Tag Archives: winter

Is Your Car Ready for the Cold?

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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.

Get Ready for The Blizzard of 2017!

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A big snow storm is slated to hit the east coast and dump a bunch of ice and snow on the New York area.  This is after warmer weather has been on the rise so many drivers have been prepping for spring weather only to now be hit once again with winter.  Here is how to be best prepared for the ice and snow to come.

  • 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.

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.

Winter Weather Driving Advice

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Winter Weather has come later than expected, but that doesn’t mean it is ever too late to educate yourself on what you can do to keep yourself safe on the road during this weather.  AAA has a breakdown of numerous things you can do to make sure this winter driving season is a safe one.  Here are a few that we feel the need to highlight.

Don’t drive while tired:

This is one not mentioned too often on lists like this.  Most of what we speak about is what one can do to help a car to work at its best during the cold season.  Not many people take the same care of themselves that they do the vehicles they drive.  You can do all the prep work possible but if you are too tired to properly react, then it will not matter.  Take care of yourself, get the right amount of sleep, which can go a long way in reducing risks on the road.

If you become snow bound, stay with the vehicle:

This is a vital thing to keep in mind.  Staying in the car may seem like it won’t get rescue to you any faster, but it can help to keep you alive for longer.  The car is capable of providing better shelter than being stuck outside in terrible weather can.  It is also much easier to identify for the rescuers.  A car sticks out, a person not as much.  This is also where your winter emergency kit should be to help deal with waiting for a tow truck or rescue.

Don’t be in a hurry:

Plan ahead and know what the weather will be.  If the road conditions are expected to be hazardous, give yourself plenty of time to deal with the additional traffic and time needed since you should be driving slower and more cautiously.  As long as you don’t get yourself in a rush, you can give yourself the time to be slower on dangerous roads.

Get some sleep:

If there is some bad weather, you need your wits about you.  There’s plenty of reason to get caught up on sleep, but during the winter, you need to get plenty of sleep so that if something happens on the road, you can react accordingly.  Get sleep and avoid making a bad decision when the moment counts.

Careful on hills:

Don’t just gun it up a hill by laying the pedal on the floor.  If you get stuck up the hill, you’re just going to spin your wheels.  The best way to approach is by building up some momentum and let that carry you up the hill.  At the top, that is when you want to slow down to go down the hill as slow as possible so you don’t lose control.

I feel these are winter driving tips that get missed.  There’s plenty more and I highly recommend checking out the entire list that AAA has put together, but these needed reiterating most of all.

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.

Getting Ready for Colder Weather

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Summer just doesn’t want to go away. The heat has been hanging around for so long that many of us have seemingly forgot that winter is, and should, be coming.  While it may be late, you can still do plenty to prep for when it gets here so that you don’t get caught unaware.

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.

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.

Winter Driving Tips

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The weather may be less than the usual in terms of winter driving with a lack of snow and ice on the ground but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared in case. New York weather has the tendency to change when least expected. Having a vehicle ready for such changes can mean the difference between being to work on time or getting the whole family to the destination without any incidents. Here is some tips on how to be ready for winter driving.

*Check your tires:
A major things to be sure is ready for the ice and snow. Tires are keeping you on the road and ensuring your have grip when most needed. Check over the tires to see how mean the summer was on them and to see if any of the tread has been lost. Also make sure that the tire is properly inflated.

*Windshield:
There is nothing worse than being caught in a snowstorm with broken wiper blades or lack of wiper fluid. Ensure that the fluid is filled to maximum as there will be a lot used to clean up the mess of snow and dirt that always ends up on the windshield. Be sure that the wiper blades are functioning properly and are properly wiping away the grime. If not, now is the best time to pick up some new ones.

*Lights:
This is something to help both you and the other drivers. Headlights should be cleaned and providing plenty of light to see through any flurries. This will also make sure that if someone is having a tough time seeing on the road, they’ll be able to make out your headlights on the road ahead and can avoid a collision. Headlights and taillights should be bright and clean for the winter.

*Be aware:
There’s only so much that technology can do to help protect us on the road. At some point, it does fall on the driver to be ready for the random things that can occur. They are the ones to be on the look out for black ice or to know how to properly steer during a spin-out. A driver who is going to be out during bad weather must be aware of how to handle driving emergencies when they happen.

As always, there are plenty more that we didn’t get to that can be done to better a vehicle in preparation of the winter weather. These are simply ones that are very common and most drivers don’t take handle until after they become a problem. Follow these tips and you’ll find yourself being proactive and having much better chances to have good travel during the winter.

To schedule your vehicle for a complete check-up, contact our service department at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

Mopar’s Fall Auto Maintenance Check List

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ID-100109424Just because the weather can’t figure out its mind concerning the temperature doesn’t mean it is not a good time to start getting prepared for colder weather.  After such a scorching summer, it’s a good time to start the preparations for a chilly fall and winter.  Mopar has put out their fall check-list for drivers to make sure they’re ready.  Here it is:

1) Brakes.

Always an important thing to take proper care of.  Last thing anyone needs is to lose control of one of the most vital parts of a vehicle.  Traveling during the summer can wear down the layers on the brake pads leaving them dangerously thin.  Now is the time to make sure they’re ready for the difficult conditions that come with slick roads.

2) Tires

Speaking of dealing with slick roads, tires are extremely important to look into before the fall season.  Check for any edge wear, center wear, or shoulder wear to see if you have any trouble spots on your car.  It’s also a good time to check to make sure the air pressure in all the tires is at the proper levels.  Make sure your spare is also good to go.

3) Battery

The extreme New York heat can have severe effects on a battery.  It shortens the life and is a principle reason for a car dying in the middle of winter, at the worst possible time no less.  Give the battery a look over to see if there’s any cracks in the case.

4) Wiper Blades

Take it from someone who was once caught in a blizzard with broken wiper blades, it’s not fun.  Make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to do and that’s keeping the road visible.

5) Shocks & Struts

Not usually something that most drivers consider when readying their vehicle for fall driving.  With chillier weather also comes the dreaded potholes and they can do a number on the ill-prepared motorist.

6) Engine Oil

This is something regardless of the approaching fall season that should always be checked into.  Make sure you’re meeting your regular intervals of oil changes to make sure that it doesn’t negatively impact your vehicle during colder weather.  Low or dirty fluids can wreak havoc on your engine.

7) Fluid Levels

Again, something that should always be taken care of.  Make certain the fluids on things such as power-steering , transmission, brake, windshield fluid are at factory recommend levels.  It’s also a good time to check on the anti-freeze levels.

8) Engine Belts & Hose

These are supposed to be replaced at regular intervals, so just make sure you’re doing that and if it is that time, then there is no better time than now to do it.

9) Air Filter

Having bad air flow can lead to negative consequences on your engine and even on the amount of gas your engine is consuming on a trip.  Having a new filter will do wonders for your gas mileage and help your engine last longer.

10) Headlamps and Tail lamps

With the fall season approaching, so are longer nights.  During the tail end of the year, you’ll find yourself driving much more during darker portions and for that reason it’s good to make sure that other drivers can see you easily.  Give both the front and the back lamps a good look at to make sure they are functioning properly and optimally.

There you have it, a good start to ensuring your car is ready for whatever weather the final part of the year will bring.  If you need any help with any of this maintenance, make sure to contact the service department at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  We’ll make sure your car is ready for the weather.

Image courtesy of markuso / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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.