Get Your Car Ready for Summer with this Checklist

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Winter is finally leaving New York and the following spring looks to be a short one before a proper New York summer hits.  After all the work you put into getting your vehicle ready for a long snowy winter, what can you do to get it ready for the extreme heat that will be upon us in the city soon?

First up, check your windshield wipers.  With all the cold weather and ice the city went through this past winter, there is a good chance it caused some damage to your wipers.  You needed them ready in the snow and you need them just as much with the rain.  Getting them replaced so you don’t have to fight to see during a downpour will save you a headache and a call to the towing truck.

Next, give your battery a look.  Winter can do a number on batteries, causing some nasty corrosion to build up.  Take a look at all the connectors and make sure you don’t see any issues.  If you see any issue, contact a service center for them to look at and maybe even get yourself a new battery.

How is your coolant?  This is something you’re going to want to know due to the heat that is coming.  Your engine will be getting a beatdown and the coolant needs to be working to avoid some nasty business.  Now may be a good time for you to bring in your vehicle for a flush-and-fill.

Lastly, check your air conditioning.  With the heat that is on the way, you want to make sure this is working.  Make certain that you don’t need to add any refrigerant to help keep yourself cool.  It’ll be good to test it out more to make sure there isn’t a leak or any other issues wrong with it.  When that temperature spikes, you’ll want this working properly.

If you want to make sure your car is ready for summer, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  We’ll schedule you in to be seen in our service center and make sure everything is working properly.  You can also keep up with your service appointments by downloading our mobile app to view details in real time on your vehicle when brought in for a service appointment.  Be sure to by like Bayside on Facebook, following on Twitter, or subscribing on YouTube.

When Does Your Car Need a Wheel Alignment?

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When should you bring your vehicle in for a wheel alignment?  That is not a question that drivers ask enough and most do not know the right answer to it.  Here is things to know about what to look for when needing a wheel alignment.

A major reason why most people don’t bother with getting their wheels aligned is due to the unknown nature of it.  Manufacturers don’t have a recommended schedule because of different issues that could cause a problem with the wheel alignment.  It can be caused by potholes and bumps, or just from key parts of the suspension wearing down.

The first thing to check for is if you’re noticing that your car is drifting to one side or that if you are unable to keep the car going straight by keeping the steering wheel neutral.  These are very sure indicators that there is a problem and it may be that the best solution is to get your vehicle’s wheels aligned.

This is a good time to check on the tires to see what condition they are in.  A telltale sign of something wrong with the wheel alignment is if there is uneven wear, meaning that the front or back tires have different wear patterns.

If you are having any of these problems, or see the signs, it may be a good time to schedule a time to be seen by a service department and look into getting a wheel alignment performed.  To those not having these immediate issues, it is recommended that you get your vehicle’s alignment done at least once a year or every 15,000 miles.

If you want to have your car looked at, then you can schedule a time to be seen by the service department at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge by going to our service tab on the website.  You can also keep up with your service appointments by downloading our mobile app to view details in real time on your vehicle when brought in for a service appointment.

Tips for Winter Traveling

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The ice and snow have not come, at least, not yet.  Cue the dramatic music!  Yes, the weather for the New York area has held out, but if the past few years are any indication, there is some nasty weather coming after the new year.  Maybe this year will be different, but maybe it won’t.  No one ever lost anything by being ready.

What can you do to prepare for driving in bad weather, in the snow covered streets?  There’s plenty of tips and things to do so we’ll just scratch the surface.  Business Insider gave plenty of examples and here’s a few.

  • Top off your windshield wiper fluid and keep an extra bottle in your car.
  • Make sure your battery is fully charged.
  • Know if your vehicle has anti-lock brakes or non-anti-lock brakes as this will decide how you brake.  If you have anti-lock, you want to use steady pressure, if you do not, then pump the brakes.
  • Have materials such as sand in your car in case you get stuck in the snow or ice and need some extra traction.
  • Check to make sure your tires are properly inflated.
  • Always have your gas tank at least half full so that the gas line doesn’t freeze.

