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Hi Friends, Good day for all of you. I recently bought a suzuki swift ZC71S model. It has factory fitted CD receiver unit. But this CD receiver only tunes between FM 87-90 frequency. Does anyone has idea a way to convert this to support FM 87-108 frequency range. Thanks in advance. Bandara

11 Reasons Why Hybrid Cars Are Better Than You ThinkBy Jason Steele reference: http://www.lifed.com/11-reasons-why-hybrid-cars-are-better-than-you-think Note: I have not altered the below article. Hence it may contain details of other countries. When hybrid cars first came to our shores in 2001, they were an odd curiosity. In the intervening years, most Americans seem to have made up their mind regarding this new type of vehicle. Hybrid owners love their cars while drivers of traditional vehicles have reached their own conclusions, based largely on some erroneous assumptions. Here are nine reasons why a hybrid car is better than you think it is. 1. Hybrids Are Not Slow Many people conclude that the additional gas mileage offered by hybrids are not worth the cost of driving the slowest car on the road. In fact, hybrids are faster than you might think for an obvious reason – hybrid cars have multiple engines. In addition to the conventional gasoline engine, hybrids contain 1-3 electric motors that provide a little more horsepower and a lot more torque. Some models, like the Prius, use a smaller gasoline engine than similarly sized cars, but other hybrids simply add an electric motor to the standard engine which results in a faster combination than the non-hybrid version. 2. Hybrid Efficiency Is Not Just About The Car, It Is Also About The Driver It is possible to drive a hybrid just like any other car, but your fuel economy will suffer. Hybrids want to be driven in a different manner in order to take advantage of all of the inherent efficiencies of their drive-trains. To help drivers get the most miles per gallon, most hybrids include some sort of feedback system that lets drivers know how the car is operating. For example, drivers learn when their car is in electric only mode, when the gas engine is running, and when they are generating energy from braking. 3. Hybrids Require Less Maintenance When your engine is only running half of the time, your car will require fewer oil changes. Additionally, since a hybrid uses generators to decelerate while charging its battery, it will use its friction brakes far less often. The result is a car that will drive more miles before needing brake service. 4. Hybrid Batteries Will Outlast The Car The most common concern that most drivers have with the concept of a hybrid is that they have an expensive battery that will need to be replaced. It is true that a hybrid’s batteries make up a substantial portion of the additional cost, but concerns that the battery will be unreliable are unfounded. In fact, Consumer Reports tested a 10 year old Prius and compared its performance to the same model when it was tested as new. They concluded that the 10 year old car with 200,000 miles performed identically to when it was tested as new. Furthermore, cities that have used hybrids as taxis found that their batteries were also working fine when the vehicles were retired as planned after 250,000 miles. 5. Hybrids Climb Well It is torque, not horsepower that enables a car to climb a steep hill, and the electric motors in hybrid cars specialize in producing it. Additionally, hybrids often feature continuously variable transmissions that allow the engine to operate at the optimal number of revolutions per minute (RPMs) when climbing under full power. This is impossible with conventional transmissions that typically operate with four, five, or six speeds. 6. Hybrids Are Not Small The original Toyota Prius and Honda Insight were subcompacts, although later models are classified as mid sized vehicles. Today, Toyota offers its seven passenger Highlander as a hybrid, and many full size American made SUVs and pickup trucks have hybrid drive-trains as an option. 7. Hybrids Are Incredibly Quiet Starting a hybrid makes about as much commotion as turning on a lamp. When you take your foot off of the brake, a hybrid will begin to move so silently that passengers might think your car is rolling downhill. These cars are so quiet that owners sometimes forget to turn them off and safety advocates argue that they should artificially generate noise to warn pedestrians. 8. Hybrids Are Designed To Simulate A Conventional Car The goal of hybrid designers seems to have been to ensure that the drivers of conventional vehicles could operate them without changing any of their habits. To that end, the electric motor will engage when the driver is not using the gas or the brakes, just like a conventional engine idling in a car with an automatic transmission. In order to simulate the engine drag, hybrids will apply a little regenerative braking when the driver is coasting without applying the brakes. 9. Hybrids Retain Their Value Some analysts have downplayed the higher fuel economy offered by hybrids by comparing those savings to the increased purchase price of a new vehicle. This comparison neglects the reality that when sold, a used hybrid will command a higher price than a conventional car with lower fuel economy. In fact, the price premium will be even more pronounced every time there is a rise in gas prices. During these increasingly frequent price spikes, it is impossible to purchase a used hybrid for published “book” prices as there is far more demand than supply. 10. Hybrids Are Cleaner Hybrid cars typically produce up to 80% less harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases than comparable gasoline cars. With fewer airborne pollutants and a cleaner Earth, you can’t go wrong. 11. Hybrids Come With Perks Hybrid owners get to enjoy tax credits, preferred parking spaces, and in some states, even have the ability to drive solo in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Hybrids offer a new and exciting means of efficiently propelling your car, but there is so much more to them than high fuel economy. By understanding all of their advantages, drivers can make the best choice when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle. Read more at http://www.lifed.com/11-reasons-why-hybrid-cars-are-better-than-you-think#VKpz6YQxczzYUmAS.99

