Most Common Problems With Automobile Electrical System

Most Common Problems With Automobile Electrical System

Hybrid Cars Advantages and Disadvantages

Hybrid Cars Advantages and Disadvantages

BMW 'No Reverse' Transmission Problem

Author:

Joe Sirugo
An automatic transmission is just that- automatic, consequently most people tend to pay very little attention to it until a major problem rears its ugly head.

Picture the scenario- you are driving along in the lap of luxury, the satellite radio blaring and the heated seats on. You have become accustomed to the comfort level and great driving experience brought to you by BMW.

You decide to stop at the local convenience store on your way home to grab some ice cream for the kids and a bottle of water for yourself. Upon returning to your car, you start it up, check your rear view mirror, put the shifter in reverse and then the unthinkable happens- the engine just revs as if it is in neutral and the car goes nowhere!

This article deals with the reasons behind an unexpected loss of reverse in certain BMW automatic transmission equipped vehicles, specifically the 3 series and 5 series vehicles that use the ZF5HP19 or steptronic transmission. This includes the popular 323i, 323ci, 325i, 328i, 330i, 525i, 528i, 530i, X3 and X5 models well as some others built in the 1999 to present model years.

To eliminate confusion, this does not apply to vehicles equipped with the GM 5L40 E transmission, just the ones with the sometimes problematic ZF5HP19. The 5L40 E has some issues of its own that are beyond the scope of this article but are certainly going to be the subject of another.

The failure rate for these transmissions seems to be very high and is expected to become much more of a problem as time goes by.

Typically, the vehicle is working perfectly while driving forward but when it is put in reverse there is a complete and permanent loss of movement to back up.

Reverse is typically a major feat for any transmission to accomplish- imagine the demands that are placed on a gearbox as it is asked to reverse the torque of your engine so that you can back up your nearly 4000 pound vehicle.

By far, the most common cause of the reverse problem in BMW\'s is the failure of the D-G clutch drum. Specifically, the snap ring that retains the D or reverse clutch breaks out of the clutch drum resulting in an inability for the clutch pack to apply.

The good news is that there is hope in regards to a proper repair. The factory has released an updated part that so far appears to be a permanent fix for this problem.

In our testing and in conjunction with several hundred successful repairs at our facilities, the new part seems to be metallurgically superior in several ways.

We have found that there is an improved radius area as well as slightly thicker casting. In addition to this, the grove that retains the snap ring is also relocated further away from the edge of the drum.

With this issue addressed and attention to detail in several other areas of the ZF5HP19 unit, the transmission can be repaired to 'better than new' condition by a competent transmission rebuilder / remanufacturer. In fact, when properly repaired, the ZF gearbox becomes quite robust and can provide an almost indefinite service life.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/bmw-no-reverse-transmission-problem-274672.html
About the Author
Joe Sirugo is co-owner of Trans Specialties and has been in the transmission repair industry for over 20 years

Shopping for Car Accessories Online is the Only Way to Go

Author:

John Trodey
Because of the recent downturn in the economy, most of us are looking for ways to save a little money whenever it is possible. Almost everybody has a car today, and most of us realize that it is a very big expense. Today, thanks to the World Wide Web, it has never been easier or quicker to find discount car accessories and parts.

If you have an older model of car that has a great deal of miles on it, then you probably already know that it is not cheap keeping it on the road. One of the ways many people are trying to save money is by repairing their automobiles themselves whenever it is possible. The typical home mechanic can surely change their own oil, and do other minor repairs.

But, for the more complex ones, they usually have to take it to a repair shop, and this is where it can get quite expensive, very quickly. If your car has been in the shop recently, then more than likely you saw that the first thing the mechanic did was to hook it up to a diagnostics device, that lets them know what is wrong with the car.

Well, it is possible for you to do the same thing if you only had your very own OBD2 scanner. These home scanners are very similar to what a typical repair shop uses, and they cost much less than you could ever have imagined. Once you have yours setup and ready for action, almost anything that an expensive car repair shop can do, you can also.

Of course, you probably do not want to be changing your head gasket on your engine, but there are a ton of much smaller jobs that will not be too much trouble that can and will save you money on your next car repair.

