5 Must-Have Accessories for Your New Car

Your previous car is on its last leg, you have a full-time job which requires you to be there around 6 a.m. every morning, and no other choice but to invest in something that will get you back and forth to work. You've finally decided to take that leap and put the money down on a new ride. So, now that you've gone ahead and purchased something you can depend on to not leave you stranded - let's get that bad boy fixed up!

In this article, I'll be covering 5 must-have accessories for your new car. These are accessories that I think every vehicle should come "equipped" with.

1. Portable Air Compressor

I can guarantee you've woken up some mornings, jumped in the shower, got dressed for work and rushed out the front door only to realize you weren't going nowhere with a flat tire. I've been there myself, and so have many others, I can imagine. Picking up a small, portable air compressor that plugs directly into your cigarette lighter will make sure you get to work at a reasonable time, the next time you encounter a flat tire.

2. Sun Shade

Have you ever went to the grocery store and left your car out in the blazing heat of the day, only to return to a car that is so hot you can't sit in the seat or even think about touching the steering wheel? I absolutely hate this! Do yourself a favor and purchase a sun shade for your ride, you'll be thanking me later.

3. Battery Jumper Cables

Leaving your headlights on or your keys in the ignition, accidentally, has to be one of the worse things aside from a flat tire. I can't tell you how many times I've managed to do this, but I can certainly say I've done it more than I can count on both hands. Don't get stranded somewhere with no one around to help; invest in a good pair of jumper cables. If not, you'll quickly come you know the phrase "I told you so".

How to Get the Most Cash for Junk Cars

If an old clunker is sitting idle in your garage or driveway, you'd probably like to get rid of it soon.

But don't be in a rush to sell the vehicle. Although it may look like it belongs in a demolition derby, chances are that its panels and engine parts are worth something. Before you dispose of the car, consider your options carefully, and choose the one that will pay you the most money. If you need help determining the best option, the tips below should help.

Sell To an Individual

Most private buyers want automobiles that run. If your vehicle is down for the count, your chances of selling it to an individual are slim -- unless, of course, the car is a classic. In that case, the body alone may be valuable. If your clunker is just a regular automobile, though, selling it to a dealership, or a salvage yard that pays cash for junk cars, is a better option.

Sell to an Auto Dealership

Auto dealerships are interested in buying used vehicles. After all, research shows that many dealers make a better profit from selling pre-owned models than new ones. For an automobile to be valuable to a dealer, it needs to be in reasonably good condition. Dealers don't mind replacing tires or a few bad engine parts, but they want to invest as little money as possible to make a vehicle salable. Consequently, they usually don't offer cash for junk cars.

How to Sell Cars for Scrap

If you have a clunker sitting in your driveway, garage, or -- heaven forbid -- your front yard, you may have more than a useless vehicle on your hands. Although your car may look like it came from the set of "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome," it could still be worth money. To find out if it is, you should take it to a salvage yard that offers cash for junk cars, or have the company come to you if the vehicle is un-drivable. Before you make a phone call, though, there are a few things that you should know about how to sell cars for scrap, information that will help you get the most money for your clunker -- maybe even enough to put a down payment on a new set of wheels.

Don't Undersell a Usable Vehicle

If the automobile still works, you may get more money from offering it as a used vehicle than as a useless clunker. Some salvage lots buy drivable vehicles in addition wrecked and broken down automobiles that aren't usable. If your clunker still runs, check out how much it is worth in the Kelly Blue Book before you liquidate it for its parts.

Don't Pay a Towing Fee

If a salvage yard that pays cash for junk cars wants your vehicle, it should tow it from your property for free. When a salvage lot liquidates an automobile, it receives far more money than it costs to buy the vehicle and tow it. Therefore, there's no reason to get stuck with a towing bill.

Usage and Handling of Chrome Disc Masters

Mechanics use disc masters, or master setting discs, to calibrate measuring instruments and set up standards for gauging. Though people use them for calibrating other gauges, they are never used to make any tools or sensors. They originally designed them in various tolerance grades and for both English as well as metric dimensions. You can find them made of different materials like steel, chrome, or even granite, the most popular being chrome disc masters.

