How much is my car worth ? Is a question I hear often.

The thing is… when you go to sell your car; it’s common to run into a bit of a challenge when trying to figure this out.

All to often you may end up selling a vehicle that is worth far less than you imagined. And when the dealership hits you with the meagre number (far off what you expected), it can be a real rock to your confidence.

However the concerns that we are about to dig into when considering How much is my car worth – may play an important to role in realising the price of your vehicle accurately.

First up… what should you be looking, at when you think your car might be undervalued?

Car Dating Records

One thing that many people don’t think would matter, when asking How much is my car worth? – but almost certainly does, is how many “marriages” your car has had. By this, I mean how many owners; how many dates has the car been on with other people? Dealers rate this information highly as it gives the car a reputation of being reliable or one that you get rid of quickly.

Whilst a small grouping of owners over a significant period of time will not really hurt you too much, you do need to consider how a range of owners over a period of one or two years will look. It makes the vehicle look as if it has no real or genuine value, and can quickly be seen as a bit of a busted flush. However, it also comes down to the dealerships own personal successes with a vehicle; are they dealing with good sales on your kind of vehicle? Then they might look at your ownership rate a bit more positively.

Asking the question How much is my car worth? – is something that you do need to think about, as the company will be running with industry data to try and ascertain the fairest price, and if they are using Glass or CAP they will be getting plenty of information about the car, including an average price that is on the market. Things like the ownership record, though, could just rock the boat enough to see your price offered take a significant kicking. This is something to consider quite carefully as a car that is not producing a very positive ownership record could lose out to a car that is almost identical, but has had less owners.

Is The Heart Ruling The Head?

How much is my car worth?

When thinking about How much is my car worth? a major problem for those who are trying to sell cars is looking at the vehicle with their heart rather than the head. We’ve covered this further down below but it really is the biggest barrier to your success. You need to take off those glasses that are blocking your view and look at things like the body and the paintwork. Getting to grips with all those dull parts, scratches, bangs and bumps that never seemed to really matter until now is so important to getting the true value of a vehicle.

Take a forensic look at everything from the paint to the wheels and even the windows. Don’t forget about the interior, either – this has to be forensically investigated to make sure that you can get a vehicle that is easy to use and attractive to potential buyers. Is the car being serviced on time every year or are you delaying things? Because that will hurt you, too.

When considering How much is my car worth?, if you’ve paid a lot of money for spoilers and extras you will probably dent the final price, too. Most people aren’t keen on this kind of stuff and won’t be shy about letting you know. Take the time to be objective about the state of your car and you might get a whole lot more luck with ending up with a price that is actually reflective of its class.

Start by visiting places like WeBuyAnyCar.com, as they offer a very good range of starting points to do some research and to get a better idea of what your car is worth. The one thing we can say, though, is don’t be misled by looking at classified ads – they don’t tell the whole truth and will give you a rather poor perception of what you could be worth. Just because Joe from Brixton is selling his Fiesta for that much does not mean that you can, too!

Cars are like people. They have so many complex differences that when judging one against the other it is absolute folly. Lose the emotion and stop looking for logic to make sense to you – instead, find the actual facts behind the situation and you are more likely to lose the tinted glasses and start making smart, calculated and intelligent decisions about your vehicles overall price.

Understanding Dealership Valuations

When considering How much is my car worth? Another big part in establishing vehicle value and a fair price is the dealership valuation in general.

If you are using the average value based on what dealers are selling the car for then you will be in for a bit of a shock as this does not take into account the wide reaching ways they will find to reduce the fee that they are paying out to you.

Dealers will look at the model, specifications and the year of your vehicle before going any further. Your vehicle could have things like a manual gearbox, or come in a really undesirable colour that would need to be changed. You could, though, be sitting with the King of the car that you own with the best specifications and a classy, well-received colour. This all comes into play when looking at the price you’ll get.

One fancy spoiler to many

How much is my car worth?

Another big problem when considering How much is my car worth?, is when you jazz up your car too much. Fancy rims, spoilers and tinted windows might make you feel like you are in a racing movie, but the next buyer might not be so eager to drive around like this and that will impact on the value.

Whilst you will get away with having an older vehicle that has a bit more mileage on the clock compared to others, you won’t be able to get away with having an old car that is the vehicle equivalent of an OAP. If a model upgrade has happened to your vehicle since you bought it you can expect the price to have hit the floor with your model. Factor in things like warranty periods being expired and the value you expect and the value you get could be two totally different things.

