Amy’s Garage

The Car Care Council has launched a digital version of its popular Car Care Guide. I think it’s a ‘Must Have’ for all drivers. Great information!

The Car Care Guide uses easy-to-understand everyday language, instead of technical automotive jargon, and fits easily in a glove box. The guide covers the most common preventive maintenance occasions and procedures that need to be performed to keep cars safe, dependable and efficient. It also includes descriptions of 12 major vehicle systems and parts, and a list of questions to ask when maintenance or repair procedures are being done on a car. A Car Care Checklist reminds motorists what vehicle systems need to be maintained and when service or repair should be performed.

We have hard copies of the booklet here at Auto Craftsmen that you can come in and pick up, or you can go online to www.carcare.org/car-care-guide and order a hard copy to be sent to your door.

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd movie

The lowly windshield wiper is easily forgotten and taken for granted until you really need it.

If it’s worn out and can’t keep up with the rain, sleet and snow, then it gets growled and cursed at when really it’s your own fault because you didn’t think about it beforehand.  

Seriously folks, worn wiper blades are downright dangerous. Your wiper blades are attacked daily by dust, bug juice, road grime, oil, sunlight, freezing temperatures and airborne contaminants. All this weakens and deteriorates the rubber blades.

Be pro=active. Change your wipers every spring and fall. That way you will have fabulous wipers for the spring rains and be prepared for winters - slush, mush and snow.

 Winter Weather Wiper Tip: Never turn on the wipers to try and clear ice and snow after your car has been sitting. This will not only rip the rubber blade, but can cause damage to the wiper linkage, and the wiper motor = big bucks to replace! 

If the wiper is frozen to the windshield, don’t go beating up your wipers with your plastic ice scraper. Slow Down, Be Patient!  Turn on the car and turn the defroster on high to start thawing the ice. Once you see some thawing action, then you can gently move the wiper arms up & away from the windshield. Now it’s safe to scrape off the ice and clear away the snow. Don’t forget to put the wiper arms back down so the wiper is back on the windshield before you drive away.

They make special wiper blades for winter. They have a protective rubber covering the blade that minimizes the chances of the wiper arm and blade freezing.

I find that most winter wipers are so heavy that their contact with the windshield is compromised when cruising at highway speeds. If you have that problem there are plastic weights you can put on your winter blades to eliminate this problem.  I just started stocking  ‘Storm Guard Wiper Blades’ at my shop Auto Craftsmen because they do a great job with clearing snow and ice, and are not heavy.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the washer fluid. Have a look /see everytime you fill up with gas.  You don’t want to ever run out of washer fluid! AND remember straight water does not have anti-freeze properties and will make it impossible to see if you spray it on a cold winter day.

What Shape Are Your Windshield Wiper Blades In?

Auto Craftsmen had it’s 2nd Woman’s Car Care Clinic on Saturday March 14th.

With 16 women in attendance we covered the following topics:

How to Communicate Clearly so your Automotive Service provider understands exactly what you want and need done to your car.

• Give Symptoms: Accurate descriptions of the symptoms will save you dollars and time. Be as literal and precise as possible. NOT: My car is making a funny noise. BETTER: When I first start the car and pull out of the driveway the war makes a noise that sounds like (Make noise) but only when I turn right.
• Don’t Push for an On-The-Spot Diagnosis: Asking the Service Advisor or Technician to second-guess your vehicle’s problem only causes false expectations and creates confusion. You would not want a doctor to guess at what is making you sick.
• Leave Accurate Contract Information: It is very important that you that you leave phone numbers of where you will be that day, so you can be contacted “At A Moments Notice”. Your car is one of many vehicles in for repairs and service. If you can not be contacted to give approval for a job, your car will be pulled out and will have to wait it’s turn to get back in line for work. This could result in your car not being finished by the end of the day.
• Keep Asking Questions if you don’t Understand: Most problems between shops and consumers are a result of faulty communication. Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t understand right away… cars are a complex subject. If necessary, make a trip to the shop and have them show you what is wrong and have them give you an accurate estimate.
• Be Patient: Your repair facility is doing its best to keep every customer happy. They know that an unhappy customer won’t return, so they work very hard to please everyone. But wrong parts, sick employees, emergency repairs, small jobs that turn into bigger ones are major challenges that disrupt a shop’s schedule every day.
• Be Appreciative: The repairs and service on cars is not only hard work but takes a great deal of skill and knowledge. Contrary to belief, Technicians have feeling too! A little appreciation goes a long way, especially if it comes with a plate of cookies!

