Fall Tune-Up/Winterizing Pt. III

This is the final installment on our Fall Tune-Up/Winterizing series! You can find Part I & Part II here.

Pt. III – Belts, Hoses, and Filters

By now, you have a better understanding of your cooling system, including the thermostat and coolant functions. But what about the parts relatively exposed to the elements under the hood?

To carry coolant between the radiator and the engine, you have a series of hoses located between the two. These hoses are usually made of a type of rubber that allows for continuous exposure to heated fluids.

However, over time, like all other forms of rubber, it can wear from use and exposure to different elements such as moisture and humidity.

Typically, it takes a good amount of time for these hoses to wear out, but it’s fairly simple for a technician to check and ensure that they’re still functional.

Speaking of rubber parts that can wear due to regular use and exposure to moisture, what about the belts connecting different components under the hood?  Without proper functionality, those systems affected could cause your vehicle to be inoperable.

Also, it’d be a good idea to have a trained technician look at your air filter, cabin air filter, and fuel filter to make sure they’re clean; and replace those have become clogged or dirty.

Speaking of cabin air, what about the cabin heating system? As the weather gets cooler, a heater might be useful to keep you warm, and should be inspected by a trained technician to ensure it is operating properly.

All of the items covered in this series, including Part I & Part II should be addressed by a trained technician, and we at Haley Buick GMC can provide these services at a reasonable cost to keep your vehicle on the road and money in your wallet.

Fall Tune-Up/Winterizing Pt. II

This is a continuation in our Fall Tune Up/Winterizing series! Pt. I can be found here.

Pt. II – Coolant Check/Flushing

So now that you understand a bit more about the radiator system in your vehicle, what about the fluid contained within?

Coolants are designed to work in most weather conditions; warm and cold, dry and humid.

Its basic function is to significantly lower the temperature required to freeze your engine – so instead of freezing at 32 degrees Fahrenheit like water, your engine is protected to a much colder temperature.

“But it’s too warm here to worry about freezing weather – I’ll just fill with water instead!”

Unlike water, they do not expose internal components to corrosion. Because of this, there’s a much lower possibility of your radiator disintegrating from the inside out, leaving you with the bill to replace it.

Coolant will eventually break down after exposed to engine heat over long periods of time – this can cause coolant sludge to build up, possibly clogging the coolant lines and leading to an overheated engine.

Most manufacturers recommend that individuals open their system and let it fully drain out, before closing it and replenishing the coolant. However, this will only drain roughly 90% of the fluids in your system.

And if you drained it yourself, you might not have a way to properly dispose of the spent coolant. This is where flushing comes in.

Performed by a trained technician, your vehicle is connected to a specialized piece of machinery that will remove 100% of fluids from your system, and fully replenish them with new coolant.

It should be noted, however, that it is not recommended by most manufacturers to mechanically flush any other fluid in your vehicle, as it’s possible to damage those systems.

But what about the hoses carrying the fluid, and other systems? (to be continued)

Fall Tune-Up/Winterizing Pt. I

It’s heading into that time of year again… time to bust out the sweatshirts and pants, stow the suntan lotion, and get ready for candy corn and haunted hayrides.

And, it’s also time to start thinking about a fall tune-up and possibly winterizing your vehicle.

“But a tune-up means someone will have to rebuild my engine… and winterizing’s something you do if you’re not going to be using it. I don’t want to do that!”

In reality, not only do tune-ups not usually require any serious engine-related work and winterizing checks and changes out any fluids or parts needing to be replaced, they also can save you time and money in the long run.

Let’s take a look at some of the steps involved!

Pt. I – Thermostat Check

No matter what you drive, chances are it has an engine involving a radiator system. Its basic job is to keep your engine from overheating during normal operation.

But the mystery is how this happens – the idea of a continuously operating system poses a conundrum: if the engine is always cooled, how can it ever become warm enough to operate efficiently? And what about if the system never runs… what prevents the engine from overheating, seizing up, and becoming inoperable?

That is where the thermostat comes into play.

Its basic job is to sit on top of the radiator hose leading into the engine and regulate the temperature of the engine. Most modern engines run efficiently around 195 degrees Fahrenheit; and a properly functioning thermostat ensures this temperature can be reached and not overly exceeded by controlling the flow of coolant to the engine.

Too little warmth, the valve remains closed. Too much heat and the valve is completely opened. At normal operating temperature, the valve is slowly moving to the opening or closing positions.

Around this time of year, the change in weather starts putting a little extra strain into this system – not so much that the system will always need repair or replacing, but just enough to cause extra potential wear.

Coupled with any extremely warm weather events over the summer putting stress on your vehicle, your thermostat would be a wise thing to have checked by a trained technician – if it were to fail while driving, you could potentially end up stuck.

