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As the summer draws to a close and the kids are going back to school, there is still no end in sight to the high temperatures. If you’ve noticed that your vehicle’s A/C is having trouble keeping up with the rising temperatures outside, Crown Nissan can help.

Your air conditioning unit is made up of several different components that must work together in harmony to keep you and your passengers cool on even the shortest journeys. Often times a simple recharge of refrigerant can solve any cooling problems, but there are often larger issues lurking.

• Dirty condenser — The condenser is the heat exchanger mounted in front of the radiator. It cools the high pressure refrigerant vapor after it exits the compressor so it can condense into a liquid. If the condenser is full of leaves, bugs and road debris, air flow through the unit may be blocked to the point where little cooling occurs. Cleaning the condenser should cure the problem.

• Inoperative condenser cooling fan — The condenser often has its own separate electric cooling fan. This fan should come on and remain on when the A/C system is operating. If the fan motor, motor relay or wiring is defective, the fan may not be working.

• Air or moisture contamination — For the refrigerant inside the system to do its job properly, it must not be contaminated with air or moisture. Air reduces the cooling efficiency of the system while moisture can freeze and form ice that causes blockages in orifice tubes and metering valves. Air and moisture contamination may be the result of unrepaired leaks in the system, or failing to vacuum purge the system prior to recharging it with refrigerant.

• Blockages — Debris or rust in the system may plug up the orifice tube or metering valve that admits refrigerant into the evaporator. If this vital point becomes obstructed, the flow of refrigerant may be restricted or blocked causing a loss of cooling — and possible compressor damage as well in systems that rely on oil circulating with the refrigerant for lubrication.

• Mechanical problem — These include things like metering valve failures, compressor wear, a compressor clutch that fails to engage, bad pressure switches, etc.

No matter what symptoms your A/C is experiencing, the competent A/C technicians at Crown Nissan will pinpoint the problem and have you back on the road in no time.

Source: [Yahoo Autos]

When I got into the Nissan LEAF for a true extended test drive here in southern California, I had a pretty good sense of what to expect: A quiet ride, good acceleration, and overall an enjoyable drive.

I was wrong. I took the LEAF out for a two-hour drive north of Los Angeles and the LEAF delivered a far more spirited ride than I was expecting.

Like all electric cars, the instant torque and acceleration immediately stand out. The LEAF zips in and out of traffic easily and actually makes maneuvering in congested areas less of a chore. On the highway, you can pass other cars with ease. The handling and acceleration of the LEAF will more than please the first wave of buyers.

The LEAF interior is spacious, and the seats, dashboard, and trim are also pleasurable.

What I did like most with the LEAF is the instrument panel and navigation screen in the center stack.

It is easy to work and makes it quick to find the information you want. Especially, the number of miles you have left until running out of juice and where the nearest charging stations are located.

Source: [CNBC]

Nissan has updated its popular Murano crossover for the 2011 model year, giving it a fresh new look plus adding the value-packed SV trim. Starting with a redesigned grille, new bumper designs and revised taillights, the 2011 Nissan Murano has a distinctively cleaner appearance overall compared to the outgoing model, however, the two are still hard to tell apart.

Nevertheless, the latest Murano offers more value for customers thanks to the introduction of the SV trim level. It features a long list of standard features such as dual panel power moonroof, a 7-inch color monitor and reversing camera, an 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support, automatic headlights, plus Bluetooth, USB and iPod connectivity. Nissan also throws in XM Satellite Radio but a subscription is required.

As for the rest of the range, other 2011 model year enhancements for the Murano include a change of instrument panel illumination from orange to white, the addition of an auto dimming rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink Universal Transceiver to Murano SL. This model also comes available with a heated steering wheel, a Bose stereo with nine speakers and a dual subwoofer. Finally, the Murano LE comes with new center stack colors and new wood grain trim. Nissan has also added a new Graphite Blue color option to the range.

Power for all 2011 Nissan Muranos comes from a 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 265 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, with drive going through the latest Xtronic CVT. Customers can still pick from front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations, and all Muranos come standard with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and a Traction Control System (TCS).

Sales of the new 2011 Nissan Murano is expected to start towards the end of the year.

