the rear brakes on this stratus and the right rear caliper will not release

I replace the rear brakes on this stratus and the right rear caliper will not release. There seems to be nothing wrong with the caliper itself. The pressure does not back off when you take your foot off the brake. I think it has anti-lock braking system. Any Ideas.

Response:
Is it only one side that will not release? How do you know that. Did you try squeezing the caliper back away from the pads?
1) Sounds like the rubber part of the line has collapsed,that line has a inner line that gets weak and when you press on the brake pedal it lets the fluid flow out to the caliper but when you let off and the fluid tries to return back the line collapses keeping pressure on caliper not letting it release...
2)And to prove this, get a c-clamp and push the piston back into the caliper. Remove the clamp and the piston should stay in the caliper. Start the car, push on the brake petal, turn the car off, and check to see if the piston stays in the out position. If so, replace the rubber hose. You will need to bleed the air out of the lines when that is done. Get some penetrating oil. I like Kroil, others on this list like PB Blaster. Spray the bleeders until you can loosen them. You will also need a friend to help with the bleeding.

3)
Do you know the the stratus has screw in rear calipers and not push in calipers???

Redesigned 2011 Dodge Durango has three rows of seats, new logo

New Dodge Durango

Dodge today released the first pictures of the 2011 Durango SUV.

The Durango will be built at Chrysler's Jefferson North assembly plant on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It will arrive in dealer showrooms in the fourth quarter this year.

The Durango comes with seven seats while the Grand Cherokee comes with five. The Durango will have 22 seating configurations, according to a statement by the company. Like the Grand Cherokee, the Durango will be available with two engine options: a standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and an optional 5.7-liter HEMI V-8.

The new Durango will receive an all-new cabin as part of Chrysler's ongoing campaign to upgrade interiors across its entire lineup.

Chrysler stopped making the previous-generation Durango in 2008, when it shut down its Newark, Del., assembly plant. The new vehicle bears no resemblance to its predecessor. The old vehicle was a body-on-frame SUV derived from pickups. The new platform is a unibody-style structure with rear- or all-wheel-drive options.

Dodge is describing it as a “three-row performance vehicle.”

The Durango will be the first vehicle to sport the new Dodge logo, featuring a restyled, chrome-accented version of the crosshair grille that Dodge and Ram shared before Chrysler's new management separated the brands last year. The distinctive Ram's horns are gone, having stayed with Ram, which is now exclusively a truck brand.

The vehicle will make its first public appearance at the Dodge Rock ‘n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon presented by SunTrust in Virginia Beach, Va., over the Labor Day weekend.

Although Dodge no longer sells trucks, it's still the top-selling brand in the Chrysler Group stable. Dodge sold 35,364 vehicles in August, up 8 percent over the same month last year.

U.S. proposes new labels for fuel economy, emissions

WASHINGTON -- Consumers shopping for new cars would be able to compare fuel economy and emissions levels with the U.S. fleet average by looking at labels on window stickers under a federal proposal made today.

The Obama administration is carrying out a 2007 law that requires labels to put new vehicles in fleetwide context for fuel economy, greenhouse gases and smog-forming pollutants.

The comparison must cover electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles.

One part of the administration proposal would give each vehicle a bold letter grade from A+ to D for its fuel economy and greenhouse gases in comparison with the rest of the U.S. fleet.

The auto industry opposes this approach while many environmental groups support it.

Current labels have just a mile-per-gallon figure for the vehicle without any pollution ratings. Comparisons also are limited to the class of vehicle rather than the entire U.S. fleet. An SUV, for example, is compared just to other SUVs.

“We want to help buyers find vehicles that meet their needs, keep the air clean and save them money at the pump,” EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement.

The EPA and U.S. Department of Transportation said they want to have the new labels in place for as many 2012 model cars and trucks as possible.

The proposed changes constitute the most significant overhaul of the fuel-economy label since its inception more than 30 years ago as automakers plan to introduce more fuel-efficient vehicles, the agencies said.

Advanced-technology vehicles

The administration today also proposed different labels for advanced technology vehicles -- including plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles -- that are soon to be mass-marketed.

These labels would contain additional information tailored to the technologies of the vehicles, the EPA said. For example, the label would identify how many miles the advanced technology vehicle can go before recharging or refueling.

The administration is seeking public comment over the next 60 days before it adopts a final rule.

The administration proposed two labeling approaches for vehicles.

One approach would feature a letter grade. The label also would estimate the vehicle's fuel-cost savings over five years compared with the fleet average.

The second proposal would keep the current label's focus on fuel economy and annual fuel-cost projections. Sliding-bar graphs underneath would compare the vehicle's fuel economy and tailpipe emissions with the fleet average.

