It's never been about getting there. It's been about getting the most out of the Journey.

Maintenance Tip : Coolant Flush

Coolant Flush – How Often is Needed?

Real coolant flush entails removing all the fluid that is in the cooling system and replacing it with fresh one. The best method of removing all the fluid is hooking the car to the machine that will remove it while at the same time, it puts in fresh fluid. The coolant flush machine puts in the right amount of fluid.

 

The machines circulate the fluid in the vehicle cooling system for a number of times. This removes any kind of debris that could have accumulated for a long time. This is the only way that one can consider to have received the service that has been done in the right way.

 

Refills and Drainage

 Coolant flush is usually confusing to many people as many think that it involves just draining and then refilling cooling system. There are others who assume that it is done by hooking it up to the flush machine and back flushing the system.

 

The difference between refill or drain and engine coolant flush is big. Draining and refilling is straight forward and has no difficulties while a flush needs one to have a coolant flush kit, draining and refilling just includes the drainage of a radiator and the reservoir.

 

It is then refilled with the some new fluid.  Before draining and refilling it is important to make arrangements on how the fluid should be drained as the old fluid cannot be poured down a drain or on the street.

Coolant Flushes and Solvents

Clearing contamination in the engine coolant system might be necessary  but  using a flush solvent  or any element  that  is used to clean  the cooling  system  will do more damage than  good. Getting the cooling system flushed using the flushing machine might be the right way but it is important to first ask is coolant flush necessary?

 

This depends on the reasons that have prompted the car owner to consider it but at times it might not be necessary and the cost can be saved. However there could be reasons why someone feels that it is necessary to have a it done and not just because there is coolant flush coupon that would cater for part of the cost.

 

If the PH of the cooling fluid is not the right one, there is a need to for flushing. It is also important to do a flush if it is noted that the coolant has been discolored. When carrying out such service the BMW and Toyota coolant flush cost might be different depending on where it is done but it is necessary to use a flush machine.

 

The advantage of using the flush machine is that there is an assurance that almost all the old coolant will be flushed out. Draining and refilling just removes only 50 to 60 percent of old fluid.

 

Frequency of Coolant Flushes

 

When it comes to maintenance of the cooling system that involves coolant flush how often should it be done? This is something that does not need to carry out frequently. There are mechanics who advise their clients to do it every year but it is not necessary and will only increase servicing cost for nothing.

 

Most of the cars that were built after the early year of 1990s have coolant that can last for at least five years or even longer. For all this period, no maintenance is required. Although this is a good service when there is a necessity to have it done, coolant flushing can be imposed on the customers who do not understand about the time when it should be done by mechanics who want to make extra cash.

 

The best thing to do after being informed by mechanic that there is a need for coolant flushing is to find out the exact reason why it should be done. Check your car manual; it is about 50,000 miles interval before it is needed for such thorough cleaning service.

 

Coolant Test Strips

 It is possible to establish if there is a need for coolant flush even without the help of a mechanic. This is done by using by using testing strips that can be bought from most of the stores that sell auto spares. These strips make it possible to determine whether the coolant has the right PH.

 

By using the test strips one can establish the level of freeze protection and if there is a need for more additives. If it is necessary for such service the coolant flush kit instructions should be followed. Ensure that everything is needed and ready before starting the exercise.

 

Courtesy of CoolantFlush.net

Driving Safely in Reduced Visibility Conditions

Driving is always more difficult in reduced-visibility conditions.It’s hard to see your route clear.Reduced visibility conditions include twilight, darkness, rain, snow, fog, smoke, and bright sunshine.

• Use moderation in judging a safe speed. Drive slow enough to maintain a safe stopping distance.
• Don’t slow down so much that you become a risk to other drivers.
• Be aware that in reduced visibility conditions, drivers tend to follow the tail lights of vehicles in front of them.
• If you must pull off of the road, pull as far off of the road as possible, turn off your headlights, take your foot off of the brake pedal, and turn on your hazard lights.
• Make sure you have a pair of sunglasses in your vehicle in case of bright sunlight.

Courtesy of Car-Use.net

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2013 Dodge Dart Full Test

Cheap is a four-letter word. Inexpensive is the description most compact sedans aspire to, but even that's not enough anymore. In just a few short years, the compact sedan segment in the U.S. has grown from a barren wasteland into a thumpin' nightclub, and buyers are now spoiled with choice.

