Lionel Chestnut calls himself the Motor Doctor, and his clinic is the front line in a new effort by Chrysler to improve the quality of its vehicles.His garage in Auburn Hills, a few blocks south of Chrysler headquarters, services about 70 cars and trucks a day for about 15,000 Detroit-area customers.Advertisement The customers are not your typical drivers. They are Chrysler workers driving company-owned vehicles — and they are not getting your typical oil change.Chestnut manages the service area of Chrysler’s product quality research center, where the vehicles are poked and prodded to see how they live up to real-world challenges.The fleet is full of vehicles that have yet to go into full production, or are new models just hitting the streets.Chestnut’s team’s findings are sometimes the first indication of possible problems in preproduction or new vehicles.The company has been hit hard by marks against its quality. J.D. Power and Associates’ annual study of new-vehicle quality, an independent benchmark that compares all carmakers, has ranked Chrysler low. The automaker had the largest number of recalls among U.S. automakers last year.”We’re obviously disappointed by our performance,” said James Kos, Chrysler director of corporate quality. “I think that everyone has a heightened sensitivity to those types of issues and an urgency to make sure that we can identify them and communicate them back to the appropriate people.” News source: FREEP To combat the perception of poor quality, Chrysler has been going into overdrive. Last week it announced a lifetime warranty on engines, transmissions and drive systems for most of its new vehicles.Earlier this year, it began implementing a new design process in which engineers work to find potential problems and solve them before they are found by the customer.For other automakers, this is old hat. But for Chrysler, it is a cultural change.”We used to be really good and had to be really good at putting out fires,” said Chrysler’s Sam Locricchio. “Let’s face it, 10 years ago — I’d even hazard to say that six years ago — we had” quality “issues. And we had to fix them quickly. That was where all of our attention was going. Now those ‘oh my god’ moments … have turned into, ‘let’s check out that horn.’ “Chestnut runs a mock dealership service area that mirrors what a Chrysler owner might experience at a real service center.”We’re able to stop the repair process at any time we wish and understand what the problem is with that vehicle or what the customer complaint is,” he said.Sometimes it is an expectation issue. “We had issues on minivans with juice box holders,” he said. “We tried to let them know that, hey, we had a customer who was not happy. We need to understand that and see if we need to make any design changes.”Chestnut’s crew takes the problems, complaints and other things workers notice and report to engineers, and can address the issues before the vehicle goes into full production.The Chrysler minivans to hit the showroom floors in coming weeks will have cup holders that accommodate juice boxes.Another issue before Chrysler geared up production of the new minivan came up while Chestnut was looking at an internal mirror that allows drivers to see what their children are doing in the rear seats. He thought the mirror was confusing to operate and suggested designers come up with something better, he said, and they did.Next door to Chestnut’s garage is a warehouse filled with broken parts. There Michael Moore runs the component quality analysis team, which gets hundreds of broken parts a day from around the country for inspection in an attempt to learn what went wrong. Moore sees himself as the coroner.”I let the parts do the talking,” said Moore, twisting a common phrase used in the “CSI” TV shows in which crime scene investigators say they let the evidence do the talking.On a recent morning, about half a dozen Chrysler engineers stood around a table trying to figure out why the roof rack on the new Dodge Nitro was rattling in the wind. A larger piece of adhesive was needed to better secure it to the roof, they decided.A relatively easy fix can be implemented on the assembly line for future vehicles and taken care of in the mechanics’ shops when vehicles are serviced, Chrysler officials say.

The New Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty – the first from an OEM and the longest in the industry – is a statement of confidence in the reliability of Chrysler products- Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair covered powertrain components – engine, transmission and drive system- Provides worry-free ownership for new Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge ownersAUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Chrysler today announced that the Company would extend its powertrain warranty from the 3- year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty to a new Lifetime Powertrain Warranty. The new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty applies to most new Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge vehicles purchased from dealer inventory and delivered on or after July 26, 2007. The Lifetime Powertrain Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair covered powertrain components — engine, transmission and drive system. The new powertrain warranty is limited to the first registered owner or retail lessee. Customers should contact dealers for details on vehicle selection.”This new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty is a statement of confidence to our customers to the reliability of their powertrain. It’s peace-of-mind reassurance for as long as they own the vehicle,” said Steven Landry, Executive Vice President – North America, Sales and Marketing, Service and Parts, Chrysler Group.To continue warranty coverage, the owner must have a powertrain inspection performed by an authorized Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealer once every 5 years. This inspection will be performed at no charge. The inspection must be made within 60 days of each 5-year anniversary of the warranty start date of the vehicle.Landry added, “The new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty underscores our focus on quality and customer satisfaction. It demonstrates our commitment to customers and the confidence we have in our ability to produce quality, reliable and durable vehicles. That’s why we put ‘lifetime’ on it.”Customers may visit Chrysler.com, Jeep.com and Dodge.com for more information. A warranty promotion – print, radio, television and Internet – begins Friday, July 27. News source: Crew Chief Note: Is this a desperate attempt or a financing tool to extend loan terms??Auto Specator

Check your tires. One way to trick yourself into actually performing this task is to develop the habit of checking your tires while you’re waiting at the gas pump. Here’s what you have to look for: 1. Tread: You should have some. A minimum of 1/16-inch to be exact. You don’t have to carry a ruler to gauge tread. Stick a Lincoln penny, head first, in the groove between the treads. If the tread doesn’t come up to or beyond the top of Abe’s head, there’s not enough to provide good traction. 2. You shouldn’t see the steel belts in a steel-belted radial. If you do, you failed the adequate tread test a long time ago. 3. Check the level of inflation. To be accurate, invest in a tire gauge, keep it in the glove compartment and check tire pressure before the tires have had a chance to heat up. The factory recommended inflation is printed on a metal tag usually on the driver’s doorjamb, or inside the gas filler cap or the glove compartment door. Some vehicles, particularly pick-ups, will include two recommendations, one when the truck is carrying a load, the other for light or no loads. You can’t really eyeball proper inflation. Radial tires have softer sidewalls and will look a bit under inflated when they’re not. Proper tire pressure provides the best vehicle control, better gas mileage and longer tire life. Inadequate pressure causes excessive heat to build up in the tire–that heat can cause tire failure. If that’s not enough reason to maintain recommended inflation levels, under-inflated tires were determined to be a contributing factor in SUV rollover accidents. News source: Auto Media 4. Uneven tread wear. You can expect to see a shade of difference in tread wear from the outside to the inside of the tire. Anything beyond that slight variation indicates a problem. That problem could be as easy to resolve as proper tire inflation. Other causes range from misaligned wheels (a relatively quick, inexpensive fix by a mechanic) or faulty suspension components. Ignoring the symptom only adds insult to injury. Eventually the cause of the uneven wear will rear its ugly head, then you’ll have the repair plus the cost of new tires to deal with. 5. Cracks, cuts, bulges, blisters on the sidewall. The first two offenders can be a sign that while the tire may not have covered close to its warranted miles, it’s been on the car long enough to need retiring. The mileage rating on tires can be used as a gauge of quality, but how and where you drive and the years on the car can cause tire deterioration before they’ve reached that benchmark. Bulges and blisters are serious flaws–the only place they should be driven is straight to a tire retailer. 6. Vibrations: We covered that flaw in our intro experience. If you’ve checked your tires regularly, kept them properly inflated, you’ll never experience that nasty shake you can feel through the steering wheel. That vibration is the death rattle of a tire. You’re probably thinking this is all a royal pain. Humor us–next time you pull into the gas station to fill-up your tank, run this quick tire check. We bet you’ll finish the checklist before your tank is topped off.

With any type of idle problem check the air ducts clean the IAC & throttle body Anti-lock problems if there is no hard code change the fluidClean the battery cables On pre OBD 2 vehicles unplug and plug in the PCM several timesCheck fluid levels for condition and quantityUse only the correct spark plug stick with the correct manufacturerDo the above before panicking about a problem. It will save on your blood pressure time an money

Cleaning a car: a piece of cake, right? Certainly, if you follow the procedures suggested by the Car Care Council. While it’s the most basic procedure in car care, it does deserve some thought. The first step in cleaning the car is to wash it. Give it a good rinsing from top to bottom, including the wheels and inside the fenders. Always clean the tires and wheels before washing the body, and don’t use the same mitt for both. This way you’ll avoid contaminating the vehicle’s paint with debris from the wheels and tires.Use a good tire cleaner with a stiff brush, to improve your tires’ appearance even if you don’t have white sidewalls or white letter tires.Next, clean the wheels with a wheel cleaner that removes the brake dust, which often blackens the front wheels. Application of these cleaners vary, so be sure and follow the directions on the container.Now it’s time to wash the body. Use a product sold specifically for automobiles. (Household cleaners can strip the wax from the paint and damage the finish.) Starting at the top, wash one section at a time, thoroughly rinsing away the soap. Work your way down toward the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. Clean the rear last since it usually has the largest accumulation of dirt and grime, which can contaminate the wash mitt. Wash the inside door jams about once a month.To rinse, remove the spray nozzle from the hose. Starting at the top, let the water cascade down the surfaces of the vehicle.Then, to avoid water spotting, dry with a chamois or other product made for this purpose.Now is an excellent time for waxing, which not only protects the finish but also makes subsequent washing easier. Before proceeding, look for foreign particles on the paint. Use a car cleaner, available at auto supply stores, to remove contaminants imbedded in the paint.Once the surface is clean, apply the wax, following the manufacturer’s instructions for application of the product. Often they recommend not using the product in direct sunlight..Keeping your vehicle clean, while it doesn’t require a lot of effort, it does foster a feeling of pride and accomplishment. News source: NSACAR.com

According to MotorService, an auto industry trade magazine, the most frequent auto repairs include:1.) Brake system2.) Lube/oil change/filters3.) Cooling/heating (radiator)4.) Ignition/electronic control5.) Steering/suspension6.) Carburetor/fuel system7.) Electrical8.) Transmission/clutch/rear axle9.) Auto air conditioning10.) Exhaust systemIn addition to auto repair services, there are many other costs associated with owning a car, including car payments, commuting expenses (e.g. gas, tolls, parking), and insurance premiums. Here are some tips that can help car owners save money.Keep your repair costs in checkOne of the most important things you can do to avoid costly auto repairs is preventive maintenance. Regularly scheduled trips to your mechanic can save you money in the long run. Either follow your car manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, or ask your repair shop if they have their own schedule.When bringing your car in for repairs, be sure to ask for a written estimate ahead of time. You’ll also want to make sure that the repair shop will get your approval to perform any work that exceeds a certain amount.Lower your commuting expensesMany car owners overlook the cost of commuting when determining their monthly car expenses. In addition to gas and toll charges, you may need to factor in fees to park your car. Car pooling, either with coworkers or through a car pooling service, and taking advantage of public transportation (e.g. train, bus) in your area can greatly reduce your commuting expenses.Lower your insurance premiumsAside from your car payment, your monthly insurance premium may be your second-largest car-related expense. If you’re looking to save money on your premiums, follow these simple steps:Shop around–in most states, premiums vary widely from company to company, so it often pays to compare policiesIncrease your deductible–typically, increasing your deductible will result in a lower premiumIf you drive an older car, consider dropping collision and/or other-than-collision (also known as comprehensive) coverageTake advantage of discounts–ask your insurer what types of discounts they offer (e.g. low mileage, antitheft devices, air bags, antilock brakes, safe driver) News source: Subaruauto.blog spot

