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.


http://pic.twitter.com/rkoODTzk

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/

I see people spend sums of money to acquire OBDII scanners as if that’s a fool proof alternative or substitute for quality technical care. Without a doubt, the D.I.Y (do it yourself) curve has been on a steady decline over the years, with this reality what do you think has been a quick ascent? Naturally, the need for expertise technical abilities to deal with a much slimmer range of cars is the order of the day. Gone are those days you easily could save a whole lot of money by being technically savvy. Personally, I don’t encourage D.I.Y practice for newer cars especially when it comes to unconventional/complex maintenance activities that might require replacements and special knowledge of a specific car.

On the other hand this is not to say that simple activities like tyre swapping or fuse replacement have become more complex and hence requiring specific expertise. That’s the more reason I came up with a list by comparing the honourable D.I.Y practice as it were in the past and the new limits imposed by the type of cars manufactured of recent.

Cars are generally more compact: Ford early this year released a 3cylinder, 1litre turbocharged engine which produces almost the same power as a 4cylinder 1.6 litre naturally aspirated engine and in some new commonly available sub-compact cars, removing the wiring harness from battery heads would require uncoupling quite a number of units to access the battery. The new order of the day is ‘lighter and greener’; hence, in most cases, only compact designs make it to factory floors for final production. This has led to unconventional placements of some car parts which can easily discourage a non-professional.

Electricals are more sensitive: Before now 12volts used to be the order of the day, but these days you have circuits with voltage ranges as low as 0.5volts equipped with relays and low resistance wires. The very solid presence of E.C.Us (electronic control units) has improved efficiency of cars generally and this isn’t without a little spike in the complexity of automobile electronics. Another fact worthy of mentioning is that these electrical/electronic components are now fused with areas of cars which were once wholly mechanical systems. What this means is that for you to start messing around with a bunch of wires you need to understand their relevance and how they enhance the role of the base mechanical system/component you might have been well familiar with.

Proper tools expensive to procure:[/b]Back in the day, one of the most sophisticated tools one needed for complex D.I.Y practice was may be timing lights (xenon) which weren’t that much expensive to come by. But these days, tools are more complex and expectedly more expensive; from an economic standpoint it doesn’t make much sense spending so much when you don’t intend using for professional practice which is supposed to yield income afterwards.

[b]Wrong interpretation/false assumption of OBDII codes: This happens to be the commonest reason you have to leave your car for the pros if you are not up for it. As it was clearly stated in a previously posted article, OBDII scanners are more of guiding tools as opposed to misconceptions surrounding the existence of these diagnostic tools as point-blank solutions to any car problem.
:source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/things-that-can-go-wrong-in-modern-d-i-ydo-it-yourself-practice/

It might even seem fundamentally right to you; instead of changing the complete set of 4engine-mounts you go ahead and change just two and in some very weird cases, just one ;also in the case shock absorbers, typical car owners will rather swap the two worst affected shock-absorbers and leave the rest to be replaced on a later date. Some might proudly affirm that if it isn’t broke don’t fix it; but as a matter of fact, based on empirical findings and recommendations by car manufacturers, mechanical(mostly) car parts subjected to high stress, pressure and heat and that can equally wear and tear should be replaced in sets. The common reasons that make carrying out replacements in this manner are hinged on the need for absolute safety while driving, continually achieving uncompromising performance and balance.

Below are some pointers that elaborate on how necessary it is to painstakingly replace your crucial mechanical/some electrical spare-parts in sets where applicable.

Mechanics might be encouraging you to save: But the reality is that they encourage you to spend less at that time to guarantee a speedy revisit, because they are concretely sure that if you go with their suggestion, you will be right back in their workshop in no time. The outcome of this is spending more on labour, logistics and time.

