For early electronic fuel systems with larger injectors,that old system of using carburator cleaners really worked (especially in benz products).Most cases of backfiring in modern cars is somehow linked with injectors problems,so when mechanics suggest servicing injectors they might not always be trying to rip you off.Here in Nigeria injectors can easily get clogged,so one has to be careful.Very crucial points have been raised here with regards to how the process should be done;just that Nigerians will always try to find to cheaper and more 'feasible' alternatives.

It might seem very logical and sensible to rely on expert
opinions for highly technical subject areas like our cars, and
when things go wrong you simply look up to mechanics. But
unfortunately as we have it here in Nigeria, questioning or
double checking a technical advice from a practitioner is the
sensible way to go. The logical reasons behind this trend is
due to situations where you find advises twisted to a certain
mechanic’s favour or may be just totally being wrong; in
some instances you find car owners receiving re-cycled advice
which come from very limited and myopic experiences.
So why does one have to worry about even the little advice
from a typical auto-technical personnel? The kinds of advice
car owners receive affect their cars on a daily basis, as well as
capital expenses, actions and procedures to be performed on a
car.
Hammering on the need to question mechanic advice you get
doesn’t mean there are no good and experienced mechanics.
As observed over here, a fair chunk of mechanics-even the
seemingly sophisticated ones-tow the same line of being
untrustworthy with poor expertise.
All these factors make it necessary to weigh opinions you get
from mechanics by considering the nuggets below.
Cross-reference User experiences : Your most formidable
tool to carry this out is the internet which allows you to
connect with as many car owners (with the same brand and
model as yours).
What does your car manual say? It’s that simple; consult
your owners’ manual and find out what your car manufacturer
has to say.
Your direct experiences: your past experiences with the
auto-technician plays an important role which builds up what
most might refer to as ‘gut feelings’. So based on the little or
plenty experiences, what does your gut feeling say about
anchoring your actions on a mere opinion from that
mechanic?
Perceived skill level of technician: it might take another
expert in automobile repair and maintenance to accurately
ascertain the true level of your mechanics’ expertise. However
you could still come up with a sketchy evaluation based on
your perceptive level and understanding of how cars work and
how they ought to be repaired.
Equipment-Expertise assessment: does your mechanic have
sophisticated and necessary tools observed to be commonly
used by other mechanics? How long have they had these tools
and equipment? Do they get to use these equipment? How
well do they employ these tools to solve car problems? These
questions should help to examine another angle of their
expertise level.
Evaluating auto-mechanics can be a daunting task, but the
above pointers can help in making a quick judgement during
instances that might require being decisive. These occasions
span from decisions like the type of car to buy to even
procedures to perform at different times on your car.
www.autobaseafrica.com/how-to-weigh-mechanic-opinions/

As you explore factors and features which can help you create that car interior haven you desire, one advice you shouldn't fail to heed to is that,‘for your car interior to even come close to being your haven, it has to be an extension of your home’. This means creating a haven in your car cabin entails re-creating a home in your car; hence making it a mobile home. Below is just how to go about this.

Buy the right car: the easiest way to achieve this is to shop for cars with key features that appeal to you. Factors to have in mind are adequate leg-room, standard gadgets, condition of seats, etc. With all these taken care you have very few things to worry about. Recent cars are built for best passenger comfort in mind, hence you can’t go wrong taking out time to sort out the right kind of car to buy with your key features and needs in mind.

Use wind shield covers: ideally these UV (ultra-violent)-rays protectors are meant for extended parking, but if where you park your car on a daily basis leaves your car vulnerable to excessive sunlight and heat penetration, you might want to consider these protectors. The commonly available ones are made of aluminium foils and can be clipped unto the inner portion of your wind-screen. It can save you a whole lot of issues which were brought up in this article: http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-use-of-air-conditioners-a-health-hazard/.

Use air-conditioners: make sure you take advantage of your car’s air-conditioner to maintain favourable cabin temperatures and better filtration of the air that finds its way into your car. To ensure optimum operation of this HVAC (heat, ventilation and air-conditioning) device, get your air vents cleaned up on a regular basis, check your air-filter condition (and replace if more than 2 years) ; before you look into more complex technical areas like refrigerant level, compressor or condenser state if need be.
Use air-fresheners: the most affordable and the most practical way to create a haven in your car interior is to ensure you drive away odour and unpleasant smell; with the right air-freshener, this is very possible. If you opt for air-fresheners attachable to air-vents, ensure you power-up your air-conditioners or else the nice fragrance won’t diffuse at the rate it should for your car to stay freshened up.

Get a Vacuum cleaner and use it:the underlying moral here is to keep your car interior clean at all cost using these electric-powered suction cleaners which are capable of accessing very intricate portions of your car interior; especially the floor area. There are different kinds of vacuum cleaners with a range of capabilities and methods of powering them, hence be sure you get the best value for your money.

Park your vehicle around well tarred or on concrete floors: as a way of avoiding moist you have to be very careful about where you pack your vehicle. Shoes easily pick up dirt/moist when stepped on muddy grounds, it becomes a problem when these same shoes stay put for hours in your car. If a good parking spot isn't quite an option you might consider frequently cleaning and drying you car floor and don’t fail to use floor mats.

Unleash your Cravings: for me its music. The moment you get to appreciate how much you need to create a great cabin ambiance is when you are hopelessly stuck in traffic-a conditions that is almost inevitable these days in densely populated cities like Lagos and Abuja. So what are your real cravings? For some it might be watching movies, getting a seat massage or maybe setting up a mini-office space; whatever the case might be, ensure you have it well figured out to make driving or being in the car less boring.

Have specific arrangements: avoid scattering things all over the place. There isn't much to say here, if you have a messy car interior you would always be looking forward to moments away from your car.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/8-ways-to-make-your-car-interior-a-haven/

As we all might know, properly functioning air conditioners do more than merely reducing our car’s inner cabin temperature. These devices offer substantial protection of car occupants by supplying better purified air. This is as a result of the different filtration processes draught air from the environment undergoes before being conditioned to desired temperatures. These processes ideally prevent pollen grains and dust from finding their way right into our cars via the air vents. Hence it’s safe to say most occupants of air-conditioned cars breathe in cleaner air, which has favourable health benefits.

In highly humid and tropical regions like Nigeria with intense sunlight, these HVAC (heat ventilation and air conditioning) devices offer comfort by maintaining favourably low temperatures relative to our average environment’s temperature. During very common cases of intense sunlight (which have indeed worsened lately), air conditioners provide a safe haven for car occupants. This even goes a very long way in reducing levels of driving induced stress by relaxing our nerves and muscles.
There equally have been a number of speculations that car cabin components like dashboard, sofa, and air-fresheners emit benzene (a cancer causing toxin) when a typical car is left heated up on the inside, especially, due to extended parking. If these findings are near factual, measures should be taken because according to WHO (World health Organization), no level of carcinogen is safe for the human body. This is why it is advisable to park your vehicle in areas that are preferably cool and safe. But if that isn’t an option, power on your A/C with your windows down for at least 5minutes before you wind up completely after re-entering your vehicle (after parking it for sometime). Asides the favourable health effects, this process purges built up heat very quickly, which then makes your air-conditioning more effective. For extended parking, you might consider using wind-shield protectors (mostly made of aluminium foils) to reduce penetration of sunlight into your car interior.


Clean car interior and frequent cleaning of dashboards and other areas of your car can really help in making your air-conditioner use, less of a health hazard. For older air-conditioning systems with compressors which are directly driven by car engines, the associated effect is higher fuel consumption (which is relative) and hence more emission to the environment. This creates a ripple effect on the environment which somehow, still affects you directly or indirectly.

On a last note, discretion is the key. Hence, alternate the use of air conditioners to favour both you and the environment. If it gets too cold, turn it off. Personally, after any rainfall, you can’t catch me in an air-conditioned car; unless there are still road splashes to contend with. The fact I am pointing out here is that your health is in your hands, guard it well!
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-use-of-air-conditioners-a-health-hazard/

Stuck in an airplane for close to 30minutes now because he is about landing;this really should stop.

Akshow: @ poster stop the propaganda. This govt is the most inept and backward administration of all time.

What have you done for Nigeria today?Were they supposed to start with high-speed trains?

Well I think the A-Class is the new kid on the block,and can be described as the first of the new breed of Benz products.When it comes to aesthetic designs of cars;Benz over the years have been way too conservative and the figures are telling it all.I am just folding my hands in wait of the new C-Class and E-Class eventual re-design.The recent E-class face-lift is quite applaudable.Another area Benz should look into is platforms sharing to cut cost,they might need to buy companies and cut down on all their tiny tiny mergers all over the place.I think they are big enough to comfortably do that.

The Christmas season is here again; this time of the year is characterized by a lot of road/vehicular movements across the nation. If you happen to plan on going on one of these interstate swings, here is just how to have fun while at it:

Carry out the regular checks on your car before you leave: ensure everything mechanical and electrical about your car is in order. Here is a quick checklist of some of the areas you (not entirely by yourself, get a mechanic too) shouldn’t fail to pay attention to: your car’s cooling system, suspension, steering; also your tyres, wheel-hubs/bearing, your brakes, lights, wiper blades (fluid level too), battery, basic electricals. For Auto-gearboxes, get it right with the dare-devil transmission fluid, don’t forget the biggest boy of them all; your engine which literally calls the shots. You will do well to be honest and thorough enough to check yourself!

Get a Camera or use your phone well: always remember the golden rule: snap and share; the fun is more in the sharing than in the snapping. Hence, take advantage of the internet and the available social networks like facebook, twitter and the rest of them to get the word out, you can take it a notch higher by sharing it across interested groups over the internet. On a very shallow level, this happens to be the easiest way to get your friends that flew very envious because they definitely are missing out on something. Capture as much as you can, make new friends and capture even more; ensure the elements of the background of your images scream road-trip!

Money, money and again, money: As much as you might be tech-savvy with all the ‘switches’, the ‘visas’ and the ‘masters’; nothing beats the appearance of raw cash. I personally remember sleeping in a filling station once with all my virtual moneybags. As a precautionary measure, add an extra 20-30% to your budget to account for fuelling; spontaneous shopping, hotels (you just can’t tell) and emergencies which can range from common tyre purchases to unfortunate vehicle towing. On the flipside, don’t bring all your life-savings along all in the name of emergency.

Are you comfortable enough? To be frank its not all cars that can make a memorable road trip; I have to be literally out of options to find myself(6ft+) in a Kia Picanto (no hard feelings). Ensure your vehicle is road trip compliant with soft seats, enough head and leg room; basically with enough space to comfortably accommodate everyone you intend to carry. Get rid of any element or factor that might pose a threat to your outmost comfort; because to be sincere, an average Nigerian road trip is so much fun with countless bumpy actions to keep you alert. Don’t overuse your air-conditioning system and try to maintain low stress levels.

Make Unusual stops and be Democratic as much as you can: The key is to stay flexible, don’t make your road trip which is supposed to be fun another chore or office work which must strictly go according to a mapped out plan; be spontaneous, but still keep your eyes on the price. Endeavour to consider the cravings of others which might be kids or friends, because at the end of the day everyone should have fun.

Be Mindful of what you eat: On a typical road trip from Lagos to far South-Eastern Nigeria where I am from, you have to pass through 7states with tons of local meals you just might want to give a shot at. But I’d rather be safe than sorry, so I stick with my ‘snacks and fruits only’ golden rule which has worked for me on several occasions. However, if you chose to be a nutritional tourist, you might not escape the adventures of ‘squat and bush’.

Bond and share stories: Don’t kill the spontaneity with just your kind of music or with music throughout the entire trip. It can be so surprising how certain road events or features can spark up very interesting conversations which might just create an opportunity to learn new things or even bond better. If you have children do well to indulge them as much as you can, besides you easily would have flown. This is an assured way to keep things light and fun.

Don’t Bank on the ‘Commercial bus’ trick: If you are not conversant with the road you intend plying, make conscious efforts to ensure you have a clearer picture of where you are headed. I personally don’t cram maps; I rather stick with taking note of some landmark features which represent certain areas along my road trip route. This is not to say maps are not the ultimate guides. Before the trip ensure you know the exact route to take as your primary assurance of not getting lost, if that doesn’t work out, you then can tail a commercial bus or buses you are sure they are headed your direction.

Track your actual fuel consumption rate and fill up at projected intervals: this is very important! After the first hour of your trip you should be able to tell how much fuel your car consumes over a certain period of time. With this data at hand you can make projections and stop to re-fuel at the right intervals to avoid stopping too frequently or getting stranded along the road.

Avoid Night trips and weird Hotels: when you have to get off the road because the night is drawing near and you are nowhere close to your destination, avoid creepy hotels; there are specific reasons they are that cheap and you shouldn’t fall for such. You might not know exactly how a road trip will turnout, so at this point you have to rely on your discretion.

Plan for breakdowns or road mishaps: Help yourself and even others. I remember once along Umuahia, just a couple of minutes after we took off on that road trip, we unfortunately got stuck in a small ditch. After close to an hour we were lucky to have gotten a towing rope from a 911-tipper; what this means is that when you plan ahead for possible odd events, you might end up helping someone else. Also, when you proactively engage in planning for mishaps you unconsciously remind yourself how important it is to drive safely and obey traffic rules in a bid to stay alive and get to your destination in one piece. Hence, travel along with your torch-light in place, jerry-can, first-aid kit, towing ropes, traffic triangles and the best possible road-attitude.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/how-to-have-fun-on-a-road-trip/

1)      If you ever want to drink and drive, simply take a cab to an arcade center.

