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The Peugeot 205 is a great little car. The original ‘hot-hatch’ – they were immensely popular from the moment they were introduced back in 1983, due to their styling, performance, and nimble handling. The reliability of the diesel versions is the stuff of legend, and there are still plenty of well-maintained examples on the road today.

The cost of running a car has increased enormously over the last decade, and even owners of an economical car like the diesel 205 need to cut unnecessary spending wherever possible. One simple way to achieve this is to do your own oil changes.

The 205 diesel engine has a reputation for being virtually unbreakable, but only if the engine oil and filter are replaced every 6000 miles. This is an easy job to do and will only take around half an hour. Oils and filters can be bought cheaply at any motor factor or car-parts shop. I recommend that you use semi-synthetic oil, as it is more durable than ordinary mineral oil and only a little more expensive.

Before you start, be sure to assemble all the things you will need. These are:

1) 5 litres of semi-synthetic oil for diesel engines

2) New oil filter (FRAM part No. PH5566A)

3) New 16mm copper washer for the sump plug

4) Old washing-up bowl

5) Latex gloves

6) Newspaper

7) Kitchen paper

8) Tool for sump plug (17mm socket, or 8mm square for turbo engine)

9) Oil filter removal strap

I also like to flatten out a cardboard box to kneel on.

First, the car should be parked on a flat and level surface ideally in a garage, but if not pick a day when the wind isn’t blowing. Start the engine and allow it to reach near normal operating temperature then switch it off. This is because the old oil will drain out more quickly when it is warm. Next, put on your gloves, open the bonnet, and release the oil filler cap on top of the engine. It is orange, has two spring-clips holding it on, and the dip-stick goes down through the middle of it. The filler cap is located at the highest part of the engine. Now spread out the newspaper under the car to catch any drips and place the washing-up bowl under the sump plug. This is located at the lowest part of the engine. If you are fortunate enough to own the turbo version, use the 8mm square tool held in a socket to turn the sump plug anti-clockwise, otherwise, you need a 17mm ring spanner or socket. BE VERY CAREFUL HERE. The oil may be hot enough to burn you and will gush out very quickly when you remove the plug. The oil will stop dripping in a few minutes.

Meanwhile, carefully move the washing-up bowl towards you a little, so that it is now underneath the oil filter as well. On the non-turbo engine there is good access to the filter, and you can easily wind the strap around it and unscrew it, again turning anti-clockwise. Be aware that hot oil will spill out from the filter when it is removed, and it should to be kept upright until you can drain it into the washing-up bowl. This is not the case with the turbo engine though. Access to the oil filter is very limited, and I find I cannot remove it by normal means. The way that I remove the filter sounds drastic, but it works. What I do, leaning in to the engine bay, is to gently tap two long thin screwdrivers right through the top of the filter and down to the bottom, placed diametrically opposite each other, and as close to the sides of the can of the filter as possible. Then I lay a short metal bar on top of the filter and swing it round anti-clockwise until it contacts both of the screwdriver blades. By keeping the screwdriver handles vertical with one hand I have enough purchase to turn the filter with the other and loosen it. Once loosened, it spins off the rest of the way using my fingers. If you examine the filter once it is off, you will see that this method cannot cause any damage to the engine.

You are now halfway through…

Now it is time to put it all back together. Begin by cleaning the sump plug and then fit the new copper washer on to it. Now wipe around the plug hole with the kitchen paper, before screwing the plug back in (clockwise) until hand-tight. Use the tool to tighten it a further 3/4 of one turn and you are done. Do not tighten any more than this, as you may distort the metal and cause an oil leak. Next, wipe off any old oil from around the filter housing, being careful not to introduce dirt into the recess. Take the new filter out of its box and look at the underside. You will see a thick black rubber sealing ring. This must be lubricated with a little fresh engine oil before fitting. The easy way to do this is to dip a gloved fingertip into the new oil and then ‘paint’ round the rubber ring until it looks obviously oily. Now spin the new filter on (clockwise) being careful not to cross-thread it at the start. Keep turning the filter lightly by hand until you feel resistance, then turn it a further 1/2 of one turn. There is no need to tighten any further, and doing so would only make it very difficult to remove at the next service interval.

