The first step in the maintenance of your car ac is to check its moisture/ air contamination. One of the most common reasons for the fall in the efficiency of the car air conditioner is due to moisture or air in the conditioner. The contaminated air not only gives foul smell but also decreases the cooling power or the conditioner. The moisture may get stuck in some parts of the ac in the form of ice. Thus to maintain your ac keep a regular check on the moisture and air in the ac. Sometimes if the AC is not used regularly bacterial or fungal build up may settle behind the dashboard giving car its unpleasant odor and may result in headache or flu like symptoms often called “sick car syndrome”. The condition can be controlled by using a bactericide or a fungicide which will prevent their growth.

One of the important parts of your ac is the condenser which is basically a heat exchanger. The condenser should be cleaned periodically as the dirt, dust, debris from the road can fill it up lowering the efficiency of the AC considerably. A noisy AC may be due to sound coming from the compressor. So check with the compressor and if it is working fine check if the hoses attached to it is striking against any other thing which is making the sound. A noisy AC is quiet irritating and need to be repaired as soon as possible.

Any mechanical fault like bad pressure switches, compressor wear, valve failure etc. can even damage the whole cooling system. Hence any such mechanical fault should be repaired at its earliest by a trained mechanic.

Other blockages in the AC like that of the metering valve or orifice tube can affect the cooling level of the AC. The orifice should be kept clean from any dirt, debris or any blockage causing agent by regularly cleaning it. A free flow of the refrigerant through the orifice into the cooling system is very essential for the proper functioning of your AC. If proper care is not taken, the blocked tube can cause the damage to the entire cooling system.

The cooling is maintained at its best level if the refrigerant is up to the mark. Check the level of refrigerant in the AC regularly as it should be at a pre-defined level. Get it refilled if it is required. The air cooling before 1994 was different as the refrigerant commonly used in the AC was called R-12 or Freon. So if your car model is that of 1994 or before you only needed to go to the shop and get filled the Freon if you’re cooling system was not up to the mark. The Freon or the chlorofluorocarbon gas is highly destructive to the ozone layer. However, the coolant used now is called R-134a. In some states it is illegal to refill a leaky system with R-12.

Check for any faulty car AC parts and replace any one which is faulty. Check the compressor oil regularly and make sure it is free from any floating contamination. If the oil has any impurities, make sure to clean the entire compressor using a flushing agent.

Even after trying out all the above methods your car air conditioner is not working properly then an expert is needed to repair it. Call and expert and get the air conditioner checked thoroughly for its proper functioning.

• If you want to treat the rust in your car, first make arrangement for your own safety. The safety equipment which need to be must have on your list is hand gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask. These things will prevent rust, dust and paint spray from entering your eyes or lungs.
• The next step will be to cover all other parts of your car which you do not want to get dirty with tarp sealed with painter’s tape and this will also define your work area.
• Before you start rust treatment on your car, it is very important to mask your car properly. Never ever use newspaper as it can allow the paint to seep through it leaving specks on your car window. Use real masking paper and be sure to tape the masking paper properly at the edges to prevent paint sprays passing underneath it.
• The next step would be to remove the rust using a dual action sander. Use a 80 to 150 grit sander for better control of the speed. Start at 80 grit and speeding up to 150 grit remove the paint along with the primer and any rust that has not fused with the metal. Feel the surface with your fingers for smoothness and check that the surface is level between the painted and unpainted area.
• Use a metal grinding wheel to remove the rust and then apply rust removing acid to remove even microscopic particles of rust from that area. The most commonly used rust removing acid is phosphoric acid and is commonly available in any auto shop. Finish of the process by sanding using 120 Grit sandpaper. This will give a nice and smooth metal surface.
• Now purchase a primer best for painting on a bare metal and also a paint spray matching to your car color.
• To apply the primer you generally follow the instructions given While applying the primer keep in mind that you cover at least 3 feet of area with newspaper. Now wipe the area with mineral spirit or paint thinner.
• Apply three coats of primer at an interval of a few minutes between each coat. This you need to let dry for at least 12 hours.
• The next step would be to sand the area with 400 Grit sandpaper. It is mainly used for sanding between paint coats to smooth the surface and degloss, making the paint bond nicely. To prevent the sandpaper being fouled by the paint keep a bucket of water and keep rinsing it.
• Now spray a thin coat of paint taking care that the paint does not run or sag. To achieve nice color and finish you can use as many coats of paint as you want. Keep this for 24 hours before you pull off the tape.
• The old and new paint should blend together so that it does not give a patchwork look and to do this buff off the edges. If you apply a clear coat to the rest of the car, it can give your car a new look.
• Leave the car for curing for 48 hours. You can wash and polish your car but never ever wax it at least for 30 days after painting.

]]> http://www.ecarcaretips.com/how-to-remove-rust-from-car/feed/ 1 http://www.ecarcaretips.com/water-leaking-into-car-when-it-rains/ http://www.ecarcaretips.com/water-leaking-into-car-when-it-rains/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:30:24 +0000 admin http://www.ecarcaretips.com/?p=644 Imagine this scene. You are on a long romantic drive with your loved one, and it starts raining. The climate outside your window looks awesome and the tiny rain droplets falling on your windshield make the overall climate look even more romantic. The person is chaired in the car, enjoying the ride and suddenly water dribbles on your shoulder. This may not only ruin the romantic mood, but also makes it pretty apparent about a leakage in the car.

When the water leaks in the car the best way to find out the source of water leakage would be to hosepipe the car. This would help to know the source of the water leakage. The question will pop in your mind how to proceed further? Let us throw some light on it. This course of action would be possible if you can company someone with you. Let one of the two sit in the car and let the other person hose the car down. Shut all the doors of the car. Carry a flashlight as it will help to see very clearly inside the car. The person in the car has to look very closely beneath the dashboard and examine if the water is leaking through the windshield.  The person has to check the pillars and the seals of doors very vigilantly. It would be advisable to fold the seats and check the hatchback area. There could be a possibility that the leakage is in the trunk area. So it should be neglected. The sunroof drains, door seals are the most common starting place for the leakage to initiate.

Occasionally you may find that your car begins to smell of stale water and your carpets are wet or damp, but there is no evident reason of leakage. Every now and then at a quick glance one can easily make out from where the leakage is. If we take the case of leakage there are two circumstances, either a car can have a single leakage like around windscreen or the car can have manifold leaks. Manifold leaks subsist when the car has body damage, re-spray. It also prevails in the older models where there is damage to the rubbers and seals. Another reason would be that the seals of the sunroof or windscreen have been corroded or there could be a possibility that the fitting is not done correctly.

If the rain water gets in the car, the car would be packed with bad odors and it would also result in mildew. A humid damp odor is the proof of the fact that there is a leakage in the car. The spot where the water has been collected should be shampooed and then the bacterium that is the reason for bad odor should be killed by using enzymes. Every model of car brings into play the guttering and drainage outlets that canal the rain water from the car. But if there is buildup of filth and waste for any possible reason in the car than the water will be pooled and stored in the  In order to fix the problem, remove or lift the carpets, clean the hard to reach areas, clear the dirt off the rubber seals and use an extractor to remove the water. If you have damp, wet or soggy carpets, follow the same process.

The rainwater should not be allowed to mount up as it the electrical systems of the car and the wiring which is generally hidden in the cars would be damaged.  So make to identify the source of the leakage and with the help of above steps make sure to repair it without fail.

Summer tires are one of the easiest and most effective ways to increase a car’s performance. They have been engineered to give the car an excellent control and high performance in hot summer climates.  They are made of comparatively softer rubber which firmly grips the roads. They endow cars with great traction so it’s easy to make sharp turns on hot, dry roadway.  It helps to prevent your car from hydroplaning. The tread is designed in such an innovative way that it enhances the performance. There is an option whether one wants to buy summer tires that are designed to grip the road like glue, or the ones which have a tread pattern which gives an excellent performance and also makes the car ride very smooth and swift.

Mounting summer tires on the car makes long trips fun and enjoyable. The benefits one experiences when using summer tires will make buying them worth for money. But which ones are the best is the question that pops in the mind. Good news is that almost all the tire dealers cart summer tires in their catalog.  Summer tires with excellent quality and durability are provided by brands like BF Goodrich, Continental ExtremeContact DW and Michelin.

If you compare the Continental ExtremeContact DW and Michelin tires brand than on the economic part the Continental ExtremeContact DW brand tire is much more affordable than and Michelin. The price of Continental ExtremeContact DW is approximately 160 dollars and that of Michelin is 260 dollars. Continental ExtremeContact DW nabs the Best Reviewed crown from the esteemed and expensive. The cars like Porsche 911, Chevrolet use the Michelin tires to ply on the roads.  However the other cars that use Continental tires beat the Michelin tires in many aspects. Thus the Michelin tires lag behind. If someone wants to drive on the dry roads there is nothing best than the Michelin tires. These tires run faster on the dry roads but on the damp or wet roads their grasp is not up to the mark. If we move ahead and put side by side the Continental tires and BF Goodrich tires than according to the evaluation the upshot is that Continental tires take away the crown. Normally other tires start fading after a period of time gap but this is not in the case of the Continental tires. They do not drop their important trait of good grip on the roads.

If you mostly drive on dry roads than Michelin tires are best option for your car. On the other hand if you are looking for tiers to ply on wet road than you need to go for the Continental tires. They cannot be compared for the comfort they endow with. Both summer tires are rated excellent scores for tread wear. The tread wear of the tires is not a big thought and deciding point with max-performance tires.

Along with the features of the brands and their comparison, one need to put a thinking cap and pay heed to the budget part. Summer tires boost the performance of the car and make the rides enjoyable.

Automatic Wipers have their origin long time back in 1921. The wipers that were invented were called as Folberths. This wiper was attached to the tube of the motor vehicle. But later in 1936 Bosch discovered an electronic wiper that was attached on the top of windshield. But obviously these wipers were limited to the luxury models. But fortunately time revolutionized everything and now every model has automatic wipers.

Nowadays wipers are automatic and we hardly notice their functioning. But initially people used manual wipers by moving a handle back and forth that was in the interiors the car. And in this day and age the electric wipers are taken for granted. The wipers automatically and authentically keep the glass clear moving back and forth from corner to corner countless times sweeping the water and dust away. On the higher speed they work so proficiently and move astoundingly fast that they sometimes wobble the car.

Wiper Blades

The Wiper blades perform the most significant function. They remove rain drops, snow, dirt from the windshield of the car so swiftly and efficiently just at a touch of button. The wiper blades have to tolerate and bear extremes of temperatures, sometimes from sub-zero frosty weather to blazing desert sunshine. But their efficiency doesn’t change with the changing temperatures. And at the times of long drives sometimes they have to function nonstop for longer periods.

Wiper blades are available in various types. You can make a choice that matches your personal requirement and budget. You can make a choice between All-Season Blades to the ultimate Beam Blade or specialty Winter Blades. So how does one make a choice between the blades? The answer is the better the quality of blade the better the performance and longer the shell life. Let’s have a glance at them and compare them.

All- Season Wiper Blades are good replacement standard blades for people who drive occasionally. They satisfy the needs of value conscious drivers. They are Polymer wiper blades that are specially designed to resist rusting, chipping and bending.  The coating on rubber parts is an advantage as it reduces the streaking, chirping and bending. The installation of these wipers is easy as they have pre-installed universal adapter that fits most wiper arms straightforwardly.

Performance Wiper Blades are preferred by most drivers. They compose of high strength steel blade along with easy fit assembly for rapid installation. The corrosion-resistant epoxy coatings have been designed specially to resist rusting, chipping or bending. They fit nearly all wiper arms directly and make the installation effortless.

Beam Wiper Blades are good choice for all types of drivers. They have an innovative curved frameless blade design that helps to conform to the shape of your windshield. The numerous pressure points provide stable pressure for consistent wipe. They help to resist snow and ice. They are best for exceptional all- weather performance. The natural and synthetic rubber coating improves the performance and durability. Almost all the vehicles plying o the road use these wipers. All these characteristics make these blades an ultimate option.

Winter Wiper Blades are almost similar to beam blade. The rubber boot helps in preventing snow and ice buildup. They have wrapped up steel superstructure for strength and toughness. The design of these blades permits low connection point for hook arms and wipe constancy for all arm types.

The next thing you must do is to have a good coat of wax to be applied to assist in protecting your car from the strong UV sunrays. Your car must be vacuumed to eliminate sand and salt that might have entered. You should also check the hood. Examine the air filter to make it sure it is fully clean and confirm all the fluids involving the coolant mechanism and the AC before those humid and hot days arrive. Running the AC system once in a while will certainly keep it operational when you require it. If pot holes are problem in your region you must have the suspension examined to make it sure there are no damaged components from getting jumped. Worn suspension components can easily lead to tire and other parts hastily wearing and alignment hassles. A vehicle having bad alignment can ultimately lead to poor driving, handling and hamper your cars fuel mileage. With respect to tires, it would be a perfect time to make it sure your tire pressure is appropriate. Reinstate your winter tires with new spring tires. But if you don’t have winter tires, it is very vital to have all-season tires being rotated.

Driving during winter season can be hard due to massive volume of snow. However, rotating tires frequently extends their lifespan. Ultimately, these will provide you enhanced braking, driving and handling. When you drive on wet roads which are typical throughout spring, good braking and handling is particularly vital. Inspect your wiper blades for safety. Your wipers tend to bear additional work removing dirt, debris and snow that get stuck on your car’s windshield. It can be a good thought to replace them during spring season to be fully prepared for rains. To evade rusting and erosion, washing the underbody should be done.

To prevent this, winter tires are actually made of a different rubber component when merged with a more forceful tread design; really enhance your cars gripping capability and protection on the road while driving. Save your alloy rims and chrome rims. These are good components of metal, and you possibly want to maintain them that way only. With all the gravel, dirt, smug and salt on the road during winter season along with constant depreciation, your rims are vulnerable to deterioration at the earliest. Consider acquiring a normal set of steel rims that you can easily set your winter tires on. You can also count your alloy rims or chrome rims appearing best when summer season approaches. Alloy wheel rims are actually manufactured from diverse metals and can be made to the precise specifications of a vehicle. In addition, alloy rims augment the look of your vehicle and if you believe in safety, a good pair of rims can easily enhance the overall output of your winter tires. Alloy wheels typically have a subtle appearance and are more vulnerable to damage due to harsh winter season. A small rock can easily break a piece of the rim and make it ineffective. Since alloy wheel rims are significantly more costly, they may be dangerous to utilize during winter.

Steel wheel rims tend to be heavy and in exceptional cases might present less than optimal output owing to their enhanced weight. Moreover, the overall composition of steel wheel rims actually makes them hard to fit on vehicles that require a certain quantity of brake clearance. When purchasing a tire and wheel rim for your car, you might need to decide between steel and alloy wheel rims. Before buying, it might be sensible to evaluate the pros and con of steel and alloy rim tires to decide the finest alternative for your requirements.

Heated blankets devised for vehicles can be easily plugged easily in the cigarette-lighter hole – it provides the identical effect as a heated car seat, but can be inexpensive (they are characteristically priced for less than $100). However, if you are not prepared to spend money on heated car seats, in that case this can be a good alternative. Contrary to accepted conviction, heated car chairs are not expensive anymore. They are reasonably priced and have several advantages. There are 3 main advantages of obtaining them in your car. Heated car chair is actually a simple apparatus, but extremely advantageous when it is severe cold. In the earlier days, they tend to be expensive and exorbitant to most, but today, thanks to ground-breaking expertise and a vast marketplace, these have turn out to be quite reasonable and in fact inexpensive! When it may come to massage, enhanced blood movement, eliminating tiredness and loosening the muscles, heated car seats finds no equivalent or alternative. The heated car seats are also battery-operated. So, essentially they last for extended time as per the battery capacity. You can easily drive your car in severe cold, ice or snow without the need to worry about all these factors.

It has been observed that putting heaters or turning blowers on during winter season may not be that effective. You will certainly feel cold in spite of switching the heater in the car. Therefore, heated car seats can be the best option and are very practical accessories when you buy your car or else you could find them very helpful. You can easily get aftermarket heated car seats at a lower price by shopping online. On the other hand, you can purchase aftermarket heated car seats through local advertisements and car accessory stores in your area.

A steering wheel cover may appear like a strange procurement, but these useful items do serve various objectives. Not only steering wheel covers offer a designer touch to your car, they can also enhance steering wheel grasp and guard the wheel from any damage that can happen during usage. Purchasing a steering wheel cover will offer several alternatives that most individuals can understand. With this in psyche, it may not be a bad thought to have a good plan before running out and purchase a steering wheel cover. The reality is steering wheel covers come in diverse prices, styles and patterns. Therefore how can anybody locate the correct cover for their car? Pursue the techniques and the ideal cover at the correct price must offer itself: Set the cost – steering wheel covers can be expensive than most individuals may ever think. Though a normal steering wheel cover can be around $5 or more, a more multifaceted steering wheel cover can be $35 or more. However, it is sensible to pick the exact range depending upon your current requirement and liking. Pricing will have an effect on material selection, but there are numerous alternatives in each range.

The best steering wheel covers are Original One Colour, Euro Tone Two Colour and Euro Perf Perforated. On the other hand, customers can also obtain original leather steering wheel covers, polyester wheel covers, laced steering wheel covers, and adjustable wheel covers depending upon their current requirement and desire. All these materials tend to enhance the overall quality, durability and productivity of these useful steering wheel covers. Many branded manufacturers also make high-quality steering wheel covers with latest manufacturing techniques to offer the best steering wheel covers to customers.

Leather is the preferred material for those who desire strong, long lasting winter gloves. Both women and men like leather winter driving gloves for their strength, durability and look. The most preferred one when driving a car is the black leather winter driving gloves. These gloves actually come in diverse styles and designs. The gloves can be easily lined to permit warmth, in addition to fortification against harsh elements. They are extremely accepted in the winter season. Moreover, protection against the severe cold they also guard against any injury when handling sharp or awkward items. The borders through which the leather is manufactured are tanned until the borders get soft and operational; afterwards they are formed into the glove. Over the years several manufacturers have devised brilliant designs of hand wear winter driving gloves from these hides. For all those individuals who like to don leather gloves throughout the year there are several lined, extremely thin ones or gloves that have pierced holes to permit air are easily accessible. For sports enthusiasts there are gloves that have embedded fasteners. These gloves actually go best with a studded leather coat.

The black colour is preferred owing to its resistance to dirt and debris as well as the reality that if it is spoilt it is extremely simple to apply little dye to wrap it. Some are hard leathered from wrist to fingertip while others have a spherical cut over the palm and are wrapped with an undersized snap and strap. You can easily get Fratelli Orsini Winter Driving Gloves, Orvis Deerskin Winter Driving Gloves, Tory Burch Leopard Winter Gloves, Jacob Ash Sheepskin Winter Driving Gloves. You can get these gloves in leather, wool, polyester, satin, deerskin, and other materials.