Imagine walking into a clothing retailer and finding that all of the clothes on the racks are the same size. Unless that size happened to be yours, this would not be a good thing. Now imagine going next door to another clothier to find the same scenario. This example may be somewhat extreme, but it's essentially the scenario we faced as a driver or passenger of a vehicle with airbags prior to 2004.
Airbags became required equipment on all U.S. automobiles in the 1990s, and there has been much documentation regarding their effectiveness in reducing driver and passenger fatalities. Statistics show a significant reduction in driver and passenger fatalities has resulted from the added safety afforded by airbags in a collision. But at the same time, traditional airbags have been shown to be dangerous to small children when deployed at full force.
Like your clothing store, one-size-fits-all is not the best application for effective airbag safety and is one of the main motivators in the development of Occupant Classification Systems. An Occupant Classification Systems (OCS) can use various kinds of sensors to detect the size and/or position of an occupant in a passenger seat. An OCS eliminates the need for manual on/off switches for airbags found in many cars and trucks in the early 2000s because they use sophisticated computer technology to identify whether an adult or a child is in the seat.
Occupant Classification Systems are a great example of the kind of "smart" technology that is increasingly finding its way into our vehicles. An OCS senses the passenger's size, if a seat belt is being used, and even the location of the seat (pushed forward or pulled back). Some systems can distinguish an empty seat from a seat holding a book bag, child seat or even a small adult from a large adult. And by using dual- or variable-stage airbags, the force adapted to help protect the occupant.
There are many benefits to having an occupant classification system and "smart" airbags in your car. They pose less of a threat to children and small adults, and they allow drivers more options for seating their passengers. Once the onboard computer knows the passenger's size and seating location, the car's dual or variable-stage airbags come into play. The size of the occupant in the passenger's seat will determine the type of airbag deployment. Dual-stage airbags can deploy at full force, partial force or not at all depending upon the inputs they receive. Variable-stage airbags have even more deployment force settings. Preventing an airbag from deploying at full force can greatly reduce, or even eliminate, the possibility of injuring a smaller passenger.
A very popular OCS is made by Delphi. The system is comprised of a pressure sensor, a silicone-filled "bladder" in the seat and an electronic control unit (ECU). When someone sits in the seat, the pressure sensor sends applied force to the ECU. The ECU then sends that data to the airbag, which has its own control unit. Based on this information, the vehicle's computer turns the passenger airbag on or off and regulates it force.
Historically, the most common way of detecting an occupant in a seat is with weight or pressure sensors, but new technologies are being developed. Capacitive systems measure the amount of electrical coupling found in the seat. Some experimental systems take optical images of passengers to determine whether a child or adult is sitting in the seat and use that information to turn the airbags on or off accordingly. Others go so far as to detect physiological factors like respiration and heartbeats of passengers to tell the airbags what to do. And even though vehicles equipped with occupant classification systems significantly reduce risks, it's always safest to keep small children in the back seat according to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control) research.
Delphi Corporation is a leading innovator of automobile safety equipment and technology. To learn about Delphi's safety advancements, visit www.Delphi.com/4safe.
Article From Article Emporium
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Maintaining A Long Term Relationship With Your Car
When a car lease is up after two or three years, many vehicle owners simply turn around and lease a new one. Rarely do they renew, or buy it out. Many dealerships offer deals too good to pass up, such as low or non-existent interest rates, in order to encourage a new lease. After all, there's an eager market for young, slightly used sets of wheels.
Even folks who have purchased their cars outright, routinely trade every three, four, or five years. The idea is that the cost of maintenance will start to escalate as the vehicle ages.
A survey published online in 2007, by an organization called Consumer Reports, discovered over six thousand readers who had kept their vehicle for 200,000 miles or more. Some of the vehicles that had achieved impressive totals included a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup truck with 488,000 miles, a 1990 Lexus LS400 with 332,00 miles and 1995 Honda Civic with 227,00 miles.
The organization calculated that purchasing and maintaining a vehicle for 15 years, with estimated mileage of 225,000, when compared to the buying and finance charges of the same vehicle every five years, that savings greater than the original purchase cost could be realized. All costs were factored in, including depreciation and insurance.
