Basic Knowledge Regarding Body Auto Parts That Help Your Vehicle

The field of automotive vehicles is vast and is changing rapidly. Every day, some or the other new automotive parts are launched in the market. It becomes very difficult to cope up with the details of all such items. But you need not worry much as we are here to help you. Body auto parts comprise in a number of things. Some of these key things are exterior and interior auto accessories, discount car accessories, charging and starting systems, and many more.

If you are a vehicle owner then you seriously need to learn a few basic things regarding the below mentioned automotive parts. Make sure you go through the key points given below.

1. 96 Jetta VR6, GTI Alternator Electrical Charging MK3
This wonderful alternator comes with electrical charging feature. It costs around 100 dollars.

2. BMW Alternator E36 328 Charging Electrical
This electrically chargeable alternator costs around 75 dollars. The price is quite economical.

3. Mercedes 94 S420 S Starter Starting Motor with Shield
Mercedes 94S420 S starter starting motor comes along with a shield. You can bring home this item for just 100 dollars.

4. Painless 50103 Charging System Shutdown Relay Kit
Charging system for painless can be easily acquired from the market for about 46 dollars.

5. VW XCS Xtreme Voltage Stabilizer Golf Jetta 20V 1.8T
This is a low priced voltage stabilizer for your car that can be acquired for a nominal price of about 30 dollars.

6. Stanley 1000 Peak-Amps/500 Starting Jump Starter
This starting system jump starter can really solve a lot of your vehicle related issues. 80 dollars is its total price.

7. Taylor 21504 remote or battery charging connectors
Remote charging connectors from Taylor are priced around 40 dollars. They are really helpful for all of you.

8. BMW Advanced Battery Charging System
Battery charging and starting systems are an integral part of your vehicle. This system is available for just 30 dollars.

9. Advanced Battery Charging System with Alligator Clips
Priced at around 70 dollars in the market this is a great battery charging system that comes along with alligator clips. Its advanced features really offer you some great options.

10. Optima Car Truck 6 Volts Red Top Battery Starting Power
This is a heavy red top battery with a price range of about 180 dollars. It is meant for huge vehicles.

So, this was some of the basic knowledge regarding body auto parts that can really help your vehicle perform in a better way!

Part and Equipment Industry Timeline

Olds and Ford

In his book "American Automobile Manufacturers: The First Forty Years," author John B. Rae distinguishes between "the men whose approach to automobile manufacturing was from the engine to the vehicle rather than from the vehicle to the engine." While many early automakers came from the manufacture of bicycles, horse-drawn carriages and other non-automated industries, some of the important early innovators began as machine shop and factory owners with the equipment and mechanical know-how to build engines for automobiles. Such legendary auto pioneers as Ransom Eli Olds and Henry Ford were machinists by trade.

In fact, the development of an automobile sturdy, reliable and inexpensive enough for the mass market is more a story of parts than of design and assembly. The background of those men who were machinists and mechanics led to a critical decision to go with the internal combustion engine as a power plant for automobiles. It's largely due to their influence that cars now run on gasoline, rather than the electric power favored by early automobile leaders such as Pope and Studebaker. Conversely, the background of former carriage makers led to wood being the dominant body material for cars until the Teens, when metal began to overtake it.

In the earliest days, before the development of mass production and the network of suppliers and outlets that necessitate intensive capital expenditures, the barriers to entry in the automotive business were fairly low. The pioneers were all tinkering with different ways to put the same parts together; auto manufacturing was an assembly process. Parts manufacturers generally sold their wares on credit, and were reimbursed by carmakers who were paid in cash for their finished autos.

The Role of Rubber

The rubber industry was one of the first to cash in on the automotive market by making major innovations to its product. Its development of the straight-sided tire, which was much more practical and durable for autos than the clincher tire used on bicycles, was a critical step in automotive development.

Auto supply firms flourished in the following years, as the auto industry thrived and the aftermarket business exploded. Even as carmakers themselves consolidated into a handful of major companies, the number of parts suppliers in the US grew into the thousands by the postwar years.

The major trends in the business since the early 1990s, though, have been consolidation and increased outsourcing by the major auto manufacturers. The two go hand in hand: As carmakers seek to control costs and streamline operations through outsourcing, they have looked to large companies that can provide entire, ready-to-install "modules" rather than just bits and pieces that must be assembled at the carmaker's plant.

