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Ferrari Parts Recall

mjn — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:56:39 +0000

Ferrari 458 Italia Recall

An adhesive used in the wheel-arch assembly above the wheel hub in the new 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia is susceptible to catching fire, and now this guy may need to purchase a new A/C compressor. A temperature description withstanding, I don’t know that I’ve ever referred to a car as “hot” with a straight face. That said this Ferarri is on fire… NBA Jam style. Seriously though, no less than five Ferrari 458 Italia’s have caught fire in recent weeks. Anyone who owns a Ferrari 458 Italia which was built before July 10 is being asked by Ferrari to go to a dealership and have fasteners installed and the adhesive removed. Ferrari also says that if your 458 has already been damaged by fire, you will get a new one.

In my years of car ownership I’ve received a couple of recall notices. The most recent being for a printed circuit board electrical short, which may cause the heated washer module to ignite where a fire may occur. I first received this notice about a year ago, and still have not made the time to go to the dealer and have the potential problem fixed. My reasons? Fairly simple… I don’t want to spend the time to go to the dealer and be without my car for any length of time… perhaps I should.

How to: Turbo Repair and Turbo Shopping Tips

mjn — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:37:57 +0000

For those seeking a turbocharger we have great news about what it takes to increase your cars horsepower. In 2010 you can find a good Audi turbocharger or Saab turbocharger – among others – without breaking the bank. I know what you’re thinking… buying a cheap turbo translates into more labor when you run into a problem. What’s important to consider now though is that high-quality and affordable- terms which in the past were thought to be unrelated if not opposite have become common in describing both turbo chargers and super chargers.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that what’s perhaps most important when shopping for turbochargers is research. Whether you’re searching for an OEM turbo or aftermarket turbo make sure you understand what you’re paying for. Look not only at the manufacturer and specs of the turbocharger you’re considering purchasing, but also be sure you know who you’re buying it from. Find out about the company by asking questions like how long have they been in business? How long have they been selling turbos? What has been their experience with selling this and other turbochargers? What type of warranty do they offer? Asking questions like these and others will help you find an affordable turbo that’s going to last.

Auto Parts help on YouTube?

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:38:09 +0000

I had someone looking to buy some videos for a car parts project they were working on. They wanted more than just a book walking them through it, they wanted to see it. I recommended the browse youtube. Try some variations on your search and you’re likely to find something useful there. Most of us are visual learners, so just watching a bit can go a long way towards making a project easier.

Believe it or not, there are some good videos out there. YouTube.com has everything from published professional videos to amatuer stuff. I would stick to ones that look legit, or are almost identical to what you are doing. Don’t be too trusting.

A few auto parts companies even publish some videos on YouTube. I found Car Parts Warehouse had some wheel hub videos. Discount AC Parts had some AC Compressor installation Videos and Turbochargerpros.com had some of their turbos videos there. Might be good to see some info on the parts before installation. Like mentioned earlier, just being able to see something and how it looks makes things easier.

Beyond YouTube there are other sites offering videos on installation. Many are free, but many are require subscription. If you really need help, then paying for it will save you in the long run.

Why some OEM car parts look different

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:59:47 +0000

For many home mechanics, this can be a real nuisance. You take out your original part, do your research and make sure you get the “OEM” Original equipment replacement part from the parts store. However, when you open the box, it looks nothing like the original. You immediately think the parts store is pulling a fast one on you.

The truth is, OEM car parts over time improve in design. OEM number changes commonly occur in car steering racks, ac compressors and fuel pumps. This is especially true if your car is at least 5-10 years old. I found such an issue with a client who thought he had purchased the wrong fuel pump. The one in particular was a Delphi fuel pump. Manufacturers often make adjustments to assure higher efficiency and better overall operation.

I have included pictures of the Original Fuel Pump and the Improved design. In this particular case, the original fuel pump had the fuel strainer on the outside of the physical pump whereas in the new design the fuel pump has the strainer built inside the body of the pump itself. This change, along with the new locking ring, improved RFI noise filtering and reduced amperage. Tons of changes, but the part number stays the same.

OEM number changes occur and it is a natural part of the car parts industry. Instead of immediately questioning the parts store, question the part itself and look for any OEM changes when in doubt.

Ford Mustang Manual Steering Rack

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:03:51 +0000

I was working with someone who had a kit car. It was a classic mercedes that required a Mustang manual steering rack.

I was fairly impressed with the price and availability for these. Apparently alot of companies are building kits that use this Ford Steering Rack. Who would have thought a 70’s Mustang II steering rack would still be so popular?

They can also use power racks, which are nice if the car is bigger or heavier. If the car is lightweight and small I recommend sticking with power, since the power steering pump sucks power from the engine. Either way its nice to have a good supply of new racks and not have to worry about returning a core.

