Perdiddle

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Remember when Sugar and I got pulled over for her tail lights being out?  Well, we're having a run of funny luck.  I thought I was suddenly driving a bit dim and it was time to haul Sugar over to my friends in the service department at Ken Garff Honda, but you know how life is... and I just hadn't gotten there.  I knew I was pushing my luck, but every day, I thought... tomorrow... I'll get in tomorrow.  Well, let the record show: Don't push your luck.  The universe knows and it's always going to have the last laugh.

It was late one night and I needed to gas up and run a couple of errands.  Off I went into the night, knowing I was a perdiddle time-bomb.  (Remember playing "Perdiddle!" as a kid?  You'd have to touch the roof of the car and be the first to shout Perdiddle!! every time you passed a car with a headlight out... Maybe it was just us...) Anyway, it was late and I was hedging my bets that there wouldn't be any cops out at that time of night.  This is not sound logic.  At all.  Cops come out at night.  They're the definition of nocturnal.  Nevertheless, off I went.  There's a gas station RIGHT by my house and lo-and-behold there were TWO cops there getting gas.  In a panic, I thought I shouldn't stop there.  If I pull in, I thought, they'll see my perdiddleness and I'll get a ticket for sure.  So I decided to get gas elsewhere.  

Genius. 

I worked my way up a few side streets to another gas station, filled up, and headed on my way. I blew right on by another police officer hidden in a parking lot. Pleeeeease, don't see me... Pleeeeeease don't turn on those lights... I told the universe.  He didn't.  Whew.  Then of course, I got cocky.  Foolish girl.  I told myself that I was just fine.  I'd already seen three cops and no one seemed to mind that Sugar had a perma-wink.  I could finish my errands in peace, right?  Ha. 

Off I drove, very careful to abide the speed limit (why thumb your nose at fate more than you need to?), to finish my night's to-do list.  I was humming a happy tune and rounding the last curve when I saw an SUV make a quick U-turn.  Nooooooooooo.  

Yes.  

The lights came on and my luck ran out.  Let me be clear: I do know that driving with only one headlight is both dangerous and illegal.  (Don't try this at home, kids!)  I pulled over and waited for the officer, license and registration in hand.   He was super nice, pointed out which headlight was out, and made me promise to get it fixed... oh, say... TOMORROW.  How about first thing in the morning, eh?  I promised and he gave me back my license without issuing a fix-it ticket.  I'm not sure when I've breathed such a sigh of relief.  I hurried and finished my errands and went home (passing yet ANOTHER cop... we're up to FIVE now... who kindly did not pull me over.)

First thing next morning Sugar and I went to see our friends in the Ken Garff service department.  Jesse had me in and out in about 20 minutes.  Seriously.  I got to eat a cookie and have a diet soda.  Can't argue with that, right?  

Maintenance Minder

One of my favorite pieces of Honda Technology is the Maintenance Minder.  Know why?  I don't ever, EVER have to think about things like an oil change, belts, etc.  When the time is right, a cute little wrench pops up on my dash along with some codes that I'm not even compelled to understand.  (Though I can read up about all of them in my owner's manual if I want to.)

Instead, I head to Honda of Orem's Service Department and hit the express service where they have me all tuned up really quickly.

Things to note:

• Most Hondas DO NOT need an oil change at 3000 miles. 5000 miles is much more standard.  The maintenance minder tracks when you need service based on how you drive and the wear and tear on your vehicle.  
• The maintenance minder factors in up-coming service needs to minimize trips
• The maintenance minder takes care of "right timing." 

I recently had a friend who posted that a non-Honda service department had recommended replacing her water pump and timing belt.  Problem?  She'd only driven 50,000 miles.  Most vehicles today go 90,000 before those things need to be replaced.  There are many other car scams that mostly involve recommending service much earlier than it needs to be done.

A recent Reader's Digest article cited mechanics who had recommended fuel-injector cleanings (not needed until 100,000 miles), auto-transmission flush (don't do until you're post 60,000 miles) and gas saving devices (none work).  

But with your Honda, you don't have to worry.  You have your maintenance minder.  And if it doesn't say to change it, clean it or tune it up, then don't!  

Replacing Honda Wiper Inserts

With all of the dirt, salt and residue from a Utah winter coating my car and increasingly streaky windshield wiping, I knew it was time to get the windshield wiper blades replaced--or at least so I thought.

Evidently, windshield wiper blades constitutes the rubber wiper as well as the metal that encases it.  On Honda's it's rare to need to replace the actual blade, metal included.  Generally, you just need to replace the rubber insert that fits inside the blade.  The nice thing about that?  It's a fraction of the price.  Inserts only cost $7.00 whereas wiper blades range from $15-$25.

Honda wiper inserts are pretty easy to replace.  Javier from our parts department demonstrates here how to do it.

This install method works on the Odyssey, CRV, Pilot and Ridgeline.  The only difference in the smaller models is that the lock is on top rather than underneath the blade and is most easily opened with the end of a key.

There are a few import things to know about Honda inserts.
1) If you replace the blade (metal included) with a non-Honda part, Honda inserts cannot be installed in them.  The only fix is to buy new Honda blades, then you can resume getting Honda wiper refills.
2) If this looks kinda complicated to you.  Just come into the dealership and we'll install them for free.

That is $7 well spent.  And by the way, I'm loving my new wiper inserts.

Welcome to the Honda Family: The New Car Clinic

Every two months, at Ken Garff Honda of Orem, every customer that has purchased a brand-new or like-new Honda is invited to The New Car Clinic.  The New Car Clinic is hosted by the Service Department and held in the Service Drive.