If you are already a home mechanic and are looking for a new way to make your car look better, you might want to consider putting a set of LED car lights on it. For the most part, they are not that expensive and today then come pre-engineered for almost all makes and models of cars. If you possess just basic car repair skills, they are extremely quick and simple to install.

The best way to shop for OBD2 scanners and LED car lights, or for that matter all car accessories, is by doing it on the internet. There are a ton of websites today that cater to the car enthusiast that supply these items, as well as almost car part you could ever need. The best thing about these sites, is that you will be able to save a great deal of money with every purchase when you compare the prices to the local retail stores.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/shopping-for-car-accessories-online-is-the-only-way-to-go-5588117.html
About the Author
Make some improvements for your automobile with LED car lights and also you can save yourself some money with an OBD2 Scanner.

Petrol Engine Versus Diesel Engine

Author:

Carazoo.com
The choice between Petrol cars and Diesel cars is highly debated right from the inception of these two engine types. There have been endless discussions on this topic among car enthusiasts across the world including India. This article is dedicated to comparing these two most famous engine variations.
Differences Between Petrol and Diesel Engines
The most distinguishing feature of the diesel engine is that it uses compression ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber during the final stage of compression. In a diesel engine, fuel is injected at high pressure into the hot, compressed air in the cylinder, which causes it to burn and no spark is required for this. Thus, 'compression ignition' is done rather than 'spark ignition'. The petrol engine is known as a 'spark ignition' engine.
The Petrol engine uses the Otto cycle in which a fuel/air mixture is ignited by a spark plug. The air and fuel mixture when ignited by a spark burns and thereby expands to force the piston down. In case of a petrol engine, fuel and air are pre-mixed usually before compression. Earlier the pre-mixing used to be done in a carburetor but now (except in the smallest engines) electronically-controlled fuel injection is used for this. The pre-mixing of fuel and air makes a petrol engine to run at a much higher speed than a diesel. However, it severely limits their compression, and thus efficiency.
Diesel engines offer better fuel efficiency when compared to petrol due to the fact that they have higher compression ratio. Another advantage is that, a diesel engine can be more easily turbocharged than a petrol engine because of the fact that if the compression ratio and the pressure in the cylinder are high during the inlet stroke, the mixture starts to burn to soon, while the piston is on its way up. The diesel engine has no fuel in the cylinder and thus allows the turbocharger to suck as much air as it can without creating any problem.
The higher compression ratio is helpful in raising fuel efficiency. Diesel engines are much more efficient than petrol engines when at low power and at engine idle. Diesel engines, unlike the petrol engine, lack a butterfly valve (throttle) in the inlet system, which closes at idle. This creates parasitic loss and destruction of availability of the incoming air, reducing the efficiency of petrol/gasoline engines at idle. This mechanism makes the diesel engine an attractive choice for many. Diesel engines are left idle for many hours or sometimes days in many applications, such as marine, agriculture, and railways. The engines are more efficient when compared to petrol engines of the same power. They consume significantly lower fuel and offer better mileage.
A diesel engine can relatively last longer, due to the fact that petrol destroys lubrication and diesel doesn\'t. While all the above support diesel engines, a major advantage of petrol engines is that they are relatively lighter than diesel engines. Engine weight is an important factor which affects speed and performance of a car. This is one of the reasons why some of the fastest cars in the world run on petrol. It should be noted that even though diesel engines are heavier and make the automobile heavy, they have more torque.
Engines and Emissions
Diesel engines consume around 30less fuel than petrol engines and this results in much lesser carbon dioxide emissions. The diesel engines produce virtually no carbon monoxide and are much safer than petrol engines. Tests done on car emissions reveal that while Nitrogen Oxides are higher in a new diesel engine when compared to a new petrol engine. But by the time they cover 50,000 miles or so, they are the same and after that the petrol engine produces more Oxides than the diesel engine. Hydrocarbon emissions contained in petrol engine emissions are considerably more than that in diesel engine emissions. However, diesel is certainly more dangerous from the point of view of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM). SPM refers to solid particles suspended in open air, such as soot generated by combustion of various fuels. They might cause respiratory problems because of their tendency to deposit themselves in the lungs. Though much has been done to improve the fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from the petrol engine, still more needs to be done.
In India, diesel is much cheaper than petrol. Ironically, diesel cars are more expensive than petrol cars.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/petrol-engine-versus-diesel-engine-755760.html
About the Author
Carazoo.com is India’s first car portal that provides 360 exterior and interior car animations of Cars in India and Used Cars or Second Hand Cars for all car models available in India.

