Summer Driving Tips!

No matter where you are going this summer, prevent vehicle issues with these summer safety tips!

Before You Go: 

Regular maintenance, such as tune-ups, oil changes, battery checks, and tire rotations, go a long way toward preventing breakdowns. If your vehicle has not been serviced recently or you don't know the service history of the vehicle you plan to drive, schedule a preventive maintenance check-up with your mechanic now. If your vehicle is well maintained, getting it ready for a road trip is relatively quick and easy. However, it's important to perform the following basic safety checks before you go.


Protect Your Passengers:

Ensure that your children are safe. Make sure best-suited car seats and booster seats for your children are properly installed. All children 13 and younger should ride in the back seat and all passengers in your vehicle should be buckled up!


Share the Road with Pedestrians:


Pedestrians are just as vulnerable as motorcyclists and bicyclists. Things to remember as a driver:

• You can encounter pedestrians anytime and anywhere. Be vigilant.
• Pedestrians can be very hard to see - especially in bad weather or at night. You must keep a lookout and slow down if you can't see clearly.

Roadside Kit:

Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down. Put together an emergency roadside kit to carry with you. A cell phone is especially important. Suggested emergency roadside kit contents:

• Cell phone
• First aid kit
• Flashlight
• Flares and a white flag
• Jumper cables
• Jack (and ground mat) for changing a tire
• Work gloves and a change of clothes
• Basic repair tools and some duct tape (for temporarily repairing a hose leak!)
• A jug of water and paper towels for cleaning up
• Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines
• Extra windshield washer fluid
• Maps

Courtesy of safercar.gov/summerdrivingtips

Link: http://1.usa.gov/UssuDT

Hack: Simple Tools to Improve Your Camping Trip

We wanted to give you a few easy tips and tricks on how to make your next camping adventure a bit more comfortable! Follow the link at the bottom of the blog to see more details on these great ideas.

1. Pencil Sharpener for Kindling:

Traditionally, most campers have a pocket or utility knife with them to shave off some kindling to make a fire. But, you may have lost or forgotten your life during your travels doing other activities with it.
Bring a pencil sharpener with you to create some simple kindling for your fire. You’re less likely to lose it since you’re probably not going to be using it else where.


2. Ice Shower To Go:

Made infamous from comment threads online, the ice shower involves using common household items to make a chunk of ice with half soap water and half clean water. One side to clean, one side to rinse. 
Follow these detailed ice shower instructions and throw your ice shower in your cooler to keep on hand for your next trip.


3. Foam Tile Flooring:

If you’ve got little ones at home or know someone with kids, chances are you’ll be able to access foam tile squares quite easily. Bring some along to create a more comfortable flooring for your tent.
Alternatively, you can bring a yoga mat or two to achieve the same effect.

Courtesy of route66rv.com

Link: http://bit.ly/1jama8o

Maintenance Questions You're Afraid to Ask

We've all been there-- you have a question about something basic...but you don't ask it.  Chances are, someone else has been where you are and had the same confusion!  Here are some frequently asked questions (with answers!) about maintaining your car.

How often do I need to change the oil in my vehicle?

There are many variables that determine how often an oil change is needed (climate, drive time, highway or city street driving, etc.) You should refer to the Scheduled Maintenance section in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

Should I consider using synthetic motor oil in my vehicle?

Synthetic motor oils can be a good choice for high output, turbocharged or supercharged engines. Or for vehicles that are used for towing (especially during hot weather), and vehicles that operate in extremely cold or hot climates. Although more expensive than mineral-based oils, synthetic motor oils can improve fuel economy and provide longer intervals between changes.

How often should I rotate my tires?

Your tires should be rotated every other oil change. Neglecting to rotate tires is a major cause of premature tire wear.

Is it really necessary to replace my timing belt at the recommended interval?

YES. The failure of a timing belt in many cars can result in major engine damage. The cost of repairing an engine with a broken timing belt is much greater than the cost of a timing belt replacement.

Have more questions?  Give us a call!  We'd love to talk to you.

Cleaning Your Own Headlights

1.       Clear headlights of every bit of excess grime you are able to and outline each headlight with tape.  This protects your paint job while you’re cleaning.

2.       It is likely that any product you try will require sanding of some sort—so be detailed, meticulous, and careful during this process.  After wards, the headlight should be rough and dull, yet clear of any yellowing.

3.       Polish them up!  This will rid your headlights of the small scratches caused by the sandpaper.  It will also rid them of the dull look and make them clear again.

4.       Since you’ve removed any protective layer that was on your headlights originally during the sanding process, it’s important that you apply a sealant with UV protection.  If possible, choose one with promised extended protection.

If you’re in the dark about the best UV sealant to use, check out what Popular Mechanics says on the issue.

How to Change a Tire in 9 Easy Steps

Having a flat tire and not knowing how to change it can make you feel helpless. Changing a tire is easy enough to do, and everyone should have a general idea of what's involved:

Secure the vehicle so that it won't roll; and roll the spare tire to the scene of the action.

