69 Dodge Charger in Tripple Black

How many times have you seen the Dodge charger in movies? The motivation for my post today is, I saw the film Drive Angry last night. In a nutshell it’s about a poor excuse for a father that escapes from hell (Nicolas Cage) and with the help of a hot girl named Piper (Amber Heard) chases after the people from a cult organization that killed his estranged Daughter and kidnapped his favorite grandchild.

I was definitely entertained by the movie and overall was pleasantly surprised by some interesting twist and turns (no driving pun intended). Not surprising, when the movie title is drive angry, there was plenty of muscle cars and chase scenes. In my opinion the real star of the movie was a black 1969 Dodge charger with a 440 C.I.D. big block. The beautiful music of the 440 was well done (possibly the actual engine) and more realistic than soundtracks that are added to other movies staring Dodge chargers.

Here’s two informational links that will open a new window. This is the IMDB report on the Movie. If you want see it now you can get it 4 ways (Instant, DVD, Blue Ray, Blue Ray 3d) at Amazon. You can watch Drive Angry right now. After the charger was beaten and destroyed, Nicolas Cage jumped in a 1970 454 Chevelle that was also entertaining. It got me to thinking just how many movies and TV shows have featured the Sixty Nine and 70 2-door Mopar muscle car.

I was also thinking about how often this vehicle has been destroyed on the silver screen for my entertainment. You would think by now they would start running very low on this particular model of muscle car. It also makes you wonder about the value of any remaining chargers and how it has been affected. I have seen this car go for well over $100,000 in Barrett Jackson auctions. Even in poor condition this car is still fetching 20 or $30,000 on e-bay.

Movies starring the Dodge charger

70 R/T Charger

One of the first movies I remember seeing the car in was Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry (available below). Then I saw it again in the 80s classic Christine. Although Christine was a 1957 Plymouth fury the good guy drove a 1970 charger blue in color with a black vinyl top and chrome five spoke Craggier wheels. Even though this car was not the star of the movie in my opinion it was the most attractive.

Of course several of the Fast and Furious movies also featured the Mopar muscle car of the 70s. I was not a big fan of the fast and furious movies mainly because a lot of the footage seemed unrealistic and over edited. The soundtrack also did not seem accurate. Here is a video of the actual Vin Diesel autographed car from the movie that shows how the fake blower was mounted to the hood. I understand the magic of Hollywood but to do this to a big block mopar is sacrilegious (my opinion).

Charger 500 with Factory Mags

Of course there was the Quentin Tarantino classic Grind house with Kurt Russell in the sub story of Death proof. Kurt drove a black primer 1969 Dodge Charger that was being pursued by the vanishing point challenger (full of angry women). I can’t remember if the white challenger was a 426 Hemi or 440 but the chase scenes in this movie where extended scenes and very entertaining.

In the film I just saw yesterday (On Demand) Drive Angry, the Charger was in a large percentage of the movie overall as well. It had a black satin finish and this vehicle always looks good in black. In fact it might be the best color for this body style. What do you think is the best color for this car (comment below)? For the Picture Police: the pictures on this page are either old car show photos Taken with a disposable camera 20 years ago or from the wiki page with all rights released.

Are there any Chargers left?

69 General Lee Charger

Of course this vehicle was used in the Dukes of Hazard and many of these cars were destroyed in the making of the movies and television episodes. The 69 and 70 were both used throughout various episodes and movies that starred both the original characters from the television show and of course the latest movie with Johnny Knoxville and Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke.

There were a few other television shows that used this car as the automotive star. I ‘m drawing a blank on a couple of the one season-long shows that used it. Can you help me out and leave some comments at the bottom about the TV shows and movies that starred the 69 & 1970 Dodge charger that I Forgot to talk about?

Yes I wanted a Charger. My first car was a 1974 b-body Chrysler. We (Me and my Dad) went to look at a 1970 R/T that was an original numbers matching 440 4speed car with the pistol grip shifter. The owner took us for a crazy test drive and my Dad said no way. He thought the car would kill me. So I wound up with the 74 that had a 318 cubic inch mouse motor. This post was a little off topic as I usually discuss more technical auto repair information here on the auto repair information blog. You can see more stories I have written about Fast Cars on the Auto-facts.org site.

1987 Chevy Turbo Sprint

This past weekend I went to a local car show and saw a weird 80s car that an ex-girlfriend of mine owned. It was a 1987 Chevrolet turbo Sprint. This was her first new car and was one of only two years that you could buy an intercooled three cylinder engine in the 1600 pound car.