But this isn’t the only part of your cooling system to have checked… (to be continued)

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The Cost of “Free” Diagnostics

“Come in, we can diagnose your vehicle for free!”

It’s a phrase anyone’s heard after calling a service center with that all-too-familiar “Check Engine Light” (Malfunction Indicator Lamp). It’s common to wonder what exactly happens during a “diagnosis” and just how “free” it is.

Most diagnoses are formed using electronic devices.

Technicians use scanners, which are electronic tools that can be plugged into a vehicle to read vehicle computer systems information.Some scanners may have the capability of two-way communications, which aids in the diagnostic process – they can’t actually fix your vehicle though.

Like a thermometer, doesn’t cure your vehicle – just lets you know what it could be.

Error codes (diagnostic fault codes) point to possible problems, but can’t fix them.

For example, a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro might have the “Check Engine” light, and codes P0271, P0273, and P216A appear on the scanner. These codes all point to specific faulty circuits, but it’s more likely there’s an issue in the system than the individual parts associated to those circuits.

Even if a parts store has the capability to determine defective parts, they still have to determine the cause of the problem. However, you’d likely be on the hook for hundreds of dollars without knowing if the problem is solved.

Actual vehicle service diagnostics are more than codes from a machine.

Yes, the codes help pinpoint errors to take a look at, but they don’t necessarily offer solutions. By troubleshooting and finding the root source, the issue can be fixed in an efficient and cost effectivemanner. In turn, this potentially saves you from the cost of expensive parts and labor that don’t necessarily solve your problems.

Question your service center.

Don’t settle for just a parts cost estimate, but instead try to see if the technicians and/or shop personnel have any way of troubleshooting to find the root cause. Sometimes it will be one part causing the issue – but be sure that it is. After all, it is your choice; why not choose to have the correct job done right the first time?

The Car Buying Experience: Low-Pressure

This is a continuation. Click here for Part I and Part II.

Pt. III Low-Pressure Sales

Through the previous articles on our Sales Process, it’s been mentioned you’re in control.

Or belief is that your vehicle is the second largest purchase in your life, the first being a home.

How you pay is completely up to you, and therefore is ultimately a decision we cannot make for you.

When you work with our Sales Consultants, their job is to find the right vehicle for you – the more information you can give up front, the easier it is.

You might be hesitant – “How is it low pressure when they want to know what my credit looks like, or want to know how much I can afford when I come in?”

Simply put, when you find a vehicle you want, we want to make sure that it’s not only the perfect match, but also that you can afford it as well.

We want to respect your budget by working within it. Your purchase decision is extremely important, and we want to make sure you’re completely satisfied with your choice.

Ultimately, through any step of our process, you can decide if it’s the right vehicle, and “pull the trigger” on making a purchase.

Armed with this knowledge, we hope to see you in the showroom soon, and look forward to satisfying your needs.

The Modern Engine

Whether an SUV’s powerful V8 or a sedan’s slim Inline 4, all engines are built for a specific purpose. Though each type of vehicle seems to have the same 4-stroke principle design engine, each model and year has a slightly different, performance-altering engine.

Thanks to modern technology and the most recent EPA emissions standards, there have been a few changes under the hood. Here are the four most notable points:

An Engine Control Module – your engine’s “brains.”

1. Computers have become the standard for engine control, which translates into better fuel control accuracy and higher power output.

2. Tolerances (the spaces between a piston and the cylinder wall) have been tightened, piston weights have changed, and the shape of the combustion chambers have been altered.

This, again, has helped produce higher power output, and always contributes to lowered emissions.

Different types of fuel injectors.

3. Direct fuel-injection systems are now favored over carburetors and other injection systems. With more precise control of fuel, your engine burns cleaner and more efficiently.

4.  Distributor-less ignition systems mean you have a more efficient system without the added hassle of an ignition distributor system.

Not only do these changes make modern vehicles more fuel-efficient and powerful, they also make your vehicle easier to service. By using computers to control the engine’s parts, error codes now point to specific errors instead of the entire system.

What this means to you is savings – saving money on regular maintenance and other required services.

The Car Buying Experience: Honest

This is a continuation – click here for Part I.

Pt. II Honest

“The pictures online looked great, but when you got there it was not quite what you expected.”

This is fairly common with some dealerships – they ‘dress up’ their vehicles to look good, finding angles that hide any blemishes, and generally avoid addressing the issues.

We have pictures of our vehicles on our sites – as many pictures as we can get. Not only do we suggest you take a look at the vehicle, we encourage you to test it out and see if it’s the right one for you.

And, if you’re still concerned, we provide an Autocheck report for all of our vehicles, free of charge.

Similar to other services that show you the vehicle’s history, Autocheck provides a score for each vehicle, 1-100 with 100 being the best. You stay in control of your decision.