The 2013 Dodge Dart is arriving just as the party reaches critical mass. It's an all-new (well, to the U.S.) sedan that is one of the fruits of the Chrysler-Fiat mind meld, and it's vying for your attention with the promise of Italian roots and Dodge attitude.

Imported From Detroit by Way of Italy
You probably know by now that the Dodge Dart started life as an Alfa Romeo Giulietta that underwent that very American process of reconstructive surgery. Dodge engineers widened the track, lengthened the wheelbase, retuned the suspension and worked up some new sheet metal in the process. Assembled in Illinois, the Dart fills the void left by the Neon while overlapping somewhat — on paper, at least — with the Chrysler 200.

By the time the rollout is complete, you'll be able to buy the 2013 Dodge Dart in a bewildering mix of trim levels and powertrain choices. Our tester, a Limited, starts at a fiver shy of $20 grand and was optioned to $23,875, near the pointiest end of pricing for the compact sedan. It's a not-inconsiderable slice of skrilla but not out of whack with its crosstown competition, the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus.

Downsized Engine and Manual Gearbox
Headlining our tester's options list is its Fiat-sourced 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir four-cylinder engine, which promises to deal from both sides of the power and efficiency deck. Power delivery from the little engine that could is at once impressive and frustrating. It's got an unexpectedly rorty exhaust note, delivers plentiful midrange torque when you give it the spurs and spins with little vibration.

This chassis might just be a terrific starting point for the upcoming SRT Dart."

If you catch the engine below 2,500 rpm, however, it's flat-footed. The little engine doesn't build meaningful boost that low in the rev range. So in situations like leaving a light, or trying to frogger into a hole amid creeping freeway traffic, you're basically trying to accelerate 3,253 pounds of sedan with a normally aspirated 1.4-liter engine, the results of which are predictable. As a result you find yourself holding onto gears longer than you otherwise might in order to avoid being caught out.

Keeping the Dart on boil involves palming its perfectly sized metallic shift ball and rowing the six-speed manual at a vigorous pace. Its throws are longer than we'd like, but the upside of this geometric equation is that the associated shift effort is light. Light, that is, except for the 2nd gear gate, which exhibited a sticky resistance. The remaining gates engage positively, and the clutch take-up is smooth and predictable.

Proper Quick
Be generous with the throttle and the 2013 Dodge Dart scoots enthusiastically. At the test track we clocked the Dart from zero to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds (8.0 seconds with 1 foot of rollout as on a drag strip) and through the quarter-mile in 16.1 seconds at 85.4 mph. This performance bests both the last 2012 Ford Focus Titanium we tested (8.7, 8.3, and 16.4 seconds at 85.4 mph, respectively) and the Chevrolet Cruze (9.6, 9.3, and 17.1 seconds at 80.4 mph, respectively).

We used 87 octane fuel in our testing of the Dart and things likely would have perked up a bit on premium. There is no requirement to run premium in the Dart, but small-cube turbo engines can return better drivability and fuel savings when run on premium, particularly in hot weather.

Fuel economy will be a big factor in determining whether you feel the need to pony up the extra $1,300 for the 1.4-liter turbo found in our tester. Its window sticker reads 27/39 city/highway mpg, a rating we'll put to the test with our upcoming long-term Dart. The 22 mpg we measured during this short test was the result of a single fill and is not statistically significant.

Substance in the Mix
Another concern surrounding the purchase of an inexpensive car is the fear that you'll get, well, a cheap car. There's usually some kind of coarseness or corner-cutting evident in the way it takes to the road. In many ways, however, the Dart drives like a more expensive car than its price point suggests. From the good noise isolation to the way the suspension picks up its feet over road zits, there's real substance to the Dart. The steering is another high point. Though not brimming with feel, the rack is quick, builds effort in a natural way and has great on-center characteristics — rare traits for an electric power steering system, especially one found in an entry-level-ish car such as this one.

In our testing the 2013 Dodge Dart ran through the slalom at 65.1 mph and generated a maximum of 0.86g on the skid pad. Note that even with the stability control system switched off, it wasn't fully off. This likely left some performance on the table, not that we expect this will be a sticking point for the majority of Dart owners. Braking from 60 mph required just 118 feet, a solid result that's among the best in the segment and even more impressive considering the Dart rolls on all-season tires.

There's a bit more compliance to the suspension underpinnings than you'd want for truly vigorous drives, as its suspension bushings are half as firm as they should be. Nevertheless, the Dart is surprisingly satisfying to thread through a smooth canyon road if you're just trying to make brisk work of it and not set a time-to-distance record. Find the groove and you can find enjoyment in orchestrating its swell of torque and pivoting its nose through compressions and apexes. There's a latent spirit in the Dart, a fundamental goodness about the chassis that is evident in these driving conditions. This chassis might just be a terrific starting point for the upcoming SRT Dart.

The Elements of Style
What's more, this is a good-looking car. It won't stop anyone in their tracks, but its crisp styling elements come together cohesively with just-right proportions and a minimum of fussiness. Hard to say that about the Focus sedan.

Our tester's black-trimmed cabin looks anonymously inoffensive at first, but a few areas will rouse persnickety observers. On sunny days the flat expanse of dashboard reflects prominently on the inside of the steep-raked windshield, and the hard surfaces that make up the lower half of the dashboard are mismatched in color to those above them. This lower piece might have been carried over intact from a mid-'90s Chrysler Cirrus, shaped as though recently pressed out of a Jell-O mold. The omission of any kind of trunk grab handle is a strange one, too. Minor quibbles, to be sure. Fortunately the Dart's designers resisted the temptation to slather the interior with cheesy faux-chrome accents, so there's that.

You might not guess that the Dart is a compact car from sitting in the driver seat. To lift a page from Pontiac's forgotten "e aho laula" ad campaign, wider is indeed better — the Dart's generous width makes the cabin feel spacious and beefs up the car's stance. The seats are comfy and plush, if a bit overstuffed in that traditional Detroit way. Even the normally detestable touchscreen multimedia interface works well, owing to the screen's ample size, uncluttered format and intuitive screen flow. Equipment in our top-trim Limited tester was plentiful, including dual-zone climate control, a back-up camera, heated steering wheel and front seats, automatic headlights and leather. There's even a little hideaway bin built into the bottom cushion of the passenger front seat.

The Right Mix of New and Old
So while the Dart may unearth a name from the company's past, it is a thoroughly modern compact car. You can feel it from behind the wheel and see it when you approach it from across the parking lot.

It's a competitive sedan, too, offering space, refinement and satisfying dynamics. An even more powerful R/T version will be available later this year, but even the 1.4-liter outmuscles its current competition. So yeah, the 2013 Dodge Dart may be a little late to the compact sedan party, but it just gave the segment a second wind.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.

Monday Maintenance : Avoiding Potholes

Potholes destroy tires, and the price of tires is rising sharply due to a supply shortage of natural rubber (yes, it still comes from trees, mostly in southeast Asia) and increasing demand from China, where car ownership is undergoing double-digit growth. Petroleum is also used in tire manufacturing, adding further to cost volatility. Blow out just one tire on one pothole and expect to pay out more – one major tire manufacturer increased prices three times in 2011 alone.

Damage from potholes doesn’t stop at tires. In a blink of the eye, you can experience $1000 of damage, possibly more, when your car hits a pothole – it’s possible to impair your car’s shock absorbers, suspension system, struts, rims and alignment as well. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the average additional vehicle operating costs due to rough roads in 2007 was $400, with higher costs experienced in places including Baltimore ($589), Concord, NH ($656), Dallas-Fort Worth ($512), Los Angeles ($746), New Orleans ($622), New York-Newark ($638), Oklahoma City ($631), San Francisco-Oakland ($705) and Tulsa ($703). Deteriorating roads and general inflation since 2007 likely pushed these costs higher.

But there are things you can do before, during and after hitting a pothole. A preventive strategy is more about preparation, driving skills and reacting appropriately when a pothole sneaks up to surprise you. We suggest you approach it on three fronts, as follows.

Adopt smarter driving practices

You can reduce damage with vehicle preparation and driving with good sense:

• Check your tire pressure to keep it at the tire manufacturer’s recommendation. If a tire is too soft, it handles poorly and in a sudden bump may rupture if the wheel rims pinch it against the jagged edge of a pothole. Over-inflated tires are more susceptible to damage as well.
• Have a clean windshield! Your field of vision is critical.
• Observe the traffic ahead of you – if other cars are swerving and stopping, it’s because of a problem in the road.
• Beware of puddles – what might look like a little surface water might have a nasty, deep and sharp-edged pothole lurking below.
• Reduce your speed on roads that are prone to potholes. Slower hits generally involve less damage, a simple matter of physics.
• Stay focused and pay attention to the amount of traffic in front, behind and alongside you. You might be able to avoid potholes but do not want to cause an accident while doing so.

