<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Lifehacker]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Lifehacker]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/lifehacker http://jalopnik.com/tag/lifehacker <![CDATA[Keep Gas Prices From Bankrupting You This Summer]]> Gas prices have gone nowhere but up over the last few years, and it doesn't look like that's going to change this year. With summer road-trips approaching, here are some quick gas-saving tips to remember after hitting the pumps. [Lifehacker] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5799991&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How Chicago's using the web to reunite 519 Snowpocalypse-stuck cars with their owners]]> A day after a blizzard stranded motorists for up to nine hours, creating the amazing post-Apocalyptic shots we saw yesterday, Chicago was left with 519 vehicles abandoned along Lake Shore Drive. Today, they're being reunited with owners. Here's how. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5750855&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How to Do a J-Turn in the Snow]]> Among stunt-driving moves, none is as satisfying (and relatively safe) as a J-turn. Doing a J-turn on pavement takes some skill, but a snowy parking lot? That's like training wheels for J-turns. Here's how to do it. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5737615&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Snow Tires: To Buy Or Not To Buy?]]> It's not even January, and already millions of Americans have had weeks of snow driving. Every winter, astute owners raise the question of whether it's time to buy snow tires. BMWBlog's Shawn Molnar offers his take. — Ed. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5720380&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Ten Top Tips For Buying A Used Car]]> The reward of getting a great deal on a used car's sometimes overshadowed by the reality that you've made a mistake. We polled our experienced readers and created this list of the ten top tips for buying a used car. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5704303&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Ten Best Auto Upgrades For Under $100]]> There are a few automotive upgrades that are both functional and can be found for under $100. Our readers helped us find these ten best cheap upgrades that can improve your driving experience without ruining your credit. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5684420&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Top Ten Modifications For Your Daily Driver]]> On Driven Daily, Jesse O'Brien writes about efficiently using your time behind the wheel, including his own BMW with 200,000 miles. Here's his recommendations for the top ten performance and safety upgrades for the serious driver's daily driver. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5676132&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Negotiate For A Used Car]]> Buying a used car may sound simple, but most people find it pretty intimidating. Brett and Kate McKay from The Art of Manliness put together this helpful pre-purchase guide. Even if you're a title-turnin' pro, it's worth a quick review. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5570813&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Order From A Taco Truck]]> Taco trucks offer authentic, cheap and delicious food, yet fear of the unknown sends most of us straight to Taco Hell. Follow this simple guide and you'll be running out for more salsa verde instead of running for the border. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5515745&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Check Vehicle Accident Reports From Your Phone]]> InstaVin, a new text-message-based accident-history report search system, launched last week. It offers quick information for prospective buyers at a lower cost than CarFax or other competitors. The system is temporarily free, and Jalopnik tried it out. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5549134&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Beat Traffic With Math]]> Tired of being stuck in traffic? One writer broke down his daily Houston commute using a year's worth of detailed data and inferential statistics, and determined how to beat local traffic using nothing but math.. — Ed. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5538728&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Jump From A Speeding Car]]> Brett and Kate McKay from The Art of Manliness assembled this concise guide to safely jumping out of a moving car. Personally, we prefer to go down with the ship, Titanic-style, but this is good stuff to know. —Ed. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5531539&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Escape A Sinking Car]]> Accidentally drive into a river? Get caught in a flash flood and can't see daylight? Here's The Art of Manliness guide to escaping from an underwater car. Read it and don't drown! —Ed. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5531540&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Avoid Speed Traps, Brushfires, And Friends With Your iPhone]]> Mobile app Trapster just rolled out its 4.0 release and added new features to help users log roadtrips, locate friends, better avoid tickets, and get around rockslides. Even the police are pitching in to aid (and slow) your commute. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5480294&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Junkyard Boombox Virus Spreads: Meet The Catbox, Featuring Genuine Lucas Electrics!]]> More than two years have passed since I built the car-battery-powered Turbo II, Junkard Boogaloo boombox, and finally some other masochist innovator has decided to experience the headaches joy of a homemade boombox afflicted blessed with genuine Jaguar components: Catbox! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5449652&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Confound Thieves With A Camouflaged Car Stereo For Under $20!]]> Let's say you park your car in an area frequented by urban entrepreneurs who gather intoxicant-obtainment resources by harvesting car audio equipment from vehicles… yet you still want some tunes in your ride. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5298493&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Fix A Drooping Car Window]]> It's common to see older cars with misaligned windows unable to roll down evenly. Here's how to fix a drooping window with hand tools and a few bucks worth of parts. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5166862&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Winterize Your Car In Ten Easy Steps]]> With cold weather blanketing much of the country, here's ten easy steps you can take to make sure your car doesn't get you stranded and frozen on the side of the road this winter. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5106830&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Safety Good, Sanity Bad: Build Your Own Acceleration Warning Horn For $7!]]> Ford's Nanny Key is pretty effective, but how do you punish drivers for such dangerous acts as turning or accelerating? Bring seven bucks to the junkyard, my friends, and you'll find everything you need to build the Ozzy Osbourne Inertial Penalty Horn! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5063539&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Top Five Reasons Your Tires Fail]]> Mike Allen over at Popular Mechanics put together a handy list of the top five reasons for tire failure. We figure it's important stuff since, you know, your tires are pretty much more important than any other part of your car — they're what the whole rest of the vehicle rides on. Believe it or not, there's more that can be wrong with your tires than just underinflation, so check out the list below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5053594&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Escape A Hurricane By Car]]> Evacuating from a hurricane involves more than just getting into your car and driving away from the coast. Of the estimated 120 deaths associated with Hurricane Rita, 107 of them were related to the mass vehicular evacuation rather than the storm itself. With hurricane watches being issued for the Mid-Atlantic and a major hurricane approaching the Bahamas, we thought it was a good time to review the proper steps an individual should take when evacuating from a storm in a motor vehicle.

Assess...

More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5045537&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Convert Your Prius To A Lead-Acid Plug-In For Just $4,995!]]> Plug-In Supply Inc. has just introduced a $4,995 Toyota Prius plug-in conversion kit which uses a pack of twenty PbA20-12 lead-acid batteries. Good for 5kWh, the battery pack should last more than 800 charge cycles, or about two years. As you would expect from something with the word "lead" in it, the batteries weigh 360 lbs — over twice as much as the standard batteries on a Prius. But the system does make it possible to drive a deadly silent 10-15 miles on pure electric power and achieve mileage of up to 100 MPG. So, is this the ultimate Prius? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=399434&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[How To Use The New IRS Mileage Rate To Deduct The Cost Of Your Car]]> Unless you're an accountant or a salesman, you may not have noticed the IRS just upped the mileage deduction rate for privately owned vehicles to 58.5 cents per mile. Sounds like the perfect time to find out how far we could turn our daily driver into a government tax rebate on wheels. We've decided to use my daily driver as an example to see if we could, hypothetically of course, deduct as much as we're actually spending to drive it. Without further ado, here's our quick guide to deducting the cost of your car. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=398076&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Six Ways To Protect Your Tank From Gas Thieves]]> As fuel prices rise, gas is rapidly becoming an extremely valuable commodity. And after sharing the five best ways to steal gas last week, we figure it's prudent to do the right thing by providing six of the best ways to protect your gas investment from the shady characters out there wishing to make it their own. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=396555&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> We'd read somewhere that at the height of the Cold War, the U.S. locked in the struggle against the evil Commies, Sweden was considered as a potential candidate for location of a Northern European base for F-117A Night Hawk Stealth fighters. Obviously that didn't happen as the decision was made to base all 59 of the arrow-headed black-as-night fighters stateside at Holloman Air Force Base after testing completed at the Toponah test range. And now, well, now they've all been retired. But we're going to imagine for a moment that maybe a couple of them were sent over to Sweden for some leave time. It's the only way we're able to explain the 2008 Saab Turbo X — because if Saab claims they're born from jets, we're of the impression this jet-black baby meatball's daddy has to be an F-117A. Earlier this week our intrepid Editor-in-Chief and I were invited over to Gingerman Raceway on Michigan's western coast to watch as Saab attempted to prove that pedigree by taking on the limited-edition Turbo X's competitors — the Audi A4 3.2 Quattro and the BMW 335 Xi. In addition, and just to see how it stacked up, the Swedes also brought along a new 2008 Subaru WRX STi and a brand spanking new 2008 BMW M3. So what happened? Well, hit the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=380099&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rules Of The Road: Jalopnik's Guide To Speed Limit Enforcement]]> [Who knew the 10th amendment to the US Constitution would create the state-by-state patchwork quilt of driving laws we've got? Well, the founders did — despite their lack of cars. Fear not, interstate drivers, we here at Jalopnik have sorted through the red tape to bring you detailed guides to driving rules; everything from teenage driving, cell phone use, open containers, dehorsing and lemon laws. These are the Rules of the Road.] Previously, we provided a list of the maximum speed limit laws by state. This let you know where it would be possible to drive legally more than 70 mph on a two-lane road (thank you Texas Legislature). This week, we focus on actual enforcement by looking at how often states ticket their speeding citizens and how much those tickets may cost. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=340913&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[A Guide to Valet Parking Your Ride]]> [This guide was put together by valet parking expert/Jalopnik commentator M0L0TOV for your edification - ed. note] Once again, the holidays are upon us, parties, shopping, and other social events loom overhead. Some of us that are impatient or don't have the time will see the signs for "valet" and cough up the money to save us parking stress. However, if proper steps aren't taken, the convenience can be more of a headache than its worth. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=324925&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Wiimote Doubles As Vehicle Accelerometer]]> Ready equipped with 3-axis accelerometers, Nintendo's Wiimote is capable of measuring your car's performance. Kevin Lee, a forum user at VW Vortex discovered this and has posted all the necessary calculations to turn the G-force readings into performance figures and even provides a tutorial demonstrating how to connect a Wiimote to a PC. Testing his theory in a BMW M3, he recorded a 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds. The Wiimote is also capable of measuring speed, cornering force and deceleration. Subsequently, Kevin was mocked by other forum users, who questioned the amount of time on his hands and his ability to get a girlfriend. We bet they're just jealous. [Via VWVortex] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=283939&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Bleed the Brakes]]> The fluid that exists as brake fluid is in reality hydraulic fluid. The helpful property of brake fluid is that it cannot be compressed. This comes in handy when the brake pedal is pushed down. Brake fluid links the parts of the brake system together as one. Brake pedal goes down. Friction is achieved! A hydraulic clutch also uses this same principle, and brake fluid to make shifting happen. An unfortunate property of brake fluid is that it is hygroscopic. Over time brake fluid draws moisture into itself all by itself. Bleeding the brake lines of air is an important step after brake work, and is also helpful to purge contaminated brake fluid from the brake lines. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=273668&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Compression Pressure Test]]> Mechanical know how in our case has come largely from two sources. There have been those kind enough to show the way, and there has been the hard way. A long and proud lineup of 500-dollar cars has steered us mostly down the latter route. The way we learned about how and why to run a compression check on an engine came only after bolting on every conceivable replacement part to a 318 V-8 in a 500-dollar '67 Plymouth Barracuda in an effort to make the thing run better. A compression check revealed that the engine was closer to a V-5 and-a-half than a V-8. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=269221&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Turbo II, Junkyard Boogaloo - Part 2: How To]]> There's no need for me to describe why it was necessary to build a boombox out of plywood and car parts. It's obvious that we all need such a thing. Now, if you're not interested in the nitty-gritty and merely want to see the finished result — here is the post for you. However, if you've got the moxie to see how the Turbo II Junkyard Boogaloo Boombox came to be, all your questions can be answered below the jump ... More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=265438&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Turbo II, Junkyard Boogaloo - Part 1: Features]]> Feast your eyes on the result of weeks of work using the various remains of over a dozen cars — from 80's BMW's to a 1990 Toyota Tercel — it's the glorious Turbo II Junkyard Boogaloo boombox. For those of you who want the gearhead nitty-gritty, the full "How To" is here. For those who just want to see this baby in all of its radical goodness, below you'll find some documentation of what the Turbo II is and does ... More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=265913&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Wash and Wax Bonanza]]> For a long number of years even the idea of washing and waxing our car was unnecessary. Cleanup meant maybe a hosing off, and adding another layer of rattle can primer to key spots. The first paint job worthy of a wash and wax was a defining moment. Washing and waxing the new paint on the old car was suddenly an exciting novelty! For somewhat newer cars, a regular wash and wax keeps the paint from decaying to the clean it with scrub pad and can of spray paint stage. Sure the local car wash is great, but nothing beats the satisfaction washing and waxing your own ride. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=267212&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Wheel Cleaning Tips in Detail]]> Whichever crackpot invented the wheel had no idea what it would lead to. Land speed records. Plus one measures of gravity on a skidpad. Four-second quarter miles. 30-inch spinners! Multiple volumes of unmentionable bad craziness. And dirt crusted wheels. While filthy wheels may not be of great concern for ox-drawn carts or the old roto-tiller, shabby looking hoops can ruin automotive outward appearances. Rolling in a car with filthy wheels is akin to showing up to a job interview with scuffed-up shoes with holes in the soles. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=265198&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Gas Saving Tips for Flummoxed Drivers]]> With gasoline prices obviously not trending downward, cash-strapped drivers are finding themselves flummoxed as to how get the best bang for their increasingly thin buck. Read on to take the first step onto the path of improved fuel efficiency. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=261618&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Replace Wheel Bearings]]>
Automobile wheels spin round thanks to the miracle of wheel bearings. The bearings themselves contain rollers that spin around inside a cage. Wheel bearings are often tapered against the coned races in which they spin in order to handle the lateral forces placed against the wheels when the vehicle turns. Given the right grease and care, most wheel bearings should roll without complaint for 100,000 miles or more. Neglected bearings will tell another tale. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=259695&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Replace Struts - Part 2]]> Last week we got down with the strut in MacPherson and said hello to the spring compressor. This week we'll finish things off and put it all back together. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=257655&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Replace Struts - Part 1]]> The history behind the modern strut type suspension has its origins in the United Kingdom. Henny Youngman would find a joke here. Something about Scotsmen, a Lotus, a spring, and a shock absorber. The punchline would be the MacPherson strut suspension. I love this crowd! The integral spring and shock absorber arrangement was pioneered by one Earl S. MacPherson. Since Mr. MacPherson worked for Ford at the time as the head honcho of engineering, the MacPherson strut first appeared up under the unitbody front fenders of a 1951 Ford Zephyr. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=255751&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Replace Shock Absorbers]]> Without the shock absorber the modern automobile would simply flail about on its springs. The shock absorber is technically a damper. The shock absorber works to dampen the bounce created by bumps in the road and the weight of the vehicle acting on the suspension and springs. The less obvious yet more important benefit of shock absorbers is control. The four small patches of tire making contact with the tarmac won't do much good if the tires are spend more time bouncing in mid-air than staying planted on the ground. As anyone who has ridden in or attempted to pilot a vehicle with blown out shock absorbers can attest, brakes and steering become dangerously ineffective when shock absorbers lose their damping ability. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=254018&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Polishing Aluminum Wheels]]> It may seem unlikely that the first step in polishing aluminum to a near-mirror shine is to score an extra crusty set of '70s vintage US Indy slot mags of off an equally '70s vintage Toyota SR5 Liftback at the local junkyard. Mag wheels are named as such because the aluminum is mixed up with a bit of magnesium to form a stronger alloy. Over time and with exposure this alloy tends to turn a dull grey. Even the crustiest of aluminum wheels can be brought back to a mirror shine with a fair amount of elbow grease and careful use of cheap power tools. More »
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