₦airaland Forum

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/

This is what happens when you make laws without thinking through on how such will be implemented.Police men are mini-gods because of these laws.

Just a few moments ago two red Daewoo LAGBUS buses just got vandalised by suspected aggrieved okada riders.

This incident happened at berger bus-stop here in Lagos.According to eye-witness report,police men just arrived at the scene to douse the tension. This is clearly a backlash of the recent enforcement of the ban on commercial motorbikes.

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Nice move;hope it is indeed sustained and replicated.Farming in that region is highly commendable;what I noticed when passing through Benin were functional irrigation facilities and I was like wow!The choice of Badagry due to proximity(I think)makes the project very feasible.I hope they back this up with awareness and involve the right kind of people.

Noticed the way Serena clutched her bag?

It’s hardly a crime to play around with features that might fit with our cars, as long as we perceive such as upgrades. Stock/standard features of cars are never enough, that is why you will always find one upgrade or the other, but as we all might agree, not all of these upgrades create the desired effect(s) as expected by the owners-that is exactly what we are going to discuss here with Nigerian cars and car owners’ behaviour as a case study.

Fancy exhaust clips: have you ever seen double exhaust 1.6L Toyota corolla? It might sound very bogus but it’s very possible with these silver coated cylindrical composite components which can be simply attached to the original stock exhaust tips of typical cars. These attachments hardly blend with most cars and clearly can be identified as a foreign body; in worse cases, these exhaust tips clipped vibrate uncontrollably and can even produce disturbing sounds when these clips lose their stiffness. As for the double exhaust trick on the Toyota, the second fancy exhaust tip was attached unto the bumper base, which was in alignment with the main exhaust tip.
[b]False Increased ride height: [/b]It might seem like a smart move to simply add ‘rubber stabilizers’ to increase the overall height of strut assemblies, which goes further to increase the ride height without any complimentary chassis enhancements. The immediate effect-or merit as most might perceive it to be-would be easily driving through bumpy areas especially at low speeds, but the clear demerit would be robbing the dynamic stability of such cars especially at high speeds which make manoeuvring uneasy and unsafe. Not forgetting the extra work-load for the associated suspension components.

Fancy tail-lights: [/b]the swagger filled folks might not like these, but replacing stock backlights with fancy silver/red based backlights formed like jeweleries doesn’t create that ‘wow’ effect; and here is why-these backlights steal a whole lot of emphasis from the appearance of the entire car. In an attempt to beautiful your car, always try balancing things up by taking cognizance of effects from other areas of the car, from little door knobs to elaborate wheels of the car.

[b]Low quality seat covers: ever bought seat covers that barely lasted for 3months? Seat covers ideally should provide a protective layer from sweat and moist which are the major enemies of both leather and fabric upholstery. Some seat covers might not necessarily be of low quality, but when mismatched-too tight or too loose with the actual seats-it becomes an issue. Personally, the better option is taking care of your car seats for them to last long.

Fake silver coated wheels: I don’t like commonly available silver shade alloy wheels, I prefer dark ones meant for low profile tyres-but that’s just me. Different individuals have different preferences, some even like chrome spinners and fancy wheels basically, where the problem lies is procuring the fake ones which peel off overtime like bad paint-jobs.

OBDII scanners: some cars come with this feature and can even self diagnose; but it seems there is this safe feel owning stand-alone OBDII scanners, especially knowing very well the type of mechanics we have around. But the truth of the matter-as stated in this article-is that these diagnostic tools are mostly for the pros and as observed overtime, non-technically savvy car owners procuring their own OBDII scanners causes avoidable conflicts and complications. Why not rather invest in good, trustworthy and experienced (verified)?

High aspect ratio/wider rim diameter: Its plain scary when you find tyres literally brushing against the walls of tyre housings at the slightest encounter with bumps; the funny thing is that these owners are the ones that complain most about difficult steering and increased fuel consumption. It’s plain wisdom to stick within the range of acceptable rim diameters and tyre width as suggested by your car’s manufacturer. Don’t try forcing a 16’’ wheel unto the hub of a Toyota Yaris as ride quality worsens and your car will be unstable and unsafe.

Mismatched SUV grille/bumper shields: forcing aftermarket Nissan Pathfinder grille shields unto the sub-frame chassis of a Toyota Rav-4 or that of a Honda CRV is what is referred to as a mismatch! Asides making the entire looks of the vehicle less attractive, these improperly mounted shields can equally pose to be a safety concern. Because you never know when such attachments might fall off.

