GMPP | Protection Plans for your Vehicle

Health Coverage for your Vehicle:  

General Motors Protection Plan | Genuine General Motors Extended Warranty 

The average person keeps their vehicle 5 to 6 years. The average manufacturer's warranty coverage could last half that long. In fact, if you drive over 20,000 miles per year, your manufacturer's warranty could be over in 1 ½ years. Protect your investment against potentially expensive, unexpected repair bills with a General Motors Extended Warranty.

General Motors offers three service coverage plans. Basic Guard, Value Guard, and Major Guard.
Major Guard is the best of the three, offering the most comprehensive vehicle service contract from GM. Having Major Guard coverage on your vehicle not just helps to protect your vehicle, it can also enhance its value. Almost every component of your vehicle is covered in the event of mechanical failure beyond the normal warranty period, with Major Guard. 

A Major Guard protection plan will guard you against unforeseen financial expenses by covering the cost of parts and labor. If your vehicle needs repair, and you use a GM Dealership within the borders of  the United States or Canada  you are covered. Major Guard gives you a sense of security and peace of mind when you are on the road. 

Parts and Labor Costs

With Major Guard almost every mechanical and electrical component of your vehicle is covered against failure, even wear and tear.*
Wear and tear coverage: The applicable coverage in the event an original or like replacement part is unable to function in normal service..

You are covered for parts and labor on:

• Engine
• Transmission/Trans-axle
• Front/Rear-wheel-drive components
• Fuel delivery components
• Engine cooling components
• Heating and vehicle manufacturer installed air conditioning components
• Electrical, computer and audio components 
• Braking system components
• Suspension (Front\Rear)
• Steering components
• High-Tech components
• Seals and gaskets
• Safety components

Roadside Assistance

Major Guard provides 24\7 roadside assistance anywhere in the US and Canada by calling our toll free number for:

• Flat tire change
• Towing
• Battery jump
• Locksmith\Key service**                                             
• Out of gas delivery

Major Guard also offers Alternate Transportation, a Trip Interruption policy, a choice of deductible amounts, and the policy can be transferred to the new owner with a small fee and a little paperwork. Choose the Protection Plan that is best for you. Coverage choices are offered based on years you anticipate on owning, and miles you will be driving. An extended warranty can be purchased at any time during the new vehicle warranty period, but the sooner you buy, the better the value. Major Guard truly offers you protection, security and peace of mind.

Non Covered Parts

• Sheet metal
• Body parts, rails, panels,
• Bumpers
• Chassis frame
• Cross members
• Hinges
• Trim, moldings, and bright metal
• Paint
• Rust damage
• Convertible, vinyl tops
• Weather stripping
• Carpet, upholstery
• Exhaust component, catalytic converter
• Tires
• Glass
• Lenses
• Sealed beams
• Light bulbs
• Batteries
• Brake drums
• Shock absorbers
• Squeaks, rattles, wind noise, odors
• Correction of air or water leaks

Unless required in connection with a covered part, GMPP will not pay for: engine tune-up, suspension alignment, wheel balancing, filters, lubricants, engine coolant, drive belts, radiator hoses, heater and vacuum hoses, windshield wiper blades, air conditioning recharging, fluids, spark\glow plugs and wires, brake pads\linings or brake shoes\rotors, manual clutch disc, vehicle manufacturer recommended maintenance services and parts.

Every other part is covered!   Click here for more information
Got questions? Call Scott Sullens at (252) 338-2131 or email him at ssullens@biggscadillac.com  

*Kentucky state law requires coverage be limited to defects in materials and workmanship. 
** Locksmith\Key service not available in Kansas.

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring

 

Brake Problems | Common Noises and Reasons

How do Brakes work?
       The simple explanation is, brakes work by creating friction to slow and stop your vehicle. Every time you depress the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid pushes through the brake lines/hoses to the wheel cylinders or calipers, causing the brake shoes or pads to squeeze against the drums or discs, causing wear. Shoes and Discs wear down with time, depending on your driving and braking habits will determine the time frame of your vehicle needing the brakes placed.
        So it's essential to have your brakes inspected regularly – usually every six months or 7,500 miles.

Brake System

 It's important to understand how they work. Next, is to know what certain noises mean and to be able to troubleshoot the problem if you are a DIY'er. Your vehicle's brakes should be checked immediately if you suspect any problems.

Typical Wear and Tear:

Brakes are a part that wears out, no matter what, for any car and eventually they’re going to need replacement. Avoid letting your brakes get to the “metal-to-metal” point, you will hear it if it gets to this point, which usually means you are going to spend more money to fix, including possibly expensive rotor or drum replacement.

Several factors that affect wear include:

 Driving habits
 Conditions that you are driving in.
 Type of vehicle you are driving
 The quality of brake lining material

Your vehicle's brakes will alert you when there's trouble. Whistling noises, chirping sounds or grinding are indications that maintenance is required.

