With Remembrance Day coming up PartsAvatar thank all our Veterans and acknowledge the courage of those presently serving!

On November 11, as an act of remembrance, honour those men and women who have served for the peace of this great nation- Brought to you by PartsAvatar Car Parts.

More than 118,000 Canadian soldiers have died serving for this nation. We are enjoying peace and harmony because they fought for us. Then as a human being it is our moral duty to pay respect to those who gave their lives and futures so that we may live in peace.

But first it is very important to know the history. Let us have a peek at the past!

A Day of remembrance

Every country has a special day commemorating those who fought and died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the end of World War 1 on November 11, 1918. It is also known as Armistice Day.

World War 1 resulted in loss of huge number of lives among civilians and military personnel. Thus Remembrance Day commemorates those who died in armed conflicts especially during World War 1. November 11 is observed as Remembrance Day in many common wealth nations like U.S., Australia and New Zealand etc.

Remembrance Day celebrations

In Canada, Remembrance Day is observed as a holiday for government employees, private business, schools and provincial governments. In Atlantic and Western parts of Canada it is observed as a holiday while in Ontario and Quebec it isn’t.

We pay homage to those who respond to their country’s needs. On November 11, people attend commemorative ceremonies and a tribute of 2 minute silence is given to them.

Following are the ways in which you can spend Remembrance Day:

Wear poppies on your lapel

Bright red poppy is seen as a symbol of Remembrance Day all over the world.  After the First World War, the red poppy was symbolized as the bloodshed by the soldiers on the western front. Poppies were a common sight amidst the violence that reminded soldiers that there is still beauty and hope in the world.

To honour those who died while serving in military or in other wars, pin a poppy on your shirt lapel as a silent but meaningful gesture. Do wear your poppy on the left close to your heart. It is typically worn from the last Friday of October until the closing of commemoration ceremony.

Reflect on Canada’s past and struggles

It’s a perfect time to introduce Canada’s role played in the World War 1 and other wars to your young generations. It is a time to reflect on the historical relations Canada had maintained with other commonwealth nations.

Two minutes of Silence

At 11.00 A.M., joint the rest of the country in observing two minute of silence to commemorate the time at which armistice was signed in 1918. Bow your head, stand still, reflect and honour veterans in this meditation of gratitude.

Cite the poem “Ode of remembrance”

The Ode of remembrance is the part of the poem “For the fallen” which originally honoured the British soldiers who died on the western front. It is now recited as a general commemoration of all soldiers who died in the line of duty.

Visiting National War Memorial in Ottawa

The official national ceremonies are held at the national war memorial in Ottawa. These events begin with the tolling of Carillon in the peace tower, during the serving members of Canadian forces arrive at confederation square, followed by Ottawa diplomatic corps, ministers of crown, royal Canadian legion, vice regal party and royal party.

Remembrance Day at Calgary

A parade is observed at central memorial park held by Calgary highlanders. Military museums also offer free admission on this day. Public addresses and speeches are held at Battalion park ceremony.

Honour your loved ones!

We can spend quality time with our family members on this day. For those with relatives who died while serving in the military, it is special day for honouring those loved ones.

Certain Protocols to follow in ceremonies!

The very first thing is to wear poppy. With poppies come questions about exactly how to wear them? What are the don’ts of ceremonies? Here are some protocols you should follow strictly:

1. Pins shouldn’t be substituted with safety pins or rubber bands to keep a poppy from falling off. The legion doesn’t like using Canadian flag pins to hold on poppies.

2. Poppy is generally worn on the left lapel close to your heart.

3. You can also wear poppies to honour veterans in other ceremonies or funerals other than Remembrance Day.

4. You can wear as much poppies as you want to, there is no rule to this. It is observed that Queen Elizabeth II routinely wears several poppies when honouring the war dead.

5.  Don’t recycle to reuse this year’s poppy, next year.

6. You don’t need a photo to immortalize this instant. Feel the unity and the reverence.

Quick Facts about Remembrance Day

1. It was first observed 1919 as was originally called as Armistice Day to commemorate armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918 at 11.00 A.M.

2. The first Remembrance Day was observed on November 11, 1931 after a bill was passed in house of commons to change the name.

3. On this day we remember and pay homage to more than 2300000 Canadian Men and women who have served throughout our nation’s history.

