Spring Auto Care

While Old Man Winter may still have something to say about it, we’re cautiously excited to usher in Spring.  The sun’s beginning to shine, bulbs are poking through Mother Earth, and music is in the air.  Whether it’s actual sound produced from musical instruments or laughter and healthy energy coming from our neighborhood youth, we believe you’ll agree that it IS good.

LaughFest is in full swing as this is being published, ArtPrize is soon to follow.  Whether these local attractions or ones that take you on the open road are your fancy, we’d like to make sure you arrive (provided you’re driving) safe and sound.  To that end, our friends at AAA Michigan recently composed an article involving Spring Auto Care Tips.  It was on our schedule to offer a similar theme but it makes little sense to duplicate efforts when they’ve already been laid out nicely for you elsewhere.  Here is the entire aforementioned piece, compliments of AAA and Fox News:

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While many vehicles are designed to adapt to harsh winter conditions, most are still susceptible to rusting and corrosion caused by being exposed to snow removal substances too long. For this reason alone, it is important that motorists spend the necessary time wiping off snow properly and giving their vehicles a good cleaning.

AAA recommends that motorists do a thorough check under the hood and around in the interior and exterior of their vehicle. Here are a few tips:

• Check the tires – It’s crucial to check your tires after weather changes because tire pressure can fluctuate about 1 pound per square inch for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in temperature.

• Rotate the tires – This should be done roughly every 6,000-7,500 miles and it can extend the life of your tires significantly by reducing wear.

• Check the wiper blades – Windshield wipers take a beating during the winter – clearing away dirt, debris and salt spray. Make sure the blades are making full contact with the windshield and have not dried out.

• Change oil and filter – Keep to the manufacturers’ recommendation and change your oil and filter in accordance with the vehicle owners manual. Usually every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

• Change the air filter – Your car’s air filter prevents dust and other debris from getting into the engine’s running parts, meaning less efficient use of gas and weaker engine performance.

• Check the belts and hoses – Winter weather takes a toll on your car’s belts and hoses making them more likely to break. Visibly inspect them for wear. Replace glazed or frayed belts or bulging hoses.

• Check the coolant level – With a cold engine, the radiator should be completely full and the coolant level in the remote reservoir should be at or above the “cold” level marking. Have the system flushed and refilled with fresh coolant at the interval specified in the vehicle owner’s manual. Always top off the system with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water to avoid altering the antifreeze level.

• Inspect the brake fluid level – If the level has fallen below the “low” mark on the fluid reservoir, it usually indicates major brake wear or a leak somewhere in the system; have the brakes inspected as soon as possible.

• Check battery and plugs – Make sure battery posts and connections are clean. Spark plugs fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles.

• Clean the interior – Residual salt and sand that was brought into the interior of the vehicle can damage floor mats and carpet. Use a hand vacuum to remove dirt and debris from the floor and seats of your vehicle.

• Remove items that may have been used for winter driving – There’s no need to carry sand, shovels and other winter driving “musts” once the snow and ice have melted. Keep your trunk clean to improve gas mileage which can lead to considerable savings at the pump.

• Prepare the interior surfaces and upholstery of your car for more sun exposure – Use a good leather protector to avoid any cracking on leather seats and invest in a product that will help avoid fading cloth interiors.

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We’ve recently launched a Spring Auto Care Special that will comprehensively address many of the important items mentioned above.  Appointments are booking quickly so you’ll want to take advantage of this offer as soon as you’re able.  Specific details are as follows:

SPRING AUTO CARE SPECIAL

Change Oil & Filter Using Quality Products

22 Point Safety Inspection

Inspect Tune Up Condition

Inspect and Fill All Fluids

Inspect Steering And Suspension

Inspect Brakes, Front and Rear

Inspect Cooling System, Including Hoses & Belts

Air Conditioning Performance Test

Rotate Tires, If Needed

Consultation Regarding Any Automotive Concerns

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A $95.00 VALUE FOR $39.95!

1 offer accepted per vehicle.  Appointment required

Cannot be combined with any other offers.  Expires 04/30/12

Full Circle

“I used to have a car for no more than 100,000 miles and then trade it in, regardless of how well it might have been running – but I now realize I was stepping into a new risk each time.”

And then, the refrain changes… as they continue with “The first couple times I did this I ended up in the clear but the last two have left me with lemons… sour, bitter lemons.”

First point: Previous results do not always dictate future results.  Said another way, just because you may have had an amazing experience with something doesn’t guarantee the same will happen with the next thing, even if the one to follow is identical to the first.

Of course, as with most things in life, you should focus on what you can control.  Sometimes Lady Luck may seem on your side, while on other days you’d rather kick her in the shin.  Regardless, you shouldn’t ever place stock in things outside your control without understanding the risk(s) involved.

Final point: Unless you’ve been living underground, you must have heard by now that you get what you give.

When was the last time you neglected to properly care for something?  Anything at all?  Did you happen to notice the amount of time it took for said thing to stop working to its designed specifications?  Vehicle care is definitely NO exception.  While you may get lucky on occasion common sense will tell you that you must pay attention to the small details, unless of course you enjoy the potentially expensive gamble.  Do you prefer life on the edge?  Are you what most would consider a risk-taker?  In either event, don’t depend on us to help you find reasons to see misuse/abuse as a wise investment.

Systematic care of your vehicle doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor.  Use your owner’s manual as a guide for what the manufacturer suggests and plan accordingly so your financial commitment doesn’t need to be one you feel in your pocketbook months later.  Any one of our team of trained professionals would be happy to assist this planning process.  Each of us here at Community Automotive Repair already make it a point to inform you regularly of what service(s) your vehicle may need, but we welcome any additional questions you may have, too.

This is Back To School time (we sent a courtesy reminder that it was coming) so all of us should become astute vehicle owners and keep these two very valuable lessons in mind.  Once again, most things come FULL CIRCLE but don’t depend on it entirely and be aware that you GET WHAT YOU GIVE.

Enjoy the fall colors!