2)      In Warri (Delta state, Nigeria) cars are referred to as ‘iron’.

3)      90% of Mobile offices in Nigeria are owned by driving schools.

4)      An average policeman wants to be feared and ‘appreciated’.

5)      An average FRSC marshal wants to be respected and acknowledged.

6)      Smoking and driving is against the law in Lagos, but it doesn’t mean you can’t drive and smoke the whole place.

7)      If you are a couple and both your licences are expired, be wise enough to let the lady take the wheel.

      Driving your own car can be expensive; but so is spending a quarter of your salary on laundry.

9)      In Nigeria a fairly used imported car is referred to as ‘tokunbo’, while locally used tokunbo cars are referred to as ‘cabs’.

10)   The only 2 objects visible to the driver of an unloaded trailer are the truck’s accelerator pedal and the black asphalt road surface.

11)   You can as well hand-down your bag and mobile phone if you are hell bent on buying gala beyond 8pm in traffic.

12)   The only type of mechanic to trust is the one that smiles and acknowledges the fact that you outsmarted him whenever he plays dirty.

13)   An average car wash management in Nigeria hires and fires incessantly because of how easy it is to steal when you leave your car to be washed.

14)   The surest way to save fuel in a congested city like Lagos is to invest in good car batteries or great hang-out spots.

15)   Before you decide to take alternative routes at anytime, make sure you find at least 2 commercial buses and at least a cab headed in that direction, else the road is blocked as well.

16)   From Monday to Fridays you are the ‘oga’ to mechanics, but on Saturdays they become the ogas.

17)  In Nigeria every car is a potential towing vehicle; it all depends on how far the owner is willing to go.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/17-funny-driving-facts/

The year is over until its truly over;take advantage of this super XMAS promotion to expand your reach at no added cost!Give it a try today.

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Our single problem is the common black man's problem;we didn't go through the normal phases of development which involves acquiring knowledge and turning it to a useful source of wealth.All most know is that oil is money;a fact that still overwhelms and intoxicates most of us!That's why we are stuck where we are.This is partly due to are disrupted history by the whites that enslaved us.........Just my take on this.

Eltonluigi: Is this news? And are we 'spose to be celebrating? How many Nigerians is the airport serving? Smh!

2words: stay mute

Have you ever had to change your 2.4litres 2AZ-FE aluminium Toyota engine made for Toyota car models like the XV30 Toyota Camry ‘Big Daddy’ (2002-2006), 2003 Highlander, 2002 Avalon, Avensis, RAV4 and so on? Chances are that half your engine is actually made of cast iron engine block (5S-FE) extracted from older models(less than 2001). It recently came to my notice that these engines are rebuilt locally and sold to unsuspecting customers as full aluminium engines.

One question you will begin to ask is why would one go through the stress of rebuilding these engines? Well to answer that let me start by saying that it is only of recent that these aluminium Toyota engines go for about #250,000-#280,000; before now these engines went for a non-bargainable price of #350,000. However on the other hand, 5S-FE cast-iron engines are relatively cheaper at #120,000; which means if one can find a way to combine the working cylinder head of a 2AZ-FE engine with the lower cast-iron engine block, you are in business!

How it is done

The Toyota 2AZ-FE and 5S-FE engines share a whole lot in common, even the dimensions as well, but as confirmed by my Ladipo source, 5S-FE engines can’t power cars originally made to operate with 2AZ-FE engines. However if you combine an extracted cylinder head from a 2AZ-FE engine and couple it with the lower engine block portion of a 5S-FE engine, the vehicle will start and operate normally. But to achieve this there are barriers, first of which is the name-tag on the engine, secondly, the appearance-as aluminium engines are quite easy to spot-and the coupling.

Hence to solve this problem in Ladipo auto-market(in Lagos,Nigeria) for example, they stamp the name-tag/engine code using very special machines which are rare to come-as disclosed by my source. The business of swapping the tags is a highly discreet one. As for the coupling, you may think that the commonly used blue adhesive would give these guys away, but in putting these engines together, they use an adhesives referred to as ‘factory gum’ which are colourless and barely noticeable .

Then the final finishing is performed by them spraying the external body of the lower portion (cast-iron) of the new engine coupling so as to make it blend with the upper aluminium cylinder head. After all these processes, these engines are sold as original tokunbo 2AZ-FE engines.

How to guard against purchasing these engines

>> Maintain your engine properly and ensure water/coolant levels in your radiator is always sufficient, also change your engine oil and filter when due. The most assured way to avoid finding yourself contending with swapping your engines hinges on this.

>>If inspite of your efforts you find yourself unfortunate, gets a good mechanic with experience in dealing with engine swapping. Unless you are totally the careless one, you might even have to change your current mechanic.

>>Keep track of your cylinder head and don’t be cajoled by anyone telling you it is useless, unless the reason behind the need to change the engine has to do with bad valve train, expanded or warped cylinder heads.

>>Get involved! If you were nonchalant enough to get your engine ruined in the first place, don’t fail to get involved this time. Engage in some market research prior to contracting any mechanic; assert you new awareness and don’t fail to carry out the above checks which where earlier enumerated.


Source: www.autobaseafrica.com/exposedhow-toyota-engines-are-re-built-in-ladipo/

The facts: The business of car parking globally can be described as a lucrative one; according to IPI (International Parking Institute), the U.S. parking industry generates more than $25-30 billion in gross parking revenues; also in South Africa it is said that the parking industry contributes to their gross domestic product, GDP(more than 8%). Also according to recent statistics by FRSC (Federal Road safety commission), there are more than 13million active vehicles plying Nigerian roads today, of which more than 2million alone are here in Lagos. What all these data point to is the fact there of course exists a market hugely untapped here in Lagos with regards to Car/vehicle parking.

Without a doubt, more organized parking facilities within Lagos state will not only prove to be an income generator but it could also help to reduce traffic congestion which is partly caused by indiscriminate parking along the largely congested streets. Even though LASTMA (Lagos State Transport Management Authority) officials have tried to put this practice in check, it seems there will never be enough towing vans to address this issue on a long term basis; this stamps the need for a more sustainable approach. There are quite a few great parking spots in Lagos; a notable example worth mentioning is the recently commissioned Ikeja city mall where proper parking services helps accommodates quite a number of cars with little obstruction of traffic along the Alausa vicinity. This is a clear demonstration of how infusion of technology and better planning in delivery of parking services can help improve the local parking Industry here in Lagos. Good car parking affords vehicle owners peace of mind as a better and more secured option.

The Potential: Vicinity of Churches and Mosques, close to port areas/areas with high density of tank farms, poorly organized/planned market spaces, array of small offices. But to set your business apart, emphasis should be on better optimization of space, infusion of technology and better security for cars in an organized and friendly environment. Added services too can set your business apart, especially if your parking services allow for extended parking at fairly cheap rates.

The Common Threats

>>Omonile/area boys collecting parking fees (as purported Local Government fees) on roads where parking should be illegal – e.g, on Medical road, Ikeja, around the vicinity of the Computer Village.
>>Government not enforcing no-parking zones and shying away from looking into more areas that will open more doors of investment into the parking industry.
>>Parking spaces already provided in large company buildings.
>>and poorly organized car parking spaces already established in very strategic business zones with high vehicular traffic.
>>Huge Initial capital: because high target areas are already saturated and real estate costs are high.
picture:Autostadt Car Towers in Wolfsburg, Germany
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-untapped-business-of-car-parking-lots-in-lagos/

Subtext: I don't think there's anything wrong with names like Honda and Toyota really. People didn't just start recommending them for nothing. They make reasonably good cars. Before it came time to buy my car, I used to 'make mouth' that I'll go for a rare make like those exotic German and Italian brands. When the time really came, no be person tell me to arrange myself. A friend of mine inherited a car that was bought brand new some 4 years earlier from his mom. A volkswagen Polo. Ordinary volks Polo oh!. You need to see issues! Yet no parts. The last time I saw him he was swearing 'never again!' Trust me you are safer with brands with readily available parts and mechanics. Even Americans done ditch 'em oldsmobile and GMs etc. for Toyotas and Hondas, so what you sayin?

Anyway, check out this link for a general feel of reviews and complaints per brands http://www.carsurvey.org/

The only point you raised which I readily agree with and which I'm trying, God help me, not to fall into presently, is envy related emotions

Toyota makes the most reliable cars in the world;that fact is quite indisputable-at least for now.But if look deeper you would find out that cost of spare parts generally are just relative.The initial cost of procuring a toyota spare-part might be cheaper than that of a VW but trust me,you can't compare the intervals.You buy a Benz shock and use it for 3years and buy a cheaper Toyota shock and use it for 1yr+(which means you have to change your shock twice).When you calculate the cost of time driving to the mechanics,labour cost and other small inconveniences who becomes the real winner?So like I said its relative,toyota just adopted a better 'low initial cost' strategy!Another example is engine overhauling;how long does an overhauled Toyota engine last when compared to a Benz or VW or even some American products?So I still stand by what I posted;proper research is the key.

Chynx: Good thread...but not completely on point. In every molecule of rumor, there, resides an atom of truth. Most cars termed "problematic" often fail to surprise us. Same thing goes by the leopard and its spots.

Certain rumours are ofcourse true,but when you entirely base your purchase decision on such;its either you are just lazy or allowing yourself remain in the trap.

Buying a car can be seen as a very important decision which ideally, should require careful fact-finding research based on true individual preferences. But unfortunately, here in Nigeria you hardly find people parting ways with money after having painstakingly gone through the selection process; most are already convinced about which car to buy based on pre-conceived perceptions which are not necessarily based on the traditional method of fact-finding and relying on your empirical results; instead most buyers find themselves in certain ‘traps’ which compel them to act differently.

Hence, if you are an intending to buy any car just yet, make sure you don’t find yourself in the following traps below which most car buyers are victims of.

Safety in the crowd: Japanese cars have become quite popular in Nigeria and have commanded a huge chunk of the passenger car market share against significantly lower patronage of their European and American counterparts. This is however partly due to how economical these cars are to maintain, but this trend can be ultimately hinged on the effectiveness of ‘word of mouth’. Not as if there are no comparatively cheaper to maintain American or European cars, but it’s more like a standard advice in Nigeria to go for a Japanese brand as your first car. People tend to relate more with what happens the most around them and with what people they trust or hold high regards for say or affirm as the ‘right thing’. So if you’ve given up that sleeker car interior for a popularly perceived ‘cheap to maintain’ car, you are right in this trap.

Emotions: Every car designer strives to create cars that go beyond normal levels of physical affinity; most aim higher and try creating emotional connections between countless individuals that might test drive or have a quick feel of these cars. This type of emotional motivation that drives prospective buyers’ hands faster to their pockets is not what I am referring to here; as ‘emotions’ in this particular context plays out when friends or counterparts compete to see who drives the better car or may be in some cases where envy drives people to buy exactly the type of automobile their object of envy drives. The list is quite endless, you find people slaving all year round to drive flashy cars home during Christmas; it’s not hard to imagine why their eventual choice of car falls within the popular cars in that particular village during the previous Christmas season. Basically, when emotions like pride, jealously and hate dictate the type of car you buy; you are right in this trap!

Mechanic’s Safe pick: A memorable encounter with a 1996 Ford Windstar V6 in 2010 was how a simple timing belt swap turned out to be a case study for several mechanics that trooped in and out to try their luck in replacing the belt. With this looming low level of technical knowledge of auto-mechanics, it’s not hard to imagine why most would rather stick with cars they are familiar with, again and over. In this simple case involving the Ford MPV, any of those mechanics subsequently asked for their opinion about V6 engines will concretely label these engines as ‘problematic’ engines or even a problem car as a whole. On that note, if you’ve ever bought any car solely based on what Baba Ade-the mechanic down the street-told you; you are figuratively opposite the cheese with it staring right back at you in this trap.

Initial low price tag: Some cars are just cheaper to buy! But the reality clouding these low prices might be the relatively costlier maintenance or may be limited availability of spare-parts for these cars. Another trap might be buying outwardly nice cars with close to dead tech-vitals like the engine or gearbox.

In conclusion endeavor to take exhaust all possible research options starting from user’s opinions to the internet and base your decisions on facts and true affinity for features your intended buy might posses. Car manufacturers provide several options open for car buyers to chose, hence take advantage of the variety of cars and select the best you can afford.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/common-car-purchase-traps-in-nigeria/

Register and Post your car adverts for free at http://www.autobaseafrica.com/forum/?mingleforumaction=viewforum&f=19.0, then get added exposure on our twitter and facebook platforms.

I can wait to see several road transport companies off the business!There has to be balance when it comes to mass transit/transportation.Funny enough if this works(which I really think it will),this will be a big one for GEJ.

This is a short story of a man who went by the name Edward Peters(real name withheld), as you can clearly deduce, he unfortunately is late. Before you run into any premature conclusion that he simply died from a car accident as a result of driving under influence, first calm down and read through this real life twist.

Indeed he didn’t die in an accident, but what slowly killed him instead however was ‘depression’, which became a part of his life soon after he killed a young boy with his red Honda Rodeo SUV. What made it hard for him to live with himself was the fact that he took a promising boy’s life simply because of a careless act of drinking and driving soon after.

As a learned Lawyer he was, he took the sensible route by first reporting himself at the nearest police station in Odukpani, Cross River state soon after he fled the scene of the lifeless boy due to an inevitable mob-action he felt would have ensued.
So what led to the excessive drinking in the first place? Unfortunately for him he seemed to be on a losing streak in his several court cases soon after he fell from grace after the termination of his political appointment. All these, plus other difficult circumstances he felt were overwhelming made drinking seem like a sensible option to run away from his apparent pains.

The question that must be running through your mind now is; how exactly did he die? Well the truth is no one-not even his family- knows what killed him on the fateful day he kicked the bucket, but everyone is convinced it had to do with his worsened dedicated drinking habit, the more misery that befell him due to the negative twist his lifestyle took and also the new enemies he made including the bartender and other people he owed thousands of Naira spent on drinking countless bottles of alcoholic drinks.

All these chain of events could be tied to one single careless act of driving under influence of alcohol. If there is any lesson to be learnt here it has to be the fact that if the penalties of driving under the influence of alcohol come both physically and mentally. Hence, if you have to drink, don’t drive!
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/dont-drink-and-drivehere-is-why/

babs2aroks: Siena...Funny thing is that the part close to the glove compartment and the vents are ok. I was actually suprised to see people experiencing the same issue on the links provided above.

I'll take one or two pictures of the vent area so you have a clearer image of the problem...the parts most affected are the areas directly visible to the sun(Above odometer to passanger area)

I think Ageing should be ruled out here;me am suspecting some pre-purchase conditions like may be attack on the dashboard by 'salt-water'.I can't tell how impervious the material is but if salt water (acidic) is deeply entrenched or absorbed;this might be likely.This came to mine when I saw the above picture.......carefully observe the discolouration of the material of the inner walls of the A-pillar wrapping.

When the topic of congested cities is brought up here in
Nigeria, the first city that comes to mind is Lagos. Up North
we have densely populated cities like Kano and Kaduna with
their peculiar traffic issues, while in the Niger Delta region we
have cities like Port-harcourt, Uyo and Calabar where
activities in those areas are centralized around the major
cities.
With this reality before vehicle owners and commuters, it
means at one point or the other, they will have to deal with
road traffic problems due to prevailing conditions. Asides the
normal difficulties associated with owning and driving a car,
vehicle owners are bound to contend with the nature of roads
and traffic in their areas; as well as the kinds of people within,
security stance and the general level of adherence to road
laws.
Driving ideally should be fun and cars are made for
convenience in the first place, however for this to truly be the case inspite of prevailing conditions, you need to adopt certain methods and digest some quick facts on how to make driving pleasurable no matter the condition. Below are a few of these facts and methods for you to take full advantage of in enjoying every moment behind the wheel.

Select the right Car: as a city dweller you need to first
consider the type of car to own in the first instance. Today we have a wide range of city cars like Toyota Yaris, Nissan
Sunny, Honda Civic, etc; all of which have high mpg (miles
per gallon) ratings-meaning these vehicles consume less fuel
when used within cities. Also cars with low–end torque are
favourable for city driving. Hence in choosing the car to buy
evaluate your decision and have in mind features of your
intended buy that appeal to city driving.

Maintain low stress levels: driving induced stress and
stressors are for real; driving stress can produce many
different emotions and physical effects, which means for you
to avoid such, you have to be proactive! It all begins with first identifying factors that develop stress in your specific case and figuring how to effectively manage such. A simple cause of driving stress might be sun-rays penetrating your car’s wind-screen and affecting your eyes; in such a situation
installing sun-visors or driving with sun shades during
afternoon periods might be the simple solution. But in more
general cases, ways to avoid driving stress are as follows:
maintaining great car interior, using air-conditioners during
intense weather, planning your trips ahead, playing your
preferred music to stay active and practicing safe driving.

Stay alert and focused: One of the popular factors behind the
high rates of road accidents is the ‘human factor’. If for any
reason like being drunk or extremely tired, desist from driving
so as not to become a problem to yourself and other road
users. Staying alert increases your thinking time behind the
wheel and also being sensitive means you quickly observe
happenings around you while driving and respond
accordingly.

Be security conscious: there have been countless cases of
robbery in progress in the midst of heated up traffic. These
criminals largely operate in ‘stealth mode’ so as not to attract
too much attention. Most of these men are deterred by wound-up glasses and locked doors, which means you need to protect yourself especially at night and avoid buying things from
hawkers at these times-because this might even be an avenue
of entry or robbery. In a nutshell, don’t be assuming and
avoid robbery prone spots within your city as much as you
can. Extend your security consciousness to where you park
your vehicle as well, car washing service centers you
patronize and even the kinds of mechanics you entrust your
car with.

Know your routes and peak traffic periods: stress free
driving is hinged on proper timing and adept
understanding of the routes you normally ply. Rather than
ply the popular express, there might be some unbelievable
alternative routes which can enable you to get around
more easily. Understanding your daily route for instance
means you know areas to avoid during peak traffic
periods; this helps you come up with a possible way of
evading such. But however, whenever there are no
alternative routes, the best you can do is to sensibly
alternate your mood to suit the traffic situation before you.

Drive smartly and sensibly: moving your vehicle from one
spot to another is hardly a sport or some sort of competition;
even if it were, you win some and you lose some. Getting on
the road with the mind frame that other road users are ‘the
enemy’ isn’t the healthy way to go. Instead drive smartly; like in traffic jams you don’t have to get too close to the bumper
in front of you, don’t ‘over-raise’ your car and speedily wear
your clutch disc/pressure plate (for manual gearboxes) or
overheat your automatic gearbox. Drive as safely as possible
rather than upholding conventional ‘danfo’ driving as your
benchmark.

Maintain your car accordingly: a poorly maintained car can
lead to many problems for you. On a basic level, a poorly
maintained car is a security risk because one can’t predict
when and where such will eventually breakdown. One
attribute of congested cities are varieties of car mechanics and
automobile service providers; be wise enough to employ the
services of a good one to avoid added or totally avoidable car
issues to you as an owner.
www.autobaseafrica.com/surviving-congested-city-driving/

Nigeria is the largest exporter of crude-oil in Africa and yet the local Petroleum scene is ridden by inefficiencies and poor regulating which have not only led to dependence on imported refined fuel, but has made the business climate unattractive for prospective investors to tap into areas other than the key exploration of crude-oil. One backlash of the evident poor regulatory framework generally in the industry and specifically in the downstream sector is a situation where petroleum marketers rip off unsuspecting customers by adopting unscrupulous methods to increase their profit margin per litre of fuel sold.

In this article, we will identify a few ways to spot these defaulting fuel stations, learn about some of their tricks and how to out-smart them. So the tips below can be seen as a quick guide:

The Jerry-can ‘Volume’ test: actually, the ‘jerry-can’ test is less of a standard procedure and more of a personal ad-hoc test which you can chose to perform in several ways-but there are underlying guiding considerations. The first thing you need of course is a jerry can, feel free to pick any size (but its however advisable to use smaller sizes that fall within the 4-25liters range due to better precision and lower cost of experimenting), then proceed to have your jerry-can filled up at your first subject fuel station (insist on them filling it up and not extracting their imposed fines; you can promise to separately pay the ‘fine’ in addition to the eventual cost of fuel). The main trick here is to notice the amount (Naira) it takes for that dispensed quantity of fuel. You can then proceed further to check other filling stations (around the same time due to the likelihood of your jerry-can expanding overtime), then compare the prices before you decide on which filling station that should be ranked your first choice. This method isn’t fool-proof and has a few flaws like not being a dependable method in uncovering poor fuel quality.

Observation: This method is however not feasible for those with bad car maintenance habits, as some fuel station’s fuel might not necessarily sell fuel which is poorly metered on delivery; but the real issue with their fuel might be unusual octane rating(which is hardly ever stated), quick burn-off rate or low level of purity. Petrol (PMS) for instance, is one very volatile fuel, but due to reasons like quality of refining (type of additives) or storage/transportation, they might be extra-volatile, hence causing such to burn more quickly. So being very observant behind the wheel is the surest way to ascertain fuel quality and the best fuel quality for your engine type. Bad fuel quality in continuous use can even affect vehicle performance and foul fuel lines-like specifically in the case of diesel engines. Hence, stay sensitive and cautious to notice sudden increased fuel consumption or certain driving anomalies which might be a consequence of using a certain quality fuel.

Forget the umbrella Brands, managers differ! : Most NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation) directly managed mega-stations spread across the Nation in most states hold very good records when it comes to good fuel quality and proper metering. But no matter how convincing an NNPC logo at a filling station might be, it might proof wise to double-check the standard due to the human factor and tendency for stations managers to cheat!. The same applies to other downstream fuel marketers; even the well established ones, be sure the managers align with the ideals of the brands they represent. Uncovering cheating managers might even help these organizations run their firms better and do business the right way. You can contribute in this forum to expose cheating fuel stations and help sanitize the downstream sector in your own way.

Commercial vehicles/motorcycles : These individuals are on the road for the money, they might not necessarily maintain their cars properly to avoid high mpgs per trip but that doesn’t mean they are not cautious of cutting fuelling cost by ensuring they buy good quality and well metered fuel. So they rely on ‘word of mouth’ amongst them about the refilling stations to avoid and without a doubt, any smart car-owner can leverage on the availability of this information, but here are the ground rules: For interstate routes, the trusted stations are those with highest influx of interstate buses; whilst for the best inner city stations observe where the cabs go to and the commercial motorcycles flock to. The major twist here is that during scarcity periods, this particular trick might not apply.

Run away from old pumps: analog fuel pumps are ‘no go’ zones and the same applies to old pumps which might be reflective of the determination of the management to rip off car owners or their poor customer service provision. Either way, fuel pumps are complex units that combine mechanical and electrical functions which might lose calibration, measurement precision and basically efficiency over time like every other aged machine.

DPR Raids not a good sign: Any station successively sealed by DPR (Department of Petroleum Resources) is definitely a confirmed cheater; and you know one thing they say about cheaters? They most likely go back to their old ways; however that isn’t always the case. But if a station gets sealed-off by DPR and after the station re-opens you don’t seem to spot certain changes, it’s advisable you stay off such; common sense should tell you that.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/fuelling-101-proven-ways-to-avoid-fuel-stations-rip-off/

On one of my many trips along the Lagos-Ibadan
expressway I noticed people gathered around a very sleek
car when I was close to the Motorways plaza. From the
little I could deduce it was clear that an erroneously
induced electrical fire was abated and subdued. The
surprising fact here was that the vehicle in question was a
2008 S class which was still relatively fresh, however with
some little filler patches which suggested the car was still
in the process of an on-going panel-beating. One would
start wondering how such came about.


A friend of mine bought a Nigerian used 2001
Toyota Camry and after using the car for a while she
noticed her engine doesn’t quite turn off if she forgets to
switch off the air-conditioner before turning off the
ignition. She was forced to get used to ensuring the a/c is
totally inactive before she switches off the vehicle.


One more final incident was 2years back. Let me tag
this one as ‘the 1996 Grand Cherokee Jeep encounter’,
which I had with a mechanic friend of mine. This vehicle
doesn’t go off until you practically open its bonnet and
disengage the battery!
Very strange but true; these are few results of ‘rewire’
sessions gone wrong. The examples above re-sound the fact
that some, if not most local auto-rewires or electrical
technicians have very basic understanding of the fundamental
vehicle electrical architecture, involving circuit elements like
fuses, relays etc. But in recent times with the infusion of more
computerized functions involving elements like ECUs,
actuators, printed circuits, sensors etc, the electrical/electronic
configuration of passenger cars have quite evolved and can be
said to be complex. Even most conventional window and
inner lighting are now fully electronic and most are even
controlled by a central BCM (body control module).Hence,
basic skills can never be sufficient in dealing complex
activities involving even more sensitive circuits.


OBDII scanning is one of the sure ways of diagnosing even
complex circuits, so rewires that haven’t quite upgraded to the
level of understanding the interconnectivity between primary
circuit features and additional computerized features of more
recent cars have a problem and can even land you in trouble.
On a more realistic note, most local auto-electricians have
begun seeing the very pressing need to upgrade their
knowledge base. But in the midst of the highly prevalent wind
of change, some still remain adamant or just simply lazy.


When it comes to electrical devices like head-lamps, horns,
fuses and relays, a large percentage of these electricians know
their way around these components. Even when it comes to
simply swapping some common analog sensors, most of them
understand the process(es). But in more recent cars with a
higher level architecture, sensor and actuators are referred to
as ‘smart’. This is because these electronic devices are
digitally programmed and in most cases, replacement of such
sensors requires re-programming; a process that requires
specific expertise. The fact here is that most critical sensors in
Japanese and American cars or in the case German designed
cars, even commonly known sensors are digital sensors for
better accuracy and efficiency.


In conclusion, before you hand your car down to any
mechanic; try to really ascertain his/her skill level, especially
when the matter at hand has to do with electrical and
electronic components. Run away from any mechanic that
downplays the relevance of OBDII scanning. At the same
time, be wary of the so called ‘advanced technicians’ with
expensive and nice looking scanning tools. Like we clearly
pointed out in the last edition, a scanning tool in the hands of
an inexperienced technician is nothing but an expensive toy in the wrong hands.


www.autobaseafrica.com/how-far-can-rewires-really-go/

The facts

We have seen the vast applications of aluminium in the production of cars; a notable example is in the 2013 Range Rover where its all-aluminium monocoque shed 39-percent of the SUV’s body weight in comparison with the outgoing steel Range Rover. The clear advantages of adopting lighter aluminium (in comparison with steel) in car production are improved handling, better fuel economy (It’s been said over time that ‘reducing a medium-sized car’s weight by 100 kg would result in a saving of 700 litres of fuel during the vehicle’s lifetime’) and more power (horse-power) as the use of aluminium improves the weight to power ratio of cars.
In this discussion we will narrow down the topic to aluminium engines which started gaining popularity in mass production of cars as far back as the early 90’s after the initial challenges in ‘metal working’ and the added cost of adopting these processes were tackled. These barriers where further broken when Mazda engineers developed a method of welding together aluminium and steel – obtaining over 20 patents in the framework of developing the new technology-as first utilized in industrial production of parts for the new model of their RX-8 sports car.