Work load is transferred: Some car parts that require being swapped in sets are bearings, shock-absorbers, spark plugs, engine mounts, tyres, CV joints (constant velocity joints), etc. In each of these cases, whenever there are improperly functioning members in a set, the work load is automatically transferred. What happens when you don’t change all the members of the set (which were installed at the same time) is that the newly replaced member(s) bear all these extra carried over loads (forces in most cases) transferred by the retained members of the old set. It’s a very simple see-saw kind of situation where both parties are partly responsible for the positioning and directional movement of the mechanism.

You risk higher fuel consumption: In the case of spark-plugs, tyres, shock absorbers and engine/transmission mounts, this completely stands true. The all important aim of saving money is defeated when you choose to retain members of an old set of car spare-parts.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/swapping-in-sets-vs-swapping-singly/

Nigerian mechanics can be so dramatic, according to Mr Tayo, an Insurance broker, one problem facing Nigerian car owners is not the fact that good mechanics price high, but the fact that even the ones pricing high and are supposed to be the ‘good mechanics’ barely know what they are doing. Without a doubt, I don’t disagree with him and to further hammer on this fact, here are some kinds of mechanics to avoid if you can. During pressing and dire financial times, we might be forced to reduce our personal standards and allow for certain things to happen; the question is for how long?



Mr Alabi down the road:

This type of mechanic is very adamant and resistant to change; he is very comfortable with the fact that he has a workshop and steady influx of clients. He hates it when his customers/car owners try to suggest what might be wrong with their cars or point out things that might seem to question his technical skills in anyway. He constantly downplays the use of new electronic diagnostic equipments yet secretly craves to own one and master how to use it. People continually patronize him because of proximity reasons and the fact that he is quite dependable on certain aspects of car maintenance and repair.

Mr Expensive:

This type of mechanic owns a nice workshop, perfect reception, with a well equipped work-space not lacking sophisticated electronic gadgetry; but with maybe just one experienced technical personnel; the rest are just well dressed road side mechanics. Customer dissatisfaction crops up when the expected level or standard of service provided doesn’t quite match the high charges associated with repairs or maintenance. Also, when they have to wait for so long to get little things done.

Mr Scam:

Very experienced and skilled on the job, but however is always after vulnerable and rich clients he can easily rip off. He prefers ‘outside work’ and his poor managerial skills make it difficult for him to firmly establish and grow his business. He equally is very vindictive and literally punishes clients that give him tough time and don’t play along.

Mr ‘I will try’:

This is the most dangerous type of mechanic that is unapologetically after your money and has no shred of integrity. He uses his client’s cars as his own guinea pig and equally has quite a number of abandoned cars at his work space. The basis behind most of his repair/maintenance decisions are almost solely on his client’s suggestions. He never rejects jobs even he knows it’s beyond his technical abilities and on the other hand, he is too greedy to involve a more experienced party to assist in getting the job done.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/4-kinds-of-mechanics-to-avoid/
So what do you think?Any more of these mechanics to avoid?

1. Average cost of running/maintenance vs. Your budget:
Before you make a grave decision, make sure these two parameters match up evenly. Different cars have different numbers which is quite expected, some car’s spare-parts are relatively more expensive but are not that durable. On the other hand, some really expensive spare parts are that way because of their durability and extended life span comparatively.

2. Reliability:

I personally love Peugeot cars for one thing; a very little defect can render these cars immobile, am very sure the designers of these cars put this in place for safety reasons. Some people might count this as Peugeot cars being unreliable; I guess this is where discretion has to kick in to back your findings.

3. Mechanic familiarity:

This might sound a bit cliché but it is safe to stick with brands and models you are absolutely sure you know good auto-mechanics (with substantial evidence) around that deal on them.In the course of owning a car you will get more informed. In the same light, if you want to opt for a much more unique and less common brand, be prepared to carry out a pre-purchase research on the best mechanics in town (that deal on that brand) and the one to stick with based on your personal assessment .

4. Automatic or stick?

For city driving its always advisable to go for an automatic transmission, another added reason people prefer this option is because recent designs are gradually dropping the torque converter to improve on fuel economy. But like any true car enthusiast will argue, you absolutely control the driving of the car with your manual gearbox laced on your chassis.