Check out the full article for more tips on how to make sure that you don’t run into any issues traveling should the bad weather finally arrive to the Big Apple.

If you want to have your car looked at, then you can schedule a time to be seen by the service department at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge by going to our service tab on the website.  You can also keep up with your service appointments by downloading our mobile app to view details in real time on your vehicle when brought in for a service appointment.

How to Maintain Tires Properly

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It is time again for the winter season and that means getting the car ready for the colder weather. There’s plenty of things to check inside and out on your car to make sure it is ready for a mild or rough winter. One part of the car that can be overlooked in the process, however, is the tires. Having a proper amount of air is a big deal with a car and can really effect things such as fuel economy. It is something that many drivers put off and we’re here to help you know when it is time to check the air in your tires.

The first thing you need to know is what the proper inflation amount is. Check online and/or with your vehicle’s owner manual. Don’t use the number on the tires as this is not the recommend pressure for inflation but rather the maximum inflation. Trust what your car’s owner manual says, not the tire.

Eye-balling is not a helpful thing to do with trying to figure out if a tire is low. Invest in a tire-pressure gauge so you can know the exact amount of air inside of the tire.

From there, get your car to a place where you can refill the air in the tires and keep a read on the inside pressure and make sure it matches with the recommended amount. This is also a good time to check your spare tire as that tends to get forgotten when most people check the air on their tires. Always make sure the spare is ready for duty should the worst come to pass.

Remember that you can schedule a time to be seen by the service department at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge by going to our service tab on the website.  You can also keep up with your service appointments by downloading our mobile app to view details in real time on your vehicle when brought in for a service appointment.

Mopar Limited-Edition Challenger Sells Out in Under a Day

Mopar 2014 Dodge ChallengerThe limited-edition of the Mopar 2014 Dodge Challenger has sold out in less than 24 hours after going on sale.

Only 100 vehicles were available for purchase, making the Mopar 2014 Dodge Challenger the rarest limited-production Challenger ever offered by Dodge. The lucky buyers who managed to snatch up one of the Challengers will be receiving a 2014 Dodge Challenger that has already been given a full Mopar upgrade, including a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine as well as a choice of two exterior color options and three Mopar Blue stripe options. A little more than half of the Mopar Challengers ordered came with the Pitch Black paint while the rest chose Bright White.

Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, spoke about the limited-edition Challenger and the winning combination of Mopar and popular Dodge vehicles, stating, “The very high demand for the Mopar ’14 Challenger spotlights the success of our limited-edition Mopar-modified vehicles, and also clearly demonstrates the passion our customers have for personalizing their rides. Whether during or after the ordering process, Mopar is there to help put a personal touch on customers’ rides.”

Buyers who missed their chance at the Mopar 2014 Challenger can still purchase a 2014 Dodge Challenger and upgrade it with Mopar parts and accessories, but those Challengers will not come directly from the factory with the upgrades already in place.

Want to learn more about the HEMI engine and all the available Mopar parts to customize your vehicle? Contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. You can also download our mobile app to schedule a time to be seen in our quality service department. Be sure to like us on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter and YouTube to see our monthly parts and service specials.

Mopar Celebrates “The Elephant,” 426 HEMI

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Mopar is marking the 50th anniversary of the 426 HEMI racing engine with a photo shoot with Pro Stock drivers Jeg Coughlin Jr., Allen Johnson, the new Dodge Dart, and an elephant.

For year, the nickname for the 426 HEMI has been “The Elephant.” It was given this nickname for three reasons. First, it is a large engine. At the time the 426 HEMI was first produced, it was the largest racing engine available and could only be used in bigger vehicles.

Second, it is a powerful engine. At the 1964 Daytona 500, these engines were producing around 750 horsepower, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Allen Johnson’s NHRA Pro Stock cars can get approximately 1,500 horsepower.

