CARNAMA - Episode 27 - Crash Test Certification !

CARNAMA – Episode 27 – Crash Test Certification

You would never imagine that your car should meet with an accident. No way !

However, accidents are just that – accidents. They are not planned and happen suddenly, for which you may or may not be prepared.

Now, what does happen when cars meet with accidents? External damage to the car body and possible harm to its occupants?

In order to minimise injury and possible death to the occupants of cars, car manufacturers have to follow the strict guidelines on crash safety test standards.

One such Standard of crash test is the 5 Star rating established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in USA.

It's simple: More Stars equal Safer Cars. 5-Star Safety Ratings measure the crash worthiness

Also called the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 5-Star Safety Ratings System was created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to provide consumers with information about the crash protection and rollover safety of new vehicles beyond what is required by statute. One star is the lowest rating, five stars is the highest. More stars equal safer cars.  Five stars is the highest rating, one is the lowest.

The 5-Star Safety Ratings System was initiated in 1978 to measure the level of increased safety for vehicle occupants in frontal crashes. Side crash rating results were added with 1997 model year vehicles and rollover assessments with 2001 models. This is a program that encourages manufacturers to voluntarily design safer vehicles by giving them safety ratings that can be used by consumers to compare vehicles when shopping for a new car.

So next time when you go shopping for a new car, be sure to ask about the 5-Star safety rating of the car. Who knows, a small question like this could prove to be a saviour of you and your loved ones !

CARNAMA - Episode 26 - AIRBAGS !

CARNAMA – Episode 26 – AIRBAGS!

We are all worried about our safety, at each and every turn in life and in our cars!
The seatbelt used to be the only safety restraint feature in a car, until there came the airbag.

Did you know the first car manufacturer to offer driver and front passenger airbags as a standard feature was CHRYSLER. They started this in 1988!

Since then all car manufacturers have made it a standard in all their cars.

There are two types of airbags; frontal and the various types of side-impact airbags. Advanced frontal air bag systems automatically determine if and with what level of power the driver frontal air bag and the passenger frontal air bag will inflate. The appropriate level of power is based upon sensor inputs that can typically detect: 1) occupant size, 2) seat position, 3) seat belt use of the occupant, and 4) crash severity.

The purpose of airbags is to slow an occupant's motion as evenly as possible in a fraction of a second in a crash. Airbags are supplemental restraints and work best in combination with seatbelts.

Frontal airbags are deployed in less than 50 milliseconds. Airbags for side protection have to be fully inflated within 15 milliseconds, which is eight times faster than the blink of an eye. Once an airbag deploys, deflation begins immediately as the gas escapes through vent holes in the fabric. A frontal airbag is empty after approximately one second.

CARNAMA - 25th CARNAMA - ROLLS ROYCE WRAITH

CARNAMA – Episode 25 – ROLLS ROYCE WRAITH !

Special episode with a special car. Yes, world renowned car manufacturer ROLLS ROYCE have launched their latest product in the market – WRAITH !

A sporty looking two-door car with exclusive two-tone paint combination. The car comes with the Rolls Royce signature rear hinged doors.

The car is powered by a 6.6 litre engine delivering 624 bhp. It can race from 0-100 kms in just 4.6 seconds.

The first in the world, Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS data and the navigation system to scan the road. It anticipates what lies ahead, then automatically chooses the optimum gear on the eight speed transmission.

The car features a touchpad, so you can effortlessly access the internet and music with a swipe of your finger or call up contacts and directions simply by 'writing' the characters.

The touchpad also has a 'pull and pinch' function so you can zoom in and out just as you would on a smartphone. For even more convenience and safety, you can send emails and texts simply by using your voice.

So why not buy this piece of art for your loved one ?

CARNAMA - Episode 24 - Car Window Tinting

CARNAMA – Episode 24 – Tinted Windows!

Yes friends, tinted windows or Kaara Kaanchh (in sindhi). How many of us think that having blackened windows in cars was a sure indication of a movie star inside the car ? Well that ain’t true at all.

Car window tinting is one of the best ways to improve the look of your vehicle. It adds style and elegance to the appearance and also has other benefits.

Doing proper tinting of car window panes will guard you against the striking sunlight in hot summer. It will also save the upholstery of your car getting heated, discolored or damaged by ultraviolet rays of sunlight. The life of upholstery in car gets enhanced approximately by proper tinting of car windows. The upholstery remains like new for a longer period. The tinting of car window panes will stop the UV rays almost completely, thereby saving the car's upholstery as well as the people traveling in it especially in the hot sun for a longer time.

Depending on your selection of tint, up to 65% of the Sun's total energy can be reflected away from your vehicle. If your vehicle is fitted with air-conditioning this should provide savings on your fuel and running costs. Not only that but tinting can reduce interior fading and help maintain the value of your vehicle.

In the event of a broken window, tinting film protects the occupants of the vehicle from flying glass by holding shattered glass in place.