In 1987 intercooled turbochargers were brand-new to the car market and General Motors was installing them on the legendary Buick Grand National. Although regular turbochargers had been around and available on older GM cars the intercooled version was new automotive technology to us. It allowed for higher boost pressures and overall better performance due to intercooling.

When she let me drive the car I realized that this roller skate was something special. I wasn’t sure how special until a guy at work said my girlfriend’s car is faster than your girlfriend’s car. To a mechanic in the auto repair business this is a glove slap to the face. So I said oh yeah, how would you like to put your money where your mouth is. He said I’ll meet you at Atco Raceway for the Friday night Street night event and we’ll see whose girlfriend has the faster ride.

Weird 80s car drag races

We met at the track on the next Friday night. It was the weird 80s car drag race of the century (to us anyway). It was my girlfriends stock 1987 Chevrolet turbo Sprint against his girlfriends 83 Toyota Celica that was heavily modified (Weber down drafts and headers). I remember putting on my helmet and getting in the little red turbo Sprint. My head seemed giant with the helmet on and it filled the cabin. Luckily I’m short and my helmet just cleared the headliner.

We pushed the cars up to the line because they ran faster cooled down and skipped the traditional burnout. The front-wheel-drive turbo Sprint had tremendous torque steer and burnouts were not as much fun as you would think. We lined up and the lights fell. I had a good reaction time. My girlfriend’s turbo Sprint whooped his girlfriends Toyota Celica by 2 car lengths.

The three cylinder turbo pulled us down the track with a quarter-mile time of 16.50 at 87 mph. To me this was amazing and as fast as my seventies Dodge muscle car. At the time I had a 74 Dodge charger with a 360 police interceptor that I installed and pulled from a wrecked police car at a local junkyard. The charger (lead sled) never did better than a 16.50 quarter-mile (sad but true).

About the intercooled three cylinder engine

In 1987 I was a dealership mechanic working at a Pontiac dealer. We had some interesting vehicles like the 87 Pontiac Lemans and where recovering from the launch of the Pontiac fiero we did not have anything with a three cylinder intercooled turbo. We did have the turbo sunbird that was an intercooled 1.8 L engine with an aluminum cylinder head. The turbo sunbird was pretty quick and the mechanics nicknamed it the screaming chicken.

3 cylinder engine

When I popped the hood on my girlfriends 1987 turbo Sprint the automobile technology made me laugh because is was all miniature. The motor was so tiny and had a very short valve cover held down with only 4 10mm screws. The air scoop that proudly displayed the word “intercooler” had a fully functional fresh air inlet at the front of the hood. This allowed it to pull in cooler outside air. We didn’t care about fuel economy at the time but this car got around 35 miles per gallon.

I was a strong believer that all engines should have an even number of cylinders so that they can have opposing cylinders (smooth operation). The three cylinder engine did run rough but they were able to compensate for this rough running engine by using a counter balance shaft and extra thick engine mounts to isolate it from the rest of the car.

When you grabbed the steering wheel the engine didn’t feel any rougher than any other car of its time. But if you popped the hood with the engine running you could see it jumping around. Although this may not have been the strangest car of the 80s I believe that the turbo Sprint was at least in the top five of weird 80s cars that were available during the Madonna decade.

What was your favorite weird 80s car? Leave a comment below and please include some details about it. For more of the most recent posts this next link will take you back to the homepage for the auto repair information blog.

crankshaft position sensor

As an example let’s say the crankshaft position Sensor has failed on your vehicle and it wouldn’t start. Parts and labor including towing would be covered under the base factory warranty. But what if external damage is what caused the problem to the car part.

External damage is considered an accident and not covered under the base warranty. Example: The factory will not be responsible if the automobile fell into a sinkhole and this broke the crank sensor. It would be considered an accident. This means that it is really up to the dealership to determine what has caused the part to fail and whether it will be covered under warranty.

Although many dealerships are honest about this I have worked for a few that were not. I have seen service advisers more interested in how much money that particular customer has spent at the dealership in prior visits and use this to decide what failure code would be entered in the claim.

The vehicle manufacturer has to trust the dealership to some extent because they cannot follow up on every single car problem from each individual customer. This trust does have its limits though. When a warranty problem is submitted to a car maker for reimbursement it contains several codes that help the manufacturer streamline the processing. This is somewhat like what goes on in a medical field.

