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Basic Car Maintenance: What to Do During a Tune-Up

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Some people wind up with a car that seems to run perfectly for five years while other individuals remain discouraged because their car seems to break down every two years, and they wind up buying another one. To go from the second group into the first, it’s important to remember that car maintenance is the key to keeping a car running wonderfully for many years to come. One of the most important things is to guarantee that a car receives a regular tune-up.

Most people that have their own mechanic or know a few basic things about cars choose to do their own tune-up. Making sure that these things are changed during a tune-up will drastically improve the performance of any car, and help prevent problems down the road.

NGK Spark Plugs

NGK Spark plugs do not always need replaced, and there are a few ways to check to see if they can go for another 30,000 miles or so. First, if there are no problems because of bad NGK spark plugs, they may not need replaced. To double check, vehicle owners are encouraged to ensure that the gap is what it is supposed to be, and to visually check NGK spark plugs to see if they appear to be worn.

Vehicle owners that are not sure as to whether they should replace NGK spark plugs are encouraged to replace them. Getting a new set will not hurt the car, and it may improve the performance of the vehicle.

Double Check Safety Options

This is the time when everything should be double checked, including but not limited to: windshield wipers, headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and the horn. These parts of the car are a necessity to making sure that everyone riding in the car is safe, particularly in dangerous weather. Headlights can determine whether a driver sees another car coming down the road or not, and may prevent a fatal car accident.

Brakes

The brakes do not automatically need to be replaced, but it is a good idea to take off the tires and give them a quick look while performing maintenance on the car. If the brakes show an excessive amount of wear and tear, and it looks like they may be close to the indicator, it is a good idea to replace them at the time and get it out of the way, although it is not necessary.

Oil change

Every car needs an oil change some time, and this is the one thing that most people neglect. Instead of getting an oil change every 10,000 miles as recommended, some owners never get an oil change. If this isn’t being done on regularly, at the very least vehicle owners are encouraged to get an oil change when they are doing their own tune up. The oil can become gritty and then it will not lubricate the engine properly, resulting in a wealth of damages later on down the road.

Fluids

All fluids should be checked on weekly, or, at the very least, monthly, but most vehicle owner’s ale tend to neglect this important part of maintenance. If this isn’t done regularly, it’s that much more important that it be done during a tune-up. If there is a problem, it should be fixed along with everything else.

Properly maintaining a vehicle is vital to making sure that a vehicle lasts longer than average, and to making sure that everyone in the vehicle remains safe. Simply installing new NGK spark plugs can improve the performance of a vehicle, and making sure that the horn works properly can prevent a car accident, and possible save a person’s life.

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Source by Samantha Jones

Abiding By The Rules Of Driving

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There are a lot of rules that a driver needs to learn about and abide by. Even if you are an expert driver, you need to stick to the rules set by the government while driving. These rules are mainly related to traffic keeping in mind the safety of the drivers and the pedestrians as well. The driving schools provide handy information about on road safety while driving, speed limits that need to be maintained as prescribed etc.

Speed limits are of the highest concerns all around the country. Young drivers often get overenthusiastic and cross the mentioned speed limits for different lanes. They need to understand that the speed limits are set according to the type of vehicles that ply on the respective lanes, streets and highways; these limits prevent accidents on highways and busy traffic lanes.

Driving lessons not only include how to drive but also to train and teach the learner to abide by all the traffic rules. Changing lanes unnecessarily lead to traffic mishap thereby causing huge traffic congestion and most of the times even accidents that can be fatal. The driving schools provide thorough information about the traffic signal and road signs. The road signs for instance a left arrow indicates a left turn ahead, a cross mark on the alphabet P means no parking.

Drivers should keep their eyes open and look out for all these road signs and abide by them. In a no horn zone a driver should never blow horn because it could possibly be a school or a hospital nearby.

Besides, other rules include No drinking and driving. This has been causing a lot of accidents all around the country. A certain study has shown that most number of on road accidents occur due to drinking and driving. It is completely against the law and order of the country and the driver not following this rule can be punishable by the law which can lead to life time imprisonment. Deadly as it is, drunk drivers often tend to lose control over the speed and generate a blurry vision which is extremely dangerous for him, people in the car and the pedestrians outside.

