Suzuki Aims to Reveal New Kizashi Concepts in New York

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Allen Walker

Suzuki America proclaimed that they will come up with two new concept vehicles established upon the Kizashi sedan at 2011 New York International Auto Show.

However, the company didn’t describe whether the one of the two vehicles would be a concept version of Kizashi or not, but we can assumed it would be. Suzuki further said that the vehicle will be an elegant and socially-conscious sedan which is powered by a newly designed powertrain. About the second vehicle, they said that it can be a special edition and based on the concept of Suzuki’s motorcycle heritage.

No doubt, Kizashi is one of the most reasonably priced sedans throughout the America. In spite of its inexpensive behavior, it fails to attract the attention of the people that is what Suzuki is aiming to achieve with its new vehicles.

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Official Ferrari Opus Book

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Allen Walker

For Ferrari fans, we have brought an interesting thing for their libraries. Confused! We are talking about ‘The Official Ferrari Opus’ and next thing that might surprise you is the price of this book that stands at $275,000.

This certainly a great work of Kraken Opus and really a collectible item as you will find exclusive interviews, behind the scene features and some remarkable photography of the esteemed Italian brand. This book is available in three editions including Enzo, Classic and Cavallino Rampante. 20 editions are made of high-end diamond-encrusted Diamante that costs striking $275,000 almost the same amount that you will pay for a real Ferrari 458. However, the cheapest among them will cost you $4,000.

Although the content in all the editions is same, the packaging differs from one another. Overall, there are 852 pages with 200,000 words and more than 2,000 pictures. Interestingly, the first Enzo Diamante is purchased in Sri Lanka.

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Anderson Germany Customized Aston Martin DBS Superior Black

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Allen Walker

Many of you may think that Aston Martin DBS is in itself a perfect vehicle then how come one customizes it to make it even better. Customization is not a limited phenomenon as it involves a number of different approaches. One such approach is adopted by Anderson Germany that is playing with the colors of the Aston Martin DBS.

Keeping in view the design of the Aston Martin, they planned to remove the body kits and related material so as to cover the vehicle in plain matte black foil. To make this threatening matter black exterior even menacing, they used the red brake calipers within the 21-inch five spoke gloss black wheels.

Anderson Germany definitely brought some life from Aston Martin which people already thought full of life. Well, if you are not in favor of boasting then you may not like the work of Anderson Germany as they made vehicle look little gaudy.

As far as interior is concerned, they have done much better as they introduced more carbon fiber bits. They didn’t even spare the steering wheel to put some carbon fiber there. Interior is filled with Acantara with red stitched high class leather. Other than that Anderson Germany also made some minor changes to the vehicle’s V12 engine by introducing some new exhaust, getting impressive 560 HP out of it.

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Lexus Announced LF-GH Hybrid Concept

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Allen Walker

Finally, Lexus revealed the first images of the freshly released LF-GH Concept at the forefront of 2011 New York International Auto Show debut. It seems that the new LF-GH is something more from just being a hybrid model.

Lexus claims that this vehicle is a first step towards the new generation models and the design of this new LF-GH will make the base for future models. The most prominent change that brought by Lexus in their new model is the introduction of a new ‘spindle’ front grille. Interestingly, the name of this new model, i.e. LF-GH is an acronym for Lexus Future Grand Touring Hybrid. Certainly, it is one of those premium grand touring sedan.

We can expect to have more pictures and details in the coming future.

Through this exercise, the definition of L-Finesse, the marque’s design philosophy since 2001, has been refined and evolved to include a bolder, more distinct projection of what a luxury car could become in a modern world. The result is the LF-GH concept, which conveys original thoughts and ideas that may migrate to future Lexus vehicles on a global scale. The new concept will be on display in the Lexus exhibit at the New York International Auto Show from April.

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How to Replace a Fuse

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Fuse . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Flashlight
  • Screwdriver
  • Fuse Puller
  • Multimeter
  • Test Light
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Fuse

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $11.88 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $45.64 parts and labor

Instructions:

  • Examine carefully and locate the electrical component which is defective.
  • Take help from the owner’s manual and find the position of the fuse box.
  • Now find the defective fuse.
  • Take a test light and examine the fuse. Touch the test light on each side of the fuse. It the light turns on one side only, the fuse is defective.
  • Take a plastic fuse removal tool and take the blown fuse out.
  • Take a new fuse and install it properly in its place.
  • Check the working of the new fuse.

Tips & Warning

  • Always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent injuries while working on your vehicle such as safety goggles, latex gloves, and closed toe shoes.
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How to Replace an Ignition Switch

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace an Ignition Switch . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Screwdriver
  • Multimeter
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • Wrench
  • Nut Driver
  • 3/8 in. Drive Ratchet
  • Ignition Switch
  • Repair Manual

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $12.83 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $212.77 parts and labor

Instructions:

  • Look for the battery in the engine compartment. Make sure the engine is on.
  • Take a DMM and attach the ground wire connector of it to the negative battery terminal and the power wire connector to the positive battery terminal.
  • Look for the ignition switch.
  • Locate the wiring harness on the back of the ignition switch.
  • Next connect the ground wire connector of DMM to a ground source, i.e. unpainted screw, body frame or door hinge bolt.
  • Now connect power wire connector of DMM to the ignition switch while still the engine is on.
  • Note the reading on DMM. Make sure that you are having a full voltage on the DMM reading. However, if the DMM shows the reading 10 volts or less, your ignition switch has high resistance.
  • Switch off the vehicle and remove the negative battery cable from terminal.
  • Remove any wiring connectors from the ignition switch.
  • Unfasten the screws and take the ignition switch out.
  • Secure the new ignition switch in place with screws and reconnect the wiring connectors.
  • Reconnect the negative battery cable to the terminal.
  • Move the key in ON and OFF position to make sure the new switch is working well.