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The ladies found it very interesting being able to look under a vehicle and learn about all the Steering and Suspension parts.

They also learned about what’s under the hood, and how to check the important fluids in their vehicles.

Brakes and Tires were also covered in detail.

The ladies asked great questions and everyone had a lot of fun.

The last clinic we have scheduled is for April 18th. Call 229-2054 if you want to grab the last 2 seats available or email amy@autocraftsmen.com

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When a teenager gets behind the wheel of a car, they have entered a new chapter of their life and as a parent, you are going down that road with them whether you like it or not.

According to the

• The Last Patrol movie full

:

• New drivers are more likely to have an accident in the first two years of driving then at any other time in their lives.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds. This accounts for 40% of all teen deaths.
• Only about 20% of 16 to 19 year olds drive at night, but 50% of the fatal accidents occur during these hours.
• 43% of teen motor vehicle deaths occur between the hours of 9:00 pm and 6:00 am.
• 54% of teen motor vehicle deaths occur on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• About 36% of crashes that kill young people involve alcohol.

Does this scare you?

Well it should. How the West Was Fun psp It’s the parents job to make sure their child learns the driving skills and awareness of sharing the road with others so they will not kill themselves or others when they get their driver’s license.

Dragonquest on dvd

Want some help?

My favorite automotive website www.askpatty.com has created a global PATTI Road Safety Program – Parents Actively Teaching T

eens Initiative and teamed up with The Survival Group to take the stress out of the whole process by showing you how to coach your teen drivers like professionals.

The “Coach A Rookie Guide” will give you the tools to actively teach your teen drivers vital road survival techniques. It will show you what to teach and how to teach it.

There are Three Main Sections in the CaR Guide

Section 1 – The Basic Coaching Kit

Section 1 gives you the practical tools necessary to teach your Learner when out on the road.  They will help you generate the road survival skills you must instill into the new driver (and yourself) until they automatically form part of your rookie’s driving regime.

Section 2 – The Advanced Coaching Kit

Spawn ipod This Section builds on the Basics and includes vital survival tips, strategies and techniques for Suburban Driving, Freeway Driving, Country Driving and driving in different weather conditions.

Section 3 – The Practical CaR Guide

This segment contains all that stuff that every one should know about how to change a wheel, how to check the oil and generally about how cars work.

The “Coach A Rookie Guide” comes to you as a downloadable PDF that is sent to your email for only $20. But because AskPatty.com is sooooo awesome Half the proceeds of sales of Coach a Rookie go directly to the United Spinal Association a group that supports victims of road crashes.

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YES I purchased it, and will print it out and have it at my shop Auto Craftsmen if you would like to check it out.

Do You Have Any Tips For Teenage Drivers or Their Parents?

• Hotel for Dogs psp

No matter how well you plan, it happens every year. You rush around like a maniac doing last minute shopping, gift wrapping, making your special yummy recipe, packing up the family car and driving in really lousy weather to visit friends and family.

Remember that when you hit the roads to go on your holiday “vacation” you are sharing the highways and byways with a lot of other tense and weary drivers.

I’d like to give you my secret holiday driving stress reliever. Well, it’s not actually a secret, but I’m hoping that it gives you some food for thought and keeps you a little bit saner and a lot safer during your holiday travels.

Let your holiday begin as soon as you sit in the car and shut the door. Take a deep breath and let yourself relax before you turn on the engine. If the driver has any anxiety and apprehension concerning the trip then expect the passengers to pick up on the tension and add to it.

• Manderlay video

Don’t start the trip by saying things like: “I hate the holidays, I hate going to your mothers, I’m too tired to deal with any of this, you kids better shut up and go to sleep because I am too stressed out to deal with you, etc.”

