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How To: Rotate Your Vehicle's Tires
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By Clifford Auto Parts
Every time you start your car, accelerate on the highway, or cruise through city streets, there’s a silent genius at work ensuring everything runs smoothly—the Engine Control Module (ECM). While it may not be the most glamorous part of your vehicle, the ECM plays a critical role in ensuring your car performs at its best.
Let’s dive into the world of ECMs to understand why this small but mighty component is so important and how it impacts your driving experience.
What Exactly is the ECM?
The ECM is often referred to as the brain of your car, and for good reason. It’s a sophisticated computer that processes data from various sensors throughout your vehicle. These sensors monitor critical factors like air intake, engine temperature, fuel levels, and more.
The ECM uses this data to make real-time adjustments to ensure your engine runs efficiently. For example, it determines the exact amount of fuel your engine needs and adjusts the air-to-fuel ratio for optimal combustion. Without it, your car would struggle to start, run inefficiently, or even fail to comply with emissions standards.
Why the ECM Matters
It’s easy to overlook something as technical as an ECM, but this little device affects almost every aspect of your driving experience.
Fuel Efficiency
If you’ve ever wondered how modern cars manage to go further on a gallon of gas, the ECM is part of the answer. It fine-tunes fuel delivery to maximize efficiency, saving you money at the pump.
Performance
Whether you’re accelerating onto the freeway or climbing a steep hill, the ECM ensures your engine delivers the power you need when you need it.
Emissions Control
The ECM helps reduce harmful emissions by carefully managing the combustion process. This not only keeps the environment cleaner but also ensures your car meets legal standards.
Diagnostics
When something goes wrong, the ECM doesn’t just sit idly by. It records fault codes that mechanics can use to pinpoint issues quickly. That check engine light? It’s often the ECM trying to tell you something needs attention.
Signs Your ECM Might Be in Trouble
Like any other electronic component, the ECM isn’t immune to wear and tear. If your car is experiencing any of the following symptoms, it might be time to have your ECM checked:
Difficulty Starting: A failing ECM may struggle to regulate fuel delivery, making it hard to start your car. Poor Performance: If your engine feels sluggish or unresponsive, the ECM might not be doing its job. Unusual Fuel Consumption: A faulty ECM can disrupt fuel efficiency, leading to higher costs at the pump. Check Engine Light: While this can indicate many issues, an ECM problem is one possibility. Replacing or Upgrading Your ECM
If your ECM is damaged or outdated, replacing it with a high-quality unit is essential. When choosing a replacement, ensure it’s compatible with your vehicle’s make and model. Investing in a reliable ECM can restore your car’s performance and save you from costly repairs down the line.
Conclusion
The ECM might not be the most visible part of your vehicle, but its impact is undeniable. It’s the behind-the-scenes mastermind ensuring your car runs efficiently, performs well, and meets modern environmental standards.
So, the next time you enjoy a smooth ride or marvel at your car’s fuel economy, take a moment to appreciate the ECM quietly working its magic under the hood. It’s proof that sometimes, the most important things are the ones we don’t see.
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By TachMaker
Upgrade your vehicle with link hidden, please login to view designed to enhance convenience and performance. From practical add-ons to innovative accessories, these auto parts are tailored to meet the needs of modern drivers. Improve functionality, ensure ease of use, and enjoy a seamless driving experience with thoughtfully crafted components that prioritize both utility and style. Whether it’s for better organization, improved safety, or enhanced aesthetics, these details make every drive smoother and more enjoyable..
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By APF
When selecting parts for a car repair, it pays to know the differences between original and aftermarket parts. Whenever possible, get estimates for both.
Choosing between original and aftermarket car parts — and even used parts of either type — is all about squaring your priorities with your budget.
You’ll have different options depending on the part and the shop. And the best choice will depend on whether you’re trying to keep repairs cheap, restore your car’s appearance after a wreck or soup up your ride.
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Before we get into that, here are the key differences:
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts match those that came with your car, and are of the same quality as its original parts. They’re also the most expensive. Aftermarket parts are cheaper, and made by other manufacturers — often several, giving you more options. Used parts may have a bit of wear and tear, but should be inspected or rebuilt to ensure they’ll work. These are the cheapest option. Choosing between aftermarket and OEM parts
Your decision will depend on the type of repair and the quality and price of the parts. Always look for parts that come with a warranty, even if they’re OEM, so you’ll be protected in case they fail.
Auto body repairs
Some aftermarket parts may be OK for
link hidden, please login to view, but others won’t be as good, says Michael Calkins, manager of technical services at AAA. “There’s a lot of variation in quality.” For example, he says, aftermarket parts often don’t have the same level of rustproofing as original parts, fit and finish don’t match, or panels don’t align properly. If OEM parts are used in auto body repair, the car should look and work exactly as it did before the damage, because everything will match up. OEM parts are also crash-tested, unlike many aftermarket parts.