Look on the shelf of your local auto parts house and you’ll see more oils than breakfast cereal choices at the supermarket. It wasn’t so long ago that you had about a half dozen to pick from, and since they were all made from the same gunk, it didn’t matter much anyway. Then in the early 1970s popped up a new batch of lubricants — synthetic oils.The Slick Truth on Synthetic OilMade popular by brands like Amsoil and Mobil 1, die-hard gear heads, racers and enthusiasts started using synthetic oil exclusively. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until almost two decades later that the major oil companies started offering synthetics to the masses. Despite the number of benefits over mined oil (the stuff they pump out of the ground), Americans still haven’t fully embraced this advanced technology.So what’s the difference? Synthetic oil is produced in a lab, which means the only stuff in it is what they put in it. Despite the high-tech refining of crude oil, there are still contaminants in the oil that can build up and eventually damage an engine. Changing your oil and filter removes any loose particles that form, but often the build-up occurs in an isolated area of your engine, usually where it gets really, really hot. This build up can clog oil passages and valves, which can eventually lead to reduced engine life.There are also ecological benefits to using synthetic oil. Its viscosity (ability to lubricate) stays higher than mined oil at high temperatures, enough to even affect your gas mileage. Since it breaks down much more slowly than petroleum-based oil, you can greatly extend the time between oil changes. One truck driver drove his semi 409,000 miles on synthetic without changing the oil! Think of how much less oil would have to be collected and recycled if we used half as much every year.The bottom line is synthetic oils are an easy choice. The extra bucks you spend for an oil change will be returned in no time. News source: About auto Repair

First of all, the tire pressure monitoring system in my car actually works! Last night before leaving for my game, the TPMS alert on my dash went on. After inspecting my tires and noticing no visible deflation, I continued on my merry way and decided to reinspect in the morning.There was definitely an air leak though – my rear passenger tire was clearly flatter in the morning. I called around to get an idea of how much it would cost to fix. Here are some of the prices I was quoted:Pep Boys – $25 Firestone Tires – $13 Allen Tire Co. – $23 Sears Auto – $20 America’s Tire/Discount Tire Co. – FREE! No-brainer right? After telling me the price, the guy at the America’s Tire Co. just followed up by saying – we’ll fix your tire now and even rotate them for free. Just remember us the next time you’re in the market for new tires.Simple as that. So I went there and the staff was really nice. I was in and out after about an hour because there were some people ahead of me. I just tipped the guy who worked on my car after he gave me my keys News source: Word Press

There has been more than one car I’ve owned in the past that came with a surprise hiding behind the wheel. You usually find it when you’re getting new tires installed. The technician finds you and lets you know that one of your wheel studs is stripped because the idiot who had the car before you cross-threaded one of the lug nuts. Thanks. Replacing a broken wheel stud is essential, and should be done right away. Your car was designed to hold onto the wheels under the most punishing conditions, but it needs all of its wheel studs to do this right. Kind of like trying to throw a football wearing mittens — you can do it but it’s not happening the way it should.If you inspect your own studs and bolts you can avoid a costly repair. If you’re unlucky and find a damaged wheel stud, you can replace it yourself without too much pain. Go check it out on your car to be sure you’re riding on enough studs these days News source: About Auto Repair

