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February 2005

OBD-II. I’m sure everyone has heard of the word or abbreviation. What exactly is it? What does it do? All cars currently being built use this system and today we will go into detail to show you what it is, how it works, and if it inhibits or promotes modifications to your car.

OBD-II stands for on-board diagnostics and they are standard on all vehicles manufactured today. In the late 1970s, auto manufacturers began using electronics or computers to monitor and control powertrain functions. This was done as a way to control emissions on new cars to comply with government standards. OBD-II is a set of standards and practices created by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), which was approved by the EPA and CARB for implementation by 1/1/1996. Every car built since 1/1/1996 has OBD-II and actually manufacturers began implementing it on certain models as early as 1994. Some of these vehicles were not 100% compliant, but it was a way for the manufacturers to begin getting acquainted with the new system.

The computer reports to the driver if it encounters a “problem”. The “problem” is relayed to the driver by way of a MIL. MIL stands for malfunction indicator light, commonly known to drivers as the “Check Engine” light. There are three types of signals the computer will send to notify the driver. The light will flash occasionally if a momentary problem occurs. If the light comes on and stays on, this is a more serious issue and most likely will affect the emissions or safety of the car. When the light starts flashing, this is evidence of a serious problem and the vehicle should be taken to a repair facility immediately. The powertrain control module, or computer, will store the conditions the vehicle was experiencing when the error occurred; this is known as a “freeze frame.” The “freeze frame” will store the speed, tachometer speed and other data to help the technician see what type of driving the car was experiencing when the error occurred.

The creation of OBD-II makes it easier on the technician and repair shop. Instead of needing multiple scan tools to diagnose vehicles, they are able to use one with multiple software. Older vehicles have the diagnostic connector in various locations such as under the hood, under the carpet, or under the dash. Reading the codes was different on older vehicles, on 80’s Chrysler vehicles you had to cycle the key off-on-off-on-off-on and the Check Engine Light would blink to signify the codes. On Honda’s, you had to lift up the passenger side carpet and watch the blinking LED on the computer to get the codes. With OBD-II, the diagnostic connector is the same and is always located on the driver side under the dash.

In the early days of OBD-II, many performance enthusiasts were afraid that the OBD-II system would not allow for the modification of the engine to the specs and power that they desired. It may have been the case had it not been for the intervention of SEMA. SEMA worked with the manufacturers to develop the program, therefore protecting their industry. OBD-II is designed to allow cars to run cleaner and more efficient and it does just that. Newer cars emit less emissions and have more horsepower than cars before OBD-II.

In the current market there are also products available through the aftermarket that will allow owners to check their own codes and view the data list themselves. These products were created to save the consumer money as repair shops charge a labor charge just to hook up the scan tool and view the diagnostic trouble codes. One such product is the AutoTap (www.autotap.com), which makes a program for Windows or for your Palm Pilot. This software allows the user to view sensor data in real-time to know what their car is doing at that moment.

If my Check Engine light is lit, is my car losing power? The answer is no. Check Engine light will primarily light if the PCM recognizes an error that will cause an emissions problem. These errors will not alter the fuel, spark or boost of the vehicle; therefore you may not experience a drivability problem. OBD-II can also keep your vehicle drivable in problem situations known as limp-home mode. In the old days, if a misfire occurred, fuel being dumped in the exhaust and not being ignited would wreak havoc on the catalytic converter and cause it to overheat. With OBD-II, the PCM can recognize the misfire and shut off fuel to the injector to prevent damage to the converter. On OBD-II systems there is a data table that the PCM will use to determine fuel, spark, timing, etc. It uses inputs from various engine sensors to control this mixture. In this system, if one sensor goes bad the data table can eliminate its input from its formula and use a base setting to determine the fuel and spark settings.

Aftermarket products can cause for Check Engine lights to light. This is only caused by products improperly installed or manufactured. We have heard stories about the Check Engine Light illuminating when swapping out exhausts or intakes, but these codes being set will not affect your power output. This is typically caused by the premature release of a product without the proper research and development.