Try this instead: “Starting right now, we are officially on vacation. I have lots of yummy snacks for the trip, great music (and / or books on tape, DVDs , games to play, etc) to make this a fun trip. We will be stopping every couple of hours to stretch and air everyone out! Let the fun begin!”

When packing your vehicle, make sure everything is securely stowed. Make sure you also bring along the correct road maps, a spare key in your wallet, and a cell phone with the phone numbers programmed in of anyone you might need to contact if you are running late. It’s always a good idea pack: a car jack and tools, snow scraper and brush, extra blanket, flashlight, candles, matches, jumper cables, small shovel, some kitty litter, and flares or emergency triangles.

Whenever you stop make sure you lock the vehicle. Always store your luggage and packages out of sight. It’s sad to say but there are would-be thieves who take advantage of holiday packed cars.

Do yourself a big favor and make sure your car is road worthy by taking it to the shop for a safety check at least a week before your trip. My top priorities are: tires, brakes, lights, windshield wipers, cooling system and the reliability of the car to start every time you turn it on.

Try and scope out the weather before you head out. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm contains links to information on weather and road conditions. Leave yourself some extra time on your holiday travel schedule. The roads will be heavily traveled, congested and winter storms can sometimes hit without warning.

The Savages move If you encounter bad weather, please slow down. You need at a lot more space between you and vehicle in front to stop, and remember that bridges and overpasses freeze first in cold conditions. There will also be more commercial vehicles on the road. Remember that they are a lot heavier then your little car and need much more time and distance to stop.

If you start out on your trip tired, you are going to get heavy-eyed as the miles go by. Try and get a good night’s sleep before your trip. If you are driving a long distance, it helps to have a passenger who likes to talk.

Here are some early warning signs of exhaustion and pending danger:

• Repeated yawning
• Difficulty focusing
• Your rear end if going numb and you feel incredible restless
• Not remembering the last few miles driven
• Missing traffic signs and turns
• Hitting the rumble strips on the highway

What to do if you’re exhausted:

• Find somewhere to pull over ASAP. A restaurant, gas station or rest area is best.
• Drink some coffee but understand it takes about 30 minutes for the caffeine to kick in.
• Go for a walk or exercises to get rid of grogginess.
• Find a safe place and take a brief nap for at least 30 min.

Always appoint a designated driver when attending seasonal gatherings. When you are really tired, just one drink can have the same effect as three or more. Also remember that overeating can make you tired, and that turkey contains L-tryptophan which is like a natural sedative.

Having a good attitude, getting your car road worthy and staying awake will make your holiday travels more enjoyable and much safer.

And don’t forget before you head back home to check the tire pressure, oil, coolant and make sure the windshield, mirrors, headlights and tail lights are clean!

I just LOVE AskPatty.com! This premier automotive website for women continues to add more information and value for her ‘sisters’ across the web.

Today, AskPatty.com launched this very cool video shopping tool. It includes narrated 360-degree video car and truck pictures of the exact model you are interested in. There is also a ‘CarBlabber’ reviews written for women by women and an easy way to get a quote from an AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly car dealer. Instead of driving from dealership to dealership and having to go through salespeople to get a look at a vehicle, you can use this fast, simple and time-saving way to shop for new cars and trucks.

Smart, Savvy Women know who to ask about buying a car – AskPatty.com

For some strange reason, dealers seem to ignore that Women make or influence 85% of all car purchasing decisions in the U.S.. You would think that they would accommodate us ladies who are writing their pay checks. Yet shopping for a car still remains, at best, an uncomfortable experience. At AskPatty.com the goal is to give women the ultimate car buying experience and provide invaluable advice and tools to save money and time on their next purchase.

“Women are just as passionate about their cars and trucks as the guys are and want to be treated with respect at car dealerships,” says Jody DeVere, president and CEO of AskPatty.com. “AskPatty’s new partnership with driverTV.com provides outstanding video car and truck reviews which are an excellent way to prepare women car buyers. During these difficult economic times in the auto industry, car dealerships must better meet the needs of women car buyers.”

