Winterizing your Car

Are you Ready?

Leaves are falling and the weather is turning cold. A busy time time of the year. Cleaning up the yard, cleaning the sides of the house and cleaning out the gutters.  Checking the heat pump and all the filters in the house. Getting out all of our sweaters and jackets from the back closet and pulling out the boots. Getting your house ready for the holidays to come.

Now..... What about your car(s)? They need to be ready for the Winter as well.

Get your Car ready for this Winter, to avoid breakdowns:

•  Battery Check - Will it start...? Colder weather is tough on your car's battery.During cold weather, your engine requires more current from the battery in order to get the engine started. More power requirements combined with less power output makes for a car that won't start on a cold winter morning. Have a mechanic run a battery load test to see if you need to replace the battery. Also check to make sure that your posts and connections are clean and corrosion free.

• Check your wiper blades and windshield wiper fluid. Wiper blades on average are only good for a year.Fill your wiper fluid reservoir with a brand that has a low-freeze-point ( usually yellow). The normal blue stuff will slush-up and freeze on your windows if it gets real cold, which will make visibility much worse while you are driving.

• Check your tire pressure. Cold weather causes air pressure in your tires to drop. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, your tire pressure drops 1 psi.   Properly inflated tires ensures the best possible contact between your tires and the road.

• 4-Wheel Drive? Make sure that your 4WD is working properly. 4WD has to be used occasionally to stay in working order. Have the fluid levels checked to help ensure that the gears and transmission will engage properly and fully. 

• Check your anti-freeze. This is really important. Make sure that you are 50% water and 50% anti-freeze. This is necessary to prevent your radiator from freezing up.

• Check Belts and Hoses. Cold weather is hard on rubber elements. Check these to be sure that there are not any signs of wear and tear. If so get them replaced. If a belt snaps while you are driving or a hose springs a leak, you will be stranded. Waiting for a tow truck or a ride when the weather is cold, is no fun.

These are just a few of the main things that need to be checked before the cold weather sets in, because you sure don't want be stranded out in the middle of nowhere,  with a major problem to deal with.


Local to Biggs Cadillac Area? 
You can download Biggs Cadillac Buick GMC Free Mobile App for the Android, iPad and iPhone. 
Use the App, get towed, and we will get you back on the road.

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring

Bad Spark Plugs?

Spark Plugs, with out them the engine won't run. 

They are a vital part of when, why and how of going on down the road. If they are in good condition, we don't even think about them. When they have gone bad, well.. it's not pretty.

What does a Spark Plug Do? The simple version, a spark plug is an electrical gadget that fits into your engine’s cylinder head where it “sparks” to ignite the fuel. The plug is connected to the ignition coil that generates the high voltage needed to spark the fuel and create combustion. And, it’s this combustion that causes your engine to run. So, no spark plug means no combustion, which means no go.  

http://www.autoanything.com/ignition-systems/what-do-spark-plugs-do.aspx

How important are the correct plugs? Car Manufacturers will select the right temperature plug for each car. Some cars with high-performance engines naturally generate more heat, so they need colder plugs. If the spark plug gets too hot, it could ignite the fuel before the spark fires; so it is important to stick with the right type of plug for your car.

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The engine won't start, idles rough, it hiccups, back fires, and gas mileage sucks :-(

Many times when a spark plug will not fire there may be debris that has built up around the lower portion of the electrode and the grounding point. This will cause the spark plug to short out and not create a spark. The air gap is vital for the spark to occur.

eHow http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4564903_spark-plug-work.html#ixzz2SuJfjHdB

      Rough Engine Idle: An ordinary symptom of a bad spark plug, rough idling exists when the engine stumbles. The engine may be vibrating because of Spark Plugs are not firing correctly. Not checking the symptom in time could lead to a severe damage.

·         Starting Trouble: If after several attempts, the engine will not start, it may be  the spark plugs have  failed  to produce the spark needed to start combustion. There may be a possibility that the battery is running dead due to faulty spark plugs.

·         Misfire: Engine misfire is similar to stammering, meaning, the vehicle acts as if it has the hiccups for a fraction of a second and then runs normal. A smooth purr of an engine is due to all cylinders firing. If a single cylinder interrupts the firing of the engine, it leads to engine misfire.

·         Engine Surging: The engine starts and stops suddenly, also known as engine hesitation.  The engine sucks in more air which interrupts the acceleration of the vehicle.

·         Low Mileage:  A drop in the fuel economy may be due to a bad spark plug. The poorer engine performance becomes more evident when the spark plugs are deteriorated. It is recommended to check the spark plugs at regular intervals.

·        Poor Acceleration: This symptom is easily to recognize. The engine performance is less than normal and power is slow to catch on. Pushing down the accelerator further does not boost the speed of the vehicle. 

Don't forget about the Spark Plug Wires too, and when you are checking your plugs...Make sure you connect the proper wires back to the corresponding plugs.... :-)

Keep it between the lines,

Happy Motoring

 

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