What is a Backfire?

There are typically two kinds of engine backfires, one is generated from the intake manifold of the engine, and the second is expelled from the exhaust pipe at the rear of the car. A backfire is an explosion of sorts in the intake manifold or the exhaust system. A backfire occurs when there is an imbalance in the air to fuel ratio required for your vehicle to operate properly. If the fuel mixture is too lean (not enough fuel) you may have a backfire in the intake, or too rich (too much fuel) you may get a backfire out of the exhaust system. Most backfires are easily repaired by correcting the imbalance and providing a greater or lesser percentage of fuel to the mixture.

Common Problems and Solutions

Most causes of backfires in the exhaust system can be addressed by troubleshooting the reason for the air to fuel ratio imbalance. The solution usually involves checking for vacuum leaks, changing the airflow sensor, o2 Sensor,  fuel filter to ensure the fuel system is functioning properly.

A common backfire situation occurs when there is a small leak in the air injection system that feeds the exhaust system. This can cause unburned fuel to explode suddenly. One of the most common causes is a stuck or faulty air intake or gulp valve near the exhaust manifold.

Backfiring can also occur with a sudden drop in fuel pressure. This may be due to a faulty fuel pump or a plugged fuel filter. Correcting problems in the fuel system usually resolves these issues.

Incorrect ignition timing to the spark plugs is another cause of backfire. Adjusting the ignition distributor, if the engine is so equipped, may resolve this problem. Adjusting engine timing is not difficult and can be done with a timing light by following the timing adjustment procedure for your car. A vehicle that is not timed properly will not idle, run or operate correctly and will often backfire rapidly. On newer cars you will need to scan the PCM to check for CKS (Crankshaft Angle Sensor) and CMS (Camshaft Position Sensor) related trouble codes.

Maintenance

Things to do in preventing backfires:

• Fuel Filter has to be changed. The fuel filter is a vital part of your fuel system and can cause a backfire(s) if the filter is clogged and not changed regularly.  A bad / faulty filter can cause low fuel pressure creating a perfect situation for a backfire to occur. Changing the filter is simple and can save gas with improved performance of your vehicle's engine reducing the occurrence of backfires.

• Service your fuel injection system & Tuning it up in accordance with the maintenance schedule for your particular car.  This ensures correct fuel consumption with the correct amount of emissions. Fuel that is not burned completely will leave ample opportunity for a backfire to occur. These maintenance requirements are associated with other systems on your vehicle. Avoiding maintenance on your car can increase the risk of backfiring and other system malfunctions.

Phat & Furious 29th January 2010 @ Mist Club

Had a night @ Mist Club to have couple of photoshooting there with the rides displaying right outside the club. Friday is the night where Mist Club promotes its Lollipop presents Phat & Furious which they display their rides and getting themself voted each week. SO stay tuned for more. Have a nice day.

How Windshield Wipers Work

A windshield wiper is a component on a vehicle that is designed to remove rain, debris, and moisture from the windshield. Wipers are created with corrugated ridges to maximize the wiping action. When a windshield needs to be cleaned the windshield wipers along with washer solvent can be effective in removing dirt and road grime. Windshield wipers are standard equipment on almost all vehicles.

Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers are designed to operate in different modes, 2 to 4 wiper speeds, and intermittent operation that allow adjusted intervals. Some vehicles are equipped a rear wiper, typically a single wiper that is designed to clean the center of the window. Windshield wipers are operated from an electric motor using a series of connecting arms or linkage.

If the wipers system is not operational check the wiper fuse first. Always replace the fuse with the manufacturer recommended replacement. If the wiper motor is operating but the wiper arms are not moving the linkage connected to the wiper motor has become disconnected. Disassemble to inspect linkage, repair as needed then reassemble and recheck system. Check the windshield wipers at least every six months and replace as necessary.

Do not allow the wipers to become cracked or separated because the metal frame that holds the wipers can damage the windshield. Inspect the windshield washer reservoir fluid level and refill as needed. This fluid or solvent is used to lubricate and clean the windshield while the wipers are in use. Avoid using your windshield wipers to remove ice from your windshield in the winter; this can cause damage to the wipers. To remove ice from the windshield an ice scraper should be used. Anytime wiper blades are not performing properly they should be replaced, visibility as well as safety relies on having wipers that are in good working order. Replacing wiper blades is a quick and easy process; most can be changed by releasing a clip.

How Gears Work

All vehicles have gears, where they are located and how they interact varies depending upon the application. A gear set allows the movement of rotational pieces from one particular axis to another. By gears turning and connecting to each other it allows energy and movement from one gear to another. This means it is possible to use gears to transfer energy to any desired axis.

Another reason gears are used is to help either decrease or increase the speed of rotation. For example, taking a large diameter gear and using it in conjunction with a small diameter gear will speed up the rotation, while in reverse using a small gear in conjunction with a large gear will slow the rotation down. Gears are often used as a method of changing the direction of the rotation. Through a series of gears, it is possible to take a counter clockwise rotation and change it into a clockwise rotation without any loss of power or rotation speed.
The way in which the gears work together based upon their size is called gear ratio. This ratio is determined based upon counting the number of teeth on the gear. For example, if one gear has 20 teeth and the gear it is connected to has 40 teeth then the gear ratio is 20 to 40 which is also written as 2:1. These numbers are purely for example purposes only and will vary in actual usage depending upon the size of the actual gears being used.

