Rising Popularity Of Korean Auto Parts For Local And International Brands

The surging popularity of Korean auto parts has catapulted the Korean auto industry to new heights. Through the years, Korea has emerged as one of the most advanced automobiles manufacturing nations in the world with respect to technology, design, and, most importantly, performance. It boasts of several in-house brands which have made a mark, both locally and internationally.

The Evolution Process

The evolution process of Korean auto parts and the automobile industry has been quite promising. Korea was initially just a place where auto parts were imported from Japan and the United States for assembling. The term "Korean auto parts" did not exist at all. It all started in the year 1955, when the first Korea-made engine was set up in a modified US jeep and took the shape of the first official Korean car.

Today Korean car parts and locally manufactured cars are popular brand names across the globe. The "Automobile Industry Promotion Policy" has prohibited foreign players from entering and operating in the Korean markets. This has provided ample opportunity to the Korean auto industry to spread its wings, without having to compete with the international players in the domestic markets. As a result, other companies which were involved in diverse businesses have entered the automobile field in search of profits.

Hyundai Pony was the first automobile to be fully developed in Korea, way back in the year 1975. It was also the first Korean car to be exported in the year 1976. By far, Hyundai is the most popular brand of Korean cars in the international automobile space. Today, Korea ranks fifth in terms of automobile production volumes and sixth in terms of volume of exports. The success of Korean auto parts, which have been responsible for creating world-class vehicles, is a well-established fact.

International Acclaim

Korean auto parts manufacturers have captured the fancies of international car manufacturers as well. Established auto giants like Volkswagen and General Motors have shown active interest in doing business with Korean manufacturers, for their upcoming models. This has paved the way for export fairs to be held with a handful of such prominent names that have shown the eagerness to get associated with auto components manufactured in Korea.

Even a country that is extremely obsessed with quality such as Japan has shown interest in importing automotive parts from Korea. Japanese are famous for being extremely particular about what they use in their products. The very fact that they are looking to get associated with Korean counterparts is a valid certification of the quality of automobile parts manufactured in Korea.

Therefore, Korean car parts have emerged as suitable alternatives for global car makers, which have helped them to achieve what they aspire, in terms of quality. An automobile mechanic in Korea is relentlessly striving to improve on quality as well as technology in order to maintain the goodwill Korea-manufactured auto components enjoy.

5 Places to Find Replacement Automotive Parts

Vehicle owners often find it hard to replace automotive parts for their disturbed vehicles. They constantly search for automobile parts to quick fix their auto problems. No matter whether you are any service provider, or a customer waiting for the repair of your vehicle or a car enthusiast, it is a tiring task to search for the right auto replacement part.

You may come across various automobile stores offering automobile parts that are not of standard quality. Many stores charge heavily on every single replacement part you buy. Many a time, you simply may not get the part, as the same might not be in stock. Hence, you need to locate other auto part stores that sell automotive replacement parts round the clock.

Different Spots:

1. Car dealership: When you want to change a specific automotive part of your vehicle, say the car's door handle, visit the car dealership first, from where you have bought the car. The dealer may have the required part in store, which may save time of searching somewhere else.

2. Retail stores: Before searching for automotive parts at distant places, it is better to look around the corner to locate a nearest store, which deals in auto parts. Franchisee stores make available the parts on cheaper rates and serve a variety of automobile replacement parts for their customers. These retail stores are usually engaged in selling generic auto accessories such as windshield wipers and oil filters.

3. Avail car club membership: If you own a classic car, it is better to join any car club for replacement of its auto parts. You may not get the parts easily on the market other than the car club for classic cars. General auto stores do not keep stock of old parts. The car club provides the members with many resources for replaceable parts of classic automobiles. Here, you may reach the right person, who uses the same classic car as yours through the car club membership for further information.

4. Internet: You may even search for replacement parts on the Internet. Many web sites offer old and new auto parts. You may browse through a variety of auto parts to find the right replacement part. You need to be cautious, while placing bulk order for auto parts, since you are not aware of the dealer's market status. Chances are the online dealer may deceive you. Also, check whether the parts serve you a warranty or not.

5. Salvage Yard: When you find it difficult to purchase the auto parts from a store, you may try visiting the auto salvage yards. The junkyards offer auto replacement parts at a lower cost and if lucky, you may even come across the right part over there. Here too, take some precautions.

Conclusion:

If you are still unable to find the required automotive replacement part, you are searching for, ask people who possess a vehicle since a long time. You may post an ad in the newspapers seeking information on auto replacement parts.

Some parts that are critical for your car's engine pose a heavy risk to the vehicle, if you use a used part in its place to make up for the deficit, so watch be careful.

