Brake Failures: All You Need To Know, The Tips and Others

Brakes are a vital safety feature, so getting acquainted with your car's brake system should be a priority. "The braking system on your vehicle is critical in keeping you and your passengers alive and well and your vehicle out of the body shop."

Brake damage or failure can have numerous culprits, including improper or infrequent maintenance, such as low levels of brake fluid and worn brake pads and/or rotors, undetected damage from an unknown source, and wear and tear from weather extremes, including corrosion from road salt.

Your brakes could also be compromised if you've hauled a heavy trailer that doesn't have trailer brakes. This can overheat the vehicle's brakes and cause accelerated brake wear and damage.

So how do you know if your brakes are operating as they should be?

Watch for these warning signs

If you experience any of the following problems, it's time to take the car in:

• Odd noises. If tapping on the brakes causes a high-pitched squealing noise, you need to see a mechanic as soon as possible. Other suspect sounds include scratching, scraping, and grinding.
• Irregular movements or feeling. If your vehicle pulls hard to the left or right when you stop, one side of your brakes is working optimally and the other isn't, says Solomon. Brakes that sink to the floorboard or pulsate before they function—or a steering wheel that shakes—are also red flags that warrant attention.
• Inability to stop quickly. An increased stopping distance indicates a problem with your brakes.
• Warning lights. Perhaps the most obvious red flag: the brake warning light on your dashboard flashes when something is amiss.

How to react during brake failure

If your brakes cease to function while you're driving, remain calm, keep your focus on the road, and take immediate action:

• Activate your emergency flashers and honk your horn to alert other drivers.
• Take your foot off the accelerator to begin slowing down, and carefully maneuver your vehicle to the right lane or shoulder. Be sure to signal properly and watch for other drivers.
• Downshift to let the engine help slow the vehicle.
• If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, press down firmly on the brake pedal. If your car isn't equipped with this safety system, pump the pedal.
• Once you've decreased speed, engage the parking brake slowly and gradually. If you do this too quickly and with too much pressure, your wheels could lock up.

What to look for in a new car

"Before purchasing a vehicle, inquire as to what type of braking system it has and the fail-safe system that backs it up," says Solomon, who recommends asking the following questions while shopping:

• Are you required to listen for a noise from the rotors or drums?
• Is there a warning light system that indicates worn brakes?
• If the yellow brake light on the instrument panel comes on, how long do you have to seek assistance?
• If the red brake light on the instrument panel comes on, what do you do?
• How often (in miles and months) should you have the brakes looked at by a certified brake professional?

In addition to familiarizing yourself with your brake system, make sure you're well acquainted with your vehicle's other safety features and never take them for granted.

See The Maserati 2020 Bionic Concept Race Car

Maserati 2020 Bionic concept race car was inspired by fish body form, oceanic biomimicry. There is a great advantage of bionics for car development, fish possess a streamlined body to help them to swim in water, by implementing the same feature in a car, the design offers an aerodynamic advantage. Fish have been known as interesting objects to study by bionic specialists, just like the nose of the dolphin that inspires a pear-shaped bow protuberance, allowing ships to cross the oceans with less water resistance, thus, a lower fuel consumption. Nature can be a great problem solver, it can give you multiple ideas for aerodynamic efficiency as well as innovative construction methods. It has also transferred electric vehicle technologies of the future to a fully functioning and practical car for every race use.

Nigeria's minister of Trade and Investment On A Courtesy Visit to Proforce Armoured Vehicles

Nigeria's minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah was at the ProForce factory at Ogun State. ProForce is Nigeria's maker of Armoured and Security Cars. ProForce is an ingenious company that makes his cars in Nigeria. Update on this company coming soon.

Nigeria's IVM To Export 400 Locally Made Cars to Mali

Nigeria's vehicle manufacturing company, Innoson Motors, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mayor of Bamako for the purchase of 400 Innoson vehicles.

The Mayor of Bamako, Mr. Harimakan Keita, this week led a delegation from Mali for a factory tour of the automobile manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, to purchase the vehicles.

According to a statement released by the company yesterday, the chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, received the delegation.

