Auto Repair Tempe

Today I'd like to give you a quick overview of the modern fuel system. It starts with the fuel tank. The fuel pump is located inside the tank and pumps fuel out to the engine. Somewhere along the way is a fuel filter, whose job is to filter out dirt before it gets into the engine. Then there's the fuel intake system and the fuel injectors that deliver the fuel to be burned in the engine. Now, let's focus on how to make the various components of your fuel system work well and last as long as possible. The best thing you can do for your fuel pump is to use good, quality fuel. Top-tier gas typically has fewer contaminants and more detergents, to keep things clean. Using good gas or adding a fuel system cleaner to your tank can prolong the life of your fuel pump. Because the fuel pump lives inside your tank, it's pretty expensive to replace. Helping it last as long as possible is a worthwhile goal. The fuel filter is often called the forgotten filter, but it plays a vital role in ho ... read more

Tires are the only part of the vehicle that touches the road, yet consumers hardly pay them any attention, except for when things go wrong. You may have noticed what seems like strange markings or letters on the sides of your tires; but have you ever wondered what they mean? Rather than wait to discover what the symbols and writing on your tires mean, we're here to divulge the mystery! The Writing Serves a Purpose While it may seem as if tire manufactures put those letters and numbers there to confuse you, we assure you it's not the case. Rather, these markings communicate important information to auto repair professionals. Since tire manufacturers can't attach manuals or letters to the tires themselves, they've developed their own language for communicating things like load carrying capacity, the maximum inflation pressures, and max mph; but there's even more to it. A quick glance at the tire and you may notice a large letter prese ... read more

If your car ever breaks down and leaves you stranded on the side of the road, rescue may not come for several hours. If you're left sitting in extreme heat or cold, you may become uncomfortable very quickly, especially if you can't start the car. If you have young children or elderly passengers, the extreme temperatures can become deadly. This is why it's very important to have a roadside emergency kit stored in the trunk of your car. This kit should include everything you'll need if you end up stranded on the road. You can purchase some pre-made emergency kits, but these kits don't always come with everything you need. If you're going to put together your own roadside kit, here are some things you should include: A flashlight with extra batteries (a necessity if you break down at night) Jumper cables (at least eight foot; twelve foot cables are best) A first aid kit that should include aspirin, Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, adhesive tape, and any over-the-c ... read more

Did you know you should have your vehicle inspected at least once every year or so? This is because you need to do some preventative maintenance yearly to avoid major problems. After all, most people go see their doctor, optometrist, and dentist once a year so any major health issues can be caught and dealt with as early as possible. You need to do the same for your car. The beginning of the fall is the perfect time to have this preventative maintenance done. There are a few reasons why it's a good time. You've Driven a Lot Over the Summer Many families do a little more driving during the summer than usual. While it's true you don't have to drive your kids to school or to their various activities, you may drive them to other activities, such as a summer sports league, summer school, a sitter, or to the playground or park on a regular basis. Many people take vacations over Labor Day or Memorial Day, plus some people drive to their summer ... read more

Visiting the gas station to fuel up is an activity almost no one enjoys. As a result, many ideas and strategies have been formed to reduce the visit to a gas station, whether they work or not is an entirely different can of worms. One of the most popular strategies is topping off at the gas pump. While it sounds practical, unsuspecting car owners may be causing more harm than good by trying to ‘cheat’ the gas pump. Will My Car Take in More Gas After the Initial Nozzle Click? The short answer: Yes. The longer answer: Yes, but here’s why: Your car is capable of admitting more gas after the first automatic nozzle click. The nozzle itself is controlled by a vacuum system which senses when it’s time to off the flow of the fuel. If you were to inspect the fuel nozzle closely, you might see a small port or hole at the tip, which is responsible for relieving some of the air that is trapped in your gas tank. Once the fuel flow stops, this trapped air is permitted to e ... read more

Today we're going to talk about transfer case service. Not a super sexy topic, but very important nonetheless. :) Now, you may not know much about transfer cases, but if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, you've got one. It makes sure you have power available for both the front and rear axles and the right time and in the right proportion. For example, if you have a rear-wheel drive SUV, power goes to the rear wheels until you need four-wheel drive. That's where the transfer case steps in and transfers some of the power to the front wheels as well. You might use a shift lever to go into four-wheel drive or it could be a button on the dash or it might even go into four-wheel drive automatically, depending on your vehicle. The transfer case is serviced by periodically draining its fluid and replacing it with fresh fluid. We also check for leaks and damage. Transfer case fluid cools and lubricates the gears, chains, bearings, shafts and other parts. Over time, the additives i ... read more

I probably don't need to tell you how important your disc brakes are! Having good brakes just keeps you out of trouble. Carefully maintaining your brakes is the key. With disc brakes, brake pads rub on a disc, or rotor, to slow the wheels. The pads are attached to a caliper that squeezes them against the rotor. It's kind of like how squeezing the handbrake on a bicycle pushes the brake pads against the wheel of the bike. Now, pads just wear away with use, kind of like how a pencil eraser wears out. But the good news is replacing brake pads is a straightforward repair. If you hear squealing or grinding when you use the brakes, have your service advisor here are Elite Auto Repair in Tempe check them out. He'll have one of our certified technicians perform a thorough brake inspection to see what needs to be done. He'll check for signs of brake problems and go over other brake components to see tha ... read more

The Mazda 2 has sold almost 2.5 million units all over the world since 2002. Big changes in this five-door hatchback model have recently been announced. It will have a range of available engine options including a 1.5 liter diesel engine, identified as one of the Mazda SKYACTIV engines. The new Mazda 2 now shares some similarities with the Mazda 3. In fact, if you were just looking at the two from the front you might be hard pressed to tell which is which. The Mazda now has the same large grille in the front, headlights with an angular touch, and a sloping front end. Now more on the engine choices. In Japan there will be 1.3 liter G-version as well as a 1.5 D-version putting 105 horsepower with 184 foot pounds of torque. There will also be some new safety features with Mazda's i-ACTIVSENSE on board system. The 2016 Mazda 2 will start rolling of the assembly line around September, 2014. Photo Credit: MazdaUSA.com

Scotty Kilmer, a mechanic for the last 42 years, shows how to avoid some common auto repair mistakes. This time, Scotty talks about avoiding common mistakes with removing and replacing your oil filter, safely doing any kind of electric work on your car, changing spark plugs, and the motor oil you use in your car

This is some rare and exciting footage of the world's first car's engine igniting & running. Regarding this car, Wikipedia states: Have a look! (After watching this you'll be glad starting your car only takes the turn of a key!)