Getting Your Van Sunroof Converted

We love camper vans. They come in all shapes and sizes and those who are fortunate to own one, tend to love them. For me it became such an integrated part of the family we even had to name it... Harriet.

Family holidays all centred round the van. I recall many a break where the family were sat outside on a warm summers evening. We all crowded round a camping table playing board games of monopoly, risk and cards.

Whilst the van was cramped it had one important advantage over a caravan. It was quicker. And I don't mean that in a speed demon petrol head, kind of way. The fact we didn't have the extra weight of a tourer meant that we could get to our destination quicker than the 48mph caravan. This meant that family holidays could be a little further afield.

The one disadvantage of our particular model was that it nearly always leaked. And in particular the sunroof caused us many an angst moment.

On one particular occasion, I remember a rather windy night. The rain nearly always woke me up. The noise of the rain on the van roof was always noisy. We didn't notice the dripping at first, it quietly dropped onto the duvet cover. However, it took until the morning, when my sister was wrongly accused of wetting the bed that we found out the problem.

If you are looking to install a sunroof in your van you need to ensure that it is professionally fitted. This guide is meant to help you ask the right questions before you embark on this project.

1) First of all ask your installer how often they fit new sunroofs. It is important to get an installer who is experienced in fitting. You want to know that they have fitted 100's of vans and know what they are doing.

2) Ask what type of glass they will use. Professional installers will have access to manufacturer glass panels. This will ensure customers that they getting a quality product.

What You Need To Check On Your Car After A Collision

If you've been driving for a few years, the chances are you've been involved in an accident of some sort at some stage. Indeed, that sense of dread you get the moment after you've collided with another car certainly stays with you. However conscientious and considerate a driver you are, there are bound to be times when you simply can't legislate for the ill-considered and ill-timed actions of other road users. After all, it only takes a poorly-judged lane change to result in a serious accident. It's important to keep a level head in these situations if you can, however.

According to CNN, car accidents can happen when drivers least expect them - and even the calmest motorists can suddenly be thrown into confusion in the immediate aftermath. The first step to take following a collision is of course to ensure that everyone in the car is uninjured. You may feel the need to call the emergency services depending on the severity of the accident. You should try to avoid inadvertently admitting guilt in the moments after a car crash. It can be difficult to get your bearings again but you should try to ensure you don't end up accepting the blame for a collision that turns out to be someone else's fault.

A guide from Wikihow.com recommends carrying out thorough checks to your vehicle following an accident, so that you know precisely what needs to be repaired.

Before you start giving your car the once-over, it's a good idea to check its history. This will give you a clearer idea of what repairs have been carried out in the past, and whether it has been involved in any accidents in the past.A visual inspection of the vehicle is essential and can help you get a better idea of what needs to be repaired. Take a good look at the bodywork and bumpers of the vehicle and keep a close eye out for any cracks, scratches or indentations. Bumpers in particular can break easily as they're made of plastic, and any damage to them could be an indication of other problems. Make sure you have a good look at your windscreen, looking in particular for chips, cracks or webbing.

Take a look at the gaps between bodywork panels to check whether they're properly aligned. It's quite common for gaps to appear between doors and panels following an accident, and these kinds of problem will obviously need to be resolved relatively quickly. Checking thoroughly for signs of damage is a very important task to carry out following an accident. You might not realise the extent of the damage at the time, as problems can emerge almost unnoticed.

Guide to Buying Car Parts Online

Purchasing Car Parts

Identifying the Right Car Parts

1. No matter how handy you may be, or how much you think you know about cars, don't make a diagnosis without checking with a qualified mechanic first. If you have problems later, you may void your warranty or ability to exchange the purchased car parts once installed.

2. Rather than rely only on the seller to recommend the right parts, call your local dealer and get the part numbers you require. Some dealers may not give this information out over the telephone. In these cases, call another dealer.

3. Contact the online seller and confirm the part numbers. Do this even if they have the car parts listed for your application (without the part numbers).

4. If you receive parts that look incorrect, do not install them. If you do, you may not be able to exchange them. Contact the seller immediately.

5. Be aware that some car parts have multiple part numbers.

6. Be aware that some parts may have superseded part numbers or may have been revised and look different to the original car parts or photos provided online. In these circumstances, the part is OK.

7. If buying from a seller in another country, it is essential that you use part numbers to identify the required car parts. Overseas applications may vary even if the cars appear to be the same.

8. Unless the buyer is very reputable, make sure you only buy parts which have photos of the actual part on the advertisement. That way you know what to expect when you receive them.

9. Although not always effective, checking the photos may help differentiate them from other car parts that may also be applicable to your application.

Quality of Car Parts

1. There are various levels of quality when buying online.

2. Ask the seller about brands of the parts you are interested in.

3. Please be aware that the vehicles manufacturer does not always manufacture the car parts you are replacing. For example, many cars have Bosch fuel injectors installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer. In these cases, Bosch fuel injectors are the genuine replacement. If you buy your fuel injectors from Ford, they may come in Ford packaging even though they are Bosch injectors. If you buy online and receive them in packaging such as Bosch, that does not mean they are not genuine.

4. Ask the seller whether there is a warranty and for how long the warranty applies to your car parts. Also ask whether there are any conditions on the warranty. One such condition may be that they be installed by a licensed mechanic.

5. While there is a preference to replace your car parts with genuine parts, many aftermarket brands are built to OE quality standards and will suit your application just fine.

6. In the EFI market, you can always rely on brands such as Bosch, Delphi, Hitachi, Denso,Walker, VDO, Valeo, Standard, General Electric, Walbro, Pierburg, Bremi, Bougicord etc.

7. Cheaper car parts manufactured in countries such as China are the ones where greater care needs to be taken. While some of these car parts are built well, others are not. Ask your seller about the reliability of these as well as the warranty.

8. Remember you get what you pay for. There are many online sellers listing car parts that appear to be a bargain, however it is important to note that these may not last very long, or worse still, they may put you and your family in danger.

9. Be aware of fake or counterfeit car parts and report someone trying to sell these. A Bosch 044 fuel pump for example may be listed as "Bosch 044 'style' fuel pump" or "Bosch 044 'replacement' fuel pump". This may be misleading as the fuel pump is not a genuine Bosch and 'Bosch' should not feature in the title. Others simply advertise fake parts as genuine items and sell these with fake packaging. Buy from a reputable seller and purchase using PayPal (see below) so that you're covered.

10. Don't always go for the cheapest car parts. Remember that a reputable and trusted seller will provide you quality parts, better service and further assistance after they have sold the items to you (if needed). Things can go wrong so ensure you are dealing with someone you trust.

Payment

1. Read the terms and conditions of the transaction and ask questions before committing purchasing. Often the terms are displayed at checkout or on a separate page of the website. There may be disclaimers about the photos and/or information displayed on the website.

2. It is highly recommended that you use a form of payment that provides you with cover in case something goes wrong. Credit card companies or Paypal provide such a service. For example, you may be eligible for a refund if your item does not arrive, arrives damaged or is not what you were expecting. For more information refer to the Paypal website or your credit card company.