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Winter Driving Tips

Not many people enjoy driving in the ice and snow, but there
are a few things to decrease your stress levels and make your drive much safer.

- Inspect your tires: New tires will give you the traction
you will need for the winter months. Make sure you check
the air pressures also. In colder months, the air
contracts and you can lose air pressure in your tires,
with just a drop in temperature.

- Carry a bag of salt or ice melt in the trunk: If you
have a rear wheel drive car, this will also add some
weight for traction. Salt can also be used to melt snow
and aid in traction if you become stuck.

- Take it easy: Some people with 4-wheel drive vehicles
think they can go faster…. well 4-wheel drive does not
help you stop any faster on ice or snow !

- When you start to slide: Steer the direction you want
the front of the car to go. Be careful not to over
correct. I often recommend drivers find an empty parking
lot and practice sliding the car to get an idea how it
feels. Make sure you can safely practice and get
permission to use the parking lot.

- Leave plenty of room: Always think ahead and leave
plenty of room to stop if something should go wrong.
Anticipate what other drivers may do before they do it,
and have an emergency exit from the situation.

- Stay home: If the weather is too bad, don’t risk going
out. Stay home and cuddle up with your
wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend and be glad you are
not out there on the road.

Safe Travels,

Kevin Schappell

Posted: 19th January 2006  |  Author: Kevin Schappell  |  Category: Car Care

Brake Noises

It is common to hear some minor squeeking from your brakes, but do you know when it’s too much? Brake dust can build up and cause some squeeking. Keeping your wheels and brakes clean can help, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Have your pads checked at all services (oil changes, tires, etc) and you should not have any problems. If you hear grinding or squeeking even when you are not using the brakes, get to your mechanic and have it checked out.

Learn more about your brakes…

Kevin

Posted: 16th January 2006  |  Author: Kevin Schappell  |  Category: Brakes

Finding a repair shop

How to find a repair shop you can trust.

Sometimes it is not what you know but
who you know that makes all the difference in
the world. You do not have to be a mechanic if you
have a good repair shop that you can trust.
Let’s look at a few tips to finding a repair shop
you can trust.

- Ask friends and family for recommendations
Word of mouth can be a great way to find an auto
repair shop. Find out why they like that shop
and ask them what kind of work they have had
done there.

- Don’t always assume that a dealership is your
best bet for repairs. New car dealerships usually have
the highest shop rate around and the newest
equipment but that does not always mean the best
customer service. There are a lot of repair shops
with qualified mechanics outside of dealerships.

- Look for accreditation from groups like ASE and MAP.
Certification shows that the shop has gone the
extra mile to keep on top of their automotive
education.

- When visiting, look for a clean well organized shop
area and office. This should give you a peak into
how the business is run. Can you really expect quality
and fast service if the place is a mess?

- Your first job should be a small one, like an oil
change or brake job. Get a feel for the shop and
how they treat their customers. When you have a major
problem you will be comfortable knowing you have dealt
with them before.

Once you have found a good repair shop there are
a few things to remember. Always keep good records of repairs. This can help resolve problems down the road.
Make sure your repair shop knows you are happy. We always complain about the negative things, but we never mention
the good. Also keep learning about your car. A good
repair shop will be happy to deal with an educated customer.

Take Care,

Kevin Schappell

Posted: 16th January 2006  |  Author: Kevin Schappell  |  Category: Car Care

The best way to wash your car…

I always use a quality car wash soap, and never use dish washing liquid. Dish washing liquid can remove wax and leave your car’s finish unprotected.

I always start at the top of the car and work my way down.

I prefer to use a wash mit, instead of a sponge, and make sure that I rinse the mit of any dirt, before I put it back into the bucket.

Work in small sections and rinse often to prevent the soap from drying onto the finish.

Always wash in a shady area when possible.

When done washing, chamoise to dry your car, but make sure whatever you use is clean, so you do not scratch
the finish.

More car care tips can be found here….
https://www.autoeducation.com/carcare/wash.htm

Kevin

 

Posted: 16th January 2006  |  Author: Kevin Schappell  |  Category: Body, Car Care

Taking Care of your body in winter…

It’s that time of year again, and many of you out there are dealing with snow, sleet and ice on the roads. Take care of your car’s body with a few quick and easy tips…

1. Wash the salt and chemicals off of your car as much as possible. Road crews throw down salt and other chemicals to melt ice, but it can also damage your car’s body panels. Make sure to clean under the car too, a high pressure hose at your local car wash is the best.

2. Make sure you have a good coat of wax before the snow hits. This will help protect your paint and make getting snow off your car easier.

3. Don’t scratch your paint when brushing snow off the hood and trunk of your car. Using an ice scraper or other hard object to remove snow can harm your car’s finish quicker than sandpaper.

Good luck,

Kevin

Posted: 15th January 2006  |  Author: Kevin Schappell  |  Category: Body, Car Care

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