The visit, which was facilitated by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council led by Segun Awolowo, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing on purchasing about 400 Innoson IVM vehicles that will be exported to Mali.

The Malian delegation also included The Charge D’ affaires, Nigeria Embassy, Mali, Zayyad Abdusalami, Minister of Employment and Professional Training Mali, Director of Regulation Urban Transport of Bamako, CEO of TAXI Plus Mali, CEO GINCO Group Mali.

Earlier, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah.

FRSC To Collaborate With National Assembly On Traffic Management Matters

With the existing operational command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the National Assembly complex to ensure effective management of traffic, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani-Omolori and the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi have resolved to ensure closer collaboration for greater efficiency. This was the outcome of the meeting between the two leaders when the Corps Marshal paid a courtesy visit to the Clerk at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.

According to the Clerk, the collaboration between the two institutions became imperative in view of the need for more effective traffic management at the Assembly complex, saying with the increasing vehicular traffic, there is the need to enhance the operations of the Corps. Alhaji Sani-Omolori further promised to provide necessary logistics support for the Corps to facilitate its effectiveness at the Assembly complex, especially with the proposed establishment of the Driver’s Licence Centre by the FRSC.

This he said, is long overdue in view of the need to promptly address the licensing needs of the Legislators and the staff of the National Assembly. He assured the Corps Marshal of the continuous support of the leadership of the National Assembly and the Legislators in the area of compliance with the relevant traffic rules and regulations to avoid friction between the FRSC staff and those that operate within the premises.
Earlier in his remarks, the Corps Marshal thanked the Clerk for the support the FRSC has enjoyed from the leadership of the National Assembly, stressing that he is committed to sustaining the operations of the FRSC at the complex in order to address some of the traffic management challenges they face.

Oyeyemi recalled that the Corps decided to establish its command at the Assembly complex some years back, in order to assist the legislators, staff and the visitors to the complex on the need for effective management of traffic which enter the Assembly complex on daily basis.
As part of the commitment for improved service delivery to the people the Corps Marshal requested for an office space that could accommodate the Driver’s Licence Centre being proposed at the Assembly complex to meet the licensing needs of the legislators and staff of the Assembly in line with the ongoing efforts by the Corps to reduce the stress associated with acquiring genuine licences.

Highlight of the meeting was the exchange of souvenirs between the two leaders and enlightenment documents on the workings of the two institutions.

The Corps Marshal was accompanied on the visit by some principal officers of the FRSC, including the Deputy Corps Marshals in charge of Operations, Training, Motor Vehicle Administration, Special Duties and Partnership and the Special Assistant to the Corps Marshal.

See the 2 exotic cars parked in a dilapidated building in Lagos

Celebrity Designer, Yomi Casual shared this photos of two exotic cars; a Chevrolet Camaro and Range Rover parked in an outdated building.

UBER partners with Germaine Auto Centre for drivers maintenance

Uber on Friday sealed pact with Germaine Auto Centre - a Nigerian based auto service and maintenance company to provide maintenance services to its driver partners.

With the partnership, Uber driver-partners operating in Lagos can have their cars maintained and serviced at a world-class auto facility at stipulated fees.

The relationship between both companies, according to Uber, seeks to further reinforce Uber’s commitment to driver-partners and create ways for drivers to maximize their net earnings and enjoy the benefits that come with using the Uber app.

Country Manager for Uber Nigeria, Maria Rotilu told newsmen at the briefing that the overall objective of the partnership is to reduce maintenance cost for Uber drivers and encourage maintenance culture.

She also disclosed that three years after its debut in Nigeria, Uber had created 3,000 economic opportunities in Nigeria.

She said, “Driver-partners across Nigeria are extremely important to us, and we are constantly looking for ways to help them access more value through our many partnerships and further amplify the advantages that come to them from being valuable partners.

"Germaine Auto Centre is a market leader, and for as little as N3,000, they will provide vehicle maintenance services to Uber driver-partners in Lagos.

“With the current transportation and weather challenges being experienced due to the rainy season, we are happy to enter into this relationship with Germaine who will provide driver-partners with an affordable, reliable option of car servicing and maintenance.”

