Get Your Car Clean for Spring

The weather in New York seems to be finally making the change over from a winter that went on for way too long into a sudden jump in heat.  For many, the concept of ‘spring cleaning’ is in their minds as the seasonal shift begins.  While the idea of spring cleaning is usually associated with the home, the car is an important place to take care now that it is and will be warmer out.

One of the first places to start with caring for the car is cleaning it.  You can visit the car wash and save some time, but for the people planning on handling it themselves for the weekend.  For those people, AccuWeather.com wants to remind people to wash underneath the car and in the wheel wells.  This will help drivers both clean off the buildup of road salt that most likely occurred during the winter season.  This will also help cut down on the corrosion caused by that buildup and can help prevent rust.

The next place of focus should be the interior.  Spend some time organizing the vehicle, including the glove box and making sure all the paper work is in order and where it needs to be.  Throw away any trash that’s built up and give those seats a good vacuuming to get all the stuff that snuck its way in.  If you have floor mats or carpeting, it is worth it to spend the time giving it a proper scrubbing.

Another worthy piece of advice would be to change the wiper blades.  The winter may have done a good number on them and it is always a good thing to make sure they are ready for weather.  If the recent rain is any indication, we may be in for a stormy summer in New York.  So replace those wiper blades, you can find great deals on wiper blades in our Service Specials page.

There is plenty more tips to take into mind when cleaning, but these three are a good place to start.

Is Your Car Ready for the Cold?

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.

Mopar Part Depot Special Offer for April 2017!

Shopping for high-quality authentic Mopar parts that fit your vehicle like a glove!  Visit Mopar Part Depot and you’ll find our system easy to use to find the parts for your car.

For the month of April 2017, use the coupon code ‘Spring’ to get 10% off any order of $50 or more!  Does not include shipping.

Get Ready for The Blizzard of 2017!

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.

Spring Vehicle Check-List

Here are the parts that need checking:

  • Engine, Belts, Hoses, & Fuel Filter:

Replacing belts and hoses on a regular basis helps to avoid a breakdown or engine damage.  Replacing the fuel filter will make sure that your engine is running properly and will maximize your fuel economy.

  • Tires:

Check the air pressure for all of your tires.  That includes the spare.  If the pressure is off, that can lead to premature ware.  That, in turn, leads to decreasing your fuel mileage.

  • Brakes:

Brakes are used frequently throughout a single day.  Every time the brakes are applied, a thin layer of the pad disintegrates.  Make sure you inspect and replace those pads to ensure proper performance.

  • Oil:

Make sure your engine oil level is checked often and changed and refilled on a regular basis.  If the oil is dirty or too low, you can experience engine problems.  Not something you want happening to you in New York summers.

  • Air Filter:

Replacing a dirty filter will help protect your engine from airborne contaminants.  The car will get better air flow.  That helps decrease on fuel consumption.

  • Fluid Levels:

Dirty fluids have an impact on the performance of your vehicle and can lead to breakdowns.  Make sure you’re checking that everything is filled to the proper levels and on a regular interval.

  • Battery:

It’s been a rough winter and that meant some rough cold-morning starts.  Make sure there’s no corroded terminals or cracks on the case.  It’s never fun to have a battery fail in the middle of the city.

  • Shocks & Struts:

A rough winter also hurts the city streets, filling them with numerous pot-holes.  Make sure you have a smoother ride by seeing if those bumps caused any damage.

  • Wiper Blades:

Spring brings with it plenty of storms.  Don’t get caught in the rain with broken wipers.  You never want to have to fight to see through a downpour.

  • Headlamps, Tail Lamps, Turn Signals, & Hazard Lights:

Always make sure your lights are in proper working order to avoid two things, accidents and the cops pulling you over for a citation.

Bring your vehicle into our service department and we’ll give it the look over to ensure it’s ready to face the on-coming weather.  Best to get it out of the way before your vehicle develops problems on a road-side and your great vacation out of state has turned into a few hours waiting for the tow truck.

Schedule an appointment online at our website or contact us at 888-425-7294.  Like Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for a full list of our special monthly offers.

Winter Weather Driving Advice

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.

Uconnect is Adding 4G LTE Connectivity

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Recently, Fiat-Chrysler revealed what to expect from the fourth generation of the Uconnect system that was coming soon to Chrysler vehicles.  To make the system even better, Chrysler is following up that announcement with the addition of 4G LTE network connectivity to the fourth generation Uconnect!

