Saturday, June 16, 2007

Planning A Car Audio System Installation

With such a wide range of components and gadget on the market for car audio systems, the big question is "Where do I start?"
First you must decide what exactly you wish to do. If you are wanting to build a car audio system for a daily driver (the car you drive back and forth to work) with good sounds, but you are not interested in competing, a system can easily be put together for under $1000. However, if you are looking for the all-out bass monster, be prepared to drop in some big bucks into your system.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when building a car audio system is planning. Get an idea of where you are going to place components, subwoofers, amplifiers, and power distribution. A lot of headache can be avoided with the proper planning!!

For the basic system, lets look at some of the components needed.

Let's first start with the head unit (CD player). Obviously you are going to want a nice head unit. If you start with a good quality cd player, and choose to upgrade your sound system in the future, purchase a head unit that will grow with you. Some of the features you may want to keep in mind are:

1. CD changer controls

2. XM / Sirius controls (if you decide to add Satellite radio in the future)

3. Dual RCA outputs (carries signal to the amplifiers)

4. Pause button (important for competing)

5. Detachable face, or other security devices

6. High voltage line driver - this will send the sound signal at a higher voltage to your amplifier/s reducing noise and improving overall sound quality.

After you have chosen your head unit, you will want to make a decision on amplifiers and subwoofers. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. A $30 subwoofer will be as big as a $300 subwoofer, but the capacities of each will differ greatly. Look at the power handling of each subwoofer and decide accordingly. You will want subwoofers will work with your amplifier/s (see compatibility).

You must also keep in mind the available space in your vehicle. Are you willing to give up your entire cargo area? How many subwoofers will fit? Decide on the size. Sizes will vary from 8" up to 18", some are square (Kicker), but most are round. Also keep in mind the resistance (ohms) of the subwoofer and make sure they are compatible with your amplifier/s (see compatibility). The subwoofer decision will also have an effect on the enclosure you decide to build or buy. For the basic system, I would recommend purchasing a pre-fabricated subwoofer enclosure. This will save you a bit of money and headache (especially if you end up building it two or three times!!). Make sure you take accurate measurement of your cargo area before building or buying an enclosure!!

Other components may be needed depending on the type of system you are building and how elaborate you want your sound to be. For the competition vehicle, figure on upgrading your alternator, adding a battery to your system (maybe more), running high quality RCA cables, power cables, ground cables, and speaker cable. You may need to add a capacitor to provide your amplifier with a reservoir of power for bigger hits from the subs. You may need an electronic crossover, an equalizer, replacement factory speakers, an amplifier for your mid-range and tweeters, additional speakers within your vehicle for staging, etc.


Will Reece
I have been involved in the car audio arena for several years, and have competed locally in the Kansas City are with USACi. You may find me online at http://www.maximumspl.com. For additional information, visit us online at http://www.maximumspl.com.

Choosing the Right Helmet

Perhaps every rider has been entangled in a situation when he shelled out big bucks for a quality helmet just to replace his old stinker of motorcycle apparel. So the question now is how you qualify quality? It needs a kin eye and feel to make the right choice. A rider must also know his personal needs as a rider. Let us tackle it one by one…
Mis-fitted helmet is obviously risky because of its safety, and other annoying problems. To mention a few they are discomfort, obstructed vision, goggles rammed down, increased susceptibility to fogging, impeded nasal breathing, and at most can even precipitate a crash.

Buying without first trying it on is pretty risky because you have know clear idea whether it will fit you well. According to statistics, majority of helmets are mis-sized. Sixty percent of which is too big for the riders. Sizes vary depending on the helmet brands. Another thing is that, even if you happen to fit the lid, liners might eventually break-in or settle. Thus, fit may change dramatically.

Nowadays, there are wide varieties of helmets that come with removable liner parts. With regards to off-road helmets there are also removable liner systems. Using different liners within like shells makes helmet sizes. Therefore, different sizes can share same shells with varying thickness liners yet yield the ‘perfect fit’.

Arai, for one, is offering helmet models with removable liners in different sizes aiming for customization. Its shells are comprised of three removable parts – the ear cups, top pad and side pads. By interchanging these parts, a rider can achieve his goal for a right fit.

