1989 ford tempo won't go

Been running rough, from a stop it was very slow to accelerate, sort of lurched, but once it got up to about 45, it would accelerate smoothly and ride ok. But repeated that at every stop. Been getting steadily worse, thought it might be the transmission. Last night drove about 20 min, terrible accel from the stop (worst ever) taking longer to get up to speed from each stop. Last two miles it was kicking, then it would die, I would start it up again and it would go a little farther, then die, then go a little farther then die. Then it just died - wouldn't go at all. Went back today to check it out - fluid levels were all good. It started right up, but after a few seconds it died. It gets a spark, and runs, but it shuts down right away.

Chrysler recalls 76,000 Ram trucks for brake glitch

Chrysler Group LLC is recalling just over 76,000 Dodge Ram pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines to fix a glitch that could cause brake pedals on the truck to be slow to return, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall affects 2010 and 2011 model year Ram trucks that were built at Chrysler's Saltillo, Mexico, plant between March 2009 and October 2010. The trucks have brakes that draw additional power from the power steering system, according to the recall notice issued on Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Chrysler said a problem in the design of a cap used in the power steering fluid reservoir could cause the brakes on the trucks to return slowly after being applied by the driver. The automaker said it received 175 complaints about brake lights on the pickup trucks remaining on longer than expected after the brakes were engaged. Chrysler said its Japanese supplier JTEKT North America had begun providing a new cap in October that resolved the problem for trucks produced after that date. Chrysler said it would notify customers of the recall and replace the defective power steering cap at no charge starting in February. Owners can contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403

Lamborghini’s SUV

A Lamborgini SUV? Yep, If you have enough money, you can buy just about anything. A Lamborgini grocery getter for those days when you need a gallon of milk FAST! This Lamborgini SUV has been named the Urus -- for the ancestor of modern bulls in Spain . OK, so this is only a concept model for now but if it continues to get the attention it hasa we should see these available to buy as early as 2017. No mention of engine size as of yet but we will kep you posted.

As average vehicle age soars, so does the aftermarket

More than half of automotive aftermarket and repair purchases in the United States last year were for vehicles eight or more years old, and demand for products and services to keep aging vehicles running is expected to remain strong, industry researcher NPD Group says.

The U.S. vehicle fleet is getting older -- the average age of light vehicles on the country’s roads reached a record high of 10.8 years in 2011, according to research firm Polk -- and the automotive aftermarket and repair industry is benefiting.

Among consumers buying aftermarket products or services, 59 percent reported their purchases were for vehicles eight years or older and 19 percent reported they were for vehicles 15 or more years old, said NPD Group of Port Washington, N.Y.

This is a significant increase over the pre-recession distribution of vehicles by age, according to NPD’s Car Care Track, which monitors purchase behavior details of auto aftermarket and repair consumers. Before the economic downturn in 2007, only 51 percent of consumers reported buying products or services for vehicles eight or more years old and only 14 percent made purchases for vehicles 15 or more years old.

“The reality is that while new-car sales increased in 2011, they remained well below pre-recession sales rates and as a result, aging vehicles still gained influence in the market,” David Portalatin, NPD auto aftermarket analyst, said in a statement. “Even more robust new car sales would not displace the aging vehicle predominance in a single year.”

Portalatin said consumers reported that they expect to keep their vehicles another five years on average, which would keep demand strong for aftermarket and repair products and maintain momentum through 2012.

Unit sales of suspension, steering, and application electrical parts had the most growth among products sold, with gains of 6 percent or more in 2011.

New stop start technology ?

We are starting to here about car manufacturers putting Stop/Start technology on new cars and hearing them advertise about this all new technology. This is all supposed to help with fuel mileage. Once the engine reaches a normal operating temperature the car will shut off the engine at stop signs and red lights to help reduce fuel burn. As a Mechanic I see this as burning up starter motors and costing more than the few gallons of gas it saves. I am sure the manufacturer can see this also. So why do they do it, this push for fuel mileage is to help save the manufacturer money over Government fines for exceeding the fuel mileage mandate. They also have you convinced that the problem with fuel prices is fixable by spending your money on a better fuel mileage car.... this doesn't lower the price of gas does it? Adding a New Stop/Start feature to a car and calling it new technology when we have all seen this on golf carts for years is a kinda funny. But hey if it helps sell a few cars, so be it.

Electrician Training Requirements

The training to become an electrical contractor may be obtained through a vocational institution or perhaps an electrician school. And for the ones that wish to specialize in a certain field, they can get hands on training like an electrician apprentice. A job being an electrical contractor may be completed inside a several years time, by receiving skills through an electrician apprentice program and also the proper training courses. Apprenticeship programs are available.

Those who get practicing electrician education by having an apprenticeship program will get training which will permit them to perform both construction and maintenance work. Below are a few considerations to have to become an electrician. First a higher school diploma or G.E.D., you then must pass an exam to sign up within an apprenticeship program, and then have good skills in English and math.

An electrical contractor apprentice can complete an education program within 4 years time. This could happen by having hours of classroom studies and on the job training with a job each year. The electricians program course may include the following subjects you need to know. They're soldering, safety and first-aid practices, fire security systems, electrical code requirements, blueprint reading, diagrams of electrical systems, conduit fabrication and communications. A proper electrician education is not required, but employers find it to become a nice-looking thing to possess when you obtain a job. Additionally, it may assistance to advance your career as a possible electrician for those who have skills.

Many young electrician candidates can choose to become electricians apprentice immediately after senior high school to consume enough experience to begin a company of their very own. Also to obtain the training they have to are an electrician. Using an electricians license means that you have a thorough understanding of electrical theory.

The first place to begin an electrician career is by seeing a school to examine and train to become an electrician. The employment for electricians within the next many years is predicted to go up. A demand for skilled electricians increases due to growth of the economy, telecommunications, computers and other reasons which have related to electrical work. The employment of maintenance electricians increase faster then construction electricians. Earnings of an electrician usually is based on experience, if there is a license, and level of skill. Training being an electrical contractor may lead to work for a general electrician, contractor, supervisor, independent business proprietor, commercial electrician, construction superintendent, project manager, industrial electrician, and maintenance electrician. There are many job opportunities as an electrician.

Industrial electricians can select to do business with machines as well as other large equipment. A maintenance electrician can be employed in factories, hospitals as well as other locations that need repair, replacing and also the maintaining of electrical systems. A maintenance electrician will be in charge of inspecting equipment, focusing on electronics, and replacing stuff like circuit breakers and switches. An advertisement electrician could possibly be a part of repair work and maintenance in factories and office buildings. An over-all electrician is often found working in residential homes, rewiring homes, replacing fuse boxes, and fixing difficulties with lighting.