GPS Tracking for Vehicles - The Future is Now

When it comes to GPS, most people think of mapping and navigation, and perhaps of sports like geocaching. While those are the most popular uses, GPS also has other applications, and some of them are downright amazing. Did you know, for example, that GPS can be used for tracking vehicles both for personal and for business use?

Think about it; the implications can be enormous. With GPS alone, you always know where you are, but a GPS tracking system also lets you know where your vehicle is at any given time even if you are not in it. How does it work? A GPS vehicle tracking device consists of a GPS receiver, a cell phone, and a variety of sensors. The tracking device therefore a) knows where it is, b) can call or respond to calls, and c) can perform certain actions in response to a call, to its location, or to a condition. It's a wonder of the new millennium, plus it gives you the security you desire.

After all, personal use of a GPS vehicle tracking system essentially means adding safety and security to your vehicle. You can, for example, program a "geofence" around the vehicle. If it is stolen, it will alert you via call, email, or computer message as to its location. It is a very effective anti-theft system as the starter can be remotely disabled, the alarm triggered, or the doors locked. Parents of teenage drivers may simply want to track and enforce vehicle use. A web-based application will show where the vehicle is, provide satellite photos of the location, report when geographic boundaries are exceeded, and also report speed and top speeds. In addition, if someone gets locked out, the system can unlock the doors or start the engine.

Business use of GPS vehicle tracking has even greater benefits. Intelligent fleet monitoring can absolutely revolutionize the way a business is run. In addition to theft protection, business owners and dispatchers know at any time where their vehicles are, what routes they have run, what the odometer reading is, and whether they are being used according to plan and policy. One system we looked at, called Millennium Plus, not only provides vehicle location on a map, geofences, remote alarms and door unlocking, but also detailed history reports that can show hourly usage, violations, speeding, or many other parameters. But even that is not all. Special sensors can retrieve information from the OBDII onboard diagnostics system. OBDII tracks dozens of vehicle functions, and that data could be used to provide fuel efficiency data, warn of potential vehicle failures or manage maintenance requirements.

If all this sounds enormously complicated, it's not. Installation of a GPS vehicle tracking system is inherently no more difficult than that of a car audio system. Setting up the web-based tracking reports is simple as well, and can be done both for individual as well as multiple vehicles.

How much does it cost? That depends on the type and system. A typical GPS tracking device can cost little more than a fancy smartphone. Usage is generally charged in a similar way to cell phones, but even comprehensive plans cost less than a basic phone plan. That's a very small price to pay for theft protection and peace of mind if used on a personal vehicle, and potentially dramatic savings and increased efficiency in a commercial fleet monitoring tracking system.

Driver's Guide to Run Flat Tires

Automakers have been relentless in their pursuit of improved driver safety. Most of us think of driver safety with regard to lane change warning systems, smart cruise control, and similar technologies. Our wheels receive little to no attention. Run-flat tires help keep motorists safe by preventing their being stranded with a blowout.

They debuted in the early 1990s on Corvettes. Unfortunately, because the wheels were expensive and required costly pressure-monitoring systems, they failed to penetrate the broad automotive market. Car manufacturers have since discovered opportunities to lower production costs. They have been able to offer the technology to consumers for a price far lower than what was possible a decade ago.

In this article, I'll explain how run-flats work and how their pressure is monitored. I'll also describe the pros and cons of using this type of tire.

How Pressure Is Monitored

Run-flat tires are designed with powerful sidewalls which can support your vehicle even in the event of a puncture. This type of wheel is resistant to deflation. Because they can support your car, they all but eliminate the need to pull over to the side of the road and install a spare. The challenge is knowing when a puncture or blowout has occurred.

Two different systems are used to monitor the pressure: direct and indirect. The former relies on a sensor and battery installed within each wheel. When the pressure declines, the sensor delivers an alert to your vehicle's instrument panel. The indirect monitoring system works a little differently. It relies on the sensors that are already integrated within your anti-lock brakes to monitor speed. If a variance in speed is identified, the sensor delivers a warning.

Advantages And Potential Drawbacks

First, the drawbacks. Though prices have declined over the last several years, run-flats are still relatively expensive. The technology that allows the sidewalls to support your vehicle is costly. So too, are the pressure-monitoring systems. Another disadvantage is that retrofitting them onto a vehicle that was once fitted with conventional tires can lead to a harsher ride. The impact of the road is more prevalent.

