Archive for May, 2008
Friday, May 23rd, 2008
One of the best things about Chevrolet pickup trucks is that they can last for long periods of time. Some have even been known to last about thirty years. With the right Chevrolet pickup maintenance you can make your pickup last just as long.
One of the most important things about pickup maintenance is that of oil changes. It is generally recommended that you get your pickups oil changed every three thousand miles. In some cases cars that are older will not need oil that often, as they can go on for five or ten thousand miles without oil. It is best to check how many miles you have covered with your pickup to determine how often you can go without an oil change. Changing the oil every three thousand miles is still a good rule of thumb to use though.
Another part of Chevrolet pickup maintenance is to be sure to take your car in for a check whenever you see the Check Engine light on your pickup. Most Chevy trucks will have this feature, and acting on it is one of the most essential parts of Chevrolet pickup maintenance. When the light is on it is suggesting that your engine may not be working at its best.
Checking your frame is another part of maintenance. By visiting your local maintenance shop at the scheduled appointment times you can get a check to see if your pickup frame is working. When the frame of the pickup is not strong enough or has weakened the truck will not be able to pull as much weight as it is generally able to.
Replacing old parts is one of the more serious parts of maintenance. Over time the parts in your Chevy truck could end up rusting. When this happens the parts will not work as well as they normally do, and this could cause serious trouble for the entire truck. It is best to check your truck if it is a relatively old one to see if any of the parts are rusting. The rest of this Chevrolet pickup maintenance step can be done by your local repair shop, as it will have the parts that are needed to be replaced.
The last part of Chevrolet pickup maintenance involves the bed of the truck. Over time the bed can become weary due to the high weights that you may place on it. You should check underneath the bed of the truck to see if it is sturdy and there are not any tears or stress marks on it. If there are then you should take the truck to your local repair shop for a bed replacement.
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Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
Chevy brandished its trucks under the marketing tag ‘A Legacy Built on Dependability’. For the 2008 model year, three distinctly outstanding models were introduced in the market. Silverado, Avalanche and Colorado are simply the best in their own class.
Tough guys want their trucks to be durable enough to stand the country dirt roads. Silverado’s rock-solid body is a favorite choice. Owners bragged that this truck model can outlive them and would even fit as their son’s inheritance.
Power and driving comfort adds up to the excellent features of this Chevy truck. Silverado’s extremely powerful 6.6L V8 Turbo diesel engine matched with a six-speed automatic transmission can hurdle long dirt road and highway trips with ease. Its versatile passenger cab with a rear door capable of opening at 170-degrees takes care of easy cargo handling.
For guys who love sporty vehicles but still prefers the power and carrying capacity of a truck, the Avalanche is their preferred model. It is endowed with an innovative midgate system that allows the extension of the pick-up bed in the back seat area. When the midgate is folded down, it converts the pick-up’s rear bed as a comfortable sleeping quarter. This is why the Avalanche is an outdoor-lover’s favorite. Two sleeping bags nicely fit in this ‘convertible’ truck, so mountaineers do not need to pitch a base camp tent when the Avalanche joins the trek.
Economy conscious fellows would love a truck who can offer the same hardworking performance. The Colorado is Chevy’s mid-sized truck powered by a smaller 3.5L I5 engine. As a model co-developed with the Japanese manufacturer Isuzu, this pick-up truck has all the much sought after features such as durability, flexibility, comfort and power all rolled into one.
Mindful that trucks usually haul cargo in long trips, entertainment and information connectivity are two important 
considerations. All 2008 model Chevy trucks are equipped with CD and MP3 capable entertainment package and state-of-the-art Radio Data System compatible radio. The Avalanche went beyond this by integrating a Navigation Radio.
General Motor’s patented Active Fuel Management technology is also common to all new models of Chevy trucks. This revolutionary technology installed the engine’s capability to shift between eight cylinder full power and fuel-saving four cylinder mode. This process is fully automated and electronically controlled.
Some models are adapted to E85 ethanol-blended fuel as an expression of Chevy’s commitment to alternative energy utilization and development. Ethanol burns more efficiently that fossil-fuel based gasoline and thus, minimizing carbon gas emission in the atmosphere. True to its commitment to the American Revolution, Chevy is contributing in the global initiative to reverse the trend of climate change.
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Thursday, May 8th, 2008
Sometimes it’s better to think twice before spending a lot of money on new heavy equipment or construction machinery. You can save an large amount of your investment funds by buying used machinery. But before you get to make such a decision you might want to think it through.