Stock Car Radios

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:37:33 +0000

I am a little frustrated. My car radio decided to leave me for eternity; it was time for us to part ways. The solution seems pretty simple right? Just go to the dealership and get a replacement CD changer. WRONG. I don’t understand how someone can ask for such a large amount of money for a 7 year old part. I know I am not getting the best bang for the buck. I know I am not getting the most up to date, audiophile quality head unit.

Truth is, I don’t want to. I am a simple human being. I want a simple replacement to what I’ve had in the my car for the past 7 years. So I try Best Buy, Fry’s, and other local electronic stores. Again, nothing. After banging my head online for a few hours, I found a great car radio replacement solution. Best Buy size selection and warranty in car audio minus the outrageous stealership prices – all for stock car radio parts.

Why aren’t there more of these? I am still searching but quite frankly, getting tired of stolen car stereos on ebay and craigslist and the lack of warranties from other stores. I am curious, am I the only one who likes my car audio the way it is – stock? And willing to go through all this to get my car back to its simple, clean look? Call me crazy but I’d rather rebuild my CD changer than part ways with it for eternity.

AAPEX lowering prices of Hotel and Flights

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:21:11 +0000

In a sign on the times, AAPEX and SEMA announed new lower prices for hotels and flights for the big auto parts convention.

The word is they are trying hard to stem the number of cancellations that are going on. I imagine most companies that were planning on sending say 5 people, may now just send 2-3 to keep costs down.

Cannot say I blame them for trying, but most of the aftermarket is actually doing pretty well. As people refuse to buy new cars (did you catch GM and F stock price this week?) they seem to be buying car parts to repair their old ones.

The problem is that most of the buying is going to the ultra cheap stuff. Think used and cheap Chinese. Merchants will have to either stand firm against that junk, or remix their products. Hopefully they will stand against it.

Are you still going to the show?

How to Save Gas

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:25:19 +0000

Here are some basic car maintenance tips to save gas.

1. A faulty oxygen sensor can be very bad. Replacing it can improve your mileage up to 40 percent.
2. Replacing a clogged air filter can save up to 10 percent. It also protects your engine from contamination and long term damage.
3. Replace spark plugs every 60-90K miles. Spark plugs get weaker over time. An improperly firing spark plug will decrease engine performance. Platinum plugs are usually only a few bucks more too.
4. Don’t speed. I don’t like this one either, but it does help. Note that best gas mileage is not low speeds but usually around 50-60mph when you transmission gets into top gear.
5. Easy on the brakes. Don’t speed up to stop. If you are coming to a stop, take your foot off the gas earlier. Using brakes equals bad gas mileage.
6. Overuse of AC compressor. A/c does not really take that much to run, but having cranked to max all the time will hurt a bit. Try a lower setting.
7. Lose gas gaps. Takes less than a second to check the cap each time.
8. Keep Tires Properly Inflated. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure
9. Dirty or wrong engine oil. Do not used unsealed or unknown oil. Go with a Valvoline, Castol, Penzoil, etc, etc. Also be sure to use the exact oil. Using the wrong oil can take a few MPG off your trip.

Changing the AC Drier Dessicant

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:58:54 +0000

We have discussed previously about the dessicant element in the air condtioning compressor system, but more questions came up. When is it used and how and when do you change it?

So the first question is when do vehicles have it. Starting in the late 1990’s Toyota a/c compressor began using the dessicant element instead of the drier. Most manufacturers like Honda began using it shortly after, while some like the Isuzu AC Compressor never used it. It really depends on the vehicle and if you look at a AC Catalog like discountacparts.com you will be able to find out what your vehicle has.

The other part is how do you change it. Most cannisters use a 10mm hex nut on top. You pop off the top and change it over. Usually you should flush before you change the ac drier, but since the flush could cause the bag to tear or rip, I recommend removing the dessicant, then flushing. Once it is clean you can add the new bag in.

What is an O-Ring?

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:58:30 +0000

These days most every fitting on a car is sealed by an o-ring. An O-ring is a circular piece of rubber(usually) that creates a leak proof seal between fittings. In most car parts applications, these are made from polyurethane, which is a high end rubber. This material has shown to provide the best seal between parts and provide the lowest level of leak

Having your car not leak is not only beneficial to your driveway, but also to your performance of your ride. Those fluids need to be in your car to ensure they work correctly. An auto Air Conditioning Compressor will almost certainly lock up and smoke with fluid too low. A Lexus Steering Rack will rust out and break without lubricant.

O-rings are measured by both thickness and diameter. You’ll need to get an exact match and placement to ensure it works correctly. Wrong o-rings can be very frustrating when trying to work on the car. I always recommend taping an o-ring to a piece of paper and writing where it came from. You can put the new ring next to it. This should ensure you get the correct fit. This is not horseshoes, close does not count.