Used Parts for Kia Available in USA

Kia as you would know is a South Korea based automobile manufacturer partially owned by the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group. In USA, it is the Kia Motors America that does the sales, marketing and distribution of Kia vehicles. In recent years, Kia has emerged as a major player in the American automobile market acquiring a great chunk of the market-share while rolling out models for every car segment through a network of more than 700 dealerships across USA.

Kia has made its presence felt not only across America but in the rest of the world as well. It would not be wrong to say that Kia is a well-known automaker in almost every country today. Kia has a strong line-up of vehicles for various segments like SUVs, Minivans, Coupes, Sedans, Hatchbacks and Wagons. All Kia vehicles come with a 10 year Warranty.

Kia vehicles are known to flaunt some eye-catching designs and high-end technology. These vehicles are surprisingly economical and don't need any extensive maintenance efforts either. Kia has a strong service network across North America and that is always a plus for any car maker. All these qualities are reaping rich dividends for Kia in America as they recently became the 8th best-selling automobile brand is USA in 2008.

Kia auto parts are available not only at the company stores but also at other dealerships. Auto parts from this manufacturer are not high-priced as is the case with some of the other well-known brands but availability of parts is a bit of a concern especially in case of older models. Auto parts are never readily available at Kia and there is usually a long wait before the ordered parts get delivered. To be fair, this is the case with most automakers these days. No company maintains a ready stock of all major auto parts at every dealership. Sometimes dealerships ask other dealerships for parts and sometimes parts are built at the company's manufacturing unit after the customer places the order.

Such delays don't cause many problems if the required parts are not the critical ones. On the contrary, if the vehicle needs any important parts like a camshaft or a suspension part or perhaps an engine control module, there would be no other choice left than to leave the vehicle in the garage.

Just to avoid such situations, in the last few years, used auto parts have emerged as an effective alternative to the brand new ones in most markets of the world. These are genuine OEM parts available readily across the length and breadth of USA and they cost surprisingly less when compared to new auto parts. Used auto parts are available at the click of a button on the Internet and usually there is no waiting-time associated with them apart from one or two days in courier.

There are a few more advantages of going for used auto parts. These are 100% company-made parts hence there are no compatibility issues. Used parts also come with warranties and even money-back guarantees which you can avail in case there are any problems with the part you purchase. There is free shipping and delivery offered by many reputed used car parts sellers on the Internet. Most companies also offer customer and technical support to make your purchase convenient. You get all this, plus the replacement part that saves you from long waits and your vehicle from decaying in the garage.

All you need to make sure is that you place your orders only with established sellers to avail the benefits associated with used auto parts.

James Rodham
Quality Auto Parts

Advanced Telematics Systems Deliver Personalized Auto Satisfaction

Imagine the most captivating, comforting and satisfying features of a vehicle. Now, imagine them being executed at the most convenient manner. This and more could be had through the Telematics Solutions from Continental Automotive Systems.

With the said advanced solutions, digital music and other auto features could be enjoyed with just a touch of a button or by simply using voice commands. The Telematics Solutions from the Automotive Systems Division will serve as the key to make wireless connection of portable devices, like MP3 players and PDAs, more convenient and user-friendly.

Continental Automotive Systems has already integrated Bluetooth and telematics systems to over 12 million vehicles. Now, the division of Continental AG, an international automotive supplier, is in the process of designing intelligent electronics that will wirelessly connect portable devices and external digital content to the car. This auto feature will enable drivers to access their personal music collection in new ways while enjoying a ride.

With the new feature, the drivers will not only have the ability to carry out hands-free mobile phone calls but they also will be able to play digital music inside their car and access songs using voice commands, controls in the steering wheel or instrument panel. The forthcoming next-generation telematics products in development will be adaptable to future wireless technologies and standards by software updates. The feature makes it easier to stay connected to the latest auto devices.

With the new solutions, digital music can be transferred via Bluetooth wireless technology or USB connection. The driver can navigate through the device's menu by pushing a button or using voice commands. The company's telematics systems also wirelessly download a mobile phone's address book into the car, support personalized ringtones and stored speed dialing numbers, use text-to-speech to read incoming short messages (SMS) aloud if desired and allows up to 12 Bluetooth phones to be connected to the system.

