A Women's Point of View: Pieces and Parts

by Colette Cooley Cars For Keeps Office Manager

I work with car parts every day. All these funny-shaped pieces made of metal, plastic, rubber, glass and even material. For a non-mechanic, there is something magical about a tiny piece of plastic or a thin bit of wire that can mean the difference between a great big automobile that runs and one that does not run. Take a gasket for example. How can this thin piece of what looks like paper, be so essential to your car? Yes, I know, it keeps oil from leaking out so you won’t have a geyser under the hood, but wouldn’t Gorilla Glue work just as well? And what is it with all that wiring? We are talking a mile or more of wiring running throughout your car. It’s like a Gordian Knot*.

It seems to me that since we are well into the 21st Century, cars ought to be wireless. Everything else is wireless. We have the technology to make a wireless mouse. Need I say more? Until these little inconveniences are overcome, we have knowledgeable mechanics at Cars For Keeps who will help you keep your car in good running condition.

*Greek legend is of a knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia which could only be undone by the future master of Asia. Alexander the Great, failing to untie it, cuts the knot with his sword. A bold solution for a perplexing problem.

Nice reference, Colette!

Safe Winter Weather Driving Tips

by Marjorie, Social Media Manager

Well, at last we have our first snow. I woke up this morning to 10 inches of snow, a beautiful but dangerous phenomenon so common to those of us living in the Great Lakes region. In honor of this winter's first major snowstorm, I thought we all could use some reminders on safe winter weather driving. If you are experienced with Michigan winter weather, you know that there are as many different types of road conditions as there are types of snow; we're rather like Eskimos with their 200 words for "snow" in that we have dozens of terms for different winter road conditions. Black ice, slush, powder, snow sand - they all behave differently and require us to adapt our driving in different ways. Here are a few tips to make sure you stay on the road in adverse conditions.

Drive slowly. It's basic, but it's surprising how many cars can be found plowing through a snowstorm on the freeway at 70 miles per hour. Even if you're driving a large, 4-wheel drive vehicle, excessive speed on slippery roads makes it much easier to lose control of the vehicle, especially in low-visibility conditions. Driving too fast can not only be a danger to yourself, but to other drivers on the road as well; during heavy snowfall, fast cars whizzing by drastically reduces visibility for the cars behind.

Don't use cruise control. Cruise control reduces a driver's ability to feel the car and road beneath him or her, and in bad driving conditions, keeping a steady pulse on your car's traction and direction is crucial. Additionally, cruise control elongates breaking time, making it much more difficult to respond quickly.

Don't slam on the breaks. Most cars on the road today are equipped with ABS, but this is not a license to slam on the breaks on slippery roads. Maintaining a slow speed and plenty of room in front of you can help reduce the need for heavy breaking, but remember: sudden breaking is more likely to cause your breaks to lock and your vehicle to spin out of control. If your car begins to slide, pump the break in short, hard bursts and keep the steering wheel straight.

Don't overcompensate with steering. A mistake many drivers make on slippery roads is to swerve around obstructions and attempt to steer out of a slide. If your car begins to slide, steer straight ahead and attempt to reduce sliding by pumping the brakes. Oversteering can cause your car to slide and spin into a ditch much more easily than straight, even steering.

Maintain a healthy distance between the cars in front of you. This is especially true for freeway driving. Always keep enough distance between your car and the car in front of you to adequately stop without slamming on the brakes. This, at least, will prevent you from slamming into the back of someone else's car.

Add weight. This is particularly helpful for rear-wheel drive vehicles, but even front wheel drive vehicles can benefit from some additional weight. Some old tires, pallets, bricks or encyclopedias in the trunk will give your vehicle more traction.

Prepare your vehicle! As Bobby emphasized last week, it's a good idea to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. In addition to outfitting your vehicle snow tires, new wiper blades and general maintenance, keep emergency equipment in the trunk. AAA recommends you keep a shovel, sand/kitty litter, food, water, flashlight, flares and a blanket in case of emergency, and we think that's pretty smart. And remember: well-maintained cars are safer.

Safe driving!