The advantages include improved driver safety (noted above) and not needing to stock a spare. Because these tires prevent a blowout or puncture from stranding you, there's no need to carry the spare. That translates into less travel weight, which increases your car's fuel efficiency.

How Much Will It Cost?

Current prices for retrofitting an older vehicle vary. The systems used to monitor the wheel pressure can cost up to $400 (that includes having the system installed). The tires range in price between $150 and $400, depending upon the brand and quality. Given that they should last four to five years, the investment in your safety may be worthwhile.

Run-flats will likely become an industry standard. That means prices will continue to plummet and over the next several years, a growing number of vehicles will have them installed at the factory.

What Can a Supercharger Conversion Do For a Car?

If you're looking for serious performance enhancement and more speed and power out of your 3800 then the way to go is get yourself a supercharger kit. A supercharger kit includes all the important parts that you would need in order to give your 3800 a supercharger conversion; and you can do it all in just one weekend with the proper kit.

Basically, a supercharger kit would contain the parts that you would use for the 3800. You get a pair of heads, fuel injectors and fuel rails because you need to have fuel injection system installed before supercharging (however some newer aspirated cars would need fuel injector adaptors), a pair of 3.8" pulleys, lower intake manifold, valve covers, MAP sensor, coil bracket and of course supercharger and a throttle body. And a kit would also include all the bolts, vacuum lines and other parts and accessories that you would need to put it all together in your very own garage. However, some kits wouldn't come with gaskets and bolts and some other smaller accessories. These kits are recommended only for those with the proper experience and knowledge because they can source these parts correctly. But if you are not an experienced builder and you do not have access to these smaller parts and accessories fret not, because you can also purchase an installation kit complete with all the smaller parts that you need to give your car a supercharger conversion in a few days. These installation kits include the supercharger gasket, a pair of head gaskets, fuel injector O-rings among others. Also, you would need to purchase a belt available in any parts store. The proper size is 6 rib 68" belt.

If you plan to enter your 3800 in a race circuit or street racing then it is best to supercharge it first. If you have the proper knowledge in installing these parts and you know your way around the block then you can purchase your own supercharger kit and you can install it yourself in just a few days. If however, you do not have the knowledge and skills for this, then it is best to buy the parts either one by one or by kit and have someone install it for you. But be warned, supercharging is not cheap. It could set you back around £2500 to £4000 depending on who will install it and how you would acquire the parts. But the resulting performance could be well worth all the time, money and effort put into the project.

Using a Wireless Rear View Camera System For Cars

If you are the type of individual who finds it rather difficult reversing your vehicle, then a perfect solution is to use a wireless rear view camera system. These devices are designed to let you see exactly what is behind you by using a camera that mounts on the back of your vehicle. There is then a monitor which gets installed on the dashboard so you can see where you are going.

This is rather beneficial for numerous reasons especially if you drive a big car like a truck, van or an SUV where it can be difficult to see what is behind you. While you can use your rear view mirror or turn your head, sometimes it is simply not enough. For example, there could be an object or even a child behind you that you will not be able to see just with conventional methods.

Using a car backup camera will let you see when you are reversing your vehicle so you can do so safely without having to worry about hitting something. While these devices can be commonly found on luxury brand vehicles, you can easily purchase them for just about any car. Best of all, they are much more affordable than you think so you can find great deals by shopping online.

When choosing a rear view camera system to purchase, always be sure to choose from a trusted brand so you know you are getting a quality product. While there are many generic brands available, just remember that you get what you pay for. You might want to also choose those devices that come with a parking sensor that will alert you if you are coming too close to an object.

This is extremely beneficial for those tight spaces as the last thing you would want is to an object or even another car. Doing so can really increase your monthly insurance premium so using these devices is definitely a good idea as they are very much affordable. Another factor to consider is how they install as you probably would want a wireless unit as they are much easier to install.

The good thing about those wireless units is that you can also be able to use transfer them between vehicles for added convenience. A majority of accidents actually occur in a parking lot where a lot of individuals are often times just not careful when they are backing up. Using a rear view camera system can really help to reduce such accidents from occurring as they can be rather costly.

HHO Gas Conversion Kit - Free Plans

I was quite surprised to find out that the technology existed that would allow you to create a burnable fuel out of water to increase your gas mileage. I was also surprised to find out that people were already using this technology and that you could build your own hydrogen generator for under $65.

