Handy Tool Guide

Kotulas.com has the 900 Amp Jump Starter with Built-In Air Compressor on offer for $79.99 with free standard shipping to the continental USA. 'Be ready for roadside adversity with this 900 Peak Amp 12V jump starter with built-in air compressor. It's like a security blanket for your wheels. Provides instant jumpstarts even in extreme conditions. Integrated 120 PSI air compressor with backlit gauge fills tires and other inflatables. 12V DC outlet provides power at any time. The EHP battery delivers 400 cold cranking amps and over 900 peak amps to provide extra cranking power. Integrated 5 LED work lamp; extra long 46in. 4-gauge cables with non-shorting grips. Built-in charger makes charging easy, even with most standard extension cords. On/off safety switch; includes 110V AC and DC to DC power cords, LED battery level display and "Cables Reversed" warning. Product Rating.'

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Auto Express have published their review of twelve car socket adapters. 'Some manufacturers have moved with the times and provide two power sources near the driver, but for most of us one lighter socket is simply not enough. Just as we would in the home, in the car we need an adaptor to power or charge more than one piece of kit at a time. Recently, we have seen these boast computer USB sockets as well as 12V lighter outlets, and there is now a wide range of designs. But which one should you reach for when you want to plug and play? We took 12 top-sellers off the shelves to find out.'

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Press Release

Tool Reduces 'Roughing Time' By Half

Wixom, MI -- K-Tool International (KTI), a leading manufacturer of tools for the automotive aftermarket and the professional body shop technician, is proud to launch the Model 302 Panel Cup dent remover.

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Press Release

After extensive lab and product testing Huron Technologies, Inc.'s new Release Coating 7644 proved to achieve superior results for molding urethane automotive components. The lab, product and plant testing were extensive. Ongoing production use after the trials, verified all the test results.

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PC Magazine have published a review of the Navigon 2200T GPS navigator. 'In many ways, the 2200T is quite similar to the Navigon 2100 max we reviewed in August. The 2100 max was marred by poor route calculation times, and it was slow to display the turn-by-turn list view. Navigon has addressed both issues in the new 2200T. A route that took close to 80 seconds to calculate on the 2100 max was calculated by the 2200T in about 8 seconds—a massive improvement. Similarly, the corresponding list view display time was cut from 56 seconds to just over 5 seconds. The 2200T ranks right up with the fastest devices on the market. Text-to-speech voice quality was good, and running next to a Garmin nüvi on my road tests, it generated the same routes on my test routes as the nüvi.'

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Auto Express have published their review of twelve sets of screwdrivers. 'The days of ’drivers with shafts you could virtually bend in your fingers and handles that shattered at the slightest tap are thankfully behind us. Picking a set now is all about grip, comfort and what you get in the box. Even budget kits are capable of fulfilling most DIY mechanics’ demands, so makers have put a lot of effort into handle design and finding ways to provide extra strength. Which are the head turners? We tested a dozen sets.'

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CNET have published a review of the JVC KW-NX7000 GPS navigation receiver. 'The faceplate of the KW-NX7000 is dominated by a huge 7-inch motorized touch-panel display. Just below the screen is a row of buttons for power/attenuate, volume control, map, display, skip forward/back, and open. The motorized display is detachable, a feature that we don't usually see with these big screen, dual DIN systems. Hidden behind the screen, you'll find the single-CD slot and two SD card slots, one of which is blocked by a plastic cover and is home to the flash memory card containing the map data for the navigation system.'

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Press Release

ALFDORF, Germany, -- TRW Automotive GmbH, a subsidiary of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW), has developed the Active Buckle Lifter (ABL) to make fastening seat belts easier. The feature is particularly intended to assist the elderly and people with mobility challenges, and also can help reduce belt slack in dynamic driving situations.

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Auto Express have published the results of their testing of two hundred car tyres. 'This year, we’ve tested our biggest and fastest tyre ever – 225/45 R 17, with a W or Y speed rating (up to 168mph and 186mph). This is the rubber found on everything from family saloons to hot hatches and high-performance machines. As always, we wanted to see how associate and budget brands matched up to the big names, so we gathered 16 products from all sections of the market, including a first from China. All tests were carried out by Auto Express drivers where possible at Michelin’s test facility in Clermont-Ferrand, France. To ensure the tyres we were sent were the same as those you can buy, we purchased three sets at random, and compared wet braking performance – this shows any differences in compound or construction. All were the same as supplied.'

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The Gadgeteer have published a review of the Garage Laser Parking System. 'Installation is fairly simple. I picked a location on my garage's ceiling, roughly centered on my van's parking spot, marked the three spots for the screws and drilled pilot holes. Once the pilot holes were completed, I screwed the device's back to the garage's ceiling then completed the installation by sliding the device onto its back. You can use the hook and loop tape instead of the screws but I did not think it seemed very robust. The device in place, I targeted the laser to rest on the dash of my van. Installation was easy but did require a power tool and a ladder.'

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Auto Express have published their review of 10 four-piece sets of car mats. 'The Sakura Premium and Halfords Fully Tailored sets were identical in looks, performance and price. You can pick either brand off the shelf with confidence. However, Sakura wins as it has mats specific to our Golf MkV. The high street chain’s £9.99 Carpet Mat Set is a great budget choice – just make sure it will actually fit your vehicle first.'

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A review of the Kensington LiquidAUX Bluetooth Car Kit has been posted over at Brighthand.com. 'The LiquidAUX Bluetooth Car Kit is roughly the same size as a standard car power adapter. Unlike other adapters, though, it has a Bluetooth pairing button, an on/off switch and a USB port. Not to mention the built-in microphone and the attached 3.5mm audio cable. A small remote control that attaches to your steering wheel helps keep the adapter at a respectable size. There are four buttons on the remote: a phone, skip forward, skip back, and play/pause. Hitting the phone button allows a user to answer/disconnect a call, and the other three will allow you to ignore calls, use call waiting and transfer calls back to the headset, along with performing their music functions.'

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CNET have published a review of the Funkwerk Ego Cup Bluetooth hands-free car kit. 'The nice-looking Ego Cup feels pretty cheap, lightweight, and hollow. The main interface is a large silver speaker that sits beneath an expanse of glossy black plastic. Visually, this is pretty pleasing, but like most glossy devices, the Ego Cup is a fingerprint and smudge magnet. There are what appear to be soft-touch contacts for answer, end, and volume inlayed into the plastic, but upon closer inspection, we found that they are actually labels for four regular buttons hidden beneath the plastic. They require a firm press to register and make a sort of cheap clicking sound.

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Auto Express have published a review of eight car polishers 'Polishing your car by hand takes time and effort. A powered buffer can get the bodywork gleaming more quickly and easily, and it often does a superior job. Many oscillate more than 2,000 times a minute, so the polish is being worked far better. Results matter more than power – or speed, which can drop when pressure is applied. Points were awarded for comfortable handles and extended leads, along with pad thickness, as thin ones don’t mould around curved panels as easily. We prefer the pads – also known as bonnets – to be secured by tough elastic rather than tie strings, as the latter can loosen with vibration.'

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Press Release

Tapeswitch’s new VB Sensing Bumper has a tough skin but a gentle touch

Tapeswitch is introducing their new VBL-250 safety bumper, the latest addition to their well-known line of Safety Sensing Bumpers. The VBL-250 Safety Bumpers are very durable as they are designed to withstand high impact areas. These durable but sensitive safety bumpers activate from an average of 4 pounds with a full collapse achieved as low as 34N. The Poly Urethane jacketed switch compartment adds to the overall durability and also protects the switch from dirt and moisture. The winged version of the VBL-250, VBL-250-W provides full wrap around corner protection for your vehicle. The VBL- 250 Safety Bumper is 2.5 inches wide and available for 4 inches to 16 feet long. They are capable of up to 8 inches of collapse or crush distance. For smaller applications, there is also the VBL-125 Safety Bumper which is only 1.25 inches wide and has most of the qualities of the VBL-250.

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The Gadgeteer have published a review of the Digiana Audiax DGT-301 FM Transmitter. 'To use an FM transmitter, you just turn on your car's FM stereo and find a station that is all static. This can sometimes take a few minutes... But the AudiaX relieves you of this task as it has a built in scanning feature that will find the best clear stations for you. If you press and hold the Scan/Memory button for a few seconds, it will scan all the frequencies from 88.1 to 107.9MHz and will save the best four channels. You can then press the S/M button to toggle between these four channels. If you prefer to tune to a channel manually, you can use the up / down arrow buttons to tune to a specific channel. Once you have the channel set on the transmitter and the radio, you can plug the 3.5mm jack into the earphone jack on your audio device and start enjoying your music.'

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Press Release

Akron, Ohio - (April 16, 2008) - Ken-Tool’s Universal Master TPMS Sensor Hardware and Tool Service Set for Tire Pressure Monitoring System sensors, (Item #30000), is an all-inclusive kit that includes hardware and application-specific tools for servicing valve stem TPMS sensors. The set ensures that tire service technicians won’t have to purchase several individual hardware kits from different sensor manufacturers and then separately purchase expensive TPMS sensor service tools as well.

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CNET have published a review of the Bel Professional Series RX65 radar and laser detector. 'The RX65 has a red LED information display on one end, which isn't particularly attractive, and a black plate on the other, for receiving radar signals. It also has a small pod on top that faces toward the back of the car, for detecting radar from behind. Buttons across the top include power, brightness, and sensitivity. The brightness and sensitivity buttons do double duty as programming buttons when you enter the settings mode. We like this setup, as it is easy to use and keeps buttons on the device to a minimum.

