Infographic: Check engine light on?

How to Protect Your Car’s Interior

Try to add up the hours you spend in your car. It’s a lot, isn’t it? Commutes, errand runs and road trips can have you sitting in those bucket seats for hours on end, and during that time, you and your passengers are actually living in the interior. That means smudges on the windows, scratches on the dash and food in the seat crevices accumulate and leave you wondering what happened to the spotless interior you swear it had when you first bought the car.


Luckily, it’s not that difficult to keep a car’s cabin from looking a little too, well, lived in. First things first, get something to stuff your trash into. Just use a plastic bag or a container you don’t use around the house and throw it in the backseat. You can even affix a temporary hook to the door or seat to keep things even neater. Every once and awhile, take it out and relish in the fact that you haven’t spent an hour cleaning up. Keeping trash off the floor also preserves your carpets, which can get stained from any number of items.

The idea of taking a rag to your dash and leather seats is made easier if you have them on-hand. The key here is to just use a little bit of soapy water to wipe the surfaces of your car – some cleaning products contain alcohols that prematurely dry and age the materials by reducing the flexibility in the vinyl. Store a small spray bottle of your homemade cleaning fluid and a rag under your seat or in a storage bin for access when you’re waiting for your kids to get out of school or sitting in that crazy-long drive-through line. This will also come in handy when an emergency spill happens. Lastly, keep your car smelling like roses (or at least a laundromat) by adding dryer sheets under the seats.


You can’t discount the impact weather has on your vehicle either. In summer, sandy feet can quickly make a mess of an interior, and dare we mention the destruction caused by mud and snow? If you spend a lot of time ducking in and out of the elements, you might want to grab some all-weather floor mats. They’re easy to clean and do a great job of keeping the muck in one place.

The sun’s rays can also wreak havoc on your car’s surfaces, causing vinyl to crack over time and materials to fade. A simple solution is to regularly put a sunshade on the windshield. They’re inexpensive and help to keep your interior looking new.

Saving money on repair work and cleaning comes more easily when you take the time to make preventative care a priority. Not only will these tricks make your car a nicer place to be, keeping grime out of your ride will cut down on large maintenance costs in the future and will help to retain its value over time.

Lights Out? Check Vehicle Lighting

Fall is here and its arrival means fewer hours of daylight and upcoming holiday travel. Before hitting the road, it is a wise idea to make sure your vehicle’s lights are in proper working order, says the non-profit Car Care Council.

“Lights play a critical role in safe driving, as the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “From the driver’s seat you may not notice a light that isn’t working, so inspect all of your car’s lights and replace those that are out.”

Lights are normal wear items that require periodic inspection and replacement. The vehicle lighting system provides nighttime visibility; signals and alerts other drivers; and supplies light for viewing instruments and the vehicle’s interior. In addition to replacing dimming, rapidly blinking and non-functioning lights, the following tips can help keep you safe:

• Keep headlights, tail lights and signal lights clean. External dirt and debris can dim operational lights from being seen by others.

• Make sure that your headlights are properly aimed. Misaimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.

• If there is any doubt on whether or not your headlights should be on, turn them on. Lights not only help you see better in early twilight, they also make it easier for other drivers to see you.

• Don’t overdrive your headlights; you should be able to stop inside the illuminated area, otherwise you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.

“Some states have laws that require the headlights to be on with the wipers,” said White. “Keeping your vehicle’s lights properly cared for and replacing wiper blades periodically will help ensure a safer ride, keeping the road ahead well-lit and giving you a clear view.”

For more information on vehicle lighting, service interval schedules, questions to ask a technician and tips to drive smart and save money.

The non-profit Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

Infographic: Car Maintance Checklist

Start the new year fresh with this car maintenance checklist! Our general service schedule is easy to follow based on month intervals and focuses on what items need to be checked and when.

Not only does routine auto care and preventative maintenance help keep your car safe and dependable, but it helps save money and aggravation. This info graphic helps you understand what items should be inspected, either by you or your mechanic, to determine if there is a maintenance need before it becomes a bigger problem.

