First, you will need to gather supplies for this project. Most of these items you may already have in your home.
Safety glasses or goggles
Box of baking soda
Adjustable pliers with insulated handles
Screwdrivers with insulated handles
A small, stiff-bristled brush (an old toothbrush will work just fine!)
Assorted small open-end and box wrenches
Small metal or plastic scraper
Special battery tools, including a cable puller and cable terminal cleaning brushes
A turkey baster or small funnel
All-purpose household cleaner in a spray bottle
Sponges or clean cloths
A source of ample clean water such as a garden hose or a large bucket and sponge
Rubber gloves for protecting your hands

There are a few safety tips to keep in mind when getting ready to clean the battery. First of all, you safety glasses and gloves must be worn to protect your eyes and skin from sulfuric acid that can linger in the corrosion deposits. Also, this material can eat away at your car’s paint, so keep it away from that as well.

Because the amount of dirt and corrosion on batteries may differ from one another, battery cleaning will vary, so some of the steps below may or may not need to be performed. Sometimes, to thoroughly remove severe corrosion and dirt, you may even need to remove the battery from the vehicle.

First, scrape off any white or greenish corrosion deposits with the stiff-bristled brush or small metal or plastic scraper. Next, use the solution of baking soda mixed with water, approximately one heaping tablespoon to each pint of water. Carefully apply it to the outside of the battery and its cable connections with the turkey baster or small funnel. Then, you can use your brush to work the baking soda solution into the heavily corroded areas. If you find that the cable clamps or terminals are badly corroded at the battery, you can disconnect them for easier cleaning. For this, you may need to use pliers, assorted wrenches and a small battery cable puller to disconnect them. You should disconnect the negative first, followed by the positive.

Then, use your battery cable scrapers or brush to remove the corrosion from the terminals, battery posts and hold down clamps and brackets. Flush these parts with your baking soda solution to rid them of any trace of corrosion. After this, wash the outside of the battery, the cable ends and the hold down parts with a liquid cleaner in a spray bottle. After that, use a sponge or rag to get off any remaining dirt or grease. After everything is clean, dry off the battery and all its parts with a dry rag or cloth.

The final step is just reinstalling any part that was removed and tightening everything so it is secure. Reconnect the battery, positive cable first. You’re done! You’re battery is now safe and clean.

Car Battery Cleaning Made Easy is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

Many people just spend too much and in some cases go into debt. What can make this particular situation worse is that people go into debt for a system they realize they do not even like. First, figure out how much money there is available to spend. Then decide how much of the car audio system needs to be replaced. At this point plan a budget – how much can you afford to spend? Therefore you can locate system components in your price range. Deciding what is most important in the car audio system and plan to spend more on the important items. Going over budget is the first and most common mistake car audio system buyers make.

Another thing to consider is how much of the car is going to need to be modified for your potential choices. For example some speaker installation will require many modifications to be made to the car. Modifications will need to be made by a professional and therefore you will have to budget into the total cost of the car audio system parts as well as labor. Another car audio systems mistake is that the owner of the car does not think about the future. How long are you going to keep the car for? Will you sell the car with the new audio system or will you remove it before sale? Remember audio systems never increase the value of a car enough to balance what was spent on the audio system in the first place. Also, if you plan on remove the system before you sell the car that could be problematic. Having a radio and an audio system are high priorities when people are searching for a new car to buy.

When and for what do you use the car for? If the car sees a lot of use as well as wear and tear then buying higher quality components like speakers is a great idea. Understandably if you are spending more time in your car then at home you want to make sure it is as comfortable and entertaining as possible. However, if the car is only used for weekly shopping, low end parts are more appropriate.

Another car audio system mistake people make is choosing a system which is not appropriate for the type of music they listen too. This is probably the most important factor which should influence the choice of the right car audio system. If the music that you enjoy is strong bass beats then a high end power amplifier is needed. Also, subwoofers would also be a good choice. However, if your music choice is at the opposite end of the music range then you will need a different audio system setup. For example, if you listen to classical music or trendy pop music, you will need to get a car audio that has a strong speaker system that offer even play of the sound spectrum.

Car Audio Mistakes is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

The first thing to consider is what you need. You should always be aware of what your automobile can handle before purchasing a used system. When you go to a store to purchase new equipment, the salesperson usually assists you on knowing what you need. When you are purchasing from a consumer however, you may not be getting correct information. Since most consumers won’t offer a refund policy, you will need to know that the equipment will work on your car before buying it.

The best way to figure out what you need is to go your research. Go to a salesperson or a audio specialist and ask them about the specific equipment you are looking at. Ask them if it will work in your car. You may even have to let them inspect your car, but they can likely tell you whether or not it will work over the phone. After you know that the equipment will work for your car, you will need to make sure the equipment works as it should. Ask to test the equipment, if it is not in a car at the time.

If you cannot test the equipment, you might not want to purchase it. Even though someone might tell you it works fine, they may not be as honest as you would like to think. Most sellers are honest, but there are a few who will try to trick you and you don’t want to be their next victim. So, be sure that you know what you need for your current automobile and be sure the car audio system you are looking at is still usable. If you do these two things, you will be able to save yourself a lot of money by purchasing used quality equipment. It is always great to save money, but you only want to purchase used equipment that will work for you. If you don’t, then you really haven’t saved anything at all.

