Amy’s Garage

Chocolate Sachet Gift Set for your Car
Everyone loves chocolate… even your car. This sachet will give  an alluring fragrance of chocolate to make your car smell yummy.
$9.95
www.everythingsmells.store.yahoo.net

Electric Travel Blanket
How cool is this specially if you are the passenger on a long road trip. Plugs the blanket into your car and it will keep you or your passenger roasty toasty.
$39.95
www.skymall.com
keyword: electric travel blanket

Personalized Angel Car Mat Set
Bring an angel along for the ride, and protect your carpet with these rubberized car mats.
$49.98
www.lighterside.com
item #: 62026

and my favorite
Sheepskin Seat Covers
I once once was given set of these luxuriously soft and warm seat covers for Christmas. They were one of the best presents I have ever been given. I loved them. Every time I would get into my car I would say. “ahhhhhhhh”
$129 - $279
www.autoanything.com
search word: 3 Star Semi-Custom Sheepskin Seat Cover

Maternity Seatbelt
If you know a pregnant lady, do her a huge favor and buy her a maternity seatbelt. It attaches to any vehicles lap belt and it repositions the strap to ride safe and low. Says on the hips, not on the belly.
$29.95
www.onestepahead.com
item #: 07768

Bed Line Rake
If you or a loved one owns a pick-up truck with a bed line, this is a super present. This grooved teeth rate quickly removes: mid, gravel, topsoil, sand, mulch, wood chips, snow, etc.
$9.95
www.cgets.com
product search: bed liner rake

Seat Back Protector
If you have children then you need a protection for the back of your front seat’s upholstery from their dirty little feet.
Buckles around the headrest - no ties or knots and cleans easily
$9.95
www.leapsandbounds.com
item #: 11081

If you have any other great ideas… please share!

by Amy Mattinat

Winter Is Coming!

The weather service is calling for 7″ of snow tonight. They will probably be wrong par usual, but my shop’s phone is ringing off the wall with folks who want to make an appointment to get snow tires on their cars.

Do you really need snow tires? My simplified answer is: the best all-season tire is not as good as a cheap winter tire!

In reality it all depends on where you live and your driving habits. In Vermont, winter lasts approximately six months of the year. Seriously, anytime from the end of October to mid April, Vermont can get a huge dumping of snow.

A picture of my Honda CRV last April with my Polish snowplow.

Winter tires are cheap compared to repairing or replacing your car if you go off the road and slide into a ditch, tree, road sign or another car. This happens to at least two customers per year who tell me that “all-season tires have always worked just fine for me.”

ABS, traction control and 4-wheel drive all help give you more control when driving and braking on a snowy road, But remember…. the only part of your car that touches the ground is the tire.

The compounds that make up a tire vary quite a bit depending on what the intented purpose the tires will be used for. In general, summer tires are made to last long, all-season tires are compromised to accommodate summer and mild winter conditions, and winter tires are made to handle snow and cold temperatures.

Winter tires are made up of softer rubber compounds then summer or all-season tires. The tread blocks of winter tires dig into the snow and the sipes (or slits) bite and grip the snow for traction. Winter tires also have a ’self cleaning tread design”. So when your tires roll on the snow, they will use the snow for traction and then release the trapped snow, grip again, release agin, etc.

Always put on 4 winter tires.

Running 2 winter tires in the front and 2 all season tires in the back is like wearing snow boots on one foot and a sneaker on the other.

What brand of winter tires do you use?

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?

Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle is riding on a layer of water instead of the road. This can occur when going through a deep puddle or driving through a big rain storm. The vehicle can loose traction and have trouble steering, braking and accelerating.

When there is a lot of water on the road you should be Slow Down! Think of how you drive on an icy road and you’ll know just what to do!

If your vehicle starts to hydroplane Do Not slam on the brakes. Take your foot off the gas to slow down.

• If you need to brake and you have No-ABS Brakes (anti-lock brakes):lightly pump the brakes until you slow down.

• If you do have ABS Brakes, then brake normally and your car will automatically pump the brakes for you.

Don’t take any sharp corners either. Try and drive slow and steady until you can feel your tires grip the road again. Remember your tires have no contact with the road when hydroplaning, so if you start over-steering you could end up off the the road.