I checked around for guides on how to do this and soon discovered that the technology is public domain meaning anyone could utilize and capitalize on this cool way to generate free fuel.

I tracked down a set of free plans but I guess you get what you pay for. The instructions were not very clear and there was no parts list and the generator was very basic and did not produce any measurable amount of hydrogen gas, or HHO.

It was a learning curve though, kind of an introduction to this technology and I encourage you to give it a try if you want. I'd recommend purchasing a guide as they aren't expensive and you'll have much better results.

If you are new to this technology, then let me give you an over view of the process. Basically you are creating a burnable fuel known as HHO, or Brown's gas that you then inject into your car's engine along with the gas you already use.

This creates a cleaner burning fuel that burns more readily and also allows your engine to run cooler, cleaner and with increased power.

You create this HHO gas through electrolysis. You simply use a small amount of power from your car's battery and rip the water molecule apart giving you two bonded hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

This leaves you with a burnable fuel that is clean and safe to use. Water contains about three times the amount of energy as an equivalent amount of gas so you actually use very little water...one gallon giving you about 900 miles.

There are a lot of ways you can build your hydrogen generator and you will have some technical questions so I recommend you go ahead and buy a set of plans. You won't get any support from the free set.

You won't see this technology promoted by the government because it would be difficult to tax the heck out of water. Just a theory floating about but seems to be true. I know this works because I built my own hydrogen generator and cut my gas bill by 35%.

There are thousands of people all over the world who are getting 50 -100% increases in their gas mileage and I'm working towards that goal myself.

Men and Their Cars

I can't offer you a scientific explanation for the mysterious chemistry that there is between men and their cars because, I'm a man. But there is something about getting behind the wheel of a powerful monster that brings out the boy racer in nearly very bloke I know and no, it's nothing to do with the er...extension theory. In my mind I think it's more about control.

Let's face it, although most men won't admit it there's a not a lot that your average adult male has the better of. If they think they wear the trousers in their household, they're mistaken. And I'll let you into a secret, most men know this. And we know that our wives know too. And we know that we are given this illusion of control, courtesy of our other halves, just to keep us happy.

Let's face it a lot has changed since the good old Stone age times when men were really men. Now, I'm afraid to say, we've nothing to do. There's no competition. There's nothing to test our mettle against. In other words there's no real meaning to our existence anymore. When the dinosaurs became extinct I'm afraid, so did we. No dinosaurs - no real men. So it's obvious isn't it?

There's only one beast still around that we can test ourselves against and I don't mean our wives. I'm talking about the combustion engine. Put it on wheels and what do you get, that's right, the motor car. A monster of our own making that we must tame, that we must control, that we can take to the limit daring it to fight back, and of course, sometimes it does. So there's your answer, an element of risk. That's what we men need in our sad little lives, an element of risk. Just like when we hunted the dinosaur club in hand. An element of risk that sometimes, just sometimes, ended with fatal consequences.

Ah...the good old days. Grrr.

Ian

Things to Know Before You Lower Your Car

You have now decided that you want to lower your car body. It could be because you like that low racing look or perhaps you want a lower center of gravity. This would give you better handling.

For whatever reason you decided to lower your car there are a few things that you should understand before you begin. I will be discussing the common methods of lowering a car, and not the hydraulic mechanisms you find in "low riders".

There are at least three different approaches you can use to achieve your goal.

First is the simplest and the least expensive called cutting. You know that springs control how high the body of the car is from the ground. So if you remove the springs and cut a piece off of each spring you will have reduced the height of the body. One thing than many people who do this do not appreciate is that the factory spring is a progressive spring. That is each part of the spring deforms at a different rate. This allows the initial small movements of the spring to be soft in nature, and the greater the spring compresses the harder it becomes. As you compress the spring the top coils touch and no longer offer any tension.  When you cut the top off of your springs you have now removed some of the progressive capability. You will now experience a harder ride and become more aware of small bumps and dips in the road. You will also compress your shock absorbers, which we will discuss in the next section.