The auto-industry lobby opposes letter grades, while a number of environmental groups favor it.

“Automakers support providing our customers with meaningful information for decision-making on vehicles that meet their particular needs, but the proposed letter grade falls short because it is imbued with school-yard memories of passing and failing,” said Dave McCurdy, CEO of the Auto Alliance.

The lobby represents Toyota, General Motors, Ford and eight other domestic and foreign manufacturers.

EVs would get an A+

Under the grading system, 17 of the 2,011 models in the current fleet would receive an A or above, said Gina McCarthy, an EPA assistant administrator.

Electric vehicles would get an A+, plug-in hybrids would get an A, and the “very best” hybrids -- such as Ford Fusions, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius -- would get an A-, she said.

A total of 14 vehicles in the current fleet would receive a D or D+. These include high-performance vehicles such as a Ferrari 612, McCarthy said.

The median grade would be a B-, she said.

Luke Tonachel, a vehicle analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council in New York, said: “A bold letter grade would simplify the process of finding the cleanest, most efficient vehicles.”

McCarthy said it is possible the final rule will contain a blend of the two proposed approaches.

Misleading information?

Environmental groups expressed dismay that the proposed labels would not factor in pollution caused by electric vehicles' use of power plants for recharging.

This pollution is particularly acute in Midwestern and Eastern states, where generating facilities rely heavily on coal, environmental advocates said.

“It misleads consumers about how polluting the vehicle is,” said Daniel Becker, director of the safe-climate campaign at the Center for Auto Safety.

EPA said it intends to make this information available on the Web.

2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee Brake Noise

My brakes make a horrible a screeching noise with light pressure on the brake. They’ve been inspected several times and I ‘m told my brakes are fine. I’m told the thickness of the brake pads is fine. They’ve blown off “dust” which didn’t improve anything. I’m told they can cut the rotor but you can only get one cut from a rotor. I can have new brakes installed but if I’m told my brakes are fine…why would I have new ones put on? I’m at a loss on how to remedy this situation. This is a new vehicle. Brake noise started at 8,000 miles. It’s a 2009 JEEP Grand Cherokee.

Response:
from a safety and function stand point, there is no need to replace the brakes. The brakes will perform properly.

You can have the brakes cleaned multiple times but unless you have the pads and rotors replaced, the noise will return over time.

I would ...read the entire brake article

Is this the right time to buy a car?

There are many different factors when it comes to making the decision of when is the right time to buy a car. Probably the most important factor would be necessity. If you need a car and either do not have one or the one you have isn't worth fixing, Now is the perfect time to buy a car.
Many buyers may need to wait to see if their job is secure before running out and buying that new convertible that they have been wanting, but all the financial aspects aside, this is a buyers market. Car manufacturers are offering great incentive along with some of the best quality of cars we've seen in years. And with dealers being closed left and right by manufacturers, they are more willing to sell first and haggle on price later. What I mean by this is this, The dealers HAVE to sell a certain amount of cars in order to remain in good standing with the manufacturer and ultimately keeping their doors open. So the dealer more worried about the volume of cars they sell and less about maximizing the profit on each unit/car.

So if you need or want a new or used car, now is a great time to purchase a car. Know what you want and what you want to pay before you go and odds are, you get it.
You can can get a FREE online quote ahead of time to give you an idea of pricing so you are prepared before you go. Get a FREE Online Quote Here

Prices of used SUVs, crossovers surge 30% from last year, Edmunds says

Some used SUVs and crossover vehicles are selling at retail for 30 percent more than they did last year, in a sign of how high used-vehicle prices remain. But on average, prices of used vehicles retreated again in July from record levels this spring.

Edmunds.com reports that the retail price paid for a used Cadillac Escalade, averaged over all model years, was $34,715 last month, up 36 percent from the average price paid a year earlier. The retail price paid for a used Dodge Grand Caravan in July, averaged over all model years, was $15,629, up 34 percent.

Joe Spina, Edmunds.com senior analyst, says a lack of confidence in the economy is driving more people to buy used vehicles. That puts upward pressure on prices of an already limited supply of used vehicles.

“This time last year, consumers were buying fuel-efficient vehicles and trading so-called gas guzzlers,” Spina says. “Now, those who need trucks and large SUVs are buying them, but the inventory is low because there is a current shortage of lease returns and trade-ins of this vehicle type.

“Prices are indeed very high now. While this is the case, last year’s prices were low, making the gains even more dramatic,” he says.

Even so, data from Manheim and ADESA Inc. show that wholesale used-vehicle prices in July declined from record high price levels this spring.

The average wholesale used-vehicle price in July was $10,060, ADESA says. That was 2 percent lower than the average price in June and less than 1 percent higher than the average price in July 2009.