The 4G LTE network capability will begin with the 2017 Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Chrysler 300.  These are also the first vehicles that will have the fourth generation of Uconnect available.  This new network connectivity will help drivers get faster responsiveness from the services the tech system has to offer.

“The advancement from 3G Network to 4G LTE network capability gives our customers a great opportunity to expand upon and explore the efficiency and convience that our built-in connected services have to offer,” said Tricia Hecker, Global Head of Connected Services in a statement.  “As our Uconnect systems continue to develop new services and features, this increase of network connectivity allows our systems to evolve and progress as technology changes.”

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 2017 Uconnect Systems and Its New Features!

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The Uconnect system that Chrysler offers is one of the most robust and popular digital systems available in cars.  It represents a new future for state-of-the-art tech inside the vehicle.  Fiat-Chrysler recently put out a look at what to expect from it in 2017.

The all-new fourth generation Uconnect system will be available for drivers in 2017.  The new system aims to add new touchscreen, improvement to performance, and integrating new technologies such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

For performance upgrades, 2017 Uconnect will have a faster startup time as well as enhanced processing power.  The new 8.4-inch touchscreen will offer multi-touch gestures and improved graphics.  It will also support smartphone integration.  The new touchscreen on the Uconnect will mimic smartphone usage.  Instead of just touching the screen, it will respond to pinching gestures to zoom and unzoom as well as tapping and swiping.

As mentioned earlier, Uconnect will also have Apple CarPlay, making it easier to use with iPhones.  Android users get Android Auto support which also makes it easier to use your brand of phone in sync with Uconnect.

The fourth-generation Uconnect system will be in the 2017 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and challenger.

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.

Fiat Chrysler Starts New Security Bug Bounty Program

2016 Uconnect System - BaysideCJD - Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge

Fiat Chrysler is fighting back against software bugs in their system.  A notable and heavily covered story sometime ago was the Jeep hack.  Since then, there’s been a question not just for Jeep, but for all vehicles that have extensive digital tech in their cars and what that meant for the future of hackers.  To attempt to combat this, FCA is now offering a bounty for any bugs and vulnerabilities they can find.

The FCA US Unit announced they are working on making sure that something like the infamous Jeep hack doesn’t happen again.  They are working with Bugcrowd that has a network of 32,000 researchers worldwide.  If anyone turns in possible security threat, they could receive up to $1,500 as a reward.

“There are a lot of people that like to tinker with their vehicles or tinker with IT systems,” said Titus Melnyk, a senior manager – security architecture, FCA US LLC said in a statement.  “We want to encourage independent security researchers to reach out to us and share what they’ve found so that we can fix potential vulnerabilities before they’re an issue for our consumers.”

Learn more about the FCA Us bug bounty program by clicking on this link.  Time to see if the white hat hackers can help protect future Chrysler vehicles and their tech.

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.

How Uconnect Helps Fight Against Distracted Driving

2016 Uconnect System - BaysideCJD - Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge

In today’s era of cell phones, drivers have a hard time concentrating on the road.  It is a more dangerous time as the other drivers seemingly have their mind on everything but the road.  To help drivers and in honor of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Chrysler has released a list of the six ways that Uconnect helps drivers remain focused on the road and helps to keep them safe.

  1. Do Not Disturb

Drivers who have a Uconnect system in their Chrysler vehicle will be able to turn on a “Do Not Disturb” feature.  This makes it so that the driver is not interrupted with calls or text messages while they are at the wheel.  Chrysler released a video to highlight this specific feature.

  1. Using Voice Commands

Uconnect has hands-free selection of various features on its system.  You can simply use voice commands to select voice navigation, radio, and other things without having to divert attention away from the road.  Need to find the closest Starbucks? Easy to do with just your voice using Uconnect.

  1. Audio Controls on the Steering Wheel

Even the task of turning up or down the volume on the radio is something that can be done without distraction.  By having audio controls on the steering wheel, you have full control over the radio if a song is too loud.

  1. Rear Back-Up Camera

Rear back-up cameras help to provide the driver with a clearer view of what is in their rear blind spot.  It helps the driver keep an eye out for anything or anyone in the way without sacrificing a view of what is ahead.

  1. Siri Eyes Free

This one is for Apple iPhone 4s or later models that can use Siri Eyes Free.  This allows drivers to use voice commands to send text messages, play music, or use directions.

  1. Voice Texting

Uconnect lets you text without having to make quick glances at a cell phone screen.  Using a Bluetooth Message Access Profile-enabled (MAP) device, the user is able to text without taking their hands off the wheel.

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.