Car Warning Lights: Is My Car Going to Blow Up? Myths & Facts

Today's vehicles are equipped with an array of warning lights. Of course we're all familiar will the seat belt warning and the door ajar indicator; however, with the automotive industry's technological advancements there are a number of warning lights that can be quite alarming.
Following is a Question and Answer Guide on some of the more common Warning Light concerns.
SRS Light (Supplemental Restraint System): the supplemental restraint system is your Airbag System. It may incorporate a variety of active, passive, and even pre-safe technology depending on the vehicle. Given that the SRS System is a safety system, it is well monitored with numerous sensors and automatic self-tests. The slightest malfunction in this system illuminates the SRS light.

• Can the vehicle be driven with an SRS Light on? Yes, at the owner's risk. There are thousands of vehicles on the road without SRS technology.
• Is the airbag going to blow up? It's unlikely. When the SRS Light is on the system is inoperative.

ABS Lights: The Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light is another common occurrence in today's vehicles. The ABS system helps to keep you from skidding out of control during braking by limiting your wheels from locking up/skidding.

The ABS system is often integrated with traction control and stability systems, all of which are designed to keep you safe during panic stops, wheel slippage, and handling.

• Do I need brakes? You might, but that's not why the ABS Light is on. The ABS Warning System does not monitor disc brake pad or disc brake rotor wear (see the Padlight Warning section below)
• Can the vehicle be driven? Like the SRS system, the vehicle can be driven at the owner's risk as there are many vehicles still on the market without the enhanced safety features of ABS.
• Why is my ABS light on? How do I reset the ABS Light? These are simple questions with a multitude of answers depending on the vehicle in question. For a QUICK and FREE solution, follow the information and guidelines for Resetting Check Engine Light @ http://www.repairtrust.com/check.html, and apply them to your ABS light.

Low Coolant Light: The Low Coolant Light will come on when the coolant drops below the coolant level sensor--generally one to two quarts. If this light is on, there are two primary possibilities. The most common is a coolant leak. The other is an electrical fault in the warning lamp circuit. Have them checked out.

• Can it be driven? If there are no major leaks, the vehicle is not overheating (and does not start to overheat), and there is still some evidence of coolant in the overflow bottle, it can be driven. If you can see coolant leaking on the ground--tow it. When in doubt, always tow it!

Red Oil Light On: Stop driving immediately and shut the engine off! If a Red Oil Warning Light comes on PAY ATTENTION.

The best case scenario is that your engine oil is a little low. The second best case scenario is that there is an electrical issue with the Oil Level Warning System circuit.
First, follow your owners' manual's instructions to check your oil. If low, add as recommended--make sure you don't see it dripping or pouring out on the ground, which would indicate a "major" engine leak.
If the oil is not low and your engine is making ticking, knocking, or unusual noises, Tow it!
If everything appears ok, and you're a bit of a gambler, it may just be an issue with the warning lamp circuit. In this case, get your vehicle checked out at your earliest convenience.
The worst case scenario is internal engine damage.
Note: many of today's vehicles have very sensitive and sophisticated Oil Level Warning Systems. You may be alerted of oil level too high, or oil level too low. Again, refer to your owners' manual's instructions.
So whether it's a 1993 Ford Aerostar Check Oil Light, or a question of "Why does oil light flash in Saab automobile," PAY ATTENTION!
Red Brake Warning Lights: Generally, Red Warning Lights mean DANGER. In the case of a Red Brake Warning Light, there may be a hydraulic brake fluid leak. If the brake pedal feels abnormal or spongy--don't drive--Tow It!

• Can I drive it? If the car is stopping ok, and you're a gambler, go ahead. If the brake pedal feels different than usual, or if the vehicle is not stopping properly, don't drive it!
• Note: make sure that your emergency brake is not on or partially engaged, as this will illuminate a Red Brake Warning Light.

Yellow Brake Warning Light (Padlight): This is an early warning system for brake pad wear. Essentially, as your disc brake pads wear down, at a certain point a sensor is tripped to alert you that you will need brakes soon.

• Can I drive the vehicle, and for how long? Yes, you can continue to drive. How long depends on your driving style. City drivers (city driving is generally harder on brakes due to the constant stop and go) will likely need their brakes addressed before someone who does primarily highway driving.
• Will I do more damage to the brakes? Depending on how long you continue to drive you could conceivably wear your disc brake pads down to the metal backing plate, which could then damage your disc brake rotors and, in rare cases, the disc brake calipers.