At this point you are ready to put the new oil into the engine. The engine requires 4.5 litres of oil in total, so you will find it useful to put 4 litres in straight away. It can be difficult to pour a full bottle of oil without spilling any, so go slowly, giving the oil time to drain away down the filler aperture, otherwise it may bubble up and splash over the side. If you are using a funnel you must be very careful about this, as you could easily lose a whole funnel-full because of this effect. After you have the first 4 litres in, it is time to start the engine and distribute the new oil around inside it. There will be a slight delay in building oil pressure until the new filter has been filled up, so the oil warning light may stay on for a few seconds at first. Run the engine for a minute, then switch it off and leave it for at least 5 minutes. This gives time for the oil to settle back down to the sump, and you can then get a proper reading on the dip-stick. Withdraw the dip-stick from the oil filler cap and carefully wipe it clean on kitchen paper. Now push the dip-stick all the way back into its slot and take it out again. This time, you will be able to see how far the new oil has come up between the two notches. The dip-stick looks a bit like a thin flat steel ribbon – be sure to look at both sides to get the true reading. A reading anywhere between the upper and lower level marks means that the engine has sufficient oil to run without damage, but you should always try to keep the engine oil at or just below the upper mark. This is for two reasons: a greater quantity of oil means there is more fresh oil in the engine, but also, oil serves to cool the parts of the engine that water cannot get to. So oil actually plays two vital roles in the engine: lubrication and cooling.

Getting the oil to the correct level on the dip-stick can be a bit tricky, and you must be careful not to over-fill with oil – at best, the engine will blow the excess oil out through its breather pipes and into the air filter; at worst it can cause oil seals to pop and subsequently leak. Just keep adding a little more oil then let it settle for a minute before wiping off the stick and checking again. It helps to know that the see-through window on the side of the oil bottle is marked in 1/4 litre sections, so you know how much has already gone in to the engine. Don’t just pour 4.5 litres straight in there though, because there is always a little of the old oil still left behind in the engine.

Now it’s time to tidy up. Wipe off any oil that has spilled over the engine with kitchen paper and place it in a plastic bag with the old filter. I then tip the used oil into old plastic milk bottles ready to take to the recycling centre. Likewise with the newspaper and cardboard I have used. On no account must oil or anything contaminated with oil be dumped as household waste, or tipped down any drain. It must be disposed of properly.

That’s it now. Clean your tools, wash your hands, and go for a drive. Notice how the engine sounds smoother and pulls just that little bit more eagerly – you might almost think it’s saying thank you! And you just saved yourself a load of money, and put in the best oil! Enjoy…

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Source by Don Brooks

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Choosing the right catalytic converter for your car is increasingly recognised as one of the most important decisions you will make when maintaining your car. Whether you are looking to maximise performance, minimise fuel consumption or do your bit for the environment getting the right catalytic converter for you will save time, money and avoid the headaches of failing an MoT.

Here are some frequently asked questions about catalytic converters:

Why should I have a catalytic converter?

If your car was fitted after 1st August 1992 with a catalytic converter from new, you need to have one for the MoT. It needs to be in good working order to comply with the Government’s emissions legislation. The engine has been designed to work with a Cat and besides giving out toxic emissions, the performance will be reduced if your Cat is not working properly. You will fail the annual MoT if either it is not present or it is not in good working order.

Can I remove my Cat?

If your car was registered after 1st August 1992 you must have the Cat present and working for the MoT. Previously registered cars can have the Cat permanently removed.

Why do people want to remove their Cats?

Without a Cat the engine gives more power and reduced petrol consumption. You may remove the Cat for track / competition / display use, for example.

Why might my Cat fail?

Road Damage

The outside of the cat can be damaged by hitting solid objects in the road. ie, speed bumps, large rocks etc.

Plugged or contaminated

Plugged or contaminated catalytic converters are caused by the wrong sort of fuel in your car. Using leaded or lead replacement fuel will plug up the monolith and cause it to stop working. A similar thing will happen if fuel additives are used that are not suitable for use with a catalytic converter.