These rules fall under driving lessons as well; some institutions teach their learners about the various rules and their importance as to why they should follow them, their consequences if not followed. These are of utmost importance when it comes to driving. Being a little careful can reduce road accidents thereby saving thousands of innocent lives on the streets.

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Source by Steven Andrews

Party Decorations – How to Avoid Common Mistakes, Part II

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In “Decorating Your Party: How to avoid common mistakes: Part I” we talked about some of the selections you can consider in order to enhance the look of your party (such as, colors, size of the room, height of the ceiling). This time, let’s talk about some of the technical details party decorations and what you can do about them.

1. Production time.

You should be aware of when your room becomes available for your party. Many times, it is only two hours in advance. Make sure to let your decorator know about this at the beginning of your conversation. It does not mean that you can not use extensive balloon decorations! But it should be taken into account. There are several ways to go about it:

a) Sometimes the place where you are renting the room (whether it is a hotel or a community hall) can provide a back room for production of party decorations and then only the installation needs to be accomplished in the two hours.

b) With the help of your decorator you can choose party decorations that are fast to produce and still look astounding.

c) The decorator can get extra help, but may also charge you extra because of the time constraint.

d) The decorator can rent a truck and brings bits and peaces to be assembled on the spot quickly. This also might cost extra, as it is due to the time constraint at your location.

2. Ceiling Sensors.

Some venues have sensors on the ceiling so if a balloon goes up, an alarm sounds and fire truck shows up 20 seconds later. Costly for the owner and may be for you.

Don’t panic! You can still use balloons. Almost any party decorations that can be done with helium filled balloons (the type that flies) can be done with air filled balloons on a frame and has no need to be anywhere near the ceiling.

3. Doing it the day before.

If, for some reason, you have to do balloon decorations the day before, keep in mind that regular (11″ round) helium filled balloons will be half-dead by the morning and on the floor by the middle of the day.

If all you need are simple balloon bouquets, you can ask the decorator to use high float. This substance keeps balloons from deflating much longer. If you have more elaborate party decorations – use air filled balloons on a frame instead, as I mentioned in the previous point.

4. Transparent balloons.

Just keep in mind that they look great at the first moment, especially if you have bright balloons inside, but in a few hours they will be less transparent, kind of dim and will become more and more opaque as party goes on.

5. Balloon lights.

This is a very effective technique for low-light parties!!! For the regular light or daylight parties they are hardly noticeable. If this is the case, one has to use much stronger lights with larger balloons, cluster the lights together and so on.

6. Centerpiece bases.

Bases for the centerpieces, as well as floral long-and-low centerpieces sometimes are creations of art, as well as a noticeable part of your party decoration budget.

One thing though: they sit on the tabletop together with food. In some cases, the caterer puts so many plates on the table; the food is so colorful and plentiful, that the bases are lost. Actually, the smaller the base, the easier it is for the caterer and the less it gets in the way of your guests and food.

So, when you plan to spend money on the bases of balloon bouquets or other centerpieces – talk to your caterer first.

7. Balloon ceiling (balloons with ribbons on the ceiling)

Things to keep in mind:

a) If the ceiling is a rough surface, many will pop during production, many more during the party.

c) One balloon takes less than a square foot. So, if you are in a large room, you will need a substantial budget to cover the ceiling completely. If you do, it will work, though I would check the alternatives for the money. If you only cover the ceiling partially, the air conditioner or fan will blow the balloons around and will rub them against the ceiling. In most cases this will kill a large portion of them.

8. Balloon Drops

The perfect party decorations for the theatre – type room. That is, a room with a very high ceiling and a, relatively, small floor area. Then balloons on their way down “have time” to fly in all directions and cover everybody in the room.