However, with many of today's brake systems, the replacement of the disc brake rotors along with the disc brake pads is required or strongly recommended.
Important: It is better to have your brakes checked early to increase the possibility of saving money by not having to replace the rotors. However, many of today's brake disc pads and rotors require replacement not due to wear, but due to rust and corrosion; thus rotor replacement is often necessary anyway. Brake calipers rarely need replacing during regular brake work.
Air Suspension Lights (Airmatic, Air Ride, Hydraulic Suspensions): Suspension Warning Lights illuminate when the suspension's monitoring system has detected a fault. Often there is a leak--either air or hydraulic fluid.

• Can I Drive It? Maybe. But if the suspension is lower than usual, and/or the vehicle just doesn't feel right--Tow It! Extensive damage could result if the suspension drops too low while driving.
• Note: air suspension system repairs are best left to the best, state-of-the-art service center you can find, preferably a dealership.

Tire Pressure Warning Light: This recent technological development causes quite a bit of confusion. Put simply, if your tire is getting low on air, your car lets you know via sensors mounted in various places depending on the model.

• What is the low tire pressure warning light reset procedure? Sometimes the reset procedure is as simple as pressing a button. Other times one has to set the tire pressures, recalibrate the on-board computer, genuflect and cross two fingers. Check your owners' manual or call a specialist or dealer.
• Note: Local shops and franchises (for the most part) lack familiarity with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems given that this is a fairly recent technological development. You can refer to How to Reset Check Engine Light, and follow the tips, and suggestions for getting it reset.

Emission Warning Light: This light is similar to the Check Engine Light. Many European models such as Volvos have this type of Warning System. It's essentially letting you know that an emissions component has failed or detected a fault. Again, follow the Check Engine Light information and tips to address this particular warning light.

Resetting Oil Lights (Oil Change Warning Lamps): Whether it's a Toyota Oil Light Procedure, an Oil Change Warning Light Reset 2005 GMC Envoy, or the process to Reset 1999 M3 Oil Service Light, all require a specific course of action.

Most owners' manuals have this information. You should find it under maintenance or oil service. You can also call your local mechanic, who reset oil service, engine, srs, airbag lights etc everyday on a variety of models with vehicle diagnostic equipment.
Theodore P. Olson (Ted)
http://repairtrust.com/

How Do I Check for Problems With the Car's Computers, the Engine Control Unit

While computers (also called "Engine Control Units" or ECU's) are a relatively new addition to the world of automobiles - pre-2000 models typically have none - but they have now become an integral part of every modern car. As a matter of fact, insurance companies consider cars to be totaled if their ECU's gets busted. Computers in cars today do all sorts of things - regulate the all wheel drive or 4x4 system, the fuel injection, airbags and many more.
Thus, a car with faulty electronics does not only consume fuel inefficiently but also exposes the passengers to a greater risk for accidents. Unfortunately, fixing a car's computer can be a very expensive endeavor. Many car manufacturers do not disclose the source code of the programs that are inside their car's computers.
Thus, it is immensely difficult for car mechanics to fix the computer problems. Hence, a car computer in its prime is an essential criterion for judging the overall health of a vehicle. But how do we know that it is indeed in good condition? Here are the most common signs of a faulty car computer.
Check Engine Light
The check engine light is a signal that should turn on as soon as the driver attempts to start the engine. This light indicates that the car's ECU has already started and is ready to assist the driver with running the car. However, there are instances where it simply won't come on.
There are many possibilities example, is a minor problem with the electrical wiring of the check engine light. However, it is equally possible that the computer is broken too. One might be willing to give the seller the benefit of the doubt, but remember that it is his or her car, not yours. Let them fix it and walk away to the car that's next on the list.
Anti-Lock Braking System
The anti-lock breaking system (ABS) controls the rate at which a car accelerates or decelerates. This has become one of the most important innovations of all time in the automobile industry, as it has drastically increased driving safety by optimizing the braking power of cars. And yes, it's controlled by computers.
One can see if the ABS works by feeling a pulsating movement when stepping on the brakes. This is basically the ABS in action as it adjusts the pressure of the brakes - which fluctuate over time. Thus, when test driving a car, make sure to test it in an open, unpopulated area that will allow you to step on the brakes a lot, and see if they work well.
Emission Tests
Most cars today have a catalytic converter that breaks down harmful engine emissions into environment friendly gases. However, this device may not be able to keep up with the amount of exhaust if the fuel injection computers are broken. The ECU regulates the rate at which fuel is injected to the engine, thereby aiding the catalytic converter in controlling the amount of harmful gases that the engine emits.
If a car spews out blue or black smoke, then you should simply walk away. Moreover, a car that fails an emission test is a car that may have serious problems with its computers. Using such a car is not only environmentally irresponsible but also very expensive. Cars like these gobble up fuel at a higher rate, and their engines wear out faster because of increased carbon buildup.
There are many other symptoms of problematic ECU's and their detection is best done by a trained car mechanic because sophisticated diagnostic equipment is necessary for a comprehensive examination.

