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How to Prepare Your Car For Winter

October 7, 2014 by admin 2 Comments

winter road
Is your car ready for the (winter) road ahead?

Winter’s icy grip can put its “hurt” on your car. Just like in summer, extreme temperatures can make your engine work harder and increase the chances that your car will fall prone to extreme weather conditions. The time to prepare your car for winter is before colder temperatures move in. Here’s what you can do to prepare your vehicle for any wintry wallop.

1. Flush the radiator. Topping off the radiator for winter may not be enough. If you haven’t had the radiator flushed in two or more years, then have that done as soon as possible. You should know that there is some controversy whether flushing is necessary or not as evidenced by this Car Talk question. Consult your owners manual for the definitive answer.

2. Inspect the battery. If your car’s battery dies, you could be left stranded. Check the battery’s connections and clean off the terminal. If it is at least three years old, you may need to replace it. Cold weather can kill a weak battery.

3. Check tire tread and consider winter tires. Rotating your tires twice per year is wise. When rotating, determine if there is sufficient tread left. If not, replace your tires. All-season tires are fine for areas where snowfall is not a concern. For everywhere else, replacing your tires with winter tires can give you the extra grip you need. Use four winter tires, not two — you’ll enjoy all-around better grip and handling with the same type of tire across all four wheels.

4. Inspect the brake system. If your brakes don’t work properly, you won’t be able to stop your car. This is where a certified mechanic should come in, to perform a complete brake inspection. Your mechanic will check everything from the brake pedal to the lines and hoses, as well as the brake fluid and assemblies.

5. Examine the exhaust system. While you are with your mechanic, ask him to check your exhaust system too. Your exhaust system controls your vehicle’s emissions and should be checked periodically for leaks and other problems. A leaky exhaust can flood your cabin with deadly carbon monoxide. A clogged system can cause a loss of power and a reduction in fuel economy. Your mechanic will check a variety of parts to include: the catalytic converter, mounting components, gaskets, the muffler and pipes.

6. Inspect all lights. Lights are a safety issue and every light on your car should be functioning as intended. You can perform a visual inspection with the assistance of another person to ensure that the headlights, fog lights, daytime running lights, turn signals, tail lights and other lights are working. If a light is burned out, check the fuse box first — it is far easier to replace a blown fuse than it is to replace a light bulb.

7. Run the heater. You’ve been operating the climate control system throughout the summer and enjoying a consistent delivery of cool air. Now put on the heater to ensure that warm air comes out. You should check the defrosters too. If the heat is not working properly the coolant level may be low or the heater core may not be working. A bad water pump or a failed thermostat are other problems that can keep your car from getting warm. See your mechanic to have him troubleshoot your heating system.

Winter Care

It is also important that you have your oil and oil filter changed on a regular basis, certainly before winter sets in. If your car is due for a new air filter or spark plugs, get this work done too. A new set of wiper blades should be installed as well.

If your winter driving takes you far from home, an emergency car kit is essential. You’ll want to include a flashlight, batteries, a first-aid kit, blankets, boots, water, gloves and snacks. Road flares, an ice scraper and jumper cables are also essential for winter travel.

Related Reading

How to Drive in Winter

7 Winter Storage Tips For Classic Cars

What You Need to Know About Winter Driving

“Susquehanna Winter Drive” by likeaduck is licensed under CC BY 2.0


See Also — What You Must Know About Catalytic Converters

Filed Under: Car Tips Tagged With: brakes, car battery, CAR TALK, HEATER CORE, LIGHTS, THERMOSTAT, TIRE TREAD, WINTER DRIVING

Brembo Expands Michigan Plant, Seeks North American Leadership

May 28, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

Brembo seeks a boost in market share.

If you are an automotive enthusiast, then you are familiar with the Brembo name. The Italian company is one of the world’s largest brake manufacturers, with its red, black or silver painted brake calipers supplying high-end OEMs including Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Citroën.


Brembo brake calipers.

This Porsche Cayman S features cant miss Brembo brake calipers.

Expanded Michigan Facility

Brembo has a strong presence in the North American market and recently expanded its Homer, Michigan, facility in a bid to increase its market share. Indeed, the facility is known for its brake, disc, caliper and corner module manufacturing, what should help Brembo reach its ultimate goal of making North America its lead market by the end of 2014.

With additional manufacturing facilities in Avenel, New Jersey, and Monterey, Mexico, the company says that it will be better positioned to serve its clients. Daniel Sandberg, president and CEO of Brembo North America said, “The investment in the Homer facility will allow us to expand our product offerings not only in North America, but also for customers across the globe.”

The Michigan plant was acquired in 2007 when Brembo purchased the Hayes-Lemmerz brakes discs division that same year. Brembo immediately set out to expand the plant in 2008, completing the second phase of that expansion in 2012 and 2013. The company also built a separate caliper and corner module manufacturing facility next to its disc plant, now offering 47 processing lines and 12 painting lines.

Brembo brakes.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT relies on Brembo brakes.

Acquisition and OEM Demand

With added production capacity, Brembo expects to increase its discs output from 10 million discs in 2013 to 12.5 million in 2014. The company is also on track to boost calipers and corners modules production by one-third to 400,000 units this year.