In a regular-sized room we’ll be lucky if we can cover the dance floor. In addition (and this is a matter of a personal opinion) the hanging net full of balloons does very little for decorations, as well as letting everybody know what is coming. On the other hand, if someone is not looking in the right direction at the moment when the balloons are released, they can miss the whole thing.

One solution to these problems is the so-called “explosive balloon”, also known as “popping balloons”.

Relax! There are no real explosive used! All it is a large (3-foot or larger) balloon, stuffed with smaller balloons and sometimes with confetti (check your contract with the venue!!! It might be a big “NO-NO”!) or even lottery wins. One or several of these balloons are placed on the ceiling and when the time comes, they all pop with the push of button.

You can distribute these balloons all over the room if you want to cover everybody, or use a few in a strategic spot if you choose. No more heavy hanging nets and not a single person can guess at what is coming!

Here, it is worth mentioning that one can put these balloons together to make a wall and then explode the entire wall… Let us talk about it next time.

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Source by Mikhail Liberman

Dead Car Battery FAQS

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You should think of your car battery as the heart of your vehicle. It is its power unit. You would think the engine would be a better metaphor, but your car battery is what essentially gives your vehicle power. Just like you wouldn’t want your body to go without a beating heart, you wouldn’t want your vehicle to go without power. Otherwise, you’ll end up getting stuck somewhere because of a dead or defective battery. The best method for maintaining a functional and reliable unit is to have your vehicle serviced professionally at least twice per year.

If you are concerned about your “power unit”, or simply wish to learn more about them, continue reading for some frequently asked questions about dead batteries, as well as, their answers.

How Do I Know if My Car Battery is Dying?

There are several signs that indicate it’s time to service or replace your car battery. These signs include but are not limited to: slow engine crank, weak engine power, dashboard lights illuminated (even if it seems unrelated), check engine light turns on, low fluid, dim lights (interior and exterior), sluggish car start, bloated casing, smell of sulfur or rotten eggs, and more.

Why Did My Battery Die?

The most common cause for a dead battery is drainage. If you leave your headlights or interior lights on all night by accident, you may wake up to find that your car power is dead. A simple jump-start will fix this issues in as little as a five minutes. Other circumstances that can cause power drainage include not closing the visor or glove box all the way, leaving a stereo on, leaving a door ajar, and leaving the dome light on. After several hours, it will drain entirely, even sooner if it’s old or close to replacement.

As for other reasons why your car battery might have died, things like parasitic draw, defective cells, low fluid, and more can all play a role. It is best to have yours inspected by a trained mechanic for accurate and professional assistance.

How Long Do Car Batteries Last?

The typical lifespan for a standard lead-acid car unit is between 3 to 5 years. For those who drive often or long distances, change out your batteries closer to the 3 year mark. This is recommended for older vehicles as well. Keep in mind that although this is the standard lifespan, there are several factors that can shorten the life of your car battery.

How Can I Tell the Age of My Battery?

The age of your automotive battery is easy to locate. The manufacturer date is always stamped on a label, which is usually on its side. The information on the label will provide the date it was sent by the manufacturer. The first two characters of the label represent different pieces of information. The letter represents the month it was made, while the number represents the year (i.e. JAN=A, FEB=B, 9=1999, 1=2001, etc.).

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Source by Sarahbeth Kluzinski

Benefits of a Towing Service During an Emergency

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Nobody knows when something bad may happen so it is always best to be prepared as well as possible for any emergency. When driving, a roadside assistance plan is the best way to be prepared for any emergency while on the road. One of the top reasons for needing roadside assistance is when your vehicle is disabled through mechanical or electrical malfunction. More times than not, you’ll need a towing service to make sure that your car is not stranded and possibly sent to the impound lot. So what are some other benefits of a towing service?

Speedy Response Time

When your vehicle breaks down, it never seems to happen when you’re out for a fun drive or when you do not need to be anywhere important. Instead, it never fails to break down when you’re late for work, picking up the kids from school or when you have an important meeting to get to. Having a great towing service on hand, through a roadside assistance plan, means that you get a faster response time than simply calling the first tow company you come across. Most roadside assistance plans offer tows within thirty minutes of getting your call so you know you’ll be taken care of quickly.

