New Year, New You

Ringing in the New Year can also mean bringing positive change to our lives and daily routines. Most of us have had a New Year’s resolution...or at least heard about someone else’s. The number one resolution year after year is to join a gym and to get in shape. While it’s great to be healthy, come February the majority of people fall back into their old habits. So this year why not make more than one resolution. Focusing on your health is great, but why stop there? Make 2017 the year you also focus on the health of your car. Think about all of the activities your car allows you to do on a daily basis and where you would be without it. Are you taking the necessary steps to keep your car running for an extended period of time? Here are some simple things you can do to keep your car running smoothly for years to come.

Utilize the Parking (Emergency) Brake

Most drivers assume that the parking brake is only needed when parking on steep hills or in case of emergencies. Although these things are true, it is called a parking brake because it should be used each and every time you park. The parking brake holds the car’s transmission in place when the car is stopped and static which helps the engine. By not utilizing the parking brake, over time, can lead to added stress on the car’s transmission and wear and tear under the hood. It only takes a second to pull up the lever when stopped...just remember to put it back down before moving again. This simple act can be a lifesaver for a car during its usable life.

Change the Air Filter

If you get your oil changed every 3 months or 3000 miles as recommended, the mechanic will most likely check your car’s air filter and recommend when it is time to replace it. He is not trying to upsell you!!! A car’s air filter should be changed once a year or every 12,000 miles, but most drivers neglect this simple and inexpensive fix, and some never have theirs replaced. Dirty and clogged air filters lead to lower gas mileage, the engine backfiring or the engine shutting down completely. These big problems can be avoided by spending just $10 a year and 10 minutes of your time to change the air filter in your car.

Get Your Cash Washed Regularly

It is recommended that you get your car washed every other week, and as frequently as once a week during winter months, to remove debris and harmful contaminants. Colder temperatures and roads covered with salt can make your car unrecognizable.

Rust can show up anywhere - under the paint, under the car where there is bare metal, and in nooks and crannies that you didn’t even know existed. The best way to avoid this is by getting your car washed regularly.

If you need more information on keeping your car in shape or any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact your friends at Expressway Dodge! Visit our website at expresswaydodge.com for information on our locations and their contact information.

How to Make a Winter Car Emergency Kit

“Oh the weather outside is frightful…”  While these familiar song lyrics can be comforting and nostalgic when gathered snugly in a warm house, they have a much more ominous connotation during a winter storm!  Whatever the winter weather, traveling itself doesn’t need to be frightful if you’re prepared.  Before the temperature drops and flurries make it to the forecast, make sure your car is stocked with emergency items.

Staying Safe Where You Are

Prolonged exposure to cold weather can create difficult situation.  Make sure you have items for every area of concern!

•       Warmth: Even if you’re wearing a winter coat, extra warmth is vital. Depending on the size of your family, keep at least a few blankets or sleeping bags in your car.  Hand warmers and extra winter clothes could come in handy as well.

•       Connection: Bring a separate emergency radio to hear weather updates even if your car dies.  Models come in battery-powered, wind-up, and solar models.  Some models have the option for a combination of power sources.

•       Light: Nights are long during the winter months.  Make sure you have LED flashlights and/or headlamps in your emergency kit.  Flares generate additional light so you can be spotted by rescuers.

•       Non-Perishable Food: Dehydrated foods like jerky or dried fruit are a compact source of nutrients.  Also consider granola bars, trail mix, and nuts.  Hard candies can be a good, quick source of sugar and energy.

•       First Aid: Kits can be purchased pre-made or you can assemble your own.  Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and toilet paper are other important items.

•       All-Purpose Problem-Solving: Extra items like trash bags, duct tape, tarp, or utility rope like paracord are helpful to have to troubleshoot unexpected situations.  Remember extra batteries for every item that’s battery operated!

Troubleshooting Car Problems

These are items you should be carrying your car no matter the weather!

•       Jumper Cables: Restart your car’s dead battery with the help of a friendly passerby.

•       Emergency Tire Sealant: If your problem is a flat tire, a quick repair could at least get you to the nearest gas station.

•       Traction: A bag of sand or kitty litter can be spread on the ground to add traction when you’re trying to work your car out of a tough spot.

