Engineering Magazines

We live in the digital age where technology makes our lives easier each day. Advance medical equipments are created to help doctors treat patients, kitchen tools are innovated to make it easier for home makers, and cars are made smarter to make driving easier for humans.Automotive electronics paved the way for helpful features like anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and automatic weather adjustments which makes driving safer and more comfortable.

Car manufacturers spend about two thousand dollars in automotive electronics for every car that comes out of the assembly line. These automotive electronics transform the car into a vehicle with better performing engine, more adaptive entertainment systems, and safety features that are far more superior than its predecessors.

Automotive Electronics of the Modern Car

Control Area Network or CAN – There are several computers that run a modern car. The CAN is a network of computers that play vital roles in the different functions of the engine and its peripherals. The CAN serves as the bridge for the different computers so they can communicate with one another so everything are well coordinated. CAN controls the functions like cruise control, engine management, and the ABS.

Fuel Efficiency- automotive electronics can save a car owner hundreds of dollars in fuel consumption. This is done thru the EFI or Electronic Fuel Injection technology which ensures that the engine’s fuel consumption is at its optimal. In hybrid cars, a driver can easily switch from using gas and electronic power supply to run the vehicle.

Safety Devices- Most safety system is controlled by automotive electronics. Devices like the Acceleration Slip Regulation, Traction Control, Electronic Stability and Dynamic Steering wheel ensure the safety of the driver and the passengers. The simple but complicated timing of airbags during a road collision is also controlled by advanced automotive systems.

Added Features- Some cars today can even park themselves without any assistance from the driver. All the calculations are done by a computer making sure the car will not hit anything by making references to other cars and different objects in its surrounding.

One cannot imagine the evolution that took place with automotive electronics. The Apollo 11 which landed on the moon ran on a memory which is 150 kilobytes only. The sound systems of our cars today are running on 500 kilobytes of memory to ensuring our entertainment pleasure. Automotive electronics have gone far beyond entertainment and enhanced modern day vehicles in terms of safety, efficiency, and convenience.

The automotive industry projects billions of investments and sales in developing cars that are smarter, more fuel efficient and more environment-friendly in the future. Modern cars can be the answer to alleviate the adverse condition of the environment and the rising price of fuel all over the globe.

Cars are being developed to scan the traffic, the road, and all hazards so it can drive itself while the driver can do anything that he wants while in motion. The future cars can think for themselves with the aid of advanced automotive electronics. In that way, driving will be more than getting from one place to another.

You’ve recently purchased a new car and you’re obsessed with keeping it clean. After all, you don’t want your car to end up looking like most used cars: dusty, full of crumbs, and with coins stuck to the beverage tray. A new car is much easier to maintain because you’re starting out with a spotless vehicle that doesn’t have any nagging problems, like rusting or upholstery tears. If you incorporate the following tips into your car maintenance routine, your car will feel brand new for years to come. 

REGULAR MAINTENANCE IS KEY: 

The car manual will outline the different things you need to do to keep your car running smoothly. It will also tell you how often you should perform those tasks and with what type of fluid. The most common maintenance tasks are: 

- Checking the oil level at least 4 times a year.  

- Checking the brake fluid level regularly, especially if you notice a difference in the brake pedal.  

- Checking the automatic transmission fluid once a month  

- Having the engine cleaned every one to two years  

- Refilling the antifreeze/coolant fluid regularly  

- Refilling the windshield washer fluid regularly  

- Checking your tires regularly 

KEEP IT TIDY: 

- Keep a small plastic bag in the car for trash and dispose of it every week. If you don’t let trash accumulate in your car, it will be easier to keep the interior clean. 

- Use a UV resistant car cleaner to wipe down the dashboard, the steering wheel, the inside door panels and any other hard surfaces. This should be done weekly; it will keep these areas clean and it will provide UV protection in the sunlight. 

- Clean up any spills as soon as possible to prevent mold and bad smells. 

- Avoid eating or smoking in your new car but if you must, be attentive to bits of food that drop to the floor or cigarette flints that fly off within the car. 

GIVE YOURSELF SPACE: 

- Avoid parking in tight spots. Even if you don’t tap the other car’s bumper as your parking, there’s a good chance other drivers will bump into your car while trying to get out of a tight space. 

- In a parking lot, choose a space that has empty spaces on each side. This will lessen the possibility of your car brushing other cars as you enter the parking spot. 

- Park in well lit or common areas. Leaving your car in a dark alley will increase the chance of a break in and of your car being stripped; it can also put you in a dangerous situation when you get to your car. 

LISTEN TO YOUR DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS: 

If a dashboard light stays on, refer to your car manual to diagnose the problem. Most car manuals have an illustrated page at the end that shows dashboard symbols and their possible meanings. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the light because even if the car is functioning normally, it’s just a matter of time before it will fail in some way or brake down. Most problems, such as a low oil level, can be fixed quite easily if they’re addressed as soon as the dashboard warning light goes on.

CHECK YOUR TIRES: 

Checking your tires regularly will make driving both safer and more fuel efficient. 

- You can check the tire pressure with an inexpensive tire pressure gauge. Remove the valve cap on the tire and place the tire gauge onto the valve; watch the tire gauge for a reading. Your car manual or a label on the inside of the driver’s door will tell you how much tire pressure you should have; add air to match that number. 

- Have your wheels aligned and balanced every year or when you buy new tires. You can check the tread wear by comparing the inner tread of the tire to the level of the tread markers; if it’s lower than the tread markers, the tires need to be replaced. You can also check the tread wear using the penny test: put a penny with Abraham Lincoln upside down into a tire groove and if the tire tread is lower than the top of Lincoln’s head, the tires need to be replaced. 

FIX DENTS AND CRACKS AS THEY HAPPEN: 

A small crack in your windshield doesn’t have to mean a full windshield replacement if you have it repaired as soon as you notice it. If you let it go, the crack will expand and it will then become a safety hazard if it affects your view. Similarly, a scrape or a dent on the body of the car can easily morph into a rusty spot. It’s best to have the car fixed professionally but you can use fill in pens on smaller areas. 

Buying a new car makes it easier to keep your car in top condition but these tips apply to all cars. Many drivers focus only on their insurance coverage and on driving safely, and they neglect the car itself. If you take the time to check your car for things like leaks and low fluid levels, you can prevent unnecessary damage and costly repair bills; you can also keep your car in excellent condition for many years.