Drive it forever

By Mike Allen

Q On my car radio's installation instructions, it shows only one red wire (hot) going to the positive side of the battery. How do I complete the circuit without a ground wire? I am installing it in a boat.

A You'll need to run a ground wire to the metal case of the radio. Car radios are normally grounded by their mounting hardware. Actually, the shield wire on the antenna will also provide a ground path. Of course cars and trucks have metal bodies to conduct the current. Boats do not, so you simply need to run a wire.

Q I own a 2000 Chevrolet Tracker with a 2.0-liter engine that has a noise coming from the timing-chain area. My dealer says that the repair will cost $1,200, mostly due to labor. How do you correctly diagnose this problem, and can a guy with average mechanical ability do the job himself?

A The dealer is giving an estimate for a worst-case scenario, which the law requires. He can't legally raise his estimate after he gets into the engine. If it hasn't damaged more stuff, a timing chain and tensioner replacement should be pretty straightforward. If you've got the tools, give it a go. You may be able to simply change the tensioner. Be sure to get a good shop manual, though.

Q We have a 2006 Kia Sedona that we like -- when it starts.
We have taken it into the shop twice. The first time they fixed the transmission cable, and then two days later we had to have it towed to the shop for the same problem. It lasted three months, but now it's starting to have the problem again. The car won't start because the gear shift won't put the car in park or neutral, and the indicator shows the transmission in a different gear than it's actually in.
Do you know if this is a problem with all Kia Sedonas, or am I simply a lucky owner? My vehicle has 22,000 miles on it.

A Our Sedona long-termer didn't have a problem. Have they replaced the cable or are they merely adjusting it?

Q I have been looking for a confirmation of whether or not acetone mixed with gasoline will improve gas mileage.
I read on the Internet that 10 gallons of gas mixed with 2 ounces of acetone would improve mileage without damaging the rubber in the vehicle.

A Urban legend. Don't do it.

Q Is there a way to wire the headlamps so that they come on when the ignition is started?

A Yes. Move the lead from the headlight fuse to one that is hot only when the key is on. And remember to leave the headlamp switch on all the time.

Q I have a question about hybrids that it seems no one has addressed, to my knowledge.
The concept that the Prius and Highlander use to recharge their batteries through friction from the brakes is genius. My question is: could this same concept be used for a clutch, seeing as there is so much friction there? It would be great if a hybrid was made with a standard transmission, because I don't know if I can ever go back to an automatic transmission.

A The recapture of energy in hybrids does not rely on friction. So there is no way to capture the friction in the clutch. The Honda hybrid uses a manual transmission.

Q My husband received his June 2007 issue of Popular Mechanics, and we were both shocked by the article in the car-clinic section showing the "correct" technique for siphoning gas -- using a thin piece of hose and a compressor to blow air into the tank, forcing fuel up the hose.
What has happened to common sense? Have you been a victim of stolen gas?

A I'm thinking that any crook who already has your car in his garage next to his air compressor has already stolen the entire car, and won't need to siphon the gas. Not to mention that most cars have gas caps with interior releases, and can't be opened without access to the car.

Source : http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2007/06/24/drive_it_forever/

Siemens, GE vying for 25 pct stake in China's Shenyang Blast-blower - report

BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - Siemens and General Electric (GE) are competing for a 25 pct stake in Shenyang Blast-blower (Group) Co Ltd, the Economic Observer reported.

On the pre-condition that they transfer core technology to Shenyang Blast-blower, the Chinese firm said it will offer a 25 pct equity stake to either of the two, the newspaper reported.

On June 9, China National Petroleum Corp and Sinopec agreed that they will each pay 540 mln yuan for a 30 pct of stake, respectively in Shenyang Blast-blower, according to the newspaper.

GE and Siemens (nyse: SI - news - people ) both have signed contracts of intent with Shenyang Blast-blower on transferring compressor technology to the latter, the newspaper said.

Shenyang Blast-blower's staple products - compressors and industrial blast blowers - take up more than 80 pct of the market share in the domestic petrochemical sector, according to the newspaper.

Source : http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/06/24/afx3851563.html

Air compression causes weather, also helps preserve vehicle tires

By Rudi Kiefer

Weather Wise

Most of what we call weather is caused by the compression and decompression of air.

An electric air compressor doesn't give all of nature's powers, but it has a lot of neat uses.

For example, it'll help save gas, providing financial relief and conserving resources as well as reducing air pollution.

The objective is to keep tire pressure at the proper level.

Anyone who has played with bicycles likely is familiar with the tough pedaling feel of underinflated tires.

A few pounds per square inch, or psi, added to the tires, and the bike rolls much easier again.

Automotive tires are sensitive to this also, with a great increase in what's called rolling resistance when they don't have enough air.

Having an air compressor, even an inexpensive one, makes it a cinch to maintain tires properly.

The side wall of each tire has the proper pressure printed on it, commonly 35 psi for cars.

It doesn't hurt to keep it at the maximum level listed.

But letting it go down to about 28 psi has been estimated to cause between 10 percent and 20 percent increase in rolling resistance.

This will happen if the tires are left unattended for a few months.

Rolling resistance is commonly assumed to average about 20 percent of the overall force needed to propel a vehicle.

Consequently, a small amount of underinflation like the example above causes 2 percent to 4 percent drop in fuel economy.

If driving an average car 15,000 miles annually, checking tire pressure weekly can save $50 to $100 per year.

That's in addition to longer tire life and a safer handling car.

But the air compressor also is handy for many other chores.

If we run into a gas shortage and a water shortage at the same time (think 2005), we won't be allowed to wash cars and other things with the garden hose.

In that case, compressed air is handy for blowing dust off a car, bike and garage floor.

Air-powered tools are preferable over electrical ones if working outside when it starts to rain.

There are no cables that can short out in wet conditions, and the raw power of air tools is surprising at first.

How much punch they pack depends on the flow rating of the air compressor.

A large shop unit will be happy with small jobs, such as inflating the kids' pool toys. A small one, however, can't run a large tool.

So compare the cubic feet per minute, or cfm, ratings on the compressors and tools.

An impact wrench, great for opening wheel lug nuts, may draw only 3 cfm.

But a grinder that runs for longer periods needs four times that.

Tires can be inflated with almost any unit.

If there's an alternative, though, don't place a compressor next to car wheels in the garage.

Many electrical motors put out small amounts of ozone that can make rubber tires deteriorate when ozone accumulates nearby.

Source : http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/stories/20070624/localnews/181225.shtml