Switching to high-end cars with low budget mind: Some folks switch from driving a Toyota Camry to owning an Audi A6, but am hardly impressed because before you know it they would switch back to owning yet another popular Japanese brand; but not without labelling German cars as unreliable fuel guzzlers. Maintenance budgets for different car vary, that is why before you decide making that big switch, be equally ready to alter your budget to suite your new purchase.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/auto-upgrades-that-dont-really-upgrade/

stevo531: [size=18pt]SURE, OKADA BAN WON'T DO MUCH TO RESTORE SANITY TO THE ROAD TRANSPORTATION,BUT THEN, IF IT STILL HAS TO BE IN USE, THEY HAVE TO OPERATE IN AN ORGANIZED MANNER, TAKING CUE FROM TAXI COMPANIES. THAT WON'T BE A BAD IDEA, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP TABS ON EACH AND EVERY OF THEM, MAKING THEM TRACEABLE IF THEY TURN OUT AS DEFAULTERS. ANOTHER POSITIVE TURN OUT FROM THIS, BEING ABLE TO CALL FOR AN AVAILABLE OKADA WHEN THE NEED ARISES, JUST LIKE THE TAXIS. SURELY, THIS WOULD BE WELCOMED BY MANY.[/size]

Nice idea but the authorities haven't had much success trying control and organize bus and taxi operators; this means trying to organize okadas would be near impossible because it doesn't take much to start an okada business. Besides the adoption of okadas as a means of transportation is a clear indication of the government failing in its responsibilities.Instead of trying so hard to organize and get them off the road, why won't they rather invest in infrastructure and make the okada business and patronage unappealing.

A man just got a new car, so he went to a mechanic workshop to make inquires about the maintenance requirements of his newly acquired car. On asking, he was politely replied:the first option will be you paying us 120,000 Naira upfront for us to carry out the necessary procedures as when due according to our schedules.
The second option is you paying us 100,000 Naira to teach you all you need to know about your car so you won't ever have to come back to us.
The third option is in the event of you going by the second option and any problem ensues, you will pay double of what you would have paid if you went with the first option.
The man quickly interrupted and said,'before you keep giving me more options, just tell me which doesn't involve me spending a lot of money'.
The mechanic just shrugged off,and with a devilish grin he answered,'which part of all i have said doesn't involve me surviving?
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/forum/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=18

I happen to have been on both sides of the table; either by getting quickly to places on time by using commercial motorcycles –popularly known as ‘Okada’ here in Nigeria-or having to condone motorcycles when behind the wheel as a motorist. As a matter of fact, commercial motorcycles here in Nigeria can be likened to big pest/insects on the road; they reduce the limited spaces meant for full-size vehicles and they always come as a major source of discomfort for motorists who have to contend with their existence and all the whims of Okada operators.

However, on the flip-side, there are clear reasons why the Okada business is still lucrative for the operators and also why they still get a substantial level of patronage from the populace. In busy cities like Lagos, Okadas provide an alternative means of transportion at fairly cheaper rates as opposed to hiring taxis or indulging the services of cabs.

There have been countless outcry from groups clamouring for the ban of these ‘okadas’ in Lagos and also, the Government has created stiffer penalties and restrictions for defaulting motorcycles operators-which most of them interpret as telltale signs of their eventual ban as seen in cities like Portharcourt, Uyo and Abuja. In this article we will be exploring various angles of the topic at the hand and also state four reasons why totally banning Okadas at the moment won’t solve anything and might turn out to be counter-productive.

Keke-Napeps are just bigger Okadas : Years back in the city of Owerri in Imo state, the government of the day issued a ban on the use of commercial bikes with the intention to ease flow of traffic and reduce crime. To cushion the effect of the ban, various kinds of three-wheeled automobiles-popularly referred to as keke-napeps- were introduced to replace these bikes. The resultant effect due to the poor bus and taxi distribution network in the state was reliance on the ‘kekenapeps’, just as it were with the banned motorcycles. This eventually increased the average cost of transportation and traffic congestions within the city. Overtime, the distribution network of these three-wheeled motorcycles became better organized, but still the populace still have to face heavy traffic congestions especially during peak movement periods partly due to kekenapeps taking up much more larger spaces than average conventional motorcycles. Bad enough, these kekenapeps are operated by the same brains behind the operation of Okadas; with the same averagely crude mentality, hence creating bigger problems. So if you happen to be in the school of thought that label three-wheeled automobiles as a lasting solution, I think you should have a re-think.
Okadas are practical solutions: For the time being, commercial motorcycles are unarguably the most practical and easily accessible means of transportation which a fair chunk of the Nigerian population rely on. To prove this, even in all the cities that have ‘banned’ commercial motorcycles, Okadas are still allowed to operate in some areas not withstanding. Okadas cushion the lapses created by lack of proper (affordable) bus/taxi network distribution. Simply put, okadas get to where buses and cabs don’t get to at affordable rates which proves to be equally convenient for most people.