React quickly, intelligently when a pothole is upon you

Assuming you drive defensively – and do not tailgate, which restricts your ability to anticipate potholes or sudden braking by the vehicle in front of you – here is what to do if you are just about to hit a pothole:

• Brake only lightly, if at all. And do something counterintuitive by letting off on the brakes entirely the moment before impact. Clamping down on your brakes at higher speeds not only tempts rear-end collisions but also compresses the front-end suspension system, increasing the damage.
• Hard braking can actually cause greater contact between the tire and the pothole where it might otherwise glide over it.
• Do not swerve in a last ditch attempt to avoid the pothole. Aside from creating a hazard for vehicles immediately behind and beside you, you risk hitting the pothole on an oblique angle, which can cause more damage to the tire, wheel rim and alignment than if you hit it perpendicularly.

Reduce the damage in the aftermath

Post-impact, the right moves can at least limit the extent of the damage:

• Immediately pay attention to whether or not you have a flat tire. If so, minimize how much you drive on it, pull off the road as soon as you can do so safely where you can change the tire to your spare. This will minimize the damage to your wheel rim.
• Even without a flat, there may be preliminary damage. At your next stop, check tire rims to see if they were bent, if there is visible cord material or bulging. This could fail later while driving.
• Note if your car pulls to one side without corrective steering. This suggests the wheels are out of alignment and need mechanical attention.

In most municipalities, you can and should report potholes to the streets department – use a smartphone app such as SeeClickFix or SaveMyTire.com, or the local 3-1-1 or other call-in line. You might also be compensated for your loses if that pothole was reported previously and left unfixed, however rules for this are determined on a city, township or county level.

 

Courtesy of Pothole.info

Chrysler 200 - Character

Monday Maintenance : Windshield Cracks

Windshield cracks and dings affect the integrity of your car’s infrastructure and can evolve into more serious problems. Don’t leave your car in foul territory – Take these cautionary measures until you can get your windshield properly repaired.

Checking your windshield is important because a ding that occurs in spring or summer can cause a break in the winter. Most people drive more in warm weather and more driving means more vibration, which can cause a ding to expand into a cracked windshield.

Warmer weather also means running the air conditioning. "The shock of quickly going from hot to cold stresses a windshield and causing that ding to suddenly become a cracked windshield," says Jim Olson, director of national accounts and brand awareness for NOVUS® Windshield Repair.

Here are some tips if you have a ding or star on your windshield:

    Inspect the ding. If it has a cone shape, a circle deep in the glass or looks like a small star with points spreading out, have the ding repaired promptly. These are serious dings that can grow into a cracked windshield.

    Don't touch a ding or attempt to repair it yourself. Without special equipment and training, you will only contaminate the damaged area, making repairs hard to complete.

    As a temporary measure, put a piece of clear tape, like packing tape, over the ding. This won't keep the ding from spreading, but will help prevent contamination.

    Don't wash the vehicle-especially through the car wash.  Soap and water can contaminate the spot and a high-pressure wash can cause the ding to expand.

    Driving a vehicle with a windshield ding causes vibration and exposure to the elements cause the ding to spread.

    Avoid slamming the car doors and don't close the doors with the windows rolled all the way up. The vibration or buildup of air pressure inside the car can cause the ding to spread.

    Don't run the defroster, heater or air conditioning on high settings.  Don't park the vehicle in the sun. Rapid changes in interior temperature or prolonged exposure to sunlight can stress and weaken the windshield.

 

Source: NOVUS via Road & Travel Magazine

Chrysler Brand Wins Big in Texas

The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) gathers every spring to test drive cars from various manufactures in order to dole out their prestigious annual awards. This year, the number of awards blossomed to cover 18 categories (everything is bigger in Texas, after all). Chrysler Group was the big winner, nabbing eight awards, including three for Chrysler brand vehicles.