Let’s take a look at how an actual OBD-II code breaks down. A sample OBD-II code is P0105. Each digit in this code means something. The first digit is the system: P for Powertrain, B for Body, C for Chassis and U for Network. The second digit is either a 0 or a 1. The zero is an OBD code, one is a proprietary code. The third digit is the subsystem of the main system, in this case the powertrain: 1 is for fuel/air metering, 2 is for fuel/air metering(injectors), 3 is for ignition system, 4 is auxiliary emission control, 5 is for computer output, and 6 and 7 are for transmission. The last two digits signify the fault code. Therefore, this code is a powertrain code, an OBD code, subsystem is fuel/air metering and the 05 is the fault code.

Today, we have covered many of the basics related to the OBD-II system. Now you know how the diagnostic system in your vehicle operates. So next time your car has a Check Engine light on, you will know the story behind it and how to check and clear it if you so desire. If you have further interest in this system, please view http://www.obdii.com.

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Jason Helferich
www.streetstylecustoms.com

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The automotive parts industry is one of the many retailers that are moving transactions online, recognizing the Internet as one of their primary ways to market auto parts online to a national and international audience. This is a guide to finding and purchasing online auto parts and accessories safely and effectively.

Finding a Creditable Company

The online auto parts industry is competitive, and there are many online storefronts to choose from. The first step to finding the best online auto parts is determining the credibility and integrity of the company. Look for contact information on the Web site, and check if there are any reports about the company in the Better Business Bureau. Browse through the Web site to make sure that they have a wide range of auto parts and accessories. Run a WHOIS report on the domain name to see when the domain was created. More information is usually available for domains that have been around longer. Check and see what other people have said about the companies in online reviews. Search for the company name on search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. Contact the company directly with any questions you have before you decide to make a purchase.

Protect your Privacy

Once you have found a Web site that you feel is credible, you need to make sure the checkout page is secure. If the checkout page is not encrypted with a SSL (Secure Socket Layer), do not enter your credit card or any confidential information. Look in the address bar and locate the protocol at the beginning of the URL. If the protocol reads (https://), that means it is a secure page. Also look for the SSL Certificate; it should be published on the checkout page. Click on the SSL Certificate for more information on the issuer of the SSL. Companies such as GoDaddy, VeriSign, SiteSafe, DigiCert and GeoTrust are some of the most popular. When you enter your credit card or bank account information into a Web page, that data is transferred from your Internet browser to the company’s Web server, and then usually stored into their database. Without SSL encryption, the data can be intercepted by another party during the transfer. So for your protection, it is worth taking the time to investigate a Web site before purchasing auto parts online or entering any important information.

Know Exactly What you are Getting

Make sure you know exactly how much the total amount of the transaction is before entering your payment information. Check to see if the merchant offers any warranties for its auto parts online; is the warranty a cash refund or store credit? If the warranties aren’t posted on the Web site, contact the company to find out before making a purchase. Once you have purchased the product, make sure that you save and print all receipts, so you have proof of purchase if the product is faulty or there is a shipping problem. It is rare, but sometimes the wrong product is packaged, or the shipment is sent to the wrong address. Keeping all receipts is a must when purchasing online auto parts.

Following these precautions will help you find and purchase online auto parts. Hopefully these insights will give you more confidence finding the right online auto parts Web site and protecting your privacy when purchasing online. The Internet is a very useful tool, and we are fortunate for the growth of e-commerce Web sites and improved security to make it easier for us to shop for online auto parts and accessories.

Tony DiFiore is the vice president of Parts Plus Auto Store, based in Cleveland, Ohio, which offers a full line of import and domestic auto parts online. With more than 25 years in the car parts store business, we have expertly and consistently served our clients only with the unsurpassed level and trusted automotive parts in the market.

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Ads for hybrid cars, such as my Toyota Prius hybrid, tout the fuel economy of the vehicle and almost nothing else, it seems.

So what? After all, that’s the big issue behind the design of this type of automobile in the first place, right?

It’s how a hybrid car works that allows it to be so fuel efficient and that is the selling point in this era of higher gas prices, and in view of such menacing specters as global warming. With all that as the basis for creating hybrid cars in the first place and with all the emphasis on fuel economy, you would think that would be the first thing people ask about.

Welllll. Sometimes.

More often than not, one of the first questions will be about performance. Sometimes it’s the first question, but even when the first question is about fuel economy (I hear you get 60 MPG with these things. Is that true?) very often the next is about performance. They are particularly interested in this with my Prius than with a known model that has been put out with a hybrid engine. They tend to assume that if the sedan, truck, or SUV could do something as a standard model, it will still do it as a hybrid.

However, the Toyota Prius was designed as a hybrid and nothing else and has no other history of performance to fall back on. Since it first appears as a small car (more later), and since people have a certain amount of ignorance about hybrid engines, they tend to assume they are looking at something along the line of the modern equivalent of the old Volkswagen beetle.

People want to know if a hybrid, particularly the Prius, can run at highway speeds, keep up with other traffic, run fast when heavily loaded (they’re surprised at the storage space too), and maintain speed on hills.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

I have just returned from a trip through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. I put over 4,500 miles on my Prius during this time, and drove in almost every type of terrain and traffic situation you could imagine. From Interstate to back country roads, I climbed mountains (Donner Pass for example), cruised at highway speeds, passed slower moving vehicles, and…yes…sat in traffic jams.

My little Toyota Prius had absolutely no problem keeping up with the big boys. The ride was comfortable and did not at all feel like a small car. Actually, by the way, the Prius has a lot of inside room to seem so small from the outside. In fact, that is one of the things that surprises people most when they get inside one.

So, did I find a drawback to the performance of my Prius?

Well, although it can accelerate and run at high speeds, it doesn’t accelerate as quickly as a bigger, more muscular car, so you have to be a bit more careful about picking your spots than in my old Dodge Intrepid, for example.

You also have to remember that the design intentions with the Prius were targeted towards fuel economy. As with any car, if you choose to demand the high speeds found on Western Interstates, your fuel economy will suffer a little. I actually saw a drop of about 5 MPG or more when running at 70 MPH or higher. By the way, for those of you not familiar with driving in the states I mentioned, there ARE some 80 MPH speed limits, and most Interstates out West are set for 70 MPH or above.

If you want to get the fuel economy advertised while you are driving on the highway, you will have to cut back your speed a bit. Also, observing other such fuel savers as paying attention to traffic and making decisions ahead of time, keeping your tires properly inflated, and getting regular oil changes will help keep your fuel consumption lower.

Some people like to use synthetic motor oils in their cars. Although the Toyota dealerships I deal with normally have their own petroleum based motor oils that they recommend and use, the use of synthetic motor oils such as those available off the shelf or through an AMSOIL dealer will not void your warranty. However, you may have to provide your own oil if you want to use a specific synthetic lubricant.

Oh, by the way. I averaged about 47.5 MPG on that trip (my wife likes to go 70 and 75…and 80), and gas was averaging about $3.00 a gallon. When I stopped overnight in Abilene I started talking to a guy just beginning a similar swing through most of the states I had just passed through. His pickup got 16 MPG. I bought about 100 gallons for a total of approximately $300.00. He was looking at a gas bill of about $900.00.

I saw his family and their luggage. They, and the luggage, would have fit comfortably in my Toyota Prius.

Need I say more?

Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer and a University of West Florida alumnus currently living in Stone Mountain, GA. He is a member of Mensa and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. In his career, he has held many managerial and supervisory positions. However, his main pleasures have long been writing, nature, .and fitness. In the last few years, he has been able to combine these pleasures by writing poetry and articles on subjects such as health, fitness, yoga, writing, the environment, happiness, self improvement, and weight loss.

Information on hybrid cars and other environmental issues at http://hybridcarsalternativefuelsandmore.blogspot.com/ .

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Photographers, just like designers, often use the Internet to help promote their work.Other than using mainstream photography and design sites such as Flickr, Behance and DeviantArt, photographers usually like to have their own portfolio. Not only is it professional, but it gives them an unlimited amount of options and ways to showcase their own work.This compilation showcases some of the…

Fine aint that ?