Continue reading "Beltronics Pro RX65 Radar Detector Review - CNET" »

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Auto Express have published their review of eight wheel wax/polish products. 'We applied all our waxes and polishes to sections of the front rims on our test car, after first cleaning it with our serial award winner Wonder Wheels. Also, we left an area untreated as a control. Over our three-week test we monitored brake dust build-up and noted ease of cleaning at the end. The varied range of pastes, solutions and kits meant factoring price was tricky, so it played a relatively small role in our verdict.'

Continue reading "Wheel Polish Review - Auto Express" »

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A review of the Bulldog Stubby Screwdriver and the Crescent Dura-Driver Ratcheting Screwdriver has been posted over at Web Bike World. 'The Bulldog stubby screwdriver is a really handy little tool for motorcycle use -- I keep it in my tank bag, but it will fit just about anywhere -- in a pocket; under the seat; in the motorcycle's tool case; in the tail section...Unscrew the top of the handle and inside are six little hex bits: a #1 and #2 Phillips; a 1/8" and a 1/4" flat screwdriver; and an S1 and S2 square drive. The bit holder on the screwdriver has a strong magnet to hold the bits, and the handle has a hard rubber "comfort grip".

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Auto Express have published their review of seven circuit testers. 'Basic circuit testers are little more than a screwdriver with a lead and bulb in the handle, and are often considered to be a poor man’s multimeter, but recent units are more advanced in their design. Many can show the voltage and polarity at the probe point – much more useful than just knowing whether a feed is live or not. They can also power up suspect components – such as bulbs or motors – simply by placing the probe on the terminal, connecting the earth lead to the casing and pressing a button.'

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CNET have published a review of the Eclipse AVN6620 DVD all-in-one in-car device which features a full array of entertainment options and a comprehensive navigation system. 'Squeezing the maximum possible real estate out of a double-DIN system, the AVN6620 features a 7-inch wide-screen, touch-screen display. Along the bottom of the screen, a number of simple backlit hard buttons provide easy access to most of the system's top-line feature menus, including dedicated buttons for navigation and AV menus, as well as a very useful generic Menu button, which gives drivers one-touch access to destination entry, media source, and system settings. One niggle we have with these hard buttons, however, is the relative obscurity of the volume controls, which can be difficult to locate while driving along with one eye on the road.'

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Tooltopia.com has the Tool Aid (TA 81400) Dent Puller and Slide Hammer on offer for $17.22 plus shipping. 'The largest selling and most economical body shop dent puller in the industry. 3lb. slide weight is mounted on 12" plated steel shaft. Famous blue vinyl hand grip over steel handle reduces sting on technicnian's hands and provides 100% grip. Broached hex in nose cone locks pulling screw in place...ends breakage. Supplied with two hardened pulling screws and "L" puller hook fabricated of aircraft quality steel. Nose cone and shaft threads are 1/2"-20.'

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Auto Express have published their review of thirty auto polishes (waxes). 'FEW valeting tasks provide you with the sense of satisfaction you get after polishing your car. Not only can you take pride in your gleaming bodywork, but you will also have helped slow the steady drop in the vehicle’s resale price by adding protection to the paint. You have to graft for it, though – and let’s be honest, this is a big job. With very few exceptions, you need to go over the entire car at least twice, applying and buffing the polish. With some products, there will even be three stages to be worked through. And don’t forget, before you can even consider starting to polish, you will have to go to all the effort of washing and then drying the bodywork.'

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Press release

All Safety Products Inc recently introduced a new 12 Volt vehicle hand wash sink to be sold in the USA. The Kinetics Engineering Group in Australia manufactures the vehicle hand wash sink, known as Handiwash ™ and it is distributed by All Safety Products Inc in the USA.

The 12 Volt application means that the mobile hand wash system can easily run off any car or truck battery as the power source and utilize automotive fuses. The vehicle hand wash sink is fully portable and easy to install in any automobile, truck or van. The hot water element in the included heater thermostatically controls water temperature to 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). The hand wash unit is molded from tough, UV resistant polymers suitable for internal and external applications. The dual water hot and cold spigots, this hand wash station allows quick and easy hand washing, with the waster water being caught in an optional waste catch of 2.5 gallons if required.

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Auto Express have published their review of six sets of spanners. 'We started our evaluation by checking that the 10mm spanner in each set could withstand the 58Nm load demanded by the British Standard for these tools. Not only did we look for damage, but the spanner needed to show some flexing to ensure that if it did fail, it would safely bend rather than shatter. Next, we factored in length, depth of offset (above), how tight bolts were held and ring size – a slim design is a good indicator of quality metal. Finally, we looked at value for money, balancing price against performance, the number of tools offered and whether a carry case was included in the cost.'

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Auto Express have published a review of ten microfibre cloths. 'Forget nano particles, car wash guns or everlasting polishes... the biggest revolution in valeting over the past couple of years has been the microfibre cloth. It’s essential if you want to make cleaning your car easier. The secret is in the fibres, which are split into tiny strands that can dig out grime and hold it. Not only can the cloth clean, but it also absorbs water, and several makers now produce special weaves to suit particular jobs, such as glass cleaning or buffing.'

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