Except for getting free in-warranty repairs, there’s little reason to use a dealer’s repair shop. Many consumers believe dealers have access to proprietary knowledge, sophisticated diagnostic software, and better tools than independent garages. That’s not true. Both dealers and non-dealers subscribe to the same databases—for example, Indentifix and ShopKey Pro—that provide repair instructions, diagrams, and news from manufacturers. Although many car dealerships feature spacious, nifty-looking workstations, independents have access to the same tools and equipment. Despite what dealerships would have you believe, local garages can access the same information, software, and equipment.

Following are the some of the reasons to opt for an independent shop over a dealership.

Convenience: Independent Service shops are typically located with in 3-5 miles of your residence and offer courtesy shuttle services. This makes it easy to work around your schedules and get the repairs done as well.

Cost: Dealership Service departments employ tens of people to serve the large number of cars that make to their shop. To cover the heavy costs of maintaining the staff and premises, dealerships charge heavy premium on the labor and parts comparing to what labor guides mandate. Their labor cost is at least 25% higher than independent shops.

Customer Service: Dealership Service department employees do not worry about vehicles coming back to service as they get more than enough vehicles to keep them busy. This negatively impacts the customer service and trust.

Service Times: Dealership Service departments get north of 100 vehicles a day with some of the vehicles requiring several hours of work. Some repairs take up to a week in a dealership.

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New tires have a deeper tread than used tires. When tires have a deeper tread, they grip and vacate water more efficiently than the tires with some wear on them. When you buy tires and install them at the rear of your car, this will help to maintain traction, especially in situations when travelling on wet or snow packed roads like much of the rgion is during the winter and early spring.

Better traction in the rear of your car can prevent an over-steer condition (when the amount that the car steers is greater than what is intended by the driver) and will help to provide vehicle stability on wet surfaces.

The cost of new tires is very minimal compared to the benefits they bring. Tires are the only part of your vehicle that makes contact with the road. There are five main benefits of purchasing new tires; improved safety, increased performance. better fuel economy. improved traction, and an overall better driving experience.

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Wondering if your car is in need of maintenance from Argyle Auto? Feel free to stop by and ask for a routine brake inspection, or you can search for these signs yourself: when you let go of the steering wheel slightly, it pulls to the left or to the right opposed to going straight. Maybe you’re hearing abnormal noises when you apply the brakes, or the brake light is on. A few other signs can be brake grabbing, pedal feeling lower than usual, vibrating, or a harder pedal to push than usual and it squeals when you do. As you read above, plenty of signs can be shown that your brakes are beginning to fail and may need replacement as soon as possible. Routine maintenance can be annoying to fit into your schedule, but your safety is important to us at Argyle Auto. If you wait too long for routine maintenance, it can easily lead to a more costly repair bill. Be safe out there!

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Tire wear depends on several factors, including your driving style and tire maintenance habits. Wrong size load and speed rating can void your warranty. But one sure way to know when to replace your tires is when treadwear indicators appear. A tire’s built-in treadwear indicators are “wear bars” that look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread and appear when it’s time to replace the tire.

You also need a new tire if:

• You can see three or more treadwear indicators around the tire
• Cord or fabric is showing through the rubber
• The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric
• The tire has a bulge or split
• The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can’t be repaired correctly

Tire Pressure

Maximize your tires’ performance and durability by monitoring and maintaining correct air pressure.

Air is a gas, expanding when heated and contracting when cooled. For most of North America, fall and early winter are especially important times for checking tire pressure—as the ambient temperature falls, tire pressure goes down.

A good rule of thumb is that for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit temperature change, tire pressure changes about 1 psi—higher as temperature rise, lower as they fall. Also, check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for recommended tire pressure.

Under-inflated tires can cause:

• Premature or irregular wear
• Poor handling
• Reduced fuel economy

Over-inflated tires can cause:

• Unusual wear
• Poor handling
• Reduced fuel economy

Checking Air Pressure

Check your vehicle’s tires at least once a month, when the tires are cold (let the vehicle sit for at least three hours). Look in your owner’s manual for the recommended tire inflation for your vehicle. Use a quality gauge. Don’t “eyeball” tires—radial tires can look fine even when they’re under-inflated.

Be sure to look for objects that have become wedged in the tread—they can work themselves further into the tire and cause air loss.

And don’t forget to check the spare!

Tire Rotation

Since each tire performs different tasks (such as steering or front- versus rear-wheel drive), tires wear at different rates. Rotating your tires at recommended intervals extends their useful life and achieves more uniform tire wear.

It’s important to rotate your tires according to the correct tire-rotation pattern. Front tires encounter different tasks than the rear tires. And a front-wheel-drive car’s tires perform different tasks than those on a rear-wheel-drive car. Your owner’s manual specifies which rotation pattern is right for your vehicle.

Your vehicle’s front and rear tires may also use different pressures—make sure to adjust individual tire pressure to the recommendation for each wheel position. See your owner’s manual for recommendations.

Wheel Rust or Dirt

Rust or dirt may not allow proper tightening of the lug nuts and a wheel may loosen over time. When you have your tires rotated, be sure to remove any rust or dirt from places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle and torque the wheel lug nuts to the specification in your owner’s manual. In an emergency, you can use a cloth or paper towel, but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later to remove all rust or dirt and torque to specifications.

Also, remember that rotating your tires won’t correct wear problems caused by worn mechanical parts or incorrect inflation pressures.

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance

Scheduled alignment and balancing are not needed, since your vehicle’s wheels were aligned and balanced at the factory. But if you notice unusual tire wear or that your vehicle “pulls” one way or the other, the wheel alignment may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle vibrating on a smooth road, your wheels may be out of balance.

A tire that is out of balance often affects ride quality and can shorten the life of tires, bearings, shocks, and other suspension components. A speed-dependent vibration—becoming noticeable around 45 mph and increasing as speed increases—is probably balance-related.

Tire Alignment

Alignment is critical for ensuring that you get maximum wear and performance from your tires. Poor alignment results from your car’s suspension and steering system becoming out of adjustment with each other. The biggest indicators of your vehicle being out of alignment are a “pulling” one way or the other as you drive or unusual tire wear. Improper tire inflation can also cause unusual tire wear.

What to Do When You Get a Flat

Knowing how to change and repair it can mean the difference between making your appointment and running hours late. And technologies like tires that run even when flat and flat-fixers you can store in your trunk make dealing with that flat easier than you might think!

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“The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in cold, harsh winter weather,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “A vehicle check before the temperatures drop is a sensible way to avoid the inconvenience of being stranded out in the cold and with the unexpected expense of emergency repairs.”

The Car Care Council and Argyle Auto Care recommend the following nine steps for winterizing your vehicle.

1. Have the battery and charging system checked for optimum performance. Cold weather is hard on batteries.
2. Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a general rule of thumb, this should be done every two years.
3. Make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work properly. Consider winter wiper blades and use cold weather washer fluid. As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every six months.
4. Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly.
5. Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. Dirty oil can spell trouble in winter. Consider changing to “winter weight” oil if you live in a cold climate. Have your technician check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time.
6. If you’re due for a tune-up, have it done before winter sets in. Winter magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling.
7. Have the brakes checked. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item.
8. Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed.
9. Check to see that exterior and interior lights work and headlights are properly aimed.

Watch the Winter Car Care Minute video here!

Motorists should also keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Drivers should check the tire pressure of the spare in the trunk and stock an emergency kit with an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blanket, extra clothes, candles/matches, bottled water, dry food snacks and needed medication.

Courtesy of Car Care Council

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To truly take the best care of your car and investments, it’s important to be educated and proactive. A little bit of research and preventative maintenance can go hundreds of miles and thousands of dollars further than putting a decision up to luck. For Tires to Automotive needs and Automotive Repair put your vehicle in the hands of a company can you trust. Do I need theft coverage if I drive an older car? Let’s look at some car insurance facts and debunk some myths.

Myth 1: The color of your car affects your rate.; Auto insurance companies use a number of factors to determine your premiums, but color isn’t one of them. Many companies won’t even ask you the color of your vehicle when preparing a quote.; The idea of the lead foot in the red convertible comes more from modern targeting than roadway experience.;

Fact 1: Car insurance companies base your premium on the year, make, model, body type, engine size and age of your vehicle. They also take into consideration safety features, how much it will take to repair or replace the vehicle, as well as your driving record. The risk factor of insuring a vehicle is directly related to the number of claims. Some makes and models generate more claims, and they’re rated accordingly.

Myth 2: If my friend borrows my car, their insurance will pay for any damages. Unless the individual has Broad Named Form Operator Insurance, a specialized form of insurance that cover the driver regardless of the vehicle, your insurance will be the one covering the damages. Most insurance policies are specific to a vehicle rather than an individual. ;Regardless of how the damage occurred, always seek out a trusted ASE Certified Auto Repair Centercto assure the highest quality repairs.

Fact 2: Your auto insurance rates will decrease as you age. According to Esurance, insurance companies charge inexperienced drivers higher rates because they’re more likely to file an auto insurance claim or get a speeding ticket.

Myth 3: Thieves prefer to steal new cars so my insurance rates will be lower if I buy used. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau the top most stolen vehicle in 2010 were: 94’ Honda Accord, ’95 Honda Civic, ’91 Toyota Camry, ’99 Chevrolet pickup (full size), ’97 Ford F-150 pickup, ’04 Dodge Ram pickup, ’00 Dodge Caravan, ’94 Acura Integra, ’02 Ford Explorer and ’99 Ford Taurus. The reason? Many new vehicles are equipped with anti-theft equipment.; Your ’95 Honda Civic probably isn’t.

Fact 3: Your gender affects your rates. Males typically drive more than females. The more ground you cover, the higher your chances for accidents and insurance claims. Male drivers also tend to take more risks behind the wheel.; Remember your friend who was obsessed with Fast and Furious? You can thank him.

Sorting the fact from the fiction will help you make better, more informed decisions about your auto insurance policy.

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