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Echo Chamber What are the words that echo in your mind? “You can’t do that!” “You’ll never make it alone!” “Grow up!” “Always do your best.” “Do the right job or don’t do it at all!” “People are looking at you!”

Some of these expressions are meant to spur us on to excellence: others can be a put-down that lasts a lifetime. Words like: “Jerk!” “Slow poke, “Dummy,” “Goof off!” “Old fashioned,” can leave a devastating mark on a person’s psyche, be they 8 or 88.

Angry admonition is hurtful 6 year-old Betty, trying to be a helpful daughter by setting the table for dinner, stumbled and broke two dinner plates. Her father yelled at her for breaking the plates. Betty felt ashamed, guilty for breaking the plates, and was deeply embarrassed in front of the guests.

Her Uncle Phil admonished his brother for being so hard on the child, “She’s trying to help, Mack. It was an accident.” he said. If her uncle had not come to her rescue and pleaded her case, no doubt she would have felt worse for her mistake.

Words spoken to a child can leave an indelible memory of success or failure, while the person who speaks it has forgotten about the expression of emotion the moment after it was spoken. If the child has a strong spirit and a certain amount of self-confidence, he or she may take a remark such as “You can’t do that!” as a challenge and prove the speaker wrong. As a matter of fact, that challenge could be a lifetime goal to prove, “Yes I can!” which, in reality, can be a good thing.

Painful, also in marriage In marriage as in childhood, words of a loved one can have the sting of a bee and can be the juice that stimulates hope, joy and togetherness. As singles, we not only have to overcome the many pitfalls of our singleness, but, there is the underlying distant voice with the connotation of unworthiness saying, “You failed!” or “You are a divorced person!”

As a widowed person, the old “You should have done more for him/her before he/she died,” rears its ugly head. A number of other regretful, useless accusations swim through the brain causing us to wish we could have changed the outcome of our lives. We all live with un-named voices in our head, sometimes positive, but mostly accusing.

We think 50,000 thoughts a day.

Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen in their book THE ALLADIN FACTOR, say “One of the most effective techniques for motivating ourselves is positive self-talk. We think almost fifty thousand thoughts a day. Many of those thoughts are about ourselves and many are negative.”

Whenever a child has tried to diminish another child, one to the favorite sayings mothers sometimes use is: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”

Sorry Mom, but you are wrong!

Words can and do affect those around you. Your children, your spouse, (if you have one) friends, co-workers even strangers are affected by what you say, good, bad or indifferent. An Art Teacher who admired your work, a boss who called you down for a misstep, a friend who laughed at an idea that was very dear to your heart, a parent’s reprimand for something that you did not think was a failing, are all examples of how words can affect us into our adult life.

Be conscious of your words

• We should be conscious of the effect our words can and do have on others, good or bad.
• We should come to realize that our careless words hurt us, as much as the intended targets.
• Imagine standing in the other person’s shoes whenever we have to criticize.
• Use words that are not condescending to the personality, but the action.
• If our words encourage others, it will give us a boost.
• When offering advice, a ready smile softens the words that spill from our mouth.
• An apologetic attitude is the first step to repairing the damage done, when our words have injured someone.

Words are powerful vehicles that can do much damage or can create healing or spur us on to be our best self.

1. What are the words echoing through your mind, today?
2. What words of self-deprecation visit your mind most often?
3. Do you really deserve that?

How are you going to change it?

For more tips and tools to on how to survive divorce and loss and make healthy relationship choices you are invited to visit http://askpat.typepad.com Patricia Hubbard has Facilitated a Support Group for Separated, Divorced and Widowed people for the past 13 years. She has been the writer/ producer of “SINGLES PERSPECTIVES” a newsletter for Single Friends in Christ, a social group for Singles in Virginia Beach. Also a newsletter “Divorced and Widowed Connections.” Besides her writing, coaching separated, divorced and widowed persons occupies most of her time.