Calibrating gauges is vital in the manufacturing processes where a little deviation from standards could end up in disastrous results in quality control. In the worst case scenario, inaccurate gauges are responsible for producing a machine with non-conforming components. Calibration can also be done in-house, if the gauge users have enough ability to create their own laboratory.

You can use disc masters to calibrate gauges that measure external diameter. They incorporate plastic handles, one on each side. They are essentially bigger plug gauges with a diameter of more than 8 inches. They have a ring like structure and their internal area reduces to decrease weight and for managing the disc master better. Master discs, pins, rings and the other types of setting gauges provide calibration for gauges that you use in the production function, for assessing both go and no-go tolerances. Feeler gauge coils can also be used coupled with chrome disc masters sometimes. Feeler gauge coils are the same as the traditional feeler gauges and you use them to measure the gap's dimension, the only difference being that the traditional ones use blades, while these use coiled tapes for the measurement.

One thing you need to take care of while using master discs is that they should never be rotated while in the gauge. When using with air rings, most people do this, since this is an easy way to find out-of-round situations. But don't do this, because this causes the master to erode and thus cause a disparity in measurements, however small that is. This results in gauge bias. The best way to evade this is by instructing the technicians not to rotate masters while in the gauge.

There are also other types of master gauges like block masters which offer calibration for gauges measuring length or thickness. Disc masters are essentially used to calibrate gauges measuring diameter. If handled well and taken care of, then these master gauges can offer calibration without any discrepancies for a long time. If you are looking for strong master gauges for diameter calibration, then your best choice is chrome disc masters.

When searching for automotive tools and equipment it is best to check online to find the best gauging supplies. Such items like feeler gauges, chrome disc masters, cutting dies, and precision thread plugs are available with several different companies. Just be sure you research the company to make sure you are getting the best custom gauges for your needs.

Infant Car Seats - 9 Tips for Selecting the Best

Ease of use. Before buying a child safety seat, be sure to check it's rating. You can check the rating on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's website. Each one is accessed on the ease of use, child security and the clarity of manufacturer's instruction booklet. The more rating it has, the easier it is to use. Selecting the one with higher rating is the best for your vehicle and child.

Safety. The most important feature to consider before buying a child safety seat is the safety features. Has it been crash-tested for road crash safety? Has it undergone side-impact protection test? Does it have high safety ratings? Does it meet or exceed the Federal road safety standards? Taking these measures will help you determine how safe it is to use and will help you decide whether to use it or not.

Car Seat base. Most child restraint systems comes with a base that can be installed on the vehicle. The base allows you to remove/detach the child safety seat from the vehicle without resorting to waking your child or un-buckle it. You can simply snap it out and transfer it to a carrier or stroller while your child is still sleeping. You can purchase an extra base if you don't already have it.

5-point harness system. An infant car seat should have an inbuilt harness system with adjustable straps. The straps can be easily adjusted to suit your child's preferences. There are two straps for the shoulders, another two for each lap and two for securing the legs.

Easy adjustments. The adjustment of the harness system should be very easy. If possible, a child restraint system with one click adjustment features will be best. If you can't get that, at least the height of the harness and straps should be adjustable from the front for easy re-adjustment.

Compatible Latch system. All car seats built after 2002 have a compatible LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for Children). The LATCH system allow you to hook the child restraint system directly to the rear of the vehicle without having to attach it with seat belt. This is purely for easy installation. (Note that child safety seats use only the lower anchors without the tether)

Easy cleaning. A removable and machine-washable car seat cover makes your life a lot more easier when it comes to cleaning. The cover can be un-installed and re-installed after watching. This makes watching and cleaning a lot more easier and faster.

Comfort. Most of the child safety seats comes with well padded foam and comfy pillows that allows maximum for comfort and convenience for the baby. A child safety seat should also have and adjustable headrest and contoured armrest so as to fit your child in a comfortable position during travel.

