Home-link Reading Materials Day 2
1. How does understanding your vehicle components lead to safe driving?
Understanding your vehicle’s components leads to safe driving because you’re better able to recognize if something is wrong. If you hear your brakes make a squealing noise, for example, knowing that this might mean you need new brake pads could save you from finding out the hard way.
Squealing or screeching, metallic grinding, and warning lights are all indicators that your brake pads and shoes might be worn out.
If you’re on the road and hear that telltale sound, get your car off the road quickly. Brake failures can cause major accidents and injury, and your ability to stop your car safely is significantly reduced once your brakes have worn down.
Brake pad or shoe replacement isn’t covered by your car insurance, since it falls under the "wear and tear" category.
But it’s always good to have a contingency plan in place in case the unexpected happens. And if it does? Have no fear — Jerry is here! Jerry’s emergency roadside assistance program can help you out in all sorts of car-related jams, including but not limited to towing, jump-starts, fuel delivery, and much more.
Although, when it comes to your car’s braking system, peace of mind is priceless. Here’s how to tell if you have worn down brake pads.
2. Explain the difference between Freeway and City driving and list 3 or more characteristics that drivers will not expect on freeway.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HIGHWAY AND FREEWAY
Some roads are made for driving slowly, watching for pedestrians and being sure to stay within a low speed limit. Others, like highways and freeways, are designed for high speeds that help to get people to their destinations quickly. Highways and freeways are both useful for drivers who want to get to their destinations quickly, but they require somewhat different skills. Knowing the best way of negotiating the speeds and traffic on these roads can help drivers make use of their benefits.
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines a highway as a “main road, especially one between towns and cities.” A freeway, according to the dictionary, is equivalent to an expressway, which it defines as a “highway for fast-moving traffic, especially in urban areas, with limited access and a median dividing opposing traffic.” These definitions indicate that highways and freeways, although they have much in common, are different from each other and frequently require different skills.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FREEWAYS
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines a highway as a “main road, especially one between towns and cities.” A freeway, according to the dictionary, is equivalent to an expressway, which it defines as a “highway for fast-moving traffic, especially in urban areas, with limited access and a median dividing opposing traffic.” These definitions indicate that highways and freeways, although they have much in common, are different from each other and frequently require different skills.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation website notes that a freeway, or expressway, is a multi-lane road where vehicles travel at high speeds. Ramps lead up to the freeway, which has a barrier of some kind in the middle to separate the traffic going in opposite directions. Freeways have no intersections or traffic lights, and pedestrians and cyclists are not allowed. Drivers with Class G1 licenses are allowed to drive on freeways only if they are accompanied by a licensed driving instructor.
Freeways normally have several lanes going in either direction. High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on the left are reserved for vehicles with a set number of people inside. Markings on the pavement and signs by the side of the road indicate where these lanes are and the requirements for the number of people who should be in the vehicle to qualify for driving in that lane.
3) List at less 3 different gauges in a vehicle and their use.
Car Gauges
How to make sense of the dials and sensors
Cars come with a lot of gauges, especially on older models. Even newer model cars offer so many diagnostic numbers that they can confuse the most experienced drivers. To help you make sense of your dashboard gauges, here is a rundown of the six most important car gauges you’ll encounter.
Speedometer
The most basic car gauge is the speedometer, the indicator that tells you how fast you’re going. But this gauge isn’t just impacted by your speed; your tires also play a role. Larger tires rotate at a slower rate, which means that if your tires are overinflated or you’ve added bigger tires to your vehicle, your speedometer will register a slower speed. That means that you should be aware you may be speeding even if your speedometer is at the speed limit.
Alternatively, smaller or underinflated tires rotate at a faster speed, meaning your speedometer may be saying you’re going faster than you actually are. That said, always pay attention to your tire pressure.
If you have any questions about your tires or car repair stop into any of HEART Certified Auto Care locations.
Fuel gauge
Another important car gauge is the fuel gauge, and its indicators are very straight forward: F means “full,” and E means “empty.” But, of course, sometimes we’re too focused on the road to pay attention to our fuel gauge. Luckily, most cars have a warning light if your fuel goes too low. Always pay attention to this light, because driving on dangerously low fuel not only leads to potential breakdown but can lead to overheating and costly repairs.
Tachometer
Here’s one that’s more obscure: The Tachometer. This measures your engine’s revolutions per minute (RPM). The higher end is typically color coded red; that’s not an area you want to hit. If your tachometer is in the red, that means your engine is rotating dangerously quickly, which can lead to damage and costly repair. Just as important, running at too high of a RPM also burns more fuel faster, decreasing fuel efficiency, straining not just your engine, but your wallet.
Temperature gauge
You know how you put coolant in your car? The temperature gauge makes sure it’s working and lets you know when it’s not. Older model cars often have a gauge that spans from cold to hot (C or H), while many newer models simply have a light that illuminates when your car engine is running too hot. If your car is consistently too hot, or too cold, that means there’s an internal issue that could lead to potential damage. If your car’s temperature light turns on, visit one of HEART Certified Auto Care’s three convenient Chicago area locations. We’ll have you back up and running in no time. In fact, 98% of our service is done same day.
