A Woman's Point of View: Black Ice, Heating/Cooling and Mufflers

by Colette, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Going down the list of subjects we should be talking about in our Blog, I find myself thinking about my own past experiences with my cars. For example; Driving On Ice Safely.

Take one teenager driving her father’s car at night on slippery streets. I come to a stop where I either have to turn right or left. Directly ahead is someone’s driveway that leads to the garage. Simple enough except I can’t stop. I am continuing to slide all the way down the driveway where the door to the garage is open, thinking, “I am going to go right through the back of this man’s garage”, “I wonder what is behind the garage? A cliff?”, and “My dad is going to kill me when he gets the bill for this one”. The happy ending was that I stopped inside the garage before reaching the back wall. Whew!

Or the subject of Heating/Cooling System Maintenance. We all know that a lot of heat is generated in a running vehicle. The cooling system is to keep the engine heat down so the engine won’t burn up. Very important. A friend, who was a long distance trucker, once told me that he would wrap a beef roast, potatoes and corn on the cob in tinfoil and cook it on his manifold. He said it would take up to 350 miles in the summer and about 700 miles in the winter to cook it to perfection. I am fairly gullible so I still don’t know if I should believe it or not. I would like some feedback on that one.

And, last but not least, the subject of Cars For Keeps Muffler Shop. I am having this image in my mind of our mechanics, Mike, Robert and Steve, sitting on oil cans out in the garage knitting these long, long scarves (used to be called mufflers) and then wrapping them around the car’s windows and tying them expertly with various knots. To bring out the personality of each car, of course. Color is important. I have to stop my imagination before this turns into a Disney movie.

To finish on a serious note, winter is very hard on mufflers, what with the extreme cold, ice chips flying up under your car and scraping bottom on snow and ice. Tis the season to be a little more aware of what is happening underneath your vehicle.

How to Drive on Black Ice

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

If you have ever encountered black ice while driving, you know the pulse pounding, adrenaline pumping, heart dropping "Oh MY" feeling I refer to.

Crying Mommy! might help hold off the panic but won't keep you out of the ditch.

There are several items to be aware of that may help you avoid a near coronary in the first place.

Tuesday morning's drive to Big Rapids gave me a bit more first hand experience. The overpasses & underpasses were extra treacherous. The strong side wind was a significant factor as well. The pavement looked sugary, the right lane was glossy "in the groove", but was just as slick outside the groove.

1. Check the forecast. Conditions for black ice are fairly predictable by the weather services. Identifying it while on the road is difficult at best, unless you are already on it. Pavement with black ice will be a little darker and duller than the rest of the road surface.

2. Be extra aware of the traffic ahead (Uh... NOT by being closer) If you see brake lights, fish tailing cars, sideways cars or emergency flashers, slow down even more. Down shifting gently to a lower gear can help you stay within an engine speed range that will give you more control at lower speeds (if your engine is running at 1,500 rpm's it is much less responsive than at 2,500 or 3,000 rpms).

3. If you don't know how your vehicle responds in a skid, find a parking lot and TRY IT! Try it until your response becomes more natural. Build that "muscle memory". You need to react. Most of the time you won't have time to think about it. Front wheel drive responds differently than rear wheel drive and all wheel drive. All wheel (or four wheel) drive is a wonderful thing, but you can't fight physics. On black ice, we're all about equal. Anti-lock brakes make very little difference on black ice, they rely on at least one wheel having at least partial traction to activate effectively.

4.If your tires are worn, all of the conditions above are multiplied exponentially. I often preach and ALWAYS practice that good tires are cheap insurance.

5. If you hear that black ice is expected, stay where you are if you can.

Black ice can lead to a scary, expensive hard ditch landing or worse. Take the time to know the feel of your ride, look at the forecast and avoid the gottagetthereitis we all suffer from at times.

What it Means to be an AAA Approved Auto Repair Shop

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

Fewer than 2% of all Michgan Auto Repair Shops ever become AAA Approved. We are the only one in the area, and being a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility is a proud honor for Cars for Keeps. To be AAA Approved means that we have met the strict quality standards for auto repair and customer service of the AAA Auto Club.

This means they trust us enough to send their members to us for auto repair and maintenance.