Melted / Broken substrate

A monolith is usually broken when it is impacted by an object or when it suffers a sudden change in temperature. If the catalytic converter suffers road damage (See section on road damage) the monolith inside can be cracked due to it being crushed by the movement on the steel can.

The use of exhaust paste before the catalytic converter can cause the monolith to break. When the exhaust paste has hardened, small pellets may break away and shoot into the catalytic converter. The monolith will gradually be destroyed by these pellets and break down. The catalytic converter can also be damaged by excessive engine vibration. Another possible cause of a fractured monolith is a sudden temperature change. (See number 7 in “Caring for your Catalytic Converter”)

The monolith can be melted when unburned fuel is injected into the catalytic converter. This can be caused by the car being bump or tow started, or if the car’s engine requires several turns before firing. More information can be found on this is the section on “Overheating”.

Overheating

There are many problems that can cause a catalytic converter to overheat or fail. The most common cause is unburned fuel entering the catalytic converter. Also faulty spark plugs and leads will cause the engine to misfire and ruin the catalytic converter. It will also be damaged if the distributor timing is out.

• Oxygen Sensor – An oxygen sensor collects and sends information to the Electronic Control Unit. This is used to control the fuel/air mix. If the oxygen sensor is faulty, or it has been contaminated with silicone from anti-freeze or sealant, he fuel/air mixture will not be corrected and excess fuel will enter the catalytic converter, causing it to overheat.
• Fuel injection systems – If a fuel injector is leaking internally or dribbling fuel into the engine the catalytic converter may be damaged. The excess fuel will enter the exhaust system and cause it to overheat. Due to the varying fuel injector systems the proper manual should always be consulted when trying to diagnose a problem.
• Map Sensors – Map sensors tell the Electronic Control Unit the load on the engine and the amount of air entering it. If this sensor fails it causes a rich condition in the engine, which can overheat the catalytic converter causing it to fail.
• Carburettor systems – A worn or defective carburettor can cause a catalytic converter to overheat. Problems such as improper float or air/fuel mix adjustments and worn metering rods can damage the catalytic converter. The choke system also needs to be operating properly so the right level of fuel enters the system. If too much fuel enters the system it will overheat and eventually fail.
• Canister Purge Valve Control – This vacuum operated valve vents fuel vapour from the carburettor bowl to the charcoal canister. If the vacuum is breached the charcoal canister will flood, causing the air/fuel mixture to become very rich. This will cause the catalytic converter to overheat and break down.

Noisy

A catalytic converter should not be considered to be a silencer although it does have some silencing qualities. Noise can be caused by excessive fuel getting into the catalytic converter.

What happens if my Cat fails?

If a catalyst fails it can block and the car will break down.

What does my Cat do?

Catalytic converters are specialist environmentally friendly devices fitted in the exhausts of vehicles which ensure that hydrocarbons are burnt off and that minimise the emission of harmful pollutants. Cars fitted with converters can use only unleaded petrol as the lead in leaded fuel poisons the converter and irreparably damages it.

Car manufacturers have ruled out the retrofitting of catalytic converters on older cars, saying that it could irreparably damage the converter, as vehicles which have been using leaded fuel for many years have lead deposits in their engines. On fitting with a catalytic converter, these deposits could poison the Cat and damage it permanently.

Unleaded fuel, when burnt, produces gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen, the latter three can be poisonous or carcinogenic. A Catalytic Converter, which is working correctly, creates a chemical reaction between these gases, which converts them to relatively harmless gases. It is critical for the environment that you have your Catalytic converter checked regularly to ensure it is functioning properly.

Catalytic converters fitted to vehicles can reduce toxic emissions (e.g. Carbon Monoxide, NO2, HC) by up to 90%. Catalytic converters do not reduce CO2 emissions.

Can I fit a Cat to a car which doesn’t have one?

If your engine ran on leaded petrol you cannot. The old deposits will poison the Cat.

How can I best care for my Cat?

There are several things you can do to ensure your ‘cat’ has a long and healthy life.