Damage and decay

Another big issue when considering How much is my car worth?, is the condition of the car. If any kind of damage or decay can be seen, you will be charged for it in the final price. Leaks, tyre wear and tear, service history, MOT history and various other little things all come into the mind of the mechanic when looking at your vehicles service history. Everything that they need to fork out fixing up this stuff is going to come out of your final price.

Mileage

The last thing to think about when considering How much is my car worth? is the mileage on the clock.

If you’ve spent plenty of time going from Southampton to Inverness then your overall pricing is going to be a whole lot worse than it could have been. A car with low mileage despite its age can balance out, but if you like to go everywhere in the car you might find that it will hurt you when the time comes to sell.

I’m I being scammed?

How much is my car worth?

If you turn up to sell or exchange your car expecting a right few quid and you get offered buttons in exchange, no doubt you’ll be more than a little frustrated.

The question How much is my car worth?… may blurt out your mouth in alarm!

You may feel like the mechanic is out to get you. After loving your car and taking care of it soundly you might soon find that the mechanic who wants to buy it is not quite as impressed with your diligence. You’ve now been told that – after all that work and care – it’s worth less than half of what you were expecting. “Surly these guy are trying it!”

A rather broad a question…

When you ask How much is my car worth?,  you are asking a rather broad question. Whilst you’ll find morally dubious individuals who buy cars for a song and leave you out of pocket and with no other option, you will find that most of the markdowns are actually a bit fairer than they might appear. Keep in mind that you are going to a motor professional who knows that you want to sell; you have less knowledge, and you have no advantage as you initiated the process. This leaves you in a bit of a challenge, do you listen to their words and get a bad fee, or do you say no and risk being dropped?

The chances are, though, that the lowballing will start to incrementally rise until you get to a figure a bit more like what you were hoping for. Never ever accept the first offer provided; because it might be the lowest offer they could have provided you with!

By taking a running guess at your cars value and doing no research, or just going with arbitrary numbers based on what you paid for X and Y, you will get nowhere. However, if you are look at car ads you will be a bit more accurate, but not quite there yet. The best way to actually understand the price of your vehicle is quite simple; you need to remove the emotional aspect.

When considering How much is my car worth?, think of it as if you were a buyer, not the one who has had so many good memories and fun times in the car. Take out the emotional side of things and you will find that it could be much easier to negotiate a price that make sense.

A mechanic will always presume you don’t have a clue about this kind of thing so you need to be prepared to get on the web and get reading. Look into the reasons why you might be getting a poor value return and then work out why they might be trying to use industry data to try and tie you up in knots. Take the time needed to learn before you try and sell and get burned.

My car’s name is Daisy

How much is my car worth?

Your car may be called Daisy, and it may have got you to the moon and back, but the bottom-line is that the salesman does not care. They see an arbitrary figure and a chance to buy a car that could be worth something to them for next to nothing.

Funnily enough, you want to try and avoid this scenario and concentrate on the most effective way to stop this from happening. Without a doubt, this is by looking at your car as a Peugeot, not Peter the Peugeot. It’s not an actor, it’s not a superstar – it’s a car.

Finally…when considering the question How much is my car worth?, try to drop the emotion, do your research and line yourself up for a successful sale.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post How much is my car worth? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

As a car owner, you will no doubt be aware of the massive dirge of common car faults that can befall drivers at any given time.

Whether it’s a car garage giving you an eye-watering bill for a “simple repair”, or one of the common car faults where your car fails to start en route to your biggest conference of the year. Common car faults are a problem that most of us could do without.

While some of us driver cars that run with pristine authority, some drivers just cannot seem to get out of the street without something going wrong!

So… to try and get yourself prepared for auto life, here are five of the most common car faults you are likely to make or witness at one stage:

A Lack of Life

Battery problems are the bane of any driver’s existence.

Common car faults like draining the battery by leaving the lights on overnight can be a terrible mistake, especially if you can’t get to work because of a flat battery.

The problem is that you don’t hear of these common car faults regularly as you should – but they happen all the time!

Common car faults like this have been a long-term problem for many motorists over the years. The best way to dodge this problem is to buy a charge kit so that you can get yourself going in the morning, or to live next door to the world’s friendliest neighbor who happens to have a jump lead pack.

