The carpeting is in!

Give it some love and TLC this Valentines Day by getting it detailed and topping off it’s fluids.

The Washington Post did a great story about the affection people develop for their cars.

My wife and I own a ’93 850, purchased new 18+ years ago when our first child was born.  It replaced a red Porsche, at which time a nephew fumed, “If that’s what happens when you get married and have kids, I’m never getting married!” The Volvo is about to cross 160,000 miles.  It was a lifesaver when our older son was 3 years old.  The car was broad-sided by another one going 35 through an intersection.  There was $7,000 worth of damage (in 1996), including a destroyed rear door that still opened and closed.  But, no injuries. We’ll keep the Volvo until the wheels turn square or there’s a repair I can’t fix or that costs more than the car’s worth, a lower number with every passing year.  The leather seats have tears that beg for repair.  I want to fix the seats but my younger son, 14, just says, “Dad, it’s 18 years old.  And, it’s part of the car’s character.”  And, whenever something breaks and I threaten, “This is it,” my two sons just say, “You can fix it.  You can’t sell the car.” Three years ago, we replaced my wife’s 20-year old red Honda Prelude.  She loved that car and it ran perfectly.  Rust was getting the best of it and the spare tire was about to fall through the trunk.  Safety prevailed and we concluded that it was time to upgrade to newer car with airbags and anti-lock brakes.  Since the Volvo already has those safety features, the prognosis for it remaining in our driveway for who-knows-how-long remains good.

05 Acura TSX

This 05 TSX has 72,443 miles on it and has all you’d expect from an Acura, like heated leather seats, a premium sound system, and great handling.

07 Acura TSX

Our 07 Tsx has 98,000 miles and comes with factory navigation, heated leather seats, sunroof, premium sound, and more.

If you’re interested in either car, call Gerald at 757-595-4100 or Josh at 757-903-2473.

The water pump is one place coolant can leak, be sure to have the timing belt and water pump changed on time.

Although a great car may be aesthetically pleasing on the outside and have tons of high-tech features on the inside, it means nothing if the car is plagued with mechanical issues. While overheating may seem like a simple issue, it really isn’t, and pinpointing the exact reason for overheating can be quite difficult, especially if you aren’t a car expert. Even though the causes for car overheating are numerous, there are about three that stand out as the most frequently-occurring.

Radiator Fan Malfunction

Most cars have electric cooling fan motors in place behind the radiator to assist with temperature regulation. If your car doesn’t have electric cooling fans, it’ll definitely have a belt-driven fan. If either of these fans aren’t working as intended, you’ll experience some overheating. A good way to determine if fan malfunction is the cause of your overheating is observing when the overheating takes place. If your car starts to heat up while at rest, it’s most likely a fan-related issue. Try checking the airflow of your fans, or take your car to a repair specialist if you’re not comfortable with doing that.

Coolant Problems

Apart from airflow, coolant is the main way a car stays cool. Without proper antifreeze circulation, your car will overheat rather easily. Again, pay attention to when your car overheats; if it overheats during 30-60mph drives, then it’s most likely a coolant issue. Unfortunately, the coolant circulation system in most cars is complex, which means there’s a number of things that could go wrong. Generally you’ll want to check if your thermostat is fully functional, but it’s usually better to take it to a repair shop and have an expert look at it.

Leaks

If your coolant level is low, then there’s a high chance that you have a leak somewhere in your car. Since most cars have closed cooling systems, your coolant levels should never really go down. Determining whether you have a leak in your system is rather easily. First, make sure your radiator is filled with the right amount of coolant. Then, while your engine is running, observe your car; if you see any obvious leaks, then it’s time to head to the shop. There are some less obvious signs of leaks to watch out far as well, such as bubbles in your expansion tank. Coolant leaks can lead to damage, so it’s best to get it fixed as soon as possible.

The lovely ladies from the York Assembly of God served everyone lunch.

Our first Family Service Day of the new year was a huge success!  22 families had their cars serviced by our technicians.  Lackey Free Clinic coordinated the clients, York Assembly of God served lunch for everyone, and thanks to financial support from Colony Insurance Group and 1st Advantage Credit Union we were able to replace badly worn tires and brakes for those with truly dangerous vehicles.

Our next family service day will be March 21st at our Williamsburg location in partnership with Grove Christian Outreach.

Lackey Free Clinic from nMotionVideo on Vimeo.

Call Josh in our Williamsburg store at 757-903-2473 if you’re interested in taking this gorgeous car for a test drive!

Here’s an aerial view of our new location:
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