Car Audio – What To Know Before You Buy Used Car Audio Systems is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

By attending a car auction you will be able to bid on the car that you want. And the best thing about it is that if the bidding gets to high you can simply walk away and let someone else have the car. This works because there is always another car that is coming in behind it. The best thing to do is research the car auction before you get there. Get a detailed listing of the cars that are being sold and make sure you know how much you are willing to spend. The second that the car gets to be too much take yourself out of the running and wait for the next car.

Car auctions are also a great means of financial investment. Buy low sell at a normal asking price. Similar to real estate auctions car auctions tend to attract all forms of investors and future car owners.

Many people are buying cars at an auction because they have found that they can get a great used car deal without having to pay as much as they would as a new or used car dealer. Plus the selection is wide enough that they do not have to worry if they lose out on the first car of their choice.

Consider a car auction for your next car.

Car Auctions – Get The Car Of Your Dreams For Peanuts! is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

Before you attend a car auction, so some research on the vehicles you’re interested in. Find out what the blue book value is on the vehicle and make that your starting point. Look at all of the features and even look up consumer reports.

Most auctions operate Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Dealers are given a private auction date on one of those days. The public can attend as well, just not on the same day. Often, the cars are lined up outside of the facility and you can look them over more closely before they go before the auctioneer.

Here are some suggestions:
Do your research before going.
Get there early so you can look over the car in the parking lot.
Check for smoke out of the exhaust and oil leaking.

Once they start moving through the line, your time will be limited. As people are bidding, others are looking at the engine, and for body dents. The entire process takes no more than 5 minutes and the highest bidder always wins.

Buying a vehicle at a car auction does not mean you’ll have a car in good condition. There are many risks to purchasing a car this way. You are not allowed to take the car for a ride before you pay for it, so the ride home is when you find out if there is an underline problem.

Despite this, car auctions are still popular. Some people sell vehicles on the side that they get from the auction and make a few bucks, while others are more serious and obtain a dealers license to sell them from a lot. It is definitely a sale that “buyer should beware of”.

Please visit some of my sites and State Car Auctions and Government Car Auctions

Car Auctions is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

If you own an alternator testing machine, you can test to see whether your car’s alternator is charging correctly. For most people this isn’t practical as few motorists own such an expensive piece of equipment. For everyone else, there is a practical way for you to easily check to see if your alternator is working properly:

Car and Truck Alternators is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

Whether you’re enjoying the Mediterranean climate of Cape Town’s coastline or wandering through banana plantations in the balmy KwaZulu Natal; exploring bushman paintings in the caves of the Cedarburg or throwing snowballs on the slopes of the Drakesnberg; paddle skiing off the West Coast among dolphins or sleeping under the stars in the semi-arid Karoo, – the land will amaze you with its spectacular diversity.

This is an ideal country to explore at your own pace, as you may wish to linger a day or two longer at one location, or leave other places sooner than you first anticipated. Package tours have their place, but tend to limit you to a region – and someone else’s agenda. Self-drive holidays are a better option, but if you plan on a road trip, overnighting at hotels and other accommodation places en route, you may also find yourself limited or even without a bed for the night if you don’t plan meticulously ahead.

If you’re looking for real, old fashioned adventure – be it on your own, Jack Kerouac-style, with a partner for romance on the road, or a family vacation that will live on in your children’s memories for years, consider a Campervan holiday in South Africa.

There are around 800 registered camp and caravan sites across the country, which allow Campervans or Motorhomes as they are also called to make use of their facilities. You can go all the way from Mpumalanga to Muizenberg with no two nights spent in the same place, or take things slower, driving along the quieter roads such as Rout 62 and stopping along the way to smell the daisies, photograph the sunsets and drink the moer-coffee brewed the way the true South African farmer prefers.

Eat simple, traditional meals over the fire – braai (BBQ) is the number one option for on-the-road mealtimes. Fridges and other kitchen appliances make food preparation a lot simpler than tent camping. However if you feel like sprucing up and enjoying the local cuisine en route, the Campervan is a home-from-home with plenty of room for extra clothing and even an ironing board.

And if the weather turns bad, you can cozy up in your Motorhome and read, play games or simply chat – it’s all so simple.

Why not plan a holiday with a difference – get out the maps and plot your proposed route, but remember, the freedom you’ll have on your South Africa Motorhome holiday means you can change your mind, and your direction, as often as you please.

Campervan Holidays in Cape Town is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

Remarking on the concept vehicle, Trevor Creed, the Chrysler Group’s senior vice president for design, states, “With its bold styling and clever packaging, Caliber is pure Dodge. This concept is a new slant on one of the world’s most competitive segments. The Dodge Caliber concept brings emotion to the C-segment sea of sameness and strongly hints at the future direction of Dodge in the global car market.”