What is factory warranty coverage

My factory warranty coverage

A warranty is an agreement by the auto manufacturer to have its authorized dealers repair and/or replace certain car parts if they become defective. This agreement normally lasts until the vehicle has been driven a certain number of miles or a certain length of time (whichever comes first).

Just a few years ago the base warranty was most commonly 3 years 36,000 miles. But increased competition and the different car-makers fighting for customers has increased the base warranty time on many models to five years and 50,000 miles or even 10 years and 100,000 miles. As a side effect this has made the extended car warranty harder to sell and cheaper to obtain.

In order for the manufacturer to honor the warranty or to cover the cost of parts and labor the failure must occur within the time and miles of the promised warranty. Often this is not cut and dry because manufacturers provide several levels of warranty coverage. The two most popular at the time of this writing would be the bumper-to-bumper warranty and the power train warranty.

Power train warranties usually last longer but cover less items whereas bumper-to-bumper coverage will last for shorter periods of time but cover many more items. To further complicate matters sometimes on these warranties the owners might be responsible for a partial payment known as a deductible. Then the manufacturer will kick in any money above this agreed-upon deductible this is not publicized on the commercials and ads like the length of coverage.

Things not covered under factory warranty

Cadillac warranty manual

This is where it gets tricky because a standard car warranty provided by the vehicle manufacturer will not cover many malfunctions. Some of the popular ways out would be to say that the failure is caused by an accident, misuse, poor maintenance or abuse or modifications made to the vehicle by the owner that voids the warranty.

What is covered and what is not covered is outlined in your vehicle’s owner manual. You should always read this section of the manual to refresh your memory before you take your vehicle in for what you believe will be a covered warranty service.

Ultimately whether it is covered or not will be up to the dealership that performs the diagnosis and determines not only what the failure is but the cause of that failure. A failed component due to no fault of the driver or owner should be covered under warranty. But the dealer will have to make that decision.

Is your car problem covered under warranty? You can run it by a dealership mechanic at Just Answer below to see what they think. For more of the latest posts this next link takes you back to the auto repair information blog homepage from this article about automotive problems covered under warranty.

Muffler Tailpipe

Controlling tailpipe emissions is considered important in the United States and growing around the world except for a few tough holdouts. If the U.S. is so serious about regulating automotive emission controls and controlling tailpipe output then how come some states require no testing at all?

Some States have rigorous testing and some only have very basic testing procedures that test tailpipe emissions at idle. These engine idle tests might certify that the vehicle exhaust emissions are within the limits set by the local or federal laws even though they may not under road conditions.

Although most States require a yearly vehicle emission control test it would seem more efficient if all States where doing something. Some states like New Jersey that use to have some of the toughest standards and required a yearly inspection have pulled back to an every other year inspection process.

NJ has also done away with some safety inspections and now the primary focus is on the emissions portion. This is one state that will test the tailpipe output of the vehicle while it is operating under a variety of load conditions and speeds. In the auto repair business we started calling this the dino test.

As in the vehicle is run on a device that is extremely similar to a dynamometer that is used to measure horsepower and torque. Some would consider this an improvement over exhaust testing during idle speeds with no load on the engine. Although impossible for the local repair shop without the equipment to accurately test or guarantee repairs.

I believe California may have the toughest standards with yearly smog inspections the state that I live in requires no inspection and no emissions testing at all. It could also be the reason that I see more very old cars like mavericks and pintos here then I have anywhere else in the country.

Look I understand the economy is bad and that individual States are struggling to meet budgets. I know that additional testing could mean more costs and hiring more workers at the state or federal level. But if we are the United States shouldn’t we have some nationwide consistency?

Development of emissions control devices

PCV Valve

Automobile technology manufacturers have been working in the direction of reducing automotive air pollutants since the 1950′s when car tailpipes were found to be part of choking smog in Los Angeles. California established the first standards for automotive emission output in 1967.

The invention of the PCV system or positive crankcase ventilation system was the first step in bringing crankcase fume venting under control. Prior to that crankcase emission were vented to the valve cover and into the air. The PCV system pulled those toxic fumes back into the engine to be re-burned with the air fuel mixture.

One of the next major automobile technology developments was the creation of an air injection system that would help clean up un-burnt hydrocarbons and reduce carbon monoxide by pumping air into the exhaust system soon after the combustion process was completed.