The monthly Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index stood at 118.9 in July, down from 120.2 in the previous month but up from 115.4 in July 2009. The index is adjusted for make, model mix and time of year.

Kia unveils electric city car concept

Kia Pop

Kia has unveiled a concept for a three-seat electric city car that will debut at the Paris auto show next month.

Called the Pop, the zero-emissions car is just 3000mm long, the same length as the four-seat Toyota iQ minicar and 300mm longer than the two-seat Smart ForTwo.

Kia said the Pop aims to bring "innovative design chic and dramatic styling to the city car segment." The Pop has seating for two adults in the front and a single seat in the rear behind the front passenger.

Kia Pop Top

Ford: F-150 delivers the mpg buyers want

Even with gasoline prices stable and below $3 a gallon, pickup buyers want good fuel economy, Doug Scott says.

"Fuel economy is the No. 1 unmet need" for owners of full-sized pickups, said Scott, Ford Motor Co. truck group marketing manager, at a media event last week.

Citing Ford research, he said 70 percent want better fuel economy and about a third of those say they would change brands for a "significant improvement" in mpg.

Ford is replacing the F-150's entire engine lineup for the 2011 model year. A V-6 will be standard. Also available: two V-8s and an EcoBoost V-6 with turbocharging and direction injection.

Ford says the new lineup will be 20 percent more fuel efficient than the current lineup of three V-8s. Currently, the standard engine is a 4.6-liter V-8 that gets 19 mpg on the highway.

Ford has not released EPA mileage figures for the new engine lineup.

Fuel economy is more important to buyers now than it was before the 2008 price spike, Scott said. And Ford still believes gasoline will jump to $4 to $4.50 a gallon in 2013 or 2014, he said.

Gasoline peaked at a national average of $4.05 a gallon in July 2008. Last week, it was $2.74.

Dealers can order 2011 models in October. Sales of vehicles with three of the four engines begin in December. The EcoBoost engine will be available in the first quarter of 2011.

THE F-150'S NEW ENGINE LINEUP
• 3.7-liter V-6, standard
• 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6
• 5.0-liter V-8
• 6.2-liter V-8
Source: Ford Motor Co.

blue smoke from exhaust

my 1994 pontiac bonneville se has started putting out blue smoke after i start it. does anyone know what that means and how to fix it?

Response:
It's caused from POOR maintenance, High Mileage, Overheating, just plain ol' neglect. Pull a valve cover and see (look) if the Oil Return Galleys are restricted with paraffin and residue. If they are clean them out and CHANGE the oil BEFORE restarting. This will slow some of the burning. Next, take a compression reading on all the cylinders. They should all be within 10 percent of each other and above 125 psi. If not, the Piston Rings are shot. Time for a Rebuild. Although rare, I have known people to use fuel additives and some of these cause "Blue Smoke" like a 2 cycle engine. You have said how many miles are on the engine or that it has had regular oil changes which should be done every 3000 miles. Or if you have to add oil and the frequency that you may add oil to it. Also check your Coolant as that too can cause "Blue Smoke" and could mean a blown Head Gasket. Best case scenario, your pissed off neighbor dumped oil into your gas tank to rid the neighborhood of Mosquitoes.

VW may add small car or SUV to U.S. plant

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan -- Volkswagen may build a small car or an SUV at its new U.S. plant in Tennessee, in addition to the mid-sized sedan that goes into production there next year.

VW is considering options for the plant's second product even before it has begun building its first, Tom Loafman, the company's purchasing director, said here last week at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars.

Loafman also said the plant's large Chattanooga site is in the running for a new engine plant Volkswagen hopes to build in North America. The engine plant also could go to a separate greenfield site or to VW's production complex in Puebla, Mexico, he said.

The engine plant would supply the Chattanooga and Puebla plants.

Volkswagen is counting on its $1 billion Chattanooga venture to bring down the costs of its U.S. products and give it capacity to reach 800,000 VW brand sales in the United States by 2018. Last year it sold 213,454 VW brand vehicles.

Volkswagen expects the new mid-sized sedan to compete more directly against high-volume family sedans such as the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

"We haven't been able to compete well in that segment," Loafman said.

VW's strategy calls for Chattanooga to turn out cars at a much lower cost than mid-sized Passats imported from Europe. While the Passat reaches U.S. consumers at a price of about $27,000, the rival Accord sells for below $20,000.

The price difference is partly the result of a dollar-euro exchange rate that pushes the U.S. price higher. That has prompted Loafman and his staff to source much of the new vehicle's content in North America.

Loafman said that the sedan is about 63 percent U.S.-sourced so far and that a fifth of the suppliers in the project are new to Volkswagen.