Know the Signs of a Transmission Going Bad, Before it is Too Late

Author:

Juble.com
Replacing an automatic transmission, can be more expensive than replacing the entire car. However, long before the transmission problems have reached the point of no return, it will show you signs that it is in trouble. If you are aware of what these signs are, and what they could signify, then you have a chance at catching the transmission problems before it is too late to do anything except replace the transmission, or the car. Repairing potential issues, is much less inexpensive then replacing because of the issues.

Pay Attention to the Hints from Your Car.

When people get sick, we understand that our bodies are trying to tell us that something is wrong. And so we either go to the doctor, or to the drug store to get medicine for ourselves. If our noses start running, or we start coughing or sneezing, if we start to feel sluggish, or run down, we know that we are sick. By the time we start running a fever, we realize that we really need to see a doctor. The same thought process could and should be applied to our cars. The examples listed below, are the hints that we are given by our car when it is trying to tell us that it needs to see a car doctor, the mechanic.

Tell Tale Hints Of Transmission Trouble.

Take a look underneath your car, if you see any wet spots or stains on the ground, then something is leaking. Any sort of leak is a sign that something not good is going on, but if the stain is red in color, then the leak is most likely coming from your transmission. If it is only a few drops, then you have some time before you should have it checked, it is not urgent right now, but it could become a major problem.

Even if you have not noticed a leak under the car, if you do notice that your fluid levels have dropped, then by all means, check them. The transmission fluid should be a translucent red color, if it has a cloudy or muddy color, or has a burnt smell to it, that means that the fluid needs to be changed.

If you feel vibrations when you are shifting gears, or if the car seems to stutter and drag through a gear shift, this is a clear sign of trouble. The problem could be something minor, like you are low on fluid, or it could be more serious, like damaged transmission cables.

Your transmission should be able to run smoothly and in relative silence. Any sort of whiny or grinding noise that seems to be coming from under the floorboards, is a severe cause for concern. This could indicate that there is a problem with the gears, or with the valves.

An overheating transmission is the worst hint that you can encounter, because at this point, it means that your car has already shown you all the other hints, and you either missed them completely, or did not know what they meant. Overheating is a clear sign of quite a few potential problems. From a solenoid that is damaged, to a restriction in the oil cooler. The only option left to you by the time this occurs, is to take your car in to be serviced.
http://www.juble.com/articles/a298-know-the-signs-of-a-transmission-going-bad-before-it-is-too-late.html
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/know-the-signs-of-a-transmission-going-bad-before-it-is-too-late-530320.html
About the Author
Welcome to Juble.com, where you make friends, share ideas, get a FREE website, Promote yourself or your business, gain knowledge, make money, and so on....

The World’s Worst Drivers – Car Accident Statistics From Around the World

Author: David Halbert
Millions of Car Accidents occur worldwide every year, and the fatalities due to these accidents are also in the millions. Most of the time, it is somehow the driver who is responsible for the accident.

According to a Traffic Report by the WHO, road accidents kill more than 1.2 million people annually, and around fifty million people get injured or disabled. These numbers are increasing with the passage of years. Out of over 1.2 million worldwide, 90of the deaths are caused in the countries that have low or middle level incomes. Globally, more than half of the total accidents that occur are with drivers between the age of 15 and 44 years, and the drivers in more than 73of cases are males.

In the UK, the number of accidents has considerably decreased in percentage over the past four or five years. Recent reports show that the road accidents have decreased by one to two percent since the year 2006.

According to an estimate, the number of accidents every year in the US is more than six million. These accidents injure millions, while thousands of people are killed. The number of people killed in car accidents in the US is thirteen times that killed in the UK. However, this difference is not very dramatic as the US is 40 times the size of UK.

In the EU, the country with the highest number of Car accidents and fatalities is Italy followed by Poland. The UK also has a relatively high rate as compared to other EU countries. Around ten thousand car accidents occur in the UK each day, and most of these are the result of a mistake on the driver\'s part. Car accidents comprise more than 52of the total accidents in the EU.

Out of the total accidents in the EU, 67are in the urban areas and in 75of the total accidents, the driver is male. Young drivers between age 18 and 25 are involved in more than 21of the total accidents and fatalities. Research shows that most of the accidents occur due to reckless driving and intoxication. Other than this, there are large numbers of rollover accidents involving young adults and teenage drivers. The number of accidents due to intoxication is also increasing continuously. In the US, about 70 to 80 people die every day due to accidents related to alcohol.

In accidents in the EU and US, most the cars are insured, and Car Accident Compensation Claims can be made along with any Car Accident Injury claims. However, there are many countries where there is no insurance, and hence Car accident claims cannot be made. This is especially true for the low and medium income countries of Africa and Asia where accidents are in large percentages, and Car Accident Compensation Claims and Car Accident Injury Claims are not usually made.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/the-worlds-worst-drivers-car-accident-statistics-from-around-the-world-609862.html
About the Author
If you think you may be entitled to make a car accident claim, contact My Injury Lawyer for free help and advice.

Audi A4 and A6 Torque Converter Problems- ZF5HP19FL and FLA Transmissions

Author: Joe Sirugo
You are driving down the interstate on the way to visit an old friend. While you\'re listening to the radio and enjoying the open highway you suddenly feel something a little strange, perhaps like a slight engine surge. It does not happen again over the next half hour or so- you dismiss it as your imagination.

A little further along in your journey, you feel it again- this time it is accompanied by your check engine light illuminating. You feel a bit concerned, but the car isn\'t driving too badly, it just has this very occasional odd engine surge. Naturally, you decide to have it checked as soon as you get to where you are going. Here\'s what may be found...

As Audi\'s A4 and A6 models are starting to become a few years old, there are few problems that are being experienced with their transmissions. By far, the most common problem that is being seen at this point in time is an issue with the transmission\'s torque converter.

The problem typically starts with a check engine light coming on. While sometimes the actual drivability symptom is subtle, your vehicle\'s computer is able to detect it by comparing engine RPM with transmission input shaft RPM.

Often times, in addition to the light coming on, one will also notice an increase or fluctuation of RPM\'s at speeds above 45 miles per hour or so.

If access to a scan toll is available, either a VAG or Snap-on type with the correct European vehicle software, codes can be retrieved from the vehicle\'s computer in most cases.

Some of the codes that are normally found in the system include a code 18032 which is a MIL light request. This code simply means that the vehicle\'s computer has detected a problem and has illuminated the malfunction indicator light to let the driver know that something is amiss. This is a not so subtle warning to get the vehicle checked out.

The next two codes give a better indication of what the problem actually is. The first code that is often seen is a code 17125- torque converter clutch circuit performance. This code is set by the computer commanding converter clutch application but not seeing the appropriate drop in RPM that is associated with proper converter apply. Quite simply, the torque converter\'s clutch is slipping.

The second code that is usually observed is an OBD P0741- torque converter clutch stuck off. Similar to the previous code, excessive converter slippage is seen by the vehicle\'s computer. This code, however, usually results in the computer disabling the converter clutch\'s application altogether in an attempt to protect the transmission from further damage. All of this is usually going to require replacement of the torque converter.

Here\'s the nuts and bolts technical explanation of the root causes: ZF and Audi\'s original converter design utilized two rubber seals inside of the torque converter that were of questionable quality.

The two seals are responsible for sealing the hydraulic pressure that allows the torque converter clutch to engage and hold. One of the seals is a 'lip' type that seals on the transmission input shaft and the other 'o' ring type seal seals against the piston.