5. Initial cost:

A low initial cost of purchasing a car shouldn’t necessarily be attractive. Some cars are cheaper to buy because the market forces are just playing out in reaction to the high cost of maintaining these cars. Here in Nigeria, its ironic to find out that tokunbo (foreign used) car options of the same model with V6 or V8 engines are cheaper than their I4(Inline 4cylinders) counterparts, this is one clear example of the auto-market force in play.

6. Critical specifications:

These include factual specifications of a car that might or might not appeal to you, but will be practicable in your analysis based on your intended applications. These include the average suspension height of a typical vehicle when loaded, entertainment features, leg/head room, engine options offered, EPA ratings, crash test results, positioning of airbags, etc.

7. What most people are saying:

In most cases, people begin and end their research on cars at this level. At the end of the day they regret their actions and still fall back on factual findings. The truth is you might get to know about a car first from someone else, but that shouldn’t be the sole reason for you to go ahead and purchase the same car; simply carry out more research.

8. The Nigerian Factor:

These include accessing documented history of that particular car in mind via its V.I.N (vehicle identification number), the true mileage (odometer reading), the papers (clearing and Custom), mechanic’s opinion, and the likely problems to be fixed. In the case of buying from dealerships, track records help. Some dealerships here in Nigeria indulge in sharp practices, even some of the wholly authorized ones can’t be fully trusted, be sure you are paying for the value you are expecting.

9. Which insurance/tracking:

Different insurance companies have different pricing and competitive edges, hence before you stick with one be sure you are getting the best deal. I was involved in the purchase of an 8.7million naira Prado jeep barely a year ago, based on the referral I got from a marketer in the dealership I went with an Insurance firm that charged a premium(on comprehensive insurance) in the tune of N522, 000. Later on after researching, I found out I would have saved N218,000 if I went with another firm with a juicer deal, even on paying the insurance premium in the subsequent years. That’s just an instance for insurance, for tracking, some companies have better recovery records, some are just laid back and unconcerned after you pay and they install the transponder/transmitting device; the more reason to look before you leap.

10. What you need the car for:

Let me cite a clear instance, if I intend travelling a whole lot and all I have is N400,000, I’ll rather go for a tokunbo Benz 190 or Audi 80 or Benz 230, and why is that? These old cars are more stable at high speeds and reliable than some newer cars within that price range. If in need of a nice city car with the same budget, I’d go for a neat Nigerian used corolla or Nissan sunny which are relatively lighter and pocket friendly when it comes to fuel consumption. Let your purchase options match your eventual day to day applications.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/criteria-for-a-first-car-pick/

The advent of OBDII scanning ushered in ease, allowing auto-technicians to simply plug-in and run diagnosis to uncover identified problems in a short frame of time. As opposed to conventional trial and error techniques, this method of diagnosis doesn’t fully depend on experience and documentation of re-occurring car problems over the years. In this technological system, several types and grades of scanners directly communicate with the ECU (brain box) to retrieve trouble codes that represent problems in certain car areas. This ideally serves as a guide for mechanics on what to do, not necessarily giving specifics on how to solve a problem. So one can’t totally shove aside the role experience and prior basic technical training plays in how well these information are interpreted by auto-technicians. Also, the type of steps they subsequently take in a bid to curbing the problem.

On these grounds, one can safely point out the fact that OBDII scanners are not stand-alone problem solvers; a sophisticated scanning tool in the hands of an in-experienced or untrained technician is nothing but an expensive toy in the wrongs hands.

It’s also important to point out that these diagnostic machines are in grades, with different levels of versatility and adaptability. This is evident in the flexibility of machines over a wide range of car brands and also, the ability of these electronic diagnostic tools to uncover problems in more complex areas of a car by communicating better with more sub-systems via the CAN/LIN network linked to the ECU.

Having a better understanding of how a modern car systems works is primary to comprehending the true level of ease OBDII scanning offers because, many auto-mechanics today perceive the guiding tools as messiahs.