Is there a way to open car door without the smart key near it. I kept my smart key inside the house and tried to open the door with the normal-key i got with my smart key. The door opened but suddenly the security alarms started ringing, i had to use my smart key's unlock button to disarm the security alarm. My issue is if my smart-key's battery drains out how will i be able to open the door with the normal-key? Will it activate the alarm's once again? And what is the use of having that normal-key if i can't open the door without activating the security alarm? Your advises are highly appreciated. Thanks

My car's dashboard shows a Check Engine Light. I serviced my car from Pitstop Three days ago and suddenly, today morning I saw this indicator. Do you know why this would happen and What should I do about this? Please share your advices. Thanks

First i must thank admins for accepting my AutoLanka forum user account. So, Here is the story. I'm looking for a car (sedan/saloon) around 15-20 laks (Japanese/European). It will be my very first vehicle. I don't have expert knowledge in the area. But i was thinking of getting Civic EK3. Need your opinions.about EK3. Current Price range. Models available. Things i should look before buying. Fuel consumption (Manual vs. Auto) ... also about other vehicles i can get for that price range, Thanks.

What is the duration we have to wait before selling car that was recently bought and registered. I am talking about the second hand cars. Is that rule where you have to wait for six months after registration to sell your car, still in practice?? Thanks folks

Greetings all I have a Honda Civic ES8 which comes with a remote to lock and unlock the doors. It does this but nothing else. It is not the one with the key programmed with a chip in it . I was thinking if it really makes a difference to go for an aftermarket Security/ Alarm system . Nowadays people actually don’t respond to an alarm when it goes off, do they. General thought is that it is a false alarm. Also I’ve heard stories about security system wiring messing up the electrics of the car and playing havoc. Need some opinions and advises. Thanks in advance.

there is a dotted area around the windscreen and I sow that there is small gadget named "ETC" mounted in the top of the windscreen in inside..can not figure out what this and what if for that dotted area for - may car is VITZ 2008 scp90

Hi all see this is valuable tread. I have a question, does anyone know how much is the custom calculation & how does it depend on the vehicle type ? I mean tax amount differce on Prius / Allion. Does anyone know how much is it for SUVs & Cars etc ?

Hi guys.... I kept me car, covered with a car cover not under a roof. Unfortunately, it was caught to a shower and also I could not remove it later. 2 days later, I removed it and observed that paint of some areas were faded away. OMG...It looks so bad....I asked from my friend and later I used compound to remove it. But attempt was totally unsuccessful. Please guys.....I am now looking for your expert advice............Please/////.

I have below issue with suzuki swift car and need to know it is common or any fault belongs to transmission Normaly this happen on hill climbing and when changing 3rd gear to 2nd gear. When going uphill with 3 rd gear, sometimes its not accelarate in middle or upper section of the hill and car gets slower. Specially this happened when I slow down the car ( eg: 10 - 15 kmph) due to traffic then I change the gear to 2nd and try to Accelerate, but it not happening and it getting slower and no picup ( regardless of how much I push the gas paddle ) So I should put it to First and Then accelare. Waiting for feedback from AL members Thank you

Hi guys, I'm going to get a 2.5mn vehicle loan from my company. According to them it should be unregistered vehicle. So guys please advice me on this decision. What should be the best car for that price? Thanks

What Year Limit Can Any Vehicle Be Imported Here ?