Here are some common causes of brake noise:

    Worn brake pads
    Heat cracked or warped rotors
    Rough finish on resurfaced rotors
    Loose fitting brake pads in the caliper
    Lack of silicone compound on back of brake pad
    Missing springs or anti-rattle clips that should be on the caliper or pad
    Improper tightening sequence of lug nuts or caliper hardware

•  You may need to have your brakes inspected if:

You hear noises when applying pressure on the brake pedal
     Most disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. This brake wear warning sound means that soon the brakes will not work well. Call to have your vehicle serviced. Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in a costly brake repair.

Your vehicle pulls to one side when braking
     It might have a caliper sticking, or worn brake pads. This can also be caused by bad ball joints, or you may need an alignment. Low tire pressure on the suspect side can cause the car to pull under braking. 
 
Your brake pedal feels different than normal or"mushy"
     When the brake pedal on a vehicle starts to feel mushy or spongy, this is called “extended travel” of the brake pedal. It is also a good indication the master brake cylinder has developed an internal leak and must be replaced.

Repeatedly need to add brake fluid to the master cylinder
      Repeatedly adding brake fluid to the master cylinder, indicates that there is a leak somewhere in the system, brake cylinder or brake line are 2 possible places. Make sure to have this checked before it gets worse.

The parking brake doesn't work

The dash brake light or ABS light stays on
     This can be caused from bad hydraulic valves, loss of brake fluid and pressure, or simply an emergency brake not registering that it is off.  A check to the entire brake system for leakages or cracks in the brake fluid reservoir and lines should be performed to ensure your safety while operating your vehicle.

• What Do Brake Noises Tell You? 

Some brake noises are normal, while others indicate problems requiring service.
This is what the noises could mean:

•Grinding
When caused by rust building up on the rotors, it’s of little concern. The buildup can usually be removed, or sometimes it disappears after a few stops. If grinding persists, the problem could be more serious and should be addressed immediately.

•Loud squeals
Disc brakes with wear indicators may produce a squeal, indicating it’s time to change the pads.

•Trace squeaks or squeals
Semi-metallic brake linings can emit sound.
Rain, humidity or cold brakes could be the source. If the problem persists,
have the brakes checked.

•Clicking
Sometimes accompanied by a slight pulsing in the brake pedal
at low speeds, it’s most likely the Anti-lock Braking System performing a
harmless self-check.

Have any other questions about your Brakes, or need to schedule and appointment? We are here to help you just give us a call ( 252) 338-2131
or schedule online at Biggs Cadillac

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring.

Sierra receives a 5-Star Rating in Safety

2014 GMC Sierra Puts Safety First 

2014 GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab receives the first five-star scores under new rating system.

Elizabeth City, NC –  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration changed its New Car Assessment Program and the Sierra has received the highest possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety.

NHTSA only tested the crew cab models of the Sierra. GMC expects crew cab models to account for 60 percent of their 2014 light duty full-size pickup truck sales.

“This designation by NHTSA confirms that the 2014 Sierra delivers top safety performance,” said Barry Callahan of Biggs Cadillac “Additionally, it also has the power Sierra drivers expect and is chocked full of features, developed with ELIZABETH CITY area truck owners in mind.”

The Sierra offers NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA area enthusiasts fully boxed frames, extensive use of high-strength steel, and several segment-exclusive safety features are available, including Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Safety Alert Seat.

•    Safety Alert Seat warns the driver of potential traffic danger using directional vibration pulses from the seat cushion. The patented warning approach is tied to all of the on-board crash avoidance systems.
•    Forward collision alert technology helps prevent frontal crashes by alerting the driver when the truck is closing in on a vehicle ahead too quickly, giving him or her additional time to react and avoid a crash.
•    Lane Departure Warning technology alerts the driver when the truck drifts over a lane line when traveling at least 35 mph.
•    Rear Vision Camera with Dynamic Guidelines allows the driver, when in reverse, to view objects directly behind the vehicle via the radio screen in the center stack, allowing for easier parking and backing maneuvers.
•    New, standard lap belt pretensions in the front-seat outboard safety belts.
•    Six standard air bags and 360-degree sensor system, including dual-stage frontal air bags, head-curtain side-impact air bags with rollover protection, and seat-mounted side-impact air bags.
•    Trailer-sway control that works with StabiliTrak to provide the driver with additional assistance when towing a trailer. When it senses trailer sway, it intervenes with braking and/or reduced engine power to bring the trailer under control.
•    Four-wheel, four-channel, antilock disc brakes (ABS) that help provide straight, more controlled stops by preventing wheel lock-up in most road conditions.
•    OnStar is available, using GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of crash. OnStar service also includes MyLink mobile apps, which offer vehicle information and OnStar services via the customer’s smartphone.


About Biggs Cadillac Buick GMC
Established in 1982. Biggs is a supporter and sponsor of many community events and fundraisers in and around Elizabeth City, NC. Biggs is a Hometown Full Service Cadillac Buick GMC dealership and number one used car dealership in Northeastern North Carolina.  New & used vehicle sales, Finance, Parts, Service, and Collision Center. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. Visit our website: http://www.biggscadillac.com

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring