CHECK THE ENGINE BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.
American Pride Automotive • November 22, 2013
“The crew at American Pride Automotive did a great job servicing my car. They performed a basic oil change, air filter change, balance and rotation of tires, and their multipoint inspection. The staff is very knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. This is the second vehicle I have taken to American Pride and I have been satisfied with their crew each time.”
-Happy Customer
When was the last time you had your vehicle serviced before you were compelled to by the “check engine” light? We hope your answer is, “Recently, of course. In accordance with my routine maintenance schedule as provided by the vehicle’s manufacturer.” If not, we won’t judge. Life is busy, especially during this time of the year and it is remarkably easy to let things like vehicle maintenance slip through the cracks until a serious car problem makes you pay attention.
AMERICAN PRIDE OFFERS A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ROUTINE AUTO MAINTENANCE SERVICES:
- oil change (and filter change)
- multi-point inspection
- tire rotation
- engine tune up
- A/C performance test
- suspension alignment
- and more….
We send postcard and email reminders when it’s time for your next oil change so you never have to worry about writing it down or putting a reminder in your phone. Basically, when you trust American Pride to keep your vehicle(s) in good, safe working condition, auto maintenance doesn’t feel like as much of a chore. Call, contact, or stop in at any three of our convenient locations (Williamsburg, Toano, or Newport News) to schedule a service appointment.
P.S. Our next Family Service Day is TOMORROW (November 23) in Toano! If you are a single parent or deployed military family in need of vehicle service before the Thanksgiving holiday, please come see us and we will do our best to get you safely on the road, free of charge. We also welcome volunteers. Have a great weekend!
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
Along with flat tires and low or faulty batteries, an overheating engine is one of the leading causes of car breakdowns. An engine can overheat for many reasons, but coolant issues are often to blame.
ONCE I HAVE REGISTERED MY VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, HOW LONG DO I HAVE BEFORE MY VEHICLE MUST BE INSPECTED?
There is no grace period. Once you have registered a vehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles in the state of Virginia, it must be inspected immediately.
Your vehicle's powertrain can last for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance and minor repairs in most cases. Unfortunately, major, unexpected problems can happen in which your only option is a replacement of the engine or transmission.
Sometimes it's simply time to buy a new or used vehicle that you LOVE at the right price.
This increased risk makes driving while fatigued almost as dangerous as driving while tipsy.
Our cars and trucks carry us from point A to point B all year long and everyday use can create significant wear and tear that may not make itself obvious until a long road trip.
While most leaks are caused by damaged outer seams on the evaporator core, others are a result of corrosion inside the unit.
For July, August and September, $5.00 from every State Inspection performed was set aside for this quarter's community: star Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg.