Car tuning
Retrofitting with cruise control is a bold project!
Cruise control is a handy feature for maintaining a constant speed, which is useful when traveling long distances. Vehicles with a manual transmission can be equipped with cruise control, although in vehicles with an automatic transmission the module exhibits its full range of capabilities. As a rule, modern cars are equipped with the option of installing cruise control. In this case, it is possible to install cruise control. Quiet driving with cruise control Upgrading cruise control is not a project for beginners! It requires a lot of concentration and skill, especially with regard to wiring. Otherwise, the vehicle may be seriously damaged. If you are unfamiliar with steps such as insulating and connecting data cables with plugs, these steps should be practiced. For this purpose, the wiring harness of a decommissioned car will come in handy. Tools and cable lugs are pretty cheap, so…
Roof box - A practical upgrade for a family car!
Roof boxes were originally invented to carry ski equipment in a small car. Over the past 25 years, it has become a frequently used accessory, especially during the winter season. Installation errors and improper loading of cargo boxes have caused several accidents. Read in this article what to look for when using a roof box. Roof boxes for bulky items For a long time, a trailer was the only option for increasing the carrying capacity of a car. It has plenty of shortcomings: the dynamics of the car’s movement changes dramatically, maneuvering is much more difficult, especially in reverse. And one more thing: from the age of 10, a separate driver's license is required to drive with a trailer. The roof box was invented to make it easier to carry light but bulky items in standard family cars. Initially, such a need existed mainly in ...
Internet and WLAN in the car - that's how it works!
WLAN in the car has very practical advantages: Live broadcasts from the car, a video phone in the passenger seat or just an internet connection are also available on the road with the right technology. Particularly on long journeys, passengers will appreciate having full internet access. By offering professional sharing experiences, you gain a competitive edge with reliable internet access in your car. Driving a car requires your full concentration and you should not be surfing the Internet at the same time. It's just common sense. However, there are good reasons to install a WLAN in a car. At present, we are too dependent on the world's data flows and do not want to go for hours without an Internet connection. WLAN in the car - four letters for the whole world WLAN stands for ...
The James Bond experience with a head-up display!
The Head Up Display (HUD) is a transparent display that displays data on a screen within the driver's line of sight. This type of display was originally invented for military use. Critical operational data has been displayed to fighter pilots this way for 25 years. In addition, in the late eighties, this innovative technology could be admired as an automotive application. In the James Bond movie Living Lights, the famous secret agent's Aston Martin adaptation is equipped with this feature. A practical function for drivers too When flying in a fighter jet, fractions of a second play a decisive role. At speeds of hundreds and thousands of km / h, the pilot's gaze must be directed outward at all times. There is nothing so dramatic about the car. However, displaying the most important operating data without having to look down at…
Personalize your car: Illuminated door sills!
New ideas in the tuning scene never cease to amaze. With the advent of cheap and very practical LEDs, interior lighting has become a real playground for car mechanics. One of the latest trends in this area is illuminated door sills. Read below for everything you need to know about this practical and stylish feature. Attractive and practical The door opens and the threshold is illuminated with warm, soft light. Besides being interesting, it has a practical application. In complete darkness, the illuminated door sill helps to orientate. Especially in heavy boots or high heels, you run the risk of getting caught on the door sill, which can be effectively prevented by lighting. 1. Traditional installation: Wiring The first illuminated door sill was connected to the car's power circuit. Lighting placement is a real challenge. To make cables...
Lower, wider - faster? Everything you need to know about lowering your car's suspension!
When the first wave of tuning swept the country in the 80s, "lowering the car" was the magic formula. It would seem that simple lowering of the suspension has turned standard family cars, cheap coupes, and even vans and station wagons into sports racing cars. However, it soon became clear that lowering the car was anything but simple. Rehearsal is a recipe for disaster It is immediately clear: simply cutting the coils of the spring is prohibited. Shortening the suspension springs on your own in order to lower the car is not only illegal, but also makes the car unsafe for traffic. More specifically: the car is likely to hit a tree. If the police get him out of the way beforehand, you, like many innocent road users, are in luck. Lowering the car: useful or practical? Not Quite Aside from changing the look of the car, the practical benefits of lowering the car…
Engine tuning: more power, less consumption, better performance!
The engines of the new factory vehicles are calibrated for medium power development. If you want to make your car more efficient and perform better, engine tuning is the smart thing to do. There are many possibilities. Arctic temperatures, like desert heat, are rare in Europe, so many of the default settings are redundant. With these calibrations, manufacturers make a compromise between performance and service life with minimal maintenance. And what's more: they consume performance that can be returned to the car with professional help. Engineers must take into account all possible weather conditions. Types of tuning Tuning is not limited to mechanical interventions in the engine, although everything once started there with the retrofitting of turbo boosters, compressors, nitrous oxide injection, etc. Time and time again, technological advances have created new opportunities to improve vehicle performance. Currently…
Extra storage and comfort with the redesigned center armrest!
During long motorway trips, constantly holding the steering wheel with both hands can be quite tiring. Often there is an armrest for the left hand in the car door. On the other hand, the right hand is constantly "hanging in the air", which can lead to cramps and pain in the shoulder and neck. Luckily, accessory manufacturers have found the right solution for this: the center armrest. Practical and durable, the central armrest performs several tasks. High-quality folding models offer a range of uses: - armrest - storage space for small items such as a mobile phone, keychain or change - built-in coffee cup holders Ultimately, the center armrest acts as an effective barrier between you and passengers when folded down . This partition between the front seats, especially when landing hitchhikers or hitchhikers,…
Bright, trendy and more stable: everything you need to know about track extensions!