Consumers Negligence Causes Auto Part Disorder - Car Care Council

The Car Care Council (CCC) reported on January 11 this year that results of vehicle check-up events during Car Care Aware Fairs across the US in April and October 2006 revealed that consumer negligence is the main cause auto part disorders.

According to them, nearly 9 out of 10 vehicles need service or parts, underscoring the huge untapped DIY and DIFM sales opportunities for the automotive aftermarket. The unsatisfactory condition of vehicles also reinforces the continued need for consumer education about the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair.

Car Care Council Executive Director Rich White said "Vehicle check-up events are typically the focus of Car Care Aware Fairs sponsored by repair shops, parts stores, distributors in cooperation with local vocational schools, media, civic groups and others. While these events are free to consumers and serve as community-relations builders, most aftermarket businesses who participate experience an increase in sales and customers as a result."

In an analysis of nearly 1,000 vehicle inspection forms, submitted from event coordinators in 16 states, results showed 88 percent of the vehicles checked during National Car Care Month in April and Fall Car Care Month in October needed parts replacement, service or fluids. The top problem areas were motor oil, windshield wipers, air filters, belts and hoses and lights.

Upon checking lubricants and fluids, the three top failure rates were: low, overfull or dirty motor oil at 30 percent, inadequate washer fluid levels at 28 percent, and low, leaky or dirty coolant at 28 percent. Transmission, brake, power steering and clutch fluids were also checked and had failure rates of 26 percent and below.

Approximately 15 percent of vehicles had front windshield wiper failures and 9 percent needed service to rear wipers.

At least one belt was reported as unsatisfactory in 22 percent of the vehicles inspected and 14 percent required at least one new hose. New air filters were needed in 25 percent of the vehicles, while 8 percent needed new PVC filters. The "check engine" light was on in 8 percent of the vehicles.

Battery cables, clamps and terminals needed maintenance in 17 percent of the vehicles inspected, while 9 percent of the batteries were not properly held down. Eleven percent had either a green, dark or clear/yellow charge indicator light.

Improperly inflated tires were found on 20 percent of the cars and 11 percent had worn tread and were in need of replacement.

The leading failure rates for vehicle lights/vision were license plate lights at 18 percent, brake lights at 10 percent, and side markers at 8 percent.
Clutch parts were also among the top failure rates. And like any other auto part, can be maintained by car owners. Poor maintenance of the gearbox clutch and worm shaft assembly can increase machine cycling, resulting in costly repairs and pinsetter downtime. The gearbox clutch should be disassembled and checked once a year for worn facings, bad bearings, worn clutch shoes and proper lubrication. The worm shaft splines should also be checked for wear and proper lubrication. Checking them regularly should also be a great time to fix any oil leaks coming from bad gaskets or worm shaft assembly seals.

Learn to Speak Auto Designers' Lingo

When you go to auto shows, you do not use dashboard to mean the vehicle's instrument panel. This is because you might be misleading other people. Dropping layman's terms is easy but you will get plus points if you speak the designer's tongue.

Each profession has its lingo. And for one to be better understood he must know the common terms or at least a few of the most colorful words used by experts. In the automotive world, metal and words unite. And auto brand's vocabulary is known as the colorful realm of design language.

The beltline separates the greenhouse, or glassed-in upper body, from the part that widens down from the window sills. Michael Castiglione, the principal exterior designer at DaimlerChrysler's Pacifica studio in Carlsbad, Calif., said that equally important is the A-line. The A-line is the length of the vehicle's body from headlight to taillight. The vehicle may also have a crease created in the sheet metal of the sides called the character line.

Styling cues are also used to prompt recognition of a particular model to other product lines of the same brand. The cues include the curve of the roofline, the distinct design of the grille, as well as the shapes and lines of the vehicle.

The angle of the windshield called rake could convey different meaning. It is said to be fast when it extremely tilts. The rocker panel which is the body section below the base of the door is treated with a varying degree of turn-under. Chris Chapman of BMW's Designworks studio in Newbury Park, Calif., defines it as the shape of the panel as it curves inward at the lower edge.

Stance tells you whether the auto sits on the wheels with superb energy or not. Robert Boniface, the director of advanced design for General Motors, recently worked on the Chevrolet Volt and the Camaro show cars. He said that "stance has to do with the relative visual stability or instability of a particular design."

According to Bryan Thompson, the designer at the Nissan Design America studio in La Jolla, Calif., another essential relationship is that one found between the glass and the body. "A vehicle whose body is relatively thick compared to the amount of glass is called chunky. The proportion between wheel and body sizes is important in lending a vehicle its visual personality," he said.

Thompson added, "Wheel-to-body is the relationship of the wheel-tire plane to the sheet metal wheel opening. Wheels that are flush to the body are desirable. Wheels that are well inboard of the sheet metal plane are buried. Vehicles with buried wheels are called overbodied. At its extreme, an overbodied car has the look of a parade float, with the body visually overpowering the wheels."