Most perceive aluminium engines as being generally touchy with heat, in comparison to steel, but to combat this in modern day car production, cylinder sleeves and bearing surfaces of aluminium engines are lined with either steel or harder metals for durability. It’s even been said that new aluminium engines can last as much as their steel counterparts-lasting way above 200,000 miles (322,000km) or more- and we have witnessed this in most car products from top players like Toyota, Honda and Kia.

   The reality
Aluminium engines –combined cylinder heads and main engine block-are generally less tolerable to overheating; as they warp at the slightest upset. In plain words, you hardly can get away with an overheated aluminium engine which doesn’t handle heat as good as steel engines do.

What this means is that in as much as lighter aluminium drive-train members improve fuel economy and engine power, they are quite sensitive to the slightest uncontrolled heating which takes us back to the need for proper cooling of car engines.

The Verdict

Generally speaking, older car engines are quite prone to overheating. Very minor issues like temperature gauges giving false readings can end the life of a less tolerable aluminium engine. What this means is that if you have an aluminium engine edging towards 62,000miles(100,000km) you have to pay attention to your car’s cooling system comprising of the water pump, radiator, radiator fans(with shrouds),proper fluids and not forgetting the primary engine cooling-oil cooling.

Ensure you maintain your car according to your specified manual and change engine oil and filters in due time. With all these in place and on check, you can enjoy all the benefits of your aluminium engine over a substantial life-span.
http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-truth-behind-aluminum-car-engines/

Same problems;different circumstances!
Source:www.twitter.com/autobaseafrica
http://pic.twitter.com/ndIGN8Sy

its been a long time coming........

A few ideas were brought up in this earlier posted article: http://www.autobaseafrica.com/solution-to-lagos-traffic/

This is an interesting exploration of different individuals behind the wheel and the type of activities that surround their entire motoring, spanning from basic driving patterns to their perceived maintenance ideology. Not left out are some fun facts about people in relation to driving, as well as underlying reasons behind these peculiar motoring traits. The frames below represent highly distinct behavioural patterns that most category of motorists fall into, which however, isn’t rigid in real life.

Peter ‘the Flow’

Driving is exactly what it is to Peter, which: is moving from one point to another much more conveniently on land; and not a misconstrued hobby or mental exercise. He doesn’t hesitate to cut corners when trying to get things done on his car as he upholds a very poor maintenance habit. He always has to be reminded to carry out the necessary procedures and repairs on his car either by a harshly felt driving anomaly-owing to the unattended problem-or by a concerned friend who just might happen to be a random passenger in his car. When things get really bad, he is willing to fix at all cost, but that’s if he is not financially buoyant at that point in time to get a replacement car.

Speeding to get noticed, or to simply get there quickly and being unnecessarily reckless when under pressure is Peter’s style. You can be sure this would likely result in a dent on his car’s body at the end of such trips. He however luckily escapes accidents fatal in nature, but not without one significant and unforgettable incident.You can’t really be sure of what to expect from this individual because his mood prior to getting behind the wheel is a huge determining factor. He also can be very impatient to the point of always being ready to dish out swear words if need be.

Peter gets his fuel tank full whenever he has the patience to get to the gas station, besides; he wonders who has all the time to spend refilling too frequently in between trips, all in the name of being frugal. The only time he might just fill his tank to a level is if he is a bit broke.

The condition of his car might look outwardly nice but trust, most of the vitals are barely functional, at least effectively. A very cosmetic show off which further kills his improperly maintained engine is the constant use of the air conditioner.

When it comes to procuring necessary car documents, he indeed has to be shaken up for him up to be compliant because, he needs clear cut reminders when he easily wants to break the law.

He secretly craves to have some nice features but is prone to procrastinating, 2years after, the car is still the way it was or maybe even worse.

Ayo ‘the Clandestine’

Driving is unquestionably fun for him, as he always looks forward to moments behind the wheel. This is largely hinged on the fact that whilst driving, Ayo gets the opportunity to exhibit his driving prowess just like he would in any other sport. He prides himself on being in complete control of the affairs of his vehicle and in most cases, he sure is. He is fully aware of most maintenance needs of his vehicle and the ones he doesn’t execute are the ones he doesn’t deem necessary or is not aware of. It doesn’t end there, as this master of near misses is largely a well calculating driver but not without embarrassing strings of accidents as he learns mostly from real time road experiences. However, you can be sure of quite an enjoyable and thrilling ride with Ayo in control.

He is selectively patient behind the wheel and to authorities on the road; but rather than whine all over the place about a problem encountered whilst driving, he takes proactive steps and tries to save himself and only himself. A selfish, but smart move that in most cases leaves things worse for other motorist.

He loves to grip the steering hard with one hand and is hardly ever in a real rush, especially when most people would get to see the individual behind the nice car; which to him is a deep validation of his success. Whenever he has a craving in mind, whether it’s a run-flat sporty rim or new upholstery, he gets it and even though it might bite through the lengths and breadths of his pocket, the real satisfaction comes when the upgrade is live.

His Honda end of discussion (Honda Accord 2005) might not have a nice cosmetic look but the engine and most vitals are in top shape. He is good at being friendly with his mechanic, however, this happens to be just a cheap ploy to get ideas and deter the mechanic from inflating service charges. In all cases of repairs, he eventually goes with what has sunk into his subconscious regardless of his knowledge about the subject matter. He explores the economical and most viable option available.

Rita ‘the Seeker’

She tends to be annoyingly frugal in executing basic maintenance and even fuel tank refills; a trend so skin deep to the point that she would happily evade any financial responsibility of this kind. The key to Rita’s happiness behind the wheel is cutting down motoring responsibility to the barest minimum. However, if one is in need of information about filling stations around her area that cheat, Rita is the best person to meet as she has details like these on her finger tips.

Driving to her is one of those things, necessary as it seems and a much more convenient way to get around her business as expected. If you catch her venting anger or being simply assertive in reaction to a road incident, you can be sure there is some kind of support such actions ride on; either a crowd effect or may be just a need a deep craving to prove a point. She doesn’t hold strong opinions most of the time about motoring issues. Driving is enough stress and responsibility to Rita, so anything other than moving the car should ideally be the least of her worries as she hardly fully takes responsibility for her car’s repairs. Ironically, when things go wrong, she blames it on the situation and hardly admits to being wrong, even if she clearly was/is wrong.

