PartsAvatar Discloses Peculiar Causes behind Car Breakdown and Ways to Prevent them.

Want to know the most basic causes behind frequent breakdowns of your car? Save your money on expensive repairs and mechanics. – Partsavatar Vehicle Parts.

 We rely on your vehicles way too much. So it is possible that your car will cut out on you when you are driving down the road. You can avoid breakdowns and prevent your car from being town away by towing truck by knowing causes behind this. It is very important to keep servicing and checking your vehicle. Let’s have a look at some frequent causes and their remedies.

Dead Battery

This problem is one top of my list of causes. Sometimes when in the morning you turn the key and nothing happens. You just keep on repeating the process until you get sick of it and decide to call your mechanic.Don’t worry.

Battery can get damaged from regular short trips. It is very important to take a long drive at least one a week. Even poor electrical connections can result in battery damage. This problem frequently occurs in winters.

You can prevent the battery from getting damaged by taking long trips because the car’s alternator needs time to recharge your battery every time you drive. Short journeys drain the battery faster than the longer. You can sort this out by charging the battery overnight for every 2 weeks. These ways you will be able to keep it running longer.

Check the connections are secure and the battery terminals are clean and protected from corrosion. Loose or corroded connections need special attention to keep your car going.

You can Shop for good brand aftermarket car battery and its components at parts avatar Canada.

Flat Tire

Sometimes it is too late to check a flat tire after the damage occurs and the rim is already on the ground.The worst is you are left stranded on the road. Do routine check up on your tire.

Even a single nail could cause the tire to go flat. So inspect for any debris on the surface of the tire. There are certain things that are important to inspect as follows.

1. Tread depth:  check your tire’s tread depth of car regularly. Take a penny to check the low tread depth. Tread depth should be at least 1.6 mm.

2. Uneven wear: if the tread pattern is unusual or the depth is varying from tire to tire then let the tires checked or replaced if needed.

In case of heavy loads, make sure you adjust the tire pressure of car's tire to cope with the change. Owner’s manual provides information regarding tires so you can take its help.

You can install electric equipment like TPMS in your car .car's Tire pressure monitoring system sensors sense the under inflated tires and let you know it via an electric signal.

Overheating

Several reasons could cause a car to overheat. Damaged cooling system might cause the car’s engine to get overheated and ultimately the engine breaks down.It is strongly advised that if you notice that your car is overheating, do not continue to drive as you might be damaging other parts along with the engine.

Sometimes leaks in radiator or improper level of coolant fluid cause overheating of the engine. You can notice leaks around radiator welds or hoses. Visit you mechanic for replacement of car radiatorand car radiator hosesor automotive coolant.

You can further check the thermostat by feeling the upper radiator hose when the engine has warmed up. If you notice that the hose is still feeling cool then the thermostat is stuck shut. Repair or replace the auto thermostat as recommended by your mechanic.

Sometimes the air entering the cooling system via leaks could cause the engine to overheat. Hence due to air lock, the cooling system stops circulating the coolant and the remaining coolant inside the engine becomes superheated. So, it is very important to inspect the leaks.

The foreign objects or mineral deposits that block the radiator could cause the engine to overheat as it hinders the flow of coolant.

Water pump failure is one of the most common and regular cause for engine overheating. If the water pump is showing the signal of wear or breakage, engine starts overheating.The water pump wears quite often so you may need to change the car's engine water pump periodically.

In cold weather, coolant gels up inside the engine or radiator and cause a blockage. It can also cause internal damage in components like radiator.

Overheating could cause serious engine damage so it is very important to be proactive. Fill the coolant to the proper level and flush out the dirty coolant or fluid that causes the system to overheat. Do not drive an overheated vehicle as you will just damage the entire engine by doing so.

Clutch Cables

If you feel unusually weird while pressing the pedal, there might be some problem with the clutch cable. It is not a good sign.

If you notice a worn or stiff clutch cable then after applying additional pressure on the pedal, it might break. So be careful with hard pedals.

When you are driving up the hill, the car may slip in or out of gears. Clutch cables might have worn out so replace them before it becomes too dangerous for you to drive. Partsavatar offers durable car clutch cables, have a glance.

