Happy 4th of July from Huletz Electric

Happy 4th of July from Huletz Electric !!

No-Bummer Summer: How to Use your Car for Fun this Season

Post Memorial Day Weekend, if you close your eyes, you can hear a classic summer-time movie voice-over: “Hi everybody, this is your cousin Brucie. Whoa! … Ping pong in the west arcade, softball in the east diamond … Complimentary dance lessons in the gazebo.” Summer has begun, and you’re ready for the usual suspects: swimming, barbequing, sports, camping. The usuals are great, but this year, Quoted has a way to mix up your summertime activities and avoid that inevitable mid-summer slump: this year’s fun is all about your car.

DRIVE-INS

If you haven’t been to the drive-ins since you were a kid, you’re missing out. Snuggling up to watch a movie on a giant outdoor screen with sleeping bags, plenty of snacks, and the soundtrack crackling over your radio is just as fun in adulthood as it was when you were a kid. One of the biggest perks is the double feature: most drive-in movies have two showings—a kid-friendly movie for the little ones, and after, usually something more grown-up. Follow our completely non-expert tips for making the most of your drive-in experience:

• Arrive early enough to get a spot about halfway back, and about halfway in the row, not too close to the concession stand
• Bring lots of snacks and drinks—the sweeter and saltier the better
• You can never have too many blankets
• Open the hatch if you have a larger truck and set up a little movie-watching love nest

Also remember that the experience isn’t just about the movie, so you can be less picky than you might in a theater.

DRIVE-UP RESTAURANTS

We think there’s something special about eating still-piping hot burgers and fries with ice-cold shakes in your car like you’re a too-cool teen in the ‘50’s—and doesn’t that mouthwatering combo just sound like summer?

Quoted scoured the web for the coolest local drive-up spots (because the chains just aren’t as much fun). If you live near one, you might consider loading up your family or friends and eating al fresco:

• Dicks Drive-In: serving up the classics at six Seattle-area locations
• Keller’s Drive-In: the Dallas, Texas standby serves up the classics—plus beer!
• Sycamore Drive-In: a spot with many summers under its belt, you’ll find the usual fare with extra flair in Bethel, CT
• All-American Drive-In: this Long Island, NY drive-in eatery lives up to its name in both food and decor
• The Varsity: serving Atlanta classic drive-in diner deliciousness for 87 years
• Frisco’s: located in Long Beach, Calif., this place has a huge menu and even huger following

Didn’t see your city on the list? Thrillist has a few more fun places to drive in and eat up. And if you know of a great drive-up restaurant for fantastic summertime car eating, tell us in the comments—you might help someone else crank their summer to eleven.

OFF-ROADING

Felicity Metzler, from 4 Wheel Online, told Quoted: “We’ll load up our Jeeps and SUVs with snacks and beverages, sunscreen and a change of clothes and go find a beach to drive along, find a trail to explore, or meet up with our local Jeep enthusiast club and find some muddy trails. When we’re all done, we’ll have a big barbeque/car washing party.”

If you don’t have your own Jeep, you can still get in on the offroading fun. From mountain trails to beaches, and SUVs to ATVs, there’s a rental out there for all types.

Consider changing the chore of car-washing into a meditative break.

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EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW

This summer, dust off your old childhood games for some contemporary fun. Just add some expert organizing and, of course, your car.

Heather Piper, co-owner of Thrill of the Hunt, gave Quoted the details: “Thrill of the Hunt takes a traditional scavenger hunt and incorporates social media and technology to make it interactive and even more exciting. Thrill of the Hunt personalizes each scavenger hunt for team building events, fundraisers, corporate outings, educational functions, public hosted events and birthday parties for all ages.” Piper also told us they’ve “Developed scavenger hunts to cover a large distance, either for historic value, to force individuals to get to know an area, or to increase the overall challenge. This scavenger hunt could also include a road trip or an overnight adventure. Pile a few friends in the car and partake in a scavenger hunt!”

CAR WASH

For car lovers—and clean lovers, and those looking for some novel entertainment for restless children—there’s nothing like an all-inclusive car wash to mix up your summertime routine, and even add a little fun. Really! Just picture yourself traveling slowly on the conveyer belt, those huge rollers banging and scrubbing, and all the poured soap and hose action–you could do worse on a slow and sleepy summer afternoon. And if you have restless kids to entertain, tell them a story about caves and witches, or heroes and adventurers fending off monsters. Or, if your kids are very literal, have them guess each step in the washing process–you can bet waxing will stump them. You’re sure to get at least a few fun-parent points out of the experience, with the bonus of a shiny-fresh car.

