New driver? Top 5 Things to Know About Your Car

Congratulations!

After months of studying and many nights spent dreaming about your first car or about the driving experiences that are going to come your way, you have finally done it: you earned your drivers permit. 

However, one thing you will hear from many is that, even though you learned the rules of the road, there's a lot more to driving.

If you want to impress your parents by driving safely and save money while you do so, you have to know how to keep your car properly maintained.

Here are five car maintenance and repair tips to get you started:

1. Don’t buy more gas than you need

First tip for your vehicle: Using a higher grade of gasoline than your car manufacturer recommends is like throwing money away.

Think about it, premium gasoline is about 20 to 40 cents more expensive per gallon than regular gas. In fact, most experts would agree that there is very little difference in quality between gasoline grades anyways.

Another easy gas related money-saving tip? When the gas tank is full and the pump handle shuts off automatically, do not add more gas.

Gasoline expands once you put it in the car and thus it needs room to expand. By topping of your tank, the extra gasoline can evaporate into your car’s vapor collection system, causing your engine to run poorly. 

Also, filling up past when needed causes that extra gas to be fed back into the gas station’s holding tank through its vapor recovery line. Lastly, overfilling your gas tank can cause harmful vapors to be released into the environment.

Next time you visit the pump think green, for your wallet and for the environment.

2. Tires: Invest in a penny's worth of safety

One of the best ways to guarantee your car will have proper traction is by making sure the car’s tires have plenty of tread. While 4/32 of an inch is recommended, your vehicles minimum tread should never go below 2/32.

Want to know the easiest way to check your treading? The old penny trick

Take a penny and insert it so Lincoln's head goes into the grooves of your tires first. If any part of Lincoln’s head is covered, you have a legal amount of tire tread left and can go on without having to replace your tires. However, if you see space above Lincoln’s head, or if you can see any part of the words “In God We Trust,” it’s time to get new tires.

At Jerry’s we offer tires for life on all of our vehicles. This means that Tires that are originally purchased on your Jerry’s New or Manufacturer Certified Pre-Owned vehicle will be replaced once they are worn due to normal wear and tear. On top of that Jerry’s also offers nitrogen air fills for your tires free of cost!

3. Change your Oil!

This one was emphasized to me by my own father so I am sure you will hear the same: "CHANGE YOUR OIL"

Experts used to recommend an oil change every 3,000 miles, but now the standard is that vehicles 2002 and older can go 5,000 miles without oil changes, while anything below that should stick with 3,000 mile intervals between oil changes.

So, what’s the big deal about oil changes? Pay attention.

Motor oil helps to lubricate, cool, and seal many of your engine’s internal components. When the engine is running, oil is constantly circulating through critical parts of your car’s motor, thus making regular oil checkups and changes vital to your car. Neglecting to change the oil periodically will shorten the life of your engine.

One great thing about oil changes is that they are simple and inexpensive to do, which is the main reason why so many car owners change their own oil. If you want to do it yourself, get a parent or other adult to help you out, consult your vehicle owner’s manual to find out what kind of oil to use. If you don’t want to change it yourself bring it into the shop, it still won’t cost you much, and it will keep you from having to spend big money down the road.

4. Replace your own fuses and save a few bucks!

If something electrical in your car stops working, (Such as your windows or windshield wipers), it might be a simple fix such as a blown fuse. Identify which electrical part isn’t working then, using the owner’s manual, locate the fuse box. After locating which is fuse runs the part that isn’t working, remove it with a plastic fuse removal tool, usually located in the fuse box. After installing the new fuse test the electrical part for proper operation to verify the repair

(NOTE. Make sure you install a new fuse with the same amperage rating, ir else it wont work :o) )

Replacing a fuse is one of the easiest repair jobs you can do yourself. If you are feeling shaky on replacing a fuse yourself ask an adult to help, go online to access how-to guides, and always consult your vehicle owner’s manual to learn more.

5. Always pay attention to your check engine light!

One of the biggest mistakes drivers can do is ignoring their Check Engine light.

The Check Engine light can signal any number of component failures, from a loose gas cap that causes a fuel-vapor leak to a faulty oxygen sensor that affects gas mileage. A blinking check engine light usually indicates a severe engine misfire that could damage your car’s expensive catalytic converter if ignored.

The best tip we can offer is to read your owner’s manual in order to familiarize yourself with all the dashboard warning lights. The more you know about your car, the less likely you’ll be seeing our mechanics in the near future.

