deliver similar systems to vehicle manufacturers. Automotive suppliers are more than happy to fill the needs of manufacturers, and the ever increasing importance of electronics in automobiles brings with it a growing challenge and need for low-cost, reliable electronic systems. These systems are not isolated and must communicate with each other.

Historically, automotive electronics have relied on proprietary, dedicated wire communication schemes (at least for many sensor systems) and directly wired power outputs. This has led to excessive wiring, and wiring consumes space, adds weight and expense, and can be difficult to maintain.

Fortunately, advances in vehicle-networking standards are addressing these issues with the wide adoption of Controller Area Network (CAN) and Local Interconnect Network (LIN) architecture. These network standards are providing a balance between performance and cost optimization across automotive systems. CAN provides a high-speed network for chassis, powertrain and body-backbone communications, while LIN answers the need for a simple network for sensor and actuator subsystems that reduces cost and improves robustness through standardization. Together, the vehicle networking standards and advanced mixed-signal processes provide an opportunity for automotive manufacturers to introduce affordable new electronic systems as well as reduce costs. They also improve maintenance and reliability while providing advanced convenience and safety features, like collision avoidance.

The widespread adoption of CAN and LIN standards is an important development for automotive electronics and becomes much more significant in conjunction with recent advances in mixed-signal semiconductor processes.

Adopting standardized vehicle-networking architectures and using more highly integrated mixed-signal ICs bring several advantages at the system level. The first is an improvement in a system’s robustness and diagnostics. By adopting standardized networks for two-way communication, diagnostic and failure information can be obtained when there are issues with the system.

The second is a reduction in wiring requirements. Using standardized vehicle-networking architectures, it is possible to build a feature- and diagnostic-rich system that requires only three wires. Reduced wiring requirements have less cost, less weight, will be easier to install at the factory, and will help reduce the potential for failure.

Integration also leads to other advantages and savings. Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and housings can be smaller, allowing for improved and more flexible placement in the vehicle, with less concern about where and how to run the wires. Through the use of fewer components, there are fewer items to keep in inventory, qualify and monitor. Some of these factors also lead to a reduction in weight and space consumption, factors that are always important in vehicle design.

This advance is another step in increasing the intelligence and capabilities of automotive systems. We’re already witnessing this increased intelligence and capability with complex navigation systems, Internet access, passenger entertainment, ABS brakes, engine management systems and advanced stability control. The next generation of mixed-signal automotive integrated circuits (ICs) will integrate even more performance and processing power. It will provide programmable features and added flexibility that will be used to address the automotive electronic system needs of tomorrow. As these systems become more advanced, the possibilities are limited only by the applications that vehicle designers can imagine and that the end customer is willing to purchase.

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