Managing Director, Germaine Auto Centre, Gbenga Omolokun said the partnership with Uber had positioned the company to expand its scope, saying Uber driver-partners would have immediate access to six Master Technicians, over 40 general technicians, affordable parts and vehicle solutions, and an added bonus of over 200 years working experience combined on all sorts of automobiles.

“At Germaine Auto Centre, our key focus is customer affordability and service efficiency. Dedicated resources have also been put in place to manage this process to ensure driver-partner satisfaction as well as quick turnaround", he added.

The vehicle maintenance package, which Uber driver-partners in Nigeria have access to, has gone live after a rigorous two-month successful pilot.

Toba, an Uber driver-partner, expressed delight with the partnership, saying it was in fulfilment of their demand during a focus group discussion with Uber.

“I was extremely happy when I heard about this new arrangement between Uber and Germaine Auto Centre - vehicle maintenance was one of the issues driver-partners had raised during the focus groups, and I’m glad that Uber listened to us and created a useful partnership like this

See The New TESLA Roadster Y Concept Study

Tesla Roadster Y is a concept study by Vinícius Buch as part of his graduation project to complete Industrial Design degree at Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina – UDESC, Brazil. This project is about designing a fully electric sports car that visually transmits technology and high performance, just like Tesla always does. Inspired by Tesla’s first car, which was designed by Lotus Elise, Tesla Roadster Y concept proposes futuristic version of the old model. There’s no handle, you can open the door simply by sliding your finger on the surface. Unfortunately there’s no image of the cockpit, hopefully we can get an update about this project from Vinícius soon.

Fiat Chrysler Recalls 1.33 Million Cars Citing Fire And Airbag Risks

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has issued two new recall campaigns, conducted on some 1.33 million vehicles sold in various parts of the world, including North America.

The first action includes approximately 770,000 units of the 2011-2015 Dodge Journey and Fiat Freemont, due to a problem with their wirings that may lead to sudden deployment of the frontal airbag, on the driver's side, reports AutoNews.

FCA is aware of five minor injuries related to this condition, which could also cause unintended windshield wiper operation, and will inform owners shortly, advising them to contact an official FCA dealer, which will take care of the problem, free of charge.

In a separate recall, the automotive group is addressing owners of the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango, from the 2011-2014MY, as well as those who have a 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee in their possession, to replace their alternators because of potential fire risks.

According to the manufacturer, hot temperatures might prematurely wear the diode, and this could lead to a burning odor or smoke, and it might also impact the ABS or cause the engine to stall.

No injuries have been reported so far, but FCA has been informed of two potentially related accidents.

Five Super Mushshak aircrafts acquired from Pakistan by Nigeria Air force Arrived Nigeria

A Cargo Plane carrying Five Super Mushshak aircrafts acquired from Pakistan by Nigeria Air force arrived Kaduna at 06.30hrs. Below are some of the pictures

10 Most Amazing Movable Bridges In The World

As cities and populations continue to grow, the need for bridges not only improves accessibility and infrastructure for all modes of transport, but it has also been explored in an artistic approach to facilitate a common ground between strangers. movable bridges have an extra function—they usually have dynamic characteristics that allow the passage for boats. Generally powered by electric motors, these bridges can be also operated by humans. below we list 10 amazing movable bridges and their transformations around the world.

The London Tower Bridge

This was built between 1886 and 1894, The London’s tower bridge is one of the city’s landmarks. It crosses the river Thames and is owned and maintained by the city of London corporation, a charitable trust. It consists of two bridge towers tied together at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal tension forces exerted by the suspended sections. the bridge is 800 feet (240 m) in length with two towers each 213 feet (65 m) high, built on piers.

The Paddington Foot Bridge

In London's merchant square, a mixed-use waterfront site at Paddington basin, a movable footbridge designed by Knight architects has opened to the public. Working alongside structural engineers AKT II, the cantilevered design spans 20 meters across the grand union canal connecting the development. Using hydraulic jacks, the bridge is envisioned as a kinetic sculpture that opens in a way similar to that of a traditional Japanese fan.