1. When fitting the catalytic converter, don’t use exhaust paste in front of the cat. When the exhaust paste hardens it can break off in chunks and damage the monolith. Paste can also block the monolith.
2. Always use the correct fuel for your car.
3. Never use a fuel additive without first reading the instructions to find out if it is suitable for use with a catalytic converter. If in doubt, contact the manufacturer of the additive.
4. Never attempt to bump or tow start your car. This causes unburned fuel to be injected into the catalytic converter, which makes the monolith overheat and melt.
5. Never tow anything that is too heavy for your vehicle to cope with. For example, an overloaded caravan will actually push a car along when it travels downhill. This sends unburned fuel into the exhaust system and can cause the monolith to melt down.
6. Have your car regularly serviced to your car makers specifications. In particular, make sure the engine is running properly. A poorly tuned engine can cause the monolith to break down or become covered in soot, which stops it working regularly.
7. Take care when driving through deep puddles, fords or parking when there has been heavy snowfall. The catalytic converter operates at an extremely high temperature, and when it comes into direct contact with water or snow it cools down more rapidly than the monolith, and in extreme circumstances the monolith can be crushed as the steel shell contracts.
8. Don’t park your car over long grass or anything similar. As the catalytic converter operates at such a high temperature it can actually set the grass on fire!
9. Drive slowly over speed bumps or very bumpy roads to reduce the chance of the exhaust system being grounded. This could cause impact damage to the catalytic converters.

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Source by J Freeman

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I must have the best summer weekend schedule of anyone I know. Well, except for my buddies who have pretty much the same weekend schedule that I do. I spend the entire week preparing for Friday evening, where I will pack up the truck, tighten down my Seadoo cover, hitch up the Seadoo trailer, and head out on my 2 hour drive up to the summer campsite destination. I have a small set of friends that share the same passion for Seadoo riding and camping that I do, so every year I look forward to a summer of good times relaxation at the lake.

On the lakes here in Ontario, summer is quite a long season relative to other places in Canada. I can start the camping season sometimes as early as May, although the Seadoo season is usually a little more bearable in June, all the way through to September. I seem to have the knack for convincing at least one more friend each year that this is the life, and they go out and find some camping gear and set themselves up with a Seadoo, trailer, life jacket, and often some pwc fishing gear.

The weekend begins immediately after work on Friday nights. The lake we’ve chosen this year is less than a two hour drive away, which is a perfect amount of time to unwind from work, listen to a couple of pod casts and some new tunes on my ipod, and just enjoy the drive. I generally have time when I arrive to unpack, setup, get the Seadoo out on the lake, and enjoy a quick trip to say hi to some other campers I know that are just arriving for the weekend as well. Getting back before dark means we can get supper started and end up eating our burgers by the light of the campfire.

Bright and early Saturday morning is my favorite part of the whole weekend. I make a quick pot of coffee, have a little snack, and grab my travel mug and fire up the Seadoo. My favorite alteration to my Seadoo has to be the bolt on coffee holder that I use for my super slow, check out the lake rides on Saturday morning. I get to see what’s been going on during the weekdays I’m not here, and sometimes if I get out early enough I turn off the engine and just float for a while enjoying the morning quiet out on the middle of the lake. After an hour or so I head back, and help make a huge camping breakfast, and really start the whole camping weekend.

My Seadoo ride on Saturday afternoon is definitely a different pace than my early morning trawl. I meet up with all my Seadoo buddies and we head out for a combination of touring, visiting other campsites, and we inevitably take part in some watercraft games and races. Wave jumping another Seadoo wake has to be my personal favorite. Although Seadooing in a group is tons of fun, I don’t want to fail to mention how important it is to keep your eyes open and follow some basic common sense and safety rules so your weekend isn’t ruined with an unnecessary accident.

Sunday morning is a sleep in day, but I always manage to get out on the lake for a ride before we fire up the BBQ for a late lunch. As long as I get the Seadoo out of the water before we put the grilled cheese sandwiches on the BBQ (yep, on the BBQ – my own invention!), it has time to dry out before I have to put the Seadoo covers on ready to trailer home. Keeping my Seadoo protected and covered is one of the biggest priorities for me, since this keep my watercraft in tip top shape for years of lake camping and riding my Seadoo. As sad as it is to go home on Sunday nights, I’m happy thinking that I’ll be out again next Friday, ready to do it all over again!