Flat Tyres

Common Car Faults

Doh! This is one of the most common car faults issues you’ll see on the roads. In fact, on any typical work week you’re likely to see at least one absolutely raging person standing by their car waiting for vehicle support to arrive, usually in the rain. A flat tyre can be dodged, by making sure you go for a car service regularly and getting your tyres checked out.

Fuel Problems

Ah, fuel – one of the most costly resources on the planet. Fuel problems are part of the common car faults pack. For a typical driver and the best way to deal with these problems is to make sure that you ALWAYS use the correct fuel in your vehicle. Sound stupid? Okay well hands up how many have put the wrong fuel in their car?

Damaged Cabling

Common car faults can also entail damaged vehicle cables. This can be so infuriating because they can literally put you off the road. A car with damaged brake cables, a weak throttle cable or a useless clutch cable is effectively a massive danger on the road. Here’s some advice: get those cables checked pronto. Find a good garage and get those cables looked at and replaced.

Another suggestion is to try a buy a solid car from the get go. This may sound obvious, but you would be surprised at the level of poor electrics that are found in cars. However a good car garage should be able to sort you out with an easy and reliable fix fast.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post 4 Ridiculous Common Car Faults appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

One of the most liberating parts of owning a car is that it becomes your own little X factor auditon room. Flying down the motorway belting out your favorite songs on the car radio can be great fun, and without having access to that radio you are missing out on one of the most enjoyable parts of driving.

The problem is that radio issues can start from literally nowhere, and leave you with a very frustrating drive to work in the “peace & quiet”.  Sometimes, just hearing that one great song can make all the difference to your work performance, so having a working car radio is very important.

So, what could be causing your problem? Here are some of the most common issues and how to solve them;

Won’t Turn On

The most basic car radio problem is the old-school “just won’t turn on” method that we are all such huge fans of. When this happens it can be absolutely infuriating and most of the time the issue is actually really easy to fix. It will typically be a power and/or ground issue – start off by checking the fuses. You can find online guides for your own car model to find these with ease.

Try replacing the car radio fuse, and see how that goes. If it’s still broken or breaks again shortly later, you might have a short elsewhere in the car that will need help from a pro mechanic.

No Sound

car radio solution

How great is it to have access to the car radio, but have no sound? Not great at all, that’s how great it is! The problem is that this can be caused by so many different issues as well, so it’s kind of hard to come up with a solution. It could be dodgy speaker wires, it could be an issue with the amp…it’s a bit of a nightmare to come up with a solution for!

Additionally, it could be something simple like a broken wire or a bad connection with the car radio speaker wires. Therefore, you’ll be doing a fair bit of running around trying to come up with a solution – be prepared for the hard work that comes with doing so, and the trial & error sessions that come from dealing with a lack of sound from your speakers.

A common solution is opening and closing the car door again – this might sound daft, but some cars just love to be awkward to put you in a bad mood for the rest of the day! Solving car radio problems can take a while, especially when it’s something innocuous like your speakers. But if you are really at our wits end with the problems then take your car to a specialist or a garage, they’ll be able to sort it for you within no time at all.

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Broken Car Radio Solutions appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Having a car oil leak is a common problem with vehicles today, and it can be caused by a variety of reasons.

However, its important to deal with a car oil leak when it arises. Without sufficient amounts of oil in a car, you’ll find yourself waiting for an AA pick-up truck pretty soon. The good thing is, it’s easy to spot a leak with your car. Just have a look underneath your car to see if you can spot any oily black spots on the ground. If so, you have a leak.

While many cars with more than 100k+ of miles on the clock will burn through a little more oil and leave a small residue, it’s a source of concern if you find oil underneath your vehicle. So long as you keep your engine levels topped up you’ll be fine, but it’s always good to try and find the root of the problem and get it dealt with quickly.

Where is the Car oil leak?

car oil leak

Typically, the car oil leak can come from a few different places. The first thing that you will want to find out is the speed of the car oil leak, as this gives you an idea of just how bad the actual damage might be things first, start with the engine – it’s usually got something to do with the problem. Give your engine an absolutely spotless cleaning session, and you’ll be able to see the oil coming from the source, if the source is indeed the engine.

If you are finding the car oil leak is coming straight from the engine then it’ll be much easier to deal with.