3. Replica poppies are sold by royal Canadian legion to provide assistance to veterans.

4. The governor general of Canada presides over the national ceremony which is held in national war memorial in Ottawa.

5. In advance of the ceremony, the veterans, Canadian Armed forces, RCMP officers and cadet march to the memorial lead by a pipe band and a colour guard.

6. Many nations which are either member of commonwealth like Australia, New Zealand, U.K. and U.S. or non commonwealth nations like France, Belgium and Poland observe Remembrance Day on November 11.

7. U.S. changed the name of Remembrance Day to Veterans Day but they celebrate and observe it on the same day i.e. November 11.

Bottom Line

It is our duty to remember those brave men and women for their devotion and courage to ideals. For one brief moment of our busy lives, shouldn’t we remember why we must work hard for peace? So the next time you recon an army, navy, air force officer, soldier thank and salute them!

Parts Avatar Canada will hold a moment of silence so out thoughts can be with the fallen soldiers and veterans. Remember them well!

Want to explore Canada via Road trip ?? Here are some tips for driving across the Border into Canada !!

You should plan your routes before entering Canadian border! There is pretty much to explore in Canada. So, here are some tips for your trouble free road trip!!- Brought to you by PartsAvatar Auto Body Parts.

If you are driving from America to Canada there are quite a few things that you should keep into your consideration especially if you are on a road trip. Here we have outlined some tips for you to have a trouble free journey.

Drive on the right

Canadians drive on the right like most other countries. The best way to deal with having to drive on the wrong side of the road is to take your time and start out slowly.

Seat Belts Law

Safety standards are high on Canadian roads. Seat belts are compulsory. Ensure that the driver and others in the car are wearing seat belts otherwise a fine up to $2500 will be applied.

Necessary documents

Everyone wants their border crossing to go smoothly. The best way to make your trip memorable is to be prepared. You will need to show your driving license and a proof of insurance.

All visitors arriving in Canada need a passport or passport equivalent with the exception of children. You can also carry green card as the proof of insurance.

If you are crossing border from US, be ready to address the border officer at border service booth. He will be going through your passport and other documents.

Speed limit

Canadians practise defensive driving, but there is a rare chance of collisions from speeding. Wide open roads mean some drivers are impatient and will break speed limits.

If you are used to driving in the US, speed limits in Canada can seem pretty liberal. Overall, speed limits allow for faster driving in Canada than in the US.

Make sure you know the difference between kilometres and miles before you get behind the wheel and also know speed limits of every province and territory as they may vary.

Major roads in urban areas- 37 to 44 mph

2 lane highways outside cities and towns- 50 mph

Multi lane highway driving- 62 mph

Minimum driving Age

If you are driving across Canada, it good idea to make sure you know legal driving ages for provinces you may pass through.

In Alberta, learner’s permit can be obtained at the age of 14 but can only be used while driving with a non probationary licensed driver over 18. In other provinces, the learner’s permit (G1) is available at the age of 16.

Car rental companies will insist you are a minimum of 21 years old with a minimum of 1 year experience.

Written permission of guardian is mandatory

If you think you can easily cross the border without telling your parents, you will definitely end up in huge trouble. Adults who are not parents or guardians should have written permission from the parents or guardians to supervise the children, including the name and contact information of the guardian.

Even if you are not divorced from the child’s other parent, bring the other parent’s written permission to take the child over the border. Have the necessary ID for your children ready to present to a customs officer. Legal custody documents should be carried if divorced parents share custody of their child.

Check/ Empty your trunk

Sometimes supervisors at the border order their officers to pop every trunk, just for a look see. Unnecessary items in your trunk will just add more time to their questioning.

Be prepared for basic questions like “how long you will be staying?”, “why are you travelling to Canada?” and “where will you stay?” Answer with confidence.

On the spot fines and child safety rules

Traffic violations are generally dealt with tickets but in some provinces there are on the spot fines for small infringements but they aren’t common.

It is strictly illegal to use safety camera warning devices in Canada and you can face fine of about $650 for violating rules. Make sure there isn’t any!

Children less than forty pounds are supposed to travel in an approved child safety seat. Babies and toddlers must be in a rear facing seat fixed in the back.

When you return

When you return to US, you have to declare all the goods you acquired outside US such as gifts, prizes or awards. Keep the receipts of duty free shopping if the officer asks for them.