Of course, not every vehicle is a good candidate for owners who hope to attain the 200,000 mile club. In general, a couple of Honda models, two types of Lexus, and more than three Toyota makes, earn good grades on the longevity report card.
Unfortunately there are lots of seemingly fine vehicles that do not make the grade at all. We won't go into the exact models here, you can do your own research online. Surprisingly some models of these well known manufacturers get the thumbs down, Volvo, Nissan, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes, and Infiniti.
It is obvious then, that to play the long term relationship game you must first purchase the right vehicle, and then follow very explicit rules.
Find and read consumer reports that offer safety and reliability results for test trials that have been sponsored by government and the insurance industry. Make sure that the car you buy has electronic stability control and curtain air bags. Safety and reliability are paramount.
Be sure and follow the maintenance schedule found in your owner's manual. Don't skip oil changes, and make any repairs promptly. Missed oil changes can lead to premature engine damage and wear.
Don't be tempted to skimp on cheap or incorrect parts or fluids. Use only the oil and transmission brands that meet the manufacturer's specifications. There are good reasons that particular types are recommended.
Learn to be vigilant and proactive. Get in the habit or lifting the hood and actually viewing the working innards of your vehicle. If you enjoyed playing doctor when you were a kid, then this is a chance to extend the thrill. Study for your degree by purchasing a service manual. They are available at dealerships, auto part stores, and online. If you discover a cracked belt, or bulging hose, repair it right away.
Keep your pride and joy looking like it just stepped out of the showroom. Wash, wax and buff the exterior to keep the paint in tip top shape and the metal underneath from rusting. Make use of those high powered vacuum cleaners available at your local car wash to suck up dirt and grit from the carpets and upholstery.
Go ahead, strive for the 200,000 club. Head for your computer, do your research, and find a really good auto maintenance repair shop. Make friends with the folks there. Together you can achieve your goal of carefree driving. Happy trails!
Author Resource:-> Finding accurate auto repair information can be difficult due to the wide variety of vehicles on the road today and the vast differences between them. You can find helpful auto repair information at AutoRepair-Info.com
Article From Article Emporium
Even folks who have purchased their cars outright, routinely trade every three, four, or five years. The idea is that the cost of maintenance will start to escalate as the vehicle ages.
A survey published online in 2007, by an organization called Consumer Reports, discovered over six thousand readers who had kept their vehicle for 200,000 miles or more. Some of the vehicles that had achieved impressive totals included a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup truck with 488,000 miles, a 1990 Lexus LS400 with 332,00 miles and 1995 Honda Civic with 227,00 miles.
The organization calculated that purchasing and maintaining a vehicle for 15 years, with estimated mileage of 225,000, when compared to the buying and finance charges of the same vehicle every five years, that savings greater than the original purchase cost could be realized. All costs were factored in, including depreciation and insurance.
Of course, not every vehicle is a good candidate for owners who hope to attain the 200,000 mile club. In general, a couple of Honda models, two types of Lexus, and more than three Toyota makes, earn good grades on the longevity report card.
Unfortunately there are lots of seemingly fine vehicles that do not make the grade at all. We won't go into the exact models here, you can do your own research online. Surprisingly some models of these well known manufacturers get the thumbs down, Volvo, Nissan, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes, and Infiniti.
It is obvious then, that to play the long term relationship game you must first purchase the right vehicle, and then follow very explicit rules.
Find and read consumer reports that offer safety and reliability results for test trials that have been sponsored by government and the insurance industry. Make sure that the car you buy has electronic stability control and curtain air bags. Safety and reliability are paramount.
Be sure and follow the maintenance schedule found in your owner's manual. Don't skip oil changes, and make any repairs promptly. Missed oil changes can lead to premature engine damage and wear.
Don't be tempted to skimp on cheap or incorrect parts or fluids. Use only the oil and transmission brands that meet the manufacturer's specifications. There are good reasons that particular types are recommended.
Learn to be vigilant and proactive. Get in the habit or lifting the hood and actually viewing the working innards of your vehicle. If you enjoyed playing doctor when you were a kid, then this is a chance to extend the thrill. Study for your degree by purchasing a service manual. They are available at dealerships, auto part stores, and online. If you discover a cracked belt, or bulging hose, repair it right away.