•       Snow & Ice Removal: If you have the space in your car, pack a shovel to dig you out of a tough spot. An ice scraper is a must as well.

And, of course, make sure you stop into Expressway Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram to make sure your car is running smoothly before winter rolls around!

School is Back in Session!

Now that school is back in session it’s important to remind high school and college students about the importance of safe driving. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reports that fall is the most dangerous time of year for pedestrians. Refreshing your student driver on road safety is a good reminder for them to keep an eye out for increased pedestrian, bike, bus, and automobile traffic.  

School Zone Safety

Remind teens and college-aged drivers to look for designated school zones. School zones generally have lower speed limits. Traffic violations in school zones can come with hefty penalties, not to mention the risk posed to children walking, biking, and riding the bus to and from school.  It is illegal in every state in the US to pass a school bus that has stopped to let children out. When school bus lights are flashing and/or it has a stop sign extended near the bus driver’s window, all traffic must stop on both sides of the bus, whether the traffic is oncoming or from behind.   

Campus and College Safety

Like school zones, college campuses tend to be areas of traffic congestion. Full parking lots and crowded intersections can make it difficult to see oncoming traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians. It’s important to check the side view mirrors, the rearview mirror, and blind spots for bicyclists before making turns, opening car doors, and changing lanes in busy campus areas, especially at peak traffic times.  

Schedule Repairs and Maintenance before School Starts

Getting your student’s car in its best shape at the start of the school year will help avoid unexpected breakdowns, getting stranded in an inconvenient location, and potentially even an accident. A little maintenance now will go a long way in avoiding time crunches at inconvenient times later in the year.

At Expressway Dodge, we offer new and pre-owned vehicles from Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram. We also offer quality parts and repair service to keep your vehicle running in tip-top shape. For more information, please visit our website or stop in to test drive one of our safe vehicles today!

Attention Parents: The Pacifica Will Wow You

It’s that back-to-school time of the year! Kids dread it, parents… maybe not so much. The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica makes back to school easy (and fun!) for all involved. The Chrysler Pacifica is jam-packed with so many innovative, family-friendly features, it will make driving your kids to school, sports, extracurricular activities, and carpool duty a breeze.

The Chrysler Pacifica is new for the 2017 model year, replacing the Town & Country as Chrysler’s flagship minivan. The Pacifica is arguably the biggest leap forward the minivan segment has ever seen. Here are the top innovations on the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica:

●     Available hybrid drivetrain. The Pacifica Hybrid will deliver an estimated range of 30 electric-only driving miles as well as an EPA-estimated 80 miles per gallon equivalent fuel economy rating in the city. The battery pack fits under the floor in the second-row seat area, and it can be fully re-charged in 2 hours using a 240-volt power source! Even if you don’t choose the hybrid model, the standard Pacifica receives a best-in-class 28 highway mpg. Late Availability

●     Stow-and-Go seats. Chrysler was the first automaker to offer second-row seats that fold down into the floor and disappear -- most minivans you have to remove the seats from the vehicle. Chrysler is still the only automaker that offers stow-and-go seating, and the Chrysler Pacifica’s stow-and-go feature is power-operated, meaning the seats fold down with just the touch of a button.

●     Safety technology. The Chrysler Pacifica is the first minivan to offer available parallel and perpendicular park assist, forward collision warning with brake mitigation, land departure warning with mitigation, and rear park assist.

●     Convenience features. The Chrysler Pacifica is chock-full of convenient features that parents will love. It’s the first van with a hands-free rear hatch and hands-free sliding doors, all of which open with a simple swipe of your foot underneath! For added convenience, you can also opt for an in-vehicle vacuum system. The vacuum is conveniently stowed in the second row and extends to clean all corners of the van, but is only available on the Pacifica’s top trim.

●     High-tech entertainment options. The Pacifica offers three levels of Uconnect entertainment options. The top options feature a large 8.4-inch central display touchscreen, plus two 10-inch rear touchscreens to provide entertainment for the second-row passengers. The Uconnect system allows kids sitting in the second row to use apps on the touchscreen to play games and even check travel progress.

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is certainly a game-changer for minivans. If you’re a parent looking to make your life a little easier while still looking stylish, come to Expressway Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram and take the Pacifica out for a test drive! This is one you’ll have to see to believe.