It is mandatory for the travellers to consume what they buy at duty free while they are in Canada. Also make sure to declare any repair or alterations you made to your vehicle while you were in Canada like repair or replacement of auto parts.

Roll down the front and back car windows

When you reach the border, roll down your front and back windows so that border officer can interact with everyone sitting inside.

Watch out for wild animals

There are various signs deployed on the roads to alert the drivers to certain wildlife type that are seen nearby. A real hazard can happen if you hit a deer or moose particularly when they show up out of the blue.

There is a high chance of getting killed after colliding with large animals. So, better slow down around those areas.

Watch out for icy roads

Winter driving in Canada can be a scary experience. Canadian winters are quite harsh and roads are often blocked with snow. So watch out for icy roads, rock avalanches, snow or other extreme conditions.

Some roads are very isolated. It would be worse if you get stuck for hours without any aid. Always have the number of local emergency services available.

Other road rules in Canada

1. Canadian drink driving laws are quite strict. If you already have a drunk driving conviction on your license within last five years, your admission in Canada will be prohibited. In other provinces you can be charged with $1000 fine money along with one year suspension of your license.

2. Always give way to pedestrians on pedestrians crossing.

3. It may be helpful to familiarise yourself with some basic French travel phrases before you go. You will come across many places with road signs in French.

4. At crossroads, only the direction of turn that is legal will be signposted, all other turns are illegal.

5. If the police stop you for any offence, remain seated in your car and switch off the engine.

6. Bribing a police officer is a serious offence, don’t even try to!

7. You cannot use a mobile phone without a hands free kit in Canada.

So, now that you know what you need to prepare, you can enjoy trouble free trip.

Buy aftermarket auto parts at partsavatar.ca and get the best deal under lucrative prices. Visit PartsAvatar blog for more interesting auto articles!

Check out our picks for safe, reliable models well suited for young drivers !! Equip your car with premium quality auto parts at PartsAvatar !!

Looking for safest vehicle for your teen? Here are the cars that will protect young drivers on road and give you peace of mind!!-PartsAvatar Auto Replacement Parts!

You might be either excited or freaking out! The reason being the teenage human in your house is now a licensed driver!! How will she manage on the road? Will he remember to use turn signals?

What car would be best for her? These questions might be bugging you!

Don’t worry, you were also a newbie! Here is our selection of some of the safest models which can be well suited for your young driver!

Chevrolet Spark

Living large comes naturally for this cool car, with amazing technologies that keep your teen’s social game strong. Teens love mini cars because they can get a brand new car outfitted with the latest in car technology for the same price as a low tech used car.

Spark has Chevrolet My link, a diagonal colour touch screen that with a compatible smart phone, lets you send and receive texts, play music and more.

Talking about its safety, spark gives you confidence every time you buckle up thanks to 10 standard air bags, 4 wheels anti lock brakes and a high strength steel safety cage.

It is affordable, easy to drive, fuel efficient and full of style for beginners. You can also Upgrade Chevy’s auto parts of your car’s make and model under affordable prices at online store such as PartsAvatar!

Ford Fiesta

With a 1.6L Eco boost engine that delivers 197 HP, 17 inch aluminum wheels it is definitely a driver’s car. Now with apple car play and android auto capability you can enjoy all of the sync features.

Available as a four door sedan or five door hatchbacks, its tight rear seat and scant standard equipment shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Don’t look at its size, fiesta has earned top safety pick award for its strong performance. You will definitely love fiesta for its low priced and good fuel economy and its fierce style statement.

Ford Fiesta may be small, slow but it’s a capable and refined little car at a reasonable price and fully competitive with other Auto giants like Honda, Kia and Toyota.

Replace ford auto parts at PartsAvatar and optimize your ride.

Kia Soul

The 2017 Kia soul has been in the market with its perky turbocharged engine that not only brings a significant boost in performance but an altogether more thoroughly executed feel.

Soul is a budget friendly with optimized riding experience, handling and refinement.

On the safety front, blind spot assist with rear cross traffic alert finally becomes available. In addition, turbo is fitted with 12 inch vented front discs to improve stopping power, fade and resistance.