Keep your pride and joy looking like it just stepped out of the showroom. Wash, wax and buff the exterior to keep the paint in tip top shape and the metal underneath from rusting. Make use of those high powered vacuum cleaners available at your local car wash to suck up dirt and grit from the carpets and upholstery.
Go ahead, strive for the 200,000 club. Head for your computer, do your research, and find a really good auto maintenance repair shop. Make friends with the folks there. Together you can achieve your goal of carefree driving. Happy trails!
Author Resource:-> Finding accurate auto repair information can be difficult due to the wide variety of vehicles on the road today and the vast differences between them. You can find helpful auto repair information at AutoRepair-Info.com
Article From Article Emporium
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Car Insurance Tips
Our first tip is do not be lured into paying for your car insurance monthly. Although it seems cheaper or more manageable, it's not. Typically, you will be charged around 24% interest, thereby adding £50 to the average car insurance cost. Just over 50 per cent of the 26 million insured drivers in Britain pay monthly, and cumulatively this means £624 million is being handed to the insurance industry in unnecessary payments. Even if you pay on your credit card, taking two or three months to pay it off, it will still be more economical than spreading it over a year at 24% interest.
Secondly, don't automatically accept a renewal quote, even if you have a substantial no-claims bonus. There is no such thing as customer loyalty in the insurance industry. Every one of the big companies target new clients by offering big discounts, some offering half price deals compared to those for existing customers for exactly the same level of cover. Try applying as a new customer to your existing insurer; you'll soon see how much the difference is.
Thirdly, try not to make a claim on small amounts up to £500 because you'll only have pay a higher premium the year after when your policy is up for renewal . In some cases an insurer may not cover you at all if you have made too many claims.
Sixthly, security devices can also reduce your insurance premiums. Some companies that fit car security devices can calculate for you how their car security products like vehicle tracking will affect you premium if you have them fitted.
Next, avoid customizing or modifying your car because around half of all insurers will not provide insurance cover and any that do will certainly charge more. Don't pimp your ride if you want to keep the cost down.
Another temptation is for young drivers to reduce their premiums by supplying details of their parents' address in a rural area rather than putting down their correct city based address. Always provide an accurate address. If insurers finds you providing another address to qualify for a lower premium you can be black listed and it will also completely invalidate your claim.
Finally, try adding another driver with a good driving history to your policy. For some reason, adding an experienced driver onto your policy can actually lower the total premium.
The Car Info store provides great deals on Car Insurance for its clients in the uk. Please visit our site for helpful information to aid you in making the right decision, first time.
Secondly, don't automatically accept a renewal quote, even if you have a substantial no-claims bonus. There is no such thing as customer loyalty in the insurance industry. Every one of the big companies target new clients by offering big discounts, some offering half price deals compared to those for existing customers for exactly the same level of cover. Try applying as a new customer to your existing insurer; you'll soon see how much the difference is.
Thirdly, try not to make a claim on small amounts up to £500 because you'll only have pay a higher premium the year after when your policy is up for renewal . In some cases an insurer may not cover you at all if you have made too many claims.
Fourthly, set your level of excess at as high a level as you can afford. This can also bring your premium down significantly.
Fifthly, the majority of people don't realise how job titles can affect insurance premiums. Some occupations are not well thought of by insurers - journalists, estate agents and sales reps to name but a few. You may be able to reduce your premium by being more accurate about you job title. A journalist for example may pay £600 but a news editor only £576. You must, however, tell the truth. Any inaccurate or none disclosed information would invalidate any claims you make.Sixthly, security devices can also reduce your insurance premiums. Some companies that fit car security devices can calculate for you how their car security products like vehicle tracking will affect you premium if you have them fitted.
Next, avoid customizing or modifying your car because around half of all insurers will not provide insurance cover and any that do will certainly charge more. Don't pimp your ride if you want to keep the cost down.
Another temptation is for young drivers to reduce their premiums by supplying details of their parents' address in a rural area rather than putting down their correct city based address. Always provide an accurate address. If insurers finds you providing another address to qualify for a lower premium you can be black listed and it will also completely invalidate your claim.
Finally, try adding another driver with a good driving history to your policy. For some reason, adding an experienced driver onto your policy can actually lower the total premium.
The Car Info store provides great deals on Car Insurance for its clients in the uk. Please visit our site for helpful information to aid you in making the right decision, first time.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Challiner
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