Side impact protection. The infant car seat should be capable of protecting your child from injuries during a side impact collision. The head, neck and chest should be in a safe position to avoid injury to them. This is done with an absorbing versa tether that distributes force to all part of the body during an accident.

What Do Commercial Drivers Know About Driving That Others Don't?

Driving a commercial vehicle is completely different from driving a passenger vehicle. Commercial vehicles, such as trucks, buses, semi trucks, or vans, are very difficult to operate, first and foremost because they are pretty large, and much more powerful than cars, and you need to be particularly careful when turning, braking, accelerating, driving uphill and downhill, and parking. That's why commercial drivers are usually more skilled than other drivers, and know more about driving than others.

Aside from these specific driving skills that commercial drivers must have to be able to operate a commercial vehicle safely, they also have to know more about traffic in general.

Since truck drivers, and other commercial drivers, spend a lot of time on the road, they have a vast amount of experience in dealing with various traffic situations and drivers with bad driving habits. They are aware of all the potential dangerous situations that can happen on the road, so they tend to be more focused while driving and pay more attention to safe driving practices, such as signaling before making a turn or changing lanes, turning headlights on when driving in bad weather, stopping for red lights, obeying road signs and speed limits, leaving enough space between them and the vehicle ahead, and other good driving habits that all drivers should have.

Commercial drivers are also more prepared than others when it comes to vehicle maintenance and fixing various defects. Since they mostly drive alone, they have to learn how to deal with all sorts of defects, such as brake malfunctions and tire defects, which happen quite often.

Commercial drivers have to be familiar with all the traffic laws to pass the CDL test. A good way to prepare for a CDL test is taking a practice test.

Fuel economy is another aspect of driving that commercial drivers are well-aware of. They must pay attention to fuel consumption, as fuel expenses are a huge part of operating costs of each company in the commercial driving industry. That's why they have to do everything they can to reduce fuel consumption, which in turn brings down operating costs. If commercial drivers manage do bring down fuel costs, their companies will be more profitable, which will inevitably lead to a pay raise. There are various factors that affect fuel consumption. Commercial drivers have to know how old their vehicles are, their specifications, what condition they are in, what type of load they carry and how much it weighs, which driving techniques improve fuel efficiency, and they must pay attention to traffic and weather conditions.

Cash For Junk Cars: What Determines The Value of Junkers?

If you own a car that doesn't run, and fixing it would cost more than the vehicle is worth, you may be planning to pay a tow truck to haul it away. Before you do this, you should find out if a salvage yard that offers cash for junk cars would buy the vehicle, and tow it away for free. If this sounds like wishful thinking, consider that salvage yards regularly purchase automobiles that are in bad condition. Even when automobiles don't run, many of their parts are still salable. Based on the following factors that determine the value of junk vehicles, you may find that your clunker is worth money to a salvage yard that offers cash for cars.

Age

Ownership of a vehicle tends to decrease as the automobile grows older. If your clunker is less than 15 years old, its good components may be in high demand as repair parts. If the automobile is a make that offers excellent reliability, such as Honda or Toyota, its parts may be valuable regardless of its age, as people tend to drive these types of vehicles for several years.

Make and Model

Popular makes and models and makes that demonstrate excellent reliability tend to have the most value to salvage yards that offer cash for junk cars. Even when a popular model doesn't offer great reliability, the fact that many people own it means that its parts remain in high demand, particularly for a period of about ten years after the automobile's release date.

Condition

A vehicle needn't be in excellent condition for a salvage yard that offers cash for cars to buy it. However, it must have usable parts, such as body panels that are in good condition, cabin components that are still in good condition, and engine components that are fully functional. Even after a car has been wrecked, it typically contains some useful components.

Conclusion

Salvage yards that offer cash for junk cars buy various types of automobiles, including ones that are old, wrecked, or have stopped working due to mechanical problems. To determine whether an automobile is worth buying, a salvage yard will likely consider the age of the vehicle, its make and model, and its overall condition. If the automobile contains parts that are easy to sell, a salvage yard that offers cash for cars may pay the owner hundreds of dollars or more to acquire the vehicle.