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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Car Cleaning Products and Accessories Reviewed

Recommended Cleaning Products For Your Car

Most of us hate to wash our cars and trucks, but these are expensive possessions and you need to be sure properly to maintain them.   Why drive about in an old clunker when a bit of soap and water will totally transform your set of wheels?  The main thing is that you choose products for the job that are kind to your car – and that get the job done right.
Below are some suggestions that should help you with this unpleasant task.   We hope to introduce you to some products that do good things for your car that you probably never use but – like spinach – do great things when put to work.
Let’s get started with the main course (never believed in appetizers) and take up a discussion of what you will use to shampoo your car.   
Washing CarMeguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner is just what you are looking for.  This comes in a 64-oz bottle [http://amzn.to/1hCuLCa] with a formula that both cleans and conditions the paint on your car all in one-step.  You get about 32 washes per bottle, which is a very fair deal – though some customer do recommend getting the one-gallon bottle.
This amazing product offers a high quality formula that removes dirt from your car without damaging your car finish.   If you have decided that, the time has come to wash your car, why not apply a conditioner to protect your car paint at the same time, that is safe and gentle too. 
However, you ask – does it work?  Well, earlier customers certainly think so.  They give it 4.6 stars out of five.  That score – you can take it from us – is nothing short of phenomenal – so run with it.
There are a few one and two star ratings, but even these seem to be praises for the product as opposed to complaints.  Visit the link above and read for yourself.
Next, you will need cloths or wipes and Meguiar comes to the rescue again.  You might think that we are pushing the Meguiar brand with this post – but frequent readers of our reviews know better.  We love what the public loves – and Meguiar has earned its strips in this regard.
Their Supreme Shine Microfiber Cloths [http://amzn.to/NuVyXy] are a best seller for a reason.  The fact that customers rate them 4.4 out of five stars ought to be enough recommendation alone.
There is not a lot one can say about car washing cloths, but there are a few points we would like to make regarding the few complaints that we noted.
First, these are cloths – not chamois – and some customers seem to have gotten the wrong idea – even if this fact is clear in the product title.  This is not a “dig” at those good folk, but sometimes people just do not see what is right in front of them.  We hope that this will clear that up.
Probably the most often registered complaint is that the towels left a few particles behind.  Some customers thought this was “lint” and they were really bummed, and that is a shame.  They probably never noticed the term “Microfiber” in the title – did you?
Car WashThe biggest benefit of these cloths is that they won’t scratch your paint, damage your wax job or otherwise harm the coating on your car or truck.  These towels have special edging to prevent scratches and are pre-washed so you don’t have to break them in.  They save on labor too, as they are many times more absorbent than the towels you are likely using now – which means fewer trips to the bucket.
Besides cleaning cars customers use these cloths to clean kitchens, bathrooms, polished glass, mirrors and even for dusting.
OK, so you have just finished washing and drying your car, you are off the couch and the game is safely tucked away on DVR, so you might as well finish the job.  That’s right; your car could use a restorative treatment. 
You sigh and look toward the sky half-hoping it is too late.  However, no such luck.  The light ought to last just long enough to finish the work.  All you need now is a killer restorative treatment.  And guess what – Meguiars comes to the rescue again!
We aren’t stacking the deck here, we promise you.  Make a comparison at amazon for yourself.  There are some great treatments listed there, but none – absolutely none – score as highly with previous customers as Meguiars Ultimate Compound [http://amzn.to/1ddVCr5].
This stuff is the “snake oil” of car cleaning products.  It safely restores the color and clarity of your car finish without a lot of daunting pre-work.  Just rub in Meguiar's revolutionary formula and it gets right to work.
Meguiar's uses an exclusive “micro-abrasive” technology that cuts through dirt and buildup fast without scratching your vehicle’s paint or clear coat finish.  This formula helps to remove defects and improve your car paint’s appearance.
It does easily what customers complain most other products will not do, such as easily remove oxidation, light scratches, water spots, light bird dropping etchings, and stains from your car finish – safely and gently.  We doubt it can restore your aunt’s dying petunias, but we aren’t putting any money on that.
All of the links above will take you to amazon to learn more about these products.  All of the products are also available in the shopping center at Sincere Product Reviews where you just might find it cheaper, so do your homework.
As for us, all of this talk of washing cars has been exhausting.  Time to cue up that game.  Now, where did we put that blasted remote? ...
Shop safely,
car cleaning review
Want to see other options?  Try these links!
See Related Products at:   http://bit.ly/16xPTqN