Another big advancement in automotive emission controls was to the fuel we put in the gas tank. Removing lead from gasoline started in around 1970. Removing lead from gasoline brought a lot of benefits. For one thing it eliminates the emission of lead particles from the automobile’s exhaust which was one of the worst byproducts of combustion at the time.

catalytic converter

The catalytic converter is probably one of the emission controls that we are most familiar with. The catalytic converter provided a means for oxidizing the CO and HC output in the engine exhaust. Beginning in about 1975 passenger cars and light trucks has been equipped with these catalytic converters.

One of the latest developments would be the evaporative emission control system. Although this is far from new as it has been around since the 70s. This is where fumes from the fuel tank are not allowed to escape into the atmosphere. These fumes are collected and added to the intake charge to be burned in the combustion chamber similar to the way crankcase gases where handled in the late 60′s.

The latest version of this automotive emission controls system has caused problems for many motorists. The federal government decided to make this an integrated system that was capable of notifying the driver and state-level inspection agencies if the system was not working properly. The evap system is tested when the key is turned on by either pulling a vacuum on the system or lightly pressurizing it to test its integrity.

This means if there is a problem with your fuel vapor control system it is quite possible that it will turn on the check engine light. I put together an article about this gas cap code problem on my other website. If you are interested in seeing more posts from this site the next link will take you back to the auto repair information blog.

The Designers at Audi have been able to plug many already successful components from the A6 into this flexible SUV platform. A great Audi Q7 video has been added at the end of this short post for your viewing pleasure.

By iCar Automotive News

The Audi Q7 is giant. It is much wider, longer and even taller than the Volkswagen Tuareg. You will have to be careful with the large rear doors that need to be opened carefully in tight parking spots. The back of the Q7 is very elegant with flush-mounted tail lights and smooth European flowing body lines.

The Audi Q7, the company presented at the Shanghai Car Show has a different updated look. But not only the exterior has changed, technically the car has undergone some changes too.

The fuel consumption is reduced on all the models. The press release talks about the fact that the new Audi is also available with the cleanest diesel technology in the world, the TDI clean diesel.

What’s changed? The grille is the most significant one. The new models come with vertical bars with high chrome finish that gives the German Suv an extra luxury look. The bottom section may be painted in black or gray and the bumpers were changed. When the lights go on the street lights up in cool blue glow.

This is because the Audi Q7 is equipped with Xenon lighting. Also an optional adaptive system with Xenon lights is offered. This means the headlights rotate with the steering angle. All around, the new Audi is equipped with the latest LED lighting for an impressive image at night.

Extra Audi efficiency

All gasoline and diesel engines for the new Audi Q7 have direct fuel injection. The same goes for the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI clean diesel. The 3.0-liter V6 TDI has a De-NOx catalyst with Ad Blue injection. It’s Ad Blue additive ensures that nitrogen oxide is converted into harmless nitrogen and oxygen.

The exhaust system ensures that the Audi TDI meets the strictest emission standards in the world, which is expected in September 2014 takes effect. The Audi Q7 Clean diesel fuel allows an average of 8.9 l/100 km in fuel consumption.

The other engines available for the Audi Q7 are also more efficient. Mainly because of the recovery system that convert mechanical brake and roll energy into electrical energy and stored in the battery. This system provides a lower fuel consumption and therefore lower CO2 emissions (reduction up to 5 g / km).

The 3.0 TDI with 176 kW/240 hp is satisfied with 9.1 l/100 km. Audi Q7 4.2 TDI (250 kW/340 hp) rides on an average of 9.9 l/100 km (was 11.1 l/100 km). The Audi Q7 V 12 TDI (with a power of 368 kW/500 hp) consumes 11.3 l/100km.

The average consumption of the 3.6 FSI petrol version (206 kW/280 hp) is 12.1 l/100 km and the 4.2 FSI V8 is 12.7 l/100 km.

The standard of luxury and top comfort on this Audi. Through the six speed tipronic transmission you control the Quattro permanent four-wheel drive, you have got electronic air conditioning and a good hi end audio system. And if you are not yet fully satisfied, you can opt into a B & O sound system, complete with infotainment system for your navigation, telephone and music.

Audi Q7 4.2 TDI and 6.0 TDI has adaptive air suspension with three preset modes standard. Options like ceramic disc brakes, adaptive cruise control, Audi lane assist, the Audi parking system and comfort seats are made available.

The Q model has also provided a solid platform for Hybrid suv testing and development. One of the most environmentally friendly features of the Audi Q7 Hybrid is a set of solar panels embedded into its (Open Sky) sunroof.

The solar panels provide power for the electronic air conditioning system. This allows the sun’s energy to be converted into a very efficient interior cooling system. The car ac system on the Q7 hybrid has been switched over from hydraulic to electrical operation.

Audi Q7 video

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Interested in classic bikes? Have a look at: Motor Klassiek

Begin with custom car accessories like the Sherwood Dash Thirty-Four Piece Dash Kit for your dashboard to add a wooden accent to your interior. If you are willing to spare no expense to upgrade your interior, you can go with the Laurence Gartel Signature Series Dash Art that retails at $1300 US and up. Each of these dashes is one of a kind and comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

Next, choose quality auto accessories parts for your Baby Bentley, such as the Mopar OEM AM/FM 6-CD changer/MP3 Player and DVD Navigation Radio. These multi-faceted radios come with a color digital display which uses GPS technology to guide you turn-by-turn to any location in the United States or Canada. The unit also comes equipped with Sirius Satellite Radio technology. You can take advantage of this feature if you have a subscription to Sirius and the right antenna. This amazing system can set you back a cool two or three grand.

If you want to add satellite radio such as Sirius to your car, you will need a few special auto accessories parts first. Mopar sells an OEM Chrysler 300 Sirius Satellite Radio kit for $350. This system comes with a discreet antennae and receiver you hardwire to your radio. The cost does not include the subscription to Sirius, which will run around $12.95 a month.

More Auto Accessories Parts For Your Baby

A great radio needs a great sound system. The Kicker Subwoofer Kit (estimated $500 US) will give you strong booming base. Double that with Kicker Premium Front and Rear Speakers (estimated $280 US), and you will have the envy of all custom car accessories.

Throw in either an All Sales Flame Rearview Mirror ($90 US) or All Sales Polished Billet Oval Rear View Mirror ($80 US), and DUB Custom Edition Floor Mats ($80 US for set) for those finishing touches.

The exterior of your Chrysler 300 should be treated as much with quality auto accessories parts as the interior. Installing an E&G Classics “Phantom” Style Grille for $800 US would turn heads with its stainless steel design. However, this luxury item only fits the 2005 and 2006 models of the Chrysler 300.

A silver Xenon 6-piece Fascia Auto Body kit will have your car looking sleek and sporty for around $1800 US. Add on a Vertical “Lambo” door kit from JT Auto Style to make sure you avoid dings and scratches when opening your doors in tight spots. Both these custom auto accessories need professional skills to install and some minor body adjustments for a perfect fit. Remember, not all of the best deals are found at your local dealership. Visit a few auto accessories parts stores and look online for great deals before you spend money on the first item to catch your eye.

For more information on genuine i pod car accessories give our main web site a visit. For the lowest prices and fastest delevery on body kits and car parts visit the online car parts page.

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when you are buying car maintenance you want to make sure that you receive what you paid for. A good example of this is that if you frequent a dealership and you purchase their 15,000 or even 30,000 mile maintenance service, there are a lot of things that are supposed to be performed on these checklists.

The 15,000 or 30,000 mile service is usually very expensive and includes many important car safety checks. If you are going to shell out $400 for a 30,000 mile service. Please take the time to review what is supposed to be accomplished During this expensive service.

How to buy car maintenance

A good way to verify that some of these vital safety checks were performed is to ask the dealership to provide information about some of the individual items that are checked. For example, there maybe a spot on the service that requires a brake inspection. Ask the dealership to document the percentage of the brakes that are remaining. In yet another example if the tire inflation is to be checked, again ask the dealership to document the tire pressure in all four tires as well.

As a mechanic that has worked at dealerships for more than 23 years, I can tell you that the technician is paid on a flat rate or percentage basis. The mechanic is motivated to move as fast as he can and may take some shortcuts. This means you have not received a good value for your car maintenance dollar.

Take some time to review, what is included in the individual car maintenance service and ask lots of questions about each item to your service adviser. This will put the dealership service department on notice that you are very hands on and involved in what is being done to your car. This will also make the dealership more likely to complete the maintenance service properly and to cut corners and rush on somebody else’s car.

Car maintenace tip

If your service includes a tire rotation take a minute to mark each tire with a crayon. So that you can verify the tires were rotated during the service. Also when the technician sees these marks on the tire.

He is immediately informed that you are watching him and is more likely to perform all the steps that are included in the maintenance service that you have paid hard earned money for.

Would you like to read more stories about car mechanics and what might happen during your auto service

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