With regards to Bell, Moto 6 has two basic shell sizes. Removing and interchanging inner liners can result to other sizes.

Shoei, on the other hand, has four different shell sizes. Same with Moto 6, it offers one-piece removable liner. Nevertheless, it offers separate ear/cheek pads. Shoei’s liners can only be interchanged with common shells.

The rest of the manufacturers and helmet lines also offer the same fitting schemes. The best advise I can give you is to personally buy your helmet and fit it. That way you are sure with your choice.. Remember that you are going to use it in your every ride so choose it meticulously.


Maricon Williams
Please visit http://www.motorcyclepartstrade.com for comments and inquiries regarding this article.

20 Tips to Cheaper Car Insurance

by: Kev Higgnis
Car insurance premiums rise year after year,Although your car insurance premium largely depends on your Car, Age and discount there are a few steps you can take to help stop the rise or even reduce your premium.

1. Buy from the internet.Most companies offer a discount for online applications as this is automated process and costs them a lot less to process your application, you can usually see discounts of 5%-10%.Click here to get a instant online insurance quote

2. Shop around.All insurance companies use different formulas to calculate your insurance premium by adding or detracting money after each question the ask you.By shopping around you could find big savings on your insurance premium.

3. Buy extra products.Most insurance companies also do other insurance products ie"Building's and content's insurance".Most insurance companies will give extra discounts for purchasing more than one product,by doing this you could save a fair amount on all your insurance premiums.

4. Pay your insurance premium in one go.By paying your insurance premium in full you can avoid paying costly interest charges that would be added if you paid your insurance premium by instalments.Some insurance companies may charge as much as 15% APR on instalments.You may even receive a discount for paying in full.If you can not afford to pay in full check out what rate a small loan would be you may still save some money.Fill out a online loan application.

5. Increase your voluntary excess.Your excess is the amount paid by you in the event of a claim,by increasing this your insurance company should reduce your premium.

6. Lower your annual mileage.Lowering your annual mileage can reduce your premium,most insurance companies will quote you for around 12,000 miles a year.Try and work out how many mile's you will do if it's likely to be less you may get a discount.Be honest about this as your insurance company may ask to see old MOT'S and service history to verify your mileage in the event of a accident.

7. Have a Alarm,Immobiliser or Tracker fitted.Theft of and from your vehicle play a major role in the calculation of your insurance premium.Having a alarm or immobiliser fitted will give you a small discount to your premium and having a tracker fitted could make you quite a saving.

8. Take the advanced driving test.Passing your advanced driving test will show your insurance company that you have extra skill when driving and are less likely to be involved in a accident.

9. Don't inflate the value of your car.Adding extra value to your car when you apply for your insurance quote will do nothing for you apart from increase you premium.In the event your car is stolen or written off you will only be paid the market value of your car at the time of your accident.

10.Look after your credit rating.Insurance companies are now looking at your credit score as part of the calculation for your insurance premium.Maintaining a good credit rating could avoid unnecessary additions to your premium.

11. Insure your car Third Party Only.Third party only is the minimum cover you are required to have by law it's also the cheapest.If your vehicle is of a low value then you could consider this type of cover.You need to remember that with this type of cover if you was to have a accident that any damage to your vehicle would not be covered for repair.

12. Keep a clean licenceInsurance companies take driving convictions very seriously and can dramatically increase your car insurance premium,by maintaining a clean licence proves to the insurance you are a safe and careful driver.

13. Remove any unnecessary drivers.If you have a young driver on your insurance policy that no longer use's the vehicle you should remove them as this will reduce your premium.

14. Young driver's add a older driver.Some insurance companies will reduce young drivers premiums if they have a older named driver on the insurance.

15. Build up your no-claims discountOne of the biggest factors affecting your car insurance premium is the number of years no-claim's discount.You could receive up to 75% discount for around 5 years of no claims.The more years you can stay claim free the safer driver your insurance company will see you as.

16. Protect your no-claims discount.Although this will increase your insurance premium if you have a lot of years of no-claims you may want to protect this as a small claim may increase your premium by up to 75%.