I spotted rows and rows of folding chairs when I arrived for the evening meeting.  I was handed a packet of information, as well as a notepad and a pencil for jotting down information.  Every customer who came was provided a catered dinner,  and families were welcome.  One ticket per family was entered into a drawing to win a 40" TV.

Ed Pasqule. the Service Manager, opened the evening, by introducing his team.  Then different team members took the time to walk all of these new customers different aspects of the service department and made sure they knew how to take care of their cars.

Kyle, a service writer, was first and began by saying, "How many of you just bought your first Honda?"  Several hands went up and he smiled and said, "Welcome to the family--the Honda family and the Ken Garff family."

Then he talked about Honda of Orem's amenities which include:

• Express Service for fast services with no appointment necessary.  
• Oil Change with hand car wash
• Air in your tires
• Tire rotations
• State Emissions
• Flat Tire repair
• Waiting Area
• fruit basket
• popcorn
• soda machine
• coffee and hot cocoa maker
• TV's
• Child's play area w/ movies
• Shuttle Service, so you can drop off your car and get back to work.

Matt, in parts, talked about the importance of not losing your key (in each key is a transponder chip that "talks" to the computer in your car allowing it to start), parts you can buy to protect your car (think trunk tray and floor mats) and why you should buy a Honda battery (not only is it cheaper than the after market replacements, Honda gives you a 100 month warranty).  Matt also mentioned that by clicking on "Parts" on the Honda of Orem web page, you're instantly connected to coupons for parts you may need.

Scott, one of the service managers, talked about the Garff Care program with it's free roadside assistance along the Wastach front, free jump, free gas rescue and free I-locked-my-keys-in-my-car rescue.  He also talked about the Maintenance Minders and how Hondas now average 5000 miles between oil changes. 

Scott also talked about how Honda built their seat belts to be able to keep carseats locked in and how Ken Garff cares for the community with their Keys to Success and Road to Success programs.  Ken Garff also supports military with a discount on service--just show your military ID.  

After all that, they opened it up for a question and answer session with Scott and Ed answering any questions customers had.  Then, finally, the drawing for the TV, with one lucky customer getting to take that TV home. 

Not only does she own a brand-new Honda, she's also got a giant TV!

Meanwhile, beautiful dessert trays had been brought out, and customers selected desserts and asked any further questions of the service team.  One customer had been having trouble syncing her blue tooth with her phone and a service tech headed out the door with her to help her get that connected right then.

TPMS is Totally Different From PMS

Every fall as the air turns chill, a cute little light (with an exclamation point) comes on in my car.  This light is the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and it lets you know when a tire is low on air.

The TPMS light is designed to look like a tire. 

Now why does this light come on every fall?  I mean, that's weird.  I haven't run over anything, my driving is the same, then why am I suddenly low on air?

As the temperature falls, air condenses, including the air in your tires, which leaves your tires a little low. All you need to do is bring your tire to the correct PSI (pounds per square inch) and after driving a few miles, the light will automatically go off.

Besides making the pesky little light go off, why does it matter what your tire pressure is?  The quick answer is that tires are expensive, so you want them to last as long a possible.  To get the slowest and most even wear, your tires need to be at the correct PSI.

There is also too much of a good thing.  It's not a matter of, if some is good more is better, when tires are over inflated you feel every bump and crack in the road.  Like under-inflation, your tires wear out more quickly because they wear out unevenly.  And, if it's over-inflated, you run the larger risk that your tire will pop if you hit something wrong.  (I once watched a driver in a small sudan pop a tire in a parking lot when he hit the curb--something we affectionally call "a curb check.")

To find the correct PSI, the best place to check is your owner's manual.  The tire itself has a maximum PSI listed, but the reality is, that you don't want your tires at the maximum PSI it can handle. Plus, let's be honest, it's really, really hard to find words on your tires that are the same color as your tires.  In order to see it, you need to be in direct sunlight, hold your hand to the level of your eye, say some magic words and do seven squats.  Then, if you're really lucky, you might be able to make out some of what the tire says.   Your owner's manual is quicker, easier and more accurate.

After going through the aforementioned tire reading ritual, my husband said that my tires say that the max PSI is 40.  (I never could see it, but I'm taking his word for it.)  My owner's manual, however, recommended that the front tire PSI be 33 and the rear tires 35 PSI.  For driving comfort, this is an important difference.

This is where I make a confession.  I am a 36-year-old mother of five and I have never put air in a car tire.  Period.  Ever.  I grew up the middle of three girls.  My dad traveled a lot when I was a teen, so when he was home, he prided himself on helping out with the things he could.  Car maintenance was definitely his baby.  I got married at 21 and happily handed car related issues to my husband.  He has done a fantastic job keeping everything running.  I think the last time my TPMS light came on, I only called him 14 times* before he had that baby to the gas station and the tires filled.

But, with the patience of Job, this very day, my husband taught me how to check my tire pressure and fill the darn things.  In case you, like me, have never checked air pressure or filled a tire before I'll explain how to do it, so you won't feel as dumb as I did.

1. Unscrew the lid off the tire valve stem.

2. Push your air pressure gauge on the value stem securely.  Check your reading.

3. If your tire is low, go to the gas station and pull your car up next to the air pump.  (It's usually around the edge of the gas station.)

4. Snap the air hose onto your tire.  If you hear air leaking, then it's not on correctly.  Fill and go through steps 1 and 2 to check your air pressure again.

5. If you overfilled the tire, or find that it's overfull when you checked your pressure, release air by pushing on the valve stem.  Check the pressure again and--voila!--you're done.

*This may be a slight exaggeration.