The material originally used was not up to the task when it came to dealing with the tremendous heat and pressure that occurs inside of a torque converter. Although Audi did release a second design input shaft lip seal, failures have been observed with those as well.

When the hydraulic pressure that is required to allow converter clutch application cannot be contained because of the faulty seals, the clutch will start to slip and usually destroy itself before too long.

When looking for a replacement converter to purchase from a remanufacturer, it is often helpful to ask them a few questions about their rebuilding procedures.

First off, you will want to find out if they are installing the latest design level seals as part of their torque converter rebuild- using original type seals will work for a while but will eventually lead to another premature failure. There now aftermarket replacements for these components that seem to be far superior to the factory parts.

Secondly, you will surely want to ask if the clutch itself is getting replaced. Believe it or not, this is not a given with some suppliers. The clutches in these particular units are of a multi-disk configuration. Replacing this entire multi disk set up is quite labor intensive and requires not only special tools but also a high level of skill- make sure your converter rebuilding company has both!

Naturally you will also want your rebuilder to replace any other components that normally wear out such as washers, bearings, one way clutches, and spline inserts. Most of the quality converter manufacturers will also pressure test and dynamically balance the unit once it is in the final stage of the rebuilding process.

Taking the time to find out that the job is getting done correctly is absolutely critical. As with any type of rebuilt or remanufactured automotive component, there can be varying levels of quality. With over 11 hours of labor involved in removing and reinstalling your A4 or A6\'s ZF5HP19 FLA transmission to replace the converter, it is surely a job that you will not want to do or have done more than once.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/audi-a4-and-a6-torque-converter-problems-zf5hp19fl-and-fla-transmissions-350850.html
About the Author
Joe Sirugo is co-owner of Trans Specialties and has been in the transmission repair industry for over 20 years

Petrol Engine Versus Diesel Engine

Author: Carazoo.com
The choice between Petrol cars and Diesel cars is highly debated right from the inception of these two engine types. There have been endless discussions on this topic among car enthusiasts across the world including India. This article is dedicated to comparing these two most famous engine variations.

Differences Between Petrol and Diesel Engines

The most distinguishing feature of the diesel engine is that it uses compression ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber during the final stage of compression. In a diesel engine, fuel is injected at high pressure into the hot, compressed air in the cylinder, which causes it to burn and no spark is required for this. Thus, “compression ignition' is done rather than 'spark ignition'. The petrol engine is known as a “spark ignition” engine.

The Petrol engine uses the Otto cycle in which a fuel/air mixture is ignited by a spark plug. The air and fuel mixture when ignited by a spark burns and thereby expands to force the piston down. In case of a petrol engine, fuel and air are pre-mixed usually before compression. Earlier the pre-mixing used to be done in a carburetor but now (except in the smallest engines) electronically-controlled fuel injection is used for this. The pre-mixing of fuel and air makes a petrol engine to run at a much higher speed than a diesel. However, it severely limits their compression, and thus efficiency.

Diesel engines offer better fuel efficiency when compared to petrol due to the fact that they have higher compression ratio. Another advantage is that, a diesel engine can be more easily turbocharged than a petrol engine because of the fact that if the compression ratio and the pressure in the cylinder are high during the inlet stroke, the mixture starts to burn to soon, while the piston is on its way up. The diesel engine has no fuel in the cylinder and thus allows the turbocharger to suck as much air as it can without creating any problem.

The higher compression ratio is helpful in raising fuel efficiency. Diesel engines are much more efficient than petrol engines when at low power and at engine idle. Diesel engines, unlike the petrol engine, lack a butterfly valve (throttle) in the inlet system, which closes at idle. This creates parasitic loss and destruction of availability of the incoming air, reducing the efficiency of petrol/gasoline engines at idle. This mechanism makes the diesel engine an attractive choice for many. Diesel engines are left idle for many hours or sometimes days in many applications, such as marine, agriculture, and railways. The engines are more efficient when compared to petrol engines of the same power. They consume significantly lower fuel and offer better mileage.