One of the largest gear sets inside of your vehicle is the transmission. Automatic transmissions make specific noises when a malfunction is occurring. An automatic transmission

is a hydraulic pressure driven system that can make different noises than a manual transmission. If the transmission filter becomes plugged do to debris in the transmission, it can make a whining noise. If the fluid level is low it can cause a gurgling sound, this sound is due to the pump scavenging for fluid inside the transmission pan. Most internal failures are due to bearing, clutch or hard part failure. When such a failure has occurred the transmission can make grinding, worrring or no noise at all. When a transmission has a major failure you might hear a loud pop, this could be a drive component inside the transmission has failed causing the vehicle to stop moving.

Maintenance
Inspect fluid levels to protect gears, to have clean, debris free fluid while using high quality oil. Ensuring that these fluids are full as well as changed in accordance with your maintenance schedule is the single best maintenance you can do.

How Does All Wheel (4 Wheel Drive) Drive Work?

All Wheel Drive Example (appearance may vary)

The term four-wheel drive is used interchangeably with all-wheel drive and describes the ability of a vehicle to transfer the engine's power to all four wheels. The majority of vehicles on the road do not offer this feature, as either the front or rear wheels are driven by the engine's power. However, a four-wheel drive system offers a distinct advantage when traction is limited in slippery conditions such as on snow, mud, loose gravel or sand.

In the past 4 wheel drive meant trucks with big tires and big engines. Although trucks still enjoy the many benefits of the all wheel drive feature most manufacturers have developed a new technologically all wheel drive system that can accelerate and handle corners more efficiently.

There are many different all wheel drive systems offered on the automotive market today; this can be confusing to the average consumer. Each manufacturer will use a unique term for their specific four-wheel drive system - whether it is Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive, Honda's real-time four-wheel drive, Volkswagen's 4Motion or Mercedes-Benz's 4Matic. However, most of the four-wheel drive systems offered today can be broken down into two main categories:

Part Time Four Wheel Drive
Part-time four wheel drive: As its name implies, this form of four-wheel drive powers all four wheels only when the 4WD mechanism is engaged. Typically, these systems power the rear wheels during ideal weather conditions to reduce the wear on the drive train and improve fuel economy

. However, when four wheel drive is engaged, engine power is transferred to the front wheels as well as the rear.

In a part time four wheel drive vehicle the engine's power is transferred into a transfer case that is mounted to the rear of the transmission. The transfer case then divides the torque evenly between a front and rear driveshaft 50% to the front, 50% to the rear. The drive shafts are connected to both differentials (front and rear), which divides power to each wheel.

On some older systems the part time four wheel drive system can be disengaged from powering the front axle by unlocking the front hubs (front hubs are used to attach the driven wheels to the axle). The front hubs are either disengaged manually by the driver, or automatically when the driver presses a switch on the dashboard. When the front hubs are disengaged the wheels are allowed to spin freely, power from the engine is transferred solely to the rear wheels. To return to four-wheel drive at a later time, the hubs must once again be locked to the front wheels.

Manual Axle Hub

All Wheel Drive
This system is gaining popularity in the newer cars and trucks, some manufacturers such as Subaru market their vehicles by making their entire model line all-wheel drive. In a typical all-wheel drive system all four wheels are powered at all times. However, unlike a true four-wheel drive vehicle, the power split between the front and rear axles are not set at a fixed value (typically 50% front, 50% rear) but can be varied depending on available traction.

All wheel drive systems typically work by having an active center differential (located on the rear of the transmission) that under normal driving conditions splits power evenly between the front and rear axles. However, when driving conditions change and wheel slip is detected at one axle, the center differential responds by transferring more torque to the axle with the most traction. This change in torque split maximizes the traction available at each axle and in extreme conditions it is possible for 100% of power to be transferred to just one axle.

One other kind of all-wheel drive system that is becoming relatively common can be best described as part time all wheel drive. In this system, either the front or rear axle receives all of the engine's power during normal driving, but when slip is detected, power is transferred to the other axle in just a fraction of a second.
Four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles have gained mainstream acceptance over the last two decades due to the popularity of the Sport Utility Vehicles in the United States. Car manufacturers have also marketed four-wheel drive vehicles because of their added traction on slippery roads and rugged terrain.

Lexus LFA

We knew the new Lexus LFA was fast, but we didn't know just how fast until reports came in of the rapid rate at which wealthy Japanese customers are snapping it up. In the three months since the final car was unveiled, all 165 examples of the Toyota division's supercar have reportedly been spoken for.

Whereas in North America, the allotment of LFAs will be leased in order to counter speculation, in Japan (as in Europe), buyers will be able to buy their super-Lexi outright, at a price of 37,500,000 yen (~$410k USD) apiece. If the remaining 335 examples destined for markets abroad go as quickly as Japan's allotment, we could be looking at one of the fastest cars ever made – in one sense or another.

Ultra Racing Models

Today's post is all about the models of Ultra Racing. Ultra racing is  is a Malaysian-based specialist manufacturer in Chassis Handling and Tuning components. We research, design, test and manufacture high quality chassis strengthening bars to cater for all kind of vehicles and driving needs.

We are also the first in the country to introduce multi-point engine compartment strut bar, which gives superior performance against the conventional strut tower bar.

Here are our philosophies:

   

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY - Enhance and strengthening the chassis of the vehicle     without&nbspaltering or affecting the original chassis specifications. Improve driving dynamics and drive comfort. 

  SAFETY PHILOSOPHY - Individually designed products to suit to different vehicles. The shape, material thickness and material strength is specially selected and chosen to minimize chassis damage and passengers injuries during incident.

Check out the girls from the Ultra Racing models @ slideshows below ya.