"On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) is a necessary system for modern vehicles - having very complex engine configuration and technology. In simple words it means vehicle's capability to detect its own errors and provide reports either to the owner or servicing technician. OBD has grown a long way since its inception into vehicles in 1980.
The blaZt.II OBDII Software Scan tool is one the most unique OBDII scan tools launched till date for Nissan vehicles. Being a personal automotive scan tool, it's compatible with most Nissan cars and is real-time too. With the help of blaZt.II OBDII in your car, you can easily download engine codes, engine computer statistics, check car performance, reset your car engine fault codes and many others. The computer chip inside the engine of your vehicle detects errors - if any, as soon as they happen, alerting you in time.
blaZt.II OBDII is easy to install and use, reducing confusion for you while encoding the problems given by software. All blaZt.II packages are available in full version, with ready to use ‘plug and play' hardware. Sensor data and fault codes are shown clearly and you can quickly go through it, even while driving the vehicle. You can also reset the codes to see when the fault reoccurs, or if you have fixed the error causing the engine light to come on..
Unlike other on-board diagnostics, blaZt.II OBDII comes with a three year warranty from software to data cable. This is not to lure you, but our confidence about the durability of the product. The warranty of the product begins after blaZt.II OBDII is installed in the vehicle. We promise to replace the unit you bought or refund the full purchase price if there are errors. "
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Showing posts with label Automotive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Automotive. Show all posts
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Weigh up the costs when choosing a new car
When it comes to buying a new set of wheels, most of us will spend hours deliberating over the make and model before signing on the dotted line.
As a motorist, there are all sorts of factors to take into consideration, such as price, reliability, fuel efficiency, the insurance premium, and how much it costs to tax.
Here we take a closer look at some of these factors, to see which cars deliver the best value-for-money, and which motors you might be better off steering clear of - because they'll leave you out of pocket.
All the findings in this article are based on 12 models (*) - Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford Ka, Ford Mondeo, Mini, Peugeot 206, Renault Clio, Renault Megane, Vauxhall Astra, Vauxhall Corsa, Vauxhall Zafira and Volkswagen Golf.
MOT failure rates
MOT failure rates have long been a well-kept secret, but figures showing the vehicles that most frequently pass - and fail - the test were recently made public (**).
The MOT is the annual test of road-worthiness that all cars must pass once they are three years old and is an indicator of a cars' reliability.
According to the findings, some of the country's best-selling cars are failing their very first MOT, despite being just a few years old, and for popular cars first used in 2004 and tested in 2007, the worst performer is the Renault Megane which had the highest failure rate at 28.1 per cent.
This was followed by the Vauxhall Corsa in second position with a failure rate of 24.7 per cent and the Ford Mondeo at 21.8 per cent.
At the other end of the scale, best performer is the Ford Fiesta which had the lowest failure rate of just 15.6 per cent, putting it just ahead of the Ford Focus at 18 per cent and the Vauxhall Astra at 18.4 per cent. (See: How the car you drive affects the insurance premium you pay.)
Motor insurance premiums
Car insurance premiums have been climbing for months, and new research shows motorists renewing policies now face the largest annual hikes ever recorded, with the average insurance premium now standing at £564.69 - a 19.6 per cent increase from January 2009 (***); the main factors fuelling these increases are the rising cost of personal injury claims and fraud.
While premiums may well be rising, the make and model of the car being insured also plays a significant role in determining the price of your policy.
If you compare the average premiums for "all customers" over the whole of 2009, the most expensive model to insure is the Vauxhall Corsa with a policy costing £818.22, followed by the Renault Clio at £766.45 and then the Volkswagen Golf at £753.99. (****)
If you don't fancy forking out quite so much on your car cover, the cheaper options include the Vauxhall Zafira at £379.29, the Ford Mondeo at £431.64 and the Renault Megane at £459.81. (****).
Road tax rates
Road tax - or Vehicle Excise Duty - has to be paid to acquire a licence for most types of vehicles if they are to be legally used on public roads, and, since 2001, rates have been determined by CO2 emissions and type of fuel used.
Based on the rates effective from April 2010, the most expensive cars to tax are those which fall into "band I" - including the Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Zafira - where the cost is £110 for six months or £200 for 12 months.
The cheapest cars to tax are those that fall into "band F," and these include the Vauxhall Corsa, the Ford Ka, the Peugeot 206 and the Ford Fiesta, where the cost is £68.75 for six months and £125 for 12 months.
Winners and losers
With so many factors to take into consideration, buying a new car is certainly not a decision to take lightly.
The Renault Megane, for example, is the most likely to fail its first MOT, and while it's among the cheaper models to insure, it is middle of the table for road tax.
The Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio also fare badly overall, with high rates of MOT failure and high car insurance premiums.
At the other end of the scale, the Ford Focus is a good performer in the MOT test, and appears at the cheaper end of the insurance tables for both insurance and road tax.
The Ford Fiesta also has one of the lowest MOT failure rates and is one of the cheapest models to tax, while the Vauxhall Astra is a top performer in the MOT test, and while it's middle of the table to insure, it's cheap to tax.