Easy Steps to Better Gas Mileage

With the average price of gas dipping below two dollars per gallon for the first time since 2009, many motorists have been seeing a real savings at the pump. Putting some of that savings toward basic auto care can lead to more miles per gallon and, in turn, more savings, says the non-profit Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council encourages motorists to be car care aware and perform these five simple steps to improve fuel economy and save money.

Check Tire Pressure: Keep tires properly inflated and improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent.
Use the Right Motor Oil: Improve gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent by using the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer.

Replace Clogged Air Filters: Replacing clogged air filters on older vehicles can improve fuel economy and will improve performance and acceleration on all vehicles.
Check Engine Performance: Keep your engine running efficiently and improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.

Fix It: Addressing a serious maintenance problem, like a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent.

To help motorists increase fuel economy and take better care of their vehicles, the Car Care Council offers valuable tools on its website, including a free personalized schedule and email reminder service.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. 

Emergency Safety Tips

Breakdowns can occur at any time or any place. They are generally unexpected and scary experiences that we want to avoid. Being prepared in case of a roadside emergency is crucial to your safety and the safety of your passengers.

Strive for Safety

Stay as far away from traffic as possible. Look for the emergency lane, or even a safe grassy area off the road. This especially applies when breakdowns occur on busy highways.

In the event of a blow out, it is ok to drive on the rim until you get to a safe area. Your safety and the safety of your passengers is more important than the cost of replacing a rim.

If you are unable to get your car to a safe area, move away from your car. Also, it?s a good idea to have an emergency kit in the trunk filled with flares and triangles to alert other drivers to your situation.

Place flares and/or triangles a good distance from your vehicle, which is often further away than you might think. Hazard lights can sometimes be mistaken for running lights, which may cause other drivers to steer into the emergency lane.

If someone stops to help, stay in your car with the doors locked. Crack your window and ask them to call for help if you are unable.

The same rules apply if you have been in an accident. Do not move your vehicle until the police arrive. Set up your warning markers and get away from other vehicles if possible.

Things to Know

Learn how to use your vehicle?s jack in case of a flat. Keeping a can of Fix-a-Flat in the trunk is also a good short-term fix.

High temperatures in an unattended car can reach dangerous levels in just a few minutes. Never leave children or pets in an unattended car in the heat.

Be sure to periodically check your lights. High beams, turn signals and brake lights must be in good working condition, and headlights must be aimed correctly.

Cleaning your lights on a regular basis helps increase the efficiency of your bulbs. Replace your bulbs regularly to avoid burnouts. If your headlights are hazy, try our headlight restoration service or get everything you need to do it yourself.

Test Drive Tips!

The test drive is an important part of your car purchase. This is your chance to drive one or more used cars and decide which will be yours for the next several years. A test drive may only be 10 or 15 minutes per vehicles, but, there are several things you will want to remember to check when comparing these used cars.

Before you drive

1. Test the controls – Check things like the power windows and locks, power seats, power mirrors, Also make sure the air conditioner, heater, CD player, and window wipers are working correctly. Have someone sit behind the wheel and operate the headlights, brake lights, and turn signals as you verify that they work.
2. Open everything- Open and close all the doors and the trunk, glove compartment, and center consul, make sure everything is operating smoothly.  Also open the hood with the engine running and listen for knocks or ticks.
3. Exterior check- walk around the whole vehicle and check for damage, rust, check under the vehicle for fluid leaks, check the tires, and look for a cracked windshield.

As you drive

1. Driving comfort – take a moment to make sure the test drive vehicle is comfortable. Adjust the seat, steering wheel and mirrors to your comfort.  While it usually takes a bit of driving to become completely comfortable with your next car, on the test drive you will know if you can get comfortable with that vehicle or not.
2. Performance – be sure that during  your test drive you have a chance to accelerate to at least 60mph, break, and drive on a highway and city streets. Check for any vibration in the steering wheel, or if the vehicle pulls to one side. Also listen for any odd noises while moving or at a standstill, and check if the transmission shift smoothly.
3. Blind spots – while on your test drive be sure to check your blind spots carefully.  Sometimes when changing from a car to a wagon, a car to a large SUV or the like, there are more blind spots.  Most people can get used to them, but occasionally a customer will decide against a certain vehicle because of poor visibility.