If it’s travelling through the car and getting to somewhere else before leaking, it will be a lot thicker and gungier which is not nice to deal with at all. Starting with the engine, though, you should be looking for a few specific points at the top of the engine such as the valve cover casket. If your leak is higher up on in the engine, you will likely find the problem here.

Additionally, if your car comes with a PCV valve, you might find the same car oil leak issues here. Start to work your way down the engine slowly, and you should find a spot around about half way down that can be the main source of your typical oil leak – the head gasket.

Sat between the cylinder head and the engine block, the oil travels through passageways that connect each side of the gasket. You’ll usually find a fairly sizeable amount of car oil leak coming from here, so be prepared. Check your cooling system, which should be nearby the gasket, as this will be full of frothy brown liquid if it’s got a leak.

Check out the oil pan gasket as well, which is a common source of stress here. It’s at the very bottom of the engine, and even the smallest of failures can leave quite the mess.

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless Mechanic,

Phil.

The post Car Oil leak? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

In this day and age in car gadgets for safety is a must.

As a new driver, finally embarking on your first time legally driving on the road can be quite an intimidating experience. However, the technological advancements made by car manufactures has seen a huge wave of new in car gadgets hit the market to make your driving experience as safe as possible.

Whether you’ve been on the roads for many years or this is an entirely new experience for you, picking up a couple of new in car gadgets can make all the difference to your safety on the road.

If you’re looking for some great in car gadgets to pick up, then be sure to consider some of these great ideas for ramping up your safety;

In car gadgets ?

‘Lifehammer’

Lifehammer is an incredibly powerful in car gadget tool, but it’s also very subtle. In fact, the majority of owners might never even use their Lifehammer installation. However, it could actually save your life in the rare occurrence that you do need to use it.

This is, in effect, a double-tipped hammer which is perfect for hammering through your windows. It’s also got a razor blade at the other end that can get through the seatbelt.

If you ever get stuck in your car, this can get you quick and safe access out of the vehicle in an emergency situation.

Camera Detectors

Camera detectors are a good in car gadgets solution that will help you avoid any unwanted speeding fines. The in car gadgets tool will allow you to pick up any black spot cameras that could catch you when you are over the limit. This is a very useful tool and although you should never be speeding anyway, it’s better to keep yourself covered.

Bluetooth Set

Bluetooth hands-free sets are incredibly useful in car gadgets tools for drivers. Driving while speaking on the mobile phone is illegal as it can use up valuable hand space, and outside of this you are putting others in danger. If you absolutely need to take a call, you can get a hands-free Bluetooth adapter that will let you answer your car while driving without impacting on your safety or anybody else’s.

Visibility Bulbs

Perhaps you may not think of these as a in car gadgets, but the headlights on your car should be extremely bright, and not only will this make sure that people see you coming from afar, but it will give you a longer visual range in front of you when driving as well, making you see like a bat in the dark, improving your confidence and safety when driving at night tenfold.

Make sure you consider changing your break lights, as well.

Breakdown Kit

In car gadgets like Emergency kits, can be found in stores like Halfords or you can get them online. You can buy them from garages but expect the price to be significantly higher. They can easily be packed into a small essential kit that will give you everything from a tyre pump to a jump lead for getting started on those annoying days where nothing else will work.

Phone Charger

Again, using your mobile phone when driving is dangerous and irresponsible. However, one of the worthwhile in car gadgets to consider is a phone charger.

It makes sense to have a car charger installed to keep your phone alive in case of emergencies. Emergency chargers can be bought from petrol stations, gadget stores and online, and tend to fit just about any phone, plus you can change the adapter if it does not suit your phone.

Fire Extinguisher

This should be fairly self-explanatory. In car gadgets like fire extinguishers are cheap, light and incredibly effective. They can deal with a Type B fire if you buy the right brand, meaning you should be able to contain any fires that start while driving. This can literally save your life – so make sure you buy one.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

The post Top Seven In Car Gadgets For Staying Safe. appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Okay… so you’ve decided to take the plunge and buy a new car!

What was it?

Did you like the idea that your “bum bum” would be the only rear end to ever leave an imprint on the driver’s seat? Or do you plan to keep the car for more than five years to make it a good investment? Maybe you just like the smell of a brand new car, it has a certain scent to it doesn’t it?

Regardless of your motivation, before you sign on the dotted line there are a few things worth considering when buying a new car.

Sure, you want to find a car that you think is “cool “(and “cool” will vary widely based on your personal definition of “cool”). You’ll need to decide what colour you want, how many extras you are going to add. These are all important considerations, but there are few other thing worth thinking about.