Just a few millimeters create a visible effect: the wider track gives the car a completely new look. Its shape is powerful, strong with added stability. Read all about track expansion below! Track widening is more than just a change in appearance. Driving quality is also changing. However, there are a few things to consider when widening gauge, and there are several disadvantages. Cheap tuning done quickly The positive side of widening the track is the maximum effect created with relatively little intervention. In principle, widening a track is as easy as changing wheels. The work steps are very similar. Installation of a complete set of wheel spacers takes only fifteen minutes. However, this transformation must be done carefully, requires concentration as well as the right tools. Pay attention to the legal aspect The wider the better? Not really . Wheel arch…
LED fog lights - how to convert and comply with legal requirements?
LEDs, "light emitting diodes", have a number of advantages over traditional light bulbs or xenon lamps. They consume less energy for the same light output; they are more efficient and durable. In addition, they are perceived as less dazzling. Thus, substitution can be useful, although it is not difficult. In addition to the conversion, a few things must be observed. What is a fog lamp? We have all seen fog lights on rally cars, where they are prominently mounted on the roof and used when the driver is in adverse visibility conditions. Most conventional vehicles also have fog lamps, usually located at the bottom of the front skirt on either side of the grille or in dedicated recesses. They are designed to be used when normal dipped headlights are insufficient, i.e. in heavy rain,…
Decal or paint? Fresh color - fresh car: all about paint and film!
Nothing enhances a car quite like an eye-catching color. A freshly painted, shiny car has a significantly higher value than a dull, scratched, dented and rusty car. The traditional craft of car painting is in strong competition: car wrapping. Read here everything you need to know about wrapping and painting. New paint for old cars – the traditional way Repainting a car is the traditional way to renew a non-repairable exterior finish. This is an extreme measure when cleaning and polishing will not do anything: rust-filled holes or dents, dull or scratched paintwork and deep scratches can no longer be repaired by cosmetic methods. The only option here is partial or complete new paintwork. Car wrapping - an alternative to painting Car wrapping is the application of a special film to the car body. The foil is made flexible with...
Do-it-yourself seat heating installation - tips and tricks!
In autumn and winter, traditional car heating is not enough for many drivers. The additional seat heating creates additional comfort and a pleasant atmosphere while driving. In this article, you can read all about retrofitting heated seats in older cars. Is it even possible and worth retrofitting heated seats? Regardless of the year of manufacture and model range, adding the comfort of seat heating is possible in any car. The main question is how much money are you willing to spend and what type of heated seats you buy on them. There are several options for heating your car seat during the cold season, and you'll need to weigh your preference for upgrading your car against the cost. Particularly in very old cars with a limited lifespan before being dumped…
Cosiness and atmosphere with LED footwell lighting!
Lighting the footwell in a car is an inexpensive and effective way to create a truly beautiful atmosphere in the car interior. Modern technology makes this a simple matter: LEDs are not only economical and cheap, but also very durable. The modern RYB color model is unbeatable when it comes to comfort: RYB LEDs glow in almost any shade. However, be careful with the signal colors: red, blue and yellow. Ambient lighting, what's the use? LED lighting has no practical application. However, those who love their car like to equip it with everything that makes it more attractive. The soft, warm glow of the footwell lighting creates a cool and comfortable atmosphere in the car. Driving at night in a blue car interior with spotlights makes the journey more fun. And be honest: the mysteriously changing color of the display...
Alteration of the brakes - replacing the drum brake with a disc brake!
Drum brakes are a holdover from automotive braking technology. Until the 70s, this was the standard for all cars. However, many of the major accidents of these giants in terms of cylinder capacity are associated with small-sized and structurally unsuitable drum brakes. Fortunately, this soon changed. Outdated and undersized Even heavy American American muscle cars of the late 60s often had such brakes - often with fatal consequences. At the time, passenger safety technology was still in its infancy. Drum Brake Disadvantages As the name suggests, a drum brake consists of a rotating drum. Its interior contains two firmly integrated brake pads. When braking, the brake pads are pressed against the inside of the brake drum. The resulting friction produces the desired braking effect - in theory. The main problem with a drum brake is its inability to adequately...
Retrofitting the speedometer with LED: Step by step instructions
A defect that occurs in older cars is noticed only after a while, as it appears gradually: your speedometer lights up weaker and weaker. This is caused by incandescent bulbs, which can still be found in car dashboards. The proper solution is a light source that will replace traditional light bulbs: the LED. What are LEDs? LED is short for Light Emitting Diode, an electronic component used to generate light. In many ways, it differs from incandescent lamps. A diode is a so-called semiconductor, which means that it only conducts current in one direction. As a rule, when replacing incandescent lamps with LEDs, this does not matter. New lighting has the correct polarity at the factory. If you prefer to adapt the lighting of the instrument cluster with a soldering iron, pay attention to the markings. And the LEDs...
Additional lighting on a car: what is possible and what is not?
Strict rules apply to how the lighting system should look - and that's a good thing too. However, the auto industry and the legislator were able to agree on certain innovations that made the car safer, more comfortable and at the same time more creative. Read in the text below for a few details for hobbyist enthusiasts who can upgrade the lighting system with additional lighting features. Don't be fooled by Hollywood Movies like "Fast and the Furious" make motorists drool. Cars pushed to the limit, roaring with super-powerful engines, showcasing bright colors and extraordinarily creative automotive lighting. Everything that seems effective in the film has nothing to do with reality - at least in the British Isles. Imagine chaos on the roads if each driver composes a light on his car according to ...
