Jalopnik
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Cheapskate Tips
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 » -
Jalopnik Car Care
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 »
14,388
Comment by leavethegun-takethecannoli: I've actually replaced a power window motor. It was on a 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis, what a pain in the... 15 Responses | Other threads
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Jalopnik Car Care
How To Decode Your Car's VIN
The Vehicle Information Number (VIN) plate on cars is a clever way to communicate everything about a car in a simple, hard-to-duplicate format. Below, we show you how to decode any vehicle's 17-digit VIN number. More » -
how to
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. -
novelties
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 » -
tires
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.
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How To Escape A Hurricane
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. More » -
alternative energy
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 » -
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how to deduct the cost of your car
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 » -
how to protect your gas tank
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 » -
rules of the road
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 » -
valet parking
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 »
14,978
Comment by msn2310: I currently manage a valet service for a high end luxury hotel, been there for over 5 years now and... more » | Other threads
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driving game
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]
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By Wes SilerComment by Popstar Dave: Impressive and all... But if the main reason for the exercise was to calculate a 0-60 time, what's wrong... more » | Other threads
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and you will know us by the trail of parts
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 » -
and you will know us by the trail of parts
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 » -
from the creator of wanky the cat
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 »
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Comment by IsaiahPhoogle: Mate, have just spent the last hour (of work so ok...) reading through your project, I originally searched to... more » | Other threads
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from the creator of wanky the cat
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 ...
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and you will know us by the trail of parts
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 » -
and you will know us by the trail of parts
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 » -
and you will know us by the trail of parts
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 » -
and you will know us by the trail of parts
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 » -
car care
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 » -
feature
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 » -
feature
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 » -
car care
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 » -
car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Radiator Repair
In order for the miracle of the automotive cooling system to march on unabated all the components must be able to hold up under pressure. The heavy hitter in this equation is the radiator. Inside the radiator are coolant passages. Connected to the passages are the cooling fins. As hot engine coolant passes through the radiator heat gets wicked away through these fins and into the air. Neglecting the cooling system can cause corrosion and even rust to build up inside the radiator until one day it literally cracks under pressure and makes like an underhood Old Faithful. Pressure and tempers are lost along with engine cooling. More » -
car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Replace a Water Pump
At the heart of the cooling system is the water pump. It spins as does the engine in order to continuously circulate engine coolant through the automotive cooling system. Out from the engine, into the radiator, and then back again. So goes the water-cooled internal combustion engine. If the water pump fails in its task the cooling system will have the automotive equivalent of a heart attack. A few miles outside of Baker, California on a 107-degree day is usually where a water pump clutches its chest and quits. Steam pouring from under the hood and an engine clattering from detonation are sure signs of heart failure. More » -
novelties
How To Get Out Of A Car Without Showing Your Knickers
Britney, Lindsay, Pink, Paris — this is for you. Please make sure to take notes, because yes, you will be quizzed later. More » -
car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Replace a Thermostat
The difference between the rows of late model cars at the junkyard awaiting the crusher and Grandpa's 400-thousand mile 1974 Mercury Bobcat Wagon with genuine simulated wood grain paneling is regularly scheduled maintenance. The failure of an inexpensive and easy to replace part can cause a heap of pricey damage. This is especially true of the automotive cooling system thermostat. More » -
car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Replace a Radiator or Heater Hose
While there are still a few air-cooled automobiles on the roads the good majority out there these days are of the liquid cooled variety. Those driving an old Karmann Ghia or a pre-98 Porsche 911 can take the time spent reading this series of articles on the automotive cooling system and instead check their oil frequently. The rest of the liquid cooled vehicle owners out there have three important components under the hood that take the heat out of an internal combustion engine. The radiator, the water pump, and the thermostat. Between all of these components are flexible rubber hoses that transfer the liquid engine coolant. More » -
feature
If You Can't Buy It, Build It: Wanky The Safety Cat
When I got my first beater car as a proto-hoon of 16, my dad had some excellent advice, straight from the Midwestern heartland where he learned about wrenching: "Son," he said, squinting at my barely-running Corona, popping the top on his can of Old Milwaukee, and taking a mighty swig, "You need to get yourself a JC Whitney catalog!" He knew the address by heart: JC Whitney, Chicago, Illinois, so that's what I wrote on the postcard requesting my first catalog. Soon the first of many wonderful pulp-paper treasures appeared in my mailbox, straight from the City Of The Big Shoulders... More » -
car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Replace an Alternator
Recent dash light disco electrical mayhem from the Starlet served as a reminder that an automotive electrical system can go haywire at any time. An automobile electrical system comprises three key parts. The battery stores electricity to spin the starter and start the engine. The alternator produces electricity once the engine is running by way of an engine driven belt. The voltage regulator balances the delivery of electrical power between the battery, spark plugs, and hi-fi stereo playing Burt Bacharach. This balance of power will come apart when any one of these three components fail. Starters that click rather than spin and dead batteries can be the result of a spent alternator or fussy voltage regulator. More » -
car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Change an Air Filter
The internal combustion engine at its core is an air pump. It takes in air, mixes it with fuel, and ignites the mixture to make power. Over the course of even a minute, an engine can breathe in a massive volume of air. A 2-liter engine can inhale nearly 3000 liters of air per minute at cruising speed. That's 1500 2-liter bottles of soda a minute! All of this air enters the engine through the air filter. More » -
car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Check Tire Pressure
The reason to check your tire pressure is usually explained with some nearly unbelievable statistical simile bordering on hyperbole. If everyone checked their tire pressure once a month, we could save enough oil to build comfortable cities on the moon and help kittens. Or something like that. The fact is checking tire pressure on a regular basis can improve handling, increase fuel economy, promote tire longevity, and even save lives. -
car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Replacing 30 Year-Old Lights with LEDs
At least one, and perhaps more of us here at the the Jalop not only fantasize about cars on a minute-by-minute basis, but also find time to squeeze in wet dreams about transportation of the two-wheeled variety. While the world of motorcycles can seem foreign and dangerous to the cage driver (that's what we call you douchebags when we're on the bike), it's actually safer than you'd think. The vast majority of motorcycle-related injuries are caused by operator stupidity. Another huge chunk of those injuries are due to some cager not seeing you in the worst possible moment. With that in mind, updating the signaling and lighting system on your motorcycle isn't the worst way to spend a few bucks, improve the bike's looks, and maybe keep your sorry ass off the pavement. More »
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By bwojdylaComment by my favorite car is a motorcycle: www.aerostitch.com standard 12-volt taillight replacement LED bulbs are $20 each, no additional electrical gadgetry necessary. Given today's inconsiderate and unobservant drivers don't... more » | Other threads
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car care
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Using a Floor Jack and Jack Stands
The scissor or corkscrew jack in your trunk is somewhat adequate for emergency wheel and tire swaps. Drive-on ramps are good for oil changes and whatnot. When it comes time to blow apart the front end, swap out some brake pads, or replace some spent struts, a floor jack and two or more sturdy jack stands are the right tools for the job. More » -
novelties
Things To Do In Your Living Room With A Rover 3.5-Liter V8
Who knew the things you could do with a Rover 3.5-liter V8 engine when you've got it sitting in your living room? With a displacement of 3528 cc, there's all sorts of enough room for wine bottles, or you can use it as a coffee table, or even a coffee table holding wine bottles (we here tend to have alcohol on the brain, in hand, and down gullet, at all times). In fact, because this engine appeared not only in Rover cars, but was widely sold by Rover to small car builders — becoming the virtual de-facto standard British engine for hot rod use (much as has the Chevrolet small-block V8 for American builders) — there's a lot of them around. So grab a burbler that's quite burbling and be like these enterprising young urban autonistas, turning your love of the automobile into a love of furniture. Gallery of tables below. More » -
news
Getting A Grip On Where The Rubber Meets The Road
Most folks know one of the easiest and quickest performance enhancements you can make to your car when you first get it from the dealer is a good set of tires. As Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson illustrates in the video above, the difference between budget tires and performance tires on their closed course caused an almost two second difference in lap time with a professional driver at the wheel. That's because traction is all about making sure you've got the most rubber possible touching the road at any given moment. Thus, on a dry track, performance tires with a slicker surface allow a greater percentage of the surface of the tire to be in contact with the road, thus providing a higher level of "grip." See for yourself. More » -
novelties
We Know What Girls Want? The Auto Bird Turd Kit
While we may not always know what girls like, our friends at Outblush, the self-styled "web magazine for girls who love to shop," think girls like and want the Auto Bird Turd Kit. This $29 red-boxed emergency carry-all contains a spray bottle of H2O, windshield cleaning fluid, some towels, ziploc bags, cleaner wax, a micro-fiber sponge, towel and of course a few antibacterial hand wipes. We'll have to put this to the test one of these days by pushing one of us with a g-friend to gift it to their significant other as an anniversary or birthday gift. Preferably we'd like them to do it with a camera on — because somehow we think this one won't go over so well. Or maybe that's just our male intuition. [Hat tip to UnCrate] More »
lifehacker
Detroit, 11:36 AM
Sun Jul 12
15 posts in the last 24 hours
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