If you notice jerking of vehicle on slow speeds, slipping of gears or stiff pedals, then get your clutch cables checked by a professional.

Failing starter motor

We sometimes assume the reason behind the stalled vehicle might be failed radiator. But it might be starter.

Starter often produces grinding noise if the starter drive gear is worn out. Do not avoid it as it may damage flywheel if ignored.

When you turn the key and nothing happens, or you turn the key to crank the engine and the engine turns over slowly and stops. The starter motor has been damaged. Call your mechanic immediately and get the starter motor of car or even car starter replaced if necessary. Parts avatar offers free shipping on starters so get the benefit.

Insufficient lubrication

Every engine needs oil not only reduce friction but also to carry away the heat. The oil is primary means by which the rods, pistons and bearings are cooled. So any reduction or improper lubrication may cause these parts to run hot or seize.

Low oil pressure often causes engine failure. You should not starve the engine for oil as this result in failed oil pump, a plugged oil pickup screen inside the oil pan or low oil level.

Keep your engine moving with regular oil change and always choose high quality oil for your car’s engine and its lubrication.

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Having trouble in keeping your car straight on road? Your Tires Likely Need an Alignment.

Help your vehicle’s tires last longer and perform properly by keeping in mind the symptoms of bad alignment of tires.

Are you having trouble keeping your vehicle straight on the road? Does your vehicle need alignment? Alignment is a very important term in auto parts dictionary. This is because a tire or wheel alignment not only keeps your vehicle in one direction but also improves its handling and prevents unusual vibrations.

Wheel Alignment of car means adjusting vehicle’s suspension system that connects vehicles to its wheels. Vehicle’s alignment plays a pivotal role in vehicle’s performance. It saves tires from premature tire wear and your money. Safety is one of the critical aspects of driving. If the vehicle is pulling to one direction either left or right, this could not only create risk for you but also the driver behind you. As the car’s performance increases with perfectly aligned wheels, your comfort also increases.

In this article, we shall read about causes of misalignment of your car. It’s better to notice the problem in its initial stage rather rushing to the mechanic when things go out of hands.

What are Symptoms of your car being out of alignment and some tips to prevent them?

Proper wheel or tire alignment requires manufacturer recommended tools and equipments to be used for best performance. Have a glance at some symptoms of misalignment.

Uneven tire wear

Tire alignment refers to vehicle’s steering and suspension components that controls the motion of wheels. Improper tire alignment can cause the tire to wear prematurely. Various tread wear patterns of car's tires can be noticed in this situation.

Excessive positive or negative toe can cause the tread blocks to feel like a saw teeth when you touch them. Misalignment also causes one side of the tire to wear faster than the other side.

Also, don’t forget that tires and wheels are made within certain degree of tolerance that include run out and radial force variation. Any fluctuation in the tolerance can cause your vehicle’s steering to pull. In this condition, to cancel the pull you can move the worst tire to a non steering axle for the time being. But it is a temporary solution, as the pull could return during next rotation.

Some balancers can be installed to cancel the effect of steering pull on your vehicle and assign the correct position to it.

Under the situations of unusual wear patterns and premature tread wear, get the wheel alignment checked by a professional mechanic.

Under inflated tires

Most alignment problems occur with tires and wheel so it is to be noted that tires are not perfect! Tires and wheels should be of proper size and fitting. Tire pressure is a very important factor. It not only increases the rate of tire wear but also increases the possibility of car needing an alignment. Alignment service depends upon size of tire gravely, if they do not match, then alignment service is just impossible. The car will pull towards the side with wide or small tire.

So before getting alignment service performed, it is wise to check the tire size and pressure and consider manufacturer’s recommended specifications if any change is needed regarding both factors.

Worn out Steering and Suspension Components

There are some pre checkups that should be performed before getting your car aligned. They are essential because, alignment changes if there are some parts are not detected beforehand. One of those important components is steering and suspension system.

