euroautotraining's blog

The battle over requiring auto manufacturers to share diagnostic and repair information with independent garages is heating up in Massachusetts. The latest version of the “right to repair” bill would mandate that manufacturers create an online database of diagnostic and repair information by 2015, as a condition to sell vehicles in the state.

Car manufacturers said if the initiative passes, they will be unable to comply with the 2015 timetable set for compliance, and will no longer be able to sell cars in Massachusetts after that time.

Bad girls kicking butt. A little over four minutes of unbelievable animated high speed car chase with plenty of destruction, and a finish that might surprise you...

CLICK HERE to watch the video

Volkswagen jumped into the "variable displacement" game yesterday when it unveiled it's Polo BlueGT at the Geneva Auto Show. The Polo BlueGT is powered by a 4 cylinder 1.4 liter turbo engine with "ACT" variable displacement technology. It produces 140 hp, claims a top speed of 131 mph, zero to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds and averages 50 mpg. Sweet! Check out an excerpt from VW's official press release below.

There is a hidden gem on the Discovery Channel's website, especially if you're an F1 fanatic! "The Secret Life of Formula 1", 27 videos with subject ranging from the technical ("Power", "Downforce", "Launch Control") to history ("England Rising", "The SIlver Arrows") and the people ("Bernie Ecclestone", "John Cooper").

Automotive News reports today that Volkswagen announced the 2013 Jetta Hybrid, the companies first mass market hybrid car. Equipped with a 1.4 liter gasoline engine and a 7 speed dual clutch automatic transmission, VW claims an estimated 45 mpg combined. The Jetta Hybrid is planned for North American release in late 2012 as a 2013 model. 

Let's see, warranties on these puppies should begin expiring somewhere around 2018 (sooner for high mileage drivers) so you VW techs have about 6 years to get ready!

From everyone at EuroAutoTraining, wishing the best of the season to you and yours!

Now you can subscribe to the Garage Spiel podcast directly from iTunes! Click here to either listen to the podcasts or to open the iTunes store where you can subscribe to the podcast! 

Toyota announced yet another recall this morning, this time involving the first generation Prius. Here in the United States, 52,000 2001 through 2003 Prius may experience a problem with electric power steering pinion shaft attachment nuts. Repeated hard turning to full-lock position may loosen the nuts securing the pinion shaft in the steering gear box assembly, eventually resulting in significant increased steering effort when making a left turn.

Owner notification letters will be mailed in July. Here's the full press release from Toyota:

VANOS has been giving everyone fits for quite a while now, but it can be a real money maker once you know how to fix those rattles quick! We dug up a short, simple animation that shows how VANOS works.

Click here to see the animation on our site

Click here to see the animation on our YouTube Channel

Cool.

On May 10, Toyota opened the first hydrogen refueling station in the United States that's fed directly by an active hydrogen pipeline. Baby steps, absolutely. But when you consider the infrastructure required to actually make this happen it's pretty friggen incredible!