Peter Davis, the director of interior design at General Motors, said the space between wheel and surrounding fender or wheel well suggests the jounce of the car. The intervening space between tire and wheel well is sometimes called the dead cat hole. He described the British-sounding mucketts as "complicated rubber moldings that hide nasty window-door frame areas or direct water drips to appropriate places." "In Italy," he added, "what we call the plenum, the area at the base of the windshield where the wipers sit and run off is directed is called the vasca di pesce, or fish bowl."

Another term to define the personality of the car is its axle-to-dash ratio, the proportion between the front wheel and the cowl or the base of the windshield. There is also what is dubbed the roller skate effect. It happens when the tires and wheels are too small for the body.

There are so many terms in the auto industry realm. And it is an edge on your part to know them all. The next time you purchase EBC Greenstuff or other auto parts, you will not be surprised to hear those terms.

Shopping for Auto Parts and the Benefits of Recycled Ones

If you're not a mechanic or mechanically knowledgeable, you often do not know a thing or two about the installation and repair of car parts. Unfortunately, when you drive your own car, the time will come when you need to discuss these issues. As a customer, you often stumble upon the fact that it will really cost you quite a bit just to have some parts of your car replaced or fixed by your nominated professional mechanic.

Shopping for Beginners

Even with little or no knowledge about car repair, you must bear in mind that some car repairs are simple do-it-yourself tasks that are very easy if done by yourself. To improve your mechanic skills, you first need to do a research of what part you want to buy. There are many online shops where you can easily spot amazing deals. This is easier for most consumers as they can already see what they're buying online and there are also extensive reviews made for most products posted at online shopping centers.

All you need to know is learn about your vehicle, new car terminologies, and product availability and specifications. Know more than just the model of your car but also its year and version since different versions may have different automotive parts. Search for the most commonly used terminologies online. If you're not familiar with a given term then ask your mechanic about it. For newer cars, their parts may not be made immediately available in most stores. In this case, proceed to your nearest car dealers or check for your car's warranty policy. Lastly, make sure to double-check the part you ordered for its specifics. Some parts may not fit it in to your car just because they have a different number.

Recycled Parts

Do not underestimate the quality and power of recycled parts. There are a lot of recyclers around compared to what you originally thought. In North America alone, there are over 4 million cars being recycled each year. Almost always, the prices of recycled parts are very cost-effective that new parts are finding them hard to compete. Parts obtained particularly from recycling yards are very cheap because most car insurers automatically send-off their used cars directly to the recyclers as it will cost them much less. To add, buying recycled parts slows down pollution emissions attributed to the manufacturing of new parts. It also frees up landfill space. When you recycle used or wrecked vehicle, you need less oil compared to when you actually make them.

This is a win-win situation for many sectors. First, it is a benefit to the environment. Second, it is cost-efficient for most car owners who are shopping for new part replacements. Third, it is cost efficient for car insurers. Lastly, it pumps up business in the recycling industry. The only challenge left for consumers is how they can hunt for recycled parts with the best preserved re-use quality. This is where the expert mechanics steps in for they can best assess the quality of a car part. Recyclers themselves can also determine which part is still good as new. They can even give warranties for the used auto parts they sell.

Insist on OEM Auto Body Parts

One of the easiest ways to get ripped off in the automotive world is by having a body shop use cheap, third-party auto body parts on your car repair. Like all auto parts, body parts have a tremendous markup, and if you don't know what you are doing, it can be easy to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous repair centers. Insisting on using OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts will secure that your repair job comes off perfectly, and you wind up with a vehicle that is "as good as new."

Unfortunately, fender-benders and accidents can happen, and at these times car owners can become understandably flustered and confused. The entire process of dealing with insurance companies, filing police reports, and seeking estimates from body shops can be a bit overwhelming. It's not surprising then, that many people just want to put the entire experience behind them, and they rush through the process of having their auto repaired.

But this can be a big mistake in several ways. For example, unless you specify the type of parts you would like to use on your repair, and are prepared to oversee the repair to make sure it is to your satisfaction, many body shops will use cheap, third world quality replacement auto body parts, lowering the value of your vehicle.

Why would a body shop knowingly do this? As usual, the answer comes down to money. If your insurance company reimburses the auto shop $2000 for the job, and they can buy a cheap "knock off" auto body parts for one third the cost of standard quality parts, this results in a great deal of profit to the body shop!

But while this may be wonderful for the body shop's bottom line, it is terrible for the car owner. You can easily wind up with substandard auto body parts on your car, or even parts that do not fit perfectly.

