Windshield Wipers Replacement

NOTE: If you purchase your windshield wipers from your dealership, those wipers are made specifically for your car, making them easier to install. Most dealers will put your windshield wipers on for free if you buy them at the dealership.

If you can pull the rubber from your windshield wipers, it’s time for some new wipers. Make sure to check your user manual before you begin this process. Some cars have a special service setting specifically for changing your windshield wipers. As a precaution before you purchase new wiper blades, check if there are any contaminants – such as hot wax – that may be contributing to the problem.

WARNING: Leave the wiper arm stationary in its extended position. If you try to move to the arm as you work, you could cause damage which could lead to a costly repair.

1.    Take a hold of the wiper blade.

2.    Gently lift the wiper arm until it is in the extended position.

3.    Move the wiper blade into a horizontal position with the rubber side facing upward.

4.    Locate the clip on the wiper blade.

5.    Press the clip to release the old wiper blade.

6.    Slide the wiper blade clip down. It should separate from the wiper arm.

7.    Push the hook on the wiper arm through the center of the wiper blade.

8.    Pull the old wiper blade free from the arm.

9.    Check for special instructions on the new wiper blades before you attach them to the vehicle.

10. Take the new wiper blade out of the package and locate the clip in the center of the blade.

11. Rotate the clip so that the rounded side is upward or in the center of the wiper blade.

12. Line the clip up with the hook on the wiper arm.

13. Slide the hook over the clip.

14. Slide the clip into the hook until you feel the clip lock into place.

15. Return the wiper to its normal position and lower the arm back to the windshield.

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Signs of a Bad Timing Belt

If the timing belt brakes, your car will stop running and it won’t start again until you get a new belt. You may also have to fix the damage that was done to your engine as a result of the belt breaking.

Signs of a Bad Timing Belt: 

If you think your car has a bad timing belt, get it checked out ASAP.

 

• Your check engine light comes on.
  
• The timing belt is making a whining, slapping or other unusual noise.
  
• Your engine is misfiring or running poorly.
  
• The car has trouble starting.

The average timing belt should be replaced every 60,000 –100,000 miles. If you are going on 120,000, you might be playing with fire. No matter what kind of engine you have, interference or non-interference, your car will not run without your timing belt. It just makes sense to have the belt changed at your convenience as opposed to when it breaks.  Check your cars maintenance schedule to see how often your timing belt should be changed.

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Three Ways to Avoid Overheating Your Car

Watch Your Temperature Gauge

This may seem like rather elementary advice, but it does warrant a mention because so few drivers actually make a habit of monitoring their truck's engine temperature gauge. Once you've located your truck's temperature gauge, pay attention to what the gauge displays as a normal operating temperature for your engine. If your engine's cooling system is operating properly, you'll find that the temperature should remain fairly stable or at least consistently fall within a certain range. If you see the temperature reading begin to increase rapidly, you may have a problem.

Look for Obvious Leaks

One clear indicator of a problem under the hood (or really anywhere on your vehicle) is the presence of fluid beneath your parked truck. But how do you determine if you're seeing coolant and not some other type of fluid? Typically, it's fairly easy to determine the specific type of fluid your truck is losing based on the fluid color and location of the puddle. To put it in the simplest terms: If you see a puddle of coolant beneath your truck, you have a leak. And if you have a leak, that means you're in danger of running low on (or running out of) engine coolant, which would definitely cause your engine to run hot or even overheat. So, don't delay in getting that leak repaired, or you could end up with a hefty repair bill.

Don't Get Hosed

Again, this falls under the category of "routine maintenance" but it certainly is deserving of additional recognition. Checking hoses and belts is a step that's frequently overlooked or forgotten, despite its simplicity. And this is yet another engine overheating cause that doesn't differ all that much from the way it would be handled in a car. Check the edges of the belts for fraying or wear, and while you're at it, check the tension. If a belt's tension isn't correct, it'll make the alternator work much harder than necessary, as it tries unsuccessfully to transfer power to other components. 







Content Credited to: howstuffworks.com
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Four Items You Should Always Have In Your Car

Flashlight

A big aluminum Mag lite used to be the favored flashlight to carry (good enough for police work, good enough for everyday citizens), but now there are compact LED flashlights that are really bright and don't take up much space in the glove box. It's a help that you can hold one in your teeth when you need both hands to change a tire or open a fuse box on a dark night. An LED headlamp is a great alternative, and a set of spare batteries is always a good idea.

Tire-pressure gauge

Keep an air gauge in the center console as a reminder to check each tire once a month. Low tire pressure can cause dangerous blowouts, and tires under inflated by only 6 pounds per square inch can reduce fuel economy by 5 percent and reduce tread life by 25 percent. Your car's specified tire pressure is posted on a sticker in the driver's side door frame. It's normal for tires to lose a pound or two of pressure a month.

First-aid kit

For those minor injuries that don't require dialing 911, a few bandages, gauze, tape, disinfectant, tweezers and ibuprofen are handy for handling minor cuts and scrapes on the road, especially if you are traveling with kids. Medication for motion sickness is another thoughtful addition.