Good tires are key to safe driving in the rain. The water on the road needs to go somewhere and tires with good tread will channel the water under the tire so it can grip the road. Less Tread = more chance of hydroplaning.

Increase the distance between you and vehicle in front of you. This gives you more time and distance to stop your car if the vehicle in front of you spins out of control or stops suddenly.

by Amy Mattinat

Have you ever experienced driving a Hydroplaning Vehicle?

The tires on your car are soooo important!

If you really think about it your tires are the only parts of the car that physically touch the ground. For that reason, the tires are an essential factor affecting your vehicle’s handling while driving , and stopping while braking.

Here are 5 Unseen Dangers of Worn Tire:

1. Heat Build Up:

Worn tire tread increases heat build-up. As the distance between the tire and the road decreases due to less tread on the tire, less airflow is available between the road and the tire. Heat is an enemy of tire rubber and a major factor in tire failure.

2. Puncture:

Tire tread protects the tire casing from punctures. The more worn out the tread is, the greater chance for a tire blowout due to puncture.

3. Hydroplaning:

Worn tire tread are more likely to hydroplane. Hydroplaning occurs when water on the road comes between the tire and the road and a vehicle looses traction and can have trouble steering, braking and accelerating.

4. Balance & Alignment:

If the tire is out of balance or the vehicle is out of alignment the tire will wear unevenly. If it is wearing on the inside of the tire, this can easily go unnoticed by most drivers.

5. Underinflation:

Tires with worn tread are more likely to be seriously underinflated and underinflated tires will wear out faster then properly inflated tires.

What Kind Of Shape Are Your Tires In?

When Googling the question “What qualities should you look for to determine if you are in a good relationship or not?” I found an interesting list that could actually be used to help you find a Good Auto Repair Shop, if not the love of your life.

When looking for a Good Partner you want:

Someone who is honest, trustful, and caring.

• You want to look for a shop that is looking out for your best interest and wants to build a relationship with you and your car. Their business is built on repeat customers because their customers feel that their wants and needs are taken care of.

Someone who truly listens when you have something to say and knows that listening is the key to understanding.

• You want a shop that takes the time to ask the right questions, and is able to communicate in easy-to-understand language what the problem is, what your options are, and what it is going to cost you before the work is done.

Someone who knows what you need before you say it.

• You want a shop that keeps records of all your vehicle’s repairs and maintenance work. One that is always looking ahead to what your vehicle will need to be safe and reliable, so you can budget for the future.

Someone who has qualities you don’t have yourself, but admire greatly in them.

• You want to find a shop with the best trained and certified Auto Technicians, that has up-to-date equipment and gets training for all the constant changes and new car technology of the day.

Someone who tells you the truth, even if you don’t want to hear it.

• You want to a shop that will let you know if your vehicle is too old and rusty to put any more money in it. You don’t want a shop that keeps putting new parts on a vehicle that is falling apart.

There are some folks who luck-out and find their significant other on the first date, but most folks need to have multiple dates to find that special someone who will be compatible and meets their needs. If you take some extra time you will find this special shop that will take care of one of your biggest investments, and will keep your loved ones safe while whizzing along the highway of life!

How did you find your favorite Auto Repair Shop?

When a teenager gets their drivers license it gives them and their parents freedom! The kids get to experience the freedom of driving themselves and friends wherever and whenever they please (to the extent of the family rules) and parents gain freedom from having to drive their teenagers to the many activities that tie up their day.

To keep the new drivers / teenagers safe from harm, it is wise for parents to use balance, caution and risk in all the decisions they make concerning their child and their car.

To put this all in perspective, here is some results from a ton of research on new drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• 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.

OK Moms, avoid giving your teens the keys to the car on Friday, Saturday or Sunday night between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am and you have done a lot to keep them safe!

You also need to be good role models. That teenage child still watches your every move! So buckle up, slow down, don’t drink and drive, don’t tailgate and don’t talk on the phone while driving!

It also helps to have clear expectations for the new driver and clear consequences for their mistakes. Check out my New Driver Contract. Print it out and spend some time filling it out with your new driver. Positive, clear communication will go a long way to keeping them safe and reduce your stress.

by Amy Mattinat

What tips do you have for New Drivers?