Friday, March 14, 2014

Winix WAC5500 PlasmaWave Air Purifier Review

Winix WAC5500 True HEPA Air Purifier with PlasmaWave Technology

Air cleaners and purifiers are very popular for good reasons.  They are affordable and even promote good health, but to get real benefits from them, you need to understand how to shop for them.
Air cleaners generally use permanent filters to trap dust and air particles.  Air purifiers actually attack and destroy air pollutants, such as bacteria, spores, and allergens.  The Winix WAC5500 is an extremely effective air purifier that pairs up a carbon filter with a true HEPA filter to scrub effectively the air in your environment.
Unfortunately, due to the high-tech nature of air purifiers in general, many manufactures have reduced them to the equivalent of nineteenth century snake oil, which upon a single dose would even cure a rainy day.  Unfortunately, most of these units just aren’t as effective as we are led to believe.
So, what really does constitute a great buy in air purifiers?  I just so happens that we have an answer for you – but certainly not the only game in town.  We have reviewed several very reliable air purifiers here at Sincere Product Reviews.  We urge you to visit the archives and read some of them.
Here is what you can expect of the Winix WAC5500 True HEPA Air Purifier.
Main Features of the Winix WAC5500 True HEPA Air Purifier
  • Long Life True HEPA Filter
  • Effective Range of 260 square feet
  • Filters 99.97% of pollutants and allergens
  • Carbon Pre-filter helps to control odors
  • Plasma Wave technology destroys pollutants at the molecular level
  • Unit does not produce harmful ozone
  • Smart Sensor with Auto Mode
  • Energy Star Rating saves you money
  • Measures: 16.3 x 8.5 x 21.7 inches
  • Weight: 15.7 pounds
See this product at Amazon:   http://amzn.to/1fxhPuG
Overview
The Winix Air Purifier is actually a very effective unit for use in bedrooms and for other smaller areas of your home.  It has a large effective range that will purify a room as large as 260 feet – and that’s pretty big.
While this air purifier does claim to use some high-tech, it still must be classified as a standard HEPA air purifier, as the more technical features – while maybe not quite gimmicks – certainly do not move this purifier into a class of its own.
Coupled with HEPA and carbon filters, the Plasma Wave technology helps filter the air to give you a very high air quality.  This unit is a great addition to any environment where someone suffers from allergies or asthma.
As the high-tech goes, the Winix WAC5500 True HEPA Air Purifier boasts both Plasma Wave technology and a Smart Sensor with “Auto Mode” although there is no clear technical explanation of what they do – nor how they do it.
One thing seems certain though.  Customers love it – so if you are looking for an air purifier that actually works – you might be willing to overlook just what is being done to achieve this effect.
Customer Feedback
  • 5 star  144
  • 4 star  40
  • 3 star  19
  • 2 star  6
  • 1 star  4
Of 213 customer reviews, this product managed to place 184 of them above three stars with another 19 at the three star level.  This earns the Winix air purifier 4.5 stars out of five!  As we said, customers think the world of this product – and as the unit is at work in their homes – they are the best qualified to judge.
The few complaints you see here had to do with bad units that died in a week, or a unit that issued a bad smell, and one customer even says that the unit does not clean the air effectively, but bad units happen – and ten complaints out of well over 200 are sufficiently high odds to bank on.
Price for this unit might put you off though.  It costs around $200 - but if you want a proven effective air cleaner and are willing to pay a bit to get it – then you might just have found the solution to your problem.
We hope so, anyway.
Shop Smart and Prosper!
Air Purifier
Product Links at Amazon:   http://amzn.to/1fxhPuG
See Related Products at:   http://bit.ly/16xPTqN

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Family Camping –Taking Things Seriously

Taking Family Camping Seriously: Safeguarding Your Family

Family Camping is an excellent way to bond with your family, but you need different planning for a successful trip, depending on whether you plan to bring your significant other, or your entire family.   
Family Camping
Everything changes when your entire family is a part of any scenario, whether it be camping or otherwise.  The immediate concern to come to mind is safety, of course.  For a family camping scenario, this is easy to manage by use of a large family tent like the one we reviewed here.  A family tent keeps the family all together where there is safety in numbers – especially at night.  This also helps with the family bonding experience - which should be the main purpose for any family camping trip.
You might also consider lots of quality lighting for both inside and outside to enhance the living quality of your temporary family home, and to increase safety in about your family camping area.  You can find some quality suggestions here.
Then there is the matter of convenience.  At home, we take our facilities (such as a bathroom) for granted, but in the wilds, not having dignified facilities can be a problem.  You probably have not thought about it, but there is an elegant solution for this while camping, as well.
This is the “Portable Toilet,” and if you envision a large bulky structure that you must into place by crane – you are out of touch.  There are many solutions that lend themselves well to camping as these are easy to transport and easy to set up.  A suitable selection might be the portable toilet that we reviewed here.
Today’s portable camping toilet is essentially an indoor tent made of lightweight material and steel frame that can be set up in minutes inside the family tent.  This prevents the children from wandering off into the woods to do their business like animals – and it further defines your family camping tent as a family home.  Just be careful with any lighting that you install in these toilets, or you will inadvertently end up on stage.
Then there is the matter of preparing meals.  The fishing is fun, but you can’t eat it right out of the lake – so what to do?  Well, you can consider buying some camping cookware that is specifically designed for the outdoor life – as the cookware reviewed here.
Well designed for heat distribution and light enough to carry in a backpack, this very special cooking ware set is extraordinary.  Not only is it inexpensive, but it offers up a more appetizing meal than one from the twenty-five year old skillet “grandpa used to use.”  It may look beautiful to you – but your family probably sees something different entirely.
You will also want along some emergency flares and the like in case your family camping excursion turns into a survival exercise.  Rather than run the litany of solutions for you here, let us refer you to a review that will prepare you for an emergency on the road.  You will find that review here.
Family camping is a fun and popular pastime and is a great way to put down stress.  No phone calls (bring one cell phone for emergencies) and no mail (unless you invited the mail carrier) ought to go a long way toward replacing troubling thoughts about meetings and presentations - with pleasant thoughts of hearth and family.  Any takers?
Have fun!
Family Camping
Want to see other options?  Try these links!
See Related Products at:   http://bit.ly/16xPTqN
Family Camping Amazon Search:   http://amzn.to/1frJBIT 


Saturday, March 8, 2014

Drip Irrigation System: DIG GE200 Review

DIG GE200 Drip Irrigation System with Micro Sprayers

The DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System is a simple and inexpensive necessity for any serious gardener.  Most of us have our watering Systems  set up on a timer to control a general sprinkler system .  This is fine - for most of us - but if you are into greenhouse or landscaping activities, you are going to find that your plants need more precise watering.  They need good irrigation coverage, even when your normal lawn does not.
Drip Irrigation SystemThe DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System is a drip watering System that you can distribute locally to those areas of your garden that have special needs.  The DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System lets you get in close for direct application.
