All posts by blogger

Motorcycle Batteries Maintenance

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Driving your own motorcycle can be more convenient and practical than driving a regular car or vehicle. Yet when the motorcycle becomes dysfunctional, repair costs may also be expensive and can put a dent in your budget. Costly motorcycle repairs may however not be needed if you can properly maintain and care for your motorcycle.

Motorcycles consist of various components which altogether work to make the vehicle serviceable. One component that is essential in motorcycle operation is the motorcycle battery. Therefore your battery is one of those essential parts that you need to maintain. To do this, you need to understand details about you battery and how it operates in order to power up your motorcycle.Motorcycle batteries are of two types: conventional and maintenance free. Each type implements its own charging set, troubleshooting and maintenance.

In caring for motorcycles, you may need proper tools like jumper cables, battery tester, multimeter, hydrometer and battery analyzer. The jumper cables are what you need to use to start up the motor when it has low charge. The tester is for checking if the battery is charged or discharged. The multimeter which can measure resistance, current and voltage will help you know if it is time for recharging. The syringe hydrometer is for precisely showing the gravity reading of conventional batteries. The battery acid and the water content are displayed by the hydrometer so you will know if it needs replenishment. Then the battery analyzer, with just a single push of a button, can tell you if your battery is already full of charge.

Checking the battery, regardless if it is maintenance free or conventional, needs to be done once in each month. Conventional motorcycle batteries would require the water to be topped off so the needed electrolyte balance may be restored. The water will evaporate as the vehicle operates and so electrolytes will be produced. You need to inspect the battery and all its connections one time every month or so. Grimes surrounding the battery must be cleaned particularly the dirt buildup on the battery connections.

A common problem with the battery is when there exists no power in the motorcycle. Your horn and your lights would not function so you need to look first at the fuse. This fuse is located on the red-colored lead near to your battery. Replace the broken fuse.

When you start the motorcycle and there is an intermittent loss of power, you should look at the terminals of your battery as they may be loose. If they are, tighten the connections.

If you hear a clicking noise as you start your motorcycle, this would mean a battery whose charge is too low, it cannot even turn over your vehicles starter. The clicking sound is produced by the solenoid activated by the battery but the power is inadequate to deal with the starter. Your battery charge can also be indicated by a starter that turns quite slowly .

Tools Used To Conduct Automotive Marketing Research

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Marketing research is conducted by almost very automotive industry to understand market trends and potential customers. A major purpose of marketing research is to find answers for questions and thus to acquire new or updated knowledge. Today’s automotive manufacturing firms conduct comprehensive marketing research to enhance management decision-making by using relevant, accurate and timely information. Automotive marketing research has thus become a crucial part in management decision making.
Automotive marketing research has been conducted to:

Identify customers

Understand needs and requirements of customers

Find out how and where the customers want the products or service

Discover at what price customers will purchase products

Finding answers for these questions helps automotive manufacturing firms to formulate appropriate product development strategies. Information gathered from marketing research need to be analyzed and used while designing and manufacturing new products or before making any modification to existing product line.
Lack of time and strict time schedule always restrict manufacturing firm to conduct automotive marketing research before launching a new product. Mostly, manufacturers develop products without understanding the actual needs of customers; this might result in the fail of products in markets and thus impart huge loss to manufacturing firm. However, service of marketing research companies can be effectively utilized to carry out marketing research. These companies conduct marketing research and find answers for research problems on behalf of their clients.
Marketing research companies collect data from potential customers by conducting or participating in:
Car clinics – Car clinics are the most effective automotive marketing research tool used by marketing researchcompanies to collect data. These companies conduct car clinics in various parts of countries to collect useful information from large numbers of show attendees.
Drive studies – Marketing research companies design and execute open course drive studies and closed course drive studies to collect feedback related to comfort, ride and handling, and powertrain issues. These kinds of feedback are highly valuable for new product development.
Auto show research – Automobile event research is one of the cost effective tools used to collect information on display evaluations, new product designs, feedback on concept vehicles and new technologies etc.
Online research – marketing research companies conduct different kinds of online surveys to collect information related to topics like new product development, pricing research, styling studies, customer satisfaction and so on. They mail a well designed questionnaire to potential customers and thus seek answers to various research questions. Online research is one of the cost effective and efficient automotive marketing research tool used to collect feedback from large number of customers instantly.
Along with the above tools, marketing research companies also collect information over phone. All these automotive marketing tools have high relevance in obtaining accurate and updated customer feedback. Moreover, information thus collected provides a complete knowledge on the likes and desires of potential customers. This knowledge helps a manufacturing firm to design and develop new products by incorporating new features. Launching products with required features helps manufacturing firm to achieve competitive advantage and also to improve sale.

