Maintenance

Changing Headlight Bulb on Volvo S40

Posted by Adam Yamada-Hanff on May 30, 2013

Posted in: Maintenance. Tagged: auto parts, bubls, headlight bulb, headlight bulb replacement, swedish, volvo S40, volvo s40 headlight bulb replacement, volvos. Leave a Comment

Today I helped a family member change the headlight bulb in their 2008 Volvo S40. At first I thought this was going to be an easy job, like replacing most headlight bulbs, but as with everything on Volvos you need to know the special tricks to do anything basic.

First I had to search around for the hood latch, which is a red lever but has no hood or car marking on it. Most cars have this so I was thrown already just trying to open the hood. Thankfully I figured it out but I am sure a lot of people get frustrated by the fact this isn’t straightforward. I certainly did and I have been working on cars for awhile.

After that I got the hood opened and started looking at the headlight housing I wasn’t sure how to get at the bulb. It was clear there was a door but there wasn’t enough clearance to release the springs to open it. I started looking around the headlight housing and thought, “Ok… how do I remove this thing?” That was clearly the only way to get at the headlight bulb but there weren’t any screws. This is where your best friend comes in when you don’t know how to do something on a car comes in, Google.

Yes, I Googled it! There is a metal piece and bracket mechanism that holds the Volvo S40 headlight housing in. No screws! Very smart and very Swedish in it’s design. I thought it was quite cool actually and removed the headlight no problem once I knew how to do it. Then I undid the electrical connection when I had the headlight off. I removed the housing, got out the old headlight bulb, and then made a quick trip to the local auto parts store to get a new H11 and put it back everything back in.

Now I know how to replace headlight bulbs on these Volvo S40′s and it will be hella easy next time. It was sort of annoying though having to figure it out, but that is how it is working on cars sometimes. You got to figure things out as you go since some cars are completely different than what you are used to.

Most likely I will post a guide with some pictures in a couple of days. I am sure there are a lot of Volvo owners who would like to know how to do this right. I might even shoot a video if I have time as I think a lot of Volvo S40 owners would appreciate this.

5 Tips for Preparing for Winter Wonderland Driving

Posted by Adam Yamada-Hanff on November 20, 2012

Posted in: Maintenance. Tagged: adam yamada hanff, battery, black ice, blizzards, cold, drive, emergency kit, hazardous conditions, ice, icy, icy road, michelin, slippery, snow, snow tires, Tire, Tires, trip, wet, wet roads, winter, winter driving, Winter Wonderland. Leave a Comment

Winter Driving

Winter is can be a dangerous time for American driver and winter driving can be hazardous. Drivers in parts of the country that get snow should be well-prepared for conditions over the next couple months and your vehicles must be prepared too. You are likely to experiences infamous black ice, all-encompassing whiteouts and blizzards so why not prepare now? Brave the winter with the following five essential tips for safe, accident-free driving:

#1 Survival Kit, Assemble!

It is recommend that you gather essential supplies in your trunk, so that if you’re ever stranded, you’ll be able to survive Bear Grylls-style. Pack the essentials into a duffel bag for ample space. Begin assembling your survivor kit with spare prescription medicine, high-calorie food (perhaps any of the now defunct Hostess products), bottled water, a first aid kit, extra clothes, thick blankets and an assortment of tools to make Tim Taylor proud. It’s also wise to bring jumper cables, a shovel and a bag of kitty litter or sand for traction when you might be able to get yourself out of trouble without the aid of a tow truck.

#2 Winterize Your Car

It is a good idea to have a mechanic check your car’s fuel, ignition, cooling and exhaust systems every year. Fluid levels and batteries should be checked; and belts, brakes, wipers and hoses should be in good condition. If you are not sure you can afford all the maintenance at once, it’s a good idea to spread out the costs or learn to do some DIY maintenance. Slippery winter conditions mean you’ll need good dependable tires with adequate tread for good traction in snow. Snow tires a good option if you live in an area with harsh winters. Michelin tires are the best you can buy since they provide great performance in all driving conditions, including wet winter weather, and last a long time.