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Source by Josh Brodderick

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Commercial Vehicle Insurance:

A commercial vehicle is used for transporting products or travelers over the span of directing business. Obtaining business collision protection is a need in ensuring your property in case of a mischance. It will guarantee that your kin and items, and in addition the vehicle itself, are shielded from a significant number of the things that could transpire while out and about. Business accident protection will likewise give you true serenity that if something happens you can be repaid decently and have the capacity to settle or purchase another business vehicle with least cost to you. Having the correct vehicle protection could help in repairing the auto. It could likewise cover any wounds managed by the driver. Protection could likewise incorporate outsider harms that happen in a mischance.”

The sorts of vehicle insurance policy:

There are primarily two sorts of engine vehicle protection. One is obligation/act just arrangement; such kind of protection covers the danger of all outsiders who are harmed by the engine vehicle. This incorporates all outsider clients thumped around the vehicle furthermore inhabitants of business vehicles. Furthermore, the second sort of engine vehicle protection is exhaustive/bundle approach, which covers the above as well as tenants of private vehicles and the safeguarded vehicle itself.

How protection approaches help casualties?

The goal of such protection arrangements is to help the casualties and the lawful agents of the expired casualties to secure generous remuneration. The pay can be gotten just if the engine vehicle that was included in the mishap is guaranteed. On the off chance that the vehicles are not safeguarded, then recuperation of the pay is a particular probability. Hence, vehicle protection benefits both the mischance casualties and in addition the vehicle proprietors as they are spared of paying any remuneration out of their pocket.

It is essential for organizations to have business accident protection. This is particularly valid for those organizations that use trucks, vans and autos as the fundamental wellspring of pay for their business. With the vehicles dependably out and about, there might be occurrences where drivers can get into mishaps with different vehicles or in different events, the vehicle might be harmed because of outrageous climate conditions. With the correct business protection, you are certain to be shielded from these unexpected conditions.

Now and again, the harms done to a business vehicle is not the blame of the driver. This may happen when different drivers are not watchful or when a tree limb hits the vehicle. At the point when this happens, having business protection that covers the harms is extremely useful.

Business auto protection may cover auto obligation, scope for the representative that was driving the vehicle, doctor’s visit expenses in the event that somebody was harmed amid the mischance and different harms on the vehicle. You need to pick the correct kind of protection arrangement for the sort of business that you run. Getting auto protection is quite simple.

Reaching various operators could help you look at changed strategies offered by various organizations. You get distinctive rates relying upon the vehicle sort, the vehicle’s expected utilize etc. You can contract down which organizations and strategies you think may suit you best.

The most effective method to get the correct Premium:

Premium is a critical variable while selecting protection. Vicky elucidated, “It depends a great deal on the amount you can save all the time. The general thought however, is to get however much scope as could reasonably be expected from as meager premium paid as would be prudent.

Keep in mind to pick a business vehicle insurance agency that has a decent notoriety since you will work with them every now and then and not just when you have a claim. Check the rundown of different organizations that the organization gives protection to check whether they are sound.

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Source by Rao Rambuddi Kesava

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In this eighth of a 12 part series on horoscopes, we’re going to look at the second of what are called the fall signs, Scorpio the Scorpion.

People who are born between October 23 and November 22 are Scorpios. Their element is Water, their quality is Fixed, their energy is Yin, their rulers are Pluto and Mars, their colors are burgundy and black, their gem is Topaz, their main anatomical parts are the genitals, urinary and reproductive systems, their keywords are desire, transformation and desire, their Tarot suit is Cups and their Tarot Major Arcana card is Death.

Some famous celebrities who are Scorpios are Calista Flockhart, Jodie Foster, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Georgia O’Keeffe, Dan Rather, Winona Ryder and Hilary Clinton.

If you don’t know what a scorpion is, it’s a very dangerous creature that has a stinger that is poisonous and can kill you. Well, welcome to what you can expect from a Scorpio. This is without a doubt the most dangerous sign in the zodiac to get angry. If they like you, they really like you and will go to the ends of the Earth to make you happy. But get on their wrong side and they can turn on you as fast as Jose Reyes on the base paths. The verbal tirade that can come out of a Scorpio’s mouth can make a truck driver blush. Once they go off, you don’t want to be anywhere in the area.