At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself whether any one of these factors alone are enough to sway your decision, as the MOT figures, for example, give no allowance for mileage or usage, while the price of an insurance policy depends not only on the make and model, but also on other risk factors, such as your age.
The key is to shop around when purchasing a new car so you can be sure of making an informed decision.
(*) The 12 most popular models are based on the 12 most-tested cars - those with more than 20,0000 MOTs in 2007 - source: BBC.
(**) The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (www.vosa.gov.uk) had resisted publishing the league tables saying the figures might be misleading and could breach commercial confidentiality, but the statistics were eventually released following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the BBC.
(***) Independent market research firm, Consumer Intelligence; this research is used by the the Office of National Statistics for its Retail Price Index.
(****) Confused.com data
--> Read More...
As a motorist, there are all sorts of factors to take into consideration, such as price, reliability, fuel efficiency, the insurance premium, and how much it costs to tax.
Here we take a closer look at some of these factors, to see which cars deliver the best value-for-money, and which motors you might be better off steering clear of - because they'll leave you out of pocket.
All the findings in this article are based on 12 models (*) - Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford Ka, Ford Mondeo, Mini, Peugeot 206, Renault Clio, Renault Megane, Vauxhall Astra, Vauxhall Corsa, Vauxhall Zafira and Volkswagen Golf.
MOT failure rates
MOT failure rates have long been a well-kept secret, but figures showing the vehicles that most frequently pass - and fail - the test were recently made public (**).
The MOT is the annual test of road-worthiness that all cars must pass once they are three years old and is an indicator of a cars' reliability.
According to the findings, some of the country's best-selling cars are failing their very first MOT, despite being just a few years old, and for popular cars first used in 2004 and tested in 2007, the worst performer is the Renault Megane which had the highest failure rate at 28.1 per cent.
This was followed by the Vauxhall Corsa in second position with a failure rate of 24.7 per cent and the Ford Mondeo at 21.8 per cent.
At the other end of the scale, best performer is the Ford Fiesta which had the lowest failure rate of just 15.6 per cent, putting it just ahead of the Ford Focus at 18 per cent and the Vauxhall Astra at 18.4 per cent. (See: How the car you drive affects the insurance premium you pay.)
Motor insurance premiums
Car insurance premiums have been climbing for months, and new research shows motorists renewing policies now face the largest annual hikes ever recorded, with the average insurance premium now standing at £564.69 - a 19.6 per cent increase from January 2009 (***); the main factors fuelling these increases are the rising cost of personal injury claims and fraud.
While premiums may well be rising, the make and model of the car being insured also plays a significant role in determining the price of your policy.
If you compare the average premiums for "all customers" over the whole of 2009, the most expensive model to insure is the Vauxhall Corsa with a policy costing £818.22, followed by the Renault Clio at £766.45 and then the Volkswagen Golf at £753.99. (****)
If you don't fancy forking out quite so much on your car cover, the cheaper options include the Vauxhall Zafira at £379.29, the Ford Mondeo at £431.64 and the Renault Megane at £459.81. (****).
Road tax rates
Road tax - or Vehicle Excise Duty - has to be paid to acquire a licence for most types of vehicles if they are to be legally used on public roads, and, since 2001, rates have been determined by CO2 emissions and type of fuel used.
Based on the rates effective from April 2010, the most expensive cars to tax are those which fall into "band I" - including the Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Zafira - where the cost is £110 for six months or £200 for 12 months.
The cheapest cars to tax are those that fall into "band F," and these include the Vauxhall Corsa, the Ford Ka, the Peugeot 206 and the Ford Fiesta, where the cost is £68.75 for six months and £125 for 12 months.
Winners and losers
With so many factors to take into consideration, buying a new car is certainly not a decision to take lightly.
The Renault Megane, for example, is the most likely to fail its first MOT, and while it's among the cheaper models to insure, it is middle of the table for road tax.
The Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio also fare badly overall, with high rates of MOT failure and high car insurance premiums.
At the other end of the scale, the Ford Focus is a good performer in the MOT test, and appears at the cheaper end of the insurance tables for both insurance and road tax.
The Ford Fiesta also has one of the lowest MOT failure rates and is one of the cheapest models to tax, while the Vauxhall Astra is a top performer in the MOT test, and while it's middle of the table to insure, it's cheap to tax.
At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself whether any one of these factors alone are enough to sway your decision, as the MOT figures, for example, give no allowance for mileage or usage, while the price of an insurance policy depends not only on the make and model, but also on other risk factors, such as your age.
The key is to shop around when purchasing a new car so you can be sure of making an informed decision.
(*) The 12 most popular models are based on the 12 most-tested cars - those with more than 20,0000 MOTs in 2007 - source: BBC.
(**) The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (www.vosa.gov.uk) had resisted publishing the league tables saying the figures might be misleading and could breach commercial confidentiality, but the statistics were eventually released following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the BBC.
(***) Independent market research firm, Consumer Intelligence; this research is used by the the Office of National Statistics for its Retail Price Index.