#3 Slow Ridem

There’s never a better time to drive defensively than winter. Slow down—you shouldn’t be going as fast as you do in the summertime—and be extra-careful going over or under bridges and overpasses. Allow extra space between yourself and the car in front of you, in case you need to make a sudden stop. Inspect your tires before you leave to make sure they’re inflated and wearing evenly. Make sure you’re familiar with the skills to recover from a skid—if you start skidding, gently steer your car in the direction of the car’s rear. Keep an eye out for disabled vehicles on the side of the road, never pass snowplows and, above all else, wear your seat belt—click it or ticket.

#4 The Man with a Plan

If you’re planning to make a trip during the winter, make sure someone knows where you’re going (and your route); check weather conditions before you leave. Most state patrol or highway department websites offer up-to-the-minute information on road conditions. Television and radio stations, including weather band radio, also provide current and reliable weather forecasts. Before you leave, double-check that you’ve got everything you need in your survival kit. Check around the circumference of your car before you depart, and every time you stop, ensure that your tires and other equipment are still in good condition. Take frequent breaks at rest stops or gas stations to prevent exhaustion and fatigue, and pull over to the nearest shelter if a storm becomes overwhelming. Don’t allow your gas tank to drop too low before refilling; fill that sucker up frequently.

#5 Stuck in the Snow & Nowhere to Go

When you’re stuck in feet of snow or some other winter-related wretchedness has wrecked your car, turn on your blinkers and stay put in the driver’s seat; you don’t want to run the risk of being hit by passing traffic. Use the supplies in your emergency kit, stay warm and periodically check your exhaust pipe—if it’s clogged with snow and ice, you could pass out from carbon monoxide poisoning. If you’re hopelessly stranded with nary a cell phone signal, you’ll be forced to flag down another vehicle or walk to the nearest service station for assistance.

Experts, including law enforcement, agree that the key to safe winter driving is twofold: advance planning and awareness. Start your preparations now, pay attention to weather conditions and you can overcome cranky Old Man Winter.

Dont’ Buy Trico Flex Wiper Blades!

Posted by Adam Yamada-Hanff on November 12, 2012

Posted in: Maintenance. Tagged: accord, adam yamada hanff, auto parts, auto parts store, bosch icon, bosch wipers, frameless wipers, honda accord, trico, trico flex, windshield wipers, wiper, wiper blade, wiper blades, wipers. 2 comments

The other day I went to the auto parts store to pick-up some Trico Flex Wiper Blades I had purchased online for my Mom’s Chrysler van. (I usually do this to save time and hassle.) I assumed spending money on the frameless wipers, like the Trico Flex Wiper Blades, would be a good investment. However, when I went to install one of the Trico Flex wipers on one side of the van, I noticed that it wouldn’t fit. I thought for a minute I was doing something wrong and starting fuss with the wiper arm and the wiper blade. This is when I noticed what the problem was.

The Trico Flex has the wiper attachment mechanism on one side of the wiper blade instead of being embedded in the into it the body, like most wipers. This makes the Trice Flex line of wiper blades not usable for a lot of vehicles like my Mom’s van. Talking with the girl at the auto parts store only confirmed this. She told me when I returned the wiper blades, “Yeah, I need to exchange a lot of those because they won’t fit on customers vehicles.” I returned the Tricos and got another frameless wiper for the other side. It was kind of ridiculous and a waste of my time. Wish I had taken a picture before I returned the blades so people could see what I am talking about.

Some stupid Trico engineer probably thought this was a smart move. I am fairly sure he/she has never actually every installed wiper blades on a car though or they would have realized this serious design flaw. Bottom line Don’t But Trico Flex wiper blades and save yourself hassle.

I recommend Bosch Icon frameless wipers and have them installed on my Honda Accord. They are usually expensive, but worth the cost and investment since they last for quite a long time. The set on my Accord have been installed for a year without a problem.

