Tag Archives: battery

Getting Ready for the Cold

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The cold should be coming soon to New York.  Hopefully, maybe, it just may.  It will happen eventually, and now may be the best time to make sure your car is ready for it.  Here is some useful things you can do to help your car when it comes time to turn on the heater.

  • Check your vehicle’s antifreeze.  Low temperatures can do some serious damage to your vehicle.  Make sure the antifreeze is at the right amount to ensure this doesn’t happen.  Also know what the effectiveness of your antifreeze is so that you are aware of the safe temperature range it has.
  • Inspect the vehicle’s hoses.  Pop the hood and look over the hoses.  Check for bumps or soft spots in the hoses.  If there are any cracks or issues, it can cause damage to your engine at the worst possible moment.  Not that there is any such thing as the right possible moment for an engine to break down.
  • Look at your air pressure and the treat on the tires.  This is what will be keeping you on the road during the cold.  A classic test for the tire tread is by using a penny.  Put the currency in the groove and see if the Lincoln Memorial is covered.  If not, time to contact a service center about getting some better tires.
  • Check the battery.  Colder weather can provide one mean workout to a battery.  If it is already weakened, then a winter this cold could be the final straw.

If you need to schedule a time for your vehicle to be serviced, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  You can also download our mobile app to schedule a time and keep an eye on the status of your vehicle once it’s been taken in.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more service tips and specials.

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.

Cold Weather Auto Maintenance Tips

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Winter just doesn’t want to go away.  Cold weather has been hanging around for so long that I’m starting to wonder if we’ve just entered the world of Day After Tomorrow.  The tidal wave could come any moment.  That means that it is time to make sure that your car can contend with the continuous cold and survive until the New York summer gets here.  Survive the cold that is, I don’t think you can tidal wave-proof your vehicle.

Check your vehicle’s antifreeze.  Low temperatures can do some serious damage to your vehicle.  Make sure the antifreeze is at the right amount to ensure this doesn’t happen.  Also know what the effectiveness of your antifreeze is so that you are aware of the safe temperature range it has.

Inspect the vehicle’s hoses.  Pop the hood and look over the hoses.  Check for bumps or soft spots in the hoses.  If there are any cracks or issues, it can cause damage to your engine at the worst possible moment.  Not that there is any such thing as the right possible moment for an engine to break down.

Look at your air pressure and the treat on the tires.  This is what will be keeping you on the road during the cold.  A classic test for the tire tread is by using a penny.  Put the currency in the groove and see if the Lincoln Memorial is covered.  If not, time to contact a service center about getting some better tires.

Check the battery.  Colder weather can provide one mean workout to a battery.  If it is already weakened, then a winter this cold could be the final straw.

There’s plenty of more tips to keep in mind in confronting a new cold front coming into the New York area.  Check out some more here.

If you need to schedule a time for your vehicle to be serviced, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  You can also download our mobile app to schedule a time and keep an eye on the status of your vehicle once it’s been taken in.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more service tips and specials.

Make Sure Your Car is Ready for Winter

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September seems to be the start of some nicer weather as fall may finally be upon us New Yorkers. For car owners, that means it’s time to start thinking ahead and making sure that their car is ready for the cooler weather that’s ahead. Mopar has a check-list to go down for the smart owner wanting to make sure they are ready for the winter. Here’s just a few of the important items they recommend on

First on the check-list is brakes. Any traveling for business or pleasure during the hot days and nights of summer can give your brake pads a heavy workout. This causes the thin layers to get removed. That means it’s a good time to make sure that that pads, shoes, rotors, drums, calipers, wheel cylinders, brake hardware, and parking break haven’t suffered any major wear and tear.

Next on the list is the car’s tires. Make sure to give them a long look-over and be on the look-out for uneven and irregular wear on the tread and the sidewall areas of the tires. If you see any excessive edge wear, center wear, and shoulder wear, this is an early indicator for any trouble that could be on other spots of the vehicle. Don’t forget that you check the air pressure to prevent premature wear and give yourself a better fuel economy. Make sure that your spare tire gets the same attention, just in case.

The next part of your car that needs evaluating is the battery. The summer doesn’t treat car batteries too well with the extreme heat we’ve been having. That leads to causing failure in the winter and the last thing any driver wants is to have a dead battery in the middle of a snow storm. Make sure the battery doesn’t have any corroded terminals and there’s no bulging and the case isn’t cracked. It may just be time to replace that battery.

The next piece of your car to pay attention to is one that doesn’t come instantly to people’s thoughts and that’s the wiper blades. It’s a nightmare to be driving through severe weather, such as heavy snowfall, and now have a good pair of wipers keeping your vision clear on the road. Perfect time for a reminder that Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge is currently having a “Buy One Get One Free” special on wiper blades.

Engine oil is very important important to bear in mind. It’s always something to be aware of and to make sure that you are up to date on your oil changes. Low or dirty fluids cause the engine to be potentially damaged under extreme conditions. In that the same vein, make sure that all the car’s fluids and lubricants are checked and changed properly. It’s definitely a good time to make sure your key fluids, antifreeze, power-steering, brake, transmission, and windshield washer fluids, are topped off and good.

Last on the check-list is your headlights and taillights. The days are shorter in the fall and winter and that means your lights will be seeing more use. Make sure that your inspected them all to ensure proper function and alignment.

Make sure that this fall weather doesn’t catch you unprepared. Contact us here at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge and bring in your vehicle for a check up. Be sure to also see our service and parts specials to take advantage of the great deals that are being offered. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more deals and offers when they happen.