Just like your nose is connected to your brain, a typical ECU is connected to various sensors and actuators. In event of you perceiving an awful smell, you might voluntarily react by using your hand to block your nose from further taking in a likely poisonous gas or substance. In this simple case, your nose is the sensor whilst your hand is the actuator! A similar case applies to cars, because an ECU can’t record data about car areas it can’t sense, hence OBD scanners can’t detect problems in areas of a car without some level of electronics linked to the ECU by data buses.

The basic trick here is the infusion of electronics in some formerly fully mechanical systems or components, which enhance the role of that area in the general operation of the car. An example is the front brake-pad level sensor in recent Audi models which notify car owners when the brake pads are below specified permissible levels. This is only possible because sensors have been attached to the mechanical brake system. It’s interesting to note that these sensors in place allow for other closely related problem detection like excessive rotor wear.

So just to remind you once again; if there are no electronics, OBD scanners can’t retrieve trouble codes, because the ECU can only monitor areas it can sense or monitor.

The two hurdles that limit how much information one can get using an OBDII scanner are the sophistication of both the car and the machine. The best combo in achieving substantial maximization of this technological trend is using very sophisticated and versatile OBDII scanners with highly computerized cars. Anything other than this, mechanics have to augment the information gap by employing more traditional diagnostic methods to identify problems quicker.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/more-facts-about-obdii-scanning/

A lot of negative tales surround the largely prevailing road-side mechanics. The common reasons behind these are their relatively low skill level also, their adamant resistance to the wind of change-which has created some technical complexities requiring more technical knowledge to deal with today’s sophisticated car systems.

But just like every other human related activity with imperfections, these mechanics have strengths one has to reckon with. If at any instance you’ve have dealt with these road-side mechanics, you won’t hesitate to concur with this. In this article we were able to draw up some of these strong-points which might not be too visible but are very much in play.

Ability to improvise

Typical road side mechanics here in Nigeria have numerous unconventional methods they employ to get things done. They can literally swap engines without having to hoist (with metal chains and stand) these very heavy motors; the same applies to even large-sized gearboxes. They might shorten the lives or even ruin the lower engine-mounts in the process but at the end of the day, the job is done and everyone is happy! Their improvising skills really stands them out and helps them keep their prices low with very fewer equipments, ease of mobility and basically, lower overhead(running cost) for their businesses.

Good costumer relationship

Just like any small business, these mechanics strike-up meaningful interaction with their customers which can turn out to be long-standing relationships especially when involved parties don’t abuse such overtime. Some mechanics can barely afford even half a car, but yet are entrusted with very expensive cars. While some car owners don’t even double-check prices of spare-parts or even inspect them before replacement. These are just a few examples of how deep these ties can get. From a business minded perspective, getting customer feed-back is very easy in this setting and the same applies to taking note of areas of customer dissatisfaction. Most road-side mechanics ride on this advantage without even being aware, the problem always lies in the likely abuse of this liberty and business advantage which ideally, should be leveraged upon.

Unbridled Technical guts

This sometimes lands them in trouble and to get out, they might even fabricate stories implicating you the car-owner; this can be very annoying. But on the bright side, this noted technical gut to attempt unfamiliar technical activities is an innate engineering asset you can’t just buy-it’s simply priceless. When these mechanics push beyond their self/condition imposed limits and take calculated steps in attempting to solve car problems, it shows their dedication to the profession and willingness to learn. This isn’t a thumbs-up for mechanics that go around fiddling and almost rendering useless their customers’ cars because of their desperation for money; I am just pointing out what constitutes the underlying drive forsome of these hardworking mechanics.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/the-strengths-of-road-side-mechanics/

We all know for a fact that where we park our vehicles is important, but on taking a closer look, we were able to uncover some factors we might not have been taking cognizance of in our choice of parking spaces. In some cases we have the full liberty to chose where to park our cars either at work or at home but in most cases-especially in densely populated cities like Lagos-, we just make do with the little space we can access.