Not all of Scorpio is fire and brimstone. Scorpios are very intense people. That intensity comes out in many forms, some of it very good. When they put their mind into doing something, they do it all the way or not at all. There is no such thing as moderation with a Scorpio. If they are into their careers then they live and breathe work every waking moment. If they are into hobbies, those hobbies become obsessions to the point of neglecting all else. Don’t even try to distract them when they are doing something. They won’t even know you’re in the room.

A Scorpio in love is in love and in lust. Sex is the most important thing to a Scorpio. Without it they would literally die. They will do anything and everything to please their mate and they expect the same in return. You better have a lot of energy to keep up with a Scorpio because they can go all day and all night with very little trouble at all. Their thirst for physical pleasure is almost unquenchable. And while a Scorpio can see right through you, they will rarely reveal their deepest emotions to you.

Scorpios, as far as work goes, tend to get a little restless. They have a constant need for change, which is why a Scorpio will have many jobs during their life. If they can find a career that requires doing something different everyday or new challenges on a regular basis, they can be content in one place. But this is rare for the Scorpio.

Scorpios are very intense and have long memories when wronged. But they can be the most loyal friend that you’ll want to have.

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Source by Michael Russell

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Ford Taurus X among 7 seater Cars

We all know that Ford was the first company to manufacture a car. But do you know a 7 seater car that is manufactured by Ford? Taurus X is a 7 seater car from Ford. This particular car belongs to a category called crossover SUV. This car was first developed by Ford Motors in USA in the year 2005. Since then, this car has been famous in its category and can comfortably seat 6-7 people. This car came into existence more because of the lack of sufficient space for a big family. People used to cram inside a small hatchback which is supposed to be only for less than 5 people. Ever since these 7 seater cars have been rolled out to streets, all the medium and big families have begun to prefer this.

Styling of Ford Taurus X

Ford Taurus X which is among the few good 7 seater cars, implements a style of seating arrangement called the freestyle. In this arrangement, the 7 seats are laid out in 3 rows, such that the driver has the maximum visibility of both front and back view of road. And this arrangement also makes sure that entry and exit of the passengers are very smooth. With this arrangement, the car gets a higher H point which is always safe for the car. Ford Taurus was launched in order to replace its older competitor Taurus Station, and Taurus X did that job well.

Design Factors of Ford Taurus X

Ford Taurus X was a 7 seater car built on the concept of Ford D3. Ford Taurus X uses a Duratec V6 engine of capacity 3 liter and can output a maximum of 203 hp at 5750 rpm. Taurus implements the CVT technology (Continuously Variable Transmission) in its engine which makes it even more popular.

Taurus has many power options such as power folded seats and also provides power lift gates. Even though Taurus is no more in production against the other 7 seater cars, it comes out to be a great 7 seater car in the market even to this day. It will be a good choice if you decide to buy one, if at all you get a good deal out there in market. Having said that, it might be a little difficult for you to find a new Taurus in the Ford showroom. But for sure you’d find at least one of it somewhere in the local showroom, or in the online car store.

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Source by Sameer A M

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The installation of a GPS car tracking system will enable you to follow the movement or check the location of any car fitted with the device. There are two forms of car tracking devices; passive and real time GPS tracking.

Passive devices simply keep a log of the vehicles status, direction and speed, which are saved to a memory chip. These can be retrieved at some later time and used to analyse and monitor the driver’s performance or to optimise a vehicles route.

Real time devices signal the location of the vehicle via a satellite link to the GPS database every 5 minutes and the user can access this information directly over the Internet. It is able to give accurate positional information for any vehicle fitted with a relaying device.

There are a wide variety of uses for which these GPS trackers can be used.

1. Security companies to check locations of personnel and work vehicles, ideal for use by banking and financial institutions.

