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The Honda Insight has been constantly cited as among the best gas mileage cars in the market. In 2004, it topped the rankings in the United States Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency's 2004 Fuel Economy Guide.
Honda has a history of producing innovative, fuel efficient and low emission, engine technology. One such example of Honda's genius was in 1973 when it produced the Civic CVCC Compound Controlled Combustion system which burned fuel so completely that it passed California's emission standards without a catalytic converter. Over the years, Honda continued its innovative streak, achieving an impressive EPA reading of 51/67 mpg (city/hwy) with its 1.3 liter Civic CRX in 1984 and getting 50 mpg with its Civic VX in 1992 using a lean burning engine with variable lift intake valves (VTEC-E) without sacrificing performance.
In the years that followed, Honda, like most other car manufacturers developed alternative fuel vehicles such as the natural gas burning Civic GX and the zero-emissions electric motor EV Plus. These cars, however, inspite of its importance to research and development, never became commercially successful due to cost, issues of performance, and lack of supporting infrastructure (i.e. Gas stations lacked EV outlets or natural gas hook ups).
In 1999, Honda launched the Insight as its first hybrid (fuel-efficient vehicles using gasoline or diesel powered engines teamed with an electric motor), consequently up'ing the ante with regard to fuel efficiency and emissions by producing a technologically interesting and commercially viable stepping stone between today's combustion engine cars and the potential "super green" cars of the future. Powered by an electric motor and a three-cylinder gasoline-powered engine, the Insight achieves 61 mpg in the city and 66 mpg on the highway with a five-speed manual transmission, beating the Toyota Prius' 60 mpg in the city and 51 on the highway.
Given the Insight's credentials, one is inclined to think that it is almost well, invincible. However, as all things of great use are subject to normal wear and tear, owning an Insight means that one day you'll have to replace or repair some parts of it too. When such time comes, you'll have to be sure that you get only from the best performance auto parts for this exceptional vehicle. You can find these at Auto Parts Corner, one of the leading and most trusted online auto parts stores in the country. When it comes to honda parts, you can be assured of superior quality from Auto Parts Corner. Auto Parts Corner offers a wide array of premium quality, low-priced replacement auto parts for whatever car make of your choice, all ready to be delivered at your doorstep at the soonest possible time.
No matter how well built your car is, time will come you have to deal with some car problems. Like us humans, they get sick as well and thus, they need to be checked once in a while. Here are some of the common problems your car may encounter. Ask yourself the following questions, if your answer is yes, then you may have to go to a repair shop or get a replacement part.
1. Does your engine fail to start or your fuel filter sputter at high speeds?
Check first your ignition system, if nothing’s wrong with it there must be something wrong with your fuel filter. It is necessary to clean or replace it so as not to affect your engine’s performance. You need clean and high quality fuel filters to be able to strain harmful contaminants in the fuel more effectively.
2. Does your car overheat?
The car radiator probably lacks water and thus you need to add some water to it. Be careful in doing this, you might suffer serious burns. Your vehicle can also suffer overheating if it bears too much weight; thus, you have to unload some of your cargoes.
3. Do your brakes fail to hold or do they make a screeching sound?
Have your car brakes checked at a repair shop immediately. Many car accidents happen due to faulty brakes so don’t wait till you encounter one. Also, check on your tires. They may already be worn out and thus, they need to be replaced as soon as possible.
4. Does the steering wheel vibrate at around 50-70 mph?
Your front wheel is probably not positioned properly. Go to a professional car mechanic and have it fixed. Have the rest of the car wheels checked as well so you can be sure they are all balanced.
5. Are you driving a front wheel drive and do you hear whining sound from the tires even when you are driving on a smooth road?
When this happens, inspect the tread of the rear tires by running through the surface in two different directions; if in one direction the tread is smooth and on the other, it is rough, you need to rotate the tires of your car.
If you want to know more about common car problems and car care, try to visit forums and auto enthusiast web sites. For sure you can find a wealth of information from there. Meanwhile, you can check out Auto Parts Corner, a leading Auto parts wholesale store that offers great variety of auto replacement parts. If you encounter one of those problems mentioned and are in need of replacement parts, you can count on Auto Parts Corner.
The exhaust system is one of the most important systems in your car. It is the one in charge of converting the exhaust gases such as the hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into less harmful emissions before they are sent out of the vehicle. In order for the whole exhaust system to work efficiently, all its parts must be in good working condition.
Extra care is needed by your exhaust system since it is prone to rust. Water vapor or moisture is often produced as the air-fuel mixture is being burned and as the harmful gasses are cleaned in the catalytic converter. This reacts with the iron in the steel; thereby, forming rust. Also, when it rains outside, moisture is formed, speeding up the formation of rust in the exhaust system.
If you notice a decrease in gas mileage, you better check on your oxygen sensor. It easily wears out especially when more fuel is being burned by the engine. It is advisable to change oxygen sensor every 60,000 miles to ensure it works accurately. It is better to spend extra money for a new oxygen sensor rather to spend so much for your gas.
Another problem you might encounter is a clogged catalytic converter. Signs of a clogged catalytic converter include sulfuric smell, heat coming from the floor of the car and loss of power. If you see the catalytic converter glowing, don’t wait for another day to buy a new catalytic converter. In most States, driving without a catalytic converter is illegal so make sure to replace your catalytic converter as soon as possible if damaged.
If you are in need of OEM-quality catalytic converter, you can go to Auto Parts Corner. You can find here thousands of quality auto parts for various makes and models. Catalytic converters are just few of the car parts available at Auto Parts Corner. Check out their site and see their wide variety of top quality auto parts and auto parts wholesale deals.
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