17. Buy a lower insurance group car.A very important factor to your insurance premium is what car you drive.Most insurance companies adopt the Association Of British Insurance Group Rating.This rates vehicle's from 1 - 20 generally speaking the higher the group the higher the premium.By buying a car with a lower group rating can lower your premium especially for young or inexperienced drivers.

18. Join a car club.If your vehicle is a classic or specialist consider joining a club related to your car most clubs offer insurance schemes which have very good premium rates.

19. Put your spouse as a named driver.Some insurance companies offer discounts when you add a spouse as a named driver as opposed to unmarried couples,they see marriage as a sign of stability and associate stability with safe driving and there for give you a discount.

20. Take pass plus.If you are a new driver consider taking your pass plus.some insurance companies could give you as much as a 25% discount and when you have just passed your test and have no no-claims this could make a considerable saving.

State Lemon Laws

If you are fortunate, you can purchase a brand new car. If your fortune takes a turn after you purchase the car and problems arise with the car, what can you do? Are you covered under the state lemon law? Can you just return the car? Will the dealer talk to you? What requirements must my car fit in to be called a “lemon”?
Do you have a lemon? You may not like something about the car, but that doesn’t qualify it as a lemon. Now, if the brakes don’t work or the car won’t go into gear or it won’t run over 30 mph, then you might have a lemon. But, you must give the manufacturer an opportunity to fix the problem. In most states, 10 different defects during the warranty period do not constitute that the car is a lemon. In some states, a single defect that might cause serious injury makes your car a lemon if the manufacturer cannot fix the problem within 1 attempt. First rule: Keep up with all of your receipts and repair history.

State laws vary, but a rule of thumb is if the car problem can’t be fixed with 4 tries or the car has been out of commission for more than 30 days during the first year or 12,000 miles.

Before you buy the car, you should have checked out the car’s repair history. Did you check the VIN number on some popular websites to see if the car was in an accident?

The manufacturer doesn’t have to replace or refund the car if the defects do not impair the use and value of the car or the condition of the car was due to customer’s abuse, neglect, or unauthorized alterations. Be careful, as you can get yourself into a pickle.

A lawyer that is familiar with state lemon laws can help you determine a variety of problems like whether the car was damaged at the time of delivery. Was there fraud or deception in your financing paperwork? Were repairs attempted beforehand to cover up defects? Lawyers go through an extreme investigation on your vehicle to make sure how these items affected your value, safety, or use.

The lawyer will submit a detailed account to the manufacturer, usually after hiring an ASE certified mechanic to go over the car. Did you know that the auto repair shops use several work orders? They have one for you to look at, but they also have one for the technician. If the problems are too hard to fix, they may be told not to fix the car. Your lawyer will drag all of this out in front of the manufacturer or judge, if necessary.

In summary, you understand now that if your paint is peeling, then you don’t have a lemon. If your brakes aren’t working and the dealer can’t fix them, then you may have a lemon.


Stuart Simpson http://www.state-lemon-law.info

How to Get the Best Fuel Mileage of Your Car And Save Gas Money

Aftermarket Auto Lights to Match Ultimate Driving Machine’s High Standards

by: Joe Wayne
Aftermarket auto parts abound in the market nowadays, making it easier for anyone to upgrade, repair, customize or refurbish his vehicle. Various kinds of replacement car, truck and other auto parts and accessories can be easily bought and they are offered in very affordable deals not only for auto mechanics and retail store owners but most especially to individual do-it-yourself users who want to save in their repair needs. Even stock automotive parts of major European makes that used to be so hard to replace are now conveniently offered in thousands of auto parts stores online.

BMW Parts [http://www.carpartswholesale.com/cpw/bmw-car-parts.html] are among the most finely made car parts in the industry—parts that make a BMW the “Ultimate Driving Machine.” That tagline isn’t pure hype that’s meant only to attract people; it’s a statement based on BMW’s almost century-old tradition of excellence in manufacturing aircraft engines, railway brakes and automobiles. It is only apt to replace stock BMW parts with equally high quality replacement or aftermarket BMW parts that could match this vehicle’s performance. Exterior parts such as the auto lights, the wheels, the hood and other body parts require precision to be able to live up to BMW’s perfect balance of form and function.