With an almost clean accident sheet, one of Rita’s greatest motoring achievements is her dexterity with the wheel and because she hates being at anyone’s mercy, Rita has all necessary road documents right and complete.

She however insists on OEM stock spares and accessories, rather than fix; as she would rather suggest an outright replacement and this keeps her largely un-utilized car in top shape.

Andrew ‘the Teacher’

Strict compliance with his car’s manufacturer’s specified practices and unflinching adherence with traffic laws is what gives Andrew real peace of mind and confidence whilst driving. Funny enough, it is equally the same reason why he gets teased and labelled as boring. In spite of all the indirect mockery, most of Andrew’s friends draw a lot of inspiration from him with regards to proper motoring practices.

He is always very calm, extra-careful and calculating behind the wheel with his favourite song-a Frank Sinatra classic jam-playing, which makes driving bliss. Andrew is well known to be very slow in reacting to incidents generally, and this is as a result of his very analytical mind that weighs options; this particular trait might make him look anything but smart. He even maintains adequate braking distance in a tight traffic situation and if you don’t want to get him upset in his car, use your seat belt before he reminds you!

Everything he does maintenance-wise or suggests to his mechanic is according to his Mazda 626 car manual, which is a constant cause of friction between him and the strings of mechanics he has encountered. This fellow doesn’t hesitate to switch.

His car hardly breaks down and is still almost as good as a recently imported second-hand vehicle. Before Andrew even attempted to drive more regularly on the road, he deemed it highly necessary to go through all the necessary phases in driving school. If you are really in a rush, his car is the last place you would want to be in; trust me on this.
So where do u belong?

Extracted from: Pen&Crank’s Monoque, March 2012.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/whats-your-drive-style/

for how many minutes have the okadas been off the road?too early to start declaring any statistics,unless there is a motive. If government is confident about their move, they shouldnt bother brainwashing its citizinery

Buy and later investigate: This is a classic case of putting the cart before the horse, which also can be seen as the first and easiest way to create a solid path to wrecking your car as quickly as possible. As observed over time, suddenly experiencing normal car issues that demand spendings unusual to you- which you probably never bargained for -can lead to frustration and anger; in the midst of all these overwhelming emotions, your car continually suffers. It’s very much advisable to take out time to get the facts about a car you might be interested in, some offers might be tempting, but unknown to you, as a result of underlying reasons you might not have access to without digging deep. Most Nigerians are lazy when it comes to investigating, as they rather would stick with a popular choice, but at the end of the day some might be dissatisfied. Some cases might be tricky even with a popular brand in mind, but the facts don’t lie.

Be bumps friendly: One major advantage of the modern monocoque body shell-widely used in modern passenger cars- is its enhanced rigidity, but just like any other chassis, it has an enemy which is-repeated impact. Impacts primarily affect the suspension system, then goes further to induce vibrations and a combination of these two conditions repeatedly in play will make your car age very quickly. In most cases, bumps are quite inevitable, but as our basic physics will have it, the impact (force) is dependent on the mass of the entire vehicle or affected area (depending) and the acceleration of the vehicle. In simple terms, if you can’t avoid bumps, approach such with the lowest possible speed; it will save your car.

Driving carefully: Countless posters, signboards and even ‘word of mouth’ continually hammer on the need to drive carefully to arrive alive-but in most cases, as our societal flaws will have it, driving carefully is never enough. I have witnessed careful drivers begin a journey with their fully functional cars and ending up being dragged by towing vans in bits and pieces; what point am I trying to make? Drive defensively! Defensive driving covers a wider scope with these two basic underpins- heightened sensitivity and anticipation whilst behind the wheel.
Fixing your car only when it is ‘broke’: As far as automobiles are concerned, a basic rule that applies to both electrical and mechanical systems/components is that before any problem becomes glaring, it already is a problem-in most cases- to other associated car areas. But unfortunately, the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ individual will just focus on the glaring problem without accounting for the created problem (which might be inefficiencies and chain problems which can be directly linked with the primary problem) . Maintaining your car properly and extending component life depends a whole lot on well timed repairs and basic maintenance which involves: regular oil change, maintaining your transmission system, monitoring key fluids, changing plugs/timing belt/other engine components like filters, hoses, other belts etc. A clear example I witnessed a few days ago was how a ruptured timing belt stalled a Peugeot coupe, this incurred extra spending on towing and labour cost(due to the urgency); you can only imagine how much the engine life span has been shortened by that act of negligence.

Hardly washing, never waxing: Asides beatification and aesthetic reasons, washing your car regularly with the right reagents can help to fight rust and avoidable attacks on your paintjob. But to achieve a protective layer against these two(rust and attacks), you need to consider waxing your car at least once a year. Mud and dirt are well known enemies of your car body’s appearance, hence the need to be extra cautious and proactive in protecting your car body.

Pushing your car to the limit: Overloading is illegal! A typical Nigerian interstate swing is never without witnessing several rear ends of cars almost kissing the black asphalt surface and inducing very high drag and lift aerodynamic forces. The same applies to your normal day to day shuttle when you use your passenger car to run errands which involve carrying very heavy objects from one point to another. You don’t need to be told how much such weight take a toll on your car over these distances, the issue is for how long do your expect your car to keep bearing these weights without yielding?
[b]
Parking as you like: [/b]where you park your car matters a great deal and how you park it matters even more. Why this factor had to be included on this list is because this might be one factor that most might even fail to consider as a potential cause of problems for their cars. In choosing where to park your car, account for factors like security, protection from natural factors, etc.

Using water only for your radiator: [/b]The cooling system is very critical to a typical engine, as it maintains favourable operating temperatures as this electromechanical unit produces power with low efficiency (below 30%) whilst giving off loses as heat. What this means is that cooling inefficiency can be directly linked with the general engine efficiency. Using water alone in radiators reduces cooling efficiency and effectiveness and even goes further to impede engine material quality-which is anything but good when extended engine life is concerned. Hence, use coolants proportionately with water for your radiator fluid which travels through engine jackets.

[b]Shoving aside your maintenance manual: I was very impressed when my uncle who recently acquired a Honda accord 2004 told me some manufacturer specific needs of his car, I went further to ask where he was lucky to have found such a knowledgeable and skilled mechanic. But he went further to say this; ‘I don’t want to hear stories with this my new car, everything must be according to the manual which is right inside the glove-box’. If you are still in doubt, let me quickly affirm that he is an average Nigerian who doesn’t like reading that much, but when it came to this his car, he made out time to procure this important document and read through it as well. One of the reasons am confident his vehicle will last is because I am sure he most likely will fall back to his car manual in any moment of despair; besides the manufacturers made the car; who can possibly know more about the car?
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/how-to-make-your-car-age-quickly/