Pedder Nissan

SERVICING YOUR BATTERY

You should never let anything come between your car and a good battery connection. If you want the day to come to a grinding halt in a hurry, driving with corroded battery posts is the way to do it. It  takes only a millimeter of crunchy white residue to keep your car from starting.

Your car's battery is the starting point for every system it uses. This is because it's used to start the car! The conditions surrounding your battery posts create the perfect breeding ground for nasty corrosion, which will appear as white, crusty residue around the battery posts. As the corrosion builds up, it becomes harder for your car to connect strongly with the battery. That's why we need to get rid of it.

The battery service is one the most neglected maintenance services on cars today. Most people  think that because "my car starts fine" it's not needed. It's just a matter of time before your vehicle not only won't start but may need a battery replacement because of the unnecessary charge and  discharge of the battery from the corrosion that could be prevented from routine maintenance. Have routine battery tests and maintenance performed and "start" every day with confidence.

INCREASE FUEL ECONOMY TIPS

There are fuel economy tips that are simple and often overlooked. Get rid of excess weight by removing unnecessary items from your vehicle. You should store only essentials in the trunk since less weight means better mileage.  An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your miles per gallon by up to 2%.  Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle.

Keep your engine operating at its peak efficiency.  A well-maintained engine will help you maximize gas mileage. Incorrect fuel ratio, bad spark plugs, and incorrect spark timing can have a big effect on gas mileage. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended.  If you have engine performance problems like rough idling poor acceleration and so on solve these problems as quickly as possible. Studies have shown that depending on the cars condition a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20%.
 

Well-lubricated engines don't have to work as hard so they produce more power while using less fuel. Don't forget to change your oil and oil filter as recommended.

The oil filter removes harmful dirt and grit from the engine, clean engines run smoother and easier. The cars air filter keeps impurities in the air from damaging internal engine components.

Not only will replacing a dirty air filter improve your fuel efficiency it will protect the engine as well. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10% increase in gas consumption due to air starvation and improper air fuel mixture.

Under inflated tires cause more resistance to travel  and they force the engine to work harder. Let the tires cool down before checking their pressure. Car manufacturers are required to place a label in the car stating the correct tire pressure.

This label may be found on the edge of the door or doorjamb, in the glove box, or on the inside of the gas Compartment cover. This is depending on the year make and model. If the label lists a PSI range, use the higher number in order to maximize fuel efficiency.

It's important to note that radial tires can be under inflated yet still look normal, so check the tires with a gauge. Digital tire pressure gauges are the most accurate. An average tire loses about one psi of air per month and one psi for every 10° drop in temperature. Changes in the ambient air temperature cause the tire pressure to fluctuate. This is why tire pressure should always be checked when the tires or cool, preferably in the morning before driving the car. Check your tires air pressure about once per month and before a long trip.

Tires & Tire Safety

People generally underestimate how important proper tire maintenance is when it comes to safety. Remember, your tire is the only contact your vehicle has with the road. Depending on the tire size and load, the amount of tire that's actually in contact with the road at any given moment is only slightly larger than a softball.

You literally depend on that tire to make the vehicle stop, go, or do any kind of maneuver. The tire is your lifeline.

The dangers of driving around on a bald tire especially on a long trip  are numerous:

1. Since a bald tire does not have a sufficient amount of tread, it's more susceptible to a blowout or other kinds of damage if you hit a pothole.
2. If you have a bald tire, you have less traction, and therefore less control, of your vehicle.
3. A bald tire is, by definition, an old tire. And as tires age, they're more likely to being damaged or crack on impact -- which also makes the vehicle much harder to control in an emergency situation.

The "Lincoln Penny" Test

Despite all of the advancements in tire design and technology over the last 20 years or more, the "Lincoln penny" test is still recommended as the best way to determine whether you still have enough tread left -- or whether it's time to buy new tires and send "old baldy" to the landfill.

For those who don't recall this time-honored method: Insert the edge of the penny into the tread upside down. That is, with the top of Honest Abe's noggin going in first. If the top of Lincoln's head is covered by tread, that means you still have an acceptable and safe amount of tread. Do this test at various points around the perimeter of the tire. If the top of his Lincoln's head is visible at any point around the tire, the tire is ready for the recycling center -- and it's time for you to go tire shopping.

While you're doing the penny test, also look for signs of uneven wear or damage such as cuts, cracks, splits, punctures and bulges.  Any of these can significantly shorten the tire's life span and if they're not corrected more damage or loss of pressure can occur.

Replace All Four Tires

It's never a good idea to replace just one tire. If you have a brand new tire on one wheel, and older, more worn tires on the other three wheels, that will result in your vehicle pulling in one direction or the other, and cause an imbalance in traction. Ideally, you should replace all four tires at once.

More Photos Per Car on PedderNissan.com!

Pedder Nissan recently brought in-house, the picture taking of the cars we have in stock!

What does that mean for you?

We're taking 3x the pictures of each car so you can see more even before you come in!  We understand the convenience of being able to preview the many choices you have of vehicle at Pedder Nissan and this will make it that much easier.

Replace Your Wiperblades

Worn wiper blades are dangerous. Because 90% of your driving decisions are based on a clear, unobstructed view of the road, it's a critical safety concern that your car's wipers provide you with the cleanest windshield possible.

Important Things to Remember

Heed the following maintenance tips for optimum wiper blade performance and driving visibility:

Tip #1: It is best to Replace your wiper blades every 6 months or 6,000 miles - even if you live in a "dry" place with little to no rain at all.

Tip #2: Consider your "options" when replacing your windshield wipers:

Option 1 You can replace just the refills (squeegees), which are the rubber wiping components installed into the vertebrae. This is your most economical option.

Option 2 You can replace the blades, which is the complete assembly composed of the metal frame and the refill. Although slightly more expensive, this option is faster to install and provides you with the benefit of improved windshield contact and, hence, wiping efficiency.