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

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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.

Mopar Road Ready Returns for 2016

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What a better way to learn about how to drive than from the master drivers at Dodge?

Mopar and Dodge are putting together a special program to help teen drivers learn how to be safe on the road.  The “Mopar Road Ready Powered by Dodge” program will give teenage drivers the necessary skills to be safe while learning how to drive.  It’s been a successful program in the past and is returning in 2016 for five two-day events in four different locations in the US.

“We are excited to continue the ‘Mopar Road Ready Powered by Dodge’ program in 2016 and to assist in training even more teens on the skills they need to stay safe behind the wheel,” said Pietro Gorlier, the Head of Parts and Service at Mopar.  “By teaming up with Dodge brand and through sponsorship from the FCA foundation, we are empowering new drivers with education and experience that will last a lifetime.”

The program is aimed at teenagers from the ages of 15 to 19 with a learner’s or driver’s license and at least 30 hours of driving experience.  The program consists of a classroom review of core driving topics such as proper seat position, hand positioning, and vehicle dynamics.  Once the teens get behind the wheel, they will get on-track course sessions that teach accident avoidance and other techniques.

The ‘Mopar Road Ready Powered by Dodge’ program will be coming to Englishtown, New Jersey April 23rd thru the 24th.  Head here to learn more and to register.

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.

The Safety of a Jeep Wrangler Saves a Life

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Picture Courtesy of FCA Corporate Blog

It is an odd thing to have a car story that revolves around an accident, but Fiat-Chrysler featured a story on their blog that highlights a survivor’s story of a Jeep Wrangler saving someone’s live in an accident.

Safety in always a major talking point of every vehicle.  What isn’t talked about as often is how those safety features save people’s lives in real-world accidents.  Case in point is the case of Todd Garrison and his son Elijah in Cincinnati.  Todd Garrison is a Jeep fan and insisted that his son use a 2003 Jeep Wrangler.  Turns out, it was one of the best decisions he could make for his son.

“Elijah was driving to work Saturday morning [on Dec.5] when his (passenger) side tire got off the road and he over corrected.  When his driver side tire hit the grass, it struck a tree stump, causing his passenger side bumper to dig into the ground.  That flipped him over, twisting to the passenger side rear bumper and exploded the hard top.”

“His Wrangler then flipped over again over the passenger side and windshield portion of the roll cage where it went airborne.  It landed on all four tires facing the opposite direction that he was traveling in someone’s driveway.”

Even with that vicious description, the incredible thing is that Elijah emerged from the crash with only a mild concussion.  Judging from the photo included in the blog, it’s incredible to see that he was able to walk away.  As the title says, it’s unbelievable he was alright.  Something to bear in mind when shopping just how important safety is.  And that it is a good selling point for a Jeep.

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.