Navteq have released the 2012 Chrysler map database this month on DVD and you can purchase it online and then easily install it directly into the disc drive that’s set into the dashboard console.  The new Chrysler Navigation DVD is compatible with the Chrysler models listed below:

• Chrysler 200 and 200 Convertible
• Chrysler 300
• Chrysler Aspen
• Chrysler Pacifica
• Chrysler Sebring
• Chrysler Town & Country

How to Buy a New Chrysler Navigation System Update

Buying a new Chrysler Navigation DVD is easy – here’s how you do it in a few easy to follow steps:

1. Firstly visit the official Chrysler Navigation Store which is linked to from their main corporate website.  Once on the site navigate to the Owner’s Section and look for the option to “update maps”.  Once you see the map for your car click on the “buy now” button.
2. The link will take you to the Navteq Store where you can select the model Chrysler you drive, plus the year of manufacture.  This will return a list of map updates to suit you model, including the latest 2012 disc version.
3. The shopping cart checkout page will now load and you can enter your credit card details and delivery address information – the new disc and DVD set will take around 5 working days to arrive.

Installing New Chrysler Map Updates from DVD

Once your disc has arrived in the post you will need to insert it into the Chrysler Navigation System’s disc drive.  Once you do that the map update install should initiate automatically.  If it does not then make sure you press the large button that says “NAVIGATION”.

Map updates will now start to install, which include any changes that have happened on the nation’s roads since you last updated – so for example, any new highways, roads, junctions – plus it even includes millions of points of interest files which include items such as tourist attractions and restaurant reviews.  The install process might take thirty minutes so be prepared to be patient – and make sure you don’t turn he navigation system off during the process as this can corrupt the install and mean you need to do it all over again.

Updating Your GPS Maps Can Save You Money

If you are undecided on whether or not to purchase new Chrysler GPS maps on DVD then you should take heed of some research conducted in Germany in 2009.  The research showed that drivers using an up to date GPS tend to save money on fuel and gas bills – because they don’t get lost so often and can always drive the shortest or quickest route available.

As a result their carbon footprint is reduced (plus all important CO2 emissions too) and they don’t waste time getting caught in traffic jams, because most modern devices come with clever Traffic Avoidance technology.  To check whether your Chrysler Navigation System comes with Traffic Alerts please consult the user manual.

Want to Know More About Chrysler Navigation System Updates?

The video was filmed from a camera placed on the front of the motorcycle, and it shows the driver’s view of the crowded highway and the motorcycle dashboard. At one point, the digital speedometer of the blue 2006 Yamaha R1 revs up to 299 km/h.

In the video, the biker weaves in and out of traffic so quickly that other drivers can not switch lanes to get out of his way. He crosses the center line of the highway and barely misses hitting vehicles on both sides of the bike. During the two-minute video, the bike travels northwest from McKenzie Avenue in Saanich to Millstream Road in Langford.

Police said at the speeds it was traveling, the bike posed a serious hazard to other motorists. Going nearly 300 km/h, the 400-pound motorcycle could punch all the way through a passenger car.

Saanich police believe the video was filmed in the late afternoon of April 5 or 6. A YouTube user calling himself “Joe Blow” uploaded the video on April 8, and so far, it has received more than 230,000 views.

Within hours of the video being posted, police say, they started getting calls about it. They launched an investigation to identify the biker and put out a public plea for information.

About half a dozen witnesses contacted them, Saanich police said, and the tipsters were able to help investigators determine the date, time and place the bike was speeding down the Trans-Canada Highway.

Next, investigators tracked down the Internet Protocol address of the person who uploaded the YouTube video. That gave them the service provider of the YouTube user, and after securing search warrants, police were able to track down the man who they believe was driving the bike that day.

On April 13, police found and confiscated a blue Yamaha R1 from a home in Esquimalt. They said forensics technicians conclusively determined that it is the same bike seen in the YouTube video.