: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center / Foter / CC BY-NC

Preparing Yourself and Your Car for Hurricane

With Hurricane Sandy, aka Frankenstorm, bearing down upon the entire Eastern seaboard and many states getting slammed by heavy rain and wind, I am sure lots of people are wondering what they could have done to prepare for a hurricane better. An important consideration is that your vehicle can be damaged easily during hurricanes, it’s important to try to do all you can to protect this valuable asset.

I recommend parking your car as close to your house as possible and in the driveway. The reason is if a lot of home insurance policies will cover damage to a vehicle from trees or debris if it close to a house. This varies on what type of policy you have though. If you have a garage, carport, or some other structure you can park your can that would be the most ideal place to park it. That is certainly not guarantee but is a safe bet.

Obviously though your car is not the only consideration for preparing for a hurricane during hurricane season. Here are some tips to get hurricane ready;

Food: Make sure to have enough food for your whole family. This includes any pets you might have in your family. We have dry dog food and canned dog food that will last our dogs, Cody and Sierra, awhile.
Water: You also need to have clean drinking water too. It is recommend to have 1 gallon of clean water per day. If you are not sure if you have enough, at least have a teapot and heat source so that you can boil and sanitize drinking water if necessary.
First Aid: It’s always good to have a First Aid Kit in case of an emergency. You never know when you might need it. I recommend having hydrogen peroxide (for disinfecting wounds), bandages and gauze, cloth tape, needles, gloves, ointment, and a blanket. It is also a good idea to have a first aid booklet handy as well.
Medications: Make sure to get any medications for your family filled before you need to hunker down at your house or go to a shelter.
Emergency Contacts: Keep an emergency contact list. This includes, relatives, doctors, veterinarians,(if you have pets), or friends. Make sure to know about the nearest nearest shelter if you need to evacute your area due to flooding. If you have pets, be sure to find a pet-friendly shelter.
Rain Gear, Towels, & Clothes: Try not to go outside if you can help it, but it’s always good to have a poncho and rain gear in case you do. It’s a good idea to have as much clean clothes as you can too.
Cash: Cash, and I mean the real green stuff, is good to have in case power is going to be out for awhile.
Flashlights, Batteries, and Candles: It’s good to have flashlights and batteries if you are going to be without power for a long time. I would also recommend having short stubby candles since they are less likely to tip over and cause a fire. Matches are a good idea to have too!
Full Tank of Gas: If gas stations don’t have power, they can’t sell gas. It’s a good idea to fill up your car’s gas tank if you need to go somewhere with your family.

You should also consider having a spare flashlight with batteries, blanket, and first aid kit in your car if you need to venture out. It’s best to not drive during a hurricane, and you have been told not to, you shouldn’t.

I hope these tips will help you prepare for Hurricane Sandy, Frankenstorm, or any other hurricane in the future. If you have any recommendations, tips, or advice about hurricane preparedness you would like to add, please leave a comment below.

It has been awhile since you have cleaned your car. I understand cleaning your vehicle is low on your To-Do list. When you finally do get around to cleaning your car though, you immediately notice you have black and dirty wheels. Don’t you just hate that? Makes the car look a bit tired and old. You try to clean the front wheels of all that caked-on brake dust, to no avail. Man, that stuff is really on there! How do you get it off?

What you need to do is get some wheel cleaner that will help loosen that dirt and grime off those wheels, such as Griot’s Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner. This product helps get off all that dirty and ugly brake dust off your cars wheels.

I got this wheel cleaner and it only took me a few minutes and a old car washing brush to use it. Click on my pictures below and see the before and after.

: After 1

: After 2

: Before 1

: Before 2

Oh, yeah! Clean wheels make the car look a lot better, right? You can see how dirty the front wheels were compared to the back. That is because the front of the car experiences 70% of the braking force, therefore releasing more brake dust onto those wheels.

A few nice shots of the Griot’s Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Spray Cleaner worked extremely well to get off the annoying brake dust. Now our Toyota Camry looks and feels better. So don’t forgot to pick-up a bottle of wheel cleaner next time you want to do a really good job cleaning your car.

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Maintenance

Changing Headlight Bulb on Volvo S40