Guys, I'm thinking of buying a new ride. Preferred Budget 2.5 - 3.0 (max), prefer around 2.7. Travels average 400 - 600 km per month Hardly travel on city traffic conditions. Mostly on urban, sub urban roads. Road condition mostly good. Sometime need to travel in poorly maintained roads, for trips etc. Previous car FB 15 1500cc. (Expecting more comfort) Prefer Auto gear.. Comfort - 8 / 10 (Less bumpy, need to have good shock absorbers, some times need to travel in bit rough roads and roads with pot holes) Less maintenance cost - 6/ 10 (Less maintenance frequency, wont mind high part cost) Acceleration - 8 / 10 (Prefer to maintain speeds around 80 - 110 when not in city limits, expects good acceleration) Fuel economy - 7 /10 (Good to Decent is enough ) Re sell value - 5 / 10 (No significant decrease in price) Read the forum and found the following 1. Toyota corolla 122 luxel 2001 - Seems to be good.. But 2001 for that price? 2. Honda Fir GE6 2008/09 - Seems to be good..heard its spacy compared to other hatchbacks (Don't like hatch backs much).. What about comfort compared to others? 3. Honda civic es5 2004 - Beautiful.. Fuel economy? (Is it CVT ? ) 4. Honda civc es1 2003 - CVT issues? 5. mazda axela 2003 - fuel economy? 6. Honda fit aria 2005 - don't know much about this. 7. Toyota 121 , 1.3 Manual 2005/6 9. Toyota 121 LX/ LX limited - 2002 10. Toyota 121 G - 2000 What do you think the best one to suit my needs? Expecting you expert opinion..

Dear expertise, Im a new for this vehicle industry and now i decide to buy used car. I selected Toyota starlet EP91 and going to buy it withing this week, Im going to buy it by paying full cash. My problem is, I don't know process of buying car. Can you pls tell me the process of buying car? document required to buy car? and any thing impotent when buying a car. Thank you regards Amila

Hi..guys I need to replace my car front door window beading out side and inside both..mainly the bottom edge beading..where the glass go up and down.. My car is a Toyata vits SCP10 catagory. I'm wondering whether can I buy the originals from somewhere or replace some general beading normally using for vehicles.? Please help me to find them? or good place to go me to get this done. Image attached! Thanks .

As I know there are 3 modes in the wiper movement..the first mode not working in my car..what to check please help..? 1.move--delay1-delay2-move 2.move--delay1--move 3.move-move-move 1 one is not working others working fine..so eventhough there small rain had to stick with other modes..

Dear Experts I have Nissan FB15 car. Recently when i am driving, i felt transmission was delayed specially in upper gears ( 3rd , 4th) . I checked ATF and it seems ok with red+brown color. I havent any service details regarding ATf changed on previous owners. please let me know the issue behind this and better place to change ATF automatically specially in Gampaha/kurunegala or colombo Highly valuable your answers

My requirements Budget below 10000rs. Reliable brand. and I do not have much understanding about those sophisticated features. I need to protect my car from those car parts robbers and car robbers .. Thanks you

Hi guys..I'm planing to replace my tyre set of my car and before buying... expect to have you opinion on what to buy..and like to know present prices and place to get this done.. Currently I have MAXXIS on front and Bridgeston in rear..Tyre size is 175 / 70R / 14 Thanks.

wind only retain for 4 days in one of my tire... how to fix this..do I need to replace my tire? will tire house fix my issue..how thy will fix?

Dear Experts, i have nissan FB15 car. In 2010 i changed by battery to Amaron Sealed type one. ( 18 months warranty ). Then htwo months before 18 months suddenly car not start, Then i clam warranty and attach new Amaron Battery to Car in 2011 ( 18 months warranty ) .Then after yesterday my car not start again withing warranty period. According to my point of view , My car is not heavily running and almost it running once or twice a month. According to my memory it not start since 3 or 4 weeks yet. So i like to know , how frequently car should be start if it parked at home. What are the battery caring tips to protect battery in maximum duration ? Your answers are valuable

How frequently do have to check the wheel alignment ?

I’m finding a car for 18-19lks in these days. i don't know much about cars and this will be my first car. one of my cousin have found a FB15 for me(he knows well about vehicles).it's in good condition and below are the details FB15 1999(dec) 1500cc Super saloon Auto they asked(seller) 20lks and we were able to bargain in to 19lks. i heard that there are some problems in sensors in 1999 or older fb15 cars. Is it true? is it worth to buy this car for 19lks as its in good condition ? much appreciate your valuable advices

Dear All, i'm new to this forum, hope you would be helpful to me with my 1st car. I'm looking to my 1st car and my budget is around 1.8mn out of that hoping to get a leasing for 1.3mn. I'm still looking to choose a good car; following are in my mind, 1. Suzuki Alto KA24S (660CC) 2. Kelisa (2007 - 2008 model) 3. Suzuki Maruti Alto please advise me on the above and suggest any other cars which can be found within my budget. FYI, i'm bit concerned on the fuel efficiency also.