There is a variety of window tints available at affordable costs. It is better to first explore about the tints and make enquiries about their quality and prices before you settle for the one of your choice. You can see the samples with the shops and find out what tints are good and popular and also ascertain the capability of the tinting shop.

So go ahead and get the tinting done on your car and feel like a movie star yourself !

 

 

CARNAMA - Episode 23 - Preparing your car for summer

CARNAMA – Episode 23 – Preparing your car for Summer!

Hi friends, most of you have started to feel the change in the weather as temperatures are gradually on the rise, particularly in the Middle East and India. So it’s that moment when you must heed to the cry of your car or else you’ll end up driving in a mobile microwave oven.

Here are some tips to maintain your car during the heat months:

Make sure you get your car serviced before the onslaught of serious summer heat.

The car engine needs to be readied to face the harsh driving conditions of summer. Ensure that the coolant levels are topped up and so are the oil levels. Please use ‘coolant’ only, avoid water.

Check transmission fluids and brake fluids. This is good to ensure every part of your car is protected against overheating.

Ask your service center to check all hoses of your car and ensure he tightens them.

Check the conditions of your car tyres, particularly those driving in the intense heat conditions of Middle East. Don’t be kanjoos and replace your tyres if found worn out.

Replace the air filters.

Check the condition of the wipers and replace if necessary.

The most important part to help you survive the summer heat is your car’s air-conditioning. Make sure the gas is topped up and there are no leakages. Clean your AC flow tubes from any dried leaves etc.

Get your car windows tinted (within the permissible limit as per your local law). This will protect the interiors from the harsh summer heat.

Buy a good pair of sun glasses for a comfortable drive and to avoid glare.

CARNAMA - Episode 22 - Car Servicing !

CARNAMA – Episode 22 – Car Servicing !

Hi friends, just this morning I have dropped off my car for routine servicing at the workshop. I do give it at the dealer service center.

It’s a fact that many people think that car servicing is basically just detail car washing. The truth is that it’s not!

Here are some of the fine points to follow when giving your car for service:

The first and foremost is to know when to give your car for service. Most manufacturers recommend a periodic service at every 10,000 km of mileage. But, even if you don’t achieve this mileage, remember this thumb rule to service your car once every six months. This is a MUST!

Call and schedule your service appointment with the workshop in advance. If you have a preferred service attendant then ask for him to attend to your service call.
Before going to the service center, check your vehicle on your own and note down all those scratches/dents etc.

Note down any problems/issues in your vehicle that you want the service center to correct. Chances are that you might forget to remember the same when at the service center, so it’s better to write it down before.

Make sure the attendant checks the basics of your vehicle when receiving it.
Make sure he signs and stamps your service record book. This is very important as it evidences your servicing history.

Don’t readily agree to any recommendation you get from the service attendant. Their job is to sell. Think, question and then decide if you really need what is being recommended. If not sure, call a friend and discuss.

Service agents might also try to sell you some vehicle accessories. Now remember accessories are just that – accessories. You don’t need to have them unless of course it is affordable as per your budget.

When receiving the vehicle back from service, don’t be in a hurry to pick up your car and drive out quickly.

Take some time to check all the basic functions of the car at the service center itself. If needed ask for a mechanic to accompany you for a test drive. Point out anything you feel has not been attended to as per your liking.

If any parts were replaced, ask for the old parts that were changed.

Ensure your vehicle has been washed properly from the exterior and vacuumed from the interior.

Dealer maintenance and servicing does cost a bit more than regular garages, but in the long run and from my personal experience, I can promise you that it does help save a lot of stress on yourselves and your vehicle will feel like new for many many years !

CARNAMA - Episode 21 - Engine Flushing

These days, you'll notice your service agent advising about a new 'recommended' maintenance item, Engine Flushing.

What exactly does it mean by the term Engine Flushing ? Flushing is the high pressure forcing of fluid back against the normal flow of the fluid. In other words if the normal flow is left to right, the flush would force the fluid right to left. This is accomplished by connecting a machine that will force special solvents back through the engine and transmission. The idea is that by forcing cleaning solvents backwards through the system, it will get all the junk and garbage that has formed over time and "flush" it out of the system. In theory this may be great, but in actual practice, it’s dangerous.

Flush machines do what they say; they force high pressure cleaning solvents back through the engine and transmission and clean out some of the accumulated junk that has formed. Now engines have small passages and galleries through which oil or automatic transmission fluid flow and there are one-way valves that keep the fluids from backtracking for whatever reason. By using an aggressive cleaning procedure like flushing, large chunks of accumulated sludge are broken off and forced backwards through these galleries and valves and, more often than not, lodge tightly and block them. This cuts off the normal flow of the fluid and causes lack of lubrication in an engine and abnormal or no shifting in a transmission. The results are expensive repairs, or more often, engine or transmission replacement.

Timely changing of your motor oil is good enough for your engine care and longer lasting performance.