If ever the mobile phone call is initiated outside the car and is to be continued in the car, the telematics feature automatically transfers the call without interruption to the car's hands-free system when the ignition is switched on. On the other hand, a phone module for service and assistance functions and mobile internet access can be built into the telematics unit.

"Continental Automotive Systems recognizes that development cycles in the field of consumer electronics are much shorter than in the automotive industry," comments Kieran O`Sullivan, the head of Continental Automotive Systems Telematics business unit. "Future portable devices can be supported by new software updates or new hardware components." The telematics solutions also recognize the needs of the car manufacturers in that these components can be combined into a wireless communications gateway which can be integrated into the car and connected up to its networks.

The new telematics systems create an in-vehicle communications network that swiftly integrates portable devices and digital content into cars. In regard to accessing digital music, the driver's hands could stay on the steering wheel and eyes stay on the road while choosing and playing songs.

These solutions could be mated to Volvo clutch disc and other brand's auto parts to deliver utmost auto satisfaction.

How Recycled Auto Parts Keep the Environment Green

The recycled auto parts industry plays a crucial and necessary role in the ecological disposal of motor vehicles which are no longer operable. Automobile salvage dealers are professional automotive parts recyclers, who collectively earn $22 billion in annual sales. Auto salvage dealers have been around since the beginning of motorized travel, and over the years have developed a process for disassembling salvaged automobiles to reclaim usable components and parts. For over seventy-five years automotive recyclers have been on the forefront of environmental conservation, reducing the demand for landfill space, preserving natural resources, and protecting the environment from contamination. Approximately 95% of vehicles which have been retired from use are recycled, which saves about 85,000,000 barrels of oil that otherwise would have gone into manufacturing new or replacement parts. Further resource and energy conservation is achieved by recycling rebuilt core parts, such as engine blocks and transmissions, to the automotive parts industry.

Besides conserving natural resources, the automotive recycling industry plays a key role in reducing water and air pollution, as well as solid waste generation. Auto recyclers must fulfill stringent national and local regulations on handling the waste generated by salvaging used automotive body parts. Gasoline, motor oil, and diesel fuels contain petroleum hydrocarbons which are quite toxic to aquatic life, as well as being carcinogenic. They can be carried by rainwater into surface waters and contaminate local groundwater. Heavy metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc, arsenic, mercury, and aluminum are also toxic for aquatic life, and can bio-accumulate in fish. Acids from batteries, degreasers, and solvents can contaminate soil chemistry as well as water, creating toxic conditions for humans as well as animals. The operations at automotive salvage yards are well-controlled to reduce the risk of releasing contaminants into the environment. Besides the governmental regulations, many individual auto recyclers have instituted their own management programs to reduce the potentially harmful effects of automobile recycling byproducts even further.

The automotive recycling industry has evolved into a sophisticated, technology-driven business which is constantly changing in order to keep abreast of innovations in automobile manufacturing techniques. In a typical auto salvaging operation, inoperative vehicles are brought into the facility and hazardous and recyclable fluids are drained from them. Barely used auto parts are dismantled from the vehicle, then cleaned and tested before they are resold. Auto recyclers are an invaluable source for economical and hard-to-find used vehicle replacement parts. Today's auto recyclers use the computer and internet to direct their inventory assessment, and also to locate parts from other recyclers across the country. This technology permits recyclers to maximize their own inventories, and at the same time provide quick, efficient service for their used auto parts customers. Instead of merely crushing abandoned, wrecked, and disabled motor vehicles, modern auto recycling facilities maximize a vehicle's true market value by salvaging for resale, separating the residual scrap components into their separate categories, all the while providing environmental and economic benefits to the local community.

What You Should Know About Used Car Parts

In an economy that is in a state of constant flux, the prospect of losing your car can be very frightening. Because of this, routine car maintenance is essential, however, with many Americans tightening their belts, true maintenance may not be entirely possible.

Unfortunately, while a disabled auto is something we can ill afford, it is a great inevitability. The good news is that there is a viable solution for those who suddenly have a malfunctioning vehicle on their hands -- the purchase of used car parts.

That's all well and good, you may be thinking, but just how does one acquire a used car part?