Puente De La Mujer by Santiago Calatrava, Buenos Aires

Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, Puente De La Mujer (Spanish for ‘woman’s bridge’), is a rotating footbridge in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is of the Cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge type and is also a swing bridge, but somewhat unusual in its asymmetrical arrangement. It has a single mast with cables suspending a portion of the bridge which rotates 90 degrees in order to allow water traffic to pass. When it swings to allow watercraft passage, the far end comes to a resting point on a stabilizing pylon.

Scale Lane Bridge

Designed by London architects McDowell+Benedetti, the ‘scale lane bridge’ has been shaped like an apostrophe.located in Hull, England, this movable bridge is only for pedestrians. the bridge features a restaurant and a viewing platform on its rotating axis.

Vizcaya Bridge, Spain

The Vizcaya bridge (Bizkaiko Zubia in basque, Puente de Vizcaya in Spanish), is a transporter bridge that links the towns of Portugalete and Las arenas (part of Getxo) in the Biscay province of Spain, crossing the mouth of the Nervion river. it was built to connect the two banks which are situated at the mouth of the Nervion river. It is the world’s oldest transporter bridge and was built in 1893, designed by Alberto Palacio, one of Gustave Eiffel’s disciples.

Hörn Bridge in Kiel, Germany

The Hörn bridge (German: Hörnbrücke) is a folding bridge in the city of Kiel in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.the bridge is a three-segment Bascule bridge with a main span of 25.5 metres (84 ft) that folds in the shape of the letter N. built in 1997, the bridge opens once every hour in order to allow small- and medium-sized ships to travel in and out of the Hörn, offering one of the best panoramic views of the city of Kiel.

The Dragon Bridge at Foryd Harbour in Rhyl, Wales


The dragon bridge at Foryd Harbour in Rhyl, wales is a multi-million pedestrian and cycle bridge. Spanning 80 meters, the bridge is part of the harbor’s regeneration plan as it incorporates a public square and quayside building creating a hub for the area surrounding the water. Thanks to a impactful lighting scheme, the bridge is a feature both during daytime and nighttime.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge in Newcastle, England

The Gateshead millennium bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the river Tyne in England between Gateshead’s quays arts quarter on the south bank, and the quayside of Newcastle upon Tyne on the North bank. Opened for public use in 2001, the award-winning structure was conceived and designed by architect Wilkinsoneyre and structural engineer Gifford. The bridge is sometimes referred to as the ‘blinking eye bridge’ or the ‘winking eye bridge’ due to its shape and its tilting method.

Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, France



The Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas is a vertical-lift bridge over the Garonne in Bordeaux, France. it was inaugurated on 16 March 2013 by president François Hollande and Alain Juppé, mayor of Bordeaux. Its main span is 110 m (361 ft) long. as of 2013, it is the longest vertical-lift bridge in Europe. it is named in honour of Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a former prime minister of France and a former mayor of Bordeaux.

Slauerhoffbrug ‘flying’ drawbridge in the Netherlands



Designed by Emile Asari, the Slauerhoffbrug (English: Slauerhoff bridge) is a fully automatic Bascule bridge in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. it uses two arms to swing a section of road in and out of place within the road itself. this movable bridge is also known as the ‘Slauerhoffbrug ‘flying’ drawbridge’.

5 Warning Lights You Should Never Ignore In Your Car!

If you have a car that drives you daily and you don't jump on danfo and other commercial cars, then consider yourself lucky and favored, however, If any of the above warning lights come on while you are driving, DO NOT IGNORE THEM! Immediate action may be necessary to prevent damage to your vehicle, a breakdown or an accident.

OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT

The oil pressure warning light comes on if your engine has lost oil pressure or oil pressure is too low for safe engine operation. You should pull over to the side of the road, shut the engine off and check the oil level on the engine dipstick.

Possible Causes: Low oil level (due to oil consumption or leaks), oil viscosity too thin, worn oil pump, excessive engine bearing clearances or defective oil pressure sending unit.

If you engine is also making ticking, clattering or rapping noises, it is not getting sufficient oil. If you attempt to drive the engine in this condition, you will probably damage it - if it hasn't already suffered major internal damage.

TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT

The temperature warning light will come on if your engine is overheating. Do NOT continue driving if your engine is overheating as this can cause expensive engine damage (piston scuffing, valve stem galling, failed head gasket, cracks or distortion in cylinder head). Stop driving, pull over and shut your engine off. Open the hood and check the radiator and heater hoses, radiator and engine for coolant leaks. Note the level of the coolant in the coolant reservoir.

CAUTION: DO NOT open the coolant reservoir or radiator cap until the engine has cooled off for at least 30 minutes. Steam pressure inside the cooling system can blow out and burn you!

If the coolant level is low, add coolant (a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and clean distilled water) after the engine has cooled down.

Possible Causes: Low coolant level (due to coolant leak or bad head gasket), stuck thermostat, bad water pump, broken serpentine belt, defective radiator cooling fan, clogged or dirty radiator, exhaust restriction (plugged catalytic converter).

HINT: Turning the A/C OFF and turning the heater on HIGH may help cool down an engine that is temporarily overheating due to unusually hot weather or from towing a trailer. But if the engine is running hot because it is low on coolant, this trick probably won't help much.

CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT

The "GEN" or "ALT" warning light, or an icon of a battery will illuminate if the charging voltage in your vehicle is low. You do not have to stop immediately, but you may only have 20 to 30 minutes of driving time before your battery goes dead and your engine stops running (or even less time if you are driving at night with your headlights on).

Possible Causes: Broken or slipping serpentine belt or V-belt, bad alternator, charging control fault, or loose or corroded battery cables.

Open the hood to see if the drive belt that turns the alternator is intact and is turning the alternator while the engine is idling. If the belt is not the problem, chances are the charging system has a problem that will have to be diagnosed and repaired. Better find a repair shop soon!

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT

The Brake Warning light will come on if the parking brake has not been fully released, but it may also come on if the brake fluid level is low or there has been a loss of hydraulic pressure in one of your car's brake circuits. Loss of fluid or brake pressure means the brakes may not be able to stop your car when you step on the pedal.

Carefully apply the brakes to see if they are working. If they are, pull over to the side of the road, open the hood and check the fluid level in the brake master cylinder. If the fluid level is low, the brake system should be inspected for leaks. If there are leaks, your brake system is unsafe to drive.

If the brake pedal is low or goes to the floor, pumping the pedal may apply enough pressure to stop your car. If that fails, apply your parking brake to slow your vehicle. Also, take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, or downshift and use engine braking to slow your vehicle if you have a manual transmission. If all that fails, aim for something soft like a bush or open field.

Possible Causes: Loss of brake fluid due to leaks (master cylinder, calipers, wheel cylinders, brake lines or hoses), failure of the pressure differential switch that activates the brake light, parking brake pedal or handle not fully releasing, defective parking brake switch.

WARNING: If the brake pedal feels soft, is low, goes to the floor, or you have to pump the pedal to get your vehicle to stop, your vehicle is unsafe to drive. You should have it towed to a repair facility for repairs.

LOW TIRE WARNING LIGHT

The Low Tire Pressure Warning Light will come on if any tire on your vehicle is 25 percent or more under-inflated. Driving on a low tire can be dangerous because it increases the risk of a tire blowout. A low tire can also cause uneven braking, uneven traction, uneven and rapid tire wear, increased rolling resistance and fuel consumption.

Find a filling station with an air pump, and check the inflation pressure in each tire with an accurate gauge (not the gauge on the pump, which is often very inaccurate!). Add air as needed to inflate your tires to the recommended pressure (see your owners manual or the tire inflation decal in the door jam or glove box). For most passenger cars, the recommended pressure is typically 32 to 34 PSI.

Possible Causes: Loss of air pressure due to a leak (such as a nail or small puncture in a tire, or a bad valve stem), loss of air pressure due to seepage (1 to 2 PSI per month loss is normal for many tires), or inaccurate or failing TPMS sensor in tire.

Checking your tires regularly (at least once a month or before any long road trip) is recommended. Check the tires when they are COLD and BEFORE you drive your vehicle as driving creates friction and heats up the tires (causing an increase in air pressure).

Credit:

aa1car.com