Page 6 - 2015 Car Care

6C – Friday, April 17, 2015 – El Dorado NEWS-TIMES
Aftermarket offers ways to modernize aging car
(NAPSI)—New cars offer the latest in infotainment, safety and convenience but what if you aren’t in the market for a new ride? Fortunately, there are many aftermarket products that can add value to a car you’ve already paid off, and are often more advanced than factory-installed fea- tures on the road today.
“The aftermarket offers an array of options for car and truck owners,” said Chris Kersting, pres- ident and CEO of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). The trade asso- ciation represents the $33 billion automotive spe- cialty equipment industry that includes thousands of products that are available to enhance a vehicle’s styl- ing, performance, comfort and convenience. “Install these items into your older vehicle and you’ll have all the latest technologies to enhance your driving—and your passengers’—experi- ence.”
Bluetooth
Integrating wireless functionality from your phone and other devices is an easy way to add con- venience and, most impor- tantly, a safer hands-free experience to your daily
drive.
The simplest and least
expensive option is a stand- alone universal Bluetooth kit that works with any car stereo and comes with a small speaker and micro- phone. This option does not require any modifi- cations but is limited to hands-free calling only.
A New Receiver/ Head Unit
The best option for add-
ing Bluetooth calling and streaming is to purchase a new stereo with this tech- nology built in. If music is your major motivation, you won’t have to retire your old CDs, as there are plen- ty of units that still offer a disc player as well as a USB port to connect with your phone or with a por- table drive for MP3/WMA playback, and an auxiliary input for universal connec- tivity.
Sound
Now that your trusty transportation has some new hands-free audio fea- tures, it’s probably time to upgrade the sound qual- ity in your ride. Go for speakers that fit in your car’s pre-existing mounts, and add an amplifier and subwoofer for a clear and dynamic audio experience. Make sure you match your
new speakers to the cor- rect speaker wire for peak performance.
Heads Up Display (HUD)
Aftermarket Heads Up Display (HUD) units mount to the dashboard in front of the steering wheel and project data onto a transparent screen or a transparent film mounted on the windshield in your line of sight. This allows you to receive turn-by-turn navigation, vehicle speed information, and lane guid- ance instructions while keeping your eyes on the
road.
Portable Navigation Device
Smartphones offer plen- ty of navigation options, but the latest portable navigation devices (PND) go beyond simple driv- ing directions. PNDs offer voice command, spoken direction, large screens, and real-time traffic updates. Many units even
search points of interest from Yelp, Google, Trip- Advisor and more.
Blind Spot Monitoring
Relatively new even in the lat- est vehicles, blind spot monitoring systems detect cars that may be out of your line of sight. The kit relies on two front and two rear sensors mounted to the bumper that work together to detect a vehicle in your blind spot, and an LED display inside your vehicle lights
up on the appropriate side when one is detected. An audible alarm will then sound if you then signal and intend to change lanes.
Rearview Camera
Rearview cameras help drivers see what is behind them when the car is in reverse. A complete setup includes a camera mount- ed to the rear of the vehi- cle, a receiver, and a dis-
play mounted on the dash- board. Major manufactur- ers of aftermarket head units offer camera add-on packages to their receiv- ers with in-dash display, and some GPS units offer the add-on as well, making the update inexpensive and easy to install.
Vehicle Tracking and Telematics
There are a few products that offer detailed infor- mation about your vehicle via real-time notifications from your smartphone, including driving habits, fuel, engine and battery monitoring, and engine trouble code translation. The device will even send mobile alerts when the car arrives at a certain location, travels beyond a preset GPS “fence” or exceeds a specified speed limit...ideal for anyone who wants to keep tabs on their 10-year-old car when oth- ers are behind the wheel.
To learn more about prod- ucts and accessories to mod- ernize your car or truck, visit www.semaignited.com.