Jumper cables

Some day you will turn the ignition key and hear — nothing. A dead battery is not a disaster if you have a set of jumper cables and a friend to call, or if a friendly driver happens by. Your owner's manual will have instructions on how to use the cables to start your vehicle without harming the electronics or — more importantly — hurting yourself.

Content Credited to: MSN.com

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Insurance Tips For New Drivers

 
Find a good agent.

With many national insurance companies pushing customers to buy insurance over the telephone, through the mail, and on the Internet, it may seem a little old-fashioned to have an agent. However, new drivers need to get educated regarding insurance terminology. One of the best ways to get this knowledge is to sit down with a good agent or broker ask your agent to explain.

If you do not own a car, consider buying non-owners auto insurance.

This type of insurance will cover you when you drive a borrowed or rented car. For new drivers, this can be a great asset if the car is involved in an accident while you are driving. It will cover your liability needs, and help pay for repairs to the car that you were driving. You can add other options to this policy to cover passenger and pedestrian medical expenses.

Always carry at least the minimum legal liability coverage before driving any car.

Having an accident without being covered by liability insurance that meets the legal requirements can leave you exposed to prosecution. Your financial risks are also great when you do not have liability insurance to protect the financial needs of the other driver and any passengers that may be involved in the accident. It is actually better if you carry liability insurance that exceeds the minimum requirement if you have significant personal assets. In a law suit, your personal wealth can be attached if your insurance is inadequate to cover the loss. Even future earnings can be at risk.







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Does Your Car Really Need Premium Gasoline?

If you have a car that requires premium gas, use it if you are worried about voiding your warranty. It will give you the maximum efficiency for your engine and gas mileage. However, gas is expensive and many cars designed for premium can run problem free on regular or mid-grade gas. If you want to know if your car is okay to run on regular, put regular gas in it. If you hear a knocking or pinging noise (probably when you are lightly accelerating) your car needs premium or mid-grade gas. If you hear this noise and you continue to use regular gas, you could damage your engine. If you hear a knocking or pinging, you may be able to get away with using mid-grade. Put mid-grade in your car and if you hear that knocking or pinging, you need to use premium gas. If you do not hear the knocking or pinging, use what you have in your engine (regular or mid-grade) and save some money!


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How To Parallel Park

Easy steps to parallel parking: 

• Pull alongside the car ahead of the space you want. Align your rear axle with that car's bumper. Turn the wheel toward the curb at full lock.
  
• Back up until the center of your inside rear tire aligns with the street side edge of the forward car. Straighten wheel, continue to reverse.
  
• When your outside tire aligns with that same edge, turn the wheel the other way.
  
• If all went according to plan, you're in the space, bodywork intact. Get out and admire your work.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Content Credited to: Roadandtrack.com   http://bit.ly/1nmgSZF
  
  
  

Tips for Safe Travel with Pets

Before you head out on a summer road trip with your dog, or other pets you may have, remember these travel dos and don'ts:
                                            

  

• Put small pet carriers on the floor between the front and rear seats, only secure with a seat belt if they were designed for use with seat belts.
  
• Don't put a pet carrier on the front passenger seat; airbags could crush it during an accident.
  
• Don't leave a pet in a parked vehicle in the heat, even with windows cracked; heat stroke can be deadly and can happen in minutes.
  
• Microchip your pet and have a tag with your information, including cellphone number, on all collars.
  
• Carry vaccination/health records in case of an emergency.
  
• Have a pet first-aid kit.
  
• Bring an in-car litter box for cats on long road trips.
  
• Locate a veterinarian near your destination(s).

Six of Our Favorite Chevrolet's Print Ad

There was a time when the page of a magazine or a section of a newspaper page were all you were given to show the value of your project.  While that may not seem like much nowadays, Chevrolet still managed to make an art of it.  Here are 6 of our favorite examples: 

                                                                      1925

                                                                     1954
                                               

                                                                  1966
                                               

                                                                1974
                                      

                                                           1975
                                         

                                                         1984

Healthy Snacks For When On The Road

                                             

Nuts

Peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, almonds or seeds, such as pumpkin or sunflower, are good combinations of healthy fats and protein. Although nuts are packed full of protein, fiber and healthy fats, keep portions small: Just 14 almonds or 20 pistachios equals 100 calories. Also keep sodium levels in check by choosing unsalted varieties.

                               

Energy Bars

Consider replacing your favorite candy bar with an energy or granola bar to boost your protein and fiber intake while avoiding the sugar trap.

                                    

Trail Mixes

Trail mix is a quick and easy make-at-home snack that will keep well in a storage container with lid. Combine granola, raw nuts and seeds, and dried fruits for a basic trail mix.

                            

Sandwiches

Sandwiches can be a quick and easy way to keep hunger at bay while adding some good protein and hearty grains to your daily nutrition. Sandwiches prepared with lean meats may need to be placed in a cooler. Other options such as peanut butter (or any other nut butter) and jelly on whole grain bread can be kept at room temperature.