Hyundai Veloster

The Hyundai veloster combines cool, sports car looks with a fairly pedestrian power train; a 1.6L engine that’s tuned for fuel economy rather than speed.

On safety front, it features anti lock braking for controlled steering and minimize emergency stopping distance with brake assist and a rear parking assist for easier parking.

It isn’t too much expensive than the average compact sedan. Its turbocharged version isn’t speedy and is best choice for teens for a freeway drive.

Mitsubishi Mirage

Mirage is a smart and sensible choice, if you think on teaching young driver some financial responsibilities. This basic four door hatchback comes with a good warranty and a maximum fuel rating of 43 MPG highway.

The lightweight mirage is maneuverable, easy to throw around and its controls are effortless. It is inexpensive and gets the job done.

Though its styling is a bit pedestrian, the mirage is available in a palette of bright colors.

Nissan Versa

The versa is believed to be America’s cheapest car, so if you want a cheap new car, here it is. Its wimpy 109HP four cylinder makes for slow acceleration but is fuel efficient.

2017 versa see a mildly revised centre console that includes a new design for the front cup holders an additional 12 volt outlet and relocation of car’s standard auxiliary input and available USB port to the area ahead to the shift lever.

With Nissan’s excellent build quality, it will see a teen driver right through high school and college and well into those first earning years.

Toyota Yaris

Toyota yaris is a budget car that feels every bit of its low sticker price. A four speed automatic and five speed manual are available as mates for the Yaris’s 106HP, 1.5L inline four and an SE model is available for those seeking a sportier ride.

But for young ones, take time because driving Yaris needs experience. But there is no reason for them not to enjoy driving.

It’s got a fairly simple control layout, a good stereo and enough cargo space for the journey to college and is quite affordable.

Subaru Impreza

Standard all wheel drive makes the impreza a trusty all season companion but it does a little to excite enthusiast drivers. Both hatchback and sedan models get a 152HP 2.0L four cylinder with a 5 speed manual or a CVT.

But still it is a good choice for inexperienced drivers as the all wheel drive improves dry weather traction and it will be easier for them to handle the car in a sudden panic manuever.

Subaru’s eyesight active safety tech is optional and includes adaptive cruise control and automated emergency braking.

Subaru’s growing legions of followers say safety is a big reason they buy the all wheel driven cars plus reliability and good resale value.

Toyota Prius

Perhaps you can encourage your teen to try on a hybrid rather than those traditional gas guzzlers. The 2017 prius combines the space and versatility of an SUV with the advanced technology and fuel efficiency of a hybrid.

With its combination of space and efficiency, the prius is quite compelling – 46 MPG is achievable even at 75MPH. It is fun to drive and the cabin is mostly quiet, but the tires clomp loudly over broken roads.

A responsive touch screen controls the infotainment system. The prius eco model rates at 58 mpg city and 53 mpg highway. So, it encourages hypermiling rather street racing thus encouraging your teen to choose economy over speed.

Enough choices already? It’s better to consider safety over luxury for budding drivers. After they gain some experience on road, they can go for much better ones! But for beginners, these are safest!

If you want to upgrade your car’s auto parts, then do visit partsavatar.ca as here we offer replacement auto parts of almost every make and model!

For a safe and more relaxed car ride, update your car’s power brake boosters @Partsavatar auto parts!

Buy power brake boosters with confidence at Partsavatar because trust and product assurance is here! ~ Parts avatar Auto Brake parts !

Power brake boosters provide assistance to the car’s braking system. So you won’t have to put in extra force for the brakes to engage. The brake booster is generally located between the brake pedal and master cylinder of car and it uses vacuum to overcome brake pressure.

Brakes are very important for your safety on the road. Any tempering with the brakes or its functionality will result in accident because you won’t be able to stop the car at right moment.

So if you notice that your car is taking more than enough time to stall, brake pedal is difficult to push, power brake booster is definitely failing. Don’t play with your safety. You will find almost everything you need to know about Power brake boosters here.

What is a power Brake booster?

Power brake booster is the device that is used to assist the car’s brake system as it reduces the amount of force it takes to apply the hydraulic brakes. Mostly power brake booster uses vacuum but some may use hydraulic pressure and use power brake hydraulic motor pump of car to accomplish this task of braking.

 Combined with the power of your foot pressing the brake pedal, the shaft (which is pushed forward when the brake is depressed) helps push a piston inside your brake master cylinder which in turn displaces brake fluid through your braking system.