Proving who was driving the Yamaha bike, though, will be harder.

Police say they have identified both the registered owner of the bike and the man who was driving it on the day the video was recorded, but they have not released either person’s name.

Police said they believe that the driver is a 25-year-old and the owner of the bike is his mother, who are both from Esquimalt. The man does not have a license but does have 25 convictions for traffic offenses, police said. The bike itself is uninsured.

The man has been uncooperative so far, police said, and has missed at least one scheduled meeting with investigators.

Police have not filed any charges yet but said they plan to charge both the mother and son.

Legal experts say it will be easier to secure a conviction against the mother than the son. Police must simply prove which bike is featured in the YouTube video, and the registered owner can be held responsible, regardless of who was actually riding the motorcycle.

The Civil Forfeiture Act also gives police the authority to permanently confiscate the bike. The speed racing laws stipulated in the Motor Vehicle Act would let police go so far as to revoke the driver’s license of the motorcycle’s registered owner. At the least, that act allows police to impound the bike for a week and charges the driver an impound fee and heavy fine. The bike owner would likely also have to pay higher insurance premiums for several years.

Legally establishing who was the speed demon driving the motorcycle will be harder. The video does not show any evidence that identifies its driver, and so far, police have not shown any photos or other videos that do so either.

Witness statements could also stand as evidence of the driver’s identity. It is unlikely that eyewitnesses got a good look at the motorcyclist; at that speed, the driver would just be a blur.

However, the biker might have bragged to friends about the joy ride, and their testimony would count in court.

If there is enough identifying evidence, the biker could be charged under the Motor Vehicle Act with excessive speeding or street racing. He could also face a charge of dangerous driving, which is a criminal offense.

Why perform maintenance?

Motorcycles are more exposed to the road and weather than a car. The engine and its parts can see the full brunt of any particularly nasty weather that could damage it, and the oil requires checking in order to maintain smooth operation of the bike. Motorcycle tyres require changing earlier on in their life than car tyres and making sure they’re in a fit state to run by inspecting them regularly is vital.

But this isn’t difficult work and, with the correct tools, can be carried out quickly and easily. More motorcycle maintenance than car maintenance can be carried out at home, and when something can’t be done by yourself it’s usually cheaper at a garage than the same job on a car.

Almost all new motorcycles come with the tools required to perform the maintenance they need, as well as a list of checks to carry out. This list will usually include checking the oil level and tyre pressures, as well as brake fluid and the state of the chain.

Oil levels

The oil level and brake fluid can be checked easily without any additional tools.

For the oil, there will either be an inspection window or a dipstick. If the bike has one, the inspection window will usually be near where the oil is put in – on the side of the engine. If instead the bike uses a dipstick, it will be attached to the oil cap. Both of these will have max and min marks, and it’s vitally important that the oil level be between these marks. If it’s below, more oil should be added immediately.

Brakes

The brakes can be checked firstly by using the levers and making sure the wheels hold firm, as well as running free without drag when the brakes are released. The brake fluid reservoirs should also be checked to make sure there is enough fluid within them, or the brakes may not work correctly.

These reservoirs will usually be positioned near the brake levers, on the handlebars for the front brake and on the right hand side near the back for the back brake, and will either have an inspection window or be see-through with a minimum mark on it. The reservoirs will have what type of fluid is required for them written on the case.

Tyres

Tyre pressures can be checked at home using tyre pressure checking tools. It’s important to make sure that the tyre pressures are correct, because if they’re higher or lower than the manual states it could affect how the bike rides and handles.

Checking the tyre for damages or puncture marks is important, especially before a long ride. Any damages could cause the tyre to blow out, which would end in a crash. It’s also important to check the tyre tread depth, because lower depth than 1mm is illegal and the tyres should be changed.

Chain

Checking the chain is one of the most important things in motorcycle maintenance. Making sure that the chain is well lubricated, as well as having a slight amount of room to move (although not loose) is vital to avoid damage and smooth operation.