One of the key reasons why car owners tend to regret buying a brand new car is the cost of ownership after the car leaves the showroom. If lets say your monthly car payments are tight, what will you do if you end up with an additional £120 per month in car maintenance costs?

“Car maintenance costs…? What are you talking about the car has warranty”.

And this may be true. But be warned not all warranties are created equal, and to be frank most will not cover the standard car maintenance costs you will encounter.

To keep a vehicle on the road car maintenance costs can vary by make and model, and not just by a little. For the first five years of ownership some cars can be maintained for less than £1000. Others on the other hand, can cost triple that for a similar make of vehicle!

With this in mind, it’s important that you put car maintenance costs high on the consideration list when buying a new car.

These days’ new vehicles have very strict maintenance schedules that must be adhered to, or you risk voiding your warranty. Sorry but old-fashioned slap dash maintenance isn’t enough anymore. The good news is there are a number of carmakers that periodically offer full maintenance packages included in the cost of the vehicle. This can be of real value since not only will your maintenance be free, but you’ll be sure to actually get the job done right.

There are a number of websites out there that discuss new car maintenance cost and compare the cost to a vehicle when new. Personally I’ve found the most informative to be Consumer Reports. They regularly pull together repair and car maintenance costs data for scores of makes and models. The downside is you need to subscribe for the newest info, but if you’re thinking of spending £10,000+ on a new car believe you me, this is money well spent.

After a quick look at the Consumer Reports chart for the Top 10 best selling vehicles I was immediately surprised. Car maintenance costs for the number one seller the Toyota Camry, almost double in regular maintenance cost when compared to the number-two ranked car, the Honda Accord, which is very interesting, because it brings the actual price of these two cars a little closer together. There are similar comps for Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. It’s information like this that can turn a hard decision when buying a car, sway largely in one direction or another.

In addition to new car maintenance costs, most data crunchers will consider other costs of ownership like the average cost of repairs and depreciation. These are also important to think about because both can equate to real cash flowing out of your pocket.

car maintenance costs

Owning a new car can be pleasurable, but the long and short of it is, whether buying a new car or a used vehicle, car maintenance costs should be a serious consideration.

Okay… sure, you can change your own oil and maybe flush the car radiator yourself, but when you’re talking about maintaining a valid warranty, the manufacturers regular recommended service schedule must be adhered to.

The good news is that new car warranties are getting better, but be careful as it can turn into a smoke and mirrors game when the money you think you’re saving goes out the window in the form of high car maintenance costs and repairs.

Food for thought,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post Buying a New Car? Consider New Car Maintenance Costs. appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Fuel, air, and a spark are required to make your engine run. It is the spark that sets it all off, with electricity required to create it. Your battery will eventually supply electricity, but it takes a while for that to happen. More electricity is needed, which is where the alternator comes into the picture. It is the job of the alternator to continually supply a charge to the battery so that it will never be out of juice.

How Does An Alternator Work?

OK, to understand how does an alternator work s consider…

Your car battery is 12 volts, but in order to work at full capacity and power all of the electrical components in your car, the alternator has to deliver in the region of 13.5 to 14.8 volts. Before we discuss how that happens, let’s first look at the three main components found in an alternator: the stator, rotor, and diode, with a voltage regulator tossed in for good measure. It is the spinning of the alternator belt (V-belt) that spins the pulley on the alternator. That makes the rotor housed inside the alternator spin at an incredible speed. The rotor is a single or group of magnets that spin, quickly, inside a bunch of copper wires (stator).

Explaining how a magnet and copper wires generates electricity takes more time to explain than we have here, but it does play a part in How does an alternator work so I guess you’ll just take my word for it. You can find more detailed information on that all over the internet.

The next part of the process involves a diode set-up that changes the current from AC to the DC that the battery needs. The final step is the voltage generator, which is something that is usually already built in.

It used to be that voltage regulators were massive black bolted that basically had to be bolted into place and wired into the system. The job of the voltage regulator is to assess the flow of juice to the battery and shut it down when it is more than is needed, which is usually anything over 14.5 volts. This basically stops your battery from getting fried. That’s how it all works, with the alternator supplying more juice to the battery as it gets drained, a process that is repeated over and over again.

motor/generators used in electric cars and hybrids. For that reason, it is AC we will focus on.

There are 4 main parts found in an AC Motor/Generator:

1)A wire wound armature that is shaft-mounted (rotor)

2)A housing that holds a field of magnets that are stacked side by side to induce electrical energy (stator)

3)Slips rings whose job it is to move the AC current to and from the armature

4)Brushes that come into contact with the rings in order to transfer current from the electrical circuit in both directions

The AC Generator in Action

A mechanical power source is used to drive the armature. The wire coil wrapped around the rotor passes over the magnets in the stator as it spins, creating an electrical current in the wires. The individual loops within the coil pass both the north and south poles over and over again, causing the current to quickly and continually shift direction. Each of those direction changes is referred to as a cycle that is measured in cycles per second or hertz (Hz). In the U.S., the cycle rate (60 Hz) is a little different from the rest of the world (50 Hz). The current is given a path away from the armature courtesy of slip rings found at both ends of the rotor’s wire loop. The path of the current is completed by the brushes, which ride against the slip rings.

The AC Motor in Action

The reverse of generator action is motor action, which is essentially the supply of mechanical power. In this action it is a circuit that feeds the current as opposed to the rotor. The current being sent through the armature creates an electromagnet. The electromagnetic force created is repelled by the permanent magnets, which in turn makes the armature spin. The motor will continue to run for as long as electricity flows through the circuit.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post How Does An Alternator Work? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

How An Electric Motor Works

Electrical motored types of cars are the wave of the future, so it’s interesting to learn how they work. An electric motor works by delivering the power an electric car need to get moving, while hybrids use electric motors in combination with an internal combustion engine. The electric motors in question use a process known as regenerative braking to get the power that they need to charge up the onboard batteries. Most of us understand the concept of electric motors being used to run household appliances that we use every day, but it take a little more thought to understand how that self-same process can actually work in reverse, which is essentially what happens with these motors. Instead of consuming energy in order to work, How an electric motor works is by generating the power needed so that it can be used by the hybrid needs in order to get moving. The whole process makes more sense when you learn about electromagnetism.

Electromagnetism

To understand how an electric motor works, you need to understand a little about electromagnetism. The whole process of generating electricity and motor power starts with electromagnetism, which is the physical relationship that exists between electricity and a magnet. An electromagnet is much like a regular magnet in many ways, but its force is essentially controlled by electricity. When a conducting material wire, such as copper, is passed through a magnetic field, it creates a current that turns the wire into a basic generator. When a wire is twisted around an iron core and has electricity passed through it while the core is in the presence of a magnetic field, it will start to move and twist, turning it into a rather basic motor.

How An Electric motor works

A motor/generator is basically a single device that can run in opposite modes. It is a common misconception that those two modes have to run backwards from one another, with the device going one direction as a motor and another as a generator. The reality is that the shaft spins the same way, with the direction change coming from the flow of electricity. When working as a motor, electricity flows in to create power, whereas that mechanical power is consumed, or flows out, when it acts as a generator.

Electromechanical Rotation

To understand how an electric motor works, there are usually two specific types of electric motor/generators: AC (alternating current) and DC (Direct Current). Both types indicate the type of electricity that is generated or consumed. Simply put, AC will change direction when flowing through a circuit, whereas DC follows the same direction all the way through. Efficiency level and cost are usually the factors that decide which type is chosen. AC is the more expensive of the two, but also the most efficient.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post How An Electric Motor Works appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Those of you who have been following the XAC blog, know that I live and breathe cars.

I fix cars from sunrise to sunset, I guess you could call me a “Car- oholic” if there is such a word. Oh, and most of all I love to drive cars. So todays post will be about cars, and in particular British cars that make you go “Yeah baby yeah!”

Like most car enthusiasts, when someone mentions British cars I immediately think of the cool cars that have appear in the Bond movies, you know like that one that could go underwater – bad-boy!

Let’s take a look at some favorites.

BRITISH CARS: LOTUS ESPRIT

“Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere” – Lotus Philosophy

This philosophy has seen Lotus producing excellent British cars for years, sport cars that are lightweight, superfast and handle brilliantly on the road. The Lotus Esprit rightfully starred in 2 Bond movies.

Bentley R-Type

Although Bentley is a British car, they are also a part of the Volkswagen family. Not too far back, I had the privilege of working on one that belonged to a friend of mine. Working on a car of such class was indeed a pleasure to say the least.