Stocking a vehicle’s roadside emergency repair kit essential
Whether due to the struggling econo- my or an increased desire to live a more environmentally-conscious life, many of the nation's drivers are exploring ways in which they can conserve fuel. While riding a bicycle to work or taking public transportation are both reliable means to conserving fuel, there are many other ways to do so as well.
• Don't accelerate too quickly. Accelerating too quickly from a dead stop taxes the engine and requires more fuel as a result.
• Don't overfill the gas tank. When filling your tank, stop once you hear the first click at the pump. Overfilling will simply lead to spillover.
• Empty the trunk. It might be con- venient to keep your golf clubs in the trunk, but that excess weight could be forcing your engine to work harder and use more fuel as a result.
• Close the windows when driving at higher speeds. When the windows are open at high speeds, that added air drag is reducing your vehicle's fuel efficien-
cy substantially.
• Don't idle too long in the mornings
to "warm up" the vehicle. In general, a vehicle does not need more than 60 seconds of warming up to be able to operate efficiently.
• Don't rev the engine like you're driv- ing a race car. Revving the engine need- lessly wastes fuel and can even lead to engine damage.
• Maintain your vehicle. Older filters make it harder for an engine to run at maximum efficiency, so stick to the rec- ommended maintenance schedule.
• Don't keep winter, or snow, tires on your vehicle once the weather has warmed up. Deep tire tread might help you navigate your way along snow-cov- ered roads in the winter, but that deep tread also makes the engine work hard- er to keep a car running smoothly, and that extra work uses up more fuel.
• Keep tires properly inflated. Poorly inflated tires lead to drag that makes the engine work harder and use more fuel.
Regardless of a vehicle's age, a roadside emergen- cy can occur at any time. Drivers should be prepared with a basic kit of tools and equipment to get the car back on the road as soon as possible.
At the very least, a road- side emergency can be an a minor inconvenience. At the worst, it can com- promise the safety of the driver and passengers. Anything from a blown- out tire to an overheated engine can necessitate pulling over for a quick fix. Having the right tools can make the process go far more smoothly and help drivers avoid the seeming- ly endless wait for service personnel to arrive.
Stocking a roadside repair kit requires some necessities. It's also a good idea to routinely check the stock of the kit to be sure everything is in working order.
Here are the items to keep on hand.
First aid kit: Handling major or minor emergen- cies may require a first aid kit to mend scratches, abrasions or minor burns. Become familiar with the kit before it is needed.
Cellular phone: It's never a good idea to talk on a cell phone while driv- ing. However, a mobile phone can prove invaluable if there is an emergency. Simply call for assistance instead of having to seek out a phone or flag down a motorist.
Flares or warning light:
A breakdown at night or when visibility is poor can be dangerous. Keep a warning light, caution tri- angle or flares in the trunk to illuminate the location of the vehicle.
Inflated spare tire:
Always keep a spare tire on hand, as tire blowouts
or leaks tend to be one of the most common causes of breakdowns. Be sure to have a tire iron, jack, and lug wrench.
Spare fuses: A burnt-out fuse may be responsible for an electrical problem. Replacing the fuse is an easy fix.
Jumper cables: A dead battery can be revived with jumper cables, provided another car is available to offer the jump. A portable battery booster is another handy tool in case there are no other cars to recharge the battery.
• Flashlight: This simple tool can be invaluable at night, especially if keys or tools are dropped.
• Gloves, cleaner and
rags: Cars are full of oils, fluids and grease. That means even a simple repair can get a person dirty.
• Pen and paper: Ideal for leaving a note or taking down information in the event of an accident. A dis- posable camera can also be handy to take photos of an accident scene.
• Money: When travel- ing, always carry cash for emergencies. Not every place takes credit or debit cards.
• Snacks and water: A roadside emergency may mean some time spent stranded. Keep a stash of non-perishable items in the car to alleviate hun- ger pangs and keep riders quenched.
Take time to conserve fuel
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