Checking the chain for kinks will stop further problems from developing, and a chain should be replaced around the 15,000-20,000 mile mark.

The End of the World

Of course the world didn’t end; most people were able to carry on as normal, just with a slightly increased fire risk around the house, thanks to Francis Maude’s quickly retracted advice.  The reality of fuel shortages is that they are the storm in plastic roadside café tea cup.  Essential services such as the fire brigade – more essential thanks to Mr Maude – ambulances and police vehicles will not be found at the back of the increasingly long queues, should a strike ever actually happen.  Contingencies plans are already in place to ensure that these services will continue to receive necessary supplies; the only worry is that government is responsible for these contingency plans.

The Threat Returns

Strikes cause disruption and that is what they are designed to do.  The tanker drivers’ union has in the last few days turned down a deal which could avert strike action but this time the government advice is basically along the  lines of don’t panic, which is what it should have been in the first place.  With the rejection of the deal, a real fuel shortage is a possibility again.  If it does happen is there really anything you can do to avoid the worst effects?

Hoards of Fuel

Storing fuel in jerry cans, jam jars and your kid’s back-packs is not necessary.  The government may not think so, but it’s also dangerous.  Keeping your tank topped up is the best way to avoid running out of fuel.  Any strike will come with notice – seven day’s notice – giving most of us plenty of time to re-fuel.  If a strike happens, it’s likely to cause some queues at petrol stations; if you’ve a full tank, you can avoid the busiest times.  Re-fuel early in the morning or late in the evening and you’ll stand a chance of missing the stop/start fuel draining queue.

Cut Fuel Consumption by 100 Per Cent

Fuel efficient driving has been shown by such sensible bodies as the AA to cut petrol consumption by up to 30 per cent.  Not using the car is rumoured to cut it by up to 100 per cent.  Simple, practical and common sense habits like this will save fuel not only during fuel blockades but at other times too.  They’re good habits and considering that many families are now spending more on petrol than food, it may be time to start learning them.

If a strike, erm, strikes, it won’t go on forever.  Topping up, driving sensibly and a little less often, will mean that you may well get through the strike without it any major problems.  Additional simple measures like car sharing on the school run on a temporary basis with neighbours will also help; you can take it turn to drop the kids at school to help to preserve what’s in the tank.  If and when the fuel strike comes our way, the best attitude will no doubt be to keep calm and carry on.  It’s not government policy, but perhaps it should be.

Running an Old Car Efficiently

Several studies have been conducted on the lifecycle impact of vehicles, and it’s generally accepted that the majority of the total lifetime energy use of a vehicle comes from the driving stage.  However, producing a new car does cost a lot of energy, so scrapping a car that is in good condition is rather wasteful.  The question of which choice is best for the environment really depends on the individual car, and how much you drive.

To reduce the environmental impact of running an old car, you should make sure that you look after the car as well as possible.  Regular servicing is a good start.  If, during servicing, it’s found that your old car needs replacement parts, try to source second hand parts rather than buying new ones.  Not only will this reduce the impact your car has on the environment, it should keep costs down too.

Eco Friendly Diesel Vehicles

If you’re lucky enough to own a diesel vehicle, then you could reduce your vehicle’s impact on the environment even more by running your car on vegetable oil instead of fossil fuels. Most diesel engines can run on vegetable oil, but you’ll need to be careful if you want to try this idea.  Don’t just pour a bottle of oil into the tank and start driving.

Vegetable oil works best with old vehicles that don’t have Lucas injection pumps.  Check with a garage if you’re not sure whether it will work with your car.

You should start by mixing vegetable oil in with diesel, with a ratio of 20% vegetable oil or less.  If you use too much vegetable oil you could do long term damage to your car’s engine, which would defeat the object of keeping an older car on the road.

