by Admin | Oct 10, 2017 | Auto Care Blog
Even if you learned how to hook up jumper cables when you were in Driver’s Education, you probably haven’t a clue as to how to do it right now. If you don’t use it then you lose it. So, here is a little primer to help you out if you are sitting in a car with a dead battery right now.
How to Hook Up Jumper Cables
First! If your car is trying to start then the battery is not dead. Jumping the car won’t change what’s going on. Your issue is going to need some expertise by someone who really knows cars. If your car does nothing when you turn the key then here is some info on how to hook up jumper cables to get your car started.
Put your friend’s car in front of yours with both front bumpers facing each other, leaving a little room for you to walk through. It is easier to do it this way than it is side by side, if you have the room.
Make sure both cars are shut off. Make sure you never let a jumper cable clamp touch another one.
Take the red jumper clamp and connect it to the positive battery post on the dead battery. The battery post has this + on it.
Connect the other red jumper clamp to the positive battery post to the good battery. It has the + on it.
Put the black jumper clamp on the good battery’s negative battery post. The battery post has the – on it.
Take the other black jumper clamp to the dead battery’s car and clamp it on a spot on the engine block or something metal under the hood that is not painted and is clean.
Start the car with the good battery and let it run for 3 minutes. Then start the dead battery car. It should start right up!
To take off the jumper cables, follow the instructions above in the reverse order.
by Admin | Sep 26, 2017 | Auto Care Blog
The cost of roadside assistance can be fairly high if you choose the wrong company to help you. When you’re broken down on the side of the road, you have no time to shop around or be picky about whom you’re going to use. You just call anybody to get you and your vehicle to a safe place.
Cost of Roadside Assistance
You really need to plan ahead if you want to be able to save on the cost of roadside assistance. There are a few things you can do to head off the high costs of needing service when you’re stranded with a broken down car.
Insurance
The first and best option is to call your insurance agent. Your auto insurance policy will have an option for roadside assistance that is likely only $10 per 6 months or less. It really is the very best deal going.
AAA
The next best option is joining AAA. This is usually around $56 per year and gives you excellent roadside assistance. Plus, membership in AAA means that you will receive discounts at hotels and all sorts of entertainment venues and restaurants. They also have a locksmith service benefit for when you’ve lost your car keys.
Help for Your Broken Car
We hope these tips make it a lot easier and less costly for you when your car breaks down. Remember to stop by for your car maintenance to help prevent those breakdowns.
by Admin | Sep 10, 2017 | Auto Care Blog
You would think you wouldn’t need instructions on how to wash a car. Isn’t it a no-brainer? No, it is a brainer. There are things that can really mess up a beautiful finish and things you can do that will make it look brand new again.
How to Wash a Car
The number one rule on how to wash a car is to wash your car with car wash products. If you use your dishwashing detergent on your car it’ll strip off your wax and anything else that is protecting your car’s gorgeous finish. So, it is well worth a trip to the auto parts store to pick up products designed for use on automobiles.
The Magic Crud Remover
There is a little item that you will want to always have on hand and that is a clay bar. If you run your hand over your paint and feel little bits of stuff then it is time for some heavy duty action. This little bar will remove all the wax from your car and return your paint job to the smooth beauty it once was by removing all the tree sap and dirt that is trapped there.
If after using the clay you notice a lot of little scratches and etching then it is time for one more step – rubbing compound. Rubbing compound can remove a lot of small, lighter issues with the paint that you thought were permanent. This could take up to 4 applications, so yeah, you’re now giving up your weekend.
The next step is to polish that beautiful car to bring out the very best in that now perfectly clean paint. Once the car looks brand new again, add your wax to protect it.
A1 Performance Auto Repair
We hope you find these How to Wash a Car tips helpful. Remember to check out our car maintenance coupons to save on your next oil change!
by Admin | Sep 2, 2017 | Auto Care Blog
Can you really do your BMW oil change every 15,000 miles? The experts finally agree on something and it isn’t the usual and standard answer.