Never change a tire on an incline or hill; always seek a flat surface, even if it means driving on a flat tire. Use bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks to block the wheels at the opposite end of the car from the end that is to be raised.

Pry off the wheel cover.

You can use a screwdriver to pry the wheel cover off. Just insert the point of the tool where the edge of the cover meets the wheel, and apply a little leverage. The cap should pop off. You may have to do this in a couple of places, as if you were prying the lid off a can of paint.

Loosen the lug nuts.

 

 You might know this as breaking the lug nuts. Whatever you call it, find the end of the wrench that fits the lug nuts on your vehicle, and fit it onto the first nut. Apply all your weight to the bar on the left. This starts turning the nut counterclockwise, which loosens it. Don't remove the lug nuts completely; just get them loose enough to remove by hand after you jack up the vehicle. A hollow pipe and a cross-shaft wrench can loosen the tightest lug nuts.

If you have alloy wheels that are held on by lug nuts with delicate finishes, the delicate aluminum or chrome-plated lug nuts need careful handling. They should never be loosened or replaced with power tools that can scratch the delicate finish.

Jack up the vehicle about 6 inches off the ground.

Place the jack securely under the edge of the car. Proper locations may vary among vehicle models, so consult the owner's manual for the right places to put the jack.
If you have a scissor jack (image a), insert the rod or wrench over the knob, and then crank. If you have a hydraulic jack (image b), place the handle into the appropriate location and pump up and down. Use nice, even strokes, taking the jack handle from its lowest point to its highest point on each stroke to cut down on the labor involved.

Remove the flat tire.

Take the lug nuts completely off by hand and put them in a safe place — inside the wheel cover or hub cap works well. Grasp the flat tire with both hands and pull it straight toward you. As you pull the flat off, it should slide along the bolts until it clears the end of the bolts and you find yourself supporting its full weight. Roll the flat along the ground to the rear of the vehicle to get it out of the way.

Lift the spare onto the lug bolts.

Because tires are heavy, you may have a little trouble lifting the spare into place — especially if you're not accustomed to lifting heavy things.

Replace the lug nuts and tighten them by hand.

Give each lug nut a jolt with the wrench to get it firmly into place, but wait until the car is on the ground before you really try to tighten the lug nuts.

Lower the vehicle and tighten the lugnuts.

After the vehicle is resting on the ground, use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts as much as you can.

Replace the wheel cover or hubcap.

If your car has wheel covers with a delicate finish, the owner's manual should provide instructions for replacing it. If your car has hubcaps, place the hubcap against the wheel and whack it into place with the heel of your hand. Cushion your hand with a soft rag first so that you won't hurt it. And don't hit the hubcap with a wrench or hammer — you'll dent it.

Courtesy of Dummies.com

Link: http://bit.ly/1jazEkD

Maintenance Tip of the Day!

Hi friends! We're here to provide you with your car maintenance tip of the day. 

Buy gas at reputable service stations

Ask whether the gas you buy is filtered at the pump and if the station has a policy about changing the pump filters regularly. If you get a song and dance, find another gas station. Some stations don’t have pump filters, making you more vulnerable to dirty gasoline. Other stations may not mix alcohol and fuel properly — or worse, water down their product. Find a station you trust and stick to it.

Chevrolet is Back on the Big Screen!

• Brand has been involved in all four Transformers films
• New installment features Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette Stingray, Sonic and Trax

DETROIT – Chevrolet and a Camaro that converts into the iconic Bumblebee will once again turn heads when the Transformers movie franchise returns to screens around the globe in the upcoming “Transformers: Age of Extinction” from director Michael Bay, in theaters June 27.


The latest film also features Chevrolets sold around the world including a Corvette Stingray that converts to Autobot Crosshairs, a Trax and a Sonic outfitted as a Rally Car.


The fifth-generation Camaro converted into Bumblebee in the 2007 film “Transformers,” the 2009 film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and the 2011 film “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” The latest edition features two Camaros specifically built for the film, one a heavily modified vintage 1967 Camaro SS and the other a futuristic concept Camaro.


“The Transformers movies have been a great partnership for Chevrolet by allowing us to introduce our vehicles to new fans, young and old, around the world,” said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer, Global Chevrolet. “Now for the fourth time, you’ll see a Camaro as a heroic Autobot, a fitting role for one of the stars of Chevrolet’s lineup.”


Said LeeAnne Stables, executive vice president of Worldwide Marketing Partnerships for Paramount Pictures: “The Chevrolet partnership with this iconic Michael Bay movie franchise has become one of the longest-running and most innovative movie-brand relationships in film history. This new Chevy campaign will definitely bring new and exciting elements to a global audience of Transformers movie fans around the world.”


In addition to providing vehicles for the production, General Motors’ locations for filming included GM Design at the Warren Technical Center, the Milford Proving Ground and the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant.

Courtesy of Chevrolet Online: http://bit.ly/1i2NaWS