 

Town & Country is the winner of more major awards than anyone in its class ever, so it should come as no surprise that the 2012 Town & Country took home two awards from TAWA – the “Family Car of Texas” and the “Minivan of Texas.” The 2012 Chrysler 300 Luxury Series, recently recognized for having one of the “10 Best Interiors” for 2012, was named “Full-Size Luxury Car of Texas.”

“With 58 vehicle entries competing in 18 different categories, our members were clearly impressed with the Chrysler Group vehicle line-up,” said Michael Herzing, President – TAWA. The Chrysler brand line-up continues to excite consumers and journalists alike. We’re honored to win these Texas-sized awards from one of the most respected auto writers associations in the country.

Chrysler 300 and Jeep® Grand Cherokee Win AutoPacific ‘2012 Best in Class Vehicle Satisfaction’ Awar

May 24, 2012 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Group LLC announced today that the automotive research group AutoPacific has named Chrysler 300 as “Best in Class Vehicle Satisfaction” for the “Large Car” category, and Jeep® Grand Cherokee, for the second year in a row, won the “Premium Mid-Size SUV” category.

“We are honored to have the Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee receive awards for ‘Best in Class Vehicle Satisfaction’ by AutoPacific,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales and President and CEO – Dodge Brand. “Recognition from our buyers underscores our efforts towards improving quality and customer satisfaction at Chrysler.”

“The Chrysler 300 is the reincarnation of the image-heavy original. Now with more finesse but no less personality, the 300 owners are the most satisfied of any buying a large car today,” said George Peterson, President, AutoPacific. “The Grand Cherokee wins the best in class Vehicle Satisfaction Award for the second year in a row. Grand Cherokee owners gain their satisfaction through the overall capability and quality of the vehicle’s design.”

The AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are based solely on owners’ satisfaction ratings of their new vehicle. Respondents to this survey are owners of new 2012 model year cars and trucks purchased from September through December 2011. The winners of these awards perform well in 48 separate categories that measure the ownership experience. This study by the Southern California-based automotive research firm summarizes the results of more than 75,000 new car and light truck owners in the first quarter of 2012 to determine the winners.

2012 Chrysler 300
Integrating the first eight-speed automatic transmission in a domestic luxury sedan, the new 2012 Chrysler 300 series sedans offer world-class technological innovation and quality while delivering stylistic distinction, best-in-class fuel efficiency and premium E-segment sedan features at a legendary value.

Adding an avant-garde appearance to the letter-series flagship sedans, the all-new Chrysler 300S V-6 and V-8 models take the American brand in a new direction with world-class ride and handling, discrete exterior styling elements, contemporary interior materials and state-of-the-art technology features –including the studio quality sound experience of Beats™ by Dr. Dre technology.

Once limited to premium import vehicles, the new segment-exclusive ZF 8HP45 eight-speed automatic transmission expands the world-class power and fuel-efficiency of the 2012 Chrysler 300, 300 Limited, 300S (V-6) and 300 Luxury Series models and delivers up to 31 best-in-class highway mpg. And with the segment’s most advanced all-wheel-drive system, the all-new Chrysler 300 V-6 AWD models deliver best-in-class city and highway fuel economy (18/27) and even more year-round grand-touring performance.

Designed to be the most luxurious Chrysler flagship sedan ever, the all-new Chrysler 300 and 300C Luxury Series models take the Chrysler 300 further, integrating ultra-premium leather – once limited to some of the most exotic Italian luxury cars – with world-class refinement and handling, state-of-the-art safety and connectivity features.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most-awarded SUV ever. Grand Cherokee delivers premium on-road performance while maintaining the Jeep brand’s legendary four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand two-speed transfer case and towing capability. It offers improved fuel economy (up to 23 miles per gallon), a driving range of more than 550 miles, superb on-road ride and handling, a world-class interior cabin, more than 45 safety and security features, and a variety of advanced technology features.

Contributing to Grand Cherokee’s class-leading capability is the combination of Jeep’s Quadra-Lift™ air suspension system and the Jeep Selec-Terrain™ traction control system that lets customers choose the 4x4 setting for the optimum driving experience on all terrains.

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is available with three 4x4 systems, and with either V-6 or V-8 powertrains.

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group’s culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat’s complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group’s product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, all-new Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

Monday Maintenance Tip : Keeping Your Car Healthy

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.

Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner's manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall.

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil

You can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

 

Courtesy of FuelEconomy.gov