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Here are the different types, available from garage equipment supply dealers:

In-Ground

This type of vehicle lift is assembled below the garage floor. It consists of one or more pistons, depending on the maximum weight capacity. Lifts with one or two pistons are used for compact, mid-sized and full-sized cars. Lifts with three or more pistons are used for larger vehicles, such as buses and RV’s.

Two Post Surface Mounted

The most common vehicle lift utilized today is called a Two Post Surface Mounted lift. On each column, there are lift arms. These are controlled mechanically, electronically or hydraulically.

Multi-Post Runway Automotive Lift

The most common type is the four-post mounted lift, which is extensively used by oil change, transmission, and muffler service shops.

You’ll find this type of auto lift in wheel alignment service stations as well. The car is driven onto the two runways and raised, exposing its underside.

Low/Mid Rise Frame Engaging Lift

This type of vehicle lift engages the vehicle’s frame in lifting. There are two ways this type may operate. One way is scissors-style, moving straight up. Another is parallelogram-style, moving forward or backward, while raising or lowering. This type is commonly used for brake, tire, and wheel services as well as auto body repair.  Read more...

The idea of repairing your own car seems to be very exciting and at the same time challenging. This article helps you in not only overcoming this challenge but also helps you in learning a new skill set. You may be on a long drive when the car falls sick in the middle. It might be difficult to find a mechanic in the highway and during odd times. This might seem so interesting that you may opt to pursue this as your hobby and also offer timely help to your friends and relatives in fixing small repairs.

Now it’s time for us to dive into the subject. The automotive repairs may be classified into four categories. First one is the common problems that we face with our cars, which can be easily handled even by the starters. Second one is the electrical mending works, which should be handled bit carefully. Handling this would be the stepping stone for us to trouble shoot other electrical items. The Third one is the advanced fixes for which you need a thorough brush up of your mechanical knowledge. Last and final one is the regular maintenance work. Let’s discuss about handling them one by one.  Read more...

Using the right tool to perform the corresponding job at hand while working on automobiles reduces effort and increases speed, safety and efficiency. In this article, we will discuss three unique automotive specialty tools.

Coil Spring Compressor

While working on the suspension system of an automobile, a garage mechanic may need to remove its coil springs. Since the coils are fitted in a way that they are under a lot of pressure, removing them may prove hazardous. The safest way to perform this task is by using a coil spring compressor.

These tools consist of two jaws, one to grip the upper coil and the other to grip the lower one. Once gripped, the coil spring compressor must be turned with a wrench. Doing so would cause the jaws to draw closer and squish the spring. Essentially, this tool causes the top nut to be loosened all the way to get the springs out but without dangerous force.

Also, coil springs lose their structural integrity over time, which may reduce the height of the vehicle, make maneuvering difficult and increase the wear of important suspension system components. The coil spring compressor helps in replacing these springs in order to get the vehicle back in top shape.  Read more...

Human Machine Interfaces, or HMIs, traditionally consist of multiple systems which allow drivers to interact with their vehicle. In today’s automotive designs, the HMI also displays any feedback from the vehicle to the driver. This interaction begins the instant one unlocks the car door, continues while driving, and ends the moment the driver gets out and locks the car. It involves the optimal balance of the driver’s sensory inputs to make the driving experience both safe and enjoyable. Some of the more commonly recognized HMI system modules for enhancing the driver’s experience are keyless entry, power seats control, side mirror control, occupant detection, and most importantly, the vehicle’s center stack where the majority of human-machine interactions take place.

Today, more and more companies are venturing to introduce technologies one would expect to be consumer electronics features into vehicles.

In addition, the HMI is being extended to allow drivers to control and access personal electronics devices, from cell phones to mp3 players, through the car’s infotainment system.

How drivers interact with these systems is also changing as mechanical buttons give way to capacitive touch inputs, resistive touch screens to capacitive touch screens, standard bulbs to high brightness LEDs, and standard color to color mixing solutions.  Read more...

On one rainy day, while I was moving some things from my car, there was a neighbor in our apartment complex parking lot who asked me if I had any jumper cables to jump start her car. She was quite a distance from me when she asked and so I told her that I did and would be right back. So I went inside my apartment to look for my automotive portable jump starter and when I came back out to the parking lot she was gone and I did not know her apartment door. Then I just waited a few minutes outside with the portable jump starter to see if she would come out again. It occurred to me that she probably did not hear me and thought that I could not help her.

I actually have not needed to use my portable jump starter on my own vehicle yet, which I guess is a good thing since I’ve had my share of breakdowns with my past older vehicles. But my point is that I really wanted to help her.  Read more...