Tips & Warning

  • Always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent injuries while working on your vehicle such as safety goggles, latex gloves, and closed toe shoes.
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How to Replace a Front Pipe

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Front Pipe . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Hacksaw
  • Oxygen Sensor Socket
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • 3/8 in. Drive Ratchet
  • Front Pipe

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $138.23 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $410.54 parts and labor

Instructions:

  • Secure the vehicle on a flat surface. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
  • Before raising the front of the vehicle, don’t forget to chock the rear wheels. Raise the front of the vehicle with floor jack and support the vehicle on jack stands so that you can work safely underneath the vehicle.
  • Look for the front pipe or exhaust pipe. Observe the pipe carefully for any signs of damage.
  • Secure the front pipe assembly on floor jack.
  • Detach the front pipe from the exhaust manifold and also from the catalytic converter if required.
  • If oxygen sensors are installed on your vehicle, you need to remove them or simply wrap up their tips to make certain they will not get polluted.
  • Discard the front or exhaust pipe from the exhaust hangers if applicable and take the front pipe out of the vehicle. Remove the old exhaust gaskets and replace it with new exhaust gaskets.
  • Take the new front pipe assembly and reassemble it by reversing the steps.
  • Remove the floor jacks and ground the vehicle down.
  • Take a small drive and make certain that the new front pipe is properly installed and functioning properly.

Tips & Warning

  • Always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent injuries while working on your vehicle such as safety goggles, latex gloves, and closed toe shoes.
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How to Replace an Exhaust System

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace an Exhaust System . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Flashlight
  • Floor Jack
  • Scraper
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • Tap and Die Set
  • Jack Stand
  • Pry Bar
  • 3/8 in. Drive Ratchet
  • Exhaust Gasket
  • Exhaust Pipe
  • Mirror
  • Muffler
  • Tail Pipe
  • Penetrating Oil

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $362.67 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $697.97 parts and labor

Instructions:

  • Park the vehicle on a flat surface.
  • Raise the vehicle on floor jacks and support all the four corner of the vehicle on jack stands. This will ensure your safety while working underneath the vehicle as you cannot trust on floor jacks for your safety.
  • Observe the whole exhaust system closely to find any visible signs of damage. Any signs of rust, cracks, or other damage mean you need to replace the whole exhaust system with a new one.
  • Take a floor jack and secure the exhaust system over it.
  • Start your work from the rear of the vehicle and make your way to the front of the vehicle and replace any damage component in between them.
  • In case your vehicle has oxygen sensors installed in it, remove them before starting your work. Wrap the tips of the sensors or discard them to make certain that these will not get polluted.
  • Discard the exhaust components from exhaust hangers and take the components out of the vehicle. It is suggested to replace the old exhaust gaskets with new ones during the installation process.
  • Take a new exhaust system and fix it by reversing the steps.
  • Remove the jack stands and ground your vehicle. Take a small drive to make certain that the new exhaust system function properly.

Tips & Warning

  • Always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent injuries while working on your vehicle such as safety goggles, latex gloves, and closed toe shoes.
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How to Replace an Exhaust Manifold Gasket

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace an Exhaust Manifold Gasket. Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Combination Wrench Set
  • Scraper
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • 3/8 in. Drive Torque Wrench
  • Exhaust Manifold Gasket
  • Penetrating Oil

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $27.41 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $219.19 parts and labor

Instructions:

  • Secure the vehicle on a flat surface. Let the engine cool down.
  • Prop the engine hood up and look for the exhaust manifold.
  • Detach the exhaust pipe and other braces or tubing attached to the manifold.
  • Unfasten the bolts holding the exhaust manifold. Take the exhaust manifold out.
  • Wipe off any dust or debris from the mounting surfaces. Make sure that the remaining components of the old gaskets are also removed properly.
  • Position the new exhaust manifold gasket on the mounting surface properly.
  • Reattach the exhaust manifold and secure it with bolts.
  • Reattach the exhaust pipe and other braces or tubing.
  • Turn the engine on and make sure that there is no leak in exhaust manifold.

Tips & Warning

  • Always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent injuries while working on your vehicle such as safety goggles, latex gloves, and closed toe shoes.
Posted in Intake & Exhaust | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to Replace an Air Intake Boot

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace an Air Intake Boot . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Flashlight
  • Screwdriver
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • Air Intake Hose

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $16.01 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $85.63 parts and labor

Instructions:

  • Prop the engine hood up and look for the air intake boot.
  • Observe the air intake boot closely for any visible damage such as cracks, holes, or any loose components in between the engine and air sensor.
  • Unfasten the screws and take the damaged component out of the assembly.
  • Install the new air intake boot.
  • Turn the engine on and make sure there are no vacuum leaks.
Posted in Intake & Exhaust | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment