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RESOLVE TO MAKE CAR CARE A PRIORITY IN 2014
American Pride Automotive • Jan 06, 2014
Are you sick of hearing about New Year’s resolutions yet? Well hold on because we have one more for you!
Diligent car care is one of the first things to go by the wayside when things get hectic, but it’s diligent car care that helps make costly repairs less likely and ensure that your vehicle stays safe and reliable for a good long time. And car care goes beyond regular oil changes and tire rotations (we’ll get to that later); it also means the daily maintenance of keeping the car clean and driving safely. Make a resolution to treat your car especially well this year by following these tips.
KEEP IT CLEAN
A car that is washed on the outside and decluttered on the inside is more than just pleasing to the eye; it also has a positive impact on the life of a vehicle. Set one day a week to clear anything you don’t need out of your car and lighten the load.
Did you know that loading up the car with too much unnecessary “stuff” can reduce fuel economy? Did you also know that accumulation of dirt on a car’s exterior can permanently damage the paint? Check out these “Do’s and Don’ts of Washing Your Car” on Consumer Reports.
DRIVE SAFELY TO MAINTAIN YOUR SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND BRAKES
This year, pledge to slow down, brake gently and take it easy with the steering wheel. Even if you drive safely on a regular basis (as we assume you do), pledge this year to become even more aware of how you and your family drive. Doing so will protect your car and help protect you from avoidable traffic accidents.
MAKE REGULAR SERVICE APPOINTMENTS
Now, you knew we wouldn’t be able to get through an entire blog post without touting the necessary benefits of having your vehicle serviced regularly. Consult your owner’s manual or a friendly service tech at American Pride to learn the mileage intervals at which you should bring your car in for oil changes, brake inspections and the like. As diet, exercise and vitamins are preventative measures for disease, so routine maintenance is for major vehicle problems.
Good luck with those resolutions and give American Pride a call today to schedule an appointment at our Newport News, Toano or Williamsburg locations!
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
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