AskPatty helps smart, savvy women car buyers with these valuable resources to save money and time:

• Car Shopping Video Showroom – Powerful narrated 360-degree video car and truck reviews powered by driverTV.com
• Search for a Certified Female Friendly car dealership – Just put in a make, model and year with your zip code
• Get Advice – 50 expert automotive women provide expert car advice to women 24/7
• FAQ’s – Search our catalog of frequently asked questions with answers from the panel of expert women
• CarBlabber – Car reviews by women for the benefit of women car shoppers
• MyCarPage – Park your car online and get service appointment email reminders based on the auto manufacture suggested service intervals recommended for your car and much more
• MyAutoLoan – Receive up to 4 loan offers from national lenders One simple application is all it takes, even if you’ve had credit problems
• Womanar Podcasts – Listen to podcasts from women automotive industry experts on car care, car repairs, new and used car buying
• Car Tips – Read our advice articles on car purchases, maintenance and other automotive related topics on the AskPatty.com blog

If you need to purchase a new car soon, then do yourself a big favor and click here to visit AskPatty.com

• Memphis Belle on dvd

• A Perfect Day buy

Zoom video

Creature from the Black Lagoon dvd

By Amy Mattinat

According to the National Safety Council, the number of traffic deaths is three times greater at night than during the day. Since ninety percent of a driver’s reaction depends on visibility, it is extremely important that your headlights are aimed correctly, and the lenses are clear enough to let the light go through.

Did you know that headlights lenses used to be made out of glass and now are made out of plastic?

Glass headlights only came in a limited number of sizes and shapes. If they cracked or broke, they had to be replaced. Approximately 10 years ago, automakers started using plastic headlight assemblies. The plastic material is easier to mold and the auto designers love it because the plastic lends itself to unlimited styles and reduce drag because of better aerodynamics.

Unfortunately the plastic headlight lenses become yellow and cloudy overtime. In only 2-3 years the light output can be cut by 75 percent, which may make it unsafe to drive at night. What happens is that the sun’s harsh UV rays, acid rain, harsh weather conditions, and chemicals all wear on the lenses. Plus, while driving, the lenses pick up dirt and grime. When the lights are on, the plastic gets hot and expands. After you are done driving you turn them off and the plastic cools and contracts. This can trap the dirt and grime on the lenses.

When the headlights get cloudy and yellow, they will not pass the yearly Vermont State Inspection. Now a days, there are ways to repair cracks, repair leaks and even clean plastic headlight lenses. Consider having them restored at a fraction of the cost. When you have your headlights restored, you be able to see again! Plus, your car will pass state inspection, will look almost brand new, be safer to drive and give you piece of mind.

Death Toll trailer

To help slow down yellowing and clouding of headlights you can clean the headlights once a week and more often if necessary. Don’t forget to clean the parking lights, back-up lights and turn signals too.

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How Clean are Your Headlights?

This Saturday my shop Auto Craftsmen, Pleasant Street Auto, Mike Martin’s Auto Repair (all NAPA AutoCare repair shops) + First Class NAPA Auto Parts stores from Waterbury and Morrisville all worked together to put on a Car Care Safety Fair at the Copley Hospital in Morrisville Vermont.

The Hospital was having their 13th annual Health Care Fair and the Hospital and I thought that a Car Care Fair was a perfect match for a Health Care Fair.

Seriously. If your car is not healthy and it has an accident… your body could end up at the hospital.

We had 13 NAPA AutoCare helpers to work the car care safety lanes. It was very easy for the motorists. The motorist would pull up to the first station and two auto technicians would check the tires to see if they had the proper air pressure and make sure all the lights were working. They would check over the windshield wipers to make sure they were working correctly and to make sure they were not worn out.

Then the vehicle would pull up to the second station and two more technicians would open the hood and check the belts, hoses and the fluids. (oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid). They would hook up a special tool that would tell how well the battery and starting system of the car was working.

All this information was marked down on a special inspection sheet that was given to the driver and explained. Folks were given a free vehicle safety kit and in less then 10 min. the driver had a very clear understanding of how safe their vehicle was driving down the road that day.

Number one problem we found on the vehicles we inspected was that they had incorrect air pressure in the tires. This went for older vehicles and brand new vehicles. Some had too much air in them and some were under inflated.

