Auto Repair Tempe

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!)

This week We dive into the history of the Chevrolet Corvette at a special 60th anniversary exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Come join Car and Driver contributing editor Csaba Csere as he explores the rich history of this iconic sports car. The Corvettes in this episode: 1953 Corvette EX-122 - 0:45 1956 Corvette SR-2 - 4:25 1960 CERV (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) 1 - 6:34 1962 Big Tank Corvette - 13:25 1964 World's Fair Corvette - 15:54 1959 Corvette Italia by Scaglietti - 19:38 1963 Corvette Grand Sport - 21:50 1967 Corvette L88 Coupe - 24:33 1968 Corvette L88 - 25:31 1969 Corvette L88 Race Car - 28:06 1968 Corvette Sundowner Bonneville Race Car - 30:56 1984 C4 Corvette - 32:30 2004 Corvette Convertible Indianapolis 500 Edition - 35:05 2010 Corvette ZR

We'll all heard a lot about many different "smart" devices, including a "smart car". The aim of these technologies in the automotive market is to increase efficiency and lower risk and injury. The picture that's presented to us a leisurely drive where we can be checking e-mail, surfing the Internet, text messaging, etc. all while the "smart car" gets us quickly and safely to our destinations for us, our own personal driver whenever we want it. Jaguar's new Smart Assistant is a sort of bridge between that future time and now. It can actually learn from your behavior and offer up a bevy of options and information at your fingertips, even before you get into the vehicle! The Smart Assistant identifies the driver of the car via a smart phone, or some other similar device. It analyzes your calendar, the current traffic conditions, and the weather to intelligently predict your imminent behavior. As I eluded to earlier, this all starts before you even get into the car. It can send ... read more

The discount oil change at the big national chain store, it's so alluring. Just look at all you get for $14.95, or #19.95! Or could you possibly be getting more (or less) than you bargained for? The old sayings still apply..."there's no free lunch" and "if it's too good to be true, it probably is". We don't intend to pick on a particular chain, today's story just happens to have occurred at a Jiffy Lube, and was caught on camera by a news team. Unscrupulous personnel can pop up in any one location and it's always good to be on the lookout. In this case, work was being charged for but not actually provided. Check out how this unfolds in the video below... And later, another expose by the same team finds even worse problems

We picked this up as reported on the NBC News site... Two of Toyota's high-profile hybrid models, notably including the best-selling Prius, are being recalled due to brake problems, according to the Japanese maker. In all, about 87,000 vehicles are impacted, including Toyota Prius hatchbacks and Lexus HS 250h hybrids sold during the 2010 model-year. The maker does not say how many of each model are covered by the recall. The problem is the result of a brake pressure accumulator that may develop a fatigue crack due to vibration. That would lead to the loss of at least some brake pressure. Toyota said it has received no reports of accidents or injuries related to the problem. The incident follows an earlier recall of some fourth-generation Toyota Prius models due to problems with electronic brake software programming. That issue impact ... read more

In January of this year, Chevrolet revealed its latest marvel, the 2014 Corvette Stingray. The iconic Stingray, a name not used since 1976, has been developed to continue the classic American manufactured excellence that has come to be expected, while simultaneously revolutionizing the design to create a sleek, yet powerful car. Using only two parts from the 2013 model, both the interior and exterior of the car have been hugely revamped. While the car won't go on sale until the third or fourth quarter of the year, predictions are already being made that the 2014 Corvette Stingray will easily make itself worthy of its ambitious name. The new model has distinguished itself from past models not only in name but also in many of its components. Throughout the design process, speed and agility were the focus. One of the key results is an aluminum frame, which is 57% stiffer and 99% lighter than the 2013 steel frame. By utilizing a carbon fiber hood and roof panels, extremely lig ... read more

TPMS, or Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, alert you if you have unsafe air pressure in any of your tires. These monitors are installed in your wheels, and alert you through a symbol on the dashboard that looks a little like a flat tire. In 2007, the Federal TREAD act (or Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation) began requiring all new cars and light trucks come equipped with TPMS. This legislation, like that requiring air bags, helps to keep you safe on the road. The TPMS sensors are located inside each of your wheels. The sensors send a radio frequency signal to the vehicle onboard computer, which will illuminate a light on your dashboard if your tire pressure were to become unsafe. If you see that light activate and stay on, you'll want to pull over and check that your tires are okay. It's a good idea to carry a digital air pressure gauge for checks like these. As long as your tires are safe, you can drive on to a shop and have the air topped off. I ... read more

Okay, it's 2013 and we still don't have the flying cars we were promised in the twentieth century. However, cars have improved by leaps and bounds in utility over the years and have become more than simple methods of transportation, especially here in the Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix area. With the amount of technology incorporated into the latest models, it's no wonder prices continually rise. Cars of today can do everything but drive you to your destination, and that feature isn't too far distant. Below are ten technologies that have made the experience all that more comfortable, safer, and simpler. Run-flat tires. No blowouts, no emergency stopping. When the tire gets flat, a red light on the dashboard alerts the driver and the inherent structure of the wheel allows 50 more miles at 50 mph, enough to make it home or to a gas station. Dual-stage "smart" airbags. Hitting an airbag is a painful endeavor, and can be lethal for children. "Smart ... read more

The GMC Canyon is a little truck, but now it can act like a big one. The 2016 Canyon and its twin, the Chevrolet Colorado, are the only small pickups in the United States that you can get with a diesel engine, and the first since the 1980s. The timing could be better. Gas is dirt cheap, so efficiency is on the back burner for many truck shoppers. Meanwhile, diesel is still a dirty word, thanks to the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal. GM hasnt been implicated in that, but its put a fog over the fuel, which was riding high this time last year. Related Image But in fact, as far as the EPA is concerned, the Canyon and Colorado are A-OK. The agency tweaked its testing after VWs issues came to light, making it more rigorous, and the Canyon and Colorado were the first vehicles to be certified under the new procedures. So breathe easy, compression ignition fans, this ones good to go. Since the engine is really the only thing different about this Canyon, I wont be getting into the rest o ... read more

This week were going deep inside the Petersen Automotive vault in the first of a two-part series to show you some of the most important cars in automotive history. Cars featured in this episode: 1885 Benz (Replica), 1912 De Dion Bouton, 1967 Ford GT40 MK III, 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