How to Find Map Updates for Your Portable GPS Device

on Jan 09 in Accessories tagged garmin, gps map update, navigon, new gps maps, portable gps, tomtom by jasonl

Over the last ten years, portable GPS devices have been one of the top selling consumer gadgets on the market. If you don’t own one yourself, you probably know someone who does. But in recent times, portable GPS units have faced fierce competition from smartphone navigation systems, with apps that also promise turn-by-turn navigation directions.

The problem with a smartphone as a navigation device, however, is that using your phone’s navigation app can result in data charges – and even data roaming charges when you’re headed outside your primary coverage area. If you’re not careful, your phone’s “free” navigation app can actually cost you a small fortune.

As a result, many consumers are still happy to use their old portable GPS. But what about map updates? Depending on how long you have owned the device and which unit you have purchased, you may be able to download updates for free for for a nominal fee.

Here’s a short overview of the different options available for the different units. Read More

5 Reasons to Use Neoprene Car Seat Covers

on Sep 26 in Accessories tagged car seat covers, car seats, neoprene by jasonl

Car seat covers made out of neoprene are not just a fad, especially in terms of maintaining and protecting the interior of your vehicle. Neoprene is a stable chemical used to make wet suits for deep-sea divers, which means there are a couple of benefits that car owners can appreciate.

Neoprene is special because, in addition to the five characteristics below, it’s very durable. In terms of your car, this durability has many advantages over standard car seat covers. Nearly indestructible seat covers are one of those things that just make a car owners life easier, like scheduling maintenance to prevent breakdowns or comparing car insurance quotes online rather than calling five companies individually.

Here are five reasons to think about neoprene seat covers: Read More

The 10 Most Popular Vehicle Exhaust System Brands, According to Google

on Jun 27 in Accessories tagged exhaust system, popular brand by jasonl

Wondering what the most popular vehicle exhaust systems are in the United States? We looked up Google Keyword search data to figure out the 10 most popular brands of vehicle exhaust system. Based on that data, we came up with the list below…any of which would be a good exhaust system for your car, truck, or SUV.

*Please note that motorcycle exhaust systems have been excluded from our list here.

1. Borla

Borla states that their exhaust systems will boost your vehicle’s performance by seven to ten percent. If the stock catalytic converter is not removed, the installation of a Borla exhaust system will not void a factory warranty. Borla offers a million-mile warranty on their products. Read More

Why DIY Car Stereo Installation Is A No-No

on May 16 in Accessories tagged car stereo, diy, installation by jasonl

There was a time when teenagers just joined a few wires together and their car radio cassette worked perfectly (or almost). Of course, you had to rule out the fact the left and right speakers were connected the wrong way, and the unit constantly vibrated at high gear, making the music drown out.

Then all of a sudden, car stereo installation was made even more convenient by the advent of the CD player. When it first came out, though, the disc jumped every few seconds. And then later, it was placed in a multi-play unit at the back of the car. Sure, these worked, but wiring them up became – well, more complicated.

That was then. This is now. Read More

Determining If You Need A Car Cover – What You Need To Know

on May 06 in Accessories tagged car covers by jasonl

If you’re thinking about car covers, here are several questions you should ask yourself to figure out if one is right for you.

1. How Often Do You Use Your Car?

First of all, consider how often you use your car. If you’re going to cover your car for an extended period, then you don’t need to worry about ease of removal…but if you’re covering and uncovering your car every other weekend, you’ll want to invest in a cover that’s easy to remove.

2. The Current Condition of Your Car

Our next factor in determining whether a car cover is the best option in protecting your car is the current condition. Is your cars exterior already in good condition? If so, it is much cheaper to keep it in good condition than to incur the high costs of repairing dents, dings, cracks and scratched or faded paint.

3. Is Your Car Parked In a Garage?

It is also important to consider how much protection your car currently has. Is it parked inside a garage or outside? Is it parked along a busy street, a neighborhood street or in a driveway? Each of these parking situations may have certain protections or certain hazards that go along with them. Generally speaking, the worse the conditions, the better the cover should be.

4. How Often Do You Wash Your Car?

If you are the type of person who enjoys washing their car each weekend, this decreases the benefit of protection from dirt that may fall on a parked car…which means a cover might not be necessary.  However, remember that a car cover can still offer protection from sun damage, debris, acid rain, etc.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to cover your car isn’t too complicated. If it’s a vehicle that’s parked outside and rarely driven, a car cover is the best way to preserve it’s condition and value.

Article by Will from Custom Car Covers Dot Com.

Fuel Saving Gadgets Do NOT Work

on May 26 in Accessories, Maintenance & Repairs tagged gas mileage by jasonl

With $4.00 a gallon gasoline weighing heavily on everyone’s minds, and major news sources like CNN constantly making reference to the coming energy crunch, fuel economy has taken on a new importance for many drivers. Pickup truck operators in particular feel the pinch more than car owners, as trucks are usually less fuel-efficient than cars. Not only that, but many truck owners use their trucks to tow trailers or haul heavy cargo, and both of these activities take their toll on fuel use.

It’s not surprising that now more than ever, those fuel saving gadgets and additives that used to be exclusively advertised on late night TV have suddenly become mainstream products. With everyone looking for an edge on gas mileage, you might have been tempted to purchase one of these devices and install it on your car or truck. Is it possible that any of these products live up to their promises, or is it all just snake oil in a box?