BMW Oil Change
You might have heard that the BMW oil change is after 15,000 miles. Well, it was the manufacturer’s recommendation for a short time, but it isn’t the recommendation anymore.
The problem with 15,000 miles is that too many contaminates get into the oil and the longer they are in there the more damage they do. BMW found out that car engines were lasting only 150,000 miles instead of 300,000 when the oil was changed every 15,000 miles. So, the current recommendation is 10,000 miles for the average driver.
But Wait! That’s Not All!
The 10,000 mile recommendation is only for your average city driver. If you are in the country driving around on dirt roads and your car is sucking in a lot of dust and debris, there is a different set of rules. Dirt roads provide a lot of oil contaminates and you’re going to have to stay on top of removing them. Depending on your driving conditions, your recommended oil change time could be 3 months or 3,000 miles. Your auto mechanic will let you know which schedule will work best for your driving habits and road conditions.
The cleaner you keep your oil, the better your car will run. If your BMW’s engine is happy then your beloved Beemer will last about 300,000 miles. If you wait too long between oil changes, that life will be drastically shortened. Stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair to find out how often you should be doing your BMW oil changes. We’ll know your car’s needs as soon as we see how dirty your oil and oil filter is. We want your car to last a good long time and will recommend changing the oil only as frequently as necessary.
by A1performance123 | Aug 17, 2017 | Auto Care Blog
So, what happens when you ignore a crack in the windshield? Replacing a windshield is very expensive and a lot of people think there is nothing they can do about it. So, it ends up looking a lot like their smartphone – all cracked. Hey, it still works! But seriously, what is the most cost effective solution to repairing that crack?
Crack in the Windshield
When you have a little chip or crack in the windshield, the best thing to do is to get it fixed. Yes, it is expensive to replace. They can run anywhere from $250 to over $1000, depending on where you live and the car’s make and model. But, it doesn’t have to be replaced in most cases.
When you’re driving down the road and a rock hits your windshield, you’ll get a little chip with maybe a little crack in it. The worst thing you can do is ignore it, especially in very cold weather. In cold weather your windshield is cold then you turn on the heat and defroster and that warms it up. This will cause the crack to spread. Even if you don’t turn on the heat, the sun will warm up the windshield. The bigger that crack gets, the better the chance you’ll have to replace the windshield instead of getting a quick repair.
There is usually a windshield glass company near you that will repair or replace your windshield wherever your car is parked. They will show up at your home or office and fix it while you’re busy doing other things. A repair is easy and quick. The technician will place a specialized patch on the chip or small crack in the windshield that will keep it from spreading. This is an inexpensive fix and your auto insurance policy usually pays for it!
by A1performance123 | Jul 26, 2017 | Auto Care Blog, Honda
Some of our customers will do a Honda brake pad replacement themselves or at another auto shop, because they are a little worn down. If this is done without machining or replacing the old rotors, it could make braking a little noisy. Here is what needs to be done to stop that noise.
Honda Brake Pad Replacement
When your Honda brake pads were initially installed the rotors were, too. These two items became worn together, so they “match.” Any imperfections, lumps and bumps on the brake pads wore a matching rut in the rotor. All was well with your quietly operating brakes. Then you came along and messed up their perfect universe with a Honda brake pad replacement.
Change the brake pads to brand new ones and they will no longer match all those little imperfections in the rotors. This will generate a little noise. It isn’t really loud, but you’ll hear it when braking and maybe even while driving. There is a cure.
If you hear this noise right after the pad replacement then you’ll probably start babying the brakes. Don’t do that. The cure for this noise is to break in those pads and rotors. So, have the car up to about 40mph and brake firmly to come to a stop. This will start to generate a little heat to get the break-in period going. Do this about three times in a row and you’ll likely have done enough to solve the noise problem.
If this doesn’t re-break-in your new Honda brake pads, bring the car into A1 Performance Auto Repair and we’ll take a look at the rotors and pads. We’ll make sure they weren’t installed backward when the brake pad replacement was done, a common problem! If the rotors need to be machined or replaced, we will do that for you.