I learned a picked up a few things about the British car. It was very much like a VW and even had the same part numbers as the VW Touareg. Sadly though the Bentley I worked on was without “Bond… James Bond” anti-pursuit systems. The R-Type only appeared in 1 Bond movie.

Aston Martin DBS

British Cars: Aston Martin

For me personally Aston Martin is the car of all British cars. Yeah I said it!

When I think of James Bond, I think of him in nothing else but an Aston Martin. One second, that didn’t come out quite right. I mean… I think of James Bond fittingly driving an Aston Martin (fully dressed of course!). James Bond drove Aston Martins in 9 of the movies, the most popular being the DB5 that appeared in 5 out of 9 of those movies. Oh, if only Aston Martins came factory fitted with all the Bond gadgets, it will undoubtedly be every grown man’s favorite toy!

Jaguar

British Cars: Jaguar

British cars, Jag-wire, Jag-u-ar, or however you choose to call it are undeniably increasingly popular. I just prefer to call them Jags.

Did you know that British Car Jaguar was initially produced as sidecar for motorcycles? They sure have come a long way. Admittedly, the Jaguar style is an acquired taste and may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But you’d be crazy not to find the 1950 Mark 2 and the F-Type amazingly sexy.  You’ll find 2 Bond movies that have featured Jaguars.

There are so many other awesome British cars around today.

Most, if not all, are of course way beyond my price range. But who knows, I might be able to get my hands on a couple of used James Bond esq British cars. Then again, I may still have to wait until I win the Lottery.  Besides, I wouldn’t go for anything less than a British Car that is fully loaded with anti-pursuit systems (wink!).

Have you got a favorite Bond car or like any particular British cars in general? I would love to hear all about them. Go ahead and post your comments below.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil

The post British Cars That Make You Go “ Yeah Baby Yeah!” appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

Car diagnostics is great for finding out systematically what is hampering your car’s performance.

Computer aided car diagnostics can help a car mechanic, and in turn you as a paying customer in so many ways. First and foremost cost-effectiveness, for example it allows technicians to accurately find out the root cause of the problem by permitting the mechanic to fix it. In other words it saves you time and cash.

Don’t be afraid

I’ve seen it so many times a mechanic recommends a computer car diagnostics check, to met by raise customers eyes brows. I guess computer car diagnostics can sound a little serious, and serious vehicle problems generally mean serious maintenance costs. But don’t be to overly concerned; computer car diagnostics is common practice for identifying pretty much all vehicle problems with today’s microprocessor-controlled cars.

For peace of mind, just be sure to ask your mechanic to explain what will be done before you authorise the work, because at times computer diagnostics can be a generic term that covers a wide range of operations.

Okay, so what is involved in a car diagnostics check – Let me break it down for you:

Car Diagnostics

You car has an electronic control system that monitors the operating parameters of its components.

When the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) that manages the components sees a signal that is irregular, or fails to pick up an expected change in a signal – it stores a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC).

To access your car diagnostics trouble code technicians connect a “scan” tool to a Diagnostic Link Connector to display any stored codes. This link connector tends to be located under the driver’s side of the instrument panel.

The DTCs won’t actually tell the technician if a particular vehicle part is bad, they only really indicate that the PCM has picked up on something it didn’t expect in a certain circuit. For example the issue may be a certain car part, but at the same time it could just as easily be an issue with the circuit’s electrical wiring.

Sometimes Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are set when there is nothing wrong with the electronic control system. This happens when a mechanical problem like an engine vacuum leak, creates operating conditions that cause system components to generate signals outside their normal range.

To identify a problem your technician will start with the DTC, and thereafter perform additional tests. These tests can be mechanical, like engine compression to comprehensive electronic diagnostics.

Successful car diagnostic is down to the ability of your mechanic to determine what additional tests are required, and accurately interpret both test results and the computer network data. I guess it should go without saying then that a mechanic that has extensive training and experience is necessary.

Think of computer car diagnostics in the same way as when a doctor employs medical testing. In both cases they would combine test results with expert knowledge and skilled hands, leading to accurate diagnostics and hopefully a cost-effective cure.

Yes… I know it may seem slightly technical, but hopefully now you know how car diagnostic works.

So next time you see the “check engine light” flash up, don’t just ignore it, head down to your local garage for a car diagnostic check because prevention is definitely better then cure!

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless Mechanic,

Phil

The post What is Car Diagnostics? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.