Care for Your Vehicle

With a roadside service plan, you can be assured that the tow company has your best interests in mind and that they will take the best car of vehicle possible. Some tow companies only look at the bottom line and don’t really care how they handle your vehicle, they just want to get it to its destination as quickly as possible so they can move on to the next call. This means that you could end up spending more money do to their negligence or poor care of your car.

Guarantee of Proper Licensing

Each state requires a certain licensing for any tow trucks that are on the road but not all tow truck companies follow these rules. If you do not know the tow company you are dealing with, you could end up having your vehicle damaged with no recourse to be compensated for the damage. A good roadside service company only deals with those towing services that are fully licensed and that meet the standards set for tow companies in your state. This means a higher quality of service for not only your car but for you when you are at your most stressed.

Most cities have a plethora of towing service companies but they are not all created the same and they may not have the same ideals concerning customer service. Many companies are only looking out for their own best interests which is making money, not taking care of your car. Only those that offer top notch service are used by quality roadside service companies to offer their clients the best tow options possible. This means quicker response times, a company that cares about your vehicle and the proper licensing for your state.

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Source by Adriana Copaceanu

The Nissan Navara – How is it As a Ride?

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As a double cab, Nissan navara has an advantage over others when it comes to car size. And though, it is not always true that bigger is better, when it comes to vehicles specifically for loads, it definitely make sense. Because of that, it had been favored by many who are looking for vehicle that is truly apt for work.

Basically, it is built in Spain. It is of the same production line with Pathfinder, one of those to which it is being often compared with. As it is very important today to wisely pick the car that you will be having, it is being dubbed as the best that you can have as it is being claimed to combine both luxury and quality.

However, there would always be two sides in a story. If there are those who favor and appreciate it, naturally, there are also those who got negative things to say about it. That is just normal though as no car is really perfect. There would always be flaws and drawbacks that can be seen in different perspectives.

If you can live through the drawbacks of Nissan Navara though, it can be a very useful pick up to use. One of its strengths is the fact that it is a spacious car that can carry quite a load. It is very much suitable to businesses and other specific tasks as moving furniture and transferring products.

To know how great or not-so great of a ride is Nissan Navara is, it is important to check on its features and capabilities. There are three points that can be used as basis of the judgment.

  • Load Space – As been mentioned earlier, it has a more space for loads than other double cabs. It even has an additional feature of self-locking cleats for securing loads. This keeps from rolling about from one to another which can possibly cause damages.
  • Appearance and Features – Though Nissan Navara is one that can be considered as a workhorse of a vehicle, it has a nice exterior and interior design. It is of smooth silhouette with fog light, roof rail, automatic headlights and washer and even electric windows and mirrors. Inside, it had upholstered seats, CD player, bluetooth connectivity, remote central locking and even satellite navigation. And so it can basically provide the comfort and convenience other luxury cars can give.
  • Engine – Generally, Nissan Navara is not really a quiet car. However, its engine is more powerful than other of its category. And though it runs in diesel, it can be pretty powerful.

As a summary, the Navara has both advantages and disadvantages but the former outweighs the latter. Though it is more of a car of functionality, it is able to provide luxury and comfort to its passengers. And with that, Nissan Navara makes quite an impressive ride.

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Source by Maurice Manhattan

Lead Boxes – What You Must Know Before Buying Them

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Lead boxes are made from lead, which is a strong and sturdy naturally sourced material. These boxes are quite strong and lend themselves perfectly for being used as secure storage units that can be secured on the back of trucks. Lead is also used to make traditional planting or window boxes. A box made from lead was originally used as a window box in Georgian England times and they remain popular today because they are quite decorative.

Lead is a soft yet heavy metal. It has a bluish/white color when it has been freshly cut, but it becomes tarnished and turns grey when it is exposed to air. Lead boxes are incredibly popular because they have a high density and resist corrosion, which is why they make perfect storage units for the back of your truck.

