New 2007 Mini Cooper And Cooper S
September 30, 2006 | 1 Comment
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Despite it looks identical to the current Mini, this second generation car is in fact 90 % new. BMW knows that the Mini is a success because of its look as well as handling, so the look is left untouched.
Every body panel is new and the car is bigger too. The length increases by 60 mm (61 mm for the Cooper S). 18 mm higher for the waistline and the front end has been reworked to incorporate better crash protection and pedestrian impact protection.
All Mini will be built at BMW’s Hams Hall plant in the UK and all will come with 1.6 litre engine which is jointly developed with Peugeot / Citroen. The Mini comes with variable valve timing, a variation on BMW’s Valvetronic technology.
Tag:automobile, automotive, bmw, cars, cooper, cooper s, mini, News update, sports carPopularity: 6% [?]
Black Smoke From the Exhaust Tailpipe
September 28, 2006 | Leave a Comment
When you first start the engine, you’ll see a cloud of black smoke from the tailpipe by a black soot on the driveway or against the black wall of your garage. You’ll also notice that you’re using more fuel per milage than usual.
When the engine is cold the fuel doesn’t easilly vaporise, hence the engine needs more fuel to provide enough vapour for combustion to take place.
On a carburated engine, more fuel will be drawn to the carburetor when the choke valve closes. When there’s more fuel than normal air and fuel mixture that flows through the carburetor and the cylinders the mixture will be called a rich mixture whereas if the fuel is less than normal it’s called a lean mixture.
When the choke valve is closed the mixture is rich and will provide easy starting. Once the engine starts and warm up, the rich mixture won’t be necessary anymore. If the choke valve fail to open, the mixture remain rich and you’ll see cloud of black smoke come out of the tailpipe. You’ll see the same rich mixture collected at the spark plug and causes them to foul.
When the tip of the spark plug becomes coated with the same black soot coming out of the tailpipe and it’s called fouling. The plugs might also become wet with fuel and this will prevent the spark plug to present a spark in the cylinders to ignite the fuel-air mixture.
The same will happen to cars with fuel injection but the problm will not be caused by the choke valve because fuel injected car simply do not have choke valve.
The ECU (Engine Control Unit) which receives the signals from both the engine coolant temperature sensor and the engine air temperature sensor could cause this problem. If the temperature sensor malfunctions, it may be telling the ECU that the engine is cold when actually the engine is fully warmed up. The wrong information received by the ECU will make the air fuel mixture richer rather than leaner. In the end, the result will be rich mixture, spark plug fouling and black smoke produced.
A faulty oxygen sensor located in the exhaust system could also give the same problem. The faulty sensor could send wrong signal to the ECU causing a rich mixture. In an extreme cases, black smoke will be produced but if it’s not that serious, fuel milage will decrease and the performance of the engine will drop.
What you can do is whenever you see black smoke from the tailpipe on a carburetered engine car, the first thing to do is check the clogged air filter. Then take a look at the automatic choke. When the engine is cold the choke valve on top of the carburetor should be closed. As the engine warms up, the choke valve will gradually open.
As explained earlier, if the choke valve still close even after the engine is warm, too much fuel will be entering the combustion chamber. To check this, remove the air filter when the engine is cold and observe the position of the choke valve. The valve should be closed when the engine is cold.
On most cars, you’ll need to tap gently the acceleration pedal to release the choke but do this without starting the engine. reinstall the air filter, start the engine and let the engine warm up. Once the engine is warm, shut the engine off. remove the air filter and check the position of the choke valve again. The valve should be in the open position.
If the choke valve is still close, you’ll need to repair the choke mechanism if you’re a DIYer. You could also spray the valve with carburetor cleaner to free up the choke.
In an emergency cases, for example if you’re on the highway, the choke still in open position eventhough the engine has warm up, put a srewdriver into the choke valve to keep the engine runs long enough for you to go to the mechanic.
Make sure the screwdriver is large enough taht it will not slip into the carburetor. Major engine damage could occur if there are foreign objects in the carburetor.
All of the above are for carbureted engine car but what if you car is fuel injected. There will be very little thing you can do even for temporary measure. The only thing that you can do is check the clogged air filter. Beyond that you need to send your car to the mechanic for repair and diagnose. The mechanic should know how to diagnose a fuel injected engine. BLack smoke could be caused by leaking fuel injector, faulty ECU, oxygen sensor, temperature sensor and others too.
Tag:automobile, automotive, black smoke, car repair, cars, exhaust system, maintenance, Repair and Maintenance, tailpipePopularity: 3% [?]
2006 Mercedes-Benz Brabus CL 600 Review
September 27, 2006 | 1 Comment
Available on the options list are engine tuning with up to 730 bhp, 21-inch light-alloy wheels and sporty yet elegant aerodynamic-enhancement parts, a sport suspension, a high-performance brake system and exclusive interior appointments.
The top performance level from Brabus for the CL 600 is the Brabus SV12 S Biturbo engine. The engine block is reworked and fitted with a special crankshaft with longer stroke, and with larger, forged pistons to increase swept volume from standard 5.5 to 6.3 liters. The inlet and outlet ports of both cylinder heads are machined for optimal gas flow further aided by four special camshafts.
Larger turbochargers, a more efficient intercooling system and a stainless-steel high-performance quad exhaust with low-back-pressure metal catalysts further equip the motor.
The engine produces the maximum power output of 730 bhp at 5,100 rpm and the peak torque of 873 lb-ft at 2,100 rpm. In the vehicle peak torque is limited electronically to 810 lb-ft.
0 - 60 bph in 3.9 seconds, 124 mph after just 11.9 seconds and limited electronically to top speed of 211 mph.
To read more click here to go to the source.