Okadas increase transportation options and alternatives: show me someone who has never taken a commercial bike and I am sure you have a highly detached individual from the realities of Nigeria and her societal and infrastructural deficiencies. It’s no news that Nigeria roads are constantly under enormous pressure all year round, due to the absence or ineffectiveness of other transportation alternatives. The Lagos state government has championed projects to ensure the viability of other alternatives to road transport, but with the geometric rise of population within the city, these efforts are still not enough. The more reason more avenues have to be explored and properly set-up before Okadas are completely wiped off the roads. Without a doubt, the introduction of commercial motorcycles back in the 1970’s was meant to be a temporal solution, but as it seems now, the population have permanently waited for better transport infrastructure.

Crime: these commercial motorcycles, just like cars and other automobiles can be instruments in perpetrating crime. The eventual increased rate of crime is inevitable if commercial motorcycles are banned, which will be primarily due to loss of jobs. This can be even worse taking account of their present struggles-all the confrontations, court cases. Banning them at the moment might even turn out to be negative psychological motivation for them to get back on the street as angry and begrudged unemployed set of individuals ready to indulge in crime to survive. The result will be negative ripple effects which will only add to the number of masses being unemployed.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/4-reasons-okada-ban-in-lagos-wont-solve-anything/

What a waste!Nice track I must say.

Out of those four boys....probably one of them would have changed in the near future to becoming a productive member of the society....take cues from someone like Akon;because of reasons like these,going by the law has been the logical way to handle crime.As for me,embarrassing them in public was enough;killing them was way overboard!It would take a heartless criminal to do what they did to those boys.Its such a pity Nigeria is this messed up.

If you see these robbers in action,at some point you will be watching that video with all delight.In as much as we humans are not meant to decide who lives and who dies,instances of jungle justice like these balance up for lapses in our justice system.

1) ‘Our rule of thumb is that every 10psi loss in inflation pressure leads to 1% loss in miles per gallon’. [John Kotanides of Goodyear innovation centre]
2) Noisy power steering pumps are as good as gone.
3) An automobile engine will last as long as you want it to-at least in most cases not involving factory defects.
4) Used cars are always sold off or traded-in for a reason or a number of reasons.
5) Vehicles and road traffic accidents are one of the top ten killers; in the same league with H.I.V and A.I.D.S.[World Health Organization]
6) Under normal conditions, using air-conditioning systems when moving at 80km/hr and above can cut down fuel consumption by 20%.
7) Lower gears take up more engine power and substantially increase fuel consumption.
Average cars with spark ignition engines (petrol engines) generate up to 180 degrees centigrade while ordinary water boils off at 100 degrees centigrade.
9) Car manuals provide some exclusive information for specific cars.
10) The average life of tyres spans between 3years to 6years whether in active use or not.
11) Driver impatience is one of the top causes of traffic in Lagos, Nigeria.
12) Aluminium engine blocks are relatively lighter and make cars more fuel efficient, but are less tolerable to the effects of overheating.
13) ‘If it isn’t broke don’t fix it’, is in aberration with basic principles preventive car maintenance.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/13-useful-car-quotes-and-facts/

For tokunbo cars,in most cases it doesn't even make economic sense to use new parts because for these cars,there also is a high influx of low quality aftermarket products.The newer the car,the more likelihood of getting new OEM products.Just imagine replacing a new engine for an old car which was bought for less than a million?Unless the car is a classic,I think its plain stupid!Bottomline,discretion is the key,I won't recommend the use of tokunbo or 'Nigerian aftermarket products' for high pressure and stress impacted vehicle parts,just the same way I won't encourage anyone to get a tokunbo car in the first place.

In modern cars, a bad thermostat can trigger the ‘check engine’ notification, it is this way because these mechanical valves now have electronic ties which make them part and parcel of your car’s entire engine management system.
With that said, why do mechanics suggest the complete removal of these crucial components even when they are not yet bad? What I will do in this article is to give you point blank reasons why they feel it is necessary to do this, but before that, here is a brief description of how they go about removing a typical thermostat and the consequences that follow:

As you might have noticed, radiator fans in new cars a thermostatically controlled, meaning they spin when the engine temperature requires them to (chances are that when your car is in swift motion your radiator fans don’t spin). Also, the device that switches radiator fans on or off in most cars is located within the thermostat housing, so when a typical thermostat is completely removed and not replaced, radiator fans don’t have that automatic factory on/off switch. A supposedly smart move by these mechanics to substitute for that switch is bypassing the pre-installed relays and connecting the fans directly to the battery; this can be akin to dismantling your domestic fan regulator and joining the positive and negative terminals of the wires to spin your fan. What this means is that whenever there is supply of electricity, the fan comes up; in the same manner in your car, so long the ignition is on and the battery supplies current, the radiator fans spins. With this in place, your engine can be over-cooled because water/coolant flows into the engine way too early and the continuously rotating fans are not helping matters at all. Another alarming truth is that with this arrangement in place, high voltage (12v) is being passed through low-resistance wires; you start wondering if those relays are for fancy for them to have by-passed it.