When an AAA member needs to be towed to an auto repair shop, we are a shop they recommend. In order to remain an AAA Approved Auto Repair shop, we receive periodical visits from an inspector sent by the Auto Club to make sure we are adhering to their stringent standards. They also take hundreds of our actual repair orders and survey our customers to see how they were treated and how our service worked out. Our most recent survey resulted in a Customer Satisfaction Rating of over 98%.

The AAA is serious about making sure we are a trustworthy shop that performs a high level of quality workmanship and customer service. In other words, if the AAA can trust us enough to send their members here, so can you. This along with our recognition by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence helps ensure our people are educated and trained in the latest automotive technologies, procedures and techniques that fix your car for keeps.

To learn more about the AAA's auto repair certification program, visit the AAA Michigan website.

Timing Belt Tuesday Plus! (the "Cats" are away...)

Mike sent this out to our email contacts, but I wanted to make sure all our bloggers knew about this super secret special. Looks like next Tuesday is a good day to get that timing belt replaced. The mice at Cars for Keeps are some hard working critters! Don't forget to read Mike's sharing disclaimer at the bottom, and make sure you call 616-846-1986 to book this offer. - Marjorie

Hi, this is Michael from Cars for Keeps.

We found out that Dennis and Rob are going to an all day meeting next Tuesday, So I thought we could surprise them by showing how much we can get done, while running a smooth shop all day.

Dennis sends out these Timing Belt Tuesday messages, so I thought we could sweeten the deal a bit with Valentines coming & all.

If you drive a car with a timing belt, you'll need to have us service it sooner or later. To urge you to service it sooner, we'll give you an instant rebate equal to 20% of the total cost of your bill (even including other services) up to $200.00!

Now, we are known to be a fun loving group out here in the shop, but now we are extending this to ANY work done this coming Tuesday January 26th, 2010 (Rob will want to whip me, but I'll just blame it on Congress or someone nearby).

One note; I can't offer this discount on oil changes, tires or batteries, otherwise Dennis might make me work on all the French cars & Yugo's from now on.

If you are one of the first two clientsto take advantage of this offer, we will throw in aBONUS, FREE rental car for the day ($26.00 value). Or -A FREE pair of Bosch Evolution Wiper Blades(up to a $38.00 Value!)

This offer is only sent to our valued clients. It is NOT offered to walk-in customers or through any other advertising, so it is indeed a unique and valuable deal, however feel free to forward this to any of your friends & family that might be in need of this service. We always appreciate your kind referrals. Now, To take advantage of us, just reply to this e-mail if you need the free rental, or to be extra certain you are one of the first, call us at (616) 846-1989 right now!

When and How to Use 4 Wheel Drive (Including a Red Green Demonstration)

by Marjorie, Social Media Manager

Four wheel driving was a mystery to me until I started driving on the dunes. There's no better place to learn about the mechanical ins and outs of four wheel drive than Silver Lake Sand Dunes - preferably NOT on Memorial Day weekend.

But since it's not summer, using four wheel drive for snowy and icy conditions is a far more pressing topic. Let's review a few facts about four wheel drive, including when and how to use it.

When to use 4 wheel drive (all wheel drive). Four wheel drive works best when trying to maneuver through a deep or sludgy substance - like sand dunes, or heavy snow. Please keep in mind that all wheel drive is not a cure-all for bad conditions; it simply gives you more power during situations when you need it the most - like when we're having an all Michigan 15 inch snowstorm. Just remember: 4 wheel drive is the much-loved vehicle setting for off-roaders. Are you driving in off-road-like settings? If not, don't use it. Deep snow, slush and sand are the best times to turn on your all wheel drive.

Four wheel drive limitations. It's important to note that all wheel drive helps you gain more traction and power, but inversely does NOT help you stop. When going downhill on icy or slick surfaces, all wheel drive can actually make a situation worse if you're not careful with your speed. Take it from the girl who nearly banked an old F150 full of maple sap on icy backroads. Momentum causes your vehicle to go faster, and having rear (or front) wheels disengaged from the engine can actually help you slow. So if you're cresting a particularly icy hill in 4 wheel, shift back into 2 wheel if you can. If you can't, follow the cardinal rule of inclement weather and take it slow.