(****) Confused.com data
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Top five UK motorbiking rides
Spring has sprung, the weather's warming up, and motorcyclists nationwide will be donning helmets and leathers and putting tyre to tarmac. As a bike lover, you may be on the search for the perfect blend of hair-raising bends and breath-taking scenery so you can get your knee down and your heart rate up at the start of the new season.
If so, read on for our pick of the UK's top rides.
1) The Peak District - the Cat and Fiddle Run
The 11km-long strip of tarmac known as the Cat and Fiddle run in Buxton, Macclesfield, is a rite of passage for bikers because of the smoothness of the surface and the staggering scenery, but it comes with its own fair share of danger, so make sure you ride with utmost care and concentration. Nonetheless, the bends, the corners, the moors and the views along the A357 are sure to keep you coming back.
2) Northern Ireland - the Antrim coast road
At 60 miles long, the Antrim coast road is a contender for one of the best biking roads in Ireland - if not, the world. Head north out of Larne on to the A2 and follow the road which twists in and out of pretty fishing villages, skimming close to the sea's edge - gazing out across the North Channel to the Mull of Kintyre. The route is extremely technical as the turns get tighter and the drops tumble into the waves crashing into the cliffs below, so focus on your observation and positioning skills - and you will be well rewarded.
3) East Sussex - Tenterden to Hastings
For a lovely ride on a sunny morning, leave Tenterden on the B2082 heading south towards Rye. Keep your wits about you, as this is a nippy, twisty road that demands your utmost attention, and watch out for blind spots from the high hedges that enclose the road. Rye is a great place for bikers, with many gathering at the roundabouts on the quayside, but once you've had your fill, head west from here on the A259, another good fast road, which should mean you get to Hastings - home to the annual May Day Run - just in time for lunch on the seafront.
4) North Wales and Snowdonia - Llangollen to Betws-y-Coed
The A5 is full of twists and kinks and follows a meandering river for much of the way - without cutting corners. For a great day's biking, follow the road all the way through Llanberis between the mountains of Snowdon and the Glyders - riding with caution through the Llanberis pass. Finish your journey in Betws-y-Coed, the gateway into Snowdownia National Park - and spend a night or two at one of the motorbike-friendly B&Bs in this small yet perfectly formed tourist town.
5) Scottish Highlands - Glasgow to Inverness
Throughout its length from Glasgow to Inverness, the A82 is a joy to ride; the banks of Loch Lomond set the tone for the route, as the road clings to the magnificent landscape. This fast yet smooth road goes on through Glencoe and along the full length of Loch Ness, offering a fantastic introduction to highland riding - with high speed curves and long sweeping bends - before taking you onto Fort William and Fort Augustus. With boundless views into the distance, this road will give you a real sense of freedom, and is the perfect place to spend a weekend getting away from it all.
--> Read More...
If so, read on for our pick of the UK's top rides.
1) The Peak District - the Cat and Fiddle Run
The 11km-long strip of tarmac known as the Cat and Fiddle run in Buxton, Macclesfield, is a rite of passage for bikers because of the smoothness of the surface and the staggering scenery, but it comes with its own fair share of danger, so make sure you ride with utmost care and concentration. Nonetheless, the bends, the corners, the moors and the views along the A357 are sure to keep you coming back.
2) Northern Ireland - the Antrim coast road
At 60 miles long, the Antrim coast road is a contender for one of the best biking roads in Ireland - if not, the world. Head north out of Larne on to the A2 and follow the road which twists in and out of pretty fishing villages, skimming close to the sea's edge - gazing out across the North Channel to the Mull of Kintyre. The route is extremely technical as the turns get tighter and the drops tumble into the waves crashing into the cliffs below, so focus on your observation and positioning skills - and you will be well rewarded.
3) East Sussex - Tenterden to Hastings
For a lovely ride on a sunny morning, leave Tenterden on the B2082 heading south towards Rye. Keep your wits about you, as this is a nippy, twisty road that demands your utmost attention, and watch out for blind spots from the high hedges that enclose the road. Rye is a great place for bikers, with many gathering at the roundabouts on the quayside, but once you've had your fill, head west from here on the A259, another good fast road, which should mean you get to Hastings - home to the annual May Day Run - just in time for lunch on the seafront.
4) North Wales and Snowdonia - Llangollen to Betws-y-Coed
The A5 is full of twists and kinks and follows a meandering river for much of the way - without cutting corners. For a great day's biking, follow the road all the way through Llanberis between the mountains of Snowdon and the Glyders - riding with caution through the Llanberis pass. Finish your journey in Betws-y-Coed, the gateway into Snowdownia National Park - and spend a night or two at one of the motorbike-friendly B&Bs in this small yet perfectly formed tourist town.
5) Scottish Highlands - Glasgow to Inverness
Throughout its length from Glasgow to Inverness, the A82 is a joy to ride; the banks of Loch Lomond set the tone for the route, as the road clings to the magnificent landscape. This fast yet smooth road goes on through Glencoe and along the full length of Loch Ness, offering a fantastic introduction to highland riding - with high speed curves and long sweeping bends - before taking you onto Fort William and Fort Augustus. With boundless views into the distance, this road will give you a real sense of freedom, and is the perfect place to spend a weekend getting away from it all.
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