In a typical power brake booster, the brake pedal is attached to the booster via mechanical linkage (in case of vacuum) and brake master cylinder is bolted directly to its other side. When the pedal is depressed, vacuum actuated plunger activates the master cylinder.

How do they work?

As you depress the brake pedal, your pedal linkage causes a shaft to move forward in response to your foot. As this shaft moves forward, it gets in touch with the master cylinder and brake booster. The diaphragm in the brake booster divides it into two parts with both in a partial vacuum.

When the brake pedal is depressed, it causes the valve inside the booster to open which in turn makes way for the air to enter one side of the booster. This difference of pressure on one side helps to push the piston inside the brake master cylinder in response to the brake pedal which in turn slows down the vehicle.

Without brake booster, even simple act of slowing your car would require substantially higher amounts of effort and incur greater amount of fatigue. So brake booster is a helping hand for you.

There are auto remanufactured power brake boosters and new auto power brake boosters in aftermarket stores like parts avatar Canada. Choose your specifications and buy one if you have worn power brake boosters.

Symptoms of Failing Power brake boosters

It isn’t really a good idea to drive a car with failed power brake booster. Though it is possible to drive the car without properly working brake boosters but mind you it’s not at all safe. It becomes very difficult and you will need to press the brake pedal way too hard to stall your car.

It is wise not to drive the vehicle with damaged power brake boosters. Following symptoms can alert you if there is any problem with power brake booster of your car.

Hard Pedal

It is the most common sign of a failing power brake booster. If it is becoming hard to push the brake pedal, brake booster is certainly a problem. The most obvious cause for the hard brake pedal is simply not enough vacuum.

Do not drive a car with hard pedal, as it would become too hard for you to halt your car with such pedal condition and troubleshoot auto hard pedal problem. Call your mechanic, and get your car’s brake system inspected thoroughly.

Replace your ruined power brake boosters with new power brake boosters or even better you can use remanufactured power brake boosterwith master cylinder of car or remanufactured auto power brake without master cylinder after consulting with your mechanic and friends.

Remanufactured items are fully inspected of their warranties before they are added into the product catalog at parts avatar by expert technicians. So if you want to buy remanufactured products then do choose partsavatar.ca as your auto store.

Engine Stalls

Not enough vacuum will obviously result in hard pedal as read above. Failing power brake booster can draw excess vacuum from the engine. If the diaphragm inside the brake booster starts malfunctioning and allows the air to bypass the seal, the engine will stall when the brakes are applied.

This is quite dangerous as stalling engine can cause grave problems and there are various other causes of a stalled auto engine. Avoid driving that car with such issues and waste no time in calling a professional technician.

Longer Stopping distances

As it becomes hard to pedal, you won’t be able to get power assistance from failing power brake boosters to stop your car.  So, it will take longer than usual to stop your car with much force and fatigue on your side. It is dangerous if you are driving on highways or you are stuck in bad weather.

As always, look for your mechanic as soon as you discover this symptom.

Test the booster at home

You can test your car’s power brake boosters at home too. This will not be as risky as it is on the road. With the engine off, all you need to do is to pump the brakes about five to six times. This depletes the stored vacuum. Turn the engine on while pushing down lightly on the brake pedal. If the brake booster is failing, nothing will happen in this case and brake pedal will push back against your foot.

DIY – Replace Brake Boosters

Replacing brake booster is an easy task. You can take extra help while replacing old brake boosters with new power brake boosters.

1. First step is to disconnect the brake lines. Entire brake system is quite complex so start with removing brake lines from master cylinder. Use the tube nut wrench to slowly remove each line and mark it for easy identification when you are placing them back.

2. After disconnecting the brake lines, take out the master cylinder. You can also check the master cylinder for any sign of damage.

3. The brake booster is connected to the brake pedal. Using wrench unfasten the bolts that attach the brake booster to the engine and remove it completely.

4. Place the new brake booster to its place and secure it with bolts. Reconnect it with diaphragm, engine and brake pedal. Now in the reverse order, reconnect the master cylinder and then the brake lines.

So never ignore any symptom that alerts you for failing power brake booster. And do yourself a favor and use other safe means of transport other than the one with failed power brake booster for your safety.

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