This kit is simply fawned over by customers before you – and soon, you will know the reasons why.  First, though, let us turn up the box, and see what falls out.
Product Features of the DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System
  • Coverage up to 700 square feet
  • Easy installation
  • Components easily configurable to almost any setup
  • Comes with 11 microspray stakes
  • 3 x 360 degree nozzles
  • 4 x 180 degree nozzles
  • 3 x 90 degree nozzles
  • 3 x 90° micro sprayers
  • 4 x 180° micro sprayers
  • 3 x 360° micro sprayers wi
  • 20 x 1 GPH PC drippers.
  • 11 x  13" clip stakes
  • back-flow device,
  • pressure regulator,
  • swivel adapters,
  • Tubing, micro-tubing, tees, elbows, coupling, punches, barbs,
  • Hose end, and plugs.
DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System Link at Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1hWrmzJ
As you can see, the DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System is a complete system that you can use to water ground covers, flowerbeds, trees, vines, and shrubs and whatever not suitable for watering by your standard irrigation system .  The kit is portable, easy to install and can be set up anywhere in just about no time.  Customers rate ease of installation as one of the best features of this kit, so immediately; this lays aside concerns about you spending 11 backbreaking hours to put your drip irrigation system in place.
Make no mistake about it.  For the price, the DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System is an awesome product.  It scores 4.7 stars at amazon, and has only a single report below three stars.  If there is any real drawback to your buying this kit, we certainly cannot find it.
Customers say installation is simple and the micro sprayers work great. One customer tips us that though the DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System  comes with a thick manual which makes installation appear complex, all you really need is the directions on the box.  There are no surprises here.  Just be sure to map out the area that you want to install.  You can’t expect to get good results when operating without a plan.
You will want to match this set with a good timer for automated control, and you will be good to go.  Match this set with a good timer and it works flawlessly.  If you need replacement parts, Dig Corp sells a number of support kits, and add on products for their drip irrigation systems.  Just stick to buying boxed kits where possible, since what you need is all in the box, and you don’t need to guess about anything.
What Customers Are Saying
The customers report on the DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System comes as a rousing cheer.  Few products inspire such excitement with earlier users as does this irrigation kit.  You may not need one – but those who did just could not get enough of it – and indeed – many customers reported buying more after their experience with this one.
One small issue was that the 360-degree sprayers are not adjustable.  They spray just great, but in streams of about 6-8 feet so that nothing inside this range gets wet at ground level.  However, customers report that the 90 degree and 180 degree sprayers work just fine, offering good misting and spraying out some 4-5 feet.  Just do your planning well, buy extras of what you need, and then go to work for a few short hours to get the job done.
If you are done dragging out soaker hoses all the time, and ruining your expensive clothes, the DIG Irrigation GE200 Complete Drip Irrigation System will save you some frustration.  The hardest part is setting it up – and as we have seen, even that is a piece of cake, assuming that you have a plan so that you know what you are doing.
If you have shrubs, flowers and the like, add a drip irrigation system on a timer, and let science do the hard work of watering them for you.  You can use the extra time preparing for the flower show.  Those judges don’t have to know how you did it!
Happy Shopping!
DIG Irrigation GE200 Drip Irrigation System
Product Link at Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1hWrmzJ
 Want to see other options?  Try these links!
See Related Products at:   http://bit.ly/16xPTqN