2. Management of fleet vehicles, cars, buses, vans or lorries, such as taxis, ambulances or couriers.

3. Rental Car monitoring, checking on mileage and location of rented cars for pickup.

4. Ideal for use by courier delivery so both customer or company can keep track of parcels and delivery vans.

5. Personal vehicles to track their movements or recovery if they are stolen.

6. Insurance companies or sales personnel to monitor mileage and locations.

7. Management and location of critical response teams, whether security, rescue or medical teams.

There is also the possibility of connecting a “help or panic” button to the system, which will send out an alert if there is a sudden problem, break down or security breach, thus initiating a response team.

Passive systems are not as responsive and serve more as a record of an automobiles journey, daily use or weekly trips. They can record such parameters as speed, direction and time but are only accessible once the GPS tracker’s memory chip is retrieved.

These types of GPS devices are used both as open monitoring systems for company performance and statistics and as part of covert undercover, surveillance jobs where tracking an individuals movements or a cars journey is important. In either case the devices are small and unobtrusive and easily concealed within the body or underside of a vehicle. These can be simply traced with a simple call from a mobile phone and the GPS tracker will send a message back broadcasting its position.

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Source by Alex Hunt

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Do you know what a bull bar is? Many SUVs have bull bars on the front of their vehicles in an effort to protect their cars and their passengers in the event of a collision with an animal.

What Do They Look Like?

A bull bar is a device that is fitted on the front of the SUV. It does not come standard on the vehicle, it is added to the vehicle. These bars vary in size and shape, however they are usually made out of welded steel or aluminum tubing.

Why Are They Controversial?

In the UK and the rest of Europe bull bars remain controversial. Although many claim that these devices are helpful at preventing injuries, reports indicate that they actually cause many deaths. On average, over 2,000 people in Europe die as a result of a collision with a bull bar and an additional 18,000 people are seriously injured.

Pedestrians

The major people that seem to be at risk when it comes to these common bars are pedestrians. Because the majority of them are constructed of metal, if they were to be hit by a car with a them attached, their injuries could be fatal. However, some people argue that the new technology of the these bars is safer for pedestrians. Yet, if this is true, than how could they still be effective at preventing collisions with animals?

Do They Make Cars Safe?

While there may be some potential benefits to using a bull bar on your car, the costs seem to outweigh them in this situation. The research seems to show that motorists can injure the lives of others on the road when they drive with thesel bars on their car. It is not safe or fair to the other drivers on the road because the metal does not crash well and can do serious harm to others on the road including pedestrians.

When They Make Sense?

Why then do people use these bars if they are not safe? The truth is they make sense for some cases. If you do a lot of off road driving and you may be at risk for running into animals, then you should place a bull bar on your SUV. However, if you are going to be driving around the streets of England, then you will be risking the lives of others by driving with a bars like this on your car. Therefore, try to think before you act. Remember, you are not the only person on the road and part of being a good driver means taking responsibility for not only yourself but also the others on the road. This is a decision that every good driver makes daily. You can do it as well. Good luck.

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Source by Tom Sangers

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The Nissan 300ZX Twin-Turbo has one of the most powerful engines created for the best Nissans.The VG30DETT has huge amounts of potential. This engine is putting out 300hp and almost 290 foot Lbs. of torque stock! The twin turbocharged and inter-cooled engine lacks very little. Read on to find the 5 most cost effective modifications to give you the most horsepower for your hard earned dollar!

#5

Throttle body modification:

The throttle body modification isn’t going to be the biggest gain in hp in the world, but the best part is, it’s FREE! In case you missed that, yes, its completely free! All you need for this modification is a metal file or a 10mm wrench (depending on what year 300zx). All you have to do is simply remove a nut or a bump of molded aluminum that is sitting right by your throttle cable. This bump or nut is preventing your throttle from being able to open completely. By allowing it to open completely you’ve increased your air flow which increases your horse power.

#4

Upgraded air filter:

An upgraded air filter is the most basic of all modifications. Adding a higher flow filter is going to allow your Nissan cars [http://www.jdm-4u.com/nissan_cars.htm] engine to consume a much larger amount of oxygen then the stock air box. Imagine attempting to run a mile while using a straw to breath. It’s not a lot different for your car if you modify the car and not the air filter.