Where to Go

The modern consumer can find many used auto parts in mainstream automotive stores. To get an amazing deal, however, it may be wise to go to salvage. Here, you will save a ton of money by bringing relevant tools and pulling the part out of the vehicle yourself.

You should begin by performing online and/or physical searches for local salvage and scrap yards that have cars matching your vehicle's make and model. The main caveat here is to really make sure the item you purchase is working. Be especially cautious about high ticket items like engines, alternators, transmissions, electrical units and anything that would be considered too expensive to replace easily.

A quality salvage yard offer state of the art systems that can test the viability of the part. Before you purchase, insist on this diagnostic testing.

What to Ask and Look For

Of course, since you are trying to save money, cost will be a factor in where you shop. Even so, try not to go too cheap-remember, you get what you pay for.

When looking into the salvage, be sure to comparison shop and get the best price possible for a quality part. Once you narrow your choices, visit the shop yards to take a look at the unit. If you are a bit of a neophyte in this regard, have a friend or relative who knows a lot more about cars accompany you.

Before paying any money, see if the company offers guarantees, returns or exchanges for products that fail to perform properly; make sure this agreement is in writing. If at all possible, try to obtain the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) as this can be especially handy in ascertaining the viability of its parts.
Avoiding Potential Problems

Beware of chop shops or yards that appear to be extremely disorganized - this can signal an unprofessional company, increasing your odds of getting a defective unit. Also, look to see if diagnostic and cataloguing equipment is current as this will give you greater assurance that any info gathered is relevant.

You also want to be absolutely sure you acquire a part that is made specifically for your car's make and model-putting the wrong parts in your car can cause further damage, adding to the final cost of repair.

It's a risk not worth taking.

Final Analysis

Of course, you can skip the U-Pull-It or salvage option altogether and go to an automotive store that offers used parts, however, this won't guarantee viability. Parts are usually marked up as well, so they will be more expensive than salvaged units.

In the end, all the effort would be well worth it. Not only will you save money, you will aid in conservation efforts recycling the parts. With all these facts considered, buying used auto parts can be a win-win, especially if one is smart about their hunt and eventual purchase.

Ford Auto Parts - Keeping the Vision of Quality and Technology

The Ford Motor Company began as a dream of one man to bridge people with advanced transport technology. It was an ambitious dream, but one that answered the needs of a society on the brink of high-gear industrialization.

It didn't come easy, however, as the company's first series of automobiles endured bouts of indifference from the market. Not losing faith, the company relentlessly continued on engineering various motor cars, until one unit, the Ford Model T, finally captured the full interest and esteem of the public. Fast track to 19 years and 15 million Model Ts later, and the Ford Motor Company has already catapulted itself into a giant enterprise in the automotive industry. And at present, after more than a hundred years of continuous hard work and pure determination in the industry, the visions of one Henry Ford are still paying off as his founding company has now become one of the most successful brands in the world.

To date, Ford Motor Company has now evolved into a family of superior automobile brands, which comprises of: Ford, Jaguar, Mazda, Mercury, Lincoln, Land Rover, and Volvo. Nevertheless, Ford has not lose sight of the vision to create top-quality and state-of-the-art vehicles. And relative to these are the corresponding top-quality and state-of-the-art components that function simultaneously. These Ford auto parts are uniquely engineered especially for Ford models to complement performance and sophisticated style that the brand is famous for. Such parts can be categorized as performance devices, exterior parts, and the interior line.

Ford performance parts would include a multi-point injection fuel system, updated front and rear suspension systems that yield smoother and quieter rides, heavy-duty alternator and battery, quality four disk brakes with the equivalent ventilated discs, as well as the engine system in which case Ford is known to use powerful V6 or V8 engine concoctions. On the other hand, Ford interior and exterior parts may consist of but not limited to: chrome-finished bumpers, driver and passenger airbags, customized hubcaps, sturdy cargo liners, high-tech audio system, and power windows and locks.

As it is, all possible Ford Auto parts have been made available in the market. Said parts may be sold and provided in general terms or in a more specialized method that is relative to the Ford model, such as Ford F250 parts, Ford Focus parts, among others. The easy accessibility of these Ford Auto parts is to ensure the lifelong commitment and service that Ford provides its consumers.