Source: [The Car Connection]

Nissan has released images of its completely redone 2011 Quest minivan in advance of its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Though the images make it tough to get the smaller details, what we can see is a vehicle that apes the squared-off Nissan Forum concept car of 2008. The exterior is a marked departure from the rounded body of the last Quest, with a high beltline and what appears to be a pretty long wheelbase. Inside, Nissan moved the gauge cluster back where it belongs — leaving behind memories of the center-mounted controls of the last-gen Quest — and added Nissan/Infiniti’s familiar infotainment system. We’re still waiting on information regarding powertrain options.

Though our first glimpse of the Quest came at the New York Auto Show last spring, we haven’t received much in the way of updates until now.

Source: [Truck Trend]

Nissan has showed us the future of the automobile with its advanced Leaf all-electric vehicle but that doesn’t mean its game over for the internal combustion engine. Gasoline and diesel powered cars can live on, well into the future in fact, thanks to new fuel-saving technologies that Nissan and other automakers are starting to roll out.

Most of these fuel-saving technologies focus around improving engine and transmission efficiencies, and include things like hybrid drive and engine stop-start systems as well as brake-energy and heat-energy recovery devices.

Nissan hopes to be one of the leaders in this field, announcing a range of advanced, fuel-saving technologies that will be introduced on new models to be launched over the coming year. The technologies are the culmination of the company’s research and development efforts based on the Nissan Green Program 2010 (NGP 2010)–the automaker’s mid-term environmental action plan that includes initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across all areas of business.

Specific technologies Nissan will be launching, grouped under its ‘PURE DRIVE’ strategy, include more efficient continuously variable transmissions, engine stop-start systems, dual-injector and direct-injection technology, hybrid drive systems, intelligent accelerator pedal feedback and new clean diesels.

Of most interest to the U.S. market is the introduction of Nissan’s own proprietary hybrid technology, which will  appear in the downsized 1.6-liter engine with direct-injection and turbocharging technologies that is set to debut in the 2011 Nissan Juke crossover. Non-hybrid versions of the new Infiniti M will also come with Nissan’s Eco Pedal, a feature that integrates variable resistance to pedal pressure into the software that controls the car’s fuel management system.

Source: [Green Car Reports]

Matt Garza put the shoe on the other foot Monday night.

The right-hander did so by no-hitting the Tigers to record the first no-no in team history as the Rays took a 5-0 win at Tropicana Field with 17,009 fans watching.

“It’s the first no-hitter I’ve ever had,” Garza said. “It’s great I was the first one to do it [in Rays history]. It’s a young franchise and I have a feeling they’re going to have many more to come. But I can’t put enough emphasis on it how big the win was. We are trying to win the [American League] East, we’re not just trying to win a couple games — we’re trying to win the East and make it known. It was a great way to start the home stand.”

Since opening up for business in 1998, the Rays have been on the receiving end of four no-hitters. Derek Lowe (2002), Mark Buehrle (2009), Dallas Braden and Edwin Jackson (both in 2010) all turned the trick, with Buehrle and Braden pitching perfect games; Braden and Jackson no-hit the Rays this season. So Garza’s masterpiece came with a sense of justice attached to it.

“It’s nice to finally be on the other side,” Carl Crawford said. “We’ve been in two of them [this season] and now it’s nice to be on the winning side this time.”

Garza’s no-hitter made the Rays the first Major League team to be no-hit and throw a no-hitter in one season since 1991, when the Orioles, White Sox and Expos did it. The Rays also became the first team to be involved in three official no-hitters in one season since 1917, when the Browns no-hit the White Sox twice, and the White Sox no-hit the Browns once.

Garza faced the minimum, but did not pitch a perfect game. Brennan Boesch drew a one-out walk against him in the second, making him the only Tigers hitter to reach base — but Ryan Raburn then hit into a 5-4-3 double-play. The righty needed 120 pitches — 101 of which were fastballs — to accomplish the feat.

Needing just six outs to finish the deed, Garza faced the dangerous Miguel Cabrera to start the eighth, and he quickly went to 0-2 in the count. The slugger worked the count to 2-2 before ripping a shot to left field. Crawford appeared to lose the ball in the lights before recovering to make the catch.