Time flies by quickly; it seems like only yesterday that I booked an appointment for my car’s annual winter checkup and tire change. Well guess what? Springtime is right around the corner and it’s time to pay your mechanic yet another visit. But most of us dislike mechanics because they end up costing us an arm and a leg every time we drop by for a simple checkup.Before you bring your vehicle in for a full inspection, carry out these simple cleanup and repair tips. They’ll give you a good idea of what needs fine-tuning (or not). That way, you’ll know exactly what to ask your mechanic when it’s time for your annual summer checkup. Furthermore, you’ll be introduced to simple tips that will help spiff up your car’s aesthetics, so that you can drive in style all spring and summer long. News source: Autos,AOL.com Mechanical TipsServicing your old car can be dreadful. You’re always wondering how much you’ll have to dish out. Most often, you just hope your muffler, clutch and tire threads will last you for at least another season. Here are a few quick tips to help you figure out what car parts will need fine-tuning.More From AskMen.comRead more on AskMen.com:Purchasing a New Car How to Test-Drive a Car Preventive Car Maintenance The Cost of Owning a Car Save Money on Car Expenses Read More on AskMen.com Recognize, however, that these tips will never replace the expertise of a trained professional. They’ll only help you pinpoint car problems before they get worse, as well as help you learn your way under the hood.· ClutchHow can you tell if your clutch needs to be replaced? Start your car in top gear with the hand brake on, then slowly try to let the clutch out. If your engine stalls, it means your clutch is OK. On the other hand, if your car doesn’t stall, it probably means your clutch will need to be replaced.If that’s the case, research the costs of labor and parts that you’ll incur to replace your clutch. Use that information to your advantage when negotiating prices.· Spark plugsWorn-out spark plugs can drastically reduce your fuel efficiency. Check your spark plugs systematically before the winter and summer seasons and replace them if needed. You can easily shave off a few dollars in labor and part costs if you know how to replace them on your own. · Wheels and balancingIf you notice that your steering wheel shudders a lot, it probably means that your tires need balancing. Generally, the price of alignment is included in that of the tire change. If you still notice that your car quivers or swerves after your tires have been balanced, it usually means that your front end will have to be worked on. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you’ll need to rely on your mechanic’s opinion and pay extra for his repairs.· BrakesAt this stage, you’re probably wondering what kind of stunt you’ll have to pull off in order to test out your brakes without actually running anybody over. It’s quite easy; speed up in an empty parking lot and step on the brake pedal abruptly. Calculate how long it took for your car to come to a complete stop.To gauge if the braking time is adequate, take note of the braking time when your brakes are new. This way, you can just compare the two times. Also, listen for any irregularities in sound; when your brakes are older, you’ll generally hear a much louder sound compared to the smoother sound you get when your brakes are new.Top 10 Resale CarsModel Overview Get a Quote Acura TSX Price Quote BMW 5 Series Price Quote Honda Civic Price Quote Lexus IS Price Quote MINI Cooper Price Quote Pontiac Solstice Price Quote Scion tC Price Quote Toyota Prius Price Quote Volkswagen GTI Price Quote Volkswagen Eos Price Quote Data provided by Kelley Blue BookThis method of measuring your brakes is not scientific, but it is usually a very good indicator to gauge whether or not your brakes need replacing.Aesthetic TipsAll through winter, men generally tend to care less about the look of their vehicles. It seems like the fierce weather leaves them oblivious to cleaning both the interior and exterior of their cars.The warmth and charm of the spring sun, however, seems to really motivate us to keep our cars looking spotless. Here are a few simple tips to help keep your car sparkling clean.· Remove Stains The first step is to make your cloth seats look great by absorbing as much of the dirt on them as possible. Use a sponge or a spray with dry-cleaning fluid, and wipe off any apparent stains. You can also apply warm water and vinegar, and rinse off any residue with water afterward. Keep repeating the procedure until all the stains are gone or at least less visible.For oil stains, sprinkle the area with cat litter and rub the surface with a soft cloth. You can also sprinkle dry sand over the stain to absorb as much oil as possible. Brush it off and wash the rest with simple dishwasher detergent.Another way to remove stubborn oil stains is to apply kerosene. Rinse it with a soda-based solution very thoroughly in order to dilute it and remove all traces of the caustic liquid.· Paint touch upsIf you notice any sign of rust, remove it immediately by smoothly sanding it off, and by making the appropriate touch ups with paint. You’ll obviously need to purchase a good-quality paint that matches the color of your car. Also, make sure to paint over any small scratches that tarnish the look of your car, and that may also turn to rust in time.· Keep it tidyFinally, always keep your car garbage-free and clean both the inside and the outside. Organize your CDs, as well as whatever else is lying around so that your car looks orderly.As for the outside of your car, you don’t have to spend hours waxing it every day. Simply make sure the exterior always looks clean and relatively shiny. Shining your tires with Armor All is a quick and easy way to make your car look like a collectible. Well maybe not, but it will sure help embellish your car’s overall appearance. Also, remember that taking care of small details will make the difference between an average and a quality cleaning job.Car Shopping?Educate yourself before buying a car:Used Car Buying Tips Best Deals in April Buying Tips: Negotiating Prices Spring cleaningWinter can sure do a number on your car; from tire alignment to rust problems, you’ll need to make sure that your vehicle is in tip-top shape for spring. Have it checked by a mechanic and make it sparkle with some scrubbing and it’ll be ready to face the warmer weather.