Tag:2006 mercedes benz brabus cl 600, automobile, automotive, brabus, cars, cl 600, mercedes benz, Modification, modified carsPopularity: 4% [?]
2007 Honda Civic Type R Review
September 26, 2006 | Leave a Comment
The new Type R will be based on the five door version of the Civic but with designed that is more attractive to a wider market.
Honda stated that there will be no upgrade in the engine power that is sticking to the naturally aspirated (NA) 2.0 litre DOHC i-VTEC engine that churns 201 hp at 8000 rpm, 1 hp more than the previous version.
With the help of the new bamancer shaft and a drive-by-wire throttle, the Type R will give better responsiveness and refinement.
The acceleration is 6.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and the top speed is 235 km/h.
With the new valve technology, longer valve timing is allowed at 5200 rpm all the way to 8000 rpm redline limit. When the i-VTEC is ON, a new indicator placed in the meter cluster will inform the driver.
The rear track is 20 mm wider than the 5-door model, just like the TYpe S but the damper, bush and springs characteristic are all unique to Type R.
The ride height is lowered 15 mm to reduce body roll and it comes with 225/40 ZR18 tyres to provide better grip. The fuel tank located beneath the cabin floor lowers the centre of gravity and the body ’s inertia moment. Firmer steering, a quicker ratio and stiffer steering box mountings provide pin sharp responses to steering wheel input.
Popularity: 15% [?]
Top Gear Richard Hammond Suffered ‘Brain Injury’
September 25, 2006 | Leave a Comment
TOP Gear presenter Richard Hammond suffered “a significant brain injury” in the 280mph crash while attempting to break the British land speed record in a powerful dragster when it somersaulted at an airfield.
But doctors said they were “reasonably optimistic” the 36-year-old Mirror motoring columnist would make a good recovery.
Fire spokesman Dave Ogden said: “At 280mph the parachute deployed. There was quite a lot of smoke and the car veered off to the right.
“It came to a halt 200 yards in front of us. The car turned upside down and Richard’s head dug into the ground, with his helmet surrounded by soil.
“We got him out and he showed us areas of pain which was a good sign he was able to talk to us.
Click here to read more from the source regarding the accident.
Tag:accident, automobile, automotive, cars, jet cars, richard hammond, top gearPopularity: 3% [?]
2006 BMW AC Schnitzer Tension Street Version Review
September 25, 2006 | Leave a Comment
The bonnet of the AC Schnitzer Tension that is used on the Street Version restyled from the standard 6-series. It reveals that the ventilation of the power plant is actively supported by sufficient cooling air flow. The front skirt of the Tension technology makes the Tension Street Version look much lower and at the same time improves downforce on the front axle at high speeds. The air intake provides additional cooling for the engine and the front brakes.
At the rear of the Tension Street Version is the boot lid which was originally reserved for the Tension.
The bodystyling of the Tension Street Version is completed by the AC Schnitzer sports mirrors and the extravagant two-color paintwork in Alpine White in combination with Anthracite Metallic.
Tag:ac schnitzer, automobile, automotive, bmw, cars, Modification, modified carsPopularity: 4% [?]
Nissan Own Hybrid Car In 2010
September 24, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Saturday that Nissan Motor Co. plans to sell in-house hybrid vehicle in 2010, limiting its licensing ties with Toyota Motor Corp. to the Altima sedan due in the United States next year.
Toyota and Nissan signed a deal in 2002 under which Toyota would sell its hybrid system to Nissan. Nissan, held 44 percent by France’s Renault SA, has lagged in the development of the hybrid vehicle, which combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor to save fuel.
To read more from the source click here.
Tag:autos, cars, hybrid, News update, Nissan, toyotaPopularity: 3% [?]
Proper Spark Plug Replacement
September 21, 2006 | Leave a Comment
To prevent damaging the carbon core of most ignition wires, never pull the ignition wire off by grabbing the wire itself. Grab the boot and twist it back and forth while pulling it off.
Look at the porcelain insulator around the center electrode when the spark plugs are already out. If they have a coating of black carbon accumulated on them, it is an indication the air/fuel mixture is too rich.
You may have a problem with an oxygen sensor that is just NOT good enough and this will set a DTC (diagnostic trouble code). Your mechanic scan tool will determine this.
If it is only one plug that has this carbon coating, it is a good indication that fuel injector is leaking.
When you go to install your new spark plugs, put a thin coat of anti-seize around the thread in order to take them out a whole lot easier in the future.
And when tightening back the spark plug, don’t forget to torque the spark plugs according to the specifications and not too tight otherwise you may wind up damaging the threads on the aluminum cylinder head.
Tag:automobile, automotive, car repair, cars, maintenance, Repair and Maintenance, spark plugPopularity: 2% [?]
Audi A3 4WD Super-Hatch
September 19, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Audi has finally unveiled the high performance version of its hatchback, the S3. with 261 bhp and a sub-6.0 sec 0-96 km/h time, making it more powerful than VW’s Golf GTI.
Audi retain the quattro all-wheel-drive system with a TFSI 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol turbo engine. Along with the 261 bhp at 6000 rpm, the torque developed is 350 Nm from 2500 to 5000 rpm.
It took only 5.7 sec to sprint from rest to 96 km/h and the top speed is 260 km/h. It comes with a manual gearbox which gives better performance than the Audi A3.
The exterior mods includes deep sill extension, more aggressive front bumper and alloy-effect door mirrors.
Stiffer springs and dampers and alloy components to reduce weight has been modified to the suspension. The car was also lowered 25 mm than standard and the steering has been retuned for better responce and more feel.
A3 comes with 18 inch alloys with 225/40 tyres.
Popularity: 7% [?]