So in very simple and clear terms, what factors are to be considered in choosing your parking space?

Risk of theft/vandalism:

Mr. Tolani, an insurance broker woke up one morning to find out that the E.C.U (electronic control unit a.k.a brain-box) of his company owned 2004 Toyota Corolla was burgled overnight on the same spot he used as his car parking space for way over 7years. In this case, it’s either he was totally unlucky or the security stance of his neighbourhood changed and he equally failed to adapt. This further stamps the need for car owners to stay vigilant and flexible because you never know who might be watching.

Tyre stress:

At times you find cars in very weird positions and in some very ridiculous cases, you find car front tyres tilted in very wide angles. The main reason behind the choice of 4 tyres as the conventional number of tyres passenger vehicles should have is because of the very important need for cars to be well balanced; any other condition that offsets this equilibrium causes at least one tyre to suffer for it. It’s hardly an issue when you oddly park your car for less than an hour to buy a meal at an eatery, where it becomes a problem is when you adopt the same parking pattern day after day. So be careful not to contribute in reducing the useful life-span of your tyres.

Animals around bins or under trees:

Imagine getting pigeon poop on your jacket just when you rushing to get to work; well that sounds trivial and minor but it is a clear instance. However, another instance I’ll like to bring to your notice is where rats can access wiring within your car and cause serious havoc. We might have an idea of the complex electrical/electronic architecture in most modern day cars and most of all, the cost of fixing them when something goes wrong. A precautionary measure is keeping your car interior clean and free from elements that might attract common domestic rats or other animals. Equally clean up your garage if you need to and keep your environment clean basically.

Sunlight penetration:

Sunlight is never our enemy, even when it gets real intense! One quick way to spot an old car is when the main dashboard fascia is cracked or oddly discoloured, this condition is very likely especially when it comes to extended parking; the simple cause is intense sunlight penetration into the car. But let’s not fool ourselves; can you possibly give up a nice and well secured open parking space because of intense sunlight? The other way around this is using wind-screen shields which can easily be clipped on the inside when you know that where you are parking is prone to intense sunlight.

How flood prone is your parking spot?

Here in Lagos, years back, this wasn’t quite an issue. But in line with very recent occurrences, this factor is worth mentioning and had to get on this list. Water entering your car can render it useless and hence, becoming scrap overnight. In this regards, you know your immediate environment best, the signs on the walls can give off a hint or two.

source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/where-do-you-park-your-vehicle/

Rule1: Don’t inconvenience other road users by obstructing free flow of traffic. The world doesn’t revolve around you; by intentionally blocking the road, neither do you achieve drawing sympathy to your situation nor showcase the severity of your scuffle. It only simply shows how desperate you are, unless the level of impact totally renders your car immobile, be sensible and considerate enough to pull over and safely park your vehicle away from the road.

Rule2: Always have it in mind that it is your car that was hit; not you.

Rule3: Take charge of the situation and act as calmly as possible, even if you normally stammer while talking. However there might be cases where the incident would have been totally avoided and probably before the impact you issued several warnings. But no matter the build-up to the incident, always separate emotions. The key is to stay objective. In the process of attempting to take charge of the situation, you somehow easily convince the ailing party that he/she is at fault.

Rule4: The more tempers flaring, the more time spent to land on a concrete agreement. This rule is a follow up of the rule3; endeavour to rationalize your statements and don’t forget that you are trying to get enough money from the individual to fix your car! In an unreasonable height of fury, you might even miss a glaring chain effect owing to the impact and concentrate only on the obvious damage.

Rule5: Finally, be assertive and don’t sulk! The affected party isn’t doing you a favour by rightly paying for his/her mistake. Stay open and be reasonably agreeable. You can even suggest confirming prices of the affected body parts from sources suggested by both parties.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/how-to-successfully-negotiate-when-your-car-is-bashed/

Long One:

From my experience, the cheaper guys are often better skilled, I once took my car to a main dealer for a fault diagnosis and was quoted hundreds of pounds for a part plus their expensive labour.
After I fitted it, it still had the same fault, so I took it back to my normal mechanic and he diagnosed a completely different problem, hence I ended up buying a part the car didn’t really need.