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Permanent HEPA Type Filters - Good Idea?

Permanent HEPA Type Filters – Should you use them?

In this review we would like to take a look at an air cleaner with a permanent HEPA Type Filter.   We have all heard much about permanent filters – and have even heard the warnings to stay away from them.
Most permanent filters are simple air filters that you rinse out and replace without issue.   Once dry, the filter performs as well as it ever did – which is not to say that a simple air filter does much to clean your air in the first place.   Its main purpose is to filter out large airborne particles, but do little to trap dust and manage airborne bacteria.
HEPA type filters are different.   Often combined with carbon filters these marvelous filters actually will produce a noticeable effect in your air quality, as well as remove the dangerous bacteria from the air that can make you (or your pets) sick.  HEPA Type Filters are serious air cleaning tools.
For our experiment, we thought we would have a look at the Honeywell Compact Air Purifier HHT-011 which uses a Permanent HEPA Type Filter.   For approximately $45 dollars, here is what you will be getting.
  • Compact table top air purifier
  • Effectively treats rooms up to 85 square feet
  • Power: 120V A.C., 60Hz., 0.85A (America)
  • Permanent HEPA type filter
  • Captures up to 99% of mold spores, pollen, pet dander, smoke and dust
  • Optional ionizer provides extra cleaning power
  • Washable Pre-filter
  • Nightlight feature
  • Measures 9.40 inches by 5.8 inches by 12.9 inches
  • 3-year limited warranty
See this product now at amazon:  http://amzn.to/P5V2ky
HEPA type filterThe Honeywell Compact Air Purifier is a small powerful air cleaner that delivers good results, according to the customers.  By using an HEPA Type Filter, a pre-filter and an ionizing field, this unit manages to avoid use of a carbon filter and still do a good job to maintain good air quality.
Of course this model is limited to a room of only 85 feet, but there are larger models, and this one will do to teach us what we came to learn; that is, the effectiveness of using a permanent HEPA Type Filter versus a replaceable one.
There is not a ton of to say about this simple air cleaner.  It isn’t a scientific marvel that we can go on about as if it were the Starship Enterprise.  What you want to know is if customers see a difference in their air quality – and most do – so the jury seems to have spoken to the effectiveness of this product.
Let us move on now to the main event.  We want to try to answer the question whether or not a permanent filter – even an HEPA type filter – is a good idea.  We already know that when it comes to purifying the air, it gets the job done.  Customers are almost unanimous on this.
You might ask then, why this product receives only scores 3.8 out of five stars.  To answer this question, let us have a look at the customer review map.
  • 5 star        526
  • 4 star        364
  • 3 star        160
  • 2 star        130
  • 1 star        127
See this product now at amazon:  http://amzn.to/P5V2ky
So, out of 1307 customer reviews, fully half of them are under water (below five stars) and that just won’t do.  Normally, we consider the four star cases as you know if you are a fan of these reviews – but here that method won’t wash.  Here is why.
417 of the reviews are already below even the four star mark (3 stars), so the five-star level becomes important here.  That is why this product scored so badly, but it is not only how badly this product scored – it is what the customers said.
First, let us take up the issue of a noisy fan.  That is the première symptom of a blocked filter, but it seems to happen even when these units are new.  Of course, the reasons really don’t matter.  The unit is super noisy – and many customers hate that – and are saying so.  So already, we have a problem, Strike one!
Many customers complain that their unit loses effectiveness after several (about six) months.  Air quality falls and the units begins either to smell, become more noisy than usual or to fail.  The average life of an HEPA type filter is about six months, and these units begin fail in that period.  Before that, they are fine.  Now, doesn’t that seem peculiar to you?
Well, we smelled a rat – and it was stinking up the joint.  We are betting that the filter clogged – and it remained clogged even after customers numerous attempts to clean it.  In fact, one customers unit worked just fine – UNTIL he cleaned the filter.  Therefore, this issue leads us back to the filters again.  The pitcher winds and delivers strike two!
Then, there are the customers who are actually able to identify their problem.  They say straight out that after several months, no air seems to be passing through the air filter.  The customer claims to have washed the filter several times – but still it will not pass air.  So here the diagnosis is easy.  Strike three!
Well, it didn’t take long to strike this thing out, did it?  Moreover, we got a lesson out of it too.  Despite any claims made by anybody anywhere – do NOT rely on any permanent filter of any kind - and especially any HEPA Type Filter.  If you like a certain unit fine, but always make sure that you can get filter replacements.  'Nuff said.
In no case did we encounter any review from a customer who actually replaced his HEPA type filter with a new one before the unit died.  Would that have saved the unit?  We think yes – but so far, we haven’t found the proof of this.  There are over 1300 customer reviews here, so if you would like to make the search – you can use the link below and be our guest.
Obviously, we cannot recommend this unit, and we certainly don't suggest running a unit using an HEPA Type Filter without replacing the filter, but we learn something even from the products that earlier customers feel is flawed.  Reading about their experiences is fun, educational and can save you many hours of frustration.
Shop Smart & Prosper!
HEPA type filter
See this product now at amazon:  http://amzn.to/P5V2ky
Want to see other options?  Try these links!
See Related Products at:   http://bit.ly/16xPTqN

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Winter Emergency Tools for Your Car

Four Winter Emergency Tools for Your Car

Winter Emergency Tools can save your life!
Automobile Winter Emergency Tools are critical survival tools for motorists when the cold weather arrives.  Winter hits motorists harder in certain areas of the country than in others, but there is likely no place where we can dismiss the onset of winter altogether.   Not only should you equip your car for the colder weather, you need to perform a winter season maintenance on your vehicle too.
winter emergency toolsIf you live in rural areas, simple winter emergency tools like matches, dried foods, even emergency clothes need to be nearby, in case the cold weather kills your car in one of nature’s cruelest locations.
Of course, flares, tools, medical kit, jumper cables and a roadside emergency kit ought to be present in every car at any time of year – but in winter, they assume the proportions of life saving equipment.   You might even consider a winter emergency kit just to fill in all the gaps.
We trust our cars – perhaps too much – but they do not actually promise not to strand us on hostile ground.   You do need to anticipate the possibility of a life-threatening struggle in case you find yourself more than a cell phone call from emergency help.
Other nice items to have around are snowbrush, snow shovel, car seat warmer and it may make sense even to have even a remote car starter.  These tools will not be necessary in mild winter climates, but if it really gets cold where you are – then you already know that the commute goes a lot easier with tools like these at the ready.
We cannot make you completely ready for next winter, but we can make a few suggestions on winter emergency tools to get you started.
Winter Emergency Tools for Your Car
A snowbrush is one of the most basic Winter Emergency Tools.  The Mallory USA 532 26-Inch Snow Brush [http://amzn.to/1ocp7ch] is among the best.
Customers highly praise this snowbrush, which has a foam grip and includes an ice scraper on one end.  The foam grip is very comfortable and it does not get sticky as many foam grips do.  You can use this link to view it at amazon – if you find yourself interested at all.  With a 4.5 star customer rating, you should find this tool suitable for your needs.
If you need a snowbrush, then likely you also need a good snow shovel.  A good snow shovel is likely the most overlooked of the Winter Emergency Tools.  Like a parachute, these aren’t really missed, until they are needed.
winter emergency toolsIf you need a snow shovel, then a worthy candidate is the Black Diamond Transfer Snow Shovel [http://amzn.to/1mOUgDJ].  This is simply THE ideal snow shovel for emergencies.  This shovel scores 4.8 stars in the customer reviews, with 100% of the reviews all positive at four stars, or above.  This does not often occur, but when it does – you can stop looking.  If you need a snow shovel, this is the one.  This link will take you to amazon where you can get a closer look.
In the harshest winter weather, a winter road kit becomes the most vital of the winter emergency tools.  The AAA Severe Weather Road Kit [http://amzn.to/1ocsakJ] kit has tools meant to keep you alive in cold weather.  Even if your car does not survive, this kit helps to make sure that YOU do. 
There are not a lot of offerings in this area at amazon – though there may be a few other choices elsewhere.  Of all the choices at amazon, this one rates the best with the customers.  Customers who bought this kit were very happy.  We can assume that these people understand the intent of this tool, if they bought it.  Only six out of 71 total customer reviews fell below the three star marks, and the item scored 4.2 stars overall.  That rating is quite solid, so if you need a winter survival kit – this one comes quite highly recommended.
We have one last thing to point out here.  A Severe Weather Road Kit is NOT an emergency road kit.  It appears that a few customers might have confused the two, and were disappointed that they did not find the tools they expected.  We wanted to be sure that you understood the difference before spending your money.  A road kit is NOT a winter emergency tool.
Our last suggestion is a truly novel idea.  Get this: flares that will not burn up, don’t threaten to burn anybody (or anything), and don’t leave a mess behind when you are rescued.  If this got your attention, then the Three Flare Alert 9.1.1 LED Emergency Beacon Flares with Storage Bag (betcha can’t say that again) [http://amzn.to/1eydXO1] just might be for you.
This unique and clever roadside emergency kit is among the most clever of our winter emergency tools.  It comes with three LED flare beacons that are as bright as any flare, according to the customers.  From there, these high-tech flares go on to run rings around any conventional flare.
winter emergency toolsThe base of these flares is magnetic, so you can mount them to your car in the most visible location.  A battery of flares mounted all about your car is bound to attract more attention than a few flares burning on the ground.
In addition, you can set these flares either to flash or to use a steady beam of light.  If you use the flashing option, you might draw attention faster, and you get an extra 40 hours of light to make contact with someone.
Each flare offers you nearly 20 hours of light (60 hours in flashing mode), after which you will need to change the batteries – and here is where we run into a bit of trouble.
You ARE going to have problems putting batteries in and out of this device, so reading this review will at least warn you about that.  We advise you to determine the tools that you need to pry the batteries out of the compartment and to put them back in BEFORE you take to the road.  Then you can just toss the needed tools in the kit bag, toss in some extra batteries – and you are set.
There are enough complaints on cheap workmanship and bad design to be credible, but mostly these flares function as expected – and as we said earlier, there really is no better game in town.  These flares offer far too many benefits to abandon them over a few cosmetic imperfections.
You can see a full range of winter accessories (including winter emergency tools) for your car over at Amazon or at the global shopping catalog at Sincere Product Reviews (see Shopping Center link below).  This way, you can check thousands of stores all at one time to explore even more options.  Have fun shopping, and stay safe in the cold.
winter emergency tools
Want to see other options?  Try these links!
See Related Products at:   http://bit.ly/16xPTqN


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Diagnostic Scan Tools for Vehicles Reviewed