#3

Upgraged exhaust system:

An upgraded exhaust system is the same concept as upgrading your air filter. All the air that is being consumed by the engine needs to be evacuated. The problem that many people run into is they go about doing this the completely wrong way. BIGGER IS NOT BETTER! Having an exhaust that is to large for your car is actually going to hurt your 300zx’s performance. You should have no more than a 3 inch system unless you plan on running somewhere around 1000hp! This problem is somewhat obvious, but one that very few people think of; the bigger exhaust drops exhaust temperatures considerably. Having a lower temperature means the air traveling through the exhaust system is going to be much heavier and thus harder to move, which hurts your engines performance. Installing the correct exhaust size is going to give you the correct temperature of exhaust and will evacuate the air effectively. Contrary to what many think, a car doesn’t actually lose horse power because it has a large exhaust because of a loss of back pressure. It looses horsepower with a large exhaust because of turbulence and the cold dense air.

#2

Upgraded computer chip:

An upgraded computer chip is one of the easiest modifications. Upgrading the chip will enrich the fuel curve. This gives your car a bit more fuel to support the added power. Some also say it will help cool the pistons. In addition to the added fuel, the JWT chip maximizes the engine’s ignition timing and also tunes the cam timing. Most of the chips out there will have a couple additional features like raising the rev-limiter 200 rpm, and eliminating the top speed governor. Having an aftermarket ECU is nice because of the ease of calibration for future modifications like higher boost levels.

#1

Boost controller or boost jets:

Boost controllers and boost jets are the recommended way to increasing your boost pressure. Adding a boost controller essentially tricks your waste gates, waste gates vent boost allowing the car to just run at 8 psi. The boost controller or boost jets trick the waste gates into thinking that there is less boost than there really is meaning you will have a quicker spool up time and a large increase in total boost pressure. Boost pressure equals power. Running higher boost pressure is only capable after an ECU upgrade. Investing in a turbo timer is also a good idea when running higher than stock boost, as a turbo timer will help cool your turbos when its time to shut down.

There are many other upgrades to the 300zx but this will get you down the road with the least pain to your pocket!

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Source by Taylor Bamber

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The Parrot 9200 and Bury 9060 are both excellent hands free car kits. These two systems are similarly priced however they are great in different ways. When it comes to choosing between them you need to know the strong points of each, and then ask yourself, “What do I most want?”

The Bury Car Kit

With the Bury car kit its all about the touchscreen. The 2.8in superb quality TFT screen responds to the lightest of touches for call handling and menu selection.

Realistically each Bury 9060 needs a flat surface for mounting. Sometimes there is an ideal place for this one-piece kit. Either to the left or right of the steering wheel allowing it to be easily seen, and touched without strain.

Both the Bury and Parrot Bluetooth car kits will automatically synchronise phone book contacts. The Bury display will show the name of the person calling, as long as that number is in your phone’s address book. Typical phone details are also shown including battery remaining, signal strength and one or two phone connection.

Unlike the Parrot 9200 the Bury comes with a hard case. Practically, not sure if anybody would need to take off the screen, but when you open the box for the first time it feels like a high quality device.

Parrot Bluetooth Car Kit

The MKi Parrot Bluetooth car kit is very easy to use and comes with music playing options.

The separate remote control can either be strapped to the steering wheel or mounted again on the dash. When it comes to everyday use the Parrot 9200 remote’s ‘twiddle’ button makes menu selection and call handling very easy. This two piece kit also gives more mounting options for the screen, allowing it to be placed higher up towards the driving view of the car, and in a more central location.

The 9200 features a high resolution TFT colour screen capable of displaying music album covers. Unlike the Bury car kit it is also capable of photo ID, and by saving a picture you can see the face of who’s calling.

A great benefit of this kit is the music playing input leads. It comes with iPod, USB and 3.5mm leads usually fitted in the glove box. You need to buy the more expensive Bury 9060 Music kit to get a similar input and even then you only get a single iPod lead. Having a USB lead also means that software updates are easier.

Comparing Bury 9060 with Parrot 9200

When it comes to comparing the Bury 9060 with the Parrot 9200 it is a matter of personal preference. The Parrot Bluetooth car kit is best for ease of use and music play and the Bury car kit has a great touchscreen. You also need to consider the layout of your car as sometimes it comes down to, “What will fit best in my car?”

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Source by J A Patel