Return to 2 wheel drive on dry pavement. If you have to lock your hubs, pull over in a safe place and unlock them once you're back on dry pavement. Same goes for driving on dry roads before you get to deep snow or sand (as any dune driver would know, we only let the air out and lock hubs immediately prior to entering the dunes. Wooo!). Driving on hard, dry roads in four wheel drive can cause damage to your vehicle's driveshafts, transfer case or differentials. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm sure it would send Rob, Dennis and Bobby into fits.

Those are the major points we'll cover for today. Now, a "bit of fun" by Red Green. Please, please don't try this at home.

Cars for Keeps Welcomes a New Crewmember (and gives away some stuff)

by Dennis Sweet, Customer Service Manager

The New Year brings some exciting changes to Cars for Keeps.

First, we welcome Steve Stefanits to our Crew. Steve brings twenty years of experience in American and Asian automotive service to our lineup. Steve has developed his skills over the years through conventional training along with factory training in Subaru, General Motors and Chrysler products. We first talked with Steve about joining us in 1993. We are proud and grateful to have him as part of our team. Welcome aboard Steve!

In Honor of Steve's favorite car brand, Cars for Keeps is offering an additional 10% off any Subaru service. Just call and mention you read our blog!

Second, we roll out our newest customer benefit; Seasonal Pit Stops! In racing, a "pit stop" is where quick, minor services are performed to get racers back in action as fast as possible with the best odds of making it the maximum distance before another pit stop is required. The "pits" are a spot just off the race track. Our goal is be there for you, at YOUR convenience to make sure your race continues without car grief.

At Cars for Keeps, we use the term Pit Stop to explain our strategy of making sure your ride is ready for another round of safe, reliable driving with the unique challenges of the next season. Cold, Slick, Hot or Rainy, you'll be ready.So in order to make sure you aren't sacrificing your safety, reliability or budget, we offer our clients the Seasonal Pit Stop.

The Cars for Keeps Pit Stop simply allows us an opportunity to check your vehicles lights, tires, wipers, belts, hoses and fluids. We analyze all the fluids, including the engine oil to make sure they are fully capable of protecting their related systems.

The best part of the Cars for Keeps Pit Stop is that it's absolutely FREE for our clients. All it takes is your participation in pre-scheduling your pit stop, allowing us to contact you via e-mail for your reminder and then coming in at the scheduled time or re-scheduling if the original time does not work out for you. Call us at 616-846-1989 to schedule your free pit stop.

Safe driving!

A Women’s Point of View: Cars vs. Computers

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Here’s a thought. What has had the bigger impact for life on earth? Cars or Computers?

Mankind lived for thousands of years without either, and then within 125 years we have both. Which says a lot about our adaptability and survival.

I personally think cars have the bigger impact. It takes about 10 minutes to walk a mile. It takes about 60 seconds, or less, to drive a mile. Sitting down! Automobiles feed our egos, save us time and satisfy our need for speed. They transport the food that feeds the nation, the goods that keep us working and the toys that we play with. We have cars that entertain us with movies and music from all over the world. We can make and receive phone calls. We have cars that keep us from getting lost, unlock our doors and start our cars for us. We have cars that comfort us by locating and contacting us when we have an accident, sending help and keep us from panic by talking to us.

Sometimes our cars are the only place where we can be alone, free and in control. They keep us warm in the winter, cool in the summer and we can have the wind blowing through our hair. Someone, somewhere, will come up with something that will make us tan, give us a physical and cut and style our hair while we are driving. Our cars give us so much and all they ask for in return is a little gas, a little oil and a little regular maintenance.

We at Cars For Keeps can make that a fun and relaxing experience for you.

5 Tips to Help You Speak "Auto Tech" to Your Car Technicians

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

Have you ever brought your car into a repair shop only to realize you have no idea what to tell the technicians? Or - perhaps more commonly - to realize that you have no idea what your car technicians are telling you?

Well, first off, we take pride at Cars for Keeps in making sure our customers understand exactly what's wrong with their autos, and how we plan to fix it. Ok, well maybe not EXACTLY (that would be a long, boring visit indeed), but a well-informed car owner is far more capable of keeping their car healthy, which is what we're all about.

