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About Steven Symes

Steven has been working as a freelance writer and editor for over ten years, having been extensively trained in both. Steven has been writing about cars and other transportation issues worldwide for over ten years. His love for cars started long before he can remember, with Corvettes and 911s being his first car-crushes. Since then, he has owned many types of vehicles and has come to appreciate a wide variety of models, the diverse car culture groups, and the automotive industry in general. He also maintains his own automotive blog and contributes to other automotive publications.

Mechnical Advice – Storing Car Batteries

November 7, 2014 By Steven Symes Leave a Comment

Mechanic Advice - Storing Car BatteriesIf for whatever reason you must store a car for a long period of time, you cannot leave the battery connected like you normally would. Instead, you must take steps to store the battery so that it continues to work and doesn’t end up damaging the car as it sits. If possible, have someone drive the car for half an hour at least once a month if you can, since that will make storing the battery completely unnecessary.

Before you begin, you must be properly equipped. You will need a wrench to remove the battery. Also, wear clothing that you wouldn’t mind be ruined, just in case. The final piece of preparation is to wear protective goggles and heavy gloves, just in case the battery’s fluids discharge.

The first thing you must do is disconnect and remove the battery from the car. This means you must disconnect the negative or black cable first, then the positive cable. If your car has a tie-down for the battery, you must remove that as well before lifting the battery out of the car.

With the battery out of the car, you must inspect it thoroughly. Look over the entire case, including on the sides, top, bottom and corners for any signs of damage. Pay particularly close attention to signs of fluid leaking out of the battery. If the battery seems to be in good shape, pour baking soda over any areas with corrosion, like the terminals, and then pour on some water and use a wire brush to remove any leftover corrosion.

If the battery has filler caps, check the fluid level in each one. Top them off with distilled water if the level is below what’s recommended. Hook the battery up to a charger. Once the battery is fully charged, check the fluid levels again and top them off if necessary.

Place the battery in a cool, dry area. Choose somewhere the battery will be free from freezing temperatures before you reinstall it in the car. Hook up the battery to a tender to help it keep a charge while it sits. When it is time to use the car again, remove the charger and install the battery back in the vehicle.

Filed Under: Mechanics

What is a Mercedes AMG?

October 25, 2014 By Steven Symes Leave a Comment

The Mercedes AMG line is manufactured by Mercedes-AMG GmbH, which is a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz. The company makes performance-oriented versions of many of the different Mercedes models, including the company’s sport utility vehicles. These models are easily identified by the AMG badge located on the back of each vehicle.

Mercedes AMG line is manufactured by Mercedes-AMG GmbH, which is a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes AMG C 63

AMG was founded as a company in 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher. Originally AMG was a separate company from Mercedes. Aufrecht and Melcher modified various Mercedes models, increasing the cars’ overall performance so they could compete in professional races. The initials for the company came from the first letters of the founders’ last names, plus the first letter of Aufrecht’s birthplace in Germany.

Mercedes AMG C 63 Engine

Mercedes AMG C 63 Engine

Four years after the company’s inception, AMG gained worldwide notoriety. The 300 SEL 6.8 AMG was entered into a 24 hour race at the Spa-Francorchamps, a yearly endurance race held in Germany. The car finished first in its class and second overall in the race.

 Mercedes AMG GT

Mercedes AMG GT

In 1991 the Daimler Corporation acquired 51 percent of AMG and began working on its first joint development of a vehicle. Two years later, the Mercedes C 36 AMG was released, becoming an instant hit with consumers. In 2005, the Daimler Corporation bought the remaining portion of AMG.

Mercedes AMG GT

Mercedes AMG GT

AMG models have features that are not found in the regular line of Mercedes vehicles. All AMG models come with distinct wheels that have the AMG insignia stamped on them. Carbon fiber parts are more common on AMG vehicles. AMG also outfits the vehicles with some body panels that are different from the regular Mercedes line, making the AMG models easier to distinguish at a glance. With a few exceptions, AMG models come with larger engines that produce more torque and horsepower than the engines used in the regular Mercedes lineup.

Mercedes AMG GT

Mercedes AMG GT

In addition to manufacturing high performance versions of Mercedes vehicles, AMG also works with the Italian performance car brand Pagani. More specifically, AMG makes a V12 high performance engine for the Zonda, which is a line supercars manufactured by Pagani.

Mercedes AMG GT

Mercedes AMG GT

 

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Mercedes

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