If you’re more of a DIY type of person, you might consider transforming the chore of car-washing into a meditative break. Hans Desjarlais from Import Insider tells us that washing his car “On a weekly basis is a way to relax and unwind after a busy work week.”

Vehicle Maintenance Costs and 2015 AAA Brochure

Vehicle Maintenance

Driving costs also are affected by how well your vehicle runs. Performing regular maintenance can ensure more efficient vehicle operation and help prevent costly repairs down the road. Below are general checks to make sure your vehicle stays in tip-top shape. Read your owner’s manual for more detailed information on your vehicle’s specific requirements. When performing any do-it-yourself maintenance, always be sure to take proper safety precautions. 

Click Here To Download AAA Brochure

Fluids:

• Engine oil: Lubricates and cools the engine while cleaning internal parts. Running your car when it’s low on oil can cause serious engine damage. Check the oil level at least once a month.
• Coolant: Prevents engine freeze-up in winter and boil-over in summer while protecting the cooling system from rust and corrosion. Check the coolant level at each oil change.
• Brake fluid: Critical to proper performance of the vehicle’s braking system. Check at each oil change
• Transmission fluid: Helps transfer engine power to the wheels, lubricates internal parts, maintains seals and acts as a coolant. Check the level at each oil change.
• Power steering fluid: Transfers hydraulic pressure to reduce driver steering effort. Check at each oil change.
• Gasoline: Follow vehicle manufacturer octane rating recommendations to ensure maximum fuel efficiency and prevent damaging engine knock.

Air Filter: Your vehicle’s air filter captures dirt particles and ensures proper airflow to the engine. Inspect the filter at every oil change and replace as needed.

Belts: Most vehicles today use a single serpentine belt to operate under-hood accessories such as the alternator. However, V-belts still are used in some applications. Inspect all belts at every oil change and replace when you spot signs of wear such as glazing or cracking.

Hoses: Hoses circulate vital liquids such as engine coolant, transmission fluid and power steering fluid. Inspect hoses at every oil change and repair or replace any that show signs of wear or leakage.

Battery: The battery supplies power to the starter motor, acts as a voltage stabilizer and makes up for any shortfall when the alternator can’t meet the vehicle’s electrical needs. Inspect battery cable connections at every oil change and clean as needed. When servicing a battery, always wear eye protection and gloves.

Tires: As the only part of your vehicle in contact with the road, tires are integral to safety and ride comfort. For optimum performance, tires must have adequate tread depth and be properly inflated. Inspect tires and check inflation pressures at least once a month. AAA offers several resources to complement information found in your owner’s manual. They include:

• AAA.com: Provides a variety of vehicle maintenance and operating tips. Online content varies by AAA club.
• AAA Approved Auto Repair: The Approved Auto Repair network includes more than 7,100 shops across North America that are visited regularly and inspected annually to ensure they meet AAA’s rigorous quality standards and deliver exceptional service and value. AAA members using them receive special discounts, written repair estimates, free maintenance inspections, minimum 24-month/24,000-mile parts and labor warranties, AAA arbitration in repair disputes and priority service when their vehicles are towed in following a breakdown.
• AAA ShopLocator: Available in most areas, this AAA.com search tool helps users locate nearby AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and provides lists of services, hours and other helpful information.
• AAA AutoManager: This free AAA.com program sends users e-mail reminders of scheduled vehicle service requirements and due dates for vehicle payments and insurance premiums. It also provides vehicle recall notifications and helps owners track service histories. Online content varies by club.

To learn more, visit www.AAA.com or call (800) AAAHELP.
To locate an AAA Approved Auto Repair shop, visit www.AAA.com/repair.
To locate a AAA Spokesperson, visit www.NewsRoom.aaa.com

Auto Electrical System Care Tips

Your vehicle’s electrical system ensures your motor and other accessories are working properly. Huletz Electric offers replacement batteries, alternators and other services to keep your vehicle on the road. Car electrical work is required since all vehicle parts eventually wear out. Auto electrical help will diagnose your engine and let you know if repairs are needed and how much it will cost. 

Your car’s battery stores voltage needed to start your engine. The alternator assist the battery by giving it power. If your car will not start, it does not automatically mean you need a new battery. Huletz Electric will inspect your vehicle’s electrical system and inform you of needed repairs. Your car electrical work may cost several hundred dollars. Auto electrical help can be found by researching mechanics in your area online. 