Man, I was pissed, as my mechanic could have done it, but I stubbornly opted for the main dealer option, as I did not want to spend on a part I didn’t need and thought they couldn’t be wrong. Penny wise, pound-foolish.

Very true,there are quite some exceptions in that regards. Subscribing to the services of dealerships has its little perks like high pricing,but the odds are quite minimal.If the services of dealership doesn't quite go well with your financial budget,then I'll suggest you take out time and get a good mechanic experienced with your vehicle brand and level of sophistication.

A bad habit is something we might not necessarily be proud of, but somehow we still find ourselves in the same loop over and over. In this article, some of these wrong motoring practices will be highlighted. Also accounted for are the root causes behind a wide range of petty actions that might easily go un-noticed. So as you count down to the worst car habit, feel free to pick up a lesson or two.

5,Washing improperly and never waxing:
How frequently do you wash your car? Well, everyone has some sort of routine but the real issue is whether or not you wash your car the right way and if you wax your car body at all. Car manufacturers in recent times have brilliantly solved the issue of rust formation underneath the car (especially around the tyre housing) in new car designs, but for now, there is no solution for accumulated mud and dirt on car surfaces.This is where washing (not with detergents) and waxing with the right reagents can really help in safeguarding your car exterior/paint job, thereby making it look ‘tokunbo new’.


4,Procrastinating:
‘I’ll get my papers complete tomorrow’; ‘I will strap my seatbelt before the next bus-stop’, show me a vehicle owner that never procrastinates and I bet you have a wholly perfect being. In an imperfect world like ours, we tend to procrastinate and it’s only natural for humans to extend this to the use automobiles. Our cars might be wobbling, discomforting, scary to behold, smoky and so on, but once we have encountered practical instances where such anomalies didn’t stop us from getting around with our cars, it becomes really difficult not to procrastinate. I have good news (which you might however take badly): every moment you spend not fixing or correcting an anomaly is directly proportional to the likelihood of chain problems developing.


3,Impatience:
I love newer Peugeot cars for this, you start your car engine and there is an ‘oil ok’ indication that gives you the go ahead to accelerate or move the vehicle. Engine oil circulation after you start your vehicle (especially in the morning) is very necessary because wearing of inner engine components is highest during these moments. So back to the root cause in focus here, ‘impatience’; a bad habit that can make you do things like climbing pedestrian walkways and plying road shoulders during tight traffic, unnecessary changing of lanes(also using wrong lanes), reckless driving and generally breaking traffic laws. Driving overconfidently as if you have all the likely odds completely under your control is never a wise move. To adequately counter this habit, you need better planning!


2,Making calls while driving:
Driving a flashy car these days is barely enough as you also need a flashy/trendy mobile device to compliment the show-off! Funny enough, the more expensive cars are best equipped for wireless making and receiving of phone calls, but who cares? Making and receiving phone calls with either of your hands whilst driving is wrong as it can lead to an accident. Also it is plain illegal; in the American state of North Carolina, it’s illegal to make and receive phone calls even with hands-free devices.


1,Over-managing:
I wanted to merge this with an earlier discussed habit (procrastination) but, along the line I had a change of mind because not all cases of trying to manage certain car conditions can be closely linked with procrastination. Most of the time, car owners know the right thing to do, but chose not to because they feel they might be saving money. Equally, they might even know of the right mechanic to go but still go ahead to chose the guy down the street because his services are relatively cheaper, so I guess instances like these create the distinction! The list is endless, the underlying problem always seems to be the wrong perception that cars are assets as opposed to the reality of cars being liabilities, hence requiring more spending.

source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/top-5-ugly-car-habits/