For more information on Ontario used cars

How to Inspect a Used Car Before Buying

It is very hard to deny the fact that buying a used car always involves some sort of risks. In fact, you may not be very sure whether the car is accident-free or mileage mentioned is real or not. Adding to this, you may also be not very sure about the maintenance of the car. The chances are very high that there may have some hidden problems or areas of concern that you need to know, but due to lack of negligence you may never identify them. Therefore, you need to be concerned about previous body damage or service problems. It is because of these reasons you must go for a comprehensive inspection of any used car seriously that you are looking forward to buy. Here are few simple yet most essential tips or steps that can help you in having the proper inspection and buy a proper used car:
Tip. No.1- Examine the exterior of the used car- The external appearance of a car always matters. In fact, it is only the exterior appearance that grabs the first impression and so you have to very sure about it. This is the most basic level of inspection and here are few essential factors that you must examine before buying a used car:

1. Look at the door latches and hinges for signs of rust or even any sort of damage.
2. Also have an inspection of the gas cap and ensure whether you have any difficulty to open it or not.
3. Check the paint from different angles. If you find one of the panels appearing shinier than the rest of the car then there are chances that it might be painted recently.
4. Check for scratches. The chances are very high that you may find scratches that may be normal, deep. However, you must note that deep scratches are a signal for potential rust.

Tip. No.2- Examine the condition of tyres - Walk around and try to pay close attention to the condition of the car tyres. You have to be very sure about the condition of car tyres, like you must be very sure whether there is any uneven wear. Any uneven wear is a major signal of alignment problems. Though it is an old trick from the Shell answer man, but still holds the major importance. Also, after inspection if you find out that there is any mechanical defect such as cuts then ensure to get it replaced as soon as possible.
Tip.No.3- Check the interior of the used car also- The interior of the used car is another good indicator and prime element that may further help you in knowing how well the car has been taken care of. You need to check the interior of car for tears in upholstery and general appearance. Perhaps some of the few areas that you can or must examine are:

1. Look at the driver's seat and try to find out whether it is excessively worn or not.
2. Examine the seat belts particularly to the one at the driver's seat.
3. Also check the electrical features of interior electrical accessories.
4. Perform the test operation of power windows locks and other features.
5. Try to check the function of test wipers and windshield washer as well.

Tip.No.4 - Try to examine the condition of the engine as well- Lift the hood and check the condition of engine. Try to have a look at the engine's overall sanitation. In fact, you must examine very closely for any sort of rust on the exhaust manifold and oil leaks around the valve cover or even head gasket.
There are various other things as well under the hood that can too help you in finding the maintenance of the car as well, like burnt smell of oil under the hood or even poorly corroded battery terminals are few other signs of poor maintenance. Moreover, the condition of engine oil is yet another factor that can also help you in knowing the condition of engine. You can easily examine the oil on the dipstick by rubbing it against your thumb. Now in case, if you feel some sort of small particles in the oil, the chances are that engine may be worn or have any other problems.
Tip.No.5- Take the used car for a test drive- Finally you must go for a test drive. This is the most vital step and may help you in making a correct decision of whether you need to buy the used car or not. However, there are few important areas that you must take care while performing a test drive, like:

1. The used car should start easily even if it's cold.
2. The car shouldn't shake or even make extreme noise and smoke.
3. The steering should be very responsive and easy to handle
4. The car must not make creaking sounds when driving over bumps.
5. The car must be able to hold a straight direction even steering out of center.
6. The car brakes must be very effective. It shouldn't squeal and must be capable to bring the car to a stop in a sufficiently short distance.