Used heavy equipment might be a solution for your business as long as you make sure the used machinery works as it should. Of course, it is used, but used machinery is typically refurbished and has technical reviews. But perhaps your personal experience is better than all that criteria. Even if the used machinery looks just fine, is a famous brand or the seller convinced you about the quality of his or her used machinery, you should get try to test it before you buy it. Always try to test the used machinery before you buy it or have someone to test the used machinery for you. Scrape, dig, lift, dump, push, whatever the vehicle has function for. Go through all the used machinery functions and they all work.
Visual inspection is another way of checking the used heavy equipment. Even if you have already made up your mind about buying used heavy machinery, you should be entitled to a good bargain. And a good bargain means you get good quality used heavy equipment for less. Take your time inspecting the used heavy equipment, and try to cover all the important areas. Used heavy equipment paint quality is not critical. However rust is an issue, so try to see if there are any rust patches or holes covered just for “cosmetic” reason. Grab a tool and try pushing or even hitting on suspected areas of the used heavy machinery to see if there is any rust falling on the ground. Slide under the used machinery and search for leaks. Test the possible leaking problem of the used machinery after you’ve been through the test drive. Also check valves and hoses before the test drive, and see after it if there are any leaks present in these places.
The testing shouldn’t stop here. Listen to the engine running for more than a minute or two. Also listen to the hydraulics when the used heavy equipment is performing its special duties. Try to detect any kind weird smells like burning oil or electrical short circuits. When you get behind the wheel or the levers, try to feel if the controls work as they should. However, you should keep in mind one thing: even the new heavy equipment may be faulty at times, which is why you should be prepared to face all problems that may arise with your used machinery, and not just assume the problem was caused by the fact that the machinery was old.
As a final advice on your shopping adventure for used heavy equipment, try to avoid buying from individuals that have no knowledge of construction equipment. Construction equipment dealers can often provide maintenance service and warranty with your used heavy equipment that can stretch from 30 to 60 days, making sure that unexpected problems will be dealt with professionally.
And, of course, don’t forget to negotiate the price of used heavy equipment. You can find a dealer that is flexible with pricing and negotiation and give you a better deal that a private owner. Good luck shopping for used machinery.
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Thursday, May 8th, 2008
A 660-cc, three-cylinder engine provides a whopping 50-horsepower. That sliding side door must be a huge selling feature.
n CUBE: Made in Japan, Cube looks like . . . a cube. The payoff is an amazingly spacious interior and a huge back door allows maximum use of it.
A 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine offers 107-horsepower and spirited performance. A stretched version, called the Cube Cubic actually offers three rows of seating. Rumour has it that Cube is coming to the US for the ‘09 model year.
My favourite Nissan Mini car. Made in Sunderland, England, Micra is currently Nissan’s best-selling car in Europe.
Built on the first shared platform within the Renault-Nissan Alliance, it comes in three and five door hatchback models, as well as a two-door hard-top convertible called the C+C. A fun little car to drive, Micra buyers have a choice of four small engines, including a diesel.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance goes back to 1999 and the lopsided partnership between the two companies appears to be working. Renault owns 44.4 per cent of Nissan, while Nissan has a 15-per cent-stake in Renault.
The alliance shares common goals and has led to platform and powertrain sharing, plus combined purchasing advantages, yet both companies have distinct identities and brands.
How well is it working? Combined Renault and Nissan vehicle sales were a record 6,160,046 units or 9.1 per cent of the global automotive market in calendar year 2007.
Among those on show at 360 were two new ‘09 Nissan models, the just-released Murano and yet-to-be-released Maxima.
The second-generation Murano offers new exterior and interior styling and it’s built on a new advanced D-platform, first introduced on the 2007 Altima.
A VQ-series 3.5-litre V6 rated at 265-horsepower provides power and it’s mated to a second-generation CVT (auto transmission) with ASC (adaptive shift control).
The ‘09 Maxima is the seventh generation of Nissan’s flagship sedan. Made in Smyrna, Tenn., the Maxima is designed to be a four-door sports car.
Nissan calls its new exterior-design theme “liquid motion” and describes as “a powerful and beautiful surface, like the undulation of a wave.” A new Elite Package includes a fixed, full centre console that creates four seating positions.
The km/litre fuel consumption figures used in this article are based on a Japanese government test. They may differ with Canadian fuel economy test results, which are expressed in litres/100 km.
That’s it for this week. Ever heard of a Wingroad, Clipper, Elgrand or a Kubistar?
These vehicles and more, including Nissan’s new performance superstar the GT-R, are reviewed next week.
Bob McHugh is a freelance automotive journalist, writing on behalf of BCAA.
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Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
Domestic automakers found themselves on the wrong side of the market in April, as consumers shunned pickups and SUVs for fuel-efficient cars.
Truck sales last month fell by double digits at GM, Ford and Chrysler as gas prices pushed near $4 a gallon. Considering that Detroit’s Big Three are heavily into pickups and sport-utility vehicles, this pushed overall sales down 16 percent at GM, 12 percent at Ford and 23 percent at Chrysler.