Brembo credits two changes in recent years that have expanded the company’s already strong presence in the North America. The first was its 2007 acquisition of the Hayes-Lemmerz Automotive Brake Component division. The second follows much stronger demand for the US-based OEMs that use Brembo products.

Besides supplying the likes of Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, Fiat Chrysler is an important partner for Brembo too. Fiat Racing uses Brembo and Chrysler products, including its minivans and select Jeep products, are also outfitted with Brembo brakes.

Brembo: Formula 1 and NASCAR

Brembo is not, of course, the only supplier of high performance brake products. Earlier this year, Motor Trend provided an excellent overview of the company and its influence on the market.

Brembo is also involved in Formula 1 racing, first getting involved in motorsports in 1975. The company operates a facility in Mooresville, North Carolina, conveniently located near the headquarters of several racing teams. The company has supplied brakes for many NASCAR winners and claims Jimmy Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Ron Hornaday, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Clint Boyer as champions that have relied on its products to race to the winner’s circle.


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Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: brakes, Brembo, CALIPERS, DISCS, FORMULA 1, JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SRT, Mercedes-Benz, MICHIGAN, NASCAR, Porsche

The Top Auto Suppliers and What They Provide

March 9, 2014 by Dennis Goldman Leave a Comment

If you survey the auto industry you’ll find more than a dozen original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) ranging from Toyota to General Motors and all the way down to Mitsubishi and Jaguar Land Rover. These are the companies that provide the final product or the vehicles you drive.

Auto Suppliers: BoschAutomotive manufacturers have long relied on suppliers to provide a number of components ranging from the small rear view mirrors to the large diesel engines. Automakers put together the final product, assembling thousands of parts from scores of auto suppliers.

A June 2013 report carried by Automotive News looked at the top suppliers in North America, Europe and the world. That report provided a fascinating glimpse at an industry where the big players are getting stronger and the smaller companies are learning how to adjust with the times some are being acquired by competitors or working directly with them as a tertiary supplier.

Top Auto Suppliers

The report found that Robert Bosch GmbH, based in Stuttgart, Germany, made the most money by US dollars of any company, pulling in $36,787,000,000 in 2012. Bosch is a huge supplier of injection systems and also supplies battery technology, chassis system controls, motors, generators, electronics, and other key parts. If not a household name, Bosch is an industry name of renown.

Japans Denso Corp. follows closely behind Bosch, a provider of electronic and electrical systems, telecommunications, powertrain control and small motors. Denso is followed in third place by Continental AG, a German manufacturer of stability management systems, tires, chassis systems, instrumentation, brakes, telematics and other key parts.

Auto Suppliers: Infotainment System

The typical vehicle infotainment system is supplied, not built in-house.


The fourth and fifth spots are held by Magna International Inc. and Aisn Seiki Co. The Canadian based Magna has been in the news in recent years as it was a one-time suitor for Chrysler before Fiat stepped in. Magna is best known for building vehicle bodies, chassis, interiors, and exteriors, electronics, and mirrors. Aisin, from Japan, makes body, brake and chassis systems, drivetrain and engine components, and electronics. The top five global auto suppliers each pulled in at least $30 billion for 2012.

US Auto Suppliers

Johnson Controls occupies the sixth spot and also had the highest sales among any US manufacturer at $22,515,000,000. Johnson is well known for vehicle seating and also builds overhead systems, door and instrument panels, and hybrid vehicle batteries. Lear at $14.567 billion follows, a builder of seating and electrical power systems.

Auto Suppliers: Chrysler

Cummins is a major engine supplier to Chrysler.

Other US manufacturers of note include TRW Automotive, a steering and suspension system manufacturer that also makes braking components; Delphi, a powertrain, safety, and electronics manufacturer, and Cummins, a supplier of diesel and natural gas engines to the automotive industry. Dana Holding Corp, BorgWarner, Inc., Visteon Corp., Tenneco Inc., and Flex-N-Gate Corp. are additional big-time auto suppliers based in the United States.

Product Auto Suppliers

Automotive manufacturers build some parts in-house, but there is one part that they always leave up to the rubber manufacturers: tires. Continental, Goodyear, and Michelin are the largest suppliers to the industry, often with their eponymous tires and many times with their wholly owned competing brands.

Some companies specialize or seem to dominate in certain areas. Bayer, for example, is the largest supplier of adhesives, Van-Rob Industries provides welded assemblies, and SRG Global serves up grilles and nameplates. Sunroofs are supplied by several manufacturers including Webasto and Mitsuba.

Grede Holdings manufactures bearing arms, Clarion Corp. offers infotainment systems, Superior Industries supplies aluminum wheels, Visteon manufactures climate control systems, and aluminum manufacturer Alcoa provides hoods and trunks.

Auto Suppliers: tires

OEMs rely exclusively on rubber manufacturers to supply tires.

Auto Suppliers: Influence and Strength

All told, OEMs and auto suppliers account for trillions of dollars in sales annually. Most of us own one or more cars, buy new ones every few years, upgrade our rides with aftermarket parts, and replace worn OEM parts with new ones such as tires, brakes, and exhaust systems. It is an intricately woven industry that is also the backbone of many communities.

Filed Under: Engineering & Technology Tagged With: AUTO SUPPLIERS, BOSCH, brakes, CHASSIS, COMPONENTS, Dennis Goldman, DENSO, ENGINES, INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS, JOHNSON CONTROLS, tires

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