Regular brake inspections are an essential part of good automotive maintenance that can save you money and keep your car from wrapping itself around the first tree out of your driveway. Make sure that your brakes and rotors are receiving the proper maintenance by following the steps outlined. Your safety as well as that of your passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers is at stake.

1. Time for a free inspection. Many local brake shops as well as national brake repair chains offer customers free brake inspections at no obligation to you. The inspection typically includes the following steps:

Check your vehicles brake pads and shoes for signs of wear;

Fill andor replace hydraulic fluids;

Examine rotordrum wear and calipers;

Examine the anti-lock brake system [if you have one]

An annual check up of your brakes is wise, but do it more often if you drive well above the national average [about 15,000 miles per year] or if you do heavy stop and go driving.

2. Awareness is the key. Most brake system problems can be avoided if motorists would pay attention to certain signs of pending problems including:

Your brake warning light comes on.

Your brake pedal is either squishy, difficult to push down, or you must pump the brakes to get them to work correctly.

Your brakes grind continuously and you hear a loud metallic racket when you push down on them.

Your car pulls to one side when you push down on the brakes, instead of stopping in a straight line.

Your car jerks to a halt when you push down on the brakes.

One or more wheels are strikingly hot even after a brief trip.

You observe fluid leaks in the vicinity of any wheel or in the engine section near the master cylinder.

If you are an at home mechanic, you can complete your own inspections and fit your vehicle with top notch replacement parts including brake pads and calipers. You can save on parts by purchasing them from a reputable online wholesaler such as Pit Stop Auto Parts who can offer to you top quality parts at sensible prices, typically much lower than what your dealer or an auto parts store would charge you.

Take care of your vehicle and it will take car of you especially in an emergency situation where a properly working brake system is an absolute must.

Recently in the news across the USA there have been several reports of parents leaving their children locked in their cars, while the parents sit in a casino and gamble.

A great way to stop this from happening would be to legalize online gambling so that parents that can not afford a baby sitter will not do something as stupid as locking a small child in a car alone for several hours.

Another solution would be for the casino industry to take responsibility of the people they lure in with promises of riches beyond belief. If the casinos all offered 24 hour free daycare for all casino players those parents who are so far gone in their addiction will not have to make the decision of what to do with their children, they can just take them to the casino and let them be watched after in the casinos daycare centers.

As well as making sure children are not being neglected by their parents or legal guardians, the children in their care can be checked for signs of abuse and any parent that brings a child regularly to the casino can be talked to about gambling addiction.

Please do not get me wrong I feel the parents should be the ones taking responsibility for their kids, but gambling addiction is a disease, and at least this would provide a way for the government to monitor parents gambling habits, and to provide them with help if they need it.

Besides being the right move for the casinos to make for its own civic duty, it also makes good business sense. If the casinos offer such a service they also open themselves up to single parents that could use a little time for some adult fun, and by making the day care 24 hours a day there is no reason why a parent would leave their kid at home instead of at the casinos free daycare.

The parents could relax and have a little fun with the knowledge that their kids are being taken good care of.

This is not a new concept there are several casinos in Las Vegas that offer day care. These centers offer children of different ages fun things to do, such as all the popular videos, and games fro kids. This will appeal to people with kids. The parents get to gamble and have some adult fun and the kids get to do fun kid stuff.

By doing this the casinos will get more business and they are doing the responsible thing for their customers with gambling problems. I understand that the casinos are a business, but they should make sure that some of their less responsible gamblers do not put their children’s lives in danger just to make an extra few pounds in a multi billion pound a year industry

If enough people recommend this to their local casinos and state officials, casinos could be required by law to provide child care when they are open.

Aside from younger generations getting fatter and losing vastly important social skills, widespread distribution of misinformation and a literal unending supply of material that could make even Sid Vicious blush; it would be an exercise in futility to argue that the Internet hasnt made an overwhelming positive affect on the lives of us all. For all of the aspects of life that have been dramatically altered by the affects of the internet, the way in which the purchase and consumption of goods may be at the top of the most utilized. This can be seen with great understanding in the purchase of merchandise for automobiles, including that of tires.

The use of good, quality tires is well known by most people with even a cursory understanding of autos. However, the price that accompanies good, quality tires is also well understood. This is where the Internet comes in the bridge the discrepancies between desiring safety and quality in ones tires and having the disposable income to be able to afford them. Wholesale tire sites online are abundant and offer a great option for those in the market.

As with other types of shopping done online, however, getting some wholesale tires will require a little more research than being at a brick and mortar shop, simply listening to the thoughts of the salesperson. You need to get the facts on your car first and then think about what specific needs youre looking for. From here all work can be done through checking out a few sites, just like the real world window-shopping that used to take your entire Sunday afternoon. Whatever brand and model of tire youre looking for, its sure that you can find it for wholesale prices. So, get researching, find your tire, pay wholesale price for it and enjoy your drive, knowing that your safe and sound and have got a little money in your pocket, too.

Classic car parts are not easy to come by. But if you have finally been able to purchase the classic car youve always dreamed of, finding the classic car parts to restore and accessorize it may be a high on your priority list.

Whether you have a muscle car, an antique or a vintage model, you will inevitably find the need to replace and restore some of your car parts. Classic car parts are not as readily available as for the cars that are still in production. You cant just walk into a dealership and place your order because the parts are no longer being made. But with a little digging, they can be found.

Some places to start your search include:

Online Auctions

Online auction sites, such as Ebay, are probably the easiest place to begin your search for classic car parts. If youve seen the ads that Ebay has It, you know this is true. Ebay Motors has many listings for hard to find vehicles and classic car parts. Youll have to cover the shipping charges, so that is something to consider when purchasing larger items.

Swap Meets

Finding a local swap meet may be just the thing you need to locate the classic car parts you need. They are great places to find older model accessories and other outdated items.

Classic Car Part Dealer Publications

Often times you can find the parts you are looking for in car part dealer magazines. The only drawback here is that you will probably have to spend top pound. This option could be used as a last resort though if you are unable to find a specific part anywhere else. Exhaust all other possibilities first if money is tight.

Clubs and Organizations

Clubs and organizations exist for as many hobbies that people can think up. Certainly, there are a fair number of clubs and organizations geared toward car enthusiasts. Locating and joining one such club may prove beneficial in your hunt for classic car parts. You will be able to make connections with other people who share your interest.

In the Internet age, it is also possible to find a club or organization centered on classic car parts by doing an online search. Try searching Yahoo groups and you are likely to find a list of clubs you could join. Again, making connections with people who share your interest in classic car parts may lead you to a dealer or another source from which you can purchase classic car parts.

Junkyards

Maybe you dont picture yourself hanging around a junkyard to find used classic car parts, but you may be able to find a diamond in the rough. If you have never used this type of service before, it could be worthwhile to check it out. Everything is computerized and usually a visit or a phone call is all you need to check and see if they have the part or accessory that you need for your precious investment.

Of course you will want to take good care of your classic car to limit the number of parts that you will need to search for. The less time you spend tracking down parts, the more time you can spend enjoying the car of your dreams.

The use of ethanol as an alternative fuel is becoming increasingly popular by ever conscious consumers wishing to do their little bit for the planet. It may even be a better alternative to bio fuel, it seems that it is a lot more pleasant to make at any rate.

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol is a grain alcohol, or plant mass formula derived from the natural sugars found in bio mass, or vegetation such as corn, wheat, barley, potatoes and sugar cane. This is then processed to make a renewable form of fuel or fuel additive, which is both cost effective and good for the planet. Many cars are able to run on Ethanol and gasoline mixtures. Although at the moment, the mixtures are only a ratio of 10% Ethanol, to 90% fossil fuel.

Benefits of Ethanol

There are many benefits of using an alternative fuel such as Ethanol, for starters it is a renewable resource, fossil fuels used to make gasoline is not renewable, so one day they will run out, it is because of this that people, have become more aware of alternative fuels and additives. Another good reason for using an alternative fuel such as Ethanol is the reduction of pollution, we only have one planet and if we keep polluting it we may very well find ourselves with nowhere to live. Any steps that we can make toward reducing pollution is a positive. Another good reason to consider a fuel alternative such as Ethanol is that it is far more cheaper to use and make, the main cost involved in making Ethanol is in the processing method.

How is Ethanol Produced?

The process used consists of 8 stages, corn is the main product used in this method, Milling the corn, to make it into a fine powder, or meal Liquification, which is mixing the meal with water and Alpha-amylase, then heating it at temperatures of 120-150 deg Celcius, the heat reduces bacteria. Saccharification, is the process of cooling the mash, and adding glucoamylase, this converts the starch to dextrose, Fermentation, is where the yeast is added to ferment the sugars to convert it to Ethanol. This process consists of the mash going through several different tanks, and takes about 48 hours.

Please note that this procedure is risky and I do not recommend making biodiesel without further research of the process, these are just general guidelines of the making process, if you wish to actually make your own bio diesel please consult expert companies or professionals.

Distillation, the mash now contains about 10% alcohol and 90% non fermentable solids, the solids are now separated from the alcohol, to reach about a 96% strength of alcohol.

Dehydration, is where the last of the water is removed to make the alcohol about 200 proof.

Denaturing, is used then to make the alcohol unfit for human consumption, this is done by adding a small amount of gasoline, like 2-5%.

There are 2 co products derived from this process as well. The first is the non fermentable product, this is used as a livestock feed, the second is the carbon dioxide which is collected from the process and sold to other industries.

There are many reasons to use Ethanol as either an additive or an alternative fuel; one of the main reasons is the reduction of pollution. Regular fossil based fuels are not only damaging to the environment they are a non-renewable resources; once they are gone they can never be replaced, or regenerated.

With gasoline prices rising higher and higher, with no relief in sight, consumers are becoming more aware of and more interested in alternative fuel sources. One of those viable fuel sources is E85 ethanol. These days, there is quite a bit of talk about this fuel, and why shouldnt there be? After all, it costs close to thirty five percent less than gasoline and is quickly becoming a preferred choice for motorists at the pump stations. E85 ethanol is already widely used in Brazil with about 90 percent of Brazils vehicles able to use E85 ethanol. Although a much lower percentage of vehicles in the United States are flexible fuel vehicles, and therefore able to burn E85 ethanol, it is quickly gainer favor.

What is E 85 Ethanol?
When 15 percent of leaded gasoline is combined with eighty five percent of ethanol, the result is the low-cost E85 ethanol fuel. It is an alcohol-based fuel that can be produced from employing the use of two methods. The first source of production involves the fermenting and distilling of starch-like feedstock. They include corn, barley, and wheat. The next method, which is referred as bio-ethanol, involves extraction from trees and grasses.

Although the price of the Ethanol E85 may be foremost on consumers minds, it also gets the nod from earth activists because it is an environmentally friendly product. It burns clean and its key ingredient source is renewable. Ethanol E85 also lessens the need for imported crude oil because it is locally produced, and is also known for increasing the octane rating in fuel while decreasing the harmful emissions caused by gasoline. If you are consciously trying to use less gasoline because you are aware of toxins it releases into our air think about this: if you convert to a flexible fuel vehicle and you burn E85 in that vehicle you will automatically be using 85 percent less gasoline that you previously had because 85 percent of your fuel is now ethanol and only 15 percent is gasoline.

Ethanol E85 will run well in flexible fuel vehicles like those manufactured by Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Isuzu and Nissan to name a few. But, if you dont own a vehicle by one of the above-mentioned manufacturers, you need not fear. Some people are not aware that many other cars manufactured today are Ethanol E85 compatible. It is best to find out from your car dealer if you have a flexible fuel vehicle.

How is E85 Ethanol Made?
The method for producing Ethanol E85 is long and complex. The maker has to first extract sugar from biological feedstock in order to begin the process. Corn is the leading ingredient in Ethanol E85 gas in the United States. In Brazil, sugar cane is the leading ingredient in ethanol. The starch in these crops can easily be converted into sugar. Sugar for this fuel can also be extracted from cellulose, which is a sugar based ingredient found in trees and grasses.

Once the feedstock is collected, it goes through a grinding process to extract the sugar. Sugar fed into microbes quickly produces ethanol and carbon dioxide, which is purified to get the ethanol to the right consistency.

There is another method of manufacturing Ethanol E85 oil or grain alcohol, as it is also known, and this is through a wet-milling process. This is also the method that large-scale manufacturers use when producing high-fructose corn sweetener.

Ethanol E85 is an innovative and renewable resource with many positive characteristics, making it one of the leading topics of discussion for those looking to help the earth and looking to keep a few extra bucks in their wallet. Although E85 is currently only available at approximately 600 pumps in the United States, that number is expected to grow significantly in the next few years.

Volkswagen aficionados will be hopping to their local dealerships this summer to welcome the Rabbit back to the German automaker’s line.

The fifth-generation Golf is going back to its roots with the original Rabbit nameplate in the U.S. and Canada. The Rabbit was the first Volkswagen and the first foreign car produced in the United States. But it wasn’t just its American origins that made it a 1970s icon.

The Rabbit bounced into American hearts with promises of great mileage at a time when the lines at most gas stations snaked around entire city blocks. It also offered a wide array of standard features at an attractive price. But in 1984, the Rabbit badge disappeared to be replaced by the Golf.

“The Rabbit was always exclusive to the U.S. and Canadian markets while the rest of the world had the Golf,” said Kerri Martin, Volkswagen’s director of brand innovation.

But American Volkswagen customers “want a relationship with their cars,” according to Martin. “Names like The Thing, Beetle, Fox and Rabbit support this.”

But the 2006 model is hardly your father’s Rabbit or Golf. Unlike its predecessor, the new Rabbit is being made in Wolfsburg, Germany. Its 14,990 price tag for the two-door model includes an advanced ABS braking system, traction control, active front head restraints, front side airbags, air conditioning and anti-theft alarm system with remote locking.

The Rabbit’s newest features include a standard electro-mechanical steering system and an optional advanced Electronic Stabilization Program. The new model also promises more interior room than ever with a large rear hatch opening and increased legroom.

All new Volkswagens come with 24-hour roadside assistance for four years with unlimited mileage.

Before the new Rabbit even reached the marketplace, it had won more than 25 awards in over 16 countries, including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick, the Silver Award.

The Rabbit – or Golf as it is known throughout the rest of the world – is a best-seller with over 25 million vehicles sold over five generations.