If you are looking for a way in which to alter the color of your lead based box then you will find this quite difficult. Lead is a natural porous metal that doesn’t lend itself to being painted. If you like silver then you will like these boxes.

With any box that you are intending to buy, the size of the box is determined by what you intend to put into it. You can get small, medium and large boxes for any use. If your box is going to be put on the back of a truck then you will need to get a box that fits perfectly with the trucks dimensions, similarly if you have a window box you will need to have box that sits on the window ledge. The standard shapes of boxes that can be bought are generally in an oblong or cube shape. However, because lead is a pliable metal it can be easily transformed into any shape.

The best place to buy boxes that are made from lead is actually online. If you go online you will discover not only a number of great suppliers, but also a wealth of boxes that are made from lead with absolute ease. Shopping online is definitely the simplest way in which to shop as you won’t have to leave your house and your order can be delivered directly to you for added convenience. In addition to this most online shoppers also find that they save money.

Lead boxes are the way to go if you want to have a storage unit that is perhaps one of the strongest on the planet and is sourced from the planet. Whatever you intend to use a box for, you will find that a box made from lead is probably your best option if you want security.

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Source by Ernesto L

1995 Chevy Truck – How to Remove the Steering Wheel

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Any vehicle is subject to wear and tear and so is any part of the vehicle. No matter how expensive and reputed, there is no change to this rule. Same is the case with the steering wheel of the 1995 Chevy Truck. The only way to get out of this problem is to replace the steering wheel with a new one.

Step 1: Disconnect the Negative Terminal

First of all make sure you keep a open wrench handy. This would be useful to disconnect the negative terminal from the battery. You will now have to locate the airbag. Leave the vehicle to sit for nearly 30 minutes before you proceed.

Step 2: Pop the Airbag Off the Wheel

For this step, you will have to turn on the ignition of the truck and turn the steering wheel in the clockwise direction. Once you are able to locate the hole behind the steering wheel, use the screwdriver to bring out the airbag from the wheel.

Step 3: Remove the Wiring

You have only partially done your job with the airbag. Next you have to turn the steering wheel of the 1995 Chevy truck anticlockwise. You will have to rotate the wheel for up to 180 degrees in the process. Now the airbag is accessible to you and you can disconnect the wiring harness with ease.

Step 4: Unbolt the Steering Wheel

The next obvious step is to unbolt the center bolt. This is located at the center of the wheel. The puller will have to be driven in using the right ratchet and socket. Tightening the nut lying at the center of the puller will help us pull the steering wheel off the column.

As seen, replacing the wheel is a matter of a few minutes and will require the right tools to come to your rescue. Once done, the frustrating truck will automatically be transformed into a pleasure to drive

Such tasks can be done by the common man and does not require you to depend on the mechanics. The 1995 Chevy truck is one of the sturdy and trusted vehicles and can be brought back to its true form in these few steps.

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Source by Kristeen Krishnan

Replace Your RipStik Wheels – The Easy Way!

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The RipStik is a popular caster-board created by the “Razor” company (known for their successful Razor Scooter.) Two separate small platforms are conjoined by a bar which rotates using a heavy duty spring. Each platform or “deck” hosts a rotating wheel identical to a roller blade wheel.

The construction of the board allows a person to propel themselves using a twisting motion of the body and legs to move the two decks and wheels. The feeling of riding a caster board has been attributed to being like riding a snowboard or surfboard.

Repairing a standard RipStik wheel is a simple process which is not unlike replacing a roller blade or skateboard wheel.

To begin you will need a few things. You will need a pair of needle drivers (or similar) which will act as a crowbar to remove the bearing from the wheel, a new roller 76mm blade wheel (which are the same as RipStik Wheels), or two, if your going to be replacing the front and back wheel. You will also need two alan wrenches (also know has alan keys) 3/15th in size.

First of all, you will need to remove the wheel out from the RipStik truck. Place one alan key on the right side of the wheel, inside the bolt, the other on the left hand side of the bolt. Now, twist one alan key anti-clockwise to un-screw the bolt while holding the other side to keep it from twisting. Continue rotating the alan key until you have completely un-screwed the bolt.

