Auto Repair Tempe

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

There are treasure troves of automobile history and majesty located all over the US, both personal and public. One great one is the Petersen Automotive Museum Vault. Go deep inside The Vault with Car & Driver contributing editor Csaba Csere in the first of a two part series to show you some of the most important cars in automotive history. Check out the cars in today's video: 1885 Benz (Replica) 1912 De Dion Bouton 1967 Ford GT40 MK III 1955 Ford Thunderbird 1955 Porsche (356) Continental 1967 Dodge Coronet 1967 Toyota 2000GT Foose Sniper 1925 Ford Golden Star 1952 Ferrari 212/225 Barchetta 1929 DuPont Model G 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1939 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante

Is there a new, finely-engineered German automobile in your near future? Perhaps in 2015? Consider the 2015 Audi RS7 Sportback. Here's a look, and a driving report... ABOUT THE 2015 AUDI RS 7 SPORTBACK The headlights, also adapted to the new Singleframe, come with LED technology as a standard feature. On request, Audi will provide headlights with the innovative Matrix LED technology, available exclusively on the RS 7 Sportback, with additionally darkened trims. This offer also includes turn signals with dynamic display at the front. At the rear they're generally standard. The taillights also have a new interior design. New to the paint finishes are the colors Floret Silver, Metallic; Glacier White, Metallic; Mythos Black, Metallic and Sepang Blue, Pearl Effect. The 4.0 TFSI in the revised Audi RS 7 Sportback provides as before 560 horsepower, with a constant 516.3 lb‑ft of torque at engine speeds between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm. The engine propels the five‑door coupé fr ... read more

Last week we featured a look inside the Petersen Automotive Museum Vault and some truly stunning automobiles. Once again we go deep inside The Vault with Car & Driver contributing editor Csaba Csere in the second of a two part series to show you some of the most important cars in automotive history. Check out the cars in this week's video! 1939 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante owned by the Prince of Persia/Shah of Iran 1941 Cadillac Series 62 Custome owned by Clark Gable 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton owned by Dwight D. Eisenhower 1972 Ferrari Daytona from the movie "The Gumball Rally" 1982 Ferrari 308 driven by Tom Selleck in "Magnum P.I. 1953 Cadillac Series 62 owned by Rita Hayworth and Aly Khan 1966 Mongrel T driven by Elvis Presley and the Joker from the "Batman" TV series 1965 Ford Mustang driven by Frank and Nancy Sinatra 1956 Jaguar XK-SS owned by Steve McQueen 1978 Mercedes 600 Landaulet owned by Saddam Hussein 1960 Mercedes 300SL owned Robert Stack