If your vehicle starts having starting problems, then you know it is time to take it to your mechanic for inspection. Maintaining your vehicle will keep you from breaking down on the side of the road. Check your tire pressure at least once a week. Tires naturally lose pressure and you can prevent a flat tire. Changing a flat tire on the side of the highway is a dangerous project. 

Keep your vehicle’s oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or according to your vehicle’s manufacturer. Take it to an oil change company that will also check your belts, hoses and fluid levels. Preventive maintenance is the best way to keep your car running at its best. Check your tires tread depth to ensure you are not riding on bald tires. 

Save gas mileage on your vehicle by avoiding sudden starts and stops. Do not let your car idle at a fast food restaurant. Turn the ignition off since it takes less fuel to start your car than what it is burning while idling. Drive your car according to the speed limit. Speeding will waste gas and possibly get you a ticket that cost a few hundred dollars. Obey all traffic laws since any type of ticket will cost you money. Maintain your vehicle and it will last much longer

Happy Holidays !!

350 Oldsmobile We Are Working On

Electrical System - Current, Voltage and Resistance

The electrical system of a car is a closed circuit with an independent power source the battery. It operates on a small fraction of the power of a household circuit.

Current flows along a single cable from the battery to the component being powered, and back to the battery through the car's metal body. The body is connected to the earth terminal of the battery by a thick cable.

This type of circuit is called an earth-return system any part of it connected to the car body is said to be earthed.

The strength of the current is measured in amperes (amps); the pressure that drives it round the circuit is called voltage (volts). Modern cars have a 12 volt battery. Its capacity is measured in amp/hours. A 56 amp/hour battery should be able to deliver a current of 1 amp for 56 hours, or 2 amps for 28 hours.

If the battery voltage drops, less current flows, and eventually there is not enough to make the components work.

Current, voltage and resistance

The extent to which a wire resists the flow of current is called resistance, and is measured in ohms.

Thin wires conduct less easily than thick ones, because there is less room for the electrons to travel through.

In a negative (-) earth-return system, the current flows from the positive (+) terminal of the battery to the component being operated. The component is earthed to the car body, which is earthed to the negative (-) terminal of the battery.

Happy Holidays From Huletz Auto Electric !!!!

Happy Thanksgiving !!!!

Automobile Current News and Articles

Most Commonly Overlooked Automotive Electrical Problems

Automotive electronics have become more and more complicated. A single automobile can now have over 50 different computers!  You might think that having this many different computers could be a source of problems -- Well, in a way, you would be right.  Often when analyzing a problem, trained automotive technicians jump right away to hooking up to a scan tool or a diagnostic computer.  Before long they are bogged down trying to evaluate and understand strange or possibly contradictory data.  All too often the basics are forgotten.  Among these forgotten basics are the battery and most importantly, the battery connections. A low battery or poor battery connections can wreck havoc in computer controlled systems.  It can cause the alternator to fail or even cause the computers to loose their memory. Lost memory can cause all sorts of running problems until the system relearns.  It can also activate the security system in your radio so you will have to enter a code number for the radio to come back on. [Check your vehicles handbook to see if it has a radio code. It is a good idea to let the shop that services your vehicle know the code and keep it on file.] 

The types of repairs mentioned above can run into hundreds of dollars!  So… how do you avoid these problems?? The answer is “simple battery maintenance and testing”.  A car battery should be tested every year or every 15,000 miles, and servicing the battery connections should be part of a 30,000 mile service. Removing the battery cables and cleaning the mating surfaces between the battery and the cables should take about 15 minutes. If the battery and connections have been neglected until they have built up mounds of corrosion then it could take up to an hour to neutralize the acid and clean up the mess that can migrate to the battery support and the underside of the battery. 

So yet again a small service can prevent major problems.  This is what preventive maintenance is all about.  

Below are three photos showing an example of preventive battery servicing.

1.  This photo shows an example of a battery where the RH negative terminal is in poor conditions and needs cleaning.

2.  In this next photo, the auto service technician has

applied cleaner to neutralize the acid and begin to clean the terminal.

3.  And finally, after removing the terminals and cleaning,

this is the finished job.

 

source:  http://www.britishamericanauto.com/car-repair-education-and-info-blog/bid/46479/The-Most-Commonly-Overlooked-Automotive-Electrical-Problem

We can work on electrical systems as new as 2013 all the way back to 1937

A 1937 International Harvestor In For Electrical Work

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