If you're anything like me, you might tend to say things to your car technician like, "Um, it's not working. I know something is wrong with the...car. Fix it!" Here are a few ways to prepare for your next visit to the repair shop, impress your technicians and make sure you're getting the best service for your car:

1) Take a moment to write down your car's symptoms and/or performance issues. Sloppy steering? Any rattles, vibrations or unusual smells? Does it have trouble starting? Weird sounds? Does the steering pull? Even if you don't know what these symptoms mean, this information can help your technician more accurately diagnose your car.

2) Bring the paperwork from previous repairs, tire changes, oil changes et cetera with you. Think of these as your car's "medical records" - and who doesn't ask for a diagnosis from the doctor without first giving him or her your medical records?

No surprises here!

3) Use the terms "passenger side" and "driver's side" instead of "right" and "left" when describing what's wrong. This will help clarify what you're describing; it turns out, "left" and "right" are subjective to where you're standing!

4) If there's any jargon, process or problem a technician describes that you don't understand, ask him or her to explain it more thoroughly. We pride ourselves on keeping customers well informed, but we can't answer questions you don't ask!

5) Read over the repair order thoroughly and ask technicians to explain any parts you don't understand. If certain parts are vague or not clear, ask they be rewritten so there are no surprises later on.

Safe driving and healthy cars!

Pardon me, but is that your snake lying on the ground?

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

The big black rubber band looking thingy, the black strip of rubber you see lying in the middle of a traffic lane, is not a snake; it's a "serpentine" belt.

Every time you see a broken drive belt lying on the ground at a stop light, you see the evidence that someone’s not going to get where they’re going today without some surprises.

When you see a belt on the ground do you wonder what would happen on your car? Do you wonder if your belt (or belts) are getting ready to do the same thing?

Well… Here are a few facts:

a. No belt is impervious to damage from a foreign object. Modern belts are much tougher though and have a more predictable life span. It’s worth noting that most modern vehicles also utilize protector panels keeping out sticks & stones & worse. If a minimum wage quickie lube guy left one off, would you know?

b. Due to the need for cooling, charging and most critically, power steering, most vehicles can’t run for long without a drive belt. The power steering pump is driven by a belt on the vast majority of vehicles, leaving the steering very stiff if the belt fails. Note that your steering won't fail, but to feel the difference, try turning your steering wheel without the engine running… Other reasons are cooling, as usually the water pump stops turning (all the hot coolant just sits still) and charging, because the alternator is no longer being driven, meaning all of the electricity your vehicle is coming directly from the battery which typically won't last long.

c. The belts are one of the more critical items we inspect during your regular pit stops. We follow clear performance and wear specifications to determine if the belt system has the best chance of reliably performing through till the next seasonal pit stop.

What could you expect if the same were to happen to you? The first thing you would probably notice is the battery or alternator warning light on your instrument panel, steering will suddenly become stiff, requiring significantly more effort to turn and the engine will start to run warmer than normal. While each situation is unique, the old standard of continuing the same direction as much as possible, finding the nearest place to pull off the road safely and then turn you heater up all the way before the temperature gets out of control (in winter to give you some cabin warmth you may need for a few minutes). Keep in mind, when the engine temperature gauge goes into the red, damage is occurring, the longer in red, the more lifespan is consumed. Too long and engine replacement is the only option. Don't hesitate to call for help, if you are unsure who to call, we hope you'll think of us (that card in the glovebox?) we'll be glad to guide you in getting the help you need.

The best thing to keep this from happening to you? Get regular maintenance inspections (not just a quickie lube). Our clients get our Seasonal Pit Stops free!

A Women’s Point of View: Turn Up The Heat

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

I am sure everyone has noticed that it’s cold out there! This is easily explained; it’s January in North America. Most of us are not ‘winter people’, so in our hearts and minds we are basking on a warm beach somewhere in the Caribbean. Take a moment to think about that and go “aahhh”. OK, back to reality.

Just like people, cars need a little extra TLC in cold weather. The phrase ‘cold start’ takes on a whole new meaning. Batteries that are old and weak give out a lot in cold weather. Temperature sensors become overworked and stop functioning as they should. Windshield wipers get frozen to the windshield and when forced to let go, have bits of rubber break off and you get streaks on your windshield. Car doors and door handles get frozen shut. Power windows freeze and won’t work. That is the one that makes me bang my head on the steering wheel.