If you still want the progressive spring rate that came with your car, you might choose aftermarket lowering springs. These will still give you good daily performance and also give you much higher performance when you are driving very hard. This is of course a more expensive solution than the first one, but it is a safer and better solution. One thing to keep in mind is your shock absorbers. These were designed to be at a neutral position with the standard body height. This allowed them to expand when a wheel drops into a hole or compress when the wheel hits a bump and jumps up. When you use shorter springs, the shock is now in a constant compressed state. Since it was not designed with this in mind, you may find the life of your shocks shorter than normal. So you might have to purchase new shocks after your new springs.

The last typical approach is to purchase a kit which contains both shorter springs and special shocks designed to work with them. This is the most expensive initial approach, but the one I would recommend if you want to do the job right.

The last thing to consider is how much to lower your car. Too much and you might have the tires rub on the body. Too much and you could find that the font end now hits the street on sharp dips in the road. So don't go overboard. One to two inches are more common lowering amounts.

Winterize Your Car

Fall is in the air, and football season is in full swing. Halloween is right around the corner. That means it's time to think about getting your vehicle ready for the winter. Whether you live in California or Massachusetts, Georgia or Indiana, it's a good idea to winterize your car. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

o Check your wiper blades. Cold weather can be tough on windshield wipers. Freezing temperatures can cause the rubber wiper blades to crack and become less effective. Change your wiper blades if necessary, and make sure you have plenty of windshield fluid.

o Take a look at your tires. Depending on where you live, you may face more challenging road conditions during the winter, including snow and frozen rain. You'll want to make sure your tires grip the road, so check for wear on the tire treads. In some climates, you may want to consider snow tires.

o Monitor antifreeze levels. It's important to have the appropriate levels of antifreeze to protect your radiator. You can ask your auto service technician to check your antifreeze levels. Or you can purchase a tester at an auto parts store and check it yourself.

o Make sure you have the right oil. Some auto manufacturers recommend using a lower viscosity oil in very cold climates. Check your auto owner's manual or ask your service technician if this applies to your car.

o Carry a cold weather kit. If it snows where you live, it's important to make sure you carry an ice scraper in your car. A snow brush is also a good idea. Some savvy winter drivers also carry emergency supplies such as extra gloves, a heavy coat or blanket and sand or gravel to gain traction on icy roads.

No matter where you live, it's important to get your car ready for the upcoming winter. These tips can help you get started.

HHO Conversion Kit - Create Brown's Gas to Run Your Car on Water

Is it possible to run your car on water? To actually build a homemade device that can safely separate water molecules into their core components and make a burnable fuel known as HHO, or Brown's Gas to power your car with water?

Technically speaking, you are turning your car into a water burning hybrid where you still use standard gasoline or diesel fuel. Although you do not have to modify your car's engine or computer, the conversion kit is a powerful addition to your vehicle.

Your on-demand hydrogen generator can be built for under $65 and with parts found locally. The technology is proven safe and effective and many people are getting amazing gas mileage increases.

25-35% seems to be the increases most people get on their first attempts at building their own hydrogen generators...which is nothing to sneeze at. You can increase this by using modulating current, bypassing the oxygen sensor, installing a fuel heater, etc.

There is a lot you can do yourself to increase your gas mileage despite the efforts the auto-makers and the tax hungry government have gone to to prevent it.

I can't afford a new hybrid vehicle and I'm certainly not looking forward to the development of hydrogen fuel cells that basically pack explosive hydrogen gas in tanks under thousands of pounds of pressure and put a seat on top of it. No thanks!

But I can afford the few dollars it takes to build a hydrogen generator and feel good that I'm making a difference in my life and that of my kids. More money in my pocket because of lower gas bills means more food in my children's tummies.

The improved gas mileage is great but the improved engine performance and documented extension of my car's engine life is an added bonus, not to mention the emissions are better for the environment.

Fuel Economy Dispute Looms Auto Industry

Automakers face their biggest challenge in 16 years as the Senate taps efficiency rules. As the dispute between automakers and lawmakers continues, the industry becomes increasingly gloomy. Vagueness and rage loom like dark clouds trying to blur the entire system.

The dispute...
The drive to hike fuel efficiency standards obtained a dramatic step forward likened to the performance of EBC Redstuff last Tuesday when a Senate committee approved a 40 percent raise over the next decade. Democrats vowed to hold a full Senate vote sometime next month on the bill. The latter mandates all auto manufacturers to increase the average fuel economy of their vehicle fleets to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 and this is a move that the automakers denounced as unrealistic.