Diagnostic Scan tools for Automotive Vehicles

Diagnostic Scan Tools are not a luxury any more – that is – if they ever were.  When your car acts up, do you have even a clue as to what the problem might be?    You may never be an expert, but you really can afford to put yourself in the hands of your friendly mechanic that way that (maybe) you once could.
Diagnostic Scan ToolThe well-informed stranded motorist today knows that you need to be able to go into the shop able to call the shots – or you just might pay a terrible price.  You might get sound advice – or you might be ripped off.  The point is – why give the other person all of the cards?
The rules are cleverly stacked against the ignorant.   Even a simple shop diagnostic can run you $100 dollars, and you still have not paid for repairs yet.   You can protect yourself by doing exactly what the expert automobile mechanic does for that $100 bucks you are so willing to part with.   That is – you can ask the computer!
By purchasing a simple and inexpensive Diagnostic Scan Tool, you can avoid the shop diagnostic – by avoiding the shop altogether.  Make your diagnostic first, and enter the garage with a heads up as to what you should expect the mechanic to say.
The Autel MaxiScan MS300 CAN Diagnostic Scan Tool for OBDII Vehicles is an inexpensive diagnostic tool that is perfect for the do-it-yourself mechanic.  It currently sells for just under the $20 and it is perfectly capable to save YOU thousands!  Here is what this small wonder will offer you.
Autel Maxiscan MS300 CAN Diagnostic Scan Tool
Link at amazon:   http://amzn.to/1hqpP4G
  • Works with all OBDII vehicles (standard on all US cars since 1996)
  • Retrieves all generic and manufacturer Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC)
  • Companion definition lookup on software CD
  • Features easy to read, backlit  LCD screen
  • Standard 16 pin OBDII connector – no cables required
  • Retrieves VIN on all models that support Mode 9 (2002 and up)
  • Supports CAN and OBDII protocols
This small diagnostic scan tool is smart and powerful, and it arms you with at least some idea of what is happening with your car.  You will receive a diagnostic code that will go with you to the auto repair shop.
If you mechanic starts talking about things that do not show up in your own diagnostic, you might want to get a second opinion.  Just let the next mechanic tell YOU what is wrong, and do not go arming her with information.  Then compare the two assessments to determine your next steps.
As for customer opinion, over 2,000 reviewers give this product 4.4 star out of five.  That is rather phenomenal for a $17.00 piece of diagnostic equipment, so what is the point of looking further?
One strong recommendation surfaced to start your car before taking your scans, even though the instructions say this is not necessary.  It may NOT be necessary for your car – but if you get a “No Code” do start the engine and try again.
BAFX Products (TM) - ELM 327 Bluetooth OBD2 Diagnostic Scan Tool
Amazon Link:  http://amzn.to/1fsrnN1
The BAFX ELM 327 Diagnostic Scan Tool is another slick scanning tool – and this one has Bluetooth too!  This tool will probably be compatible with your car if it is any model 1996 and up.  If your car is older than that, you might consider a retirement home, instead of springing for repairs.
  • Works on all vehicles
  • Reads diagnostic trouble codes, generic and manufacturer
  • Clear trouble codes and turn off the MIL ("Check Engine" light),
  • Compatible with Android phones
  • Wireless Bluetooth connection to your computer for remote hookup
  • 1yr limited manufacturer warranty!
The BAFX ELM 327 is a slightly advance diagnostic scan tool that performs the same basic job as the Autel Maxiscan reviewed above, but is compatible with more car models and has some modern conveniences like Bluetooth and android compatibility.
Nearly 1400 customers rated this device 4.5 star out of five, and there were few complaints about the module itself.  Most complaints focus on the software, or the Bluetooth, which failed to synchronize properly with other tools they were using.
For gory details, you can visit amazon and read more, but this unit costs five dollars more than the Autel device, and you will get good results from the Autel without a lot of technical complication.  Bluetooth becomes more reliable the more you pay for it – and you can bet there will be technical problems if you expect this unit to connect seamlessly with whatever is hanging on your belt.
If you do experience problems getting a good scan with either of these diagnostic scan tools, just remember to start your engine and try again with the engine running.  That definitely seemed to help correct many common problems.
While the BAFX has a larger database and is probably more compatible with a larger number of car models, we still feel that our choice for a diagnostic scan tool has to be the Autel Maxiscan which is better designed, is simpler to use, has its own easy to read display, and just plain looks cool.  You have links to both, so have a look – and let us know your choice.
Until we hear from you, we wish you loads of fun on your shopping spree, and we remind you as we often do to…
Shop Smart & Prosper!
Diagnostic Scan Tools for Vehicles
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