Like what you read? Follow us on Twitter at @jerrysitsaboutu for blog updates.

For more information on all of our available vehicles, products and services visit us at http://jerrysitsaboutyou.com

Top 5 most expensive mistakes in car repair

It is no secret that Americans have been holding on to their cars longer, thanks in part to better built cars and an uncertain economy, factors which also lead to more and more drivers doing more of their own repairs. In fact, a survey conducted by AutoMD.com found that 3 out 4 of those who rely on a mechanic say that economic conditions are making them more likely to attempt their own repairs.

However, as we have all found, there are simple mistakes that everyone, from your average first timer to the most seasoned veteran, can make. Either way, whether you like to go under the hood or take your vehicle to the shop, here are the top 5 expensive repair and maintenance mistakes to avoid:

1) Neglecting oil changes and other simple maintenance

This one is simple folks; saving a few bucks by ignoring simple preventative maintenance, such as oil changes or failing to make minor repairs today, could mean having to spend thousands of dollars in auto repair bills tomorrow.

For example, neglecting to change the oil and filter periodically will increase contaminants and shorten the engine life, which in the worst case scenario could lead to a complete engine replacement. Keeping that in mind, the cost for an oil and filter change ranges from $25 to $65, depending on whether you do it yourself or at the shop. Meanwhile, an engine replacement on your car can cost more than $4,000!  

2) Self diagnosing your car

Without offending our repair veterans out there, assuming you know what’s wrong with your vehicle could actually lead to needless repair and more money out of your pocket.

For example, you might think that your car needs new spark plugs or an engine tuneup, when in reality you really need the mass air flow sensor cleaned. However if you tell your mechanic to replace the spark plugs without letting him diagnose the problem, he will do it and charge you for it, leaving you with the same unresolved issue. Always let your mechanic diagnose the problem to prevent unnecessary repairs.

3) Driving on bald or under inflated tires

Somewhere out there you will find many car owners that are driving on tires that have not been properly maintained. In reality, this happens because people simply forget to check their tires or because they don’t have either the time or money to get them checked.

Being aware of your tires can be a big money saver for you. For one thing, proper maintenance maximizes your tires life cycle, which means fewer tire replacements. Also, keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent. On the other hand, driving on bald tires can lead to blowouts, expensive damage to other components of your car or even lead to an accident.

Jerry’s offers free tires for life every time you purchase a new or used vehicle from any of our Toyota, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi and Scion dealers. Combine that with free air refills when you bring your vehicle for service, and you have no reason why your tires shouldn’t be in tip top condition!

4) Taking your car into the shop for simple repairs you can do yourself

Even though it can be a terrifying task, everyone , from those who have never attempted to the most experience handy man, can perform certain basic repairs with very little guidance.

Some basic repairs you can easily do yourself to save some money include replacing your wiper blades, replacing light bulbs, or even replacing a fuse or an air filter. Educate yourself on how to perform these repairs and give them a go. There are plenty of online resources and how-to guides that can guide you on exactly what to do.

Sometimes, when you purchase a part, a staff member might be able to walk you through the job in the parking lot, if it’s easy enough. One benefit to performing these easy jobs, is that it just may provide you with the courage you need to attempt even more of your own car repairs, which can lead to more savings. 

5) Ignoring the Symptoms

The biggest mistake we see from drivers, especially during times of financial need, is ignoring potential problems with their car.

Never ignore a persistent symptom with your car. Paying attention to your car’s symptoms will not only help you identify a major problem early, it will also help you avoid potentially serious safety issues, and help save you a lot of money.

Sometimes, the cause of a symptom is a simple problem with an fix. If this problem is ignored, it could result in a bigger, more expensive, issue developing. For example, if your vehicle pulls to one side while driving, the tire pressure may be low in one of the front tires. The simple fix for this problem could be removing a nail and patching the tire, however by ignoring this symptom you could risk your vehicle getting a flat tire, which could even cause an accident.

Also, never ignore your check engine light because you think your car is running fine, as you never know what is causing the check engine light to come on. For example, your fuel efficiency could be reduced by as much as 40 percent because of a faulty oxygen sensor.

Like what you read? Follow us on Twitter at @jerrysitsaboutu for blog updates.

For more information on all of our available vehicles, products and services visit us at http://jerrysitsaboutyou.com