What Is The Function Of An Ignition Switch

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A cars ignition switch has multipurpose utility. As its name implies, the first and foremost function is to engage the ignition system of the car, or to start the car from a dead state. Secondly, it can provide access to various features or accessories of the car, like the stereo system, the radio, the windshield wiper, the headlights, brake oil levels, gasoline levels, dashboard backlight etc. The ignition switch can also be used to control the bonnet of a car.
While in some cars the electronic switch which actually switches on the rest on the system depending on the feedback from the ignition lock cylinder are integrated into a single unit, in other cars they can be separated from each other. Based on this variation, the term ignition switch can be used without a doubt for both the electronic switch and the ignition lock cylinder. The distinction is quite difficult to adjudge since both types of systems are found in abundance.
Even in the absence of ignition switches, cars did exist! The cars engines then used to be started or ignited by mechanically turning a crank, whose associated shaft used to turn the engine, moving it out of its inertia. In the present times, a flywheel associated with the cars engine is brought into action through an electric relay system activated by the ignition switch, ultimately starting up the engine. The flywheel is a large, flattened disc which has teeth on the outer circumference. A gear associated with the starter system engages the teeth of the flywheel when the ignition switch is turned ON, thus bringing the flywheel into life briefly with a huge momentum transfer, which starts up the engine.
The typical ignition system has four configurations, Off, Accessories, On, and Start. In some cars there are two dead states of the key, Off and Lock; OFF switches off the car, while the Lock configuration lets you remove the key from the ignition cylinders keyhole. In the accessories configuration, certain accessories as mentioned earlier that remain off in the OFF and LOCK configurations in order to prevent the car’s battery from being drained, use up very low power. People are often advised to use the Accessories position often for a longer car battery life.
Since features such as the indicator for fuel and brake oil levels are turned on only when the ignition switch is in the ON state, since they are useful when the car is running. Since the start position is meant only to jump start the car engine, the key is not allowed to remain in the start position for long, and is turned automatically to the ON position by spring action. When the switch changes its configuration from Start to ON, the starter system is cut off from battery power, and the cars engine starts running by a relay through the flywheel.

Removing Scuffs and Scratches on Your Cars Plastic Bumpers!

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Your cars plastic bumpers dont always need replacement when minor damage crop up such as scuffs and scratches. Repairing these scuffs and scratches are not as difficult as you imagined or as complicated as fixing up scratches on sheet metal that are likely to form rust.

Save time, money and effort repairing your damaged bumper with these simple and convenient steps:

Materials Needed:
Automotive Clear Coat
Automotive Paint
Automotive Primer
Dish Soap
Grease and Wax Remover
Paper Towels
Sand Paper

Step 1:Clean the scratched area with dish soap to get rid of any wax or dust particles on the surface. Use a piece of cloth enfolded around a finger to get hold of the scratches and scuffs. Wash the soap entirely and pat dry the surface using paper towels before proceeding to the next step.

Step 2:Check the intensity of the scratches and scuffs. Run your fingernail tip across the scratch and if it can hold the rut, this means that the scratch is deep, otherwise, the scratch is shallow.

Step 3:Polish the scratch with 120-grit sandpaper until it becomes smooth, even and free from tough edges. Bear in mind that plastics are softer than metal so ensure not to sand too much in one spot to avoid having a low part on the surface.

Step 4:Spray about two light coats of automotive primer on the polished spot. Wait for about 30 minutes allowing the coat of primer to dry.

Step 5:Polish the automotive primer evenly with 300-grit sandpaper until it becomes soft to touch. Swab the spot with grease and wax remover to take away oil and dust elements.

Step 6: While holding the spray can about eight inches away from the exterior, spray two to three lean coats of automotive paint straight on the scratch. Let each coat dry for 30 minutes prior to applying the next coat.

Step 7:Using the same procedures as with spraying the paint, apply two coats of automotive clear coat. Let the automotive clear coat dry completely which takes up to 24 hours before attempting to drive the car.

Getting rid of the scuffs and scratches from your cars plastic bumper can be costly especially when the job is done at a professional auto care clinic. However, you can save a lot if you do the repair yourself.

Automotive Mechanic Checklist-(your Checklist To The Right Automotive Mechanic)

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Automotive Mechanic Checklist-(Your Checklist to the Right Automotive Mechanic)

Your car is a precious investment to you. You probably use it everyday. Just like when your sick you go to a professional doctor, the same to true for your car when it is sick or needs repair. You need to go a professional mechanic.

Finding the right mechanic for your car repairs is not as difficult as you may think. All you need to do is to know what a good mechanic is made of. Have your checklist handy and you will be all set to choosing the right mechanic for your car repair needs.

Relevant Training and Knowledge
Whenever you are trying to check out a good mechanic it is better that you do your homework first before going in and bringing your car for repair or service. You should research if the auto mechanic has acquired the correct training which is being offered in their shop. Training, educational, or specialization certificates or some proof of their achieved grades is of essence. This may seem like a high-standard but this will be surely helpful knowing that the mechanic you are about to entrust your car to is knowledgeable and competent on his field.

Experience and Time
Another good point to add in your checklist is the experience the mechanic has in this field. You may inquire how long have they been in the specific specialization they have, how long have they been doing car repairs as well as what other specific auto repairs have they already accomplished. Having the knowledge about this assures you that your car’s problem will easily be solved and that your car is in good hands. Also, for car repair shops you can inquire how long they have been in business as good businesses providing honest, high-quality service usually endure time and last longer than those other lesser car repair shops.

Services Offered
You may also want to, of course, check what services are being offered in a specific car repair shop. Every car has different needs and not all repair shops may have the specific auto mechanic you want for your car’s needs. Always check if the service you want done is being offered or not.

Cleanliness and Orderliness
Aside from those mentioned, you must also observe and take into consideration how organized, clean and orderly a mechanic or their shop is. This will tell you a lot about your mechanic’s work ethics and personality. It is ideal and advisable that a mechanic must be trustworthy and honest, as well as hardworking. In most cases your will only know this after your car service or repair, unless you have been recommended by a friend or relatives. For beginners, observation is your tool. Observe how clean and orderly a shop is from the lobby and the work area. This simple test will surely help you decide on how careful, orderly, and organize your mechanic is, as well as how their shop is being managed.

There are still other things you may want to add but for the basics, the above mentioned are a must in selecting the right auto mechanic for you.
http://rockinghammechanic.com.au/