Pressure gauge
Older models often have a dial displaying oil pressure, while newer models often have a little light that turns on when oil is low. Either way, if your oil pressure is low, it’s time to visit HEART Certified Auto Care. Oil is the lifeblood of your car — see our tips on oil maintenance here — and running with low levels can wreak havoc on your car engine.
Charging system gauge
Measured in volts, and often 8-16, the charging system gauge monitors your vehicle’s electrical system. If it’s running on the higher end, that means you’re using more power; if it’s on the lower end, that means you’re using less power. If a light goes on, that means you have a problem with your car’s electrical system and should visit a trusted car repair shop ASAP. We of course recommend HEART Certified Auto Care, and so do others: we have over 500 five star reviews.
4. How does anti-lock braking system (ABS), help on preventing collisions?
Anti-lock brake systems (ABS)
You may have seen the red or orange "ABS" light blink when you start your vehicle, but unless it is malfunctioning, you aren't likely to see it at any other point. This means your vehicle has an anti-lock brake system, and that it is functioning properly. So what does an ABS do when it is working?
The concept of ABS had been around for several decades before it had ever been applied to an automobile, but was adapted for that purpose in the 1950s. Although its origins were mechanical, the 1970s saw the first computerized ABS systems hit the market. Today, they are anti-lock braking systems are a required component of newly manufactured vehicles in the United States.
How does an anti-lock braking system work?
In the past, pumping your brakes was often recommended as a way to help a driver regain control of their vehicle. Before ABS, this actually could have been helpful if done correctly. However in newer vehicles with ABS, pumping your brakes isn't necessary (and can, in fact, disrupt ABS) because that's exactly what the system does.
In fact, ABS performs this much better and faster than a person ever could. Using sensors, pumps, and valves controlled by a computer and algorithm, your ABS system essentially pumps your brakes for you, sometimes as much as 15 times in a second.
When you're attempting to brake, your wheels tend to lock up. The brakes clamp down and prevent the wheels from turning and instead, causes them to slide or skid across the road. Your ABS stops the tires from skidding as you slow, which helps your car stop faster and gives you greater control while you're doing it.
It does this by monitoring decelerations in the wheel. If it senses a sudden deceleration, it knows that the wheel is about to lock up. Using the valves, the sensor reduces the pressure to the brakes until the wheel begins to accelerate again, and then increases the pressure using the pump until it detects deceleration once more. The purpose of this is to ensure that the tire isn't slowing down faster than the vehicle. The result is something similar to pumping your brakes over and over, but in a much faster and more precise way.
When the ABS kicks in, you'll usually feel a pulsing in the pedal, which is caused by this rapid increase and decrease in brake pressure. So, while pumping the brakes was a good method in the past, you should keep the brake pedal down if your vehicle has ABS - it's already pumping the brakes for you!
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5) Give an example of 3 safety devices and how they contribute to driver and passenger safety.
Electronic stability control is a relatively recent technology that first came into production in the 80s and 90s. Essentially, it kicks in to correct situations where the vehicle isn't moving in the direction the driver is steering it. This can happen when you swerve and skid, when you understeer or oversteer, or when you hydroplane on a wet road.
To do this, the ESC uses sensors to determine what direction the vehicle is supposed to be traveling. Then, it implements an algorithm to calculate necessary changes, and makes use of the ABS in order to strategically apply the brakes to individual wheels. In other words, it detects which wheels are causing the vehicle to travel in the wrong direction relative to the steering direction and pumps the brakes to alter the rate of spin. In some cars, the ESC may also modulate the engine power to achieve this as well.
While some vehicles allow ESC to be disabled, especially in high-performance vehicles designed for motor sports, numerous studies confirm that that it is one of the most important developments in automotive safety. A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that ESC can reduce crashes by 36%, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that thousands of crashes are avoided each year because of it.
Collision avoidance systems
Although the previous safety features we've discussed have had their share of advancements over the years, the fundamental technology has been around for decades. Collision avoidance systems, on the other hand, are a fairly new array of features that come highly recommended by the NHTSA.
Lane departure warning. This aptly-named feature uses a camera (or several cameras) to keep track of your vehicle's position within the lane. By monitoring the lane dividing lines, it knows when you're keeping center, and when you've crossed over. When that happens, your car will issue a warning so that you can adjust accordingly. This might come in the form of a sound, but may also be communicated through haptic feedback.
It's worth noting that some versions of this technology have issues when the lane stripes have faded, or when they are obstructed with snow or significant rain.
Lane keeping assist. Similar to the departure warning, this uses cameras to monitor your position within the lane. However, instead of simply issuing a warning, lane keeping technology will actually cause the car to steer itself gently back into place. The onboard computer knows when you're changing lanes, however, and won't activate unless it is truly needed.
Forward collision warning (FCW). FCW uses an array of sensors to not only monitor your vehicle's speed, but the speed of the vehicle in front of you. These sensors may make use of radar, lidar, and even GPS to detect obstructions in the road. Like the lane departure warning system, FCW alerts drivers with a sound or vibration when it determines that a collision is possible.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). AEB is similar to FCW in the way it detects obstructions and measures the speed and proximity of vehicles in the lane ahead. However, rather than simply issuing a warning, AEB will actively engage the brakes in an emergency situation.
Although these features have made great strides in recent years, they aren't perfect. That's why it's important not to rely on them and remain alert when driving. In any case, they are a promising glimpse of the safety features to come