Once the wheels is out your going to take the needle drivers and pry out the bearing away from the inside of the wheel. Once the two bearings are out you will be able to place the bearings inside the new RipStik wheel. Put the bearings in the middle part of the wheel (taking care it does not fall over while it is inside the wheel) and press in the bearing.

Once you have both bearings in the new wheel, take your wheel and place it in the truck. Now place your bolt in through the truck, the wheel and the bearing. Tighten the bolts until they are very firm to make sure they are secure. Be careful not to over tighten your bolt as this could cause your bearings to seize. Once you have got your RipStik Wheels tightened you’ll be good to go and you will have a new RipStik Wheel to race along with.

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Source by Katie Jenson

Can You Extend the Life and Mileage of Your Car’s Exhaust and Muffler System?

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Most auto owners do not give the exhaust system of their vehicle one minute though. That is until they hear a loud boom, exhaust hissing or rattling noises coming quite scarily from the rear of their car or truck. On top of that there are health and safety concerns from exhaust gasses. You can almost bet by the time they get to that point that they are going to be recipients of a large muffler or exhaust system repair bill. Is their any way that most motorists can extend the life and driving span of their exhaust and muffler system or systems?

Basically put your car or truck’s exhaust system includes the exhaust manifold, muffler, connecting pipes and in some cases a resonator. Any automobile made in the last 30 years will definitely have a catalytic converter you can bet. Single exhaust setups use an exhaust manifold of a single exhaust pipe, muffler assembly and tail pipe that extends under of just short of the rear bumper whereas on a dual exhaust system arrangement two exhaust pipes and a muffler assembly are used together with two resonators, two tail pipes. Each assembly is connected to it s own exhaust manifold and carries the exhaust gasses to the rear of the vehicle.

The life of the mufflers and pipes is dependent largely on the type of service in which the vehicle is used. If it is driven mostly in city type stop and go traffic with few trips exceeding five miles, you can bet that the muffler will soon be rusted out, have a shorter life span and that the automobile owner will be making a visit either to his local mechanic at their garage or to his dealership service center. Since installing mufflers and exhaust systems is a specialized job many garages themselves as well as those auto owners often have the work done at shops and garages that specialize in exhaust system and muffler repair and replacement.

The reason for such short muffler life spans is that on short trips the mufflers and pipes will never get warm never mind hot enough to evaporate moisture in the system – that in the end works to rust out any steel metal components of mufflers and exhaust systems. This moisture not only clings to the metal components and is rust causing by it but wore me highly acidic in nature and most corrosive – mixing with the exhaust gas remnants and left over residuals from the internal combustion engine’s combustion process. As a result the pipes and mufflers are soon corroded and have to be replaced.

If the car is driven mostly on long and longer mileage trips, or mainly at good speeds on freeway travel, then conversely the mufflers and the pipes that it is attached to will soon get hot enough to simply evaporate this moisture, similar to how a hot kettle boils off water. Consequently corrosive action (that is rusting and the formation of rust on the metal parts and surfaces of the muffler) will be slowed down and retarded. Consequently your vehicle will have its muffler and exhaust system will last longer and have a longer life span.

Interestingly it seems that Mufflers and pipes used on a single exhaust system, will generally last longer than dual muffler installations because all the hot exhaust gasses are propelled and pass through one single pipe – that is the one solitary muffler. As a result in a single muffler system temperatures generally reach a higher value sooner rather than later. Hence the corrosive moisture has a better chance of being heated up and evaporated into the atmosphere with less of a chance that will linger on metal surfaces and components to do its rusting job.

The general rule of thumb from experienced auto mechanics and automotive dealership service writers is that mufflers and pipes should be replaced before they are rusted completely, for if there are any leaks in the system what so ever, the exhaust which are poisonous and injurious to health will escape into the interior of the vehicle where they can potentially cause the death of the occupants and riders or a serious accident if the driver becomes affected by exhaust gas and gasses.

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Source by Shaun Stevens