So, have decided that you’re ready to clean out the inside of your car. First things first: open the windows, doors and trunk of your car, let in the fresh air and chuck out all the debris from the floor, what’s buried in the seats, tucked in the ashtray and thrown in the back or in the truck. It always amazes me the nooks and crannies my daughter finds to put her empty gum wrappers in.

Once you have cleared the decks, pull out the floor mats and set them aside on the driveway. Before you vacuum the interior carpets, take a stiff brush and sweep the floor to loose the dirt and debris clinging to the carpets. You may want to alternate between the vacuum and stiff brush to get all those little stones that hide in the nap of the carpets. When vacuuming the seats, make note of any stains.

Use the long neck attachment of the vacuum to reach under the seats, between the seats and around the pedals. Use a soft brush attachment to vacuum the dashboard and doors. Be gentle on any knobs, vents and stereo parts. Be especially careful if you have leather seats. They can be easily scratched by using the wrong attachment when vacuuming.

Once the whole inside of the car has been vacuumed, it’s time to tackle the floor mats. Start out by shaking out as much of the loose dirt, dust and salt as possible. Then vacuum them thoroughly. If you really want to get them clean, power-wash them with the garden hose. You can add carpet cleaner to stains, work it in with a brush, then wash it out. Make sure your mats are completely dry before you put them back into the car.

I like to wash the windows next. Use any alcohol-based glass cleaner. If you use a paper towel to clean the window and wipe the solution around, use a newspaper to dry the window. You will get crystal clear windows every time!

Clean the dashboard, console, door handles, etc. with a slightly damp cloth. (Always use lint-free material when cleaning your car!) You can use a very small amount of laundry detergent to remove any stains. Rinse well and then dry with a clean, soft cloth. If you want your dashboard to shine, apply a small amount of furniture polish to a clean cloth and wipe away. (Do not spray directly onto the dash or it will splash on your clean windows and be difficult to remove.)

To clean out those hard-to-reach cracks and crevices like vents and buttons, use a cotton swab or a mini paintbrush. You know your car is really clean when the vents are sparkling!

Stain Removal:

Getting rid of those annoying stains is the key to making your car look new again. The sooner you attack the stain, the more likely it will disappear. Hot water will cause the stain to set. Be sure to use cold or room temperature water.

None of these tips apply to leather seats. Some soaps, oils, detergents and furniture polish can do damage to leather!

Before using any soaps or mixtures to remove a stain, test it on a small out of the way spot to make sure it doesn’t bleach or stain the material.

Do not soak the carpets or seats with soapy water. You could make the stain larger and cause mold and musty smells to inhabit your car.

For quick stain removal on cloth seats:

Scrape away any residual gunk with a blunt knife. Mix together 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup white household vinegar. Wipe the stain away with a damp sponge and let dry, or use mild soap and water. Let sit for 15 minutes, then wipe again with a damp sponge and let dry.

For soft drink stains:

Dab up any remaining liquid. Put 3 cups water and 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Spray mixture on the soft drink stain and let sit for 10 minutes. Mix together 3/4 cup cold water and 1/4 cup white vinegar and use this to rinse. Dab the stain away with a damp sponge and let dry.

To remove Chocolate stains:

Once the chocolate has dried and hardened, scrape off as much as you can with a blunt knife. Put a small amount of carpet shampoo on the stain and use a soft-bristled brush to gently work the soap into the fabric. Dab the foam and stain away with a damp sponge and let dry.

To remove gum from your car seat:

The first thing you want to do is harden the sticky mess. If you put some ice in a plastic bag and apply it to the gum, it will harden quickly. You can then gently scrape it off the seat with a dull knife.

For greasy stains:

Greasy stains like lipstick or crayons you may need some extra help. Purchase a solvent cleaner and make sure you read the instructions carefully.

You spend so much time in the car that keeping the interior clean is good for your health and your mental attitude. Plus, as a bonus it will increase the value of your car when you’re ready to sell it or trade-it-in.

by Amy Mattinat

When is the last time you cleaned the inside of your car?