A diesel engine can relatively last longer, due to the fact that petrol destroys lubrication and diesel doesn’t. While all the above support diesel engines, a major advantage of petrol engines is that they are relatively lighter than diesel engines. Engine weight is an important factor which affects speed and performance of a car. This is one of the reasons why some of the fastest cars in the world run on petrol. It should be noted that even though diesel engines are heavier and make the automobile heavy, they have more torque.

Engines and Emissions

Diesel engines consume around 30less fuel than petrol engines and this results in much lesser carbon dioxide emissions. The diesel engines produce virtually no carbon monoxide and are much safer than petrol engines. Tests done on car emissions reveal that while Nitrogen Oxides are higher in a new diesel engine when compared to a new petrol engine. But by the time they cover 50,000 miles or so, they are the same and after that the petrol engine produces more Oxides than the diesel engine. Hydrocarbon emissions contained in petrol engine emissions are considerably more than that in diesel engine emissions. However, diesel is certainly more dangerous from the point of view of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM). SPM refers to solid particles suspended in open air, such as soot generated by combustion of various fuels. They might cause respiratory problems because of their tendency to deposit themselves in the lungs. Though much has been done to improve the fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from the petrol engine, still more needs to be done.

In India, diesel is much cheaper than petrol. Ironically, diesel cars are more expensive than petrol cars.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/petrol-engine-versus-diesel-engine-755760.html
About the Author
Carazoo.com is India’s first car portal that provides 360 exterior and interior car animations of Cars in India and Used Cars or Second Hand Cars for all car models available in India.

BMW 'No Reverse' Transmission Problem

Author: Joe Sirugo
An automatic transmission is just that- automatic, consequently most people tend to pay very little attention to it until a major problem rears its ugly head.

Picture the scenario- you are driving along in the lap of luxury, the satellite radio blaring and the heated seats on. You have become accustomed to the comfort level and great driving experience brought to you by BMW.

You decide to stop at the local convenience store on your way home to grab some ice cream for the kids and a bottle of water for yourself. Upon returning to your car, you start it up, check your rear view mirror, put the shifter in reverse and then the unthinkable happens- the engine just revs as if it is in neutral and the car goes nowhere!

This article deals with the reasons behind an unexpected loss of reverse in certain BMW automatic transmission equipped vehicles, specifically the 3 series and 5 series vehicles that use the ZF5HP19 or steptronic transmission. This includes the popular 323i, 323ci, 325i, 328i, 330i, 525i, 528i, 530i, X3 and X5 models well as some others built in the 1999 to present model years.

To eliminate confusion, this does not apply to vehicles equipped with the GM 5L40 E transmission, just the ones with the sometimes problematic ZF5HP19. The 5L40 E has some issues of its own that are beyond the scope of this article but are certainly going to be the subject of another.

The failure rate for these transmissions seems to be very high and is expected to become much more of a problem as time goes by.

Typically, the vehicle is working perfectly while driving forward but when it is put in reverse there is a complete and permanent loss of movement to back up.

Reverse is typically a major feat for any transmission to accomplish- imagine the demands that are placed on a gearbox as it is asked to reverse the torque of your engine so that you can back up your nearly 4000 pound vehicle.

By far, the most common cause of the reverse problem in BMW\'s is the failure of the D-G clutch drum. Specifically, the snap ring that retains the D or reverse clutch breaks out of the clutch drum resulting in an inability for the clutch pack to apply.

The good news is that there is hope in regards to a proper repair. The factory has released an updated part that so far appears to be a permanent fix for this problem.

In our testing and in conjunction with several hundred successful repairs at our facilities, the new part seems to be metallurgically superior in several ways.

We have found that there is an improved radius area as well as slightly thicker casting. In addition to this, the grove that retains the snap ring is also relocated further away from the edge of the drum.

With this issue addressed and attention to detail in several other areas of the ZF5HP19 unit, the transmission can be repaired to 'better than new' condition by a competent transmission rebuilder / remanufacturer. In fact, when properly repaired, the ZF gearbox becomes quite robust and can provide an almost indefinite service life.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/bmw-no-reverse-transmission-problem-274672.html
About the Author
Joe Sirugo is co-owner of Trans Specialties and has been in the transmission repair industry for over 20 years