The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee, making it the first fuel economy bill to pass that hurdle since 1991. The move prepares the stage for a major dispute over new rules that could cost automakers tens of billions of dollars.

In the past six months, automakers have seen the ground shift beneath them on fuel economy because of fluctuating gas prices, the war in Iraq, calls for energy independence, and increasing concerns about climate change. These factors dragged away supporters who have long helped Detroit automakers fight for tougher standards.

Dave McCurdy, the head of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group that represents the General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG, the Toyota Motor Corp. and other automakers, called the bill unrealistic and unattainable. "They really are more interested in political statements and posturing at this stage of the game," said McCurdy, a former congressman. "I don't see serious legislating going on. This is not the end game. This is the first inning and there's a lot left to be played."

How serious is it?
To gauge how serious the fuel economy dispute has become, the credit ratings service Standard & Poor's said that automakers face a long term threat to their balance sheets as the European Union, Japan and the United States consider proposals to reduce emissions and boost fuel efficiency. In a report, S&P said regulations "pose a real risk to global automakers financial performance, particularly as some are already under pressure from razor-thin margins."

Senators from rural states like Alaska, Idaho and North Dakota have upturned course in recent months and signed on to mandatory fuel economy raise, notwithstanding the fact that Detroit automakers say those requirements could threaten their ability to produce large vehicles, including pickups popular in rural states.

All at once, Detroit automakers' political clout has declined as they focus on their restructure plans that involve plant closures, job cuts, while the United Auto Workers' (UAW) sway among Democrats softens with its waning ranks.

The best hope of both foreign and domestic auto manufacturers may be in unity. This is the advice delivered in private by Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, the powerful chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dingell is sure to come under more pressure to act on fuel economy, albeit his intention to propose a broader bill that would require other industries to do their part to limit the emission of greenhouse gasses.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last Tuesday that the lower chamber would vote on a fuel economy proposal before the end of the year. A number of senators have laid the blame for Detroit's troubles on the companies' successful lobbying efforts to obstruct fuel efficiency raise.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Meanwhile, automakers are struggling to bolster their environmental credentials. GM said Tuesday that it had become the first automaker to join the U.S. Climate Action Partnership - a coalition of businesses and environmental groups calling for more action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ford and DaimlerChrysler said that they may also join.

Automobiles account for 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which have been linked to global warming. Improving fuel economy is considered one of the best ways to reduce emissions. Automakers warn it will be very expensive, however, if not impossible, to meet the proposed fuel economy mandates. They say it could add as much as $6,000 to the cost of every vehicle and force them to abandon some market segments, especially big vehicles, the most profitable for Detroit.

Environmentalists and lawmakers reject that argument. Joan Claybrook, the head of Public Citizen, which supports higher fuel economy standards, mocked the approved bill for not requiring "any real or significant improvement in fuel economy. It is also much lower than what manufacturers could easily achieve with the wide variety of technologies available to them."

On improving the bill...
The committee also reinstated the fuel economy credit automakers get for manufacturing flexible fuel vehicles that run on E85 or other alternative fuels. "We're trying to make the bill better," said Mike Stanton, the chief lobbyist for the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers. If Congress wants to set an arbitrary number, it should set an "off ramp" that lets regulators waive increases if they prove infeasible, he said.

U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, has been aggressively lobbying his colleagues, but expressed dissatisfaction with the final bill. "It's got major problems," Levin said. The committee had made some improvements," which represent a few little steps in the right direction, but there's a long road."

The United Auto Workers and the trade group that represents Detroit automakers sent strongly worded letters to a key Senate committee on Monday urging members to reject a bill that would considerably increase fuel economy standards. Alan Reuther, the UAW's legislative director, told committee Chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, that the compromise bill drafted by the committee's leadership "is much more extreme" than a measure initially proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Reuther warned that the compromise bill could force automakers to close plants and slash tens of thousands of jobs, primarily those of union members. "The new proposal that will be considered by the committee contains absolutely no mechanisms to prevent this unacceptable economic and human toll by helping struggling auto manufacturers," Reuther wrote.

In its letter, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents the General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG and the Toyota Motor Corp., also called the bill "extreme" and said it could force manufacturers to offer vehicles that don't match what consumers want in terms of performance, features and costs. "If higher standards make vehicles less attractive to consumers, vehicle sales will drop, negatively impacting auto dealers, suppliers, automakers, and the U.S. economy," the alliance wrote.