A Women’s Point of View: Thanksgiving

by Colette Cooley, Cars For Keeps Office Manager

AAAHH! The Holidays are approaching faster than the speed of light. While half of us are eagerly looking forward to next Wednesday night’s activities of baking pies, peeling 20 pounds of potatoes, and cleaning the house for the 27 people who will be arriving the next day, the other half of us are happily packing our overnight bags to be thrown into the car for that long, relaxing trip to Cousin Clem’s house and all that food.

The Car! OhMyGod! You suddenly remember that you have been postponing that visit to Cars For Keeps to find out what that squeal is about in the back of the car. Your thinking, are the brakes going out? Is the axle about to fall off the car? Is there a rabid raccoon caught in the driveshaft? And now that you are thinking about it, what is that click-click-clicking under the hood? Some squirrel’s nut stash? All the nuts and bolts are loose? Is the engine about to fall off? Suddenly, you are in ‘high anxiety’ mode.

It's O. K. Give Cars For Keeps a quick call to set a last-minute appointment. Have an oil change, an inspection for those pesky noises, a cup of coffee, a few laughs, and a little relaxation while the experts take care of everything for you. There is something empowering in knowing that your car is in good working condition. Just don't forget to fill that gas tank.

Have a joyous and safe Thanksgiving Day.

Lifetime Transmission Fluids: Who’s Lifetime?

by Dennis Sweet, Service Manager at Cars for Keeps

Hello everyone, If you have called or stopped into our shop, you have probably spoken with me. We may have even talked about maintenance. I have always felt that if I can help a client better understand the needs of their vehicle, they will better understand why we recommend it being performed.

I bring up this topic today, not only because it is important, but because I also had this exact conversation with one of our clients today. The topic was transmission fluid and why we had recommended the vehicles to be flushed out and replaced with new. Our client had responded, "but my owners manual states that my vehicle has 'Lifetime Transmission Fluid'". My response to this is, “Who’s lifetime, yours or your vehicles transmission?????" Transmission fluid, just as any other fluid a vehicle uses will wear out, get dirty, break down and even burn.

With this in mind, how long of a lifetime will the transmission have if it is trying to pump contaminated, broken down fluid through its system - or, to put in other terms, veins? I will let you think about for now, but will leave you with our perspective: it is in our best interest to think of your best interest. Our goal is to help you keep your vehicle in the best running condition it can be for as long as you want to own that vehicle. “No payments, just Maintenance.”

So long for now, Dennis

3 Ways to Prevent Winter Driving Emergnecies

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Winter time is coming sooner than you may think. That means salty slushy roads, ice on the windshield and brrrrrr…freezing temps. What can you do to ensure a safe and reliable vehicle during these harsh wintry months?

Have your vehicle inspected by a licensed mechanic. Quick lube places do not count. Although they are able to check basic things like your fluids and battery, they are not able to check more important things such as your suspension components and reliability items. Also, those techs are NOT required to be state or ASE certified to work on vehicles. So you may not get an adequately qualified tech working on your vehicle.

Maintain your tires. The tires are the ONLY thing between you and the road. Are your tires worn to the wear bars? Not only is it unsafe for you but could also be unsafe for other drivers on the road. Maintaining air pressure also ensures that your tires are working as they were designed. Speaking of tires, do you have a set of dedicated winter tires? If not you should consider it. The difference between an all-season year round tire and a tire used only for the snowy season is like night and day. For those of you who may not have the extra funds to do this, you may want to consider saving extra cash so in the future this becomes available to you.

Carry emergency items in your trunk. A flashlight (with working batteries please), blanket, fresh water, snacks, a cell phone, road hazard beacons such as flares or the reflective triangles and also make sure your factory equipped spare tire and jack are in place. Kitty litter not only provides extra weight but can also help provide traction if your ever stuck in a snow bank. If you have a small snow shovel that will also help dig your way out of a sticky situation.

Hopefully this season will be safe and accident free, but with a little planning you can make sure that if it does turn sour you are prepared. Like a wise man once told me in boy scouts once: it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Until next time!

Cars for Keeps' Waiting Room: a Spa Parlor or a Repair Shop?

