Flushing your Vehicle’s Cooling System

The Importance of your Vehicle’s Heating and Cooling System

Beyond the comforts offered by being able to control the temperature inside your vehicle, your auto’s heating and cooling systems are necessary in preventing your ride from breaking down due to incredibly high operating temperatures.

Checking your auto’s cooling and heating systems is particularly crucial in the weeks preceding the subfreezing winter season and the sweltering heat of summer. But it’s more advisable that you check these systems every time you conduct a routine car check-up or you engage in basic vehicle maintenance.

Every time you drive, your radiator uses up coolant and water mixture to help lower the temperatures in your vehicle’s engine system. The longer and the faster you drive, the bigger the stress on your engine, allowing temperatures to skyrocket to incredible heights leading to the increase of the likelihood of overheating. Because of the coolant’s crucial role in maintaining your engine’s efficiency, you need to keep your ride equipped with the right coolant mixture (pretty much the same way you’d pick out the right type of gas for your car).

Coolant, like all the other fluids used by your vehicle, has a tendency to break down over time. This is why you need to replace your coolant mixture once in a while. When the coolant breaks down, more stress is placed on your radiator and your engine begins to run hotter than normal. Gunk and mineral deposits also build up under your vehicle’s hood, effectively reducing your vehicle’s overall performance. Prolonged use of bad coolant can also result to radiator damage, requiring you to replace your radiator sooner than you actually have to.


How Often Do You Need to Flush Out Your Cooling System?


The frequency required by your vehicle may depend on the type of auto you own and the weather conditions. If you live in an area that has moderate climates, then you can flush out your vehicle’s cooling system once a year. If, however, you live in an area known for its harsh winters and/or sizzling summers, then you may need to change your coolant mixture twice a year—at the start of summer and at the start of winter. Browse through your owner’s manual for more information on this matter.

The following are some steps on how you can flush out your vehicle’s cooling system.

Materials:
a large container (or several large containers)
radiator cleaning fluid or coolant cleaning system
fresh coolant

Step 1: Wait until you have a cool engine. If you’ve been driving, then it’s always best (not to mention safer) to wait for your engine to cool down before you start working under your vehicle’s hood.

Step 2: Prop up your hood. Again, for this step, make sure that you’ve turned off your vehicle’s engine. It’s pretty much the same way you’d want to turn off your computer, or any other electrical gadget for that matter, before you start tinkering with its components.

Step 3: Find your radiator pressure cap and release it. Do exercise a lot of caution when doing this. If your car has been running for a bit before you prop up your hood, even if your engine is already cool, there’s a chance that pressure build-up has occurred under your radiator pressure cap. When you release the cap hastily, the cap and the radiator content might just fly off. Avoid this scenario by being extra-careful.

Step 4: Look for the valve or petcock that will let you drain your radiator. If you’re unfamiliar with this auto part, then I highly suggest consulting your owner’s manual or any other supplementing manual as reference.

Step 5: Take your empty container and put it directly under the petcock or the valve. The empty container(s) will catch the draining fluid that will come out of your radiator.

Step 6: Release the petcock or the valve. Coolant should drain completely into your container. Let the coolant drain completely.

Step 7: After emptying your radiator, close your petcock or valve and remove the container.

Step 8: Fill up your radiator with water. Take note: not water-coolant mixture, just plain water. Don’t replace your radiator cap just yet.

Step 9: Start your engine. Let your engine idle for a bit as you add your coolant cleanser or radiator cleaning fluid into your radiator. Depending on the instructions or the time specified by the manufacturer of your cleanser, you may need to let your vehicle idle for around 20 or even 30 minutes.

Step 10: Turn off your engine. Let your engine sit until it cools down completely.

Step 11: Drain the fluid from your previous container and position it under the radiator.

Step 12: Reopen your petcock or valve (usually found at the base of the radiator) and let the mixture drain.

Step 13: After draining completely, close your petcock or radiator valve.

Step 14: Remove the filled container and drain it once more. (You’ll be using your container again)

Step 15: Fill your radiator with water. Although this is the second time you’re doing this, it’s important that you keep on repeating this process to clean your radiator from gunk and mineral deposits completely.

Step 16: Start your engine once more but this time, let it idle for just around five minutes.

Step 17: Turn off your engine and once again, using your container, drain the water from your radiator. Remember to close your petcock or valve completely after draining your radiator.

Step 18: Bring out your coolant or antifreeze bottle and follow the instructions specified in your owner’s manual. Most vehicles require a 50-50 mix of coolant and water. If, however, your owner’s manual states otherwise, then follow its instructions to a tee.

Step 19: Replace your radiator cap.

If you’ve followed all the 19 steps listed in this post, then congratulations! You have just successfully flushed out your cooling system.

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How to Recharge a Dead Battery

A car’s batteries were designed to last a minimum of five years. If your car’s battery lasted longer than that, then it only means you’re taking good care of your car. There are a number of factors which could affect the battery’s life. Some of the main causes may be:

1. Poor maintenance

2. Faulty car parts which demand more from the battery

3. The deterioration of battery cables and posts which could lead to battery damage

4. The use of additional parts that makes use of the electricity generated by the battery

5. Leaving the car running idly for long periods of time

6. Severe cold

7. Bad habits such as leaving the radio or the lights on unnecessarily

If your battery lasted shorter than five years, some of the reason above may have affected the lifespan of your vehicle. A dead battery has no hopes of being used again while a battery without enough power to start the engine is another thing. If your battery falls under the latter, there is still hope that you can resurrect your battery. If you’re battery is as dead as the Sahara dessert, you should take the time to replace your battery with a new one. Also, check the battery tray. Here’s a good replacement battery tray for you.

To determine if your battery still has some hope to be used again, simply recharge it through normal vehicle operation. If you find yourself having to jump the battery again and again, it only means you have to buy a new battery. You can do so by looking for a replacement battery.

Visit our trusted The Parts Bin store and search your car’s model.

Here are some steps to help you in jumpstarting your car’s battery. A second fully-functioning vehicle is needed to make this procedure a successful one, along with a set of jumper cables. Always remember that there is a danger in doing this procedure so extreme caution must be taken:

1. Before charging the car, open the hood and inspect the battery for any signs of damage.

2. Check all the cables attached to the battery are secure and free of any signs of corrosion. If there are any loose cables tighten them. If your battery cables show signs of corrosion, loosen the clamps and clean the cables with a stiff-bristled brush.

3. Position the vehicle to be jumpstarted next to the second vehicle. Make sure the cables are close enough to connect the two vehicles together.

4. Shut off the vehicle being used to jumpstart your battery.

5. Open the hoods of the two vehicles.

6. Identify which are the positive and negative terminals on each battery.

7. One end of the red jumper cable should be attached to a positive terminal of one car while the other end should also be attached to the positive terminal of the other car.

8. Take the one end of the black jumper cable and attach it to the battery’s negative terminal. The other end of the lack jumper cable should be attached to the negative terminal of the other car’s battery. At this point, sparks will emit from the battery but fear not because this is normal.

9. Turn the engine of the charger vehicle and rev it.

10. After revving the charger vehicle for a few minutes, start the car that’s being charged. If the engine would not start, adjust the cables and make sure they are attached firmly.

11. Once the car being charged starts, it should be kept running for at least 20 to 30 minutes for the alternator to have enough time to recharge the battery.

12. After charging the failed battery for at least 20 to 30 minutes, turn off the engine.

13. Remove the jumper cables in reverse order from which you first attached them.

14. Remove the black jumper from the negative terminal of the charger vehicle.

15. Remove the black charger from the battery that was charged.

16. Remove the red jumper cable from the positive terminal on the charger vehicle.

17. Remove the other end of the red jumper cable from the positive terminal of the battery that was charged.

18. Return all cables to their designated places and organize the jumper cables used.

The process itself is tedious and extreme caution must be used to handle the operation. If you have any protective gear such as gloves and glasses, it is highly recommended that you use them. Of course, a jumpstarted battery does not last very long and the purchase of a car battery is advisable.

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Remove Car Odor in Easy Steps

It’s really a bother if you get into your Nissan car, start the engine, turn on the radio for music, switch on the air conditioning system for a cool ride, and bang! You are suddenly welcomed by an awful smell! You think twice, you check the soles of your shoes, check almost every inch of your Nissan ride and you find nothing. Then it gradually becomes apparent that the only culprit left for that offensive smell is your own Nissan AC condenser. Great! Now you have to drive with the windows down just to be able to breathe in fresh air. You cannot do anything about it as of the moment as you’re already running late as it is. But you have one thing in mind though, you are sure to get rid of that smell yourself as soon as you can.

In that case, if you’re so determined to do the ‘smelly’ job yourself, then let these steps guide you into your getting-rid-of-that-nasty-smell quest.

First things first. If your air conditioning system setting is set to “intake from the outside,” then that may be the problem. Check around your vehicle, and if you see a nasty looking “something” or if you happen to pass through a chemical factory (which rarely happens anyway) or perhaps there is just too much air pollution outside, then you know why you are “enjoying” that dreadful smell. Simply turn your air conditioning off or put its setting to “re-circulate’” and voila, you get your problem solved in no time at all.

To avoid experiencing this again, be sure to keep the setting that way and also keep the coolness to just regular setting. This is because constantly putting it on maximum can leave odor-causing moisture in the system. But if you really insist on setting it to the maximum cool, then be sure to tone it down a bit before you turn off the car. This way, the drying out of the system and the forming of mildew are prevented.

Another quick way is to spray Lysol or any air freshener directly into the vents around the windshield area of the car. Then change the AC setting into “intake from the outside” and leave it at that until you’ve run at least tow miles. After which set, it back to “re-circulate.” The air from the inside is now stronger and thus will flush the Lysol through the system.

Then, on your next oil change or tune up (whichever comes first), be sure to replace your Nissan air filter. The dust, dirt, stagnant waters, and other air pollutants that have accumulated on the air filter may contribute to the car odor.

Lastly, what you could do to keep your Nissan vehicle and its Nissan parts clean and free from nasty odors is to buy a spray that gets rid of the odor and at the same time purifies the air. If you want, you can also get the spray types specifically made for the air conditioning and heating system in vehicles. You just have to spray this directly into the exterior air intake vents as well as inside the air conditioning vents in order to eliminate the car odor.

There you have it folks! Easy steps toward nice and fresh-smelling vehicles!

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Su baru XV Siap Lawan Honda CR-V

Surabaya - Produsen mobil Subaru siap meluncurkan Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) terbaru pada awal tahun depan. Mobil yang akan bernama Subaru XV itu diproyeksi akan menempati kelas yang sama dengan Honda CR-V.

Presiden Direktur Motor Image yang merupakan pemasok mobil Subaru di kawasan Asia Tenggara, Glenn Tan menjelaskan kalau pihaknya sangat yakin mobil ini akan diterima masyarakat Indonesia.

"Kami sangat yakin, dengan program CKD mobil ini, kami yakin bisa menempatkan Subaru XV ke tingkat harga yang kompetitif," ungkapnya di sela-sela pembukaan showroom Subaru di Surabaya, Minggu (10/7/2011).

"Harganya akan sangat kompetitif bila dibanding mobil Subaru yang sekarang kita bawa dari Jepang. Mobil ini akan masuk C-segmen seperti Honda CR-V, untuk harga kita lihat pas peluncuran, karena akan sangat tergantung pada nilai tukar yen," urainya.

Seperti diketahui, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) yang merupakan prinsipal Subaru di Jepang beberapa hari lalu mengumumkan telah menandatangani nota kesepahaman (MOU) untuk mulai memproduksi mobil di Malaysia dengan Grup Tan Chong.

Dalam kontrak tersebut, FHI dan TC Subaru Sdn. Bhd yang merupakan distributor kendaraan Subaru di Malaysia sepakat untuk memulai produksi mobil Subaru pada Oktober 2012 di fasilitas produksi yang ada di Tan Chong Motor Assemblies Sdn. Bhd (TCMA) dengan kapasitas produksi 5.000 unit per tahun.

Dan mobil yang akan diproduksi adalah Subaru XV. Dengan dirakit di Malaysia dan dibawa masuk dalam bentuk CKD ke Indonesia, diperkirakan harga Subaru XV tidak akan semahal bila diboyong dari Jepang sebab ada perjanjian perdagangan bebas diantara negara0negara di Asean.

Untuk mesinnya, Subaru XV menurut Glenn akan mengusung mesin 2.0 bertransmisi otomatis. Selain itu, seperti halnya mobil Subaru lain, mobil ini juga akan mengusung sistem penggerak semua roda alias All Wheel Drive.

Buka Diler di Surabaya

Sebagai pemain baru di Surabaya, Motor Image sebagai distributor Subaru tidak muluk-muluk untuk pasang target penjualan. Subaru hanya menargetkan penjualan 10 unit untuk tiap bulannya.

"Diharapkan penjualan dapat terus meningkat karena kami berani membuka dealer di Surabaya dengan alasan Surabaya merupakan kota terbesar kedua di Indonesia," ujar Glenn Tan.

Selain kota besar kedua, Glenn yakin dengan pertumbuhan ekonomi Surabaya yang terus meningkat. Apalagi harga Subaru ke depan akan lebih murah karena tidak langsung didatangkan secara built up dari Jepang.

"Kalau untuk nasional targetnya 120 mobil untuk semester I tahun 2011," tambah Glenn.

Untuk khalayak Surabaya, Subaru sendiri akan memperkenalkan sedikitnya 4 mobil andalannya yakni Impreza, Exiga, Forester, Legacy dan Outback. Untuk sedan Impreza akan dibanderol dengan harga Rp 348 - Rp 853 juta, untuk Exiga yang masuk ranah mobil MPV dibanderol dengan harga Rp 412 - Rp 540 juta.

Untuk SUV Forester dibanderol dengan harga Rp 440 - Rp 532 juta, sedan Legacy dibanderol Rp 821 juta dan untuk high MPV seperti Outback dibanderol dengan harga Rp 731 - Rp 813 juta.

"Showroom di Surabaya merupakan yang keempat setelah Batam, Pondok Indah dan Kelapa Gading," lanjut Glenn.

Dalam bulan ini, IMI juga akan membuka showroom nya di Bali. Showroom-showroom tersebut merupakan rangkaian dari 20 showroom yang bakal dibuka IMI hingga akhir tahun 2012.

Syubhan Akib,Imam Wahyudiyanta - detikOto

Redaksi: redaksi[at]detikoto.com

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