If you have the wrong air pressure in your tires you are loosing gas mileage (money) and wearing out your tires way quicker then you need to (more money!). Takes just a bit of effort on the part of the motorist to check their air pressure… and if you just don’t want to, then swing by my shop and one of my techs would be glad to come out and make sure your tires have the correct amount of air pressure.

We also found a lot of worn wipers. Windshield wipers are relatively cheap for what they do – keeps the windshield clear of water when it rains so you can see the road. Very important to be able to see where you are going when driving a car.

There were also too many vehicles that needed oil added to the motor and a couple that had too much oil in the engine. Having too much oil is also very bad for your engine.

We checked over 62 cars in less then 3 hours. The crew was very efficient and the motorists were thrilled with the great FREE service advice on their cars.

Big thanks to Bo, Raechal, Mike, Charlie, Gary, Jill, Scott, Marc, Kevin, Chip, Mark and Nina for taking time out of your weekend to make this Car Care Safety Lane so successful!

When I thought I was going to have to rent-a-car to get home from my US Air fandango, I followed my own advice and negotiated a $300.00 one way rental car down to $145.00

The Advice I took?

Skip The 800 Number:

If you call an 800 number your call goes to the rental car hub. The operators are hooked into a centralized computer and just hit the buttons. But, if you call directly to the rental car counter – and there happens to be a surplus of cars on the lot then you can play “Lets Make A Deal!”

And that is exactly what I did. I got online and got the phone number for the rental car counter in the Boston’s Airport. The price for any one way rental cars is painful. I only needed the car for 4 hours worth of driving and they wanted to charge me $300.00 dollars. At this point I was desperate to get home and actually thought about spending this outrageous amount of money so I could lay my head down on my pillow.

But then I remembered the last post I did on rental cars and made a phone call and talked the lad down to $145.00. Lucky for me the flight was canceled and Tracy my Hero got me a direct flight to Burlington and I didn’t have to spend and extra $145.00 or drive 4 hours in Boston’s rush hour traffic!

Have you ever negotiated a better price for a rental car?

by Amy Mattinat

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeal!

When you hear it from another car it’s annoying. But when you hear it coming from your own car it’s frightening!

The trick is to determine when it is just a natural mechanical sound of brakes doing their job or when it is a sign of serious mechanical failure. A little detective work on your part will keep you going (or in this case stopping) for countless miles to come.

When should you consult a professional to inspect your brakes?

1. Drip, drip, drip…

If you see a stain or small puddle of fluid that doesn’t look like oil or coolant you best take notice ASAP! Motor oil will be brown or black and feel slimy to the touch. Coolant will be green in color and feel watery. Brake fluid can look like fresh motor oil, but doesn’t feel slimy.

If you suspect you are leaking brake fluid you can open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If you don’t know where that is, look in your owner’s manual to get a photographic map of your engine and find it. If the brake fluid is low! DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR! If you don’t have enough brake fluid you may not have full stopping power or you may have none at all! Tow it to your favorite shop and have them check it out ASAP!

2. Squeal, squeal, squeal….

If the noise from your brakes is constant your car needs brake work. Have a trained automotive technician check the brake calipers, pads, shoes, drums, cylinder, etc. The cost of the repair will vary according to the problem and also to the kind of car you drive, year and model.

3. Scrape, scrape, scrape….

This is one sound you don’t want to hear from your brakes. It means that metal scraping on metal sound is exactly what is happening. The brake pads are worn away and the brake pad holder is grinding against the rotors to stop your car. Not Good ! If you ever hear an unpleasant metallic scraping sound when you step on the brake pedal, call a tow truck and have them take your car to the shop for you. The money you spend on the tow will be nothing compared to the amount of money you might have to spend on an entire new brake system.

4. Brake Pedal Feels Funny:

What I mean when I say “feels funny” it that when you press down on the brake pedal it feels spongy or goes lower than normal. It may seem that you have to step longer and harder on the brake pedal to get the car to stop. Anther “feels funny” is when you step on the brake pedal and the car pulls to one side of the road.

If you have any doubts about your brakes get it into the shop so the automotive technician can determine if your brakes are working properly and safely.

If your car won’t start, well that can be very inconvenient, but if your car won’t stop… that can be deadly!

How Safe Are Your Brakes?