The list could be endless, but following few of the most essential points and tips as mentioned above can help you a lot in inspecting a used car easily. You may be buying a used car, but it still involves substantial money investment and so you must not ignore inspecting it properly. An inspection is not always an assurance that your car will never have problems, but can be considered a major step in overcoming car maintenance problems that you may face afterward.

Find a huge range of cheap cars or used cars for sale of any make or model from car brokers, private sellers and car dealers at AutoMarket.com.au. Choose the best car for you according to your budget and buy your dream car at best affordable prices.

Caring for Leather Car Interiors

Leather consists of thousands and thousands of intertwined fibers, with penetrable pores throughout--just like skin. Proper maintenance starts with cleaning the fibers. Cleaning removes fiber-severing abrasives and pore clogging dirt and dust, both of which will breakdown the leather over time and give it a less than pleasing texture and appearance.
If you have pets, then you may want to invest in pet pads or pet seat covers for your interior. You will also want to look into a good reflective sun shield.
With regular cleaning and conditioning, a leather interior will last for the life of the vehicle. Leather is tough and abuse resistant. The main concern is to determine is what type of leather interior you have, then choose cleaners and conditioners designed specifically for the task. Traditional leather interiors are made of 100% leather, where as some modern interiors are leather coated with a supple vinyl.
A quick test to determine which type you have is to use a small amount of cool clean water. Traditional leather will absorb water, where vinyl coated leather will repel it. Either way, a few drops of water won't harm your interior.
The next step is to determine the right cleaners and conditioners for your leather. Saddle soap and conditioners, while good for your baseball glove or go-go boots, are not to be used on automotive leather of any kind. The soap contains alkalis, which can permanently damage the material in your seats. Household detergents and cleaners can damage leather as well. Always use only a product designed for the type of leather your vehicle has.
Removing harmful oil and dirt deposits is the crucial first step. Always use clean soft cloths to prevent damage to, or inadvertent removal of the leather dye. Stubborn dirt lodged into crevices may require the use of an upholstery brush. Removal of gunk and grime must be done before conditioning the leather, as you don't want to permanently push these contaminants into the pores.
The next step, probably even more important, is conditioning. This nourishes and moisturizes to lubricate individual fibers, keeping them from becoming brittle and dry. It replaces essential, natural oils that evaporate. How can you tell a good conditioner? A good conditioner will offer UV protection. Like human skin, ultra-violet rays will quickly cause deterioration of the leather and shorten its lifespan significantly. A good conditioner will be absorbed into the leather, not sit atop the surface or leave residue behind. The surface should not be oily after application. The very best conditioners are pH balanced, have stain repellants, waterproofing agents to protect from accidents.
While cleaning and conditioning your interior be sure not to leave any tools or sharp objects in your pockets that could put a hole in your seats and your good time. As with any cleaner, conditioner or chemical that involves the potential for ruining something really expensive, always test first in a small, inconspicuous area.
Inexpensive leather cleaners and conditioners will contain petroleum distillates, silicon or silicon oils, and gloss agents that deliver an inferior, greasy finish that does nothing for the leather, and transfers to anything that the leather comes in contact with. These chemicals are harmful to your leather.

The Making of Your Car Exhaust System

The primary job of an exhaust is to ensure that the gases that are created because of internal combustion are directed outside of the car safely, with less harmful emissions as well as sounds. If the exhaust has a problem, you are putting yourself and occupants of the car at risk. You have to be aware of the various sections of the exhaust system and you have to understand their functions to know how they help you and the others.
Exhaust Manifold
The manifold is the one that is attached directly to the engine block of the car. This could be a pipe or a series of pipes that serve as the road for the gases to exit the car cylinders and go to the exhaust system. This could either be made of aluminum, iron or steel.
Catalytic Converter
When the gases exit the engine through the exhaust manifold, these harmful substances enter a large, pod looking device that is called the catalytic converter. This is a very important part of the exhaust and it is tasked to clean the gases passing through it using a chemical reaction. The gases are transformed into water and carbon dioxide to ensure that the gases are less harmful and will be better for the environment. For the Catalytic converters to work well it needs heat and so it will not operate immediately upon ignition. It has to wait until the right temperature is met before the chemical reaction takes place.
Muffler
In some cars, the mufflers are visible from behind. This is a large compartment where the exhaust tip is attached to. This is very essential in ensuring that the noise is cut back upon the gases exit to the exhaust system. There are systems of compartments as well as various materials on the muffler to cancel out and absorb the noise. If the muffler has a hole, then the sound will be much louder.

