Spring Into Car Care

April is National Car Care Month and who doesn't love the purr of well-maintained vehicle? 

Let's take a look the top 10 spring cleaning musts for your Honda! 

1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

2. Check the hoses and belts to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.

3. Check the battery and replace if necessary. Make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.

4. Check the brake system annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.

5. Inspect the exhaust system for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be corrected without delay.

6. Schedule a tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.

7. Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting.

8. Inspect the steering and suspension system annually including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.

9. Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.

10. Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

While some of these you can easily do yourself, the technicians in Orem's Ken Garff Honda Service Department can help you spruce up your car just in time for your first Spring road trip! 

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.

What Do You Need To Wash Off Fast? (Tips on Keeping Car Paint Nice)

You never know what will happen Halloween night.  Spooks and goblins (aka princesses, pirates and Justin Bieber) knocking at your door for candy is a given.  But once the little ones are in bed, sometimes hooligans come out to have a little fun, too.

This is the time of night when your jack-o-lanterns are at risk for getting smashed, you house toilet-papered and your car egged.  There are several things you need to know to get off your car paint fast before it ruins the finish and bleaches the color.

Although there are many things that can ruin a car finish (bird poop, sand, UV rays, bug guts, and tree sap) around Halloween, it's important to watch for household products and auto-use chemicals many of which can destroy a car finish is a couple of hours.

Brake cleaner, brake fluid, brake dust carburetor cleaner and gasoline can destroy a car's finish in time.  Wipe spills immediately and don't top off gasoline at the pump.  Of these, brake fluid can ruin a finish fast, so make sure to keep it off the paint or douse with water immediately.

Mustard, fertilizer, shaving cream and eggs are household products that will kill the finish of your car.  Shaving cream and eggs are particularly potent, so if someone pulls a prank, don't let it wait for the next day.

Rumor has it the bologna will ruin a car finish, too.  eHow says no way and argues that bologna only leaves grease spots which are easily washed off.  Answerbag claims that not only will bologna ruin a car's finish, but it will ruin rapidly in the sun.  I'd rather be safe than sorry.  Pull the bologna off quickly and wash with auto detergent.

No matter if you are visited by angels or devils Halloween night, you know how to keep your car's finish in top shape.

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.

10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Trade-in

When it's time to buy a new car, there's a lot on your mind.  After all, you've researched, done test drives and finally arrived at "the one." It's easy to forget about your old car, so I've put together a few quick tips that will help you get the most from your former ride.

1. Keep your car clean. Many of us live in our cars.  In time, that lived-in feel can be a bit much.  Keeping up with regular car washes and cleaning the interior of the car can add life to the car that will show up when you get your car appraised.

2. Detail your car.  I know that this tip a close relative of tip #1, but it can be a money maker when it comes to trade-in time.  A good detail will cost between $100-$150.  The detailing process means going over the car with a fine-toothed comb.  When your car is done, the outside will shine, the inside will smell delicious and the manager appraising your car won't even be able to find a stray crumb.  You're guaranteed to get your money back on the detail, but the reality is your car's value will rise hundreds of dollars if it looks impeccable.

Photo Courtesy: ocnissanirvine.com

3. Get regular oil changes. Pay attention to your vehicle's maintenance minder system, which alerts you when your oil is dirty and needs a change.  If your vehicle is 10 year's old or older, you may want to stick with the 3000 mile recommendation, but newer vehicles don't need the oil changed that often.  If your car doesn't have a maintenance minder system, check your owner's manual for details. Even with improved lubricants and tighter tolerances in the engine itself, oil does eventually gets dirty which can clog the engine and devalue your car.

4. Get all factory recommended maintenance done, including any replacements for manufacturer recalls.

5.  Bring records of what work you've had done on the vehicle.  This process is simplified if you bought the car new and always had it serviced at the manufacturer's service department since they keep records on your car for you.  But even if you've taken your vehicle elsewhere, bring receipts of the most recent work.  Have you already replaced the timing belt and water pump?  Now the dealership won't have to and that's money back in your pocket.  Did you get new tires or brakes recently? Providing receipts of the work you've had done shows you care about your car and will translate to a higher value.

6. Don't crash.  Or at least get the damage fixed right.  A $99 paint job is going to show badly at trade-in time.  Take your vehicle to a reputable repair shop and request OEM parts.

7. Fix rock chips in the windshield.  Like getting your car detailed, making sure your windshield is free from cracks and dings guarantees you your money back, plus some.

8. Bring in all keys, remotes, owners manuals and floor mats.  These are things the dealership will have to replace and will cost them time and money.  Having everything in order to hand over assures you the most money for your car, partly by reducing the headache the dealer has to go through.

9. Buy a car that holds its value. One of the reasons that Honda vehicles hold their value so well is that Honda refuses to sell fleet vehicles to car rental companies. Car rental companies generally get brand-new cars and resell them in a year.  Because these are high-milage, heavily used vehicles, they sell significantly below a true resale value, but because virtually all car rental companies resell vehicles at the same time, the market becomes flooded with devalued vehicles, thereby making your car lose value just by association.

10.  Don't get a trendy color.  Trendy colors are great for purses, jewelry, and home decor--not for cars.  A trendy color (think pea green) can make a car sale-proof and devalue a car thousands of dollars as compared to non-trendy counterparts.  White and silver may be boring, but they also appeal to a broader range of consumers making it easier for the dealership to resell and that difference goes to your wallet.

Photo Courtesy: alserrablog.wordpress.com