Auto Repair Tempe

I'm often asked questions about the cooling system, the system that cools your engine and keeps it at the proper operating temperature. I like to divide the topic into two areas. First, the coolant itself, and second, the parts that make up the cooling system. The coolant is the mix of water and antifreeze that circulates through the engine to draw off heat. First, you need to have the proper amount. If you don’t have enough coolant, it can't keep your engine cool. You also need the right kind of coolant. Different makes of vehicles require different coolant formulation, to protect against corrosion. Finally, your coolant needs to be fresh. Over time and miles, the anticorrosion additives in the coolant are depleted, and the coolant can actually start to eat away at the cooling system parts. Your owners manual and Elite Service Advisor can help you with the recommended coolant replacement schedule and make sure you're getting the right type of coolant. Now let's talk about the ... read more

Automatic overdrive systems are a form of transmission system offering significant performance enhancements and can also increase the efficiency of your car. When people hear the term 'overdrive' they may think it's all about speed, but that's not the focus of the feature. Overdrive can help a car to go faster, but it's really focused on allowing the engine to run at a lower RPM while maintaining the vehicle's current cruising speed. When To Use Overdrive Overdrive is an incredibly useful feature, and it's one you should use the vast majority of the time. The only time you'd likely need to turn overdrive off is if your vehicle is climbing a very steep hill or carrying/towing something incredibly heavy. In those situations, it's beneficial to be able to rev the engine a bit more. It's also useful to be able to go into lower gears if you're going down very steep hills. Many modern engines have 'smart' transmissions, w ... read more

Set to sell for less than half the price of the least expensive car in America, the 3-wheeled Elio is aiming to shake up the automotive industry. It isn't electric but uses a small gasoline-powered system. However, due it's small, light, and aerodynamic design, it's economical prowess is vast. The Elio features a 1+1, 2-seat design. It utilizes a 70-hp, 1-liter, 3-cylinder front-mounted engine. Now, compared to engine sizes you're used to hearing, even in sub compact cars, that still sounds like a pretty small engine perhaps more suited to a lawn mower, or at least a lawn tractor. Once again, due to its physical features it can hit speeds of up to 100 mph, and it can accelerate to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds. And the fuel economy is jaw-dropping. Up to 84 mpg on the highway and up to 49 mpg in the city. With a full tank of gas (only 8 gallons), the Elio can travel up to 672 miles. That's a road trip from New York to Detroit with no stopping for gas. Here are some other features ... read more

Thinking of buying a good used car? Here's another great group of vehicle suggestions from CarFax regarding judging the value of an used automobile you're thinking about purchasing. If you're looking to buy a used car, don't let car prices confuse you. Learn how vehicle history affects the price of cars in the video above. How Vehicle History Affects Used Car Prices We all know that vehicle history can have a big impact on car prices. When you’re out shopping for a used car you'll probably be paying close attention to its vehicle history report. Here are the top five things you should be looking for and how they may impact the price. #5: Don’t Get Rolled on a Rollback Inconsistent or rolled back odometers are still a big problem – even with cars that have digital odometers. Con men use high-tech equipment to make miles disappear in an attempt to rip off unsuspecting buyers. Beware if you check a car's history and discover miles may be missing. A typ ... read more

We see it all the time...bargain basement pricing for popular auto repair services. Today we're going to focus on the very important brake job, and why you should never skimp on a critical safety system like this. This video feature comes to us from David Rogers, the Monday Morning Mechanic. If you're concerned about your brakes, bring your car in for a free brake inspection. If you're in need of any repairs we'll provide you with a free estimate that's fair and complete

It happens to everyone at some point: you're running late, it's a big day, and just when you think you're going to make it, you turn your key and...your car does nothing. There are a number of reasons why your car may not start. Some of them can be pretty quick, inexpensive fixes, but some may require the assistance of a professional mechanic. Here are some of the more common issues that can cause your car to not start. Check the Battery Cables If your car makes no noise at all when you try to start it, one of the battery cables may be the problem. Look to see if they're corroded. If you're comfortable using hand tools under the hood, you can take a screwdriver, push the point between the connector and the battery post, and twist it a little. If the engine then starts, the problem is the cable, and you'll need to replace as soon as possible. Is the Battery Dead? If your car makes a clicking noise, the problem may be the battery ... read more

Helicopter drones are nothing new. Autonomous, self-driving cars are already on the road, in fact we talked a lot about these cars last month. But what if you could put the two of them together? It might be a challenge, but just imagine! It sounds like something out of a futuristic video game. Scientists at Carnegie Mellon's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) have gotten together with Sikorsky, a leading supplier of military helicopters. In this 18-month study, the idea is to get eyes on the ground in areas too dangerous for humans by dropping autonomous vehicles from drone helicopters. (I never thought I would ever type that sentence!) Specifically, the study will use an auto-piloted Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter, which can carry an unmanned ground vehicle in a sling. The helicopter will drop the ground vehicle at a designated location and return to its base of operations. The driverless vehicle will then perform scans of its environment, biological, nuclear and ... read more

Yes, this trendy-looking model seems destined for market. It features all-wheel drive, but rear-wheel drive models are a distinct possibility. The engine is rumored to be a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder, model putting out 367 HP. Recent photos also show that it features a diamond grille, quad tailpipes, and large wheels. While the model pictured above is C-Class Touring, but it would seem logical that a sedan version will also be available. Rumors are flying that this new Mercedes C450 Wagon will be available in 2015. However, it's showing up in so many places looking ready for release right now, who knows

Today we're going to look at five bad automatic transmission driving habits. Is it okay to coast down a hill in neutral? Should you put the car in neutral when you come to a stop? What is the safest way to launch an automatic car? Is it okay to switch from reverse to drive while the vehicle is moving? What happens when you put the vehicle in park? Check out the video below for the answers to these five questions! Here's a link to the Arizona law on coasting in neutral: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/00895.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS

At first, you laughed at your friend for driving their Eco-friendly machine around, but a recent comparison between your receipts from the gas pump left you astonished and amazed. Now you're wondering how you can keep the luxuries of your current car, but trade in the poor fuel economy for that of a more Eco-friendly model. The answer is simple; getting there is not so simple. The answer lies in converting your vehicle to electric. While it sounds easy on paper, getting it right or finding a professional who knows what they're doing can be difficult if you don't know what you're doing. Why Thousands of Americans Are Converting Their Vehicles To Electric Other than being good for the environment, there are several reasons why converting your car from a petrol guzzling machine to an electric friendly machine is beneficial. Some of the reasons why consumers are making the decision to convert their current vehicle to electric are: Reduced Emissions One of the benefits of running off of p ... read more