Trucks also were down at Toyota and Nissan, but the Japanese Big Three, including Honda, build more cars, sales of which rose in April, giving all three gains for the month.
“What we did not count on is oil being nearly $120 barrel,” Mike DiGiovanni, GM’s sales and market analyst, said in a conference call with analysts and media. “It caused a significant shift [in buying habits] that came very quickly.”
Nearly 47 percent of GM’s sales last month were cars; at Ford it was 40 percent, both up from last year. Cars accounted for 62 percent of Toyota’s business; 65 percent at Nissan. A computer problem prevented Honda from releasing its numbers, but the company estimated a 6 percent increase on the strength of its Fit and Civic small cars and the midsize Accord.
Gas prices are limiting consumers’ ability to afford large vehicles and forcing businesses to defer purchases of large pickups, which were down nearly 25 percent at GM and 21 percent at Ford.
Toyota’s Tundra full-size pickup suffered its first decline since the current model was introduced in February 2007. Toyota said it had about an 85-day supply of Tundras, double what is usual, and has slowed production in Princeton, Ind., and San Antonio.
“We have to adjust too,” said Toyota Senior Vice President Don Esmond, citing a 15 percent decline in pickup sales in the first quarter. “But we haven’t laid anyone off at either plant and have no plans to.”
Erich Merkle, an analyst with industry forecaster IRN Inc., said the domestic automakers weren’t blind to the need for smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles, but he said it was hard for GM and Ford to switch to small cars when both were racking up profits on truck sales of more than 1 million annually apiece.
“How do you stop producing what the market wants, especially when, until recently, it was difficult for them to make any money on small cars produced in the United States,” Merkle said.
But a government mandate to increase fuel economy to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020 shifts the focus to cars.
Ford is responding with plans to build the Fiesta, its new global subcompact, in the U.S. for sale starting in 2010. GM will introduce 14 new or refreshed products in the next 18 months, with 13 cars or crossovers.
In the past, consumers spooked by high gas prices returned to large vehicles once the pain at the pump eased. The jury’s out on whether that will happen again.
Ford sees pickups stabilizing at 11 percent to 12 percent of the total vehicle market, down from a peak of more than 14 percent in 2000.
“The consumers who still are buying pickup trucks really need a truck,” said Jim Farley, Ford sales and marketing chief.
If gas drops to less than $3, Merkle thinks consumers will behave the same as before. “People will forget very quickly,” he said. “We had the same problem in the early 1980s.”
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Friday, May 2nd, 2008
A warrant has been issued for a Poca man accused of ramming another man with a pickup truck, causing him to break a finger.
State troopers on Friday met with the victim at Thomas Memorial Hospital, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court.
The victim said he was driving on Big Tyler Road in Cross Lanes when he noticed a green Chevy S-10 tailgating him, the complaint said.
The victim pulled over to let the truck pass, but instead the S-10 pulled behind the man. The driver got out and punched him twice in the face.
The victim defended himself and punched the man back, the complaint said.
The suspect then got back into his truck and accelerated straight at the victim, who was still outside his vehicle, the complaint said.
The S-10 struck the man, who had his hands out in front of him for protection, but the impact caused him to break a finger.
Both men drove to the hospital, and when they saw each other, the suspect fled, the complaint said.
Before the suspect left, he had given his personal information to hospital officials.
Police got access to the records and identified the man as Donald D. Crites, 53.
He is charged with felony malicious wounding, leaving the scene of an accident and driving on a suspended license.
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Thursday, May 1st, 2008
Phoenix Police are looking for two men in connection with a shooting during a street racing incident early Sunday morning that left two men in the hospital.
Shots were fired from a late 1990s model black SUV, injuring two men in a newer Ford 150 extended cab pickup truck, said Andy Hill, Phoenix police spokesperson. Officials said the vehicle in question might be a black GMC Yukon or a Chevy Tahoe.
Jaime Arias, 18 and Lionel Corales, 16, were still in the hospital with gunshot wounds. Arias was in serious condition and Corales was in critical condition. Hill said they are looking for two young men in connection with the crime, but released no further information.
Hill said the two vehicles were entering Interstate 10 eastbound at 43rd Avenue and were racing on the on ramp. The pickup truck cut off the SUV. Words were exchanged and numerous bullets were fired from the SUV, striking Arias and Corales in their truck.
On Sunday around 3 a.m., Maryvale police officers observed the truck driving erratically at 35th Avenue and Monte Vista Road. The truck stopped at a convenience store where the officers found that Arias had been shot multiple times and Corales had been shot once.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Phoenix Police Department Violent Crimes Bureau desk at 602-262-6141 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
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