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

The waiting room here at the shop is not your average auto garage waiting room. Most repair shops disregard this aspect of business - after all, what does a cleanly waiting room have to do with fixing your car? Many repair shops I've been don't even have a waiting area - just a little grungy corner for you to stand clutching your wallet while you wait.

Cars for Keeps Owner Rob Hopp has a different philosophy on auto repair service, emphasizing the service aspect and recognizing that the car and the customer are a package deal. Sure, the quality of the repair is most important, but where is it written that quality repairs have to come from cramped, dirty facilities?

Cars for Keeps goes out of its way to provide not only the best repair service in town, but the best customer service as well. That means a comfortable waiting area for moms, kids, professionals and anyone else who drops by. I happened to drop by the shop last week and was again impressed with the reception area's cleanliness and commodities. Here are a few pictures I snapped of some of the facility's highlights. You can tell Rob takes pride in his shop - and his customers.

Coffee, tea or...Pepsi? The only things here that require change are the two gumball machines in the corner - which we think parents won't mind at all.

Yes, you're looking at a flat screen TV, comfy chairs and a squeaky clean floor. Catch up on the news, or a snooze while waiting for an oil change - your preference.

Kid's play area is conveniently adjacent to the adult play area. To clarify, those magazines are current within the last few months, not culled from decade old boxes.

The high speed internet-equipped computer is over in the corner to the left. Brought your own? Take advantage of the facility's free Wi-Fi.

Here's the crew crunching numbers behind the desk. This is where you can find Customer Service Manager Dennis' smiling face.

If you've been putting off routine maintenance because going to the shop is too inconvenient, try Cars for Keeps' accommodating facility. Catch up on work, play with your kids, surf the net or get caffeinated; we promise you won't have to stand in a corner while you wait.

Happy Birthday to Cars for Keeps: 20 Years of Quality Service

by Dennis Sweet, Service Manager at Cars for Keeps.

Happy Birthday sounds nice at any age. Some people would like to quit having birthdays once they've reached a certain age. Well, I say bring on the birthdays. In case any you are wondering what I am rambling about, I am not talking about myself; I am talking about Cars for Keeps.

As of November 1, 2009 we are 20 years old - hurray! For us, that means 20 years of helping people like yourselves keep your vehicles as long as you wanted to. Here’s to another 20 years of great clients and the satisfaction of being able to help people by keeping their cars healthy.

Thank you to all who have made these last years so rewarding. You have made saying happy birthday worth it.

Until next time,

Dennis

Car Personification: True Love

by Colette, Office Manager for Cars for Keeps

The Macho Machine is big, dark and dangerous looking. Exactly what attracts the female heart. He radiates so much power that he vibrates even when standing still. He hones his masculine skills by exercising his Hemi regularly. (Does anyone out there know what a Hemi* is exactly?) His chrome body armor shines to perfection, there are no dents in his big, beautiful body and every piece of his machinery works perfectly. He is the epitome of automobile perfection. He first sees the silver Driveway Diva when she drives - no, glides - into the driveway next to him looking like a drop of Mercury. She smells of expensive, new soft leather, she hums soft, low and throaty, and has the most flirty headlamps he has ever seen. She is small, compact and runs like a well oiled machine, the epitome of automobile perfection. One look from each of them, and they fall in love. (If cars could reproduce, can you imagine what their offspring would look like?)

OK, so we all know that a lot of women like to humanize their things. Well, so do a lot of men. They call their boats “she” and give them mermaid names. Right? Anyway, we have these two wonderful cars that want a long future together. Just like people, they want to stay healthy by keeping their fluids flushed and clean, their brakes reaction time on target, all their internal parts working together smoothly with clean oil, their transmission working with precision, and all their sensors alert. Keeping our cars performing well takes regular care and awareness of their needs. I predict this love affair will have a long and happy life.

*A Hemi is a type of engine. (Although all I remember are the human ‘hunks’ they used in the commercials.)