Sadly, it seems that almost all of these miracle cures for poor fuel mileage don’t add up to much more than marketing hype.

The ‘Turbonator’ is a device which is designed to be fit into the pipe that brings fresh air into the engine. Essentially, the makes of the device claim that by placing a stationary fan blade inside of the pipe, it can create a ‘vortex’ which will more efficiently burn fuel, increasing both mileage and horsepower. The makers of the Turbonator claim mileage increases of as much as 33%. Lofty claims like this one are an easy way to spot fakes and frauds. To begin with, if it were that simple to dramatically improve the fuel mileage of a vehicle, then Turbonators would all come stock on every car sold around the world. Unfortunately, automotive engineering is a lot more complicated than a one-size fits all vortex generator.

Another popular set of ‘fuel savers’ are devices which claim to use the power of magnetism to somehow improve your miles per gallon. These devices usually stick onto the fuel lines heading into the engine bay and make pseudo-scientific claims that the magnets ‘align’ the fuel molecules in order to promote quick burning. Sadly, magnets do not affect non-ferrous materials, negating any effect they might have on your engine’s performance. Even if these magnets were able to somehow re-arrange the molecular structure of fuel they way they claim, there still would not be a noticeable improvement in engine performance, as there is no evidence that this type of effect provides any real benefit.

The list of fuel additives and mileage increasing devices is quite long, but nowhere amongst any of those vaunted products will you find anything that will affect the efficiency of your vehicle more than a program of regular and consistent maintenance. Things like maintaining the proper air pressure in your truck’s tires, regularly changing your oil, spark plugs and air filter, and cleaning the carbon out of your intake manifold will not only increase your fuel mileage, but also lengthen the life of your truck. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of snake oil any day of the week.

Should You Put An Exhaust System On Your Truck?

on Feb 16 in Accessories tagged Accessories, after market by jasonl

Most trucks are quite powerful — that’s probably why you own one. Trucks are made to haul and tow thousands of pounds, and to do so without difficulty, so they need lots of power. Yet despite their powerful engines, most manufacturers equip their new vehicles with a relatively quiet exhaust system. If you think your truck ought to sound as powerful as it is, or if you’d like to reduce some of the constrictions in your truck’s exhaust, then you’re probably considering adding or changing your factory exhaust system.

Fortunately, the factory exhaust system is efficient and doesn’t require much modification for you to improve it. The first component in your exhaust system is the exhaust manifold – a part that directs exhaust from individual cylinders into one or two main exhaust pipes. Most exhaust manifolds are pretty efficient and don’t require replacement, but if you decide you’d like to replace this part, then you’re going to look at a set of headers. A good set of headers will offer a ceramic coating as well as factory mounting points for sensors. Again, most of the time the factory exhaust manifold is just fine.

The next components the exhaust gases travel thru are the catalytic converters. There’s really no benefit to changing or modifying these, and taking them off is a bad idea. Today’s modern catalytic converter is very efficient and legally required, so it makes sense to leave it alone. You would only consider replacing the factory catalytic if you were adding an extremely powerful engine upgrade, like a turbocharger or supercharger.

After the catalytic converters, the exhaust gases cool somewhat and enter the muffler. Again, the factory exhaust system is pretty good and the standard mufflers aren’t very restrictive. Replacing them usually won’t result in a significant hp or torque gain…3-5 hp and 5-10 ft-lbs of torque on average. However, after market mufflers will make your truck sound much better. The rumble you’ll hear with after market mufflers is exciting, and well worth the cost. After leaving the mufflers, the exhaust will exit out of the tailpipe. Tailpipe tips are a popular add-on, but they’re decorative only and have no impact on your exhaust system’s performance.

Since changing the factory muffler will have the biggest effect on your exhaust system, they’re the most logical component to replace. When you’re looking at after market mufflers, here are some things to consider:

First, do you want to hear the exhaust ALL the time? In other words, when you drive down the highway, is a little exhaust drone OK? If not, make sure you choose a muffler that’s not described as being loud. Check the web and ask your local muffler shop for advice on finding a good muffler. Many muffler manufacturers are even putting sound clips on their websites now.

Second, do you want something that people can slightly hear when you drive by, or do you want something so loud that the neighbors know exactly what time you leave for work every morning? Words like “racing” or “glasspack” usually indicate exceptionally loud mufflers, so watch out for those terms unless you want a lot of attention.

Another important choice when considering a new muffler is single or dual exhaust. Remember, most factory exhaust systems are pretty good. If your truck came from the factory with a single exhaust, it will work just fine and give good performance with a single after market exhaust system. Dual exhaust systems are more money, but they look and sound and single exhaust systems. If you decide to go with a dual exhaust, make sure that your installer works around your trailer hitch and/or leaves room for one in case you want to add it on later.

Finally, what exhaust system material is best? It’s a decision that should be based on geography. If you live anywhere near the corrosive effects of saltwater, stainless steel is the smart choice. While it’s more expensive up-front, it will last much longer than galvanized or aluminized steel in these climates. People living in dry climates really don’t need to purchase stainless steel — if rust attacks their system, it will be years before anything is damaged.