Anyway, there are some things that could help these situations. A heated garage, an electric blanket for your car, a block heater that you plug into an electrical outlet are just a few suggestions. Robert’s blog covered some helpful preventive measures so I will not go over them again. Life happens to all of us and everyone here at Cars For Keeps is here to help you in the big and small things to keep your veheicle in good working order. We are at your service.

Distracted While Driving - the New DUI

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

It's an issue my dad, a former driver's education teacher, championed years ago during his teaching years. "One of the most dangerous types of people on the road is the person who's distracted by their cell phone behind the wheel," he would say, emphasizing that this rule applies to everyone - teenage drivers to soccer moms. "When I see someone in their minivan completely absorbed in their phone while going down the road, I steer clear of them."

The truth is that most of us are guilty of what safety activist groups and legislative groups have dubbed "DWD", or "Distracted While Driving". Answering and making calls while driving has been a mild concern for several years, but the growing popularity of texting has brought this issue to the forefront - particularly among young drivers.

A government report from 2008 states that 515,000 people were injured and 5,870 people were killed in crashes involving "distracted drivers". Additionally, the report indicated that 16% of all fatal crashes in 2008 involved driver distraction; this percentage involved a high number of young drivers.

What does this mean for us? Well, DWD is no longer just an indicator of the technological divide between the younger driving generation and the older; it's become a matter of public safety, and state legislative groups have been treating it as such. Nineteen states have already banned text messaging while driving, and six states (as well as DC) have banned cell phone use while driving altogether. City council members in Ann Arbor are working on ban on cell phone use during driving, and Michigan's House of Representatives passed a bill late in 2009 which would allow police to ticket text-messaging drivers. Non-governmental organizations are considering non-legislative options, such as integrating Blackberry and PDA software with programming that would prevent their users from receiving or sending texts and calls while on the road.

Regardless of what measures our legislators and PDA software engineers take against DWD, it's an issue all drivers should become more aware of - both for ourselves and for instructing younger drivers.

What do you think about this issue? Should texting while driving be banned, all cell phone use while driving, or neither? Now is the time to contact your state legislatures if you'd like to have a say in this issue. Follow this link to learn more about Ann Arbor's City Council in their fight against DWD, or read what Nationwide Insurance has to say about the issue.

This video compares the effects of driving over the legal alcohol limit to DWD with some surprising conclusions.

Tell us what you think!

5 Ways to Prevent Costly Ice-Induced Car Damage

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Technician

The cold weather is upon us. The cold wreaks all kinds of havoc on vehicles. Any problems that you may have had in the warmer months seem to be multiplied by the cold. What are some basic things you can do to protect your vehicle?

1) Marjorie talked earlier about washing away the salt that accumulates from roads. This is great preventative maintenance. It can help minimize any rust from the salt that may form. Not only on the body of the vehicle, but many other parts such as your brake lines or fuel lines.

2) Drive slower. This one should be a no brainer. Driving slower can reduce your chances of being caught in a ditch or worse in an accident.

3) You should also drive slower when your cars engine is cold. This will prevent any premature damage internally to the engine. Many people do not realize the other fluids in your vehicle are also cold, such as transmission fluid, power steering fluid and differential fluids. So avoid high revving your engine and fast cornering until you have at least some drive time to warm those up too.

4) Turn off all accessories when you shut your vehicle off. This includes your lights, blower motor, wiper blades, ect. These extra accessories are not needed when you start your vehicle for the first time and only add an extra draw on your battery when starting your vehicle. Only after your vehicle is started should these be turned on. And don't start the wipers until they are no longer frozen to the windshield!

5) Do not force your windows down. Manual windows are, of course, more resilient to this over power windows. When your windows are frozen shut you should not force them down with the window switch. If they do not go down right away they are frozen shut. You should press up on the switch and wait for them to thaw out. You can speed up the process with a de-icer spray. Many of these motors, just like wiper motors, have plastic gears internally and plastic mounts. They are prone to break especially in the winter, often with costly repairs!

With a few basic steps you can minimize any headaches in the winter and enjoy the holiday season. I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year and a Happy Holiday season.

Drive safe and until next time!

Happy New Year, from the crew at Cars for Keeps!