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Category Archives: Auto Maintenance

Love It or Get Rid of It?

If you have not been investing in the care of your vehicle, there will come a time when you bring it in for service and learn it will cost some money to do the required work. At that point, we often hear the question "Should I spend the money to fix this car or should I just go buy a new one?" Our answer? That depends! If you’re tired of your current car and can afford to buy a new one, maybe that would be best. But if you are thinking about buying a new car because of the cost to fix your current one, here are some points to consider: 1. Buying a new car will increase your real costs of vehicle ownership significantly. 2. Your new vehicle will depreciate (lose its value) from the time you drive it off the lot, most dramatically within the first 3 – 5 years. 3. Both your vehicle insurance and registration costs will be much higher. 4. If you need to take out a loan to purchase your new vehicle, take into account the interest you ... read more

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Auto Maintenance

Heavy Keys Can Mean an Auto Repair Bill

Take a look at the key ring you are using to hold your ignition key. How many other keys are hanging there? More than 4 or 5? Do you have charms, a flashlight, a can opener on the ring? How about the mini plastic scan card from Borders or another store you frequent? Your child’s photo? A cute, stuffed animal? It’s amazing how many of us, (and I have to say it is usually us women!), use our key ring as a place to collect mementos and other gadgets we are fond of or want to have immediate access to. Having a large and heavy key ring may make it easier to find in your purse, but there is a critical down side. Over time, that heavy key ring swaying to and fro from your ignition, will wear down the tumblers in the lock and cause problems with starting your car. The worst case scenario is when your car won’t start at all. Think of your own front door in your home. The key inserts in the lock and turns the tumblers inside until the lock is released. If the tumblers wear down or become dam ... read more

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Auto Maintenance

Have You Met Your Cabin Air Filter?

Summer is fast approaching with longer and warmer days! Having an air conditioner in your car that is working the way it should suddenly becomes more important. One of our customers recently came to us because when he turned on his air conditioner, instead of cool air he got warmer air plus a foul smell. The culprit? His cabin air filter. Even though this filter is a common piece of equipment in today’s vehicles, it is often overlooked during a routine service. It’s important to understand that failure to change this filter periodically will have adverse effects on the health and safety of the vehicle occupants, reduce the efficiency of the vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system, and even hasten the demise of certain vehicle parts. This filter is located in the air intake for the passenger compartment and filters dust, pollen, dirt and other allergens from the incoming air. At the same time ... read more

Categories:

Auto Maintenance

Top Tips for First-Time Car Buyers

I hope you will enjoy reading this guest blog from James Henderson, a DIY guy and car enthusiast. He helps readers understand car problems you can fix and what to leave for the pros like us! Buying a car can be difficult for a lot of buyers, especially for those buying a car for the first time. Should you get a Hyundai or Kia? Chevy or Ford? There are so many car models for sale that it can be overwhelming to choose just one. Start by conducting a lot of research to determine which type of car you are looking for before you head to the dealership. This way, you won’t be pressured into a Mustang Boss 302 impulse buy when what you really need is a gas-sipping commuter like the Ford Focus. We’ve put together a checklist that can help you as you pick out your first car. Check Reviews Check out industry reviews on the vehicles that interest you. Reviews from individual consumers are great, but can be poorly written and biased. Look for professional reviews to get t ... read more

Categories:

Auto Maintenance

Replace Your Windshield Wipers and Help Wipe Out Cancer, too!

Replace Your Windshield Wipers and Help Wipe Out Cancer, too!

Windshield wipers, which are critical to your vision and safety during winter conditions, are prone to becoming dry or cracked during hot weather. We highly recommend replacing them when you have chattering or streaking wipers, and since they are so inexpensive, buying a new set each winter is not a bad practice to adopt. Windshield wipers vary in quality and construction, so either check your Owner’s Manual or call your service provider to see if there is a recommended product for your particular vehicle. Some wipers are easily replaced while newer vehicles might be more difficult and require professional installation. Either way, here at Dean’s Automotive we are proud to offer the Autotex Pink wipers as an option to you. Autotex Pink is a division of woman-owned WEXCO Industries, a leading global supplier of windshield wipers. For each set of wipers purchased, a portion of the purchase price is donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundatio ... read more

Categories:

Auto Maintenance
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