CARNAMA - Episode 16 - Inspecting a used car

Episode 16 - CARNAMA - Inspecting a used car !

Who said that buying a used car is such a difficult decision ? Infact you may end up getting your dream car within your budget. But, all decisions are not based purely on money. You have to check the vehicle thoroughly before making that decision.

Here are some tips on how to check a used car:
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1 - Ensure the car is parked on level ground, in order to look for any sagging in the car.

2 - Visual inspection of the car's paint work to see for scratches, dents etc. Usually the seller would have washed the car to make it look shining.

3 - Open the trunk (dikki) and check if all the necessary tools including the spare tyre is available and in good condition.

4 - Open the front engine cover and look for any damage, dents etc. Look at the condition of belts and tubes.

5 - Look inside the car and see the condition of the seats. Check for any tear and spill marks.

6 - Check the dashboard to see any missing buttons/switches. Make sure all buttons/switches are working properly.

7 - Switch ON the car and check all lights/indicators are working correctly.

8 - Do a test drive and listen for any unusual sounds/noises when turning or braking.

9 - Apply hard brakes to check response of the brake system.

10 - Note the chassis number and check with the dealer's workshop for service history and major parts replaced.

11 - Check all doors/ windows are opening and closing properly.

12 - If there's an onboard computer then get it tested at a service center having facility for this.

13 - Finally, if u r able to get underneath the car, check for rust formations.

So next time you decide to buy a used car, don't feel shy and go with the CARNAMA confidence ! And yes, do make sure that when you close one door, another doesn't open !!!

CARNAMA - Episode 15 - Parking Sensors

Episode 15 - CARNAMA - Parking Sensors

Hello people, having trouble parking ? No problem, here's a good solution for you, get parking sensors fitted to your car.

A sensor is placed on the rear bumper of the car, which is capable of both emitting and detecting ultrasound. As it pulses, a computer measures the time it takes for the sound it emits to be heard again. Parking sensors operate at a close range and some sensors have a minimum operating range. When the user set distance threshold is passed, the sensor will emit an audible sound alerting the driver that it is getting close to an object.

These sensors work on ultrasound theory. The ultrasound sensor is based on echo-location (like SONAR, the same thing bats use to navigate). The pitch, or frequency, of the sound is so high that humans cannot detect it, which is useful because it provides accuracy.

The ultrasonic parking sensor is considered the cheapest form of a parking sensor, thus it comes with several problems which other technologies address. The first is that it can miss small objects or objects which lay below the sensor's cone-shaped operating range and sometimes requires multiple sensors to be attached to the bumper to get full coverage on both sides of the car.

Now a days, the reverse parking sensor systems are accompanied with a view camera, that let's you 'see' the reverse view on a screen fitted in the car's dashboard.
Many car manufacturers are offering this as a standard feature on current models.

Now, who said parking a car is difficult anymore ?

CARNAMA - Episode 14 - Paint Protection Film

Episode 14 - CARNAMA - Paint Protection Film

Hi Everyone ! Let's begin the first Carnama of 2013 with something very interesting. Just try and recall that feeling when you purchased a new car and always wanted that your car should look new forever. You don't want those stone chip marks and paint wear off due to the weather.

Well there is a product to exactly achieve this for your new car (or even older cars). It's called Paint Protection Film (PPF). The clear coated urethane film helps preserve the paint finish while protecting surfaces vulnerable to stone chips, bug damage, abrasion, and weathering. Not only will your vehicle’s paint be preserved from these types of damages, the film will allow your paint to age naturally, and will not yellow from prolonged sun exposure. Additionally, you can clean and maintain your vehicle the same as before. The nearly invisible film can be washed and waxed just like the rest of the painted surfaces to retain that high gloss shine you expect.

These protective films are typically applied to the impact zones on vehicles parts, or otherwise vulnerable areas such as hoods, fenders, side mirrors, bumpers, grills, rocker panels, headlights covers, floodlights, car door protection, luggage areas, rear bumper decks, roof and A-pillars.

These are sometimes also referred to as Body Skins. There are many leading manufacturers providing the application service for such protection films, for e.g. 3M in Dubai.

So if you're gonna spend huge money on buying your dream car, just think of investing some more to protect your car from the harsh environmental impact.