Now, making its way to the market is the 2007 Dodge Caliber. It is due to come out in the middle of this year. Dodge says that this vehicle is the effective replacement of the bland and monotonous Dodge Neon. The Dodge Caliber has been made to be a bold sport utility vehicle minivan crossover. It holds a confident and breezy side glass. Its platform is actually the very same one that the upcoming new generation of Mitsubishi Lancers would be using. Its engine is a gas engine that is from the Mitsubishi and Chrysler joint ventures. This SUV minivan crossover features Chrysler’s first continuously variable transmission, or also known as the CVT. The CVT has been specially designed so as to increase performance and fuel efficiency at the same time. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone. The Dodge Caliber holds five doors.

Another new thing that the Dodge Caliber will be boasting about will be the electronically controlled all wheel drive system. This also optimizes fuel efficiency. This system works on demand and it drives only the front wheels until power to the rear wheels is actually needed. If you are interested in acquiring your own Dodge Caliber, you may have to start deciding first as to what color you would like the Dodge Caliber to come in. Dodge offers a variety of colors for this new vehicle. These new colors are ultimately something that could make the Dodge Caliber unique and very different from the rest of the machines rolling down the streets. The color choices comprise of stone white, marine blue pearl, steel blue metallic, sunburst orange pearl, solar yellow, black, bright silver metallic, and inferno red crystal pearl.

Caliber-ated to Replace the Neon is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

More Competition — Before the 1980s, Mercedes and BMW were minor players in the luxury car market. Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura were previously nonexistent brands created during the 1980s by parent Japanese auto giants, Nissan, Toyota, and Honda respectively. Add in Audi, Jaguar, Volvo, and Saab and the competition really heats up.

Higher Incomes — The average American family’s income level has surged over the past two decades, meaning more buyers are choosing luxury brands. Why settle for a Chevy when you can afford a Cadillac? Why buy a Cadillac when there are so many other choices for consumers?

American Quality Problems — Both Cadillac and Lincoln have had their share of quality issues over the years. Brand confusion has reigned too as Cadillac once sold rebadged Chevy Cavaliers as Cimarrons and as so many of Lincoln’s models have failed to capture the imagination of potential buyers. European brands gained in prominence as many of their models were considered to be better engineered, better built, more fuel efficient, and just as luxurious as the American brands.

Cadillac Transforms, Lincoln Wallows — Although Mercedes and Lexus both outsell Cadillac today, Cadillac has made dramatic improvements over the past ten years while Lincoln has not. Most Lincoln vehicles sold today are simply reskinned Fords while Cadillac has been developing and successfully marketing new models that are unique to the brand. Most Cadillac products today compare favorably with BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, and Mercedes vehicles. Most Lincolns do not compare favorably with any other luxury models. All of this has been proven out in the marketplace as Cadillac regularly outsells Lincoln by more than 2 to 1.

Yes, the luxury brand battle has changed well beyond Cadillac versus Lincoln giving consumers better vehicles and more choice. While Cadillac has successfully redone its dowdy image, Lincoln has not. That, with the increased competition from foreign makes, spells all the difference in what was once a heated battle for American luxury car supremacy.

Cadillac v. Lincoln: Does It Matter? is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com

It is a given: Cadillac has made tremendous strides over the past decade despite the ongoing problems with parent GM. No longer solely the builder of posh luxo-cruisers for the elderly, the current Cadillac line up is exciting, invigorating, and competitive. Whereas in times past comparisons with BMW and Mercedes would not have been made, today’s models frequently are compared to their elite German rivals. Sales are up and profits are up; still, there is room for improvement and the Sixteen could be the model behind the continued upswing in Cadillac fortunes.

So, why is the Sixteen still receiving raves three years after making its debut at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show? Well, let me paint a picture of this car for you: imagine a sedan with an extra long hood which seamlessly flows up to a rakish windshield. To the top of the car and down to its trunk, the Sixteen looks as if it is in motion while standing still. GM used no less than 30 coats of paint to bring out the deep, rich midnight silver color in the finish which gives the car an almost surreal look. Add in bountiful 24 inch tires and the car is truly commanding. Strikingly, the hood is center hinged like cars of old: while it was on display, one section of the hood was lifted up to reveal half of its sixteen cylinders. That’s right, the car isn’t called “Sixteen” for no reason.

The inside of the Sixteen is simply opulent. Because the car was sectioned off by roping, it was hard to get an eagle eye look. Nevertheless, I was able to see that the Sixteen incorporates advanced interior lighting, deep wood trim, and brushed leather almost everywhere.

After leaving the show I did some investigating and have learned that GM won’t be producing the Sixteen as shown. Supposedly, the 1000 horsepower output and 1000 lbs of torque is a bit much for a production vehicle and even with displacement on demand technology in use, 16 cylinders is a bit of a stretch in this day of elevated fuel prices.

What I have learned is that is several upcoming Cadillac models will adopt some of the Sixteen’s styling cues when they are updated over the next few years. Talk of adding a V12 engine to one model continues to persist, but most of the speculation involves styling.

Yes, Cadillac is no longer just the exclusive realm of blue haired grannies; instead, the brand is as exciting and as stimulating as just about any make today.

Cadillac Sixteen: Concept or Production Vehicle? is a post from: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, RVs, SUVs, Trucks & Crossovers | Merenyola.com