You must inspect steering components like ball joints, tie rods, steering arms for traces of wear and excessive movement. Refer to the owner’s manual or get these auto parts replaced according to manufacturer specifications for better alignment. You can also shop for good quality car's upper and lower Ball joints, automotive tie rod ends and other steering components at Parts Avatar.

Car’s alignment can be affected by leaky struts, missing and cracked suspension rubber bushings.  Partsvatar also offers suspension replacement parts and car's suspension struts at cheap prices. A worn suspension spring affects vehicle’s ride height severely. So check the springs and height along with steering and suspension parts. It is to be strictly noted that every replacement should be done according to manufacturer’s specifications.

Vehicle pulling to one side

Camber, caster and automotive toe are the three main matters of concern for the mechanic when he proceeds to check the alignment. There are certain things that you need to know about camber, caster to get perfect alignment for your car.

CAMBER

When viewed from the front of your car, it is outward or inward angle of a tire. Tilting too much inward and tilting too much in outward direction is called negative and positive camber respectively. car's Camber angles should be properly inclined according to manufacturer specifications. Worn out steering and suspension auto parts may contribute to camber misalignment. So camber adjustment must be checked before proceeding further.

CASTER

The job of caster is to adjust the steering, cornering and balancing stability of the vehicle. Caster angle of car is the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side of your car. Positive caster means steering axis will tilt towards the driver and negative caster means steering axis will tilt towards the front of your car.

Caster is only set on the front suspension of your car. Most cars prefer positive caster manner for better steering and stability of vehicle at high speeds.

As read above toe is also an important part of alignment. It tells the extent to which tire turn inwards or outwards when viewed from above. Toe wear could indicate underinflated tires or lack of rotation.

Overall vehicle’s performance is gravely affected by misalignment. So, it is important to understand the wear pattern, steering axis and tilt angle for to analyze alignment issues with your vehicle. You can also take help of some camber/caster tools of car and automotive camber/caster alignment kits available at aftermarket. If you are unable to observe the angle and axis then you may take help of a professional.

Vibrating Vehicle and Strange noises

Unbalanced tires, warped brake rotors, worn out suspension parts and wrong caster angle of your vehicle can cause the vehicle to vibrate.

Noises are very helpful in detecting a problem. Same happens in misalignment situation. Strange noises like creaking, knocking or squeaking may indicate loose or worn out suspension and steering components. It is better to check and replace car's steering and suspension components that are causing your car to go out of alignment.

Replacing tires is quite expensive. To prevent frequent tire wear and other steering and suspension damage, it is important to always be aware and get your tires and wheels aligned 5000 miles to maximize their life along with your car’s performance and your safety.

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Misaligned wheels? Steering Drifting? Know the Symptoms of Damaged or Worn out Ball Joints @PartsAvatar Canada

Know the symptoms of worn out ball joints as you may start steering to the right or left unintentionally.

The ball joints are the important suspension system component that are spherical bearing in a socket whose main function is to connect the control arm of the vehicle to the steering knuckles.

In this article we will read about the symptoms of worn out front ball joints as they are responsible for the front wheels and suspension to move back and forth while driving. When a ball joint fails, the driver eventually loses control of the vehicle. So it is very important to notice damaging symptoms of a ball joint.

By ignoring this, you not only damage the suspension but also the other components of vehicle like axle shafts and brakes of car. Before moving further, let us read about ball joints and its types.

Ball joints and its types

Ball joints basically connect the control arm with the steering knuckle and works as a pivot between suspension and wheels. On most vehicles, in the front suspension, there are car's upper and lower ball joints on both sides. On the other hand the car strut equipped vehicles have only two lower joints in the front suspensions.

Some front wheel drive cars with independent rear suspension use rear ball joints.

LOADED JOINTS

A loaded joint carries or supports the weight of vehicle and a follower joint that positions control arm assembly or strut. These are designed to support the weight of the vehicle while providing hinge point for the steering system. They decrease the wear rate by centering themselves in their own sockets.

FOLLOWER JOINTS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         These carry no weight. The follower ball joint is used in a strut suspension to connect lower control arm of car, steering knuckle and strut. These are designed to maintain precise dimensional tolerance in a car's steering and suspension system parts. A change can be noticed in camber, caster or toe angle due to wearing.