They say the best ideas come from the wildest thoughts and also, dire times stamp the need for proactive solutions. It is on this premise that this likely temporal solution
will be thrown open for real scrutiny and some measure of consideration. The
geometric rise in the population of Lagos and the continuous surge of business will result in the current traffic situation depreciating further. According to LAMATA(2005),'200,000 vehicles are registered annually in Lagos and there are 11 vehicles to every kilometre of road nationwide, whereas in Lagos there are 222 vehicles to every kilometre’.
Currently, the Lagos state road network can only boost of 860km of accessible roads (combined figure of both state owned and federal roads). With this reality and a large chunk of State funds allocated to the rehabilitation and maintenance/expansion of existing roads, other measures must be employed to possibly curb the ever worsening
traffic situation.
A primary factor to be considered is time! Time is needed for execution of mega-projects like underground railways, massive road expansions or even projects similar to the on-going Lagos-Badagry rail/road project, which can indeed abate road traffic by making other transportation options very feasible.
So the question here is: knowing well the way things work in Nigeria, do we wait for more projects of even larger magnitudes to be executed and suffer even more? The pain Lagosians are bound to go through during the execution of landmark projects of this nature –if they are executed- is unbearable; if still in doubt, why not carry out investigations into the daily travails of an average hard working Nigerian that lives in Okokomaiko but works in Victoria-Island.
The well known cause of traffic under normal conditions is the existence of highly uniform peak movement periods across the entire state. This can be relatively linked with the various timing most people leave for work and return home after work. With this in mind, what solution are we hitting at? A simple distortion of this regular uniform
peak nature of traffic by government, by enforcing flexible working time/shifts in companies. What will be achieved if this happens? At least, one thing is for sure, the managerial board of tons of Lagos-domiciled companies might not like this, but on the long run, this will even things out and ideally eliminate peak traffic periods.
Like I said before, it’s just a crazy thought; what do you think?
source:http:[url]//www.autobaseafrica.com/solution-to-lagos-traffic/[/url]

myke20: Thanksfor this post.I want to buy this coolant stuff but don't seem to know where to buy it in benin.I went to total but the one dey have is green anf toyota camry uses red.so I did nt buy again.and moreso where do I add the coolant.is it the radiator or the coolant reserovir cos I'm confused.currently I use water for both o and d car works perfect sha and how do I know if it is mixed already

The colour of the mixture will definitely change and if you are using mere water, ideally its supposed to be transparent but that is hardly the case especially if you have used it that way for an extended period of time. Like it was stated in the post, it will keep working fine,but overtime the damage ensues.

The type of coolant for different cars vary,that's why you need to exercise caution in choosing which one to use.The safe thing to do is use a coolant type with a similar composition to what your car manual specified.
These days some cars don't even have radiator pressurised caps and for cars with caps its not advisable to frequently open your radiators directly;make good use of expansion tanks.

Most small scale businesses within Nigeria’s automotive industry from the onset are driven by ideas and sheer determination of one principal individual. But to sustain a company, you just can’t get enough from one individual because long-lasting companies are built by collaborative efforts of several people under the right mentorship and leadership.

After having gone through the stages of developing the business from scratch, it’s only natural for bosses to feel even smarter because, truth be told; you just have to be smart and flexible to groom a business especially here in Nigeria with all the overwhelming constraints. However, from my observation of quite a number of businesses,-mostly small scale- it gets to an extent where these bosses’ self-acclaimed smartness and perceived prowess in every facet of the business stifles real significant growth; a condition contrary to what any business leader would hope for or intentionally have a hand in.

So exactly how does being a smart boss especially in the transitional phase of a business-from a sole proprietorship to a company-impair growth? Below are just a few ways bosses being overly smart might be a dumb move.

True delegation almost impossible

Most of these smart bosses pride themselves as the alpha and omega of their businesses; nothing happens without his knowledge and their wits is perceived as being a scale above others. With this kind of mentality in play, it becomes very difficult for them to hands off core operational activities and face key managerial roles. In an unsuccessful bid to do both, they end up not achieving much and thereby, rarely involving subordinates to handle some highly relevant business activities. What separates companies from sole-proprietorships is the existence of functioning laid out structures. Wise bosses know the smart thing to do is always to effectively delegate and take advantage of the smartness of a handful of employees.