Garza caught the next hitter, Boesch, looking at strike three and followed by striking out Raburn swinging to end the eighth, leaving the energized crowd sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting to see if Garza could indeed make baseball history.

Garza moved to the mound in the ninth accompanied by a standing ovation as he made his customary quirky sideways hop across the first-base line.

“In the ninth inning, I ran out there and I just told myself, ‘Well, we can go about this two ways — I can try not to get contact and get in trouble, or I can go at these guys,’” Garza said. “And if it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, I have a guy who can come in the ninth inning and shut the door for me. But the most important thing tonight was the win.”

Garza went to 3-2 to the first hitter in the ninth, Don Kelly, who then grounded out to Reid Brignac at second base. Gerald Laird then struck out looking, leaving Garza one out away from completing the no-hitter.

As pinch-hitter Ramon Santiago made his way to the plate, the crowd stood, almost begging Garza to finish what he’d started. And Garza delivered. Santiago hit a 1-1 pitch to right field that everybody in the ballpark knew would be hauled in by Ben Zobrist. Even before the ball nestled in Zobrist’s glove, Rays players began a mad charge onto the field, evoking memories of 2008, when the team clinched its first postseason berth.

“The guy obviously made history for Tampa — congratulations to him,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

The charge by Rays players culminated in a pile on top of Garza at the mound.

“Other than going to the World Series, this is probably the coolest thing I’ve been involved with,” B.J. Upton said. “He’s pitched well all year. He’s scuffled a little bit the last month, but you know what? Good for him. I’m happy for him. Like I said, that’s probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever been involved with.”

Aside from the ball Cabrera hit to Crawford in the eighth, the closest the Tigers came to getting a hit came with two outs in the third, when Danny Worth drove a ball to right field. Zobrist tracked the ball and finished the play with a leaping grab to take away the hit.

Lost in the shuffle was the fact that Detroit starter Max Scherzer held the Rays hitless through 5 2/3 innings before the Rays loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a catcher’s interference call. Carlos Pena struck out to bring up Matt Joyce, who the Rays acquired from the Tigers for Edwin Jackson prior to the 2009 season.

Joyce worked the count full before connecting with Scherzer’s offering, hitting a drive that bumped the right-field foul pole for a grand slam to give the Rays a 4-0 lead. The last player to break up a no-hit bid (five innings or more) with a grand slam was Philadelphia’s Dickie Thon against the Mets’ Frank Viola on July 23, 1990.

“Coming up, obviously the bases were loaded, and I think both teams had a no-hitter going — so, no pressure,” Joyce said. “You’re facing your old team and kind of want to prove something. I honestly had the approach to where I was just going to hit a hard ground ball up the middle. The count ran to 3-1 and I really wanted to get out there and get something out front and kind of drive it, and it ended up hitting off the bat. So I was like, ‘OK, well, let’s try to hit a ground ball up the middle again’ — 3-2 fastball, and I just put a good one on it.”

Joyce’s blast gave Garza a lift.

“I was pumped,” Garza said. “When Joyce hit that ball, it’s when it really erupted. Everyone was like, ‘OK, cool — four nothing, let’s go.”

Manager Joe Maddon smiled afterward, noting that the Rays had been on the wrong end of no-hitters enough times. And he speculated what Garza’s gem might do for him and Tampa Bay in the future.

“Everything we do is about confidence, and hopefully this is a game that could really catapult him a bit,” Maddon said.

Source: [MLB.com]

Two new publications have ranked Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall as one of the top performance venues in the world.

Pollstar, an industry trade magazine, says the Hall ranked 13th in the world in buildings with 5,000 seats or less. Ruth Eckerd also came in second in venues having 2,500 seats or less. This ranking is based on ticket sales from the first half of this year. The Hall placed higher than other well-known facilities such as Los Angeles’s Universal City Walk, the Chicago Theater, Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center and Orlando’s Bob Carr Performing Arts Center.

Another trade publication, Venues Today, says the Hall is 12th in the world in facilities with 5,000 seats or less and second in the world in venues having 2,500 seats or less. This ranking is based on ticket sales from mid-October 2009 to mid-May 2010. This magazine ranks Ruth Eckerd higher than New York City’s Beacon Theatre and Boston’s Citi Wang Theatre.

Ruth Eckerd Hall officially has 2,180 seats and a Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation design. Many consider the auditorium acoustically perfect and it features more than 200 performances a year.

Source: [Bay News]

The temperature is rising, the kids are officially out of school and it’s time once again for summer vacation. Before you head out on your next adventure, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is ready to take on whatever the road throws your way.

Tires – Be sure to check both the tire pressure and tread on all 5 of your tires (don’t forget about the spare). If you are unsure what your tire pressure should be, look for the manufacturer sticker when you open the passenger side door. To check your tread life, take a penny and place it in between the tread with Lincoln’s head pointed down. If you can see the top of the former President’s head, it is recommended that you replace your tires before embarking on your trip. Many regions have patterns of afternoon rain storms that could be dangerous on tires without adequate tread. Also, be sure to check the valve stem for cracks.

Fluids – Heat will wreak havoc on an engine. Make sure your vehicle has plenty of vital fluids to keep your engine cool and vacation on track.

Be sure to change your oil before hitting the road and consider using thicker weight oil than you might normally use as the summer heat will thin the oil. Check and replace or refill each of the fluids under your vehicles hood, including: transmission fluid, differential fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid and coolant.

Motor Engine Components

Battery and cables – Inspect the terminals on your battery. If they are corroded, clean the terminals with a mixture of baking soda and water. Also be on the lookout for any cracks or dirt. Hot weather drains the life from your battery quickly. Be sure to have it tested before setting out on your road trip to ensure your battery will make the trip with you and your family.

Radiator and hoses – Overheating is the leading cause of mechanical breakdowns on our nation’s highways. Check fluid levels in your radiator and for any cracks in the hoses connecting your radiator.

Other Components

Air Conditioning – The summer months bring the hottest temperatures in even the mildest climates. Checking to make sure your air conditioning is functioning properly before leaving will keep everyone smiling on your vacation. Turn the air conditioning on and cover a vent with your hand to check the fan speed and temperature of the air that is being produced. Be sure to listen for any unusual noises while it is running and then shut it off and listen for any noises.

Lights – Checking all interior and exterior lights on your vehicle will help keep you and your family safe on your journey. Have someone help you to check your headlights, high beams, turn signals, hazard lights, license plate light, brake lights, and interior lights.

Indicator lights – It’s never a good idea to drive with a check engine or other malfunctioning indicator light illuminated on your dash, especially on a long trip. Engine problems should be diagnosed and fixed prior to departure to keep your vehicle running smoothly throughout your trip.

Safety Kit – You never know what the road might bring, so be sure to prepare for common breakdowns with a small safety kit. Here is a list of items to include: basic tools (screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers), a flashlight with fresh batteries, first aid kit, jumper cables, tire iron, jack, cell phone charger and drinking water in case you have to wait in hot temperatures for an extended period of time.

At Crown Nissan we want to make sure you are safe on the road this summer. Feel free to bring your vehicle to Crown Nissan for a road trip inspection before you embark on your journey if you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with any of the safety checks described here.

Not very much will change for the 2010 Nissan Versa, but some new standard equipment makes its way onto some trims. 1.8 S Versa sedans now benefit from an in-dash six-disc CD changer, and mid-grade 1.6 sedans now come with standard.

We find the Versa to be a rather pleasant little economy car. With an unchanged price and more standard equipment on deck, the Versa should continue to sell relatively.

Versa enhancements for 2011, following an extensive list of changes for the last model year, include the addition of an in-dash 6-disc CD player for the Sedan 1.8 S, and the addition of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) for the Versa Sedan 1.6 (except 1.6 Base).

The front-wheel drive Nissan Versa continues to provide excellent fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance or roominess. Versa features one of the highest standard horsepower/torque ratings and largest interiors in the entry-level segment.

Versa’s long list of standard and available equipment includes available Nissan Navigation System, Nissan Intelligent Key™, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately).
Versa 1.8 SL models are also offered with a Navigation/Satellite Package with a 5-inch LCD touch screen monitor, XM® Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic® with Real-Time Traffic Information (XM® subscription required, sold separately).

Source: [Auto Blog]