Auto Repair Tempe

You've selected the car, you've road tested the car, everything is fine, but still, remember one thing, you never fall in love with a car. Especially when you're negotiating to buy it. Cars are just mechanical devices and there are all kinds of them. You can go to the next dealer and find the same thing so, don't fall in love, at least not just yet. :) Now, it's time to make the actual deal. There are certain key things about making a deal on an automobile. You have to remember that the dealership is in business to make a profit, they're entitled to make a profit, they have a big overhead. Trying to get them below where they would make a profit is probably not going to happen. If they do that on a regular basis they're going to be out of business in short order. You want to negotiate a price based on your research that's fair to both you and the dealer. Once you get to that point, remember, everything that's promised to you, has to be in writing and i ... read more

All new cars and light trucks, since 2008, have come equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. The TPMS system detects when a tire becomes under-inflated and lights up a warning light on the dash. So what's the big deal? Well, under-inflated tires can be a real safety concern. First of all, they don't handle properly, and that can lead to an accident. And second, under-inflated tires can overheat and cause the tire to come apart, which can also lead to an accident. Government regulations requiring TPMS systems aim to reduce accidents and save lives, a very worthy goal. There are also positive environmental effects, because under-inflated tires are fuel wasters. You lose one percent of your fuel economy for every three pounds of pressure below ideal. So, proper tire inflation can save you a tank of gas a year. And, your tires last longer, so you won't have to replace them as often. There are two kinds of TPMS systems. Direct systems have a battery-powered sensor in each ... read more

There are many things we all carry around in our cars. Usually, however, these things are items that we don't really need--books, an extra set of clothing, maybe even some snacks. But there are some things that everyone truly does need to have in their cars in case of emergencies. If you're ever stuck on the side of the road or lost, here are some of the items you should have in your car. A first-aid kit. You never know when you may need a first-aid kit. Make certain it includes a wide variety of items such as bandages, disinfectant, some medication, etc. You may not need it for yourself, but you may come across others who do. A flashlight. This is very important if your car breaks down at night. Even if you only drive in the city, don't count on the street lights to provide enough light to see by. You may also need a flashlight during the day to see under your hood or under the car. Also remember to carry extra batteries fo ... read more

For decades, Chrysler worked on an alternative engine design that might have provided a very flexible alternative. It ended without fanfare in 1979, and was never picked up again - as far as we know. Richard Benner, Jr., wrote: "Mike Eberhart (who works here at Chrysler St. Louis) is the guy who takes the vehicle around for shows all over the U.S. He gives rides in the vehicles (I have ridden 3 times) and for anyone who says they did ride it it, if they did, they sign into a log that's kept here at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation, who owns the vehicle. Mike just has it on loan to work on and transport it. He did much of the work himself to get it running and in the condition it is in." One turbine-powered car, not made by Chrysler, was entered into professional racing at the Indianapolis 500; the turbine itself was a standard aviation unit, and the car involved nearly won, but a bad wheel bearing took it out of the race. Turbine powered cars were then excluded from racing thro ... read more

In the last couple of months we've featured a lot of automotive history. Today we bring you some history in the making! This history is being made in a top-secret development program. An ‘extreme’ Mustang is being built, code name "Boy Racer" – this time for the racetrack. Watch in the video below as Ford Racing joins forces with Canadian motor sport company, Multimatic, to produce the worlds first turn-key Mustang racer. To pull it off they’ll need cooperation and dedication. They'll need to impress the bosses, potential drivers and NASCAR stars, who are all waiting for a historic ride. Have a look, and Shhh! Don't tell anybody. :)

Do you know your powertrain and transmission system transmits engine power to the vehicle's wheels and multiples engine torque to accelerate the vehicle? Nearly 100 years ago cars had two- or three-speed manual transmissions that required an expert hand to operate smoothly. They were noisy, rudimentary systems compared to today's modern powertrain and transmission systems. The vehicle's powertrain and transmission system transmits engine power to the vehicle wheels. It provides for multiplication of engine torque (or twisting force) to accelerate the vehicle from a stop, or for carrying heavy loads in the case of trucks. The system also allows for engine speed reduction at cruising speeds to save fuel and reduce noise. Key components of the system include: - Transmission or Trans-axle - Transfer Case (four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive) - Propeller Shaft (drives the rear axle) - Drive Axles (drives the wheels) - Clutch (manual shift) - Torque Conver ... read more

Are you a savvy car shopper who needs a little car buying advice? In this week's video Kevin Hunter, host of "The Business Forum Show" outlines the 13 car mistakes to avoid making at the dealership. Kevin spent countless hours researching and compiling the information and data shared on this video. We hope you enjoy it! People in the car business who profit from your mistakes by taking advantage of you may rant about things shared here and disagree with the content, but don't be fooled by their rhetoric. A dishonest car salesperson absolutely loves an ignorant car shopper. We'll try to help you avoid the common mistakes, and assist you in sorting the facts from the baloney in this business. How do Car Dealers rip you off? If you're going to car shop and don't want to be taken advantage of, it's up to you to learn about car salesmen and auto dealerships, and the dirty tricks they play to rip people off. You also need to learn about the scams and ina ... read more

This is from an article that I ran accross just recently. I think it speaks to how we as car repairers need to focus on the cusotmers needs... Factors Influencing Repair Outlet Choice In 2011 Understanding what consumers value in a repair outlet today will allow service providers and their vendors to collaborate to craft an attractive offering in the market, fine-tune the consumer message, and focus execution on critical components of the customer experience. Two key factors influencing consumer repair outlet choice today are trust and value. In addition to the aging vehicle trend, trust is enabling repair shops to win in the current environment. Consumers can't afford to overspend on unnecessary work, nor can they endure the cost of a job not done well. Consumers are spreading the word about repair facilities that can be trusted to do just what is needed at a fair price and get it done right. Today's consumer is also very deal- and discount-oriented. Among other ... read more

The questions to ask when buying a used car are important for a number of reasons. They'll help you determine if the seller is a legitimate owner or a broker. You don't want to be buying from anyone who is pretending to be the owner. Therefore, the questions you ask will always have that in mind. You don't want to waste your precious research time on dead ends, and brokers are, for the most part, dead ends. The idea behind these questions is also to establish yourself as a legitimate buyer. Sellers will get tons of responses from listing agents, brokers, dealers, and others who are interested in getting an appointment. When you speak with the owner you want to be the first person to see the car. If the car is a great find and you're the second person, then the chances are the car will be sold out from under you. You can't let that happen. This video goes into the crucial questions to ask when buying a used car so you get the best car ... read more

If you've just turned 16 and gotten your first car, or if you've left a large city and had to buy a car because you no longer have access to public transportation, you may not know exactly what to expect. It's one thing to know how to drive a car, but it's quite another to know all of the things that come with owning a car. Here are five things that all car owners need to know in order to handle emergencies or keep their cars running longer. Know How to Change a Tire This one is pretty basic, but many people simply don't know how to change a tire. Blowouts or punctures due to over- or under-inflated tires happen all the time, sometimes far from the nearest gas station or towing company. Changing a tire is fairly simple if you know how to use a jack. Find a smooth, well-lit area. Set your parking brake, and then jack up the car. You'll need to have a lug wrench on hand to remove the nuts from the tire. Remove the tire, place the spare on the axle ... read more