Servicing Your Old Car

There are lots of things that you can do yourself to look after your car.  Changing tyres, cleaning the air filter, and changing the oil are all good examples.  However, looking after a car can produce some pretty nasty waste.  If you spot an oil leak, try to soak it up (cat litter is good for this), then sweep up the oil-soaked litter and dispose of it carefully.  You can handle petrol spills in a similar way.

If you’re changing the oil, decant it into a strong container, and take it to an oil bank as soon as possible so that it can be disposed of properly.  Never pour engine oil down the drain or put it in the bin.

What About Luxuries?

Driving an old car doesn’t mean you need to miss out on luxuries. In fact it is often the more luxurious models that make sense to buy second hand as they are generally well looked after and built to last. You could even stick on some non-dating or personalised number plates to hide the age of your car and your neighbours will think you have won the lottery!

Image courtesy:http://www.flickr.com/photos/8204247@N08/

What’s to like?
In addition to providing families with extra passenger and cargo space, the minivan is also easy to maneuver. In the early years of production, minivans were only built on car-based platforms. Unlike regular sized vans, drivers could easily whip a minivan around town and into a parking space, carport and garage.

The drivetrains offered in minivans also made them reasonably priced in those early years. Families could purchase a minivan with a four-cylinder engine. As the years progressed, minivans started to be offered with larger engines.

Minivan’s History
The minivan first bursted onto the automotive scene in 1984. It was the brainchild of Chrysler automotive designers, engineers and Lee Iacocca, who was head of the American-based car manufacturer at the time.

Chrysler’s Dodge and Plymouth divisions were the first to get the minivan treatments. Dodge introduced the Caravan. Plymouth introduced the Voyager.

The minivan was a hit for Chrysler. It saved the company from bankruptcy. With the energy crisis of the 1970s, the early 1980s saw the ushering in of downsized station wagons and a reduction in the number of large full-sized sedans being offered. The minivan offered families more space.

Playing on its success, Chrysler expanded their minivan offerings in the years to come. Chrysler’s Town and Country minivan was introduced in 1989. It offered customers a more upscale alternative to the Caravan and Voyager.

Chrysler always had a strong hold on the minivan segment. The American-based company always held at less 36 percent market share. With other car company’s out of the minivan business, Chrysler now accounts for almost 70 percent market share.

Vehicle Segment Created
With Chrysler’s success, other car manufacturers got into the minivan business. A new vehicle segment was soon born with customers having a selection of minivans to choose from not only other American car companies, but also from imports.

General Motors introduced a lineup of minivans in 1990 for their Oldsmobile, Chevrolet and Pontiac divisions. Oldsmobile offered the Silhouette, Chevrolet the Lumina APV and Pontiac the Trans Sport. Just like Chrysler’s minivan lineup, GM minivans shared similar design cues but were package with different standard and optional features.

Ford introduced the Aerostar minivan in 1986. It was their first attempt at the vehicle segment. Mercury, one of Ford’s divisions, introduced their minivan, which was called the Villager, in 1993.

Import car companies soon followed with their versions of the minivan. Toyota introduced their minivan in 1984. It was simply called the Toyota Van.

Honda’s Odyssey minivan come onto the scene in 1995. Nissan’s Quest minivan was first introduced in 1993.

Popularity Fades
With the growing popularity of sport utility vehicles, the minivan’s popularity started to fade throughout the years. Sport utility vehicles offered extra space just like minivans, but with bigger and more powerful engines. Sport utility vehicles also didn’t make male drivers feel emasculated.

According to Dennis DesRosier, an automotive analyst, at the high of their popularity, minivan sales in the Canadian market accounted for 17 percent of total vehicle sales in 1999 with more than 250,000 units rolling off the assembly lines.

DesRosier said that for last year, minivan sales in Canada had dropped to 5.5 percent market share. Sales in the United States were near a half a million units with a market share of 4.3 percent.

Today, the minivan segment is left with less choices than in the early and boom years. Even before GM pulled the plug on Pontiac, the division had stopped making the Trans Sport minivan.