Aftermarket parts come at varying price points and levels of quality, but because they are cheaper, insurance companies often prefer them. If you want OEM parts but are dealing with an insurer that wants the shop to use aftermarket parts, ask to pay the difference.
“There’s also the option of used parts, depending on the age of the vehicle,” Calkins says. “It may be cheaper than an aftermarket part but still have all of the original quality.”
Mechanical repairs
A used part, whether it’s OEM or aftermarket, can really save money on repairs under the hood, so long as it’s inspected first and warrantied. And some aftermarket companies reverse-engineer their products to be even better than OEM versions.
For example, many car buffs will tell you that you can get heavy-duty shocks and struts or brake pads that are made of stronger materials. Scan some reviews online, or talk with your mechanic if you’re not sure whether an aftermarket part could be an upgrade.
Adding some extras
If you’d like to modify your ride by adding something like a backup camera or back-seat TV screen, you’ll probably be looking for aftermarket parts. Certain aftermarket upgrades could increase
link hidden, please login to view. This is especially true for improvements like a better sound system or alloy wheels, rather than mechanical repairs. Who provides OEM or aftermarket parts?
The options you’ll have for parts depends on the nature of the repairs and what type of shop you take your car to:
Dealership repair shops will offer only OEM parts — they have no reason to offer a cheaper product from a competitor link hidden, please login to view may be able to offer you a choice between OEM and aftermarket parts Independent garages that specialize in your type of vehicle will likely have both, but with quicker access to OEM parts, including used OEM parts, which can really save you Auto body shops can offer both, but if your collision repair is part of an insurance claim, the insurer will likely prefer aftermarket parts to save money Depending on the job, the cost of OEM versus aftermarket parts varies. Whenever you’re given the choice, ask to see estimates for both so you can weigh your options.
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By Counterman
The aftermarket future is bright for
link hidden, please login to view as a trio of company executives noted during a media conversation at link hidden, please login to view. Masahiro Shiiya, president, AISIN Global Aftermarket; Scott Turpin, president and CEO, AISIN World Corp. of America; and Dwayne Bates, senior vice president, Aftermarket, AISIN World Corp. of America discussed a range of topics about their plans for the global aftermarket segment, including the formation of AISIN Aftermarket & Service of America Inc., as well as an expanded product lineup. “It’s Mr. Shiiya’s vision—he’s been looking at building a maintenance empire from the top all the way down to the tire. Any maintenance-related issue, he’s going to try to fix it,” Bates said in an interview after the press conference. “He’s been focusing on wiper blades, filters—anything that would be a common maintenance part—and tires are included in that. So we’ve partnered with a tire manufacturer and developed our tires.”
AISIN had a range of tires on display in the booth under the AITERRA brand name, including the AIECO EC50 tire for passenger cars, the AICROSS CR60 for SUVs and the AIWAGON WA70 for delivery van applications.
The creation of
link hidden, please login to view was another big headline for the company at the show. The new company will be formed through a merger between AWTEC—an AISIN company focused on transmission remanufacturing—and the aftermarket business unit of AISIN World Corp. of America (AWA). With this move, AISIN leadership said it will expand its manufacturing capabilities for service parts, leveraging and uniting the combined expertise of AWTEC and AWA Aftermarket Sales. Operations also will be streamlined and optimized to increase efficiencies and better position the aftermarket team for growth. “Right now, the merger here in the US is just taking place. It’ll be effective April 1,” Bates explained. “With this merger, it’s not a departure from what we normally have done. We sell 80% of AWTEC-branded product through our sales organization already. It’s an alignment and correlation of our departments, making it more streamlined and more effective for the customer.”
There also was plenty of talk about the future of the automotive market and the impact of new vehicle technologies.
“One of the things that is changing is the parts proliferation from everybody,” said Larrow Kaufman, senior sales manager for the North American Aftermarket at Aisin World Corp. of America. “We’re looking at ICE vehicles and asking, ‘Is that part mix changing in regard to cars being more reliable now than they’ve ever been.’ Then, on the EV vehicle side, we ask, ‘Are some of those parts the same or are they different?’ I think everyone is looking to decide what the next thing is and make sure that they have the product range to cover that.”
Then, there was the big question: What’s the outlook for 2025?
“One of the nice things about the automotive aftermarket is that, regardless of what we’ve been through—be it COVID, be it pre-pandemic, be it post-pandemic—we’ve been relatively steady,” Kaufman said. “I think the market’s still looking at single-digit growth throughout the year, and we plan to take advantage of that.”
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