A Woman’s Point of View: Sometimes Heroes Come in Greasey Shirts

Colette Cooley, Office Manager at Cars For Keeps

You have been looking towards your vacation for months. The snow is huffing and puffing outside, but you are lost in your “dream”. You are at the point where you don’t think you can make it through another day at the office, so you think about your dream to get through the day. Your vacation. Your Nirvana. Your soul’s restoration. Then, finally, your dream has come true. You are actually living your dream vacation. And your car breaks.

I am not talking a broken fingernail here. The car is close to being terminal. Loud noises, smoke, not steering, barely starts, coughing, choking, jerking, seizure, ge-the-de-fibulator-quick, sick. So many thoughts go through your head in that first 10 seconds. I can’t go to the world’s largest mall this afternoon. What a disaster! I will not yell at the kids. I will not kick my husband. I will not stomp my feet in a pique of frustration.

I will call AAA. They come and get the car and tow it to the recommended automotive repair shop where you find out the car is not terminal after-all, and can be repaired and back on the road today. You suddenly have new names to add to your little black book under the heading of; Heroes Who Will Come To Save The Day. Your vacation is saved. Your mind is restored. You are back in your dream. You are on your way to the mall. AAAHH! Life is good.

Preventative Maintenance: Listening to Your Car

by Rob, Cars for Keeps Owner

Mike the Librarian.

My buddy Mike gave me a ride home from the range last week. Being the car geek I am, I immediately asked him how long the back tires had been making that growling sound.

He said “What sound?” and once again proved that people often don’t hear or feel the gradual changes their vehicles go through. Until the noise was gone, he thought it was normal.

That’s another reason it’s so important to have a trusted, knowledgeable person give you an independent perspective of your cars safety and reliability.

I recommend a basic inspection at least every three months. Note that I didn’t recommend oil change that often, it's just that since we change our oil so much less often in modern vehicles, it is too easy to ignore an issue that could have a simple remedy if caught early enough, so, every change of season presents a vehicle with temperature and moisture changes that affect multiple parts of your mobility. At Cars for Keeps, we call this inspection our AAA Readiness Inspection. If we normally do your oil changes, we do it for you for free. This usually works out to be an oil change every other readiness inspection.

Our high tech road machines (Cars) adjust themselves with such precision, that most people don’t know any fault is happening until the computers cant compensate any further & the system “folds” in sometimes simple and sometimes dramatic ways.

Even if you choose the convenience (perceived convenience IMHO) of the drive through oil change place, having a qualified mechanic inspect it regularly is a key aspect of the long term reliability of your mobility machine.

More about Mike's Great Escape next time.

Watch for our Hot Apple Cider Specials this month…

Quirky Clunkers Contest: Win a Free Oil Change & Full Diagnostic!

Cars for Keeps is offering a free oil change and diagnostic for the winner of this contest. It's fun. It's easy. It's a great opportunity to make sure your car is in tip-top shape.

Contest Details:

Prize: Free oil change & full diagnostic (There's also a secret prize for all contestants who enter. Find out what the prize is by entering the contest!)

Enter now!

Answer the following question:

If you could fix one thing about your vehicle, what would it be?

Tell us in 30 words or less using these steps:

1) Tweet, Facebook or email the URL to this page to your friends (http://tinyurl.com/yl6h2t4)

2) Post your answer as a comment here (so we can read it!)

3) Email us at cars4keeps@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

Top 5 Ways to Prematurely Kill Your Car

by Marjorie, Social Media Marketing Manager for Cars for Keeps

I am NOT a mechanic - not, that is, unless auto mechanic skills are hereditary. My dad was a master tinkerer, and growing up all my family's vehicles were clunkers which he kept in somewhat working order far longer than the cars themselves expected to live. If you have a master tinkerer in your family, I'm sure you know what it's like: for every five cars in the driveway, two of them are sure to be working great.

While this was fun growing up, it's led to some bad car maintenance habits. We've all let those little quirky things about our vehicles go too long - some to worse ends than others. I've tortured many of my vehicles by not properly attending to maintenance. Here is a top 5 list of auto maintenance sins I've committed; I'm sure many of these will be all too familiar.