Symptoms of Worn out Ball Joints

By turning and driving on rough or bad roads, a constant friction is created between ball stud and bearing which causes the ball joints to wear prematurely. Lack of lubrication and corrosion of joints can also increase the rate of wear. Let us read some other symptoms of a worn out ball joint.

Excessive vibration from the front of the vehicle

Excessive vibrations from vehicle’s suspension are also one of the common symptoms of worn out ball joints. The vibration may be felt from right of left side of the vehicle or sometimes even the steering wheel can give the feeling of vibration. The cause of vibration is loosened ball joints in the sockets and they vibrate heavily when the vehicle is in motion.

Abnormal Drifting of steering

If the steering is not getting back to the centre, then there may be issue with the ball joints. When the ball joints are in good condition and wheels are in proper alignment the steering wheel should also stay straight. Damaged ball joints will cause the steering wheel to wander from right to left and it will eventually lead to damage or accident.

Tire wear

Uneven tire wear is also a symptom of worn out ball joint. Worn ball joints may cause the outer or inner edges of the front tires to wear faster than the tire tread. Worn ball joints also create cupping on the inner edge of the tire tread of car;s tire. Sometimes under inflated tire can also cause the side edges to wear at faster rate than the middle, so for this you may need to take a professional advice.

Noises

One of the most common symptoms is clunking noises coming from vehicle’s front suspension. Sometimes it is like a banging sound coming from the corner of the vehicle. You can hear these noises when the vehicle is going on a speed bump, rough road and potholes or around the corner. As the ball joints become loose in the socket they start to knock as the suspension travels up and down. Ignoring the noise may just add to the damage as by the time the sound will become louder and eventually the ball joint will fail and break.

So if we make a check list of factors that contribute in damaging ball joints is:

·        Improper service damaging the boot

·        Out of round tires

·        Lack of lubrication to the joints

·        Over greasing that causes boot failure

·        Severe potholes and rough roads

Ball joint Maintenance

Do not ignore the warning signs of worn out ball joints as they may break eventually. Ball joints may last 70000 to 150000 miles. Road conditions, driving, exposure to contaminants are the factors that affect lifespan of a ball joint.

 It is advised to replace all the ball joints while replacing a worn out ball joint as it will be economically convenient and also better for suspension performance.

For replacing a ball joint, you can jack up your car from the side where the replacement is needed.

Now grasp the top and bottom of the tire. By rocking it in and out, you can configure which ball joint is bad.

Pry apart the lower control arm and wheel hub with the help of a pry bar. Moving grease fitting indicates bad ball joint or grease fitting. You can detect if it is the ball joint or grease fitting that has gone bad by moving the ball with the fitting. If the fitting is dry and can move, there may be only issue with grease fitting.

If the ball joint is attached to the arm, then the whole car's control arm assembly should be replaced if the joint has worn out. You can take mechanic’s help if you cannot separate ball joints.

The replacement cost varies from vehicle to vehicle. They depend on year, make, model and even number of ball joints your vehicle is using. so, aftermarket parts can be taken into consideration if you want to shop for them. Partsavatar is one of the best aftermarket parts dealers that offer auto parts under your budget. take a look.

For a smooth ride it is very important to choose right set of tires.

Clueless about car’s tires? Learn important things while choosing set of tires for your auto mobile.

Tires are the most overlooked part of a vehicle. They make the main contact between the road and the vehicle. During summers and winters many people face problems especially regarding tires because of lack of proper knowledge about them. An inadequate set of tires cause issues like frequent wearing of tires, flat tires due to inadequate pressure in them and steering problems.

This article will help you know the conditions and essentials for choosing the right set of tires. A good set of tires will improve handling, steering and suspension of car, acceleration and braking system auto parts of a car.

While choosing right set of tires, one must keep the following elements in consideration:

1. TUBE TYPE/ TUBELESS

Tubeless tires should be preferred over tube type. They are safer than the tuber ones and are more advanced. Allow wheels are not needed if you are using tubeless tires.