Harnessing ideas from workers less likely

When staff are made to believe that their bosses are the smartest, they know for a fact that the safe thing to do-knowing fully well the difficulties in securing a job- is never to give the slightest impression of them out-smarting their bosses. For bosses in full supply of ego, that’s even an outright taboo. Another issue in play here is the fact that workers feel less as being a part of the company, so even with the brightest ideas, they just might keep it to themselves till they probably get to work under new bosses or start a similar business. Besides, when they don’t take up certain key roles they hardly have encounters that are most likely to generate ideas that can change companies.

Staff motivation low

This final observation isn’t far-fetched; most of these so called smart bosses tend to ‘use’ their workers and hardly pay well. Take home pay on this side of the globe is a crucial ingredient in formulating any practicable motivational plan for workers. When this is taken out of the equation, workers only pretend to be happy because they need the job.

Asides monetary factors, other factors like roles they play, rewards (non-cash) and perception actively come into play when staff motivation is concerned.
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/smart-boss-impaired-business-growth/[color=#000099][/color]

It’s quite common to find most car radiators on the road today filled with just water as most motorist don’t deem it necessary to use coolants. This pattern has a little history behind it which unfortunately, is traceable to stereotypic Nigerian mechanic practices over the years. Most claim addition of these coolants to radiators is a mere waste and a huge aberration when taking account of the basic needs of a car here in Nigeria. This mistaken ideology is rooted to faulty practices like attempting to reverse engine overheating by adding this coolant and when the desired result isn’t achieved most mechanics further bolster their wrongly upheld perception about coolants
Before we go any further to disprove this, let’s delve a bit into a little chemistry and basic understanding of what a radiator coolant actually is; also, why it has to be mixed proportionately with distilled water- not just water-in the first place. Every brand new car comes with a coolant/water solution, it’s either orange or green in colour and you mostly would find it in a transparent white coloured reservoir with an expansion hose which is connected to the radiator.

Ethylene glycol/polyethylene glycol is the basic chemical composition of this compound alongside other additives to boost its properties which allows it serve other purposes like corrosion inhibition, lubrication and useful alteration of the basic property of water by making it reasonably resistant to freezing and boiling.
Ideally water and coolant solution is continuously circulated through engine jackets to trap as much heat as possible from the engine which is subsequently introduced into the radiator for this trapped heat to be swiftly exchanged with the environment. The radiator cools off this solution which is sent back to the engine for another round of heat trapping and re-circulation.

From this little scientific exposition you would agree with me that this compound is not merely an anti-freeze as it serves other purposes pertinent to extended engine life, cooling efficiency and resistance to overheating. When you use mere water alone to achieve cooling, it boils off easily that is why you keep refilling your expansion tank in between engine servicing and in no time you get this brownish water discolouration which is a clear evidence of gradual engine block degradation. This obviously, is as a result of the traditional behaviour of water around metals in the presence of the littlest amount of air. So now is it too late for you to remedy your car’s situation? I can’t answer that, but here are simple tips that will be sure helpful:

First check your radiator water level and condition.
Before introducing any coolant it’s most ideal to flush your radiator, especially if you haven’t done this for more than a year. Insist on a thorough reverse flush from underneath the radiator.
Depending on the condition of the water in the radiator,you might want to totally flush the engine block as well.
Buy the recommended coolant for your car which is to be mixed with distilled water; don’t guess! You would have to do a little research if you don’t have a manual. For some cars it’s in the ratio of 70%-30%, while for most cars its 50%-50%. The volume of radiators vary so be sure you have the right information for your specific type of car. Like we would always say, employ the services of the right technician.
Good luck![color=#000099][/color]
source:http://www.autobaseafrica.com/truth-about-radiator-coolants/