Now the good news is Auto Parts Discount [http://www.carpartswholesale.com] is offering the most sophisticated aftermarket automotive lights for BMW cars and thousands of other BMW auto parts. Featured in the store are BMW parts such as auto headlights, taillights, fog lights, corner lights and clear altezza tail lights [http://www.carpartswholesale.com/cpw/altezza_tail_lights.html] made by top car parts manufacturers and are guaranteed superior quality. They are perfect ways to improve not only your car’s safety but as well as its style. All BMW headlamps, taillights, and fog lights from this store are superbly designed to match every spec of your BMW, whether it’s a BMW 3 series, BMW 4 series or BMW M roadster.

Why get aftermarket auto lights for your BMW? Aftermarket auto parts do not mean inferior. Some non-OEM auto lights may not meet high quality standards of your vehicle manufacturer but this is not true to all, especially when you are getting replacement parts from trusted BMW dealers like Auto Parts Wholesale. Here you are assured to get the most dependable products for your BMW ranging from BMW auto lights to wheel cover, radiator support, A/C condenser, tarter and a whole lot more.

Lights such as the headlamps, fog lights and tail lights are very essential in your vehicle so they must be durable and reliable enough to give you the long quality service. When driving through unfamiliar and dark places, driving without auto lights is like committing suicide, so make sure you are equipped with premium quality lights that could not only light up your way and make your car visible as you move down the road but could give you peace of mind no matter how bad the weather or the circumstances are.

Joe Wayne is an automotive editor from Los Angeles, California. He also owns an auto shop and that he is a certified off-roader.
http://www.carpartswholesale.com

Most Trusted Ford Parts Dealer Features the Best OEM-Quality Ford Car Parts

The automotive industry is an ever-changing industry. Every phase in the history of cars is highlighted by technical innovations and new car concepts that are aimed at improving the people’s widely used means of transportation. As cars became more efficient, more convenient, more comfortable, more stylish and safer, the demand for high quality replacement auto parts also grew bigger. Auto users’ need for auto parts that could complement their car’s abilities became higher and in the same way, auto users became more and more particular about the quality of the auto parts they are purchasing.
Today, the fastest and the most efficient way of finding the best quality replacement performance auto parts and accessories for your car’s repair or enhancement is through an online store. One of the leading stores that offer you not only wide assortment of replacement parts but great deals as well is Ford Parts Online (http://www.americanbodyparts.com). This store specializes in selling the best quality replacement Ford parts including exterior parts such as the Ford Escape Front Bumper, Ford front and rear lights, Ford Bronco Grille and Ford F150 Pickup Mirror (http://www.americanbodyparts.com/auto-body-parts/FOF150PICKUP47.html).

Due to the tough competition and high demand for replacement and aftermarket auto parts, a lot of stores are offering very inviting Ford Parts Discount deals both on Ford Parts used and new. Don’t be in a hurry in purchasing replacement parts, be wise in choosing the parts you are going to use in your Ford car or truck. Stock Ford Parts used in your car are made of high Ford standards—standards that have been cultivated for more than a century now. Ford Motor Company’s success through the years is testament enough of its reliability in producing vehicles of tough and dependable Ford parts from Ford Escape Hybrid Parts (http://www.americanbodyparts.com/auto-body-parts/ford-escape-hybrid-parts.html) to Ford F150 Pickup Parts, Ford alternator, Ford radiator and all other Ford car parts and accessories.

Ford Parts Used Online adheres to Ford’s standards in providing you the best replacement parts, aftermarket auto products and auto accessories for various Ford models, old and new. It offers long list of Ford car and truck parts and great Ford Parts Discount deals, in its efforts to provide you the best satisfaction you ought to get while driving a Ford vehicle.

Proper maintenance of your Ford car, minivan, truck or SUV is needed in order for it to give you the most efficient service for a long period of time. It actually depends on you. Ford cars are well-built, no doubt, but you have to do your part in keeping it in good shape and condition. It is inevitable for it to experience some car problems, too—just like all other cars—so it must be given enough care and attention, especially the parts that perform the most difficult tasks. Don’t worry; Ford Parts Online can help you do this with ease. Check out their site now.


Chuck Smith, a 38 year old freelance writer from Charleston, South Carolina, has been specializing on automotive-related articles and news. He has a degree in Automotive Techonology.