2. SIZE

Size is most important factor of a tire. Tire sizes are represented in a standard format.

Three deciding factors of choosing right size are:

RIM SIZE

You have to choose the tire size designed for exactly the size of the rim you plan to mount the tire on. Larger rims will reduce the sidewall height and minimize sidewall flex.

TREAD WIDTH

0 mm-20 mm increase in width is considered generally. Tire compound plays a large role in its gripping. If you increase the tire width then make sure that they do not touch wheel wells of the car on turning the steering wheel all the way.

  

SIDEWALL HEIGHT

Use calculator to judge basic changes in size. Generally 3-4 % change is acceptable.

3. TREAD PATTERN

The tread of a tire refers to the rubber on its circumference that makes contact with the road or the ground. The pattern of grooves into the rubber are called tread pattern. The tread pattern has a major effect on wet weather performance of a tire. Tread pattern also calculates the road noise generated by the tire due to trapping and expulsion of air from channels. Re treaded tires should be avoided. They are highly dangerous. Following are some common tread pattern used:

                              

CONVENTIONAL TREAD

Conventional treads are most commonly used treads. These are neither unidirectional nor asymmetric. These can be run either in direction or mounted on the rim.                     

 UNI DIRECTIONAL

These are basically designed for rotation in a specified direction. The marking on the sidewalls of the tires states the direction of rotation with arrow. Their usual pattern is either in ‘A’ or ‘V’. These are beneficial for water channeling and tire noise controlling.

                                                              

ASYMMETRIC

These tires have outside sidewall and inside sidewall. There will always be a notation stating the side to be faced by road. Outside shoulder of tire tread can be designed with different pattern and compound to aid high speed cornering.  

DIRECTIONAL AND ASYMMETRICAL

It features V shaped pattern of directional tread and dry weather traction of asymmetrical tread. Tires with this pattern should be treated as directional tires for tire rotation.

TREAD WEAR GRADING

The tread wear grading indicates the tire’s relative wear rate as tested against an industry standard which is 100. Higher the tread wear number, longer it is for the tread to wear down. Consumers are advised to choose tire brand with high tread wear rating. It should be kept in mind that driving conditions and environment may affect actual tire wear.

TRACTION GRADING

This specifies the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as tested under controlled conditions and test surfaces. The traction rating from highest to lowest is as “AA”,”A”,”B” and “C” based on braking tests. Tire with high traction rate is advised to be chosen. Note that traction rating does not include cornering or turning performance of a tire.

TEMPERATURE GRADING

It points out a tire’s ability to withstand heat. Temperature grading from highest to lowest is as “A”, “B”, and “C”. If the tire is unable to endure the detrimental effects of heat, its ability to run at high speed decreases. Blowouts and tread separations may occur while going on a long distance drive in high temperature. Purchasing tire of high temperature grade would be a nice decision.

4. RUBBER COMPOUND

Rubber compound is the most decisive factor in determining tire’s traction and tread wear characteristics.  The quality of rubber is proportional to amount of traction you get and speed rating of the tire, and inversely proportional to tread life off tire.  So, the higher the speed rating of tire, better the grip of the tire. Compound also determines the behavior of the tire, for example, while approaching traction, some tires screech and wail but some let out the faintest chirp.

5. OVERALL QUALITY OF THE TIRE

Overall quality of the tire can be determined by keeping in mind the following.

REPUTATION OF MANUFACTURER  

A good manufacture should possess modern facilities, better quality standards and newer equipment at their manufacturing units. Doing research and reading reviews on the manufacturer may help in getting an idea about how reliable the manufacturing company is.

WARRANTY

The fine print shall be read.

DATE OF MANUFACTURE

Every tire is stamped with a four digit DOT code on its sidewalls. The fresher the tire, the better it is. Try to buy a tire not older than 6 months.

ADDED TECHNOLOGIES

Each manufacturer has a different technology they add to their tire mechanism. We must go for something revolutionary rather going for its unique name.

If you are looking for long lasting set of tires, then above mentioned factors would be helpful. For aftermarket products do not forget to visit Partsavatar.ca which offers best deal in auto parts across Canada.