It will also provide a range of acceptable scores, based on the vehicle’s age in comparison to similar vehicles.

The Car Buying Experience: Straightforward

“Our process for purchasing a vehicle is simply a low-pressure, straightforward and honest approach.”

Sounds like another piece of marketing hype, right? What if it were true?

Guess what, it is!

Let’s take a look at what makes it low-pressure, straightforward, and honest.

 Pt. I Simply Straightforward

Think of the process it takes to purchase a home.

 You decide to move for one of dozens of reasons, and start searching around for which neighborhood you’d like to live in.

Though you might take a spin around this neighborhood, it takes the help of a qualified Realtor to find the home perfect for you.

You locate this home, and take a tour – the Realtor lets you know about the house’s unique features and the value they can bring, and you get to decide if it’s the right one.

From there, the Realtor guides you to either more houses to look at, or through the paperwork process so that you’ll become the new owner.

Just switch the words “home” and “house” for “vehicle,” and “Realtor” with “Sales Consultant.” In a nutshell, you have the exact same process on our lot – it’s your investment, therefore you’re in control.

To see how easy this is, visit us at haleybuickgmc.com, call us at (804) 320-9054, or just drop by at 9811 Midlothian Tpk, Richmond VA, 23235!

Join us to help MDA of Central Virginia!

Haley Buick GMC, as part of Haley Automotive Group, is proud to support the Central Virginia Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), a nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and related neuromuscular diseases!

Between Saturday, August 25th, and Monday, September 3rd, we’re hosting a Sale-A-Thon to donate $50 for every vehicle sold. Also, if you mention you saw this article during a test drive, we will donate an additional $10.*

Our goal is $800 – we  also hope to be able to send one local child to the MDA Summer Camp at the Airfield 4-H Center in Wakefield, VA.

All donations will go towards the Central Virginia Muscular Dystrophy Association, and will stay local to help the Association comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy, and education. MDA currently provides worldwide research and more than 200 clinics nation-wide, including local clinics at VCU Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond.

In addition to donations, Haley will also have specials on specific vehicles indicated by MDA tags!*

For more information about this event or MDA, contact Liz Nixon, Fundraising Coordinator for the Central Virginia MDA at 804-285-2961 or enixon@mdausa.org.

*For more information, visit us at 9811 Midlothian Tpk, Richmond, VA 23235.

Things to Know: Pit Stop Edition

If you’ve been around long enough to remember full service gas stations, lived in New Jersey, or experienced the few remaining stations around Richmond, chances are you remember these stations provided service past pumping your gas for you.

For those who haven’t experienced it at a gas station, just subtract the gas pump – that’s exactly what we provide at Haley Buick GMC. Best part is that this experience is completely free!

What can you expect? Why would you do it? Are we sure it’s free?

Yes, it’s free!

Come in during our service hours: M-F 7am – 8pm; Sa 8am – 4pm. No paperwork to do either, just fast and friendly service.

What we do:

1. Greet you

2. Wash your windshield

3. Check and replenish fluids under your hood

4. Give a visual inspection of your oil

5. Check and refill or replenish air or Nitrogen in your tires

6. Let you know if anything requires a further inspection

What’s in it for you:

1. Free fluid replacement!

Forget heading to the store, buying jugs of windshield fluid or antifreeze, finding a funnel and loading your vehicle – only to have that last 1/4 of a container left… not enough to use, but too much to toss… and then figuring out where to store it before ultimately forgetting about it before your next fill.

The Haley Buick GMC Pit Stop will do it for you for free, without the headache of buying and storing fluids and their funnels.

2. Free air and Nitrogen refill/replenishment!

Instead of driving all over town finding the cheapest air pump, scrounging up quarters from under your seat, and then yanking a hose that repeatedly lodges itself under one of your tires every time you go to the next one – all before the pump’s timer runs out. And, if you have Nitrogen installed, not even being able to find a pump without heading to a place charging a pretty penny for the service… causing you to fill with regular air anyways.

We have a dedicated air pump and a technician to inflate your tires to the correct PSI – no quarters needed. Nitrogen is just as easy, whether you only need a refill or a full replenishment to purge out the regular air you might have refilled with, we can do it for you as a free service.

3. Free multi-point check

You have a million things to do. Though your car seems to be running perfect, you have the good ‘ol check engine (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) on, and you can’t seem to figure out what it could be – any Internet search you can do always comes up with ten different unlikely scenarios. Short on time, and needing a fix before it gets worse, you drive into a service station that winds up charging you just to look at it when the solution is a simple adjustment.

In the Haley Buick GMC Pit Stop, we have the ability to take a quick look and see if there’s anything out of place. If you’re noticing something when driving, just let us know – we can pull your vehicle into our shop for a fast and free multi-point inspection to find out what’s going on – your call on what to do next!