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Overview Of The Latest Automotive Warning Devices

One day, we might enjoy the luxury of sitting back in our cars and letting them take care of every single task. Until then, we’ll have to make due with the latest in automotive warning technology. Automakers have been working relentlessly to provide drivers with a growing array of tools that help them drive more safely.

Below, we’ll explore a few of the latest behind-the-wheel warning technologies, such as blind spot cameras, collision avoidance devices, and lane departure systems. Most of these options are currently limited to pricier makes and models. But, they’re bound to spread throughout carmakers’ inventories as drivers clamor for the latest in safe driving.

Blind Spot Cameras

Blind spots are one of the most common obstacles to driver safety. And the larger the vehicle, the broader the blind spot. To compensate, more carmakers are installing cameras on the outside of their vehicles that can identify objects normally hidden from view. These cameras will not only help prevent backover accidents, but will also help drivers avoid colliding with other motorists or structures.

Collision Avoidance Devices

A few luxury models (notably from Mercedes Benz) are coming equipped with anti-collision devices. Sensors are built into the car which can detect whether a collision with another vehicle is imminent. The system’s first reaction is to alert the driver audibly. Then, it prepares for impact by increasing the tension in the seat belts, priming the airbags, and applying braking power in order to reduce the severity of the collision. Once the motorist applies the brakes, the system transfers over all power to him or her.

Lane Departure Systems

Lane departure systems are now coming in two different flavors. An early version warns motorists if they begin to drift into another lane without activating their turn signals. In some models, the warning is delivered through an audible beep. Other models are designed to cause the steering wheel to shake.

The most recent version takes the concept one step further. Rather than merely warning the motorist, the system lightly triggers the brakes on one side of the car in order to bring it back into the lane.

Balancing Automotive Technology With The Driver’s Brain

The ongoing challenge for carmakers is to determine the level of control to give these new safety devices. It is not a simple task. While making these systems as powerful as possible may initially seem intuitive, many motorists are unwilling to relinquish such control. It is a balancing act.

For example, a new feature from BMW is designed to work in heavy “stop and go” traffic. The feature stops the vehicle when it senses the car ahead of it has stopped. Then, it moves the vehicle forward again when the car in front moves forward. No intervention from the person behind the wheel is necessary. But, are BMW owners willing to surrender this level of control? It is too early to tell.

One thing is predictable. Over the next several years, automotive warning systems will likely become more robust and better capable of protecting motorists and their passengers.

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Can Your Car Pass The Smog Test?

If your vehicle spews thick, black clouds of exhaust while you’re driving, it probably won’t pass a smog check. But, most drivers are not in that situation. Instead, their engines seem to run smoothly and nothing comes out of the tailpipe when they’re on the road. But, when they take their cars in for an emissions test, they’re surprised to discover they’ve failed.

As the health of our environment takes center stage, more jurisdictions are requiring motorists to undergo emissions testing. If your vehicle fails to pass, you’ll be required to have the problem – whatever it is – fixed.

Below, we’ll discuss which factors are reviewed during the testing process. I’ll also describe a few reasons your car may be on the verge of failing.

Are You A “Gross Polluter?”

The purpose of requiring drivers to have their automobiles smog tested is to identify “gross polluters.” These are vehicles that emit extremely high levels of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide into the environment. Most testing facilities also look for carbon dioxide levels, but only for monitoring. That is, there is no cutoff point above which you need to have repairs done.

Individual states have been given the flexibility to design their emissions tests with varying cutoff points. So, California motorists may need to meet stricter requirements than people in Montana. Also, each state – and in many cases, different jurisdictions within a single state – set repair cost limits based on your vehicle’s age, make, and model. So, if you fail the smog check, there is a ceiling on the amount you’ll need to pay in repairs.

Possible Reasons There May Be A Problem

So, why might your car fail an emissions test? First, let’s talk about what causes excess hydrocarbons. If your automobile is above the cutoff point for hydrocarbons, it usually means fuel is getting into the exhaust without being burned in combustion. That might be caused by several things. For example, the exhaust valve might be malfunctioning which affects the compression of the air-fuel mixture. Or, there might be vacuum leaks, or the gasoline isn’t being delivered properly through your fuel injection system.

What about carbon monoxide readings that are too high? This, too, can be triggered by several things. For example, the gasoline within the air-fuel mixture may be too rich. Or, if you’re driving an older model with a carburetor, the choke may not be working properly. Another possible issue is a failing oxygen sensor.

If you receive your smog check readout and the readings for both hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are too high, you may need to replace the catalytic converter.

In the end, your car’s results from an emissions test will usually be a mystery until you receive the readout. After all, you can’t see hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide coming from your tailpipe. Also, keep in mind that there are several things that can potentially cause an issue. If you fail the test, your best bet is to have an auto technician diagnose and fix the problem.

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An Introduction To Manual Transmissions

Cars that are equipped with a manual transmission require the driver to maneuver a knob that controls gear switches. If you’ve never driven a stick shift, you may have a number of questions. For example, how exactly does moving the knob cause gears to change? And what makes the grinding noise when the driver doesn’t move it correctly? In this article, I’ll describe how manual transmissions work, answering those questions and others along the way.

Transmission Basics

First, let’s talk about why your transmission needs to switch gears while you’re driving. Car engines are limited by something called a “redline.” The redline is the highest number of RPMs that the engine can endure without failing (or bursting from the stress). When your car accelerates, it requires horsepower. That horsepower has a maximum efficiency at any given range of RPMs. By shifting gears, your transmission keeps the RPMs below your engine’s redline while leveraging the existing horsepower.

Your transmission and engine are bridged by a clutch. In essence, the clutch is the connection between you, the transmission, and the engine. Also, keep in mind that the gear ratios shared by your engine and the drive wheels can vary in different gears. A 5-speed transmission changes the gear ratios as the driver shifts from first through fifth. Doing so allows the engine to make the best use of the available RPM range as your car accelerates.

How To Shift Gears

If you’ve been driving a stick shift (or manual transmission) for awhile, you’ll be able to imagine the stick positions easily. From a top view, they looks like 2 capital “E’s” placed back-to-back. When the stick rests in the center, the transmission is in neutral. Shifting from neutral to first gear requires moving the stick to the top right. Second gear is located in the top left. Shifting through subsequent gears involves moving the stick to the middle right, middle left, and finally, lower right to shift into fifth.

As a point of interest (to some people, at least), it’s interesting to note that shifting the stick through the gears – specifically from left to right and back to left – uses different rods and forks, which engages different collars.

Learning To Love Manual

One of the reasons why many drivers enjoy manual transmissions is because they can better control the car’s power. They’re able to maximize the horsepower and torque available from the engine in a given range of RPMs, shifting to the next gear when it’s most efficient to do so. That said, driving stick shift isn’t for everyone. But, understanding how manual transmissions work in order to power a car can be valuable for any driver.

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