The Lumina APV, which was later replaced with the Chevrolet Venture, was discontinued in 1996. Oldsmobile stopped making their Silhouette minivan in 2004.

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1990-to-1996-chevrolet-lumina-apv-minivan.htm

http://www.ehow.com/list_7601462_toyota-minivan-specs.html

http://www.edmunds.com/honda/odyssey/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Quest

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1990-to-1997-ford-aerostar.htm

However, it seems that Tata Motors has succeeded in overcoming the teething troubles. In last month, Nano unit sales crossed 10000 marks for the very first time. The industry buzz is that the carmaker wants to strengthen its stronghold in the compact car segment and therefore it is all set to launch a new variant of Nano. In recent times, car industry has been stressing more on making eco friendly and hybrid cars. Even though hybrid and electric cars are nowhere as popular as fuel driven counterparts, Tata Motors wants to utilize the trend and implement it among its upcoming cars. At the Indian Auto Expo this year, the company showcased a CNG variant of Nano, and market speculations indicate an end 2012 launch.

As a matter of fact, Nano has mostly found favor with wealthy urban users who already own a car. They use the small car as an intra city commuting vehicle at most. However, the CNG version of Nano may catch the fancy of the environment conscious users if the company introduces right features and keeps the pricing reasonable. The low running cost of green fuels like CNG may also attract buyers who are weary of rising petrol process. Interestingly, Tata Nano CNG will actually be a dual fuel car and will also run on petrol. The fact that it will have a manual mode switch button makes driving it really convenient for users. All these factors consolidate its space among upcoming cars in India in 2012.

The upcoming Nano CNG will still have the twin cylinder 624 cc engines. It will possibly have a 4 speed gearbox. This model is said to be equipped with sequential injection technology to ensure optimum fuel usage and performance. It will also have a fuel tank with 35 liters capacity. The model which is being conceived as one of the promising upcoming cars in India in 2012 will have several features to minimize risks of engine fire. Of course, the CNG version of Nano will be priced steer than the regular petrol version. However, it is expected that the company will not priced it too high as it will shoo away potential buyers given the mediocre market reputation of Nano. To keep its position among top upcoming cars of India this year, Tata Motors should resort to balanced pricing and proper marketing.

Rust and Damage:

One of the biggest issues when choosing a classic car is its history. If the previous owner was meticulous you may get lucky enough to have records of everything from accidents to oil changes. In many instances, that is not the case. Therefore you must look closely before purchasing. Check each nook and cranny for rust, bent frames, dents, cracks, and apparent repair welds. Take your time and don’t allow a shifty salesman rush you. There is nothing worse than finding out your cherry is a lemon.

Mileage:

One would expect a 60 year old car to have high mileage. This is not a deal breaker depending on what you intend to use the car for. If you just want a weekend warrior to drive around town on occasion, then mileage shouldn’t scare you off. As a daily driver however, you will want to choose a car with lower mileage. This of course is can be a moot point depending on the upkeep and rebuilds the car’s engine and transmission has undergone. Get the vehicle’s maintenance and repair history if possible.

Operation:

A car is worthless if it doesn’t move. When you are looking for a classic car there is an expectation of something that doesn’t work. If you are looking for a classic car to work on as a project, you may accept that the blinkers don’t blink, the horn doesn’t honk, or the fan belt squeaks.

If you are looking for a car to drive off the location, take it for a test drive. Listen to the engine for knocks, pings and pounds. Test the breaks, the lights, the blinkers and see if the mirror gives a reflection. You want to assure everything works properly before making an offer.

Price:

The price should be the last thing you look at. When you are shopping for a classic car, you get what you pay for. If the deal seems too good to be true, check into the car even deeper. In many cases a seller will use the Kelly Blue Book value of the car with a couple of thousand on top if they put a lot of work into it. In other cases the car will be priced based on what the owner believes it is worth. This plays a large role in negotiating as many cars hold sentimental value for their owners. Make an offer based on what you are willing to pay for the car based on the current condition, not the condition it will be in after you invest time, love, and money into it.