So now back to why mechanics do this, most thermostats are made of metallic springs which are quite prone to rusting. Also, because mechanics generally discourage the use coolants (which have anti-rust properties), they would rather have the thermostat removed as ordinary water quickly kills thermostats. So to put it in plain words, the underlying understanding behind taking out a thermostat is hinged on the belief that since most cars drive around without coolants, it is equally not necessary to use thermostats which you have to keep changing over a short frame of time.
This takes us back to the basics of taking care of your cooling system as earlier described in this article. Your car is your responsibility, take care of it.

source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/why-mechanics-remove-car-thermostats/

The ultimate motive behind procuring a high-end car is added luxury. Relatively more expensive cars provide better occupant luxury, protection and as expected, with powerful engines owing to more ‘horses’ trapped under the bonnet. The prowling engine sounds made by these vehicles in motion can be really hard to miss, but these days, these supposedly ego boosting sounds are in most cases regrettably accompanied by clanking metal-metal contact sounds from underneath these cars. Without a doubt, these are point blank cases of bad suspension/steering components begging to replaced.
The funny thing about components under these high-end cars is that they are heavier, with wider cross-sectional areas; so when they get bad, they sound the loudest. That aside, there are some very ridiculous cases where owners of high end cars with air-suspension or more sophisticated automated hydraulic systems suggest and literally force their mechanics to down-grade these better suspension make-ups for cheaper and more easily maintainable purely mechanical spring/shock-absorbers or strut assemblies.
Many say SUVs are perfect for Nigerians roads due to elevated ground clearance and better suspension; but that doesn’t mean these components will continually remain rigid and optimally functional as your mileage clocks even higher.
So the question I am asking here is why spend so much to buy a car and yet shy away from the added maintenance needs? Personally I think it is due to ignorance or misinformation at the time of purchase and the deep trenching need to show-off, what do you think?
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/high-end-cars-with-disturbing-sounds/

This confirms banana as a very sexual fruit;starting from its shape to how it increase libido and now this......

The ‘ember’ months are here again; this time of the year in this part of the world is well known for a lot of road trips and higher rate of movement basically. Also, as much as the rains have substantially reduced over here in the south-western part of Nigeria, it is however heating up in the south-south regions as it almost rains everyday in those states.

In putting up this article I will have to recount my ordeal along the Umuahia-Ikot-ekpene road where the commercial bus I took carelessly got stuck right in the middle of a pool of water. We managed to extract the bus from the ditch, but at the end of the day the propeller shaft/differential assembly (axle) barely lasted a few more kilometres.

From this experience of mine coupled with a little more research I did, I was able to come with a quick list of what you will need if you unfortunately find yourself in a similar circumstance.

Traction: More than anything else what your vehicle will need is traction, which in simple terms can be described as a strong grip of the entire tyre/wheel set on the road surface. The only reason you car stays on the road firmly is because your wheel set manages to maintain traction with the road surface; in the case of mud and water, the direct opposite of traction is ‘slippage’ where the tyres spin without moving the vehicle. If you find yourself in a ditch try and establish traction maybe by introducing rougher and more rigid particles like gravel, dry concrete pieces etc. The clear aim is to ensure that when your powered wheels/tyres spin (via the live axle), the vehicle moves.

Study gradient and act fast: Differential/axle assemblies without viscous coupling can slip as a result of just one of the wheels loosing traction. Also, take note of how the vehicle is positioned in the ditch because if it is facing downwards, that means fluids can find their way to the main engine via the exhaust pipes; this can cause very huge damages. Hence, take note of these factors.

External force/power: This is the easy way out, especially where your engine’s power transmitted to the wheels isn’t enough to pull the vehicle out of the ditch; you apply an external pull or push force. Be sure to fasten whatever you intend using to connect the car to the ‘mover’ vehicle securely unto the chassis or main framework, not the bumper! It is advisable to completely switch of your engine so as not to induce extra load for the mover vehicle in the process of pulling your vehicle out of the ditch.

Attitude: Don’t panic uncontrollably, as you will only succeed in increasing thinking time. Not everyone moves around prepared for instances like these but they happen all the same. With the right attitude you can get all the help you need from bystanders or other vehicle owners. In our case back then, we got the towing rope we used from a concerned vehicle owner plying the same route and got pulled out by a tipper truck.

In conclusion, try as much as you can to avoid mud and pools of water and try to keep your car as clean as possible.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/4-things-you-need-if-you-are-stuck-in-mud/