5) Forgetting to replace the oil cap after a refill. This I've actually done twice - to the same vehicle. Luckily, the smoke that billowed out from under the hood was only from the oil that was burning on the manifold.

4) Not checking radiator fluid. On a marathon trip across Montana, I forgot to check the radiator level and got 500 miles before the engine temperature spiked. Waiting three hours on the side of the road for it to cool down was a great lesson. Note: always carry a jug of water in your car - and only check the radiator fluid when it's cold!

3) Neglecting regular maintenance. Getting my wheels aligned was suddenly moved to the top of my priority list when my little Ford Focus' left rear tire fell off mid-cruise. Another reason to give your car regular checkups.

2) Neglecting windshield wipers and fluid. It seems like such a small priority on a clear, sunny day, but the minute rain or giant bugs hit your windshield, not having properly working wipers can mean the difference between a crash and a smooth ride. And how about those muddy country roads?

1) Not listening to my car. Most cars will tell you something is wrong before serious damage occurs. For example, my beautiful, rust-free, all-manual 1991 Mitsubishi pickup uses oil, and when it's running low, the engine has a faint tick. Once I failed to heed this warning; the engine overheated, and I almost ruined the car. Luckily, it survived and is doing just fine. No, it's not for sale.

What about you? What have been some of your worse auto maintenance sins?

Stay tuned for a chance to win a free oil change and checkup from Cars for Keeps. Contest details will be posted on Friday!

Protector Plates – Protecting what?

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

Not only does the array of panels under your vehicle protect the more delicate components from exposure to rocks, sticks and other elements, they also make it much more difficult for critters to get into places that could be fatal...

We often find protection plates missing or damaged. Rarely does the client have any idea they were there or missing. Though usually the result of impact, too many times it is a result of improper installation or ethically worse, failure to reinstall them at all!

I have to admit, they can be a pain to get back on right. My opinion and experience has shown that many minimum wage quickie lube type employees either presume you’ll never know or are discouraged from taking too much time trying to get them back on right. You may not realize that these are NOT mechanics. No state or national certification is required, or even encouraged, as mechanics are.

Cars for Keeps is recognized by:

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) as a Blue Seal Of Excellence Facility.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) as a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility

The Robert Bosch Corporation as a Bosch Authorized Car Service Company.

How to Prevent Cold-Weather Stalls: Winterizing your Battery

by Mike, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Hunting season is fast approaching, and that means it is time to at least start THINKING about winterizing your vehicle. Have you ever jumped inside your car to head to work in the morning to find your car will not start? It's happened to the best of us, but there are a few simple things you can do to help prevent this scenario from happening to you this winter.

Something to keep in mind is that our car's battery loses about a third of its starting power when the temps dip down into the 30's. In addition, our driving habits in the winter make it less likely the alternator will be able to fully recharge our car battery as we drive. For example, we tend to drive less often and we drive shorter distances in the winter, we constantly run the defrost and we are using our headlights more than in the warmer months - all putting a larger load on the alternator.

So what can you do?

1) Take a Peek Under the Hood: Have your battery checked before winter hits to make sure your terminals are tight and your battery is not corroded. (Stop in at Cars For Keeps & We'll do it FREE!)

2) Turn "Stuff" Off: Turn off your blowers and accessories when you turn off your car so there isn't as large of a load on your battery when you go to start your vehicle again. Turn your headlights on after you start your vehicle, NOT before.

3) Park Inside: Park your vehicle in a garage if you have one. This will help keep the battery somewhat warmer.

4) Pay Attention to Your Headlights: Do they dim and brighten on occasion? If so, stop by Cars4Keeps and one of our technicians can test your alternator for you.

5) Listen to Your Vehicle Start: Do you notice your car is having trouble turning over (starting), but once it is running everything seems normal? This may indicate that your battery has a low charge, weak connection or strater getting ready to leave you walking.

The last thing any of us need this winter is to be stranded somewhere with flakes swirling around us and a car that refuses to start. Be proactive and take winterizing your vehicle seriously this year. While there is more to it than batteries and alternators, a quick stop into Cars4Keeps is all you need to get your car in top winter condition.

See you soon,
Mike