Owning a classic car can bring a sense of nostalgia. Whether you are choosing a car your parents once owned, the car you drove when you took your wife out in on your first date, or your dream car that you drooled over when you were 16 and unable to afford it, your classic car can be the best remembrance of your younger years. Be sure you choose wisely and let the memories remain good memories.

Permits

When you take your car to school with you, you will have to purchase a parking permit. This will allow you to park your car in a parking lot on campus for an extended period of time. If you do not get one of these parking tickets, you will get parking tickets. After so many tickets, your car will get impounded, and you will have to pay to get your car back. When you get a parking ticket, you will only be able to park in certain places. If you are a commuter student, you will have designated places to park. If you live on campus, you will also have designated places to park, but you will not be permitted to park in the commuter parking spots. You should know that when you take your personal car to college, you are responsible for it. Many times, the lot where you will need to park your car is a ways away from your dorm, so be prepared to have to walk to your car. Even if it is raining, you will have to walk to get to your car. You will also have to worry that your car does not get hit by another car and make sure than vandalism is not occurring at your college.

Benefits

If you choose not to take your car to college, you will have to depend on public transportation or walking to get where you want to go. You will find that there are buses that take students places but that they may not be going at a time that is convenient for you. You may also find that if you have to go and get groceries for your dorm room, it is difficult for you to have to go on your foot. Basically, you need to decide whether it is practical for you to take your car to college with you. If you do, you will be able to go home on weekends and not have to depend on your parents to come and get you every time you want to go home. There are many reasons why it is wise to take your car to college with you. Consider why it would benefit you and go from there. Then, if you decide to take your car, apply for a parking pass and you’ll be all set.

Image courtesy:freedigitalphotos.net

Something that sounds this good will expectedly have its commensurate downsides. A car is a piece of property that will start to depreciate at the moment of purchase (unless it’s a vintage). It has got a lot of moving parts subject to wear and tear, and no matter how prudent you are in observing your monthly automotive maintenance checkup, things can still go wrong especially when you least expect it.

It’s easy to figure out what to do when you get a flat, but what do you do when you get a leaking radiator, or a blinking ignition light? If you’re really in a pinch, here are a couple of quick fixes that might just get you to the nearest shop.

By the way, if you have to deal with these kinds of problems, you most probably have a car that is already at the twilight stages of its life, so most of the fixes here are intended for such cars. Always let the car cool down first before attempting these fixes!

The Egg/Pepper Fix – Sounds like breakfast, but this one is actually a recipe for leaking radiators. The idea is to patch up any small holes or leaks to prevent your engine from overheating. Let your car cool down for around 15 minutes. After it has sufficiently cooled down, refill it with water, then pour a shaker-full of pepper or a couple of eggs into the radiator. The bits of pepper should find their way to any pinhole leaks, although the egg fix might work better for bigger holes.

Using a Vise-Grip to fix a bad thermostat – Or virtually any hose for that matter. If you don’t have tape and you need to plug a bad hose, clamp the hole down tightly using a Vise-Grip. You’ll need to pinch just a part of the hose with the whole and not the whole thing. Remember to secure the Vise-Grip onto something so that it won’t come off and become debris.

The Pantyhose Trick – Almost obsolete because most cars now use a “serpentine” installation, but the pantyhose can actually temporarily replace any belt in any multi-belt engine. It is most notoriously known to be a quick fix to a fan belt problem, but what it actually does is to keep the water pump going.

Chapstick as lubricant – While it is tempting to make a risque pun here, Chapstick as a lube does work like a charm in most occasions.

Use Antifreeze as coolant – Overheating can really make your car stall. When in the middle of nowhere, you can use 1 part water, 1 part antifreeze as engine coolant.

Wire Hangers – Or just about anything metallic and flexible can be used to substitute a bad spark plug wire.