Of course, the best way to avoid all this is to use OEM car parts. You never have to concern yourself about either the quality or the fit of your auto body parts if you insist upon OEM. And if a body shop mechanic should attempt to talk you out of using OEM body parts, you should be very skeptical. The odds are, they are simply trying to lower their expenses in order to increase profits. Don't fall for it!

Other times, body shop mechanics will ensure you that they only use OEM body parts, but you still need to be diligent and examine the final work. Unfortunately, somebody shops will claim to use only OEM parts, but in reality they are substituting cheaper "knock offs" that wind up on your car. Besides being unethical and disreputable, this is also illegal and it is called fraud. If you discover a body shop misrepresenting the parts they are selling you, it is recommended that you contact both the police and the Better Business Bureau.

In general though, most body shops will gladly use OEM parts when requested. If you have any doubt about the reputation of the body shop, be sure to also get it in writing. That way you will have documentation if it should be needed to prove fraud or other wrongdoing in the future.

Insisting upon OEM auto body parts for your car repair will ensure your vehicle is returned to you in "factory new" condition.

Shopping For Auto Parts Online

Indeed, there are several reasons that buying auto parts online is a good idea. You will certainly find the specific auto parts that you are looking for online. Getting your parts online is not only easier but also can be much cheaper than buying offline. Shop for auto parts online in the middle of the night or after normal store hours. In fact, the product you are searching for may be difficult to find, depending on what you are looking for.

However, there are several auto parts stores online that focus on specialty parts for your car, truck, and van that most dealerships can not offer you. But ordering online is often more convenient and less of a wait to get what you need. When you buy auto parts online this is rarely the case. Sometimes, these orders are made all at once because many customers come searching for parts that the dealerships do not carry on site.

This robs you of time and can be very frustrating especially if you would like your auto parts shipped right away. Therefore order online and avoid the inconvenience. Even though dealerships can order for you but then buying parts online offers more options for shipping. Well, this is not the case if you buy online. Often websites that sell auto parts will have several shipping options available to you including overnight shipping.

Most dealerships often advertise their discount prices on new or used auto parts by newspapers, magazines or commercials. However, buying online is often even less expensive than the dealerships special offers that come around from time to time. The prices for auto parts at several websites are better than the prices you will pay buying your parts anywhere else. So save yourself some cash by getting auto parts or auto accessories online.

Whether you have a major project and you are seeking to buy parts for rebuilding an antique automobile or older vehicle, or if you simply want to install a new multi disk CD player offered as a special feature for your car, do not give yourself unnecessary headaches, life has too many of those laid out for us already, so solve your car shopping problems by shopping online. Top of the line products from all makes and models of every car on the market can be found when you shop online for auto parts. Especially when dealing with a relatively new car, buying your car parts online is the absolute best way to go.

Most people just go back to the dealership, but if your warranty is up, you are out of luck and will be charged the dealers prices and installation if you try to buy there. But by that time, they have usually suckered you into having them order the auto parts you need. As far as purchasing your auto accessories from an online store, there are many benefits to doing so and you can bet that the majority of people who already complete their auto repairs themselves realize that shopping for auto parts on the internet is now the norm.

Even though the only thing that you must wait for if you are going to buy online is the shipping and waiting part, the online method is still definitely quicker. However, with online services you are able to purchase and have it shipped next day. The reason that automotive parts are usually less expensive than going through a retailer is because the online stores will usually be the first person in the chain that has the part that you need.

On the other hand, chances are that the website that you are buying from will be able to get their products direct or their fees may be reduced simply because they are an online store. When considering that you are able to purchase from an online store a whole lot easier, faster, and less expensive than traditional retail stores, you can see why there are many people who are already engaging in this practice.

The best thing about shopping online for auto parts is that you can find exactly what you are looking for without leaving the comfort of your home. Most people are selling through sites that do not actually demand nearly the operating cost that the store does. Today with the correct words written into the search engine you will be able to discover entire sites catering for your auto needs.

There are thousands of small dealers selling parts on the web now. There are also a few dozen huge auto parts warehouses with online sales pages. Among the smaller dealers you have to be careful because many do not have a lot of actual knowledge about what they are selling. Also many other apparent dealers are really just sales pages that run through drop shippers.

So, spend some time looking over any auto parts sales pages for signs of professionalism and experience before making any purchase. One of the things to pay attention to when shopping online is how much detailed information a company supplies about the product. Search for warranty information, especially if you are buying used auto parts. The most important things you can do to protect yourself when dealing with a new seller online is making sure you use a credit card for your purchase.

Nevertheless, buying auto parts online is a great way to overcome purchasing obstacles. It allows you access to many different dealers who can ship the items to your door no matter where they may be located. As of today and with the right words typed into the search engine, you can find entire sites catering to your auto parts needs or any other auto accessory that you are searching for. It is absolutely clear that buying your online is safe, easy, effective and also will save you a lot of money as well.