Third, the 426 HEMI is a hefty engine, weighing up to 700 pounds. It didn’t earn the nickname of “The Elephant” for being dainty.

For the photo shoot, Mopar went to Two Tails Ranch, a safe haven for a variety of animals including four Asian elephants. An elephant named Luke was selected for the photo shoot and gave the photographer plenty of great poses.

Asian Elephant Luke trumpets his approval of the special 426 HEM

For more information on all of Mopar’s available parts, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. You can also download our mobile app to schedule a time to be seen in our quality service department. Be sure to like us on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter to see our monthly parts and service specials.

Mopar Readies 100 Parts for 2015 Jeep Renegade Release

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Hot on the heels of the announcement of the new Jeep Renegade, Chrysler and Mopar have released the list of parts that will be made available when the Renegade is released.

Mopar has been making sure to be ready to help out buyers for the new wave of Chrysler vehicles coming out to have a host of options.  Each little piece of hardware is there to help each buyer feel like they can customizing a unique ride only to themselves.  Over 100 parts will be available the day the Jeep Renegade is released in dealerships.  That includes Jeep Performance Parts such as cold air intake and a lowering kit.

“The all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade is a landmark expansion of the Jeep brand’s global lineup, and the Mopar brand is supporting that growth by equipping Renegade owners with products to personalize their vehicles for both on-road and off-road driving,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO — Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “For each new Chrysler Group vehicle introduced, such as the Jeep Renegade, the Mopar brand is committed to assisting owners in modifying their vehicle even before driving away from the dealership.”

The all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade was unveiled recently at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.  It brings with it a more traditional Jeep look with a blocky yet curvy design.  The interior shares the same care, adapting a similar look and feel to the ever-popular Wrangler.  Included in the package is also the beloved Uconnect system.

For more information on the new 2015 Jeep Renegade, contact a sales rep at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  If you’re looking to purchase Mopar parts for a vehicle or schedule a time to service your current vehicle, you can do so by going online to our website.  Be sure to like us on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter for more news and special monthly offers.

 

Undercar Digest: Mopar A/C Compressor Named Top 10 Product

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Undercar Digest has named Mopar’s re-manufactured air conditioning compressors as a Top 10 product, as voted by their readers.

Mopar’s re-manufactured air conditioning compressors are built for older Chrysler Group models, and seeing that Chrysler Group vehicles are holding up better for a longer time, car owners are holding onto their vehicles for longer. Owners are more likely to replace parts, such as air conditioning compressors, before they trade in for a new model.

Fortunately, Mopar offers re-manufactured engines, transmissions, electrical systems, steering assemblies, brake components, and more, and these product lines are tested and inspected to meet current vehicle requirements, making them even better than the original parts. Last year, Mopar offered hundreds of re-manufactured parts, giving Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram owners the option to hold onto their favorite cars for longer.

For more information on all of Mopar’s available parts, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. You can also download our mobile app to schedule a time to be seen in our quality service department. Be sure to like us on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter to see our monthly parts and service specials.

Chrysler Offers One-Year Sirius Subscription on 2014 Models

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Sirius Radio and Chrysler have teamed up to give drivers of Chrysler’s newest models access to satellite radio.

Market Watch is reporting that buyers of new 2014 models of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram will be receiving an added bonus on top of the purchase. Sirius radio will extend to them a one year subscription just for buying. This is not some limited subscription either, this is full access to their suite of programming including their premium channels.

Even though it comes with the car, the one year subscription to Sirius that comes with 2014 models is able to leave the vehicle. So at home, in the office, walking to work with the headphones on, each of these will grant continued access to the bargain.

The qualifications for being part of this new deal is that it will be limited to the 2014 models that come with the Uconnect system.

For more details on the offer, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. We have all the 2014 models from the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram family. If you’re looking to get your current vehicle check-out in time for winter driving, then contact our service department to schedule a time to come in. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more news and monthly specials.