Category: Car Maintenance

The summer heat can pose some unique challenges for drivers. Increased temperatures can impact everything from road conditions to vehicle performance, and too much sun can even cause some damage to your vehicle.

So how do you make sure that you properly care for your vehicle during the summer? Use the five following maintenance tips to create a smarter summer car care routine.

1. Check the battery.
Rising temperatures cause battery fluids to evaporate and can also speed up the corrosion process, possibly causing irreversible damage to your battery. Luckily, corrosion is easily removed using baking soda and water.

Keep in mind, most batteries only last three to five years. If your battery is in that age range, have it checked by a professional. It may be time for a replacement.

2. Top off fluids.
Extreme temperatures can take a toll on engine fluids, so it’s important to develop a consistent maintenance routine. For example, oil should be checked monthly, topped off as needed and changed regularly. Engine coolant should be checked every time you fill up your gas tank, topped off as needed and flushed every five years.

3. Gauge tire pressure.
As temperatures rise and fall, so does tire pressure. When tires are off balance, they wear unevenly, which impacts fuel economy and increases the chances of blowouts. Tire pressure should be checked (at least) monthly and adjusted to manufacturer specifications.

4. Protect your paint.
Avoid washing your car in direct sunlight. If it dries too quickly, soap residue may get cooked into the paint, damaging the finish. It’s also a good idea to wax the exterior every six months to protect the paint from sun damage.

5. Protect your interior.
Wipe down and condition the dash and upholstery as needed to prevent surfaces from drying out, cracking or fading. And consider using a sunshade while parked to protect interior surfaces from the heat.

For more automotive advice, reach out today.

Did you know that your vehicle’s tires should be regularly balanced and aligned? Tire balancing and alignment help create a smoother ride, improve fuel efficiency and extend tire life. But while these essential maintenance tasks are often performed together, they are two separate services.

Here’s everything you should know about tire balancing and alignment:

What is tire balancing?

In this context, “balance” refers to the distribution of weight across the tire and wheel. When tires aren’t properly balanced, they can have less traction and are more susceptible to premature failure.

Using special equipment, a technician can spin the tires, measure the imbalance and correct it according to manufacturer specifications.

What is tire alignment?

Alignment adjusts the car’s suspension so the tires are angled properly. When the tires are out of alignment, steering may become difficult. Often the steering wheel will vibrate and the car will pull to one side or the other. This misalignment happens naturally over time as the car encounters rough terrain, such as potholes or curbs.

When aligning tires, a technician must consider:

• Camber: the inward/outward tilt of the tire when viewed head-on, which determines load distribution and even tire wear.
• Caster: the front/rear tilt of the tire when viewed from the side.
• Toe: the direction the tires are pointed when viewed from above.

Each of these items can be adjusted to manufacturer specifications using computerized alignment tools.

When should these services be performed?

Tire balancing and alignment should be performed every 6,000 miles or any time the tires are rotated, repaired or replaced. Both procedures should always be performed by a professional. It’s also a good idea to have both done at the same time.

For more expert insight and automotive advice, contact us today.

Hail storm warnings can cause concern, and rightly so. Hail can cause major damage to your vehicle (and leave a dent in your wallet).

So what can you do to prevent, or at least minimize, hail storm damage? Here’s how to protect your car, make an insurance claim due to hail and repair any damage:

Seek Shelter Immediately

If you’re on the road, parking garages, covered gas stations and freeway underpasses are good options. At home, parking in your garage or under your carport is the safest option.

If you don’t have access to any type of shelter for your vehicle, use a padded car cover to reduce potential damage. Blankets, towels or cardboard can be used in a pinch (but will need to be secured with paint-safe tape).

Look at Your Insurance Coverage

A comprehensive insurance policy will typically cover dents and dings to the body, cracked or shattered glass and interior water damage. But coverage must be purchased prior to the date of damage, and many providers place moratoriums on coverage prior to forecasted storms.

A deductible (out-of-pocket cost) is included with most comprehensive policies. In areas where hail storms are common, a policy with a lower deductible could be worth exploring. Zero-deductible policies may be available at an additional cost.

Claims & Repairs

After a claim is filed, an insurance adjuster will assess the damage and estimate repair costs.

If the cost of repair exceeds the value of the vehicle, the vehicle may be totaled. If damage is minor, paintless dent removal may be sufficient. More serious damage could require panel replacement and a new paint job.

Put the insurance company in contact with your body shop to streamline the process. For example, if the estimate is lower than the actual costs, the body shop may be able to work out the difference with the insurer without your direct involvement.

If you have questions or need help with your vehicle, reach out today.

Worried about your car if you’re not driving it every day? Chances are, your vehicle will be fine. But when it’s parked for extended periods, it does become susceptible to issues you wouldn’t normally have to consider.

For example, batteries can lose their life and tires can lose air. So what can you do to keep your automobile in tiptop condition while your driving is limited?

Try these handy maintenance tips.

1. Run your engine regularly.

If possible, take your car out for a short drive once a week. The trip will do more than alleviate cabin fever. It helps recharge your vehicle’s battery, gets fluids flowing through the engine and prevents the deterioration of moving parts.

If driving isn’t an option, you might want to consider getting a battery tender to keep the battery charged.

2. Attend to tires and fluids.

Your tires will lose air over time, so try to check your tire pressure regularly. Make sure you’re airing them up as needed.

It’s also a good idea to keep your fluids topped up. And if your vehicle is going to sit for several weeks undriven, you may want to add a fuel stabilizer to your gasoline.

3. Schedule maintenance and repairs as necessary.

Auto shops are considered essential businesses, so help is available if you need repairs. Most routine maintenance intervals can be extended temporarily, but you don’t want to wait too long — you never know when you may need to drive unexpectedly.

For more information, reach out today.

By now, you’re routinely washing your hands and disinfecting household surfaces to help defend against the spread of the coronavirus. But have you given the same attention to your vehicle?

If you’re still using your vehicle for essential errands, you should be cleaning and disinfecting the interior regularly. Not sure about the proper way to do so?

These tips will help you clean and disinfect your car safely:

Clean

A thorough cleaning clears the way for disinfectants to do their job properly. Remove any loose trash, wipe away surface dirt and debris with a microfiber cloth (paper towels scratch) and vacuum the interior.

Avoid spraying cleansers (or disinfectants) directly on interior surfaces. Instead, dampen a microfiber cloth with the cleaner, wipe away excess dirt and oil, then rinse with another water-damped cloth.

Soap and water work best for cleaning most surfaces. But many popular household cleaners are safe as well. Just be sure to check the label for recommendations.

Disinfect

Focus on high-touch areas, including the steering wheel, door handles, seat belts, armrests, gear shifts, touch screens and other controls. A 70-percent isopropyl alcohol solution can be used to disinfect most interior surfaces, including glass and touch-screen displays that can be damaged by harsher alternatives.

There are also a variety of products that are specifically designed for the purpose of disinfecting your vehicle’s interior. If you’re wondering which products work best against COVID-19, consult the latest EPA recommendations.

For best results, wash your hands before and after driving and be sure to clean and disinfect your vehicle on a regular basis.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Have you started noticing some chips in the paint on your car? It’s annoying when your car gets a new ding or dent. Even if it’s a tiny imperfection, you don’t want to let it go unfixed for long.

That’s because, even if they’re minor, letting those chips go unchecked could lead to further damage to your vehicle. Read on to learn what you should do to take care of those unsightly paint chips.

Common Causes
Rocks and stones can get kicked up by the cars in front of you on the road, launching them into your car at high speeds. The repeated, small scratches from these pebbles can chip or peel your paint job.

Accidents happen, too. Collisions with cars and other objects can scrape the paint off, leaving unsightly scratches and chips.

And bird droppings contain corrosive substances, like uric acid, which can eat through your car’s protective wax coating or even the clear coat.

Fix Chips ASAP
Once the clear coat is breached, your paint is vulnerable to the elements. That means your car could end up with rust spots.

And chipped paint may lower the value of your car: The longer you wait to fix peeling or chipping paint, the more damage could be done.

How to Handle Dings

1. Wash your vehicle gently. Scrubbing vigorously or using corrosive or abrasive cleaning materials might cause further damage.
2. Treat any rust spots to avoid further damage to your car.
3. Get it repaired. A professional paint job can make your car look shiny and new.

Do you have questions about your car? Reach out today.

You have your heart set on a used car. It looks like it’s in great shape. You decide to check its vehicle history report and discover it’s actually a dud.

Even great looking cars can be hiding less-than-ideal pasts. Luckily, you found out beforehand.

Moral of the story: Don’t buy based only on what you think you see. Check the vehicle history report so you can make a truly informed buying decision.

Benefits of a Vehicle History Report
A vehicle history report provides information about a used car pegged to its unique vehicle identification number (VIN). If you’re buying from a dealership, you can probably be less concerned about the vehicle’s history. But if you’re making a deal with a private individual, get the report first.

Reading the Report

The report will include the following:

• Owners and how they used the car (for example, if it was a taxi or business vehicle)
• Accident reports
• Title information and liens
• Service history
• Odometer readings

Red Flags on a Vehicle History Report

• Numerous owners. If the car has had multiple owners over a short period, it may have problems that can’t be easily fixed.
• Accidents that deployed airbags or caused structural damage. Small bang-ups won’t hurt a car beyond repair. However, more serious accidents can permanently damage a vehicle.
• Salvage title. If a used car has a salvage title, an insurance company has said it shouldn’t be driven anymore. Still, someone tried to repair the car so it could drive again — even though it shouldn’t.
• Liens. What if the current owner still owes money on the car? The sale of the car will have to happen in a specific way.

Do you have other questions about your vehicle? Reach out anytime.

Driver’s ed classes are over. Your new driver can parallel park and perform a Y-turn. They’ve passed their test, and now it’s finally time for your kid to hit the road.

Of course, they’re excited about their newfound freedom. And you know they’ll be safe because you’ve taught them the rules of the road. But it’s also important for new drivers to know how to keep their vehicles in good shape, both inside and out.

Before you hand over the keys, here are five things your teen should know about car maintenance.

1. Tire Care
What happens if a tire bursts on the roadway? Drivers (new or not) should know how to change a tire and how to do so safely on busy roads. Teach your teen the importance of tire rotations, keeping tires properly inflated and how to talk to their repair technician about changes in steering.

2. Understanding Warning Lights
Check engine lights should mean a timely call to the repair technician, but young drivers may not realize the dangers of putting this off. Teach them about all of their dashboard warning lights, such as traction lights, oil lights and brake warning signs.

3. Checking Engine Fluids
Does your teen know the difference between transmission fluid and windshield wiper fluid? What do they know about engine oil? Show them how to check levels, monitor leaks and choose the right oil product.

4. Cleaning Techniques
Car owners should also know how to clean the car’s exterior, including how to handle paint scratches and damage to the body. You may also want to teach your teen how to handle rust should it develop.

5. Electronics Care
Many vehicles have extensive onboard electronics, from infotainment systems to dash cameras. Your teen should not only know how to use these but also how to adjust them and get help if they stop working.

Do you have any questions about your vehicle? Reach out today.