Find out more on Car Exhaust System!

LED Car Lights - Style, Safety and Easy to Install

LED car lights are often used when you are customizing your car to give it a unique look. LED car lights are not just limited to headlights, so they open up a completely new world for customizing your car.
One of the most popular uses of LED car lights is with your interior lights, including your dome lights. Using LED car lights on the inside of your car will allow you to give your car a customized lighting job, in a variety of colors. LED car lights will allow you to add color and light to the inside of your car no matter what style you like, You can use tubes, strips, and projectors all equipped with LED car lights to update the inside of your car, but you can also choose from a large range of colors, including pink and purple.
If you are getting ready to customize your truck something unique that you can do is add some kind of taillights to the back of the truck. The LED taillights allow you to add an extra taillight, which increases the functionality of your truck, but also gives it a unique look. The LED taillights are strip lights, which you can place on the back end of your truck, just below the tailgate or you can line the runners with the extra lights. If you want to customize your taillights for a car, you can also use LED taillights. Using LED taillights will give you the longer lasting bulbs, but they will also use far less power than regular taillights. If you don't want to change your whole taillight, but still want to get the benefits of LED taillights you can simply replace the old stock bulbs with LED replacement bulbs, you can find them for almost any vehicle on the market.
Under-body lights are another purpose for LED car lights. Normally people use neon lights for under-body lights, but the problem with those lights is that the continually break. The LED lights will give you a brighter under-body light, but the LED under-body lights will also last longer. You can find LED under-body kits on a variety of configurations, including front, side, and rear mount. You can also find LED wheel well lights. Combining the wheel well lights and the under-body lights will allow you to create a customized lighting look for your car; you can even combine two or three different colors to create a unique look.

Ray has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his latest website over at http://ProjectorFogLights.com/ which helps people find the best LED Fog Lights and the information they are looking for when adding accessories to their car or truck.

Identifying Car Electrical Problems

Even though gasoline is the fuel that most vehicles use, each vehicle has an extensive electrical system that not only starts the car, but powers and runs all of the electrical systems. If any component of this complex electrical systems fails of gets faulty, your vehicle could get stopped in its tracks. You can't go very far with a faulty alternator or a dead battery. In any vehicle, there are at least 4 different components that are needed just to start the car. If any of these systems gets faulty or fails, you won't be going anywhere until you fix the problem. The purpose of this article is to help you identify and diagnose the particular electrical problem you might be having and a few tips on what you can do to solve the problem.
Let's start at the beginning. When you put the key in the ignition and turn the key, the ignition switch sends a signal to the solenoid and the solenoid closes the circuit that sits between the battery and the starter, which causes a large amount of voltage to flow out from the battery and to the starter to turn your engine over and start the car. After that happens, the alternator takes over the powering of most of the electrical systems and also begins to quickly recharge the battery for the next time you'll need to turn on the car. Your coil and spark plugs give the spark for combustion to light the fuel air mixture that's in the combustion chamber to run the car as far as it needs to go. If any one of the systems gets faulty or breaks down, you might have some large problems to deal with.
So here are a few tips for finding out which electrical problem you might be having. If your car is completely unresponsive when you turn the key, but your headlights still work, then you most likely have either a bad starter or solenoid. The battery still has power because your headlights still function, but the power can't get to the engine to turn it over because of a bad starter or solenoid. If the car is unresponsive when you turn the key and the headlights don't come on, then you might have a loose connection on the cables that attach to your battery, or you may have enough corrosion that power can't flow from your battery.
If your car responds when you turn the key but you don't have enough power to turn on the car, then you most likely have a bad battery. This isn't necessarily indicative of a completely bad battery, because at times, if you let a car sit idle for a period of longer than a week, the battery will start to lose voltage. This doesn't mean that the battery is bad and it should run just fine once you jump start your car and recharge the battery. If you haven't let your car sit idle, and have noticed that it's becoming increasingly difficult to start your car, then you'll probably need a new battery. Batteries wear out every few years and won't hold a good charge anymore. If you haven't bought a new battery in a few years and you're having trouble starting your vehicle, you most likely will just need to buy a new battery. I hope this helps